Yamamoto Isoroku?

[GHP]

Is Yamamoto Isoroku in this photo? One WAF member, Gunto, thinks Yamamoto is in the rear row, 7th from the left. I thought it might be the man in the middle row, 3rd from the right



The photo was taken in London, 11 June 1930, just a couple of months after the conclusion of the Second London Naval Conference. Yamamoto entered the Conference as a Captain, but was promoted to Rear Admiral just a week or so after getting to London.

Prince Takamatsu-no-Miya (seated center in the arm chair) paid an official visit on 11 June 1930 to King George (Princess Kikuko Tokugawa is to the viewer's left of the Prince). Apparently the photo was taken after the Prince met with King George.

“...First Takamatsu must perform an official mission for the Emperor, his brother. Arriving in London on June 10, he would be received by King George the following day and thus return the visit to Japan last May of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, who invested Emperor Hirohito with the Order of the Garter....” The Montreal Gazette; page 3, February 5, 1930; found online at http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19300205&id=5m8tAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JYwFAAAAIBAJ& pg=6728,555415 (current as of April 14, 2010). [n.b. link dead]

The man in the red circle is my friend's grandfather who was an IJN paymaster Commander at the time and had dealings with shipbuilding logistics, etc. (he also went to France and Germany during those 13 months). He corresponded with Yamamoto; those letters from Yamamoto addressed to my friend's grandfather (a retired rear admiral) were thrown away in 1977 when he died. The Junk Man returned to her house and said, "Did you know there were letters from Yamamoto Isoroku in all that stuff? We got a lot of money for those letters!"

Thanks,
--Guy

[GHP]

For comparrison, here's a photo of Captain Yamamoto ca. 1925~ 1928:

[J7W22007]

Guy-San, is there any other source to view the photo?

Due to limited Internet restriction in China, I am not able to see the photos.

Regards,
Taka

[GHP]

Guy-San, is there any other source to view the photo?

Due to limited Internet restriction in China, I am not able to see the photos.

Regards,
Taka

Hi Taka ... gee, that's a tough situation!!! Can you receive the image as an attachment in an email? If so, send me your address via PM and I'll send you a copy.

OR ... I can send you the ImageShack link.

It's an original photograph, about 8X10 if I recall, and is in the possession of the family; it is not otherwise reproduced.

--Guy

[GHP]

ImageShack .... just in case

http://imageshack.us/a/img835/2503/s...zprinceeng.jpg

--Guy

[J7W22007]

Hi Guy-San,

Thank you for the historical photo.

The person at the back does look like Admiral Yamamoto.

How about when he was a Rear Admiral ?? (Two black bars)



Have you ever watch or heard the movie　連合艦隊司令長官 山本五十六 (Rengou Kantai Shirei Choukan Yamamoto Isoroku.) It was released by TOHO in 1968. Famous actor Toshirou Mifune as Admiral Yamamoto. It is one of my favorite movies.



Best regards,
Taka

[GHP]

Hi Taka-san,

Thanks for your input. I've not seen that movie, but will look around.

I was wondering if Yamamoto was still in England on 11 June 1930, so I checked his record.

Yappari, it appears he was still in London:

<table bgcolor="snow" border=""><tbody><tr><td>1929.11.12</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>Attendant to Plenipotentiary, London conference</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table bgcolor="snow" border=""><tbody><tr><td>1929.11.30</td> <td>RADM</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table bgcolor="snow" border=""><tbody><tr><td>1930. 9. 1</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>Att, NGS / Att, DoN / Att, NAC</td></tr></tbody></table>
So it looks like he was there from 12 Nov 1929 ~ 1 Sep 1930.
The photo was taken on 11 June 1930 -- so he COULD have been present.

--Guy

Edit: Abbreviations

Att, NGS Attendant, Naval General Staffs - Kaigun Gunreibu Shusshi or Gunreibu Shisshi
Att, DoN Attendant, Department of Navy / Ministry of Navy - Kaigun Sho
Att, NAC Attendant, Naval Air Command - Kaigun Koku Honbu Shusshi