Shimazu Tadashige

Shimazu Tadashige
Shimazu Tadashige, as a sub-lieutenant
Born	October 20, 1886 Kagoshima, Japan
Died	April 4, 1968(1968-04-04) (aged 81)
Allegiance	Empire of Japan
Service/branch	Imperial Japanese Navy
Years of service	1904–1935
Rank	Rear Admiral

Prince Shimazu Tadashige (島津 忠重, 20 October 1886 – 4 April 1968), was the son of Shimazu Tadayoshi and 30th head of the Shimazu clan. He was a naval officer, and rear admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. His wife was the daughter of Tokudaiji Sanetsune.

A native of Kagoshima, Shimazu was largely raised at the Shimazu residence in Tokyo, where he attended the Gakushuin Peers’ School. In 1904, he entered the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, and graduated from the 35th class ranked 79th out of 172 cadets. He served his midshipman duty aboard the cruiser Itsukushima and battleship Fuji, and after commissioned as an ensign he was assigned to the cruisers Katori and Izumo.

Shimazu returned to specialized weaponry schools, and became a torpedo and naval artillery expert. As a sub-lieutenant, he served on the battleship Iwami and again on Katori. From 1911-1913, he left active service to assume his seat in the House of Peers, returning in December 1914 to the battleship Settsu after having completed navigation and advanced gunnery training. As lieutenant, he served aboard the Tsukuba and Kawachi during World War I, but not in a combat situation.