Isoroku Yamamoto, an officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy, had strong connections to the United States. While serving as a naval attaché in Washington, DC, he gained a deep appreciation for American culture. Despite his admiration for the US military and his personal experiences in America, Yamamoto would later plan the notorious attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
Isoroku Yamamoto’s upbringing and early career
The future admiral, born Isoroku Takano in 1884, was the son of a mid-ranking samurai who was 56 years old at the time of his birth. In 1916, following a traditional practice in Japan for families without suitable male heirs, Takano was formally adopted by the Yamamoto family, a clan of higher samurai standing, and he took on their surname.
In 1904, Yamamoto graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy and served in the Russo-Japanese War. During the Battle of Tsushima, he was wounded, losing the index and middle fingers on his left hand. His performance earned him recognition from his superiors, allowing for his fast rise through the ranks.
By 1916, he had achieved the rank of lieutenant commander, and three years later, he was promoted to commander.
Experience in the US, rivalry with the Japanese Army
Yamamoto spent a fair amount of time in the US during the 1920s and ’30s. He was a student at Harvard University from 1919-21. He also had two postings as a naval attaché in America, where he learned to speak fluent English. Yamamoto created controversy in 1937 when he apologized to the US for Japan’s 1937 bombing of the gunboat USS Panay.
The Imperial Japanese Army was significantly more aggressive and pro-war than its Navy, and was angered by Yamamoto’s opposition to a pact with Germany and Italy. Following his apology to the US, he received death threats, to which he said:
“To die for Emperor and Nation is the highest hope of a military man. After a brave hard fight the blossoms are scattered on the fighting field. But if a person wants to take a life instead, still the fighting man will go to eternity for Emperor and country. One man’s life or death is a matter of no importance. All that matters is the Empire.”
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Yamamoto rose through the ranks of the Japanese military with a calculated and strategic approach, rising to the rank of admiral in November 1940. Despite opposition from some in the Army, he gained the respect of his sailors and support from the Imperial family.
His reluctance to engage the United States directly was driven by his belief that Japan lacked the resources for a prolonged war, a view that shaped his strategy for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Yamamoto aimed to deliver a decisive blow by crippling the US Navy in a single strike.
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a tactical victory for Japan, with many waves of bombers causing significant damage, sinking four American battleships and destroying 188 aircraft. However, it provoked widespread outrage among the American public, leading the US to enter the war, something the country had initially sought to avoid.
Battle of Midway and Yamamoto’s death
Despite initial Japanese successes after Pearl Harbor, Yamamoto advocated for continued attacks on the US Fleet. The Battle of Midway in June 1942 was intended to maintain Japanese offensive momentum. However, prior to the operation, US forces were able to break the Japanese Naval Code. This intelligence allowed Admiral Chester Nimitz to prepare effectively, resulting in a decisive US victory that shifted the course of the war.
Following setbacks and defeats at Guadalcanal and Midway, Yamamoto embarked on a morale-building tour for his forces. US intelligence intercepted and decrypted details of his itinerary, enabling American pilots to shoot down his plane on April 18, 1943. Posthumously, Yamamoto was honored with the title of Marshal Admiral and awarded the Order of the Chrysanthemum by Japan. Additionally, he received Germany’s Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.
Yamamoto’s legacy
Yamamoto has been featured in a number of films about Pearl Harbor and World War II. Moviegoers may remember him for the Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) line that he may or may not have uttered: “I fear that all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” The line was also referenced in 2001’s Pearl Harbor.
Historians, however, are not sure he ever actually made this observation.
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Yamamoto was also portrayed by legendary actor, Toshiro Mifune, in three separate films: Rengo Kantai Ichokan Yamamoto Isoroku (1968), Gekido no showashi ‘Gunbatsu’ (1970) and Midway (1976).