Hiroharu Kato

Admiral. Born in Tokyo on October 2, 1870. Graduated from the Naval Academy in 1891 (Meiji 24). Participated in the Russo-Japanese War as gunnery officer on the battleship Mikasa. Later served as executive officer of the warships Asama and Tsukuba, military attaché to the British Embassy, ​​and captain of the Tsukuba and Ibuki. After serving as principal of the Naval Gunnery School, commander of the 5th Squadron, and principal of the Naval War College, he became chief attendant at the Washington Naval Conference in 1921 (Taisho 10). He subsequently served as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Commander-in-Chief of the Yokosuka Naval District, and Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet. He was Chief of the Naval Staff and Military Councilor before being placed in the reserves in 1935. During the London Naval Treaty Conference in 1930, he strongly advocated a 70% ratio of cruisers to the United States, and was at odds with Prime Minister Hamaguchi Osachi and Navy Minister Takarabe Takeshi. He advocated the protection of supreme command, and played a central role in the hard-line faction within the navy that opposed the Washington Treaty. He died on February 9, 1939.

[Hideo Kobayashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

海軍大将。明治3年10月2日東京に生まれる。1891年（明治24）海軍兵学校卒業。戦艦三笠(みかさ)砲術長として日露戦争に参加する。以降、軍艦浅間(あさま)・筑波(つくば)の副長、駐英大使館付武官、筑波・伊吹(いぶき)の艦長を歴任し、海軍砲術学校校長、第五戦隊司令官、海軍大学校校長を経て1921年（大正10）ワシントン軍縮会議主席随員となった。ついで軍令部次長、横須賀鎮守府司令長官、連合艦隊司令長官を歴任、軍令部長、軍事参議官を経て1935年予備役。1930年のロンドン軍縮会議の際には、巡洋艦対米7割の線を強硬に主張し、浜口雄幸(はまぐちおさち)首相、財部彪(たからべたけし)海相と対立、統帥権擁護を主張して、ワシントン条約に反対する海軍内強硬派の中心人物として活動した。昭和14年2月9日没。

［小林英夫］

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