The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Yoshida Zengo (original) (raw)

Yoshida was one of the senior admirals of the Japanese Navy, having served as commander of Combined Fleet in 1937 and as Navy Minister in 1939. Like his former classmate and close friend Yamamoto, he had been adopted into a prominent Japanese family as a promising heir (his birth name being Yohachi). Yamamoto said of his appointment as Navy Minister that "He is a good Navy Minister. We can sleep easily while he is in charge" (Boatner 1996). He was a staunch opponent of the Tripartite Pact, but was hospitalized with heart trouble (which Hotta suggests was actually a suicide attempt) and was forced to resign as Navy Minister just before the arrival of the German negotiators. This cleared the way for the Japanese Navy to support the Pact.

Yamamoto confided the Pearl Harborplan to Yoshida in August 1941 as the two discussed the prospect of war with the United States(which both opposed.)

1885-2-14

Born at Saga Prefecture

1904-11-14

Midshipman

Graduates from Naval Academy, standing 12th in a class of 192. Assigned AS Karasaki Maru

1905-1-3

CA Kasuga

1905-8-31

Ensign

1906-5-10

Torpedo Boat Division 5

1906-8-7

AP Anegawa

1906-11-26

GunneryTraining Center

1907-4-15

TorpedoTrainingCenter

1907-8-5

DD Asatsuyu

1907-9-28

Lieutenant junior grade

1907-10-28

CA Hashidate

1908-11-20

Torpedo School

1909-4-23

Training Torpedo Boat Division

1909-5-25

1 Naval District

1909-10-11

Lieutenant

1909-12-1

Naval College B-Course

1910-5-23

Torpedo School Advanced Course

1910-12-1

Commander, Torpedo Boat Division 4

1913-12-1

Naval College A-Course

1915-12-13

Lieutenant commander

Staff, 3 Fleet

1917-12-1

1 Naval District

1918-4-25

Instructor, Torpedo School

1919-11-20

Staff, Destroyer Squadron 1

1919-12-1

Commander

1920-6-3

Staff, Training Fleet

1921-5-12

Staff, Naval Education Command

1923-4-1

Staff, Education Bureau, Navy Ministry

1923-11-10

Chief, S2, Education Bureau, Navy Ministry

1923-12-1

Captain

1924-3-25

Commander, CL Hirado

1924-12-1

Chief of staff, 4 Naval District

1925-5-15

Chief, S1, Bureau of Naval Affairs, Navy Ministry

1927-12-1

Commander, BB Kongo

1928-12-10

Commander, BB Mutsu

1929-11-30

Rear admiral

Chief, N2, Navy General Staff

1931-12-1

Chief of staff, Combined Fleet

1933-9-15

Director, Bureau of Naval Affairs, Navy Ministry

1934-11-15

Vice admiral

1936-2-1

Commander, Training Fleet

1936-12-1

Commander, 2 Fleet

1937-12-1

Commander, Combined Fleet

1939-8-30

Navy Minister

1940-11-15

Admiral

Navy Counselor

1942-11-10

Commander, China Area Fleet

1943-12-1

Navy Counselor

1943-12-14

Director, Navy College

1944-3-15

Navy Counselor

1944-5-3

Commander, 1 Naval District

1944-8-2

Navy Counselor

1945-6-1

Retires

1966-11-14

Dies