Tatsumi Naofumi

Tatsumi Naofumi
Tatsumi Naofumi in his later years
Born	August 21, 1845 Kuwana, Japan
Died	March 6, 1907(1907-03-06) (aged 61) Tokyo, Japan
Allegiance	Tokugawa Shogunate (1867-1871) Empire of Japan (1877-1907)
Service/branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Years of service	1867-1871, 1877-1907
Rank	General
Commands held	Shinsenryodan, Army War College, 8th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	Boshin War *Battle of Kaminarizuka Satsuma Rebellion First Sino-Japanese War *Battle of Pyongyang Russo-Japanese War *Battle of Sandepu *Battle of Mukden

Baron Tatsumi Naofumi (立見 尚文^?, 21 August 1845 – 6 March 1907) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Meiji period.

Also known as Tatsumi Kanzaburō (立見鑑三郎^?) in his youth, Tatsumi was born in the Kuwana domain's (Ise Province, present-day Mie Prefecture) Edo residence, to Kuwana retainer Machida Dendayu, and was later adopted by his uncle, Tatsumi Johei. At age five, the young Tatsumi went to Kuwana with his adoptive father, and at age 8 entered the domain school, Rikkyokan, studying literature and martial arts, and receiving a commendation for academic excellence at age 15. Soon after, Matsudaira Sadaaki became daimyo of Kuwana, and Tatsumi became his page, with a 180 koku stipend. Together with Matsudaira Sadaaki, he left for Edo in 1861, where was permitted to attend the elite Shogunate school at Shoheiko, and where he was hailed as a prodigy.

When Matsudaira Sadaaki was appointed as Kyoto Shoshidai, Tatsumi followed him to Kyoto, where he served as a liaison with other domains. It was in this role that he met many of the men who would later become famous in the Meiji period, including Katsura Kogoro, Ōkubo Toshimichi, and Saigō Takamori. Before long, though, he was transferred back to Edo and entered the Tokugawa bakufu's French-trained infantry. His French military instructors were said to have remarked, "Tatsumi is a genius of a soldier." He later served in the Bakufu's 3rd Infantry Regiment.