Nishikubo Toyoichiro (西久保豊一郎)
Toyoichiro NISHIKUBO (January 7, 1870 - July 12, 1905) was a military man of Japan. He successively served as chief of the 1st Battalion of the 50th Infantry Regiment and chief of battalion of the 29th Reserve Infantry Regiment and so on; and although he showed a brave performance in the Russo-Japanese War, he was killed in the battle for the capture of Karafuto. His last official rank was major of the army infantry and he was given the medal of the Golden Kite (according to Japanese Ranks and Orders). His father Kirin NISHIKUBO who had served as county mayor and chief of inspectors of Mie Prefecture received Jushichii (Junior Seventh Rank). His older brother Hiromichi NISHIKUBO served as director general of the Hokkaido Government (1886 - 1947), the Superintendent-General of the Metropolitan Police and governor of Tokyo. His oldest son Toyonari NISHIKUBO was second lieutenant of the army infantry and given the rank of Jushichii (Junior Seventh Rank).
Military Career
On March 21, 1892: Appointed second lieutenant of the army infantry for the 1st Infantry Regiment
July 6, 1892: Received Shohachii (Senior Eighth Rank)
November 14, 1892: Appointed lieutenant of the army infantry
February 28, 1895: Received Jushichii (Junior Seventh Rank)
June 25, 1895: Appointed as judge of court-martial of the 1st Division
October 12, 1895: Received the sixth grade medal of the Rising Sun of Silver Rays for his achievement in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 and 1895, with a pension of 70 yen
November 18, 1895: Received the medal for campaigner for the war of 1894 and 1895
March 6, 1896: Received the fifth grade medal of king of Italy
March 12, 1896: Transferred to 1st Infantry Regiment for the Defense of Taiwan
August 27, 1896: Transferred to the 1st Infantry Regiment
November 24, 1896: Appointed judge of court-martial of the 1st Division
February 23, 1897: Granted the 1st grade
December 6, 1897: Appointed captain of the army infantry and chief of company of the 46th Infantry Regiment
December 24, 1897: Received Shoshichii (Senior Seventh Rank)
July 12, 1901: Granted the 1st grade
November 30, 1901: Received the fifth grade order of the Sacred Treasure
January 27 1902: Appointed as adjutant of the 46th Infantry Regiment
March 30, 1903: Received Jurokui (Junior Sixth Rank)
September 12, 1904: Appointed major of the army infantry and transferred to chief of battalion of the 29th Reserve Infantry Regiment
December 8, 1904: Received Imperial Donation
January 29, 1905: Transferred to supplemental battalion of the 2nd Infantry Regiment
April 2, 1905: Appointed as chief of the 1st Battalion of the 50th Infantry Regiment
July 12, 1905: Died in a battle and received Shorokui (Senior Sixth Rank), the fourth grade Cordon of the Rising Sun of Gold Rays, the medal of the Golden Kite for the achievement of the fourth grade, and a pension of 500 yen
Before Becoming a Military Officer
On January 7, 1870, Nishikubo was born in Hachinohe, Nabeshima Village, Saga County, Hizen Province; in 1874 he moved to Tokyo with his father, and in August 1875, entered Tomoe First Elementary School in Tomoe-cho, Shiba Word, Tokyo (later the school was changed its name to Tomoe Elementary School, and belonged to Minato Word, and closed in March 1991). In October, 1877, he was transferred to Nissin Elementary School of Saga City, Saga Prefecture. In April 1879, he was transferred again to Yosei Elementary School of Tsu City, Mie Prefecture due to his father's transfer. In August 1883, he went on to Tsu Junior High School in Mie Prefecture (present Tsu High School of Mie Prefecture). He had been awarded the honor prizes eight times at total through elementary school and junior high school before he graduated from the fourth grade of junior high school on February 24, 1886. In August 25, 1886, he entered the Military Academy (Japan) as a preparatory student, and in September of the following year, he was appointed official in charge of clothing and provision for his excellent results in academic subjects. In July 1888, he was appointed leader of the boardinghouse. In July 6, 1889, he graduated from the Military Preparatory School, and on the same day, became a cadet to enter the 1st Infantry Regiment. In January 1890, he entered Military Academy, and graduated on July 30, 1890. On the same day, he joined back to the 1st Infantry Regiment, and was appointed probationary officer. In the cadet class of the second which Nishikubo had been belonging to, there were also General Hisaichi SUGANO who served as commander of the Taiwan army (Japanese Army), General Morishige MORIOKA who served as commander of the Korean army (Japanese Army), General Takao SUZUKI who served as chief of the technical office of the army and so on.
Brave Performance in the Sino-Japanese War
On March 2, 1892, he was appointed second lieutenant of the army infantry and ordered to attend on the 1st Infantry Regiment to be assigned to the 4th company. On July 6 of the same year, he received Shohachii (Senior Eighth Rank). Nishikubo's earnest attitude was recognized and received the honor that Major General Maresuke NOGI, who was chief of the 1st Infantry Brigade at that time, visited the company to watch the operations directly. On August 30, 1894, Japan and Qing severed diplomatic relations and the army was put on a war footing, and Nishikubo was sent to the front as well on September 24. He was transferred to the 2nd Army (Japanese army) to leave Tokyo; on October 16, he left Hiroshima Port, and on October 24, landed on Huayuankou, Qing. He took part in the battle of Shilazi Highland and captured Jinzhoucheng; and on November 21, he took part in the battle near to Lushun, and on the next day, captured the gun battery at Mantoushan. They went through Jinzhou, Pulandian and Xiongyuecheng, and January 10, 1895, captured Gaipingcheng; then on February 24, he took part in the battle of Xiaopingshan, and on March 6, attacked Yingkou. On April 17, the diplomatic relations were restored, and on May 22, he left the port of Dalian City and on June 9, returned to Tokyo. Meanwhile, he was transferred from the 2nd Company to the 1st Company, and advanced to lieutenant. On June 25, he was ordered to serve at the court-martial, and on October 12 of the same year, he received the sixth grade order of the Rising Sun of Silver Rays with a pension of 70 yen.
Taiwan, Tokyo, Omura
After triumphantly returning from the Sino-Japanese War, on March 12, 1896, Nishikubo was transferred to the 1st Infantry Regiment for the Defense of Taiwan and on March 20 assigned to the 9th Company. Although on April 4, he arrived at Taiwan, within the same day he was transferred to the 12th Company for the Defense of Taiwan. On July 25 of the same year, he was appointed deputy adjutant of battalion, and from August 27 onward, worked for the defense of Hualian-gang Port. On September 11, he was transferred to the 1st Infantry Regiment of Tokyo, and on October 26 returned to Tokyo. After assigned to the 5th Company, he was appointed judge of court-martial of the 1st Division again. In September 1897, he had experience of serving as member of the final examination committee for probationary reservist; and on October 25 of the same year, he was transferred to the 46th Infantry Regiment of Omura (in Nagasaki Prefecture). In December, he was raised to captain and appointed chief of the sixth Company. After successively serving as member of the mobilization planning committee, member of the committee for revision of educational regulations, and instructor of Japanese and Chinese classics in elective course, on August 10, 1901, he was ordered to enter the Army Toyama School as a student to learn shooting, and graduated on December 24. Meantime, he married Hide NISHIKUBO, the first-born daughter of Tadao ISHII from warrior class in his hometown Saga Prefecture, and on July 8 of the following year, their first son Toyonari NISHIKUBO was given a birth. On January 27, 1902, he was appointed adjutant of the 46th Infantry Regiment and had experience of serving as member of the equestrian committee for the 6th Division (Japanese Army) and member of the equestrian committee for officers in Omura.
Injury in Two Battles
On February 10, 1904, the Imperial edict of announcing the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War was issued. Nishikubo was ordered to go to the front as adjutant of regiment and on February 16 departed. On February 18, he got on board from Nagasaki (Nagasaki Prefecture) and on February 22, arrived at Incheon, Korea, and went to Kyongsong. In March, he went through Goyang, Kansong, Kimju, Sohung, Pongsan, Huangju, and arrived at Pyongyang; and in April, advanced to Anju, Geosan, and Jongju. On April 29, he waded across Amnok River from the upriver of Uiju and pursued the enemy from Seoksong (Shicheng in Chinese) to Daerubang (Daloufang in Chinese), and finally defeated them near Gemada (in present China). In June, his troop was appointed the vanguard and advanced to Tesasan (Taizishan in Chinese) to occupy Choikabang (Cuijiafang in Chinese). On July 18, in the battle at Qiaotou near to Xichuan, he served as orderly, and during the battle he was injured in buttocks and legs by shrapnel, and sent back to Japan. On August 16, he was hospitalized in the Kokura Hoppo supporting hospital (in Fukuoka Prefecture); and on September 9, he left the hospital not recovering completely, and soon was transferred to the 46th Infantry Regiment and went back to Omura. On September 12, he was raised to major and appointed chief of battalion of the 29th Reserve Infantry Regiment, and he went to the front again; on October 5, he went through Dalian (in present China) and joined the troop stationed around Liaoyang. Nishikubo fought as commander of frontline troops, and on October 13, occupied the eastern highland of Shaoda mountain range, and on October 26, attacked the southern highland of Waitoushan (in present China). However, in this battle, he was seriously injured on the head and sent back to Japan again.
Capture of Karafuto
The injured Nishikubo was sent to the Sendai supporting hospital (in Miyagi Prefecture), and on January 14, 1905 during his hospitalization, the Empress's messenger visited the hospital to comfort soldiers. On January 29, he left the hospital and was transferred to supplemental battalion of the 2nd Infantry Regiment. On April 2, he was appointed chief of the 1st Battalion of the 50th Infantry Regiment and went to Tokyo. As chief of battalion, he was assigned to go to Karafuto. On July 3, he left Aomori Port; and on July 7, he landed on Mereya Village of Karafuto. After camped at Sauenapachi, he left for Korsakov (Sakhalin) at 3: 30 in the morning. At 6: 00 a.m. of July 10, he advanced northward and they were camped at Khomtvka. On the following day, he left at 4: 00 a.m. and went to Frigene to occupy. His scouts located hundreds of enemies in the forest lying north of Dariene, so they were camped there; and on July 12, since 3: 40 a.m. he deployed his troop, and at 7: 40 a.m. they began advancing and approached up to one hundred meters from the enemies. Being barraged with machinegun, his troop captured the enemy's position. However, in this battle, the enemy's bullet penetrated the throat artery of Major Nishikubo and he died instantly. For his many achievements in the Russo-Japanese War, dated on the same day, he was given the order of the Golden Kite for the 4th grade achievement with a pension of 500 yen; besides he was given the fourth grade cordon of the Rising Sun of Gold Rays and raised to the rank of Shorokui (Senior Sixth Rank).
Later, for his achievements, he was enshrined in Nishikubo-jinja Shrine, Oiwake-jinja Shrine, Merei-jinaja Shrine and Karafuto Gokoku-jinja Shrine in Karafuto, and Dariene which Major had occupied was named Nishikubo Village. Nishikubo Village was later incorporated to Toyohara Village due to the enforcement of the Town and Village System, and the name changed to Aza-Ikusagawa. Nishikubo's name remained in the name of Nishikubo Station of Hoshin Line of Karafuto National Railways, and after the Town System was enforced on Toyohara, the area the old Nishikubo Village had been was named again 'Nishikubo' belonging to Toyohara-cho Town.