Kawamura Sumiyoshi

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Count Sumiyoshi Kawamura
18 December 1836 – 12 August 1904

Japanese Admiral Sumiyoshi Kawamura
Place of birth Kagoshima, Satsuma domain, Japan
Place of death Japan
Allegiance Empire of Japan
Rank Admiral
Commands Imperial Japanese Navy
Battles/wars Boshin War
Satsuma Rebellion

Count Sumiyoshi Kawamura (川村純義 Kawamura Sumiyoshi?), (18 December 1836 - 12 August 1904), was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy.

A native of Satsuma, Kawamura studied navigation at Tokugawa bakufu naval school at Nagasaki. In 1868, he joined his 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 to become taifu (senior vice minister) of Navy.

During the Satsuma Rebellion, he was placed in command of all Imperial troops in September 1877 at the 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 famous 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 Satsuma natives in the navy.

In 1884, he received the title of hakushaku (count). Later serving as court councillor and Privy Councillor, in 1901 he was given responsibility for the upbringing of the newborn Prince Michi (who was to become the Showa Emperor) and Prince Chichibu (Yasuhito). In 1904, he was posthumously appointed an admiral, the first time this was done.

[edit] Trivia

Kawamura's wife Haru was the aunt of Saigō Takamori.

[edit] References

  • Bix, Herbert B. Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan. Harper Perennial (2001). ISBN: 0060931302
  • Cobbing, Andrew. The Japanese Discovery of Victorian Britain. RoutledgeCurzon (1989). ISBN: 1873410816.
  • Cobbing, Andrew. The Satsuma Students in Britain. RoutledgeCurzon (2000). ISBN: 1873410972
  • Keane, Donald. Emperor Of Japan: Meiji And His World, 1852-1912. Columbia University Press (2005). ISBN: 0231123418
  • Ravina, Mark. The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori. Whiley (2003). ISBN: 0471089702
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