Zengo Yoshida

Infobox Military Person
name= Zengo Yoshida
lived= 14 February 1885 - 14 November 1966 [Nishida, "Imperial Japanese Navy".]
placeofbirth=Saga Prefecture, Japan
placeofdeath=Tokyo, Japan


caption=Japanese Admiral Zengo Yoshida
nickname=
allegiance=Empire of Japan
branch=navy|Empire of Japan
serviceyears=1904-1945
rank= Admiral
commands= "Hirado"
Maizuru Naval District
"Kōngo", "Mutsu"
IJN 2nd Fleet, IJN 1st Fleet, Combined Fleet, China Area Fleet
unit=
battles=World War II
awards=
family=
laterwork=Navy Minister
Supreme War Council (Japan)nihongo|Zengo Yoshida|吉田善吾|Yoshida Zengo|extra= 14 February 1885 - 14 November 1966 was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Biography

Yoshida was born into an impoverished farming family in Saga prefecture in 1885, and was adopted into the family of a local rice merchant. He was a graduate of the 32nd class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1904, ranking 12th out of 190 cadets. As a midshipman, he served on the submarine tender "Karasaki-maru", and the cruiser "Kasuga". He was commissioned as an ensign too late for active service in the Russo-Japanese War.

Yoshida attended naval artillery and torpedo school from 1906-1907, and was then assigned to the destroyer "Asatsuyu" followed by the cruiser "Hashidate".

As a lieutenant from 1909, he specialized in torpedo warfare, and graduated from the Navy War College (Japan) in 1913. He was promoted to lieutenant commander in 1915, and commander in 1919, serving in a variety of administrative positions, primarily concerned with training. After his promotion to captain in 1923, he was given his first command, the cruiser "Hirado" in 1924. He served as chief of staff of the Maizuru Naval District from 1924-1925. In December 1927, he assumed command of the battleship "Kōngo", and from December 1928, that of the "Mutsu".

Yoshida was promoted to rear admiral on 30 November 1929. He served in numerous staff positions until his promotion to vice admiral on 15 November 1934. Yoshida was commander-in-chief of the IJN 2nd Fleet from 1936-1937, and commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet from 1937 -1939.

On 30 August 1939, Yoshida became Navy Minister under the cabinets of Prime Minister Abe Nobuyuki, Yonai Mitsumasa and Konoe Fumimaro. As Navy Minister, Yoshida was vehement in his opposition to signing of the Tripartite Alliance between Japan, Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. He also strongly opposed the idea of war against the United States. He was forced to resign due to illness, and the treaty went ahead despite his strong misgivings.

Yoshida was promoted to full admiral on 15 November 1940. After the start of World War II, Yoshida was assigned a combat command, and took control of the China Area Fleet from November 1942 – December 1943. He then served as a member of the Supreme War Council (Japan) until his retirement on 1 June 1945.

His grave is at the Tama Reien Cemetery outside of Tokyo.

References

Books

*cite book
last = Bix
first = Herbert P
authorlink =
year = 2001
title = Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan
publisher = Harper
location =
id = ISBN 0060931302
*cite book
last = Agawa
first = Hiroyuki
authorlink =
year = 2000
title = The Reluctant Admiral: Yamamoto and the Imperial Navy
publisher = Kodansha International
location =
id = ISBN 4770025394
*cite book
last = Sims
first = Richard
authorlink =
year = 2001
title = Japanese Political History Since the Meiji Renovation 1868-2000
publisher = Palgrave McMillian
location =
id = ISBN 0312239157
*cite book
last = Spector
first = Ronald
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 1985
chapter =
title = Eagle Against the Sun: The American War With Japan
publisher = Vintage
location =
id = ISBN 0394741013

External links

*cite web
last = Nishida
first = Hiroshi
url = http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/px32.htm#a003
title = Imperial Japanese Navy
accessdate = 2007-08-25

Notes