Army General. Kodama gained his first combat experience during the Boshin War of 1868, followed by the Seinan War of 1877. He earned a reputation as an outstanding soldier during these conflicts. He was appointed as the director of Japanese military academy in 1887, and was eager to introduce German army tactics that he had learned. He participated in Sino-Japanese war of 1895 as stuff officer, then became Minister of the Army 1900. During the Russo-Japanese war of 1905, he served as Chief of Staff for the Japanese army in Manchurian army under General Oyama Iwao. His leadership was a key to Japan's success in this endeavor. He was serving as the 4th Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan at the time of his death. A native of Choshu, Kodama studied military science in Germany, and was appointed vice-minister of war in 1892. He became governor-general of Formosa in 1900, holding at the same time the portfolio of war. When the conflict with Russia became imminent in 1903, he gave up his portfolio to become vice-chief of the general staff, a sacrifice which elicited much public applause. Throughout the Russo-Japanese War as he served as chief of staff to Field Marshal Oyama, it was well understood that his genius guided the strategy of the whole campaign. General Kodama advanced rapidly through to the ranks of baron, viscount and count, and his death was regarded as a national calamity. His spirit has been deified and is enshrined at the Kodama Shrine, Enoshima Island, near Fujisawa City, Kanazawa Prefecture. One can have a spiritual audience with him at this site. There is also a Kodama Shrine on the island of Kyushu.
Army General. Kodama gained his first combat experience during the Boshin War of 1868, followed by the Seinan War of 1877. He earned a reputation as an outstanding soldier during these conflicts. He was appointed as the director of Japanese military academy in 1887, and was eager to introduce German army tactics that he had learned. He participated in Sino-Japanese war of 1895 as stuff officer, then became Minister of the Army 1900. During the Russo-Japanese war of 1905, he served as Chief of Staff for the Japanese army in Manchurian army under General Oyama Iwao. His leadership was a key to Japan's success in this endeavor. He was serving as the 4th Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan at the time of his death. A native of Choshu, Kodama studied military science in Germany, and was appointed vice-minister of war in 1892. He became governor-general of Formosa in 1900, holding at the same time the portfolio of war. When the conflict with Russia became imminent in 1903, he gave up his portfolio to become vice-chief of the general staff, a sacrifice which elicited much public applause. Throughout the Russo-Japanese War as he served as chief of staff to Field Marshal Oyama, it was well understood that his genius guided the strategy of the whole campaign. General Kodama advanced rapidly through to the ranks of baron, viscount and count, and his death was regarded as a national calamity. His spirit has been deified and is enshrined at the Kodama Shrine, Enoshima Island, near Fujisawa City, Kanazawa Prefecture. One can have a spiritual audience with him at this site. There is also a Kodama Shrine on the island of Kyushu.
Bio by: Warrick L. Barrett
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