Tsuboi Kozo
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| Baron Tsuboi Kozo | |
|---|---|
| 7 March 1843 – 1 February 1899 | |
 Japanese Admiral Baron Tsuboi Kozo |
|
| Place of birth | Chōshū domain Japan |
| Place of death | Tokyo, Japan |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Years of service | 1871–1898 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Battles/wars | Boshin War First Sino-Japanese War |
Kozo Tsobo (坪井航三 Tsuboi Kozo?) (7 March 1843-1 February 1899) was an Japanese admiral of the early modern Imperial Japanese Navy known primarily for his role in the First Sino-Japanese War.
Born Hara Kozo in the Chōshū domain (present Yamaguchi prefecture), Tsuboi took part in the defense during the Allied European bombardment of Shimonoseki from 5 September-8 1864. Enlisting in the Chōshū domain navy later that year, Tsuboi served aboard the Kigai-maru while studying English and navigation at the Chōshū Naval School.
Serving on five Chōshū domain ships between 1866 and 1868, Tsuboi assisted in transporting imperial soldiers on the Inland Sea during the Boshin War against the Tokugawa shogunate, and was later officially commissioned a lieutenant in the newly established Imperial Japanese Navy in 1871, becoming executive officer of the Kotetsu. That same year he received training onboard the flagship USS Colorado of the Asiatic Squadron and was sponsored by Admiral John Rodgers to attend Columbia University from 1872 until 1874.
Returning to Japan, his first command was as captain of the Daiichi Teibo from 13 August 1874. He served as commander of various ships between 1874 and 1884 and shore posts until 1894. As a rear admiral, he was director of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy from 12 December 1897 to 20 December 1898.
In command of the Standing Fleet during the First Sino-Japanese War, he was at the Battle of Pungdo in command of the Yoshino, and later won distinction at the Battle of the Yalu on 17 September 1894, where (as commander of the Flying Squadron), he displayed innovative tactics and aggressive maneuvers.
A national hero following the war, Tsuboi was promoted to vice admiral and made a danshaku (baron) on 20 August 1895 before his death of cancer while in command on the Yokosuka Naval Base in 1899.
[edit] References
- Craig, Albert M. Chōshū in the Meiji Restoration. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1961.
- Dupuy, Trevor N. The Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 1992. ISBN 0-7858-0437-4
- Volpicelli, Zenone. The China-Japan War, London, 1896.
