Yuzuru Hiraga

Naval architect and warship designer. Born in Hiroshima Prefecture. Graduated from the Department of Shipbuilding at the College of Technology, Tokyo Imperial University in 1901 (Meiji 34). Commissioned as a naval shipbuilding engineer. After the Russo-Japanese War, he studied at the Royal Naval College. He was involved in warship design at the Naval Naval Staff Office for many years, and in particular, as the person in charge of detailed design of the battleship "Yamashiro" at the beginning of the Taisho era, he adopted many excellent technologies for warship structure. He then designed the basic designs for "Nagato" and "Mutsu" as well as all the capital ships of the 8-8 fleet, and designed many excellent ships that were the pride of the world. After the construction of capital ships was halted due to the Naval Disarmament Treaty (1921), he designed the cruisers "Yubari," "Furutaka," and "Myoko." At the end of the Taisho era, he moved to the Naval Technical Research Institute, and later served as its director. From 1909 onwards, he lectured on subjects such as the design, construction and outfitting of warships as a professor at the Imperial University of Tokyo, and in 1935 (Showa 10) he became dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and in 1938 he became president. In 1928 he received the Imperial Academy Prize, and was the first foreigner to receive the Gold Medal from the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.

[Shizuo Fukui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

造船学者、軍艦設計者。広島県生まれ。1901年（明治34）東京帝国大学工科大学造船学科を卒業。海軍造船中技士に任官。日露戦争後、イギリス海軍大学校に留学した。多年にわたり海軍艦政本部で軍艦設計に従事、ことに大正の初め戦艦「山城(やましろ)」の詳細設計の責任者として軍艦構造に多くの優れた技術を採用、ついで「長門(ながと)」「陸奥(むつ)」および八八艦隊の全主力艦の基本設計を行い、世界に誇る多くの優秀艦を設計した。軍縮条約（1921）による主力艦の建造中止後は巡洋艦「夕張」「古鷹(ふるたか)」「妙高」などを設計した。大正末、海軍技術研究所に転じ、のち所長を務めた。1909年以降東京帝国大学教授として軍艦の設計・構造・艤装(ぎそう)などの講義を担当、1935年（昭和10）工学部長となり、1938年総長となった。1928年帝国学士院賞を受け、またイギリス造船学会から外国人として初の金牌(きんぱい)を授与された。

［福井静夫］

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