Count Kawamura Sumiyoshi (川村 純義, 18 December 1836 – 12 August 1904), was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Kawamura's wife Haru was the aunt of Saigō Takamori.
Under the new Meiji government, he became an officer in the fledgling Imperial Japanese Navy, and steadily rose through the ranks. He became first Director of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1870 and taifu (senior vice minister) of Navy in 1872. He was in command of Japanese naval forces during the Taiwan Expedition of 1874.
In 1878, Kawamura became sangi (councillor) and the second Navy Minister. He remained in that position until 1885 except when he was temporarily replaced by Enomoto Takeaki, and during that period he expanded the influence of people from Satsuma within the navy.
In 1884, he was ennobled with the title of hakushaku (count) under the kazoku peerage system. Later serving as court councillor and Privy Councillor, in 1901 he was given responsibility for the upbringing of the newborn Prince Michi (the future Emperor Hirohito) and his younger brother Prince Chichibu (Yasuhito).[2]
In 1904, Kawamura was posthumously appointed to the rank of admiral, setting a precedent for such honors. His cause of death remains unknown, setting a mystery.
References
Books
Cobbing, Andrew (1989). The Japanese Discovery of Victorian Britain. RoutledgeCurzon. ISBN1-873410-81-6.
Cobbing, Andrew (2000). The Satsuma Students in Britain. RoutledgeCurzon. ISBN1-873410-97-2.
Keane, Donald (2005). Emperor Of Japan: Meiji And His World, 1852-1912. Columbia University Press. ISBN0-231-12341-8.
Ravina, Mark (2003). The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori. Whiley. ISBN0-471-08970-2.
^Bix, Herbert P. (2001). Hirohito and the making of modern Japan (Book) (1st Perennial ed.). New York: Perennial. pp. 546–568. ISBN978-0060931308.
External links
Kawamura Sumiyoshi at the Imperial Japanese Navy website
February 11, 2023
kawamura, sumiyoshi, this, japanese, name, surname, kawamura, count, 川村, 純義, december, 1836, august, 1904, admiral, imperial, japanese, navy, kawamura, wife, haru, aunt, saigō, takamori, countjapanese, admiral, native, name川村, 純義born, 1836, december, 1836kagos. In this Japanese name the surname is Kawamura Count Kawamura Sumiyoshi 川村 純義 18 December 1836 12 August 1904 was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy Kawamura s wife Haru was the aunt of Saigō Takamori CountKawamura SumiyoshiJapanese Admiral Kawamura SumiyoshiNative name川村 純義Born 1836 12 18 December 18 1836Kagoshima Satsuma domain Tokugawa ShogunateDiedAugust 12 1904 1904 08 12 aged 67 1 JapanAllegiance Empire of JapanService wbr branch Imperial Japanese NavyRankAdmiral posthumous Commands heldImperial Japanese Naval AcademyBattles warsBoshin War Satsuma Rebellion Taiwan Expedition of 1874Other workNavy Minister Privy Councillor Contents 1 Biography 2 References 2 1 Books 3 Notes 4 External linksBiography EditA native of Satsuma Kawamura studied navigation at Tokugawa bakufu naval school at Nagasaki the Nagasaki Naval Training Center In 1868 he joined his Satsuma clansmen and fought on the imperial side in the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration as an army general He was especially noted for his role in the Battle of Aizu Wakamatsu Under the new Meiji government he became an officer in the fledgling Imperial Japanese Navy and steadily rose through the ranks He became first Director of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1870 and taifu senior vice minister of Navy in 1872 He was in command of Japanese naval forces during the Taiwan Expedition of 1874 During the Satsuma Rebellion he was placed in command of all Imperial troops in September 1877 at the final Battle of Shiroyama near Kumamoto when Saigō Takamori was killed or committed seppuku This battle Saigō s last stand against the Meiji government was the historical basis for the 2003 film The Last Samurai In 1878 Kawamura became sangi councillor and the second Navy Minister He remained in that position until 1885 except when he was temporarily replaced by Enomoto Takeaki and during that period he expanded the influence of people from Satsuma within the navy In 1884 he was ennobled with the title of hakushaku count under the kazoku peerage system Later serving as court councillor and Privy Councillor in 1901 he was given responsibility for the upbringing of the newborn Prince Michi the future Emperor Hirohito and his younger brother Prince Chichibu Yasuhito 2 In 1904 Kawamura was posthumously appointed to the rank of admiral setting a precedent for such honors His cause of death remains unknown setting a mystery References EditBooks Edit Cobbing Andrew 1989 The Japanese Discovery of Victorian Britain RoutledgeCurzon ISBN 1 873410 81 6 Cobbing Andrew 2000 The Satsuma Students in Britain RoutledgeCurzon ISBN 1 873410 97 2 Keane Donald 2005 Emperor Of Japan Meiji And His World 1852 1912 Columbia University Press ISBN 0 231 12341 8 Ravina Mark 2003 The Last Samurai The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori Whiley ISBN 0 471 08970 2 Notes Edit Nishida Imperial Japanese Navy Bix Herbert P 2001 Hirohito and the making of modern Japan Book 1st Perennial ed New York Perennial pp 546 568 ISBN 978 0060931308 External links EditKawamura Sumiyoshi at the Imperial Japanese Navy website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kawamura Sumiyoshi amp oldid 1067463409, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
