AdmiralJapanese NavyGovernor-General of TaiwanNanjing Massacre
Kiyoshi Hasegawa (admiral)
Kiyoshi Hasegawa was an Imperial Japanese Navy admiral and Governor-General of Taiwan, known for his moderated policies and postwar maritime contributions.
Kiyoshi Hasegawa's early life and education laid the foundation for his distinguished naval career, which began with his enrollment in the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy and continued through his participation in significant early 20th-century conflicts.
Hasegawa was born on 7 May 1883, in the village of Yashiro, located in the Asuwa district of Fukui Prefecture, which is now part of Fukui City. He was the second son of a doctor, Hasegawa Tsugunaka. From an early age, while attending Fukui Middle School, Hasegawa harbored aspirations of joining the navy. He withdrew from Fukui Middle School in his fourth year and transferred to Seisoku English School. In 1900, he graduated from high school and, on 17 December, enrolled in the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy. He entered the 31st class, ranking 7th among 196 entrants.
Hasegawa graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy on 14 December 1903, achieving the 6th rank in his class of 173. Upon graduation, he joined the crew of the Matsushima as a midshipman. On 4 January 1904, he transferred to the Yashima. As his class graduated on the eve of the Russo-Japanese War, they did not undertake the customary long-distance navigational training voyages, which were only resumed after the conflict.
On 23 May 1904, Hasegawa was transferred to the battleship Mikasa. He sustained minor wounds at the Battle of the Yellow Sea on 10 August and was commissioned an ensign on 10 September. He served at the decisive Battle of Tsushima on 27 May 1905, where he was promoted to sub-lieutenant on 5 August. He was wounded again when the Mikasa exploded and sank at Sasebo on 11 September. After his recovery, he was assigned to the cruiser Itsukushima and embarked on a training cruise from 15 February 1906, returning to Sasebo on 25 August. He rejoined the Mikasa five days later after its reconstruction. Hasegawa was assigned to the destroyer Shirotae on 23 February 1907, and promoted to lieutenant on 25 September 1908.
Hasegawa furthered his education by enrolling at the Naval War College as a Class B student on 25 May 1909, and entered the naval torpedo school on 24 November. After graduating on 23 May 1910, he was assigned as a squad leader to the Asama on 25 May, and then to the Kasagi on 24 June. He undertook a cruise from 16 October, visiting Honolulu, San Francisco, and Acapulco, returning to Japan on 6 March 1911. He was appointed to the staff of the Second Fleet on 11 March and became an instructor at the Naval War College torpedo school on 1 December. He enrolled as a Class A student at the Naval War College on 1 December 1912, and was promoted to lieutenant-commander on 1 December 1913. He graduated on 27 May 1914, ranking second in his class of 16, and briefly commanded the destroyer Mikazuki before being assigned as an aide to the admiral of the Second Fleet.
During World War I, Hasegawa participated in the Siege of Tsingtao in October 1914 as a staff member of the Second Fleet. In February 1915, he was assigned to the Personnel Department of the Navy Ministry. On 1 April 1916, he was appointed assistant secretary to the Minister of the Navy and future Prime Minister, Admiral Katō Tomosaburō.
Hasegawa's naval career progressed through significant command roles, diplomatic postings, and involvement in policy-making, demonstrating his influence on naval strategy and international relations.
On 1 December 1917, Hasegawa was assigned as an assistant naval attaché at the Japanese embassy in Washington, D.C., and was promoted to commander a year later. During this period, anti-Japanese sentiments and general fears of the "yellow peril" were prevalent. Concerns about eavesdropping prompted embassy officials to prohibit the use of the Japanese language within the embassy, requiring staff to communicate solely in English. Hasegawa, however, personally believed the Americans had genuinely decent motives. He formed a close friendship with Yamamoto Isoroku, who later succeeded him as naval attaché. Hasegawa was promoted to naval attaché in Washington on 20 March 1919, returning to Japan the following year to resume service in the Personnel Department of the Navy Ministry. His time in Washington solidified his pro-American stance.
On 1 December 1922, Hasegawa was promoted to captain and appointed director of the Personnel Department. He was appointed to the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff on 1 November 1923. Although Hasegawa held differing views from his superior, Admiral Katō, they maintained harmonious relations. Hasegawa advocated for the admittance of all qualified candidates to the Naval Academy and Naval War College, irrespective of their political affiliations. This principle cemented his friendship with Terashima Ken, a fellow captain and future vice-admiral, with whom he maintained a deep bond until Hasegawa's death. They had pledged that the survivor would serve as the funeral committee chairman for the other. Hasegawa was again appointed naval attaché in Washington on 10 November 1923, returning to Japan on 15 April 1926. He was given command of the Nisshin, a coastal defense vessel and former cruiser, on 1 May, and received command of the Nagato on 1 December.
Hasegawa was promoted to rear admiral on 1 December 1927 and appointed commander of the Yokosuka Naval District. He was appointed commander of the Third Torpedo Squadron on 1 September 1929 and commander of the Submarine Squadron on 30 November. The following year, he was appointed head of naval policy in the Navy Ministry, and commander of the Kure Naval Arsenal on 1 December 1931. Re-appointed to the Naval General Staff in October 1932, Hasegawa attended the World Disarmament Conference in Geneva as a delegate from April to October 1933. He was promoted to vice-admiral on 1 December 1933 and became Vice-Minister of the Navy in May 1934.
In December 1936, Hasegawa was given command of a fleet, and was appointed commander of the Third Fleet on 20 October 1937. The Panay Incident occurred during his tenure as fleet commander. In this incident, Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft mistakenly bombed and sank the American gunboat USS Panay, and the Imperial Japanese Army shelled the British gunboat HMS Ladybird. Upon learning of the incident, Hasegawa immediately conveyed his regrets and apologies to the American and British diplomatic representatives. This swift and respectful response impressed the Allied authorities and was a significant factor in his later acquittal from war crimes charges at the Tokyo Trials.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Third Fleet in China, Hasegawa met with several Chinese admirals and generals, many of whom respected him for his civil and courteous behavior, despite the ongoing Second Sino-Japanese War. Hasegawa was known for his quick decision-making; following the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, he met with China Expeditionary Army leaders and, within two days, finalized and implemented the division of roles for army and navy air forces. His immediate decisions were crucial for the successful execution of the world's first trans-oceanic bombing during the Second Shanghai Incident. He was once again assigned to command the Yokosuka Naval District on 25 April 1938, and was promoted to full admiral on 1 December 1939.
Hasegawa's tenure as Governor-General of Taiwan marked a significant period in the island's history, characterized by administrative policies that sought to balance wartime objectives with social and cultural considerations.
Hasegawa was appointed a military councillor on 1 May 1940, and on 27 November, he was appointed the 18th Governor-General of Taiwan. Although it was customary for Governors-General to be retired military officers, the Naval Minister, Koshirō Oikawa, insisted on Hasegawa remaining on active service. This was likely due to the Navy's focus on the southward expansion policy, for which an active-duty admiral was deemed more suitable. Hasegawa arrived in Taihoku (now Taipei) on 16 December 1940. An anecdote from his official welcoming ceremony recounts him, in a burst of exuberance, picking up a maid and sitting her on his lap while expressing gratitude for the welcome, a gesture that reportedly astonished many present. He relinquished his office on 30 December 1944 and returned to Japan, succeeded by Rikichi Andō, who concurrently served as the Taiwan Army Commander.
Governor Hasegawa inspecting air defense drills in Daitōtei, Taihoku City, in 1942.
During Hasegawa's tenure as Governor-General, he focused on educational reforms. A preparatory course for Taihoku Imperial University was established, and compulsory education at the elementary level was strengthened, contributing to the broader dissemination of education on the island.
Crucially, Hasegawa moderated the radical Kominka (Japanization) movement in Taiwan. This movement, vigorously promoted by his predecessor, Seizō Kobayashi, aimed to replace Taiwanese folk religion with Japanese Shinto and forcibly assimilate the Taiwanese population into Japanese culture. Hasegawa's approach was less extreme, showing a degree of consideration for the existing Taiwanese social structure and cultural practices. While still pursuing Japanization policies, his moderation helped mitigate some of the harsher impacts on Taiwanese society, culture, and the rights of its inhabitants compared to the more aggressive policies of his predecessor.
Following his governorship, Hasegawa continued to serve in the Imperial Japanese Navy during the final stages of World War II and played a significant role in Japan's postwar maritime development after facing war crimes allegations.
Hasegawa had been considered as a candidate for Naval Minister in the new cabinet of Suzuki Kantarō; however, he was instead appointed inspector-general of the Imperial Navy. From 1 June 1945, he headed an office conducting research into advanced naval technologies. In February 1945, as a military councillor, Hasegawa was appointed Naval Special Force Inspector, tasked with inspecting gunpowder factories, naval districts, and special attack units (both underwater and surface). On 12 June 1945, he reported directly to the Emperor that while the morale of the naval forces was high, they faced severe material shortages and deficiencies in their war preparations. This office continued to function until the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945. Along with all other Imperial officers, he entered the reserves on 30 November 1945, concluding over four decades of active service.
In late 1946, along with many other leading politicians and military commanders, Hasegawa was arrested as a suspected Class A war criminal by the American occupation authorities. He was incarcerated in Sugamo Prison for approximately two months. He was specifically questioned by GHQ officers regarding his role as commander of naval forces in China at the time of the Panay Incident. Hasegawa made a formal apology to the American and British officers, and his integrity and prior actions in handling the incident impressed the court. Consequently, he was acquitted of the charges and released from Sugamo Prison on 14 January 1947. He was, however, provisionally designated for public office purge on 28 November 1947.
Following his release, in 1951, Hasegawa sat on an advisory committee composed of former Imperial Japanese Navy officers. This committee oversaw the formation of the post-war Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, leveraging his extensive naval experience to contribute to Japan's new maritime defense capabilities. He also served as an advisor for the Suikokai (Naval Officers' Association) from 1 November 1952.
Hasegawa was married to Sumako Hasegawa. They had a son, Hajime Hasegawa, who worked for Mitsui & Co., and a second daughter, Yasuko Hasegawa. His grandson is Akio Jissoji, a renowned Japanese film director and screenwriter. Jissoji once commented in his book "Monsters' Days" that his grandfather passed away after watching his first feature film, Mujo, suggesting the film might have been too stimulating for him.
Hasegawa was widely regarded as a gentle, broad-minded, and magnanimous individual. His motto was swift decision-making and immediate action. However, he also emphasized dialogue, even with adversaries, and was willing to humble himself to preserve the honor of others. Despite his active role during a period of escalating tensions and conflicts with Britain, China, and the United States, there were remarkably few criticisms or slanders against him, a testament to his strong reputation and popularity.
Inoue Seibi, known for his harsh criticisms of most Imperial Japanese Navy admirals, held Hasegawa in high regard, rating him as a "second-class admiral." Inoue praised Hasegawa's support for Mitsumasa Yonai's continuation as Navy Minister during the formation of the Suzuki Kantarō cabinet, stating, "That's typical of Hasegawa-san. Such an attitude is what today's politicians need." Inoue also suggested Hasegawa as a suitable successor for the Chief of the Naval General Staff after Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu resigned, lamenting that he should have pushed harder for Hasegawa's appointment when Osami Nagano was chosen instead.
Kiyoshi Hasegawa's death marked the end of a life dedicated to naval service and public administration, leaving behind a legacy shaped by his professional achievements and personal character.
Kiyoshi Hasegawa passed away on 2 September 1970, at his home in Meguro Ward, Tokyo, at the age of 87, due to a cerebral hemorrhage. His death occurred on the 25th anniversary of the end of World War II. His funeral was held on 9 September 1970, at Aoyama Funeral Hall. His grave is located at the Kamakura Reien Cemetery in Kamakura.
Hasegawa's legacy is multifaceted, encompassing his distinguished naval career, his nuanced governorship of Taiwan, and his contributions to Japan's postwar maritime forces. He is remembered for his leadership during critical periods, including his command during the Panay Incident where his immediate apology and integrity played a significant role in his later acquittal from war crimes charges. His moderation of the Kominka movement in Taiwan, while still part of a broader assimilation policy, reflected a more tempered approach to governance that considered local societal impacts. His personal character, described as gentle, broad-minded, and decisive, earned him widespread respect and admiration, even from those with whom he had ideological differences. His familial connections include his grandson, the acclaimed film director and screenwriter Akio Jissoji.
