Seiichi Itō | |
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Admiral Itō Seiichi
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Native name | 伊藤 整一 |
Born |
Miyama, Fukuoka, Japan |
July 26, 1890
Died | April 7, 1945 north of Okinawa |
(aged 54)
Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
Service/branch | Imperial Japanese Navy |
Years of service | 1911-1945 |
Rank | Admiral (posthumous) |
Commands held | |
Battles/wars |
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Seiichi Itō (伊藤 整一 Itō Seiichi?, July 26, 1890 – April 7, 1945) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and commander of the battleship Yamato on its final mission towards the end of World War II.
Born in Miike County Takada Town (present day Miyama City, Fukuoka Prefecture), Itō graduated from the 39th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1911. He was 15th in a class of 148 cadets, and served as midshipman on the cruiser Aso and battleship Aki.
His rise through the ranks was regular and rapid: ensign on December 1, 1912, sub-lieutenant on December 1, 1914, and lieutenant on December 1, 1917.
Itō returned to the Naval Staff College in 1923, graduating from the 21st class as a lieutenant commander. Itō visited the United States from May–December 1927, and was promoted to commander on his return. He became captain on December 1, 1931 and was assigned as naval attaché to Manchukuo from March 1932-November 1933. Along with Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Itō, well aware of the disparity in resources and industrial strength between the United States and Japan, was an outspoken proponent of maintaining good relations with the United States.