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Created page with "right|thumb|320px|Statue of Admiral Tôgô at Tagayama Park, overlooking [[Kagoshima Harbor]] *''Born: 1847'' *''Died: 1934/5'' *''Japanese'': [[..."
[[File:Admiraltogo.jpg|right|thumb|320px|Statue of Admiral Tôgô at Tagayama Park, overlooking [[Kagoshima]] Harbor]]
*''Born: [[1847]]''
*''Died: 1934/5''
*''Japanese'': [[東郷]]平八郎 ''(Tougou Heihachirou)''

Admiral Tôgô Heihachirô led the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] (IJN) to victory over that of Imperial Russia in the [[Russo-Japanese War]] of [[1904]]-[[1905]].

Tôgô was born in [[1847]], in the Kajiyamachi neighborhood of [[Kagoshima]]. He was fifteen years old when in [[1863]] the British Royal Navy [[Bombardment of Kagoshima|shelled the city]], battling [[Satsuma han|Satsuma domain's]] small navy and coastal defense batteries. Inspired by this experience, Tôgô joined the Satsuma navy in [[1868]], and in [[1871]] traveled to London to study. He returned to Japan in [[1878]] and entered the Imperial Japanese Navy, becoming a lieutenant (大尉) that year. Tôgô then rose to commander (中佐) in [[1885]], and captain (大佐) the following year.

In [[1893]], Tôgô was commander of the IJN cruiser ''[[Naniwa (ship)|Naniwa]]'', which he stationed in Honolulu harbor for several months. Amidst increasing international tensions over control of the islands, the ''Naniwa'' was a show of force for Japanese interests in maintaining the sovereignty & independence of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and was present to aid, protect, or rescue Japanese in the islands if circumstances came to that. [[Prince Yamashina Sadamaro]], incidentally, served under Tôgô, as a lieutenant aboard the ''Naniwa'' at that time.<ref>Franklin Odo and Kazuko Sinoto, ''A Pictorial History of the Japanese in Hawaii 1885-1924'', Honolulu: Bishop Museum (1985), 17.</ref>

The following year, he participated in the [[Sino-Japanese War]], still as commander of the ''Naniwa''. He was then promoted to rear admiral in [[1895]]. He continued to move up the ranks quite quickly, being named head of the Naval Academy in [[1896]], and vice-admiral in [[1898]]. In [[1903]], Tôgô was named commander of the Combined Fleet, being promoted to the rank of full admiral the following year.

Immediately following his victory in the Russo-Japanese War, Tôgô was formally received in audience by the [[Meiji Emperor]], at the end of a victory parade through the streets of Tokyo held on 1905/10/22. Though the Meiji Emperor is known for appearing in public in an army uniform, this audience was the first time he wore a navy uniform.

Tôgô was elevated to ''gensui'' (fleet admiral) in 1913. The following year, he became personal tutor to Crown Prince Hirohito. Tôgô died at age 88 in 1934. He was awarded the Collar of the Supreme [[Order of the Chrysanthemum]], and was given a state funeral. Though Tôgô is buried in [[Tama Cemetery]] in [[Tokyo]], a portion of his remains were buried at a site in Kagoshima's Tagayama Park, below a large bronze statue of Tôgô which looks out over the city's harbor.

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==References==
*Plaques on-site at Tagayama Park.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15066837477/sizes/k/]
<references/>

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[[Category:Meiji Period]]
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