Nogi Maresuke
Japanese general and governor-general, known for loyalty and self-sacrifice.
Count Nogi Maresuke (December 25, 1849 – September 13, 1912) was a Japanese general in the Imperial Japanese Army and a governor-general of Taiwan. He commanded forces during the 1894 capture of Port Arthur from China and was a prominent figure in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05, leading the capture of Port Arthur from the Russians. He became a national hero in Imperial Japan as a model of feudal loyalty and self-sacrifice, ultimately to the point of suicide.
- born
- December 25, 1849
- died
- September 13, 1912
- field
- Military, colonial administration
- nationality
- Japanese
- known_for
- Command at Siege of Port Arthur; model of bushido and junshi; suicide on day of Emperor Meiji's funeral
Lore & Background
Nogi Maresuke was born on December 25, 1849, at the Chōfu Domain Mansion in Edo, the third son of samurai cavalry officer Nogi Maretsugu. His childhood name was Nakito, meaning 'no one', to ward off evil spirits. He claimed descent from the Izumo Minamoto clan through the Sasaki clan. In November 1869, he enlisted in the Fushimi Goshin Heisha for French-style training, later becoming an instructor and domain army trainer. Commissioned as a major in 1871, he served in the Satsuma Rebellion, where he lost the 14th Infantry Regiment's regimental banner, considered the emperor's property—a disgrace he cited as a reason for his later suicide. He married Shizuko in 1876 and had two sons, Katsunori and Yasunori.
Reader's Guide
Nogi's significance lies in his embodiment of the samurai code of bushido and the controversial practice of junshi (following the lord in death). His suicide on the day of Emperor Meiji's funeral, after having twice sought permission to kill himself—once after losing the regimental banner and again after the costly Siege of Port Arthur—brought national attention to these traditions. He was a mentor to the young Hirohito as head of the Peers' School from 1908 to 1912. His conduct during the Russo-Japanese War, including respect toward prisoners and civilians, won international admiration. He also spent his personal fortune on hospitals and memorials for war dead, and petitioned for a Russian-style monument in Port Arthur. His meeting with Robert Baden-Powell in 1911 linked him to the Scouting movement.
Did You Know?
- Nogi's childhood name was Nakito (無人), meaning 'no one', to prevent evil spirits from harming him.
- He lost the 14th Infantry Regiment's regimental banner during the Satsuma Rebellion, which he considered an extreme disgrace.
- Both of Nogi's sons were killed in action during the Russo-Japanese War.
- He met Robert Baden-Powell in England in 1911, introduced by Lord Kitchener.
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