Hirose Katsuhiko

(September 20, 1862 – October 20, 1920) was a Japanese Rear-Admiral of the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War. He was known as the elder brother of the war hero Hirose Takeo as well as the commander of the Akitsushima during the Battle of Tsushima.

Early military career Born in Bungo Province (modern day Oita Prefecture) as the eldest son of Hirose Shigetake, a feudal retainer of the Oka clan and the head of the court with his only brother being Hirose Takeo. In October 1883, he graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy's 10th class and became an assistant lieutenant in the navy. In April 1886, he was commissioned as an ensign.

In August 1889, he was promoted to lieutenant and assumed the command of the Nisshin. After that, he successively held positions such as captain of the Atago and Nisshin, squad leader of the Ryūjō, Chief Messenger of Sasebo Naval District and as a messenger of the Minister and Secretary of the Navy, Saigō Jūdō. In June 1893, he became chief gunnery officer of the Naniwa and participated in the First Sino-Japanese War within the Battle of Pungdo.

In September 1895, he became a member of the second Bureau of the Naval General Staff and an adjutant but then went on a business trip to the United Kingdom aboard the Takasago. In December 1897, he was promoted to lieutenant commander of the navy and appointed chief gunnery officer of the Takasago. After working as a staff officer at the Kure Naval Base, he was promoted to Commander in October 1898. In December of the same year, he was assigned to the first Bureau of the Naval General Staff and Adjutant to Marshal Saigō Jūdō, after which he successively served as deputy commanders of the Kasagi, the Iwate, and the Mikasa, as well as chief of the inspection department of the Kure Arsenal.

Russo-Japanese War In December 1903, he became captain of the Oshima and went to the Russo-Japanese War and initially participated in the Battle of Port Arthur. On May 18, 1904, the Oshima was hit by the gunboat Akagi and sank in heavy fog while on a patrol off the coast of Lushun.

Court Ranks Senior Eighth Rank (July 8, 1886) Junior Seventh Rank (December 16, 1891) Senior Sixth Rank (October 31, 1898) Senior Fifth Rank (July 20, 1909) Junior Fourth Rank (December 20, 1911)

Awards Order of the Rising Sun, 6th Class (November 18, 1895) Order of the Golden Kite, 5th Class (November 18, 1895)

Foreign Awards Commemorative Medal of the Emperor of Korea's Southwest Tour (April 14, 1910)