Isamu Takeshita
Isamu Takeshita | |
---|---|
Satsuma domain Japan | |
Died | 1 July 1949 Tokyo, Japan | (aged 79)
Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
Service/ | Imperial Japanese Navy |
Years of service | 1889–1929 |
Rank | Admiral |
Battles/wars | Russo-Japanese War, World War I |
Awards | Order of the Rising Sun (1st class) |
Isamu Takeshita (竹下 勇, Takeshita Isamu, 5 January 1870 – 1 July 1949) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. He was also a diplomat whose accomplishments included helping end the Russo-Japanese War favorably for Japan and obtaining former German possessions in the Pacific for Japan following World War I. In addition, he was a patron and practitioner of the Japanese martial arts, especially judo, sumo, and aikido.
Early years
Born Yamamoto Jiro into a
Takeshita entered the 15th class of the
Because he was fluent in English, Takeshita was posted overseas at various times as a naval attaché. In October 1902, he was appointed Japan's naval attaché to the United States.[2] In this role, Takeshita was an active participant in negotiations mediated by President Theodore Roosevelt that led to the Treaty of Portsmouth, ending the Russo-Japanese War. During 1904, he also helped Roosevelt obtain the services of judo teacher Yamashita Yoshitsugu, first for Roosevelt himself and then for the United States Naval Academy.[3] Takeshita's commands included the cruisers Suma, Kasuga, Izumo, Tsukuba and the battleship Shikishima.[2]
Takeshita was a member of the Japanese diplomatic mission to the United States in 1917,
Activities after retirement
During late summer 1935, Takeshita made his fifth trip to the United States.[7] His mission was to try to explain to American audiences that Japan's invasion of China in the Second Sino-Japanese War, was to stop the spread of Communism.[8] As for Japan's relationship with the United States, Takeshita stated that "No Japanese warship has ever crossed the Pacific except on a mission of peace," he said during a radio broadcast in San Francisco. "No Japanese soldier has ever come to these shores except on a similar mission."[9]
In February 1937, Takeshita was appointed head of the
In May 1939, Takeshita became the third president of the Japan Sumo Association.[12] He held this post until November 1945.[13]
In April 1941, he became head of Japan's New Sword Society. This organization supported makers of modern
Takeshita died in Tokyo in July 1949.
Connection with aikido
Encounter with Morihei Ueshiba
Takeshita first heard of
In February 1927, Takeshita invited Ueshiba to Tokyo again, and this time, Ueshiba settled there.[16] Takeshita's influence was such that many military officers, government officials and members of the wealthy class began practicing Ueshiba's martial art. Takeshita was not only an admirer but also an ardent practitioner of aikido, despite his age (he was almost 50). He filled notebooks with descriptions of Ueshiba's techniques, and these descriptions provide insights into the development of aikido.[17]
Role in the promotion of aikido
In 1935, Takeshita gave a demonstration of Ueshiba's art at the first Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai (Society for the Promotion of Japanese Classical Martial Arts) demonstration. Later that same year, Takeshita gave public demonstrations of aikido in
In 1940, Takeshita was instrumental in providing a legal identity to Ueshiba's Kobukan organization by founding the Kobukai Foundation and becoming its first president. Also, in 1941, Takeshita used his influence to arrange a demonstration of aikido by Ueshiba at the Imperial Palace. The demonstration took place in front of the Imperial family. Although ill, Ueshiba gave a spectacular exhibition, which greatly impressed the nobility.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Pranin, Stanley. "Takeshita, Isamu," The Encyclopedia of Aikido Archived 2007-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d "Nishida, Hiroshi. "People: Naval Academy, class 15."". Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ Svinth, Joseph R. "Professor Yamashita Goes to Washington"[1].
- ^ The Imperial Japanese Mission 1917, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, [2]; New York Times, October 3, 1917
- ^ Gow, I.T.M. Military Intervention in Pre-War Japanese Politics: Admiral Kato Kanji and the 'Washington System'. London: Routledge, 2004, p. 71.[3]
- ^ Peattie, Mark R. Nan'yo: The Rise and Fall of the Japanese in Micronesia, 1885-1945. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i, 1988, p.50.[4]
- ^ New York Times, September 5, 1935.
- ^ Japanese-American Courier, August 31, 1935, p. 1; Great Northern Daily News, September 7, 1935, p. 8; New York Times, September 25, 1935; New York Times, September 27, 1935.
- ^ Great Northern Daily News, September 5, 1935, p. 8.
- ^ Abe, Ikuo, Kiyohara,Yasuharu, and Nakajima, Ken. "Sport and physical education under fascistization in Japan," Bulletin of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 13, 1990, pp. 25-46.[5]
- ^ Japan Times and Mail, December 17, 1936, p. 5.
- ^ Japan Times and Mail, May 4, 1939 Archived January 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Nippon Times, November 28, 1945, p. 3 Archived January 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Nippon Times, April 11, 1941, p. 2; Nippon Times, June 4, 1941, p.8.
- ^ New York Times, July 7, 1949.
- ^ Ueshiba, Morihei and Ueshiba, Kissōmaru. Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido. Translated by John Stevens. Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1996, p. 14.
- ^ Pranin, Stanley A. "Morihei Ueshiba and Admiral Isamu Takeshita," Aiki News, 97, Fall/Winter 1993."Morihei Ueshiba and Admiral Isamu Takeshita". Archived from the original on 2014-08-11. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
- ^ Svinth, Joseph R. "Aikido Comes to America: September 1935."[6]; New York Times, September 21, 1935.