Yamaya Tanin
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| Yamaya Tanin | |
|---|---|
| 18 April 1866 – 10 September 1940 | |
 Japanese Admiral Yamaya Tanin |
|
| Place of birth | Morioka, Mutsu Province, Japan |
| Place of death | Morioka, Japan |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Years of service | 1886–1922 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Battles/wars | First Sino-Japanese War Russo-Japanese War World War I |
Tanin Yamaya (山屋他人 Yamaya Tanin?) (18 April 1866 – 10 September 1940) was a naval theorist and admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during the early twentieth century.
Born to a samurai household in Morioka in Mutsu Province (present day Iwate prefecture), Yamaya graduated from the 12th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1886. After a number of shipboard assignments, in 1891 he was assigned to the Itsukushima on an overseas tour to France, returning over a year later in May 1892.
Transferred to the converted passenger liner Saikyo-maru, Yamaya served as navigator during the First Sino-Japanese War and was present during the Battle of the Yalu on 17 September 1894, along with the belligerent Navy General Staff Admiral Kabayama Sukenori. He later served as chief torpedo officer on the IJN Takachiho.
In 1896, Yamaya returned to the Naval Staff College, becoming an instructor only after a year following his graduation. He earned a reputation as a creative tactician.
Winning promotion to commander in 1899, Yamaya was recalled to combat duty in preparation for the Russo-Japanese War. His first command was the cruiser IJN Atkitsushima, during which time he participated in the Battle of the Yellow Sea on 10 August 1904. Promoted to captain soon afterwards, Yamaya then commanded the IJN Kasagi during the Battle of Tsushima on 26 May 1905.
Serving in several fleet and staff positions following the war, Yamaya was promoted to rear admiral on 1 December 1909. Serving two terms as president of the Naval Staff College, from 1909-1911 and again in 1913 respectively, Yamaya expanded on the theories of Admiral Akiyama Saneyuki. He was promoted to vice admiral on 1 December 1913.
Yamaya was assigned to command the 1st Southern Squadron (consisting of the Asama, Kurama and Tsukuba) upon the outbreak of World War I patrolling for German warships of German East Asia Squadron in the South Pacific from October to December 1914. Under his command, Japanese forces occupied the former German colonies of Yap and the Caroline Islands.
Recalled to Japan the following year, Yamaya was appointed Vice Chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff, where he served until 1918, when he was given command of the 2nd Fleet.
Appointed a full admiral on 15 November 1919, Yamaya succeeded Admiral Gentaro Yamashita as commander of the Combined Fleet until 1920.
Removed from the active list two years later, Yamaya lived in retirement until his death in 1940.
[edit] Trivia
Yamaya Tanin is a direct ancestor of Japanese Crown Princess Masako.
[edit] References
- Dupuy, Trevor N. Encyclopedia of Military Biography. I B Tauris & Co Ltd (1992). ISBN 1-85043-569-3
- Schencking, J. Charles. Making Waves: Politics, Propaganda, And The Emergence Of The Imperial Japanese Navy, 1868-1922 . Stanford University Press (2005). ISBN 0-8047-4977-9
