Ijichi Masaharu
Ijichi Ryū'emon Masaharu was a Japanese samurai retainer of the Shimazu clan, military strategist, and aristocrat. His imina was Sueyasu.
Biography
Ijichi Masaharu was born near the walls of Kagoshima Castle. He was the second son, and his father was Ijichi Suehira. As a boy, he was given the apotropaic name Tatsugoma. 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 Gōden school of military strategy under Ishizawa Rokurō and later Hōga Uzaemon.
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 Spearhead Governor of the Tōsandō.Ijichi Masaharu has been described as an "exceptional tactician". 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.