Ryūnosuke Kusaka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ryūnosuke Kusaka
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Captain Kusaka Ryūnosuke (1934-40)
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| Native name |
草鹿 龍之介
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| Born | September 25, 1893 Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | November 23, 1971 (aged 78) |
| Allegiance |  Empire of Japan |
| Service/ |
 Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Years of service | 1913–1945 |
| Rank |  Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | Hōshō, Akagi, 4th Combined Air Group, 24th Air Flotilla, Yokosuka Naval Air Group, 5th Air Fleet |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Ryūnosuke Kusaka (草鹿 龍之介, Kusaka Ryūnosuke, 25 September 1893 – 23 November 1971) was an important admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He held a very high position as the Chief of Staff for the Combined Fleet. His cousin, Jinichi Kusaka, was also an admiral. Kusaka was also known for being the 4th leader of Ittō Shōden Mutō-ryū Kenjutsu, a famous Japanese sword fighting school.
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Who Was Ryūnosuke Kusaka?
Ryūnosuke Kusaka was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1893. His father was a director at a large company called Sumitomo zaibatsu. Even though he was born in Tokyo, his family was officially from Ishikawa Prefecture. He went to school in Osaka.
Early Life and Training
Kusaka joined the Imperial Japanese Navy Academy in 1913. He was a very good student, graduating 14th in his class of 118. After that, he went to the Naval Gunnery School in 1920.
He started his naval career on cruisers like the Azuma and Otowa. As he moved up in rank, he served on battleships such as the Kawachi and Kongō. He also served on destroyers and a repair ship.
In 1925, he became a lieutenant commander. That same year, he graduated from the Naval Staff College. He chose to specialize in naval aviation, which means he focused on airplanes used by the navy. After this, he led a naval fighter group and worked in many important roles.
Leading Ships and Fleets
In 1933, Kusaka became the second-in-command of the cruiser Iwate. By 1936, he was promoted to captain. This was a big step, and he was given his first command: the aircraft carrier Hōshō. Aircraft carriers are huge ships that carry many airplanes. In 1939, he became the captain of another aircraft carrier, the Akagi.
On November 15, 1940, he was promoted to rear admiral. He commanded the 24th Air Flotilla, which was a group of navy airplanes. In April 1941, he became the Chief of Staff for the 1st Air Fleet. He worked under Admiral Chūichi Nagumo.
World War II and Key Battles
As Chief of Staff, Kusaka helped plan and carry out important naval operations during World War II. He was involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor, which was a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base. He also played a role in the Battle of Midway. This battle was a major turning point in the war.
During the Battle of Midway, his ship, the Akagi, was badly damaged. Kusaka was injured while escaping the ship. He sprained both of his ankles and suffered burns.
Kusaka continued to serve in the fleet until November 1942. After that, he took on several other important staff jobs. On May 1, 1944, he was promoted to vice admiral. In November 1944, he became the Chief of Staff for the Combined Fleet. He worked under Admiral Soemu Toyoda. His last assignment was commanding the 5th Air Fleet. He took this command on the very day Japan surrendered to the Allies.
Ryūnosuke Kusaka in Movies
Ryūnosuke Kusaka's story has been told in several movies. Different actors have played him on screen:
- In the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!, he was played by Ichirō Ryūzaki.
- Pat Morita played him in the 1976 movie Midway.
- Tatsuya Mihashi portrayed him in the 1981 film Rengō Kantai (also known as The Imperial Navy).
- Ryûzô Hayashi played him in the 2005 film Otokotachi no Yamato.
See also
In Spanish: Ryūnosuke Kusaka para niños
