Eiki Nakayama

Admiral of the Fleet, Hero of Japan Eiki Nakayama

Eiki Nakayama was the Admiral of the fleet of Japan, he is one of the most celebrated military commanders of all time. He was born in 1555 into a moderately well off Samurai family. He would serve as a general in Takeshi's army during the unification wars, and would serve as Admiral of the fleet of Japan during the pacific wars and Indo Pacific wars. His inspirational leadership, unorthodox tactics, brought about a number of decisive Japanese victories in his career.

Early life

Eiki Nakayama was born on June 3rd 1555, as the 2nd of 4 children to Ezume Nakayama and his wife Fumiko Nakayama. He would attend school until the age of 18 when he would go off to fight in 1573. He distinguished himself as a logistical genius, being able to transport men and supplies across the rugged terrain of Japan. In 1583 the army he served in dissolved and mutinied, he was spared the treatment that generals such as Hanzō Gushiken, for he was simply a logistics officer at the time.

Early Career

In 1584 after Gushiken's armies had dissolved he would join as a general in the armies of the Mutō clan. He would perform fine in this role, however he would be consistently outdone by his peers in everything but logistics. From 1584 to 1588 he would serve as a low ranking general in the army, and mostly tasked with managing logistics rather than fighting battles. When the Unification wars finally came to an end Takeshi took note of his logistics skills and relative independence to his orders, and in 1590 he sent him to study naval tactics and strategy.

Later Career

In 1592 With nobody else near capable, Takeshi chose Eiki to be the Admiral of his new fleet. This new fleet would soon see action as the pacific wars would start only months later. Eiki would distingiush himself in battle, as not only being a logistical genius, but also being a very good Naval commander. He would win a series of crucial battles such as the battle of Batan, the Battle of the Luzon Strait, and the battle of Polillo. Later on in the pacific wars he would face a defeat at the Battle of Simuelue islands, however only a couple months later he would redeem himself by pulling off a remarkable victory at the Battle of Siberut island. After this battle and subsequent eventual victory in the pacific he would no longer fight any major naval battles, the Indo Pacific wars were almost entirely void of naval battles, however he would retain his title as Admiral of the Fleet until his death.

Death

In 1650, he and his wife Kiko Nakayama would die peacefully in their house, he would write.

"My only regret, is the fact that I die now knowing that my job is not complete, as there is only one proper way for a professional soldier to die, the last stab, of the last battle, of the last war."
-Eiki Nakayama, 1650

He would be cremated and put in the 英雄の霊廟, Eiyū no reibyō, Mausoleum of Heroes Just as Namiyo Murata was.

Religious views

Eiki Nakayama was a devout Zen Buddhist.

Evaluation

Eiki was a highly effective leader and held in high regard. One of his many talents was to sympathise with the needs of his men. Some aspects of his life were controversial the most controversial being his role in Gushiken's army. In Japan he is regarded as a hero of Japan and someone to look up to. Some criticize his role in a war which "Had no other reason other than the expansion of Japan and personal glory," however more often this criticism is leavened against Takeshi.
His personality was complex and often based around a desire for approval. This desire to be approved, however was never something that was extremely noticeable, throughout all of his dealing he would be level headed and calm, he was relatively easily flattered by praise, however he always had the feeling that he never deserved any that he got. Kiyoshi Sawaya wrote

"Hero of Japan, Admiral of the fleet of Japan, and Terrifying warrior. He wouldn't let it show in public, but inside he feels he is none of these things."
Kiyoshi Sawaya, 1623 

Wives, Mistresses, and Children

Eiki Nakayama was known to only have one wife and that being Kiko Nakayama which he married in 1582. He would also have 3 children, Kono Nakayama, Mai Nakayama, and Manzo Nakayama.

Social

Religious Views

Zen Buddhist

Age

95

Date of Birth

June 3rd

Life

1555 1650

Birthplace

Hyogo, Japan