Taketomi Kunikane

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Taketomi Kunikane (1852–1931) was an admiral in the early Imperial Japanese Navy. Born in Saga to a samurai family, he began naval artillery training in 1872 and joined the Navy’s Hydrographic Department in 1877. He rose through the ranks, becoming lieutenant in 1879 and lieutenant commander in 1893. He served on ships including Yamato and Naniwa, and worked with the Navy General Staff and Yokosuka District, then was a naval attaché to Korea and on the Sasebo staff.

During the First Sino-Japanese War he served at Yokosuka and was posted to Taiwan after the war, serving as an executive officer on the cruisers Izumi and Matsushima. He earned his first command, the gunboat Akagi, in 1897, and soon became commander. He then served as aide to the Crown Prince and was promoted to captain in 1898.

From 1901 he captained the cruiser Iwate, including during the Russo-Japanese War. He was promoted to rear admiral in January 1905, commanded the 5th Division of the 3rd Fleet, and fought at the Battle of Tsushima. In June 1905 he led the Fourth Fleet and later commanded the South China Fleet. He later held staff roles in the Navy Ministry and commanded the Ōminato Guard District. He was promoted to vice admiral in 1909, moved to reserves the same day, and retired in March 1914.