Since at least 1904, local accounts have confused Ōyama Iwao with Sukeichi Oyama (1858-1922), Japanese engraver who studied at Temple Hill Academy in Geneseo, New York, United States.[3][4]
Military career
Field Marshal Ōyama during the Russo-Japanese War
In 1870, Ōyama was sent overseas to the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in France (August 1870 – March 1871)[2] to study and was appointed the official Japanese military observer to the Franco-Prussian War. He also spent three years (July 1871 – October 1874)[2] in Geneva studying foreign languages, and became fluent in Russian. Ōyama Iwao is the first recorded Japanese customer for Louis Vuitton, having purchased some luggage during his stay in France. After promotion to major general, he went to France again for further study, together with Kawakami Sōroku.[5] On his return home, he helped establish the fledgling Imperial Japanese Army, which was soon employed in suppressing the Satsuma Rebellion,[2] although Ōyama and his elder brother were cousins of Saigō Takamori.
For his services Ōyama received the title of marquis under the kazoku peerage system, and, three years later in January 1898,[2] he became a field-marshal. In the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905 he was appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese armies in Manchuria.[6] As Supreme Commander of the Japanese Manchurian Army, Ōyama had complete authority over all Japanese land operations during the war, and personally directed the tactics of Japanese forces in all major battles, winning the Battle of Liaoyang and repulsing Russian counter-attacks at the Battle of Shaho and the Battle of Sandepu. He was replaced by General Kodama Gentarō briefly during early 1905 due to illness, but recovered to direct Japanese forces in the final Battle of Mukden.[8]
After Japan's victory, Emperor Meiji elevated him in September 1907[2] to the rank of prince (公爵, kōshaku),[9] the highest rank of the Empire of Japan.
Ōyama died at the age of seventy five in 1916, and was accorded a state funeral.[10] Ōyama was a large man, and enjoyed large meals. His weight exceeded 210 pounds (95kg), and may have contributed to his death, possibly arising from diabetes.
Ōyama's first son Takashi, a navy cadet, died in the accidental explosion and sinking of the cruiser Matsushima in 1908. His second son Ōyama Kashiwa[ja] became an archaeologist after he retired from the army.
House
Ōyama, who spoke and wrote several European languages fluently, also liked European-style architecture. During his tenure as the War Minister, he built a large house in Tokyo modelled after a German castle.
Although he was very pleased with the design, his wife Sutematsu did not like it at all, and insisted that the children's room be remodelled in Japanese style, so that they would not forget their Japanese heritage.[13] The house was destroyed by the Great Kantō earthquake in 1923 or possibly by American air raids during World War II [citation needed].
Kimigayo
In 1869, the British military band instructor John William Fenton, who was then working in Yokohama as an o-yatoi gaikokujin, told the members of Japan's military band about the British national anthem "God Save the King" and emphasised the necessity of a similar national anthem for Japan. The band members requested artillery Captain Ōyama Iwao, who was well versed in Japanese and Chinese literature, to select appropriate words and Ōyama selected the poem which came to be used in Japan's national anthem kimigayo.[14]
Honours
Statue of General Ōyama Iwao at Kudanzaka in Tokyo.
↑ National Diet Library, Portraits of Modern Historical Figures
1 2 One or more of the preceding sentencesincorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Iwao, Ōyama". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol.31 (12thed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company. p.1226.
Gensui koshaku Oyama Iwao ("元帥公爵大山巌〔本編〕) ", with separate volume of Appendix. Oyama gensuiden kankokai (ed), 1935. Digital. Available only at the NDL and partner libraries.
Biography Editors of Field Marshal Oyama (大山元帥伝刊行会) (November 2012). 元帥公爵大山巌[Biography of Field Marshal Prince Iwao Oyama] (in Japanese) (reprinted.). Matsuno Bookseller (マツノ書店). JPNO22185550. Retrieved 25 March 2020.{{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help); |website= ignored (help) Based on 1940 edition.
Gensui koshaku Oyama Iwao Nempu ("元帥公爵大山巌 年譜"), by another group Oyama gensuiden kankojo (ed), 1940. Available only at the NDL and partner libraries. **Biography Editors of Field Marshal Oyama (大山元帥伝刊行会) (November 2012). 元帥公爵大山巌年譜[Timeline, Biography of Field Marshal Prince Iwao Oyama] (in Japanese) (reprinted.). Matsuno Bookseller (マツノ書店). JPNO22185551. Retrieved 25 March 2020.{{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help); |website= ignored (help)
Chounan, Masayoshi; 長南政義 (December 2007). "Oyama Iwao". In 伊藤隆; 季武嘉也 (eds.). 近現代日本人物史料情報辞典[Modern Japanese Historical Information Dictionary] (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kobunkan. JPNO21340667. Retrieved 25 March 2020.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
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