Takeichi Nishi
| Takeichi Nishi | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Native name | 西 竹一 |
| Nickname(s) | Baron Nishi |
| Born |
July 12, 1902 Azabu, Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | March 22, 1945 (aged 42) Iwo Jima, Japan |
| Allegiance |
 Empire of Japan
|
| Service/branch |
 Imperial Japanese Army
|
| Years of service | 1924-1945 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands held | 26th Tank Regiment, Mudanjiang |
| Battles/wars | |
| Relations | Son of Nishi Tokujirō |
| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Equestrian | ||
 |
Los Angeles 1932 | Show jumping individual |
Colonel Baron Takeichi Nishi (西 竹一 Nishi Takeichi?, July 12, 1902 – c. March 22, 1945) was an Imperial Japanese Army officer, equestrian show jumper, and Olympic Gold Medalist at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. He was a tank unit commander at the Battle of Iwo Jima and was killed in action during the defense of the island.
Nishi was born in the Azabu district of Tokyo. He was the illegitimate third son of Tokujirō Nishi, a danshaku (baron under the kazoku peerage system). His mother was not married to Tokujirō and was forced to leave the house soon after giving birth. His father had various high-level positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Imperial Privy Council, leading up to Ambassador to China's Qing Dynasty during the Boxer Rebellion.
Nishi went to Gakushuin pre-school and, while in elementary school, repeatedly got into fights with students of nearby Bancho elementary school. In 1912, at the age of 10, he succeeded to the title of Baron upon the death of his father. In 1915, he entered Tokyo First Junior High School (now Hibiya High School) in accordance with the dying wishes of his father; his classmates included Hideo Kobayashi, future pre-eminent literary critic, and Hisatsune Sakomizu, who would be Chief Cabinet Secretary in 1945.
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