Masaharu Ijichi

was a Japanese samurai retainer of the Shimazu clan, military strategist, and aristocrat. His imina was .

Biography Ijichi Masaharu was born near the walls of Kagoshima Castle. He was the second son, and his father was . As a boy, he was given the apotropaic name . His family was a branch of the , an old family allegedly descended from the ancient Taira.

At the age of 3, Ijichi was regarded as a child prodigy, but a childhood disease blinded his left eye and crippled his left leg. He suffered from the lameness caused by his disabled leg for the rest of his life.

Ijichi studied Yakumaru Jigen-ryū under the instruction of . He also studied the Satsuma Domain's traditional of military strategy under and later .

Encountering Ijichi in 1868, Ernest Satow described him as an "old, ugly, mis-shapen fellow".

Boshin War service During the Boshin War of 1868, Ijichi was appointed .

Ijichi Masaharu has been described as an . At the , Ijichi defeated an army of more than 2,500 soldiers with only 700 men under his command. He also provided tactical guidance at the Battle of Bonari Pass.

Ijichi's unique style of maneuver warfare revolved around small units of highly trained and heavily armed infantry advancing rapidly. In accordance with the teachings of the aggressive Gōden school, he made extensive use of walking fire.

After the war During the Seikanron debate of 1873, Ijichi was a strong advocate in support of the conquest of Korea. In 1884, he was created a . He died on May 23, 1886. He is described as having had an intense personality and brilliant mind, but there exist many anecdotes of his eccentricities.