Akashi Motojiro
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Senior Third Rank Baron Akashi Motojiro | |
|---|---|
明石 元二郎 | |
 Japanese General Akashi Motojirō | |
| 7th Governor General of Taiwan | |
| In office 6 June 1918 – 24 October 1919 | |
| Monarch | Taishō |
| Preceded by | Andō Teibi |
| Succeeded by | Den Kenjirō |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 September 1864 General |
| Battles/wars | First Sino-Japanese War Russo-Japanese War |
Baron Akashi Motojiro (明石 元二郎, 1 September 1864 – 26 October 1919) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and the 7th Governor-General of Taiwan from 6 June 1918 to 26 October 1919.
Early life and career
A native of
During the Spanish–American War, he was dispatched as a military observer to the Philippines. During the Boxer Rebellion, he was stationed in Tianjin, northern China. Around this time, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
Espionage during the Russo-Japanese War
At the end of 1900, Akashi was sent as a roaming
In the period of growing tensions before the outbreak of the
Akashi was also known for his talents as a poet and as a painter, interests that he shared with fellow spy and close friend General Fukushima Yasumasa. It was also a shared interest in poetry and painting that would have enabled him to cultivate Sidney Reilly into working for the Japanese.[3]
Narrowly escaping capture and assassination by the
Service in Korea
In 1905, just prior to the end of the war, he was recalled to Japan, divorced his wife, remarried, and joined the ground forces in Korea as a major general in command of the 14th Infantry Division.
Although Akashi is known to have received support from his close contacts within the Kokuryukai secret society, and although he certainly shared in many of their political goals, his name does not appear on their membership lists and it is mostly likely that he was never actually a member.
After the war, he remained in Korea with General Terauchi Masatake, where he organized the military police. He was promoted to lieutenant general at the age of 49.
He got Korea Colonization Decoration for his merits in Korea on 1 August 1912.[5]
As Governor-General of Taiwan
In 1918, Akashi was promoted to
Death and burial
Akashi fell ill and died a little over a year after taking office while visiting his home in
Akashi's death has spawned a massive number of conspiracy theories.The flamboyant exploits (both real and imagined) of "Colonel Akashi" have been the subject of countless novels, manga, movies and documentary programs in Japan, where he has been dubbed the "Japanese James Bond".
See also
Notes
- ^ Busch p. 121, 122, 123
- ^ Cook, Ace of Spies: 56
- ^ Lockhart, Reilly, Ace of Spies
- ^ Busch p. 123
- ^ "자료일람 | 한국사데이터베이스". db.history.go.kr. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
- ^ a b Ching, Becoming Japanese
- ^ Han Cheung (20 October 2024). "Taiwan in Time: The elite Japanese cemetery that became a slum". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
References
Journal
- Akashi Motojirō (1988). Fält, O.; Kujala, A. (eds.). "Rakka ryusui" [Colonel Akashi's Report on His Secret Cooperation with the Russian Revolutionary Parties during the Russo-Japanese War]. Studia Historica (31). ISSN 0081-6493.
Books
- Busch, Noel F. (1969). The Emperor's Sword; Japan vs Russia in the Battle of Tsushima. New York: Funk & Wagnall.
- Ching, Leo T.S. (2001). Becoming Japanese: Colonial Taiwan and the Politics of Identity Formation. Oakland: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-22553-8.
- Cook, Andrew (2011). Ace of Spies: The True Story of Sidney Reilly. Stroud: History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-6954-6.
- Deacon, Richard (1986). A History of the Japanese Secret Service. New York City: Berkley Publishing Company. ISBN 0-425-07458-7.
- Lockhart, Robin Bruce (1986). Reilly: Ace of Spies. New York City: Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-88029-072-2.
External links
- "Akashi Motojirō". Portraits of Modern Historical Figures. National Diet Library.
- "Akashi Motojirō". Clouds over the Hill and Archives. Japan Center for Asian Historical Records.
