COUNT GENTARO

See also:

• COUNT GENTARO KODAMA (1852-1907)

KODAMA (1852-1907)  , Japanese general, was born in Choshu . He studied military science in Germany, and was appointed vice-minister of war in 1892 . He became governor-general of Formosa in 1900, holding at the same time the portfolio of war . When the conflict with Russia became imminent in 1903, he gave up his portfolio to become vice-chief of the general staff, a sacrifice which elicited much public applause . Throughout the Russo-Japanese War (19o4–5)he served as chief of staff to Field Marshal Oyama, and it was well under-stood that his genius guided the strategy of the whole campaign, as that of General Kawakami had done in the war with China ten years previously . General Kodama was raised in rapid succession to the ranks of baron, viscount and count, and his death in 1907 was regarded as a national calamity .