The story of Admiral Togo and the extraordinary parallels with Nelson

You may wonder why a Japanese Admiral has found his way into the celebration of Nelson. But read on and you will discover the reason why…

Like Nelson, Admiral Heihachiro Togo gained rapid promotion through the Japanese Navy to become one of the youngest-ever Admirals. Like Nelson at Trafalgar, Togo was out-gunned by his Russian enemy at Tsushima but through his tactics and the skill of his men, he won a decisive victory.

Like the Battle of Trafalgar, the Battle of Tsushima was the defining moment in the Russo-Japanese war.

Like the combined French/Spanish fleet, the Russian fleet was never again to be a significant naval force.

Like Nelson, before the Battle of Tsushima, Togo raised a battle signal to his men that read “The fate of the Empire depends upon this event. Let every man do his utmost”, a signal which echoed precisely Nelson’s famous ‘England expects…’ signal.

Like HMS ‘Victory’, Admiral Togo’s ship at the Battle of Tsushima, ‘Mikasa’ has been preserved for the nation. Like Nelson, Admiral Togo is celebrated in Japan as a national hero. Every year thousands visit his shrine.

There is little doubt that Togo was heavily influenced by Nelson throughout his naval career and at Tsushima, exactly 100 years after Trafalgar, on 27th May 1905, all those influences came together to help him secure an overwhelming victory against the Russians.

It is believed that after the Battle of Tsushima, Admiral Togo delayed his victorious return to Tokyo for several months, sailing into port on 21st October - Trafalgar Day - in homage to his mentor Nelson.

I hope you now understand why a commemoration of Nelson and everything he stood for, would not be complete without reference to Admiral Togo.

And now, in 2005, as we prepare to celebrate the British victory at Trafalgar, the Japanese too are preparing their own celebrations for the Centenary of the Battle of Tsushima in May 1905. For more information about the Tsushima Centenary and Admiral Togo click here.