Akashi Motojiro Japanese general, Governor-General of Taiwan in 1918-1919 Date of Birth: 01.09.1864 Country: Japan

1. Early Life and Education
2. Military Career
3. Russo-Japanese War
4. Financing Russian Revolutionaries
5. Post-War Career
6. Governor-General of Taiwan

Early Life and Education

Motojiro Akashi was born in 1864 in Japan. In 1889, he graduated from the Imperial Army's Higher War College. He went on to study in Germany in 1894.

Military Career

During the Sino-Japanese War, Akashi returned to Japan and served in the headquarters of the Guards Division in Formosa. He was a military observer in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. In 1900, he was sent to China to participate in negotiations after the Boxer Rebellion.

In 1901, Akashi was appointed military attaché in France. In 1902, he became military attaché in Russia.

Russo-Japanese War

With the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, Akashi was appointed military attaché in Stockholm. He traveled throughout Europe, gathering intelligence. He also organized the supply of weapons to Finnish and Caucasian separatists.

Financing Russian Revolutionaries

Through Akashi, Russian revolutionaries, Finnish, Polish, and Caucasian separatists in Russia received Japanese funding. He financed the Finnish activist Konni Zilliacus and the Georgian socialist leader Georgy Dekanozishvili.

Post-War Career

After the war, Akashi was appointed military attaché in Germany. However, in 1906, a pamphlet exposing his covert activities was published in Russia, leading to his recall from Europe. He was appointed head of the military police in Korea in 1907. In 1913, he was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed deputy chief of the General Staff.

Governor-General of Taiwan

In 1918, Akashi was appointed governor-general of Taiwan. He served until his death in 1919.