, (May 27, 1868 – March 27, 1904) was an officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy. His selfless sacrifice during the Russo-Japanese War elevated him to the status of a deified national hero. Born in what is now Taketa, Ōita, his father Shigetake was a judge, while his elder brother Katsuhiko was a rear admiral. He studied at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in Etajima, graduating in 1889. He served aboard the ironclad warship Fusō during the First Sino-Japanese War and saw action at the Battle of Yalu River on September 17, 1894. From 1897 to 1899 he was sent to study in Russia and stayed on as the resident military attaché in St. Petersburg until 1902. During his time as attaché he went on a tour of Germany, France and Great Britain. He was promoted to lieutenant commander in 1900.