14 moments

1. Birth in Nagaoka

   1884-04-04 · Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan

   

   Yamamoto was born Isoroku Takano in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture.

2. Imperial Japanese Naval Academy graduation

   1904-01-01 · Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, Etajima, Hiroshima, Japan

   

   Yamamoto completed the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy course, beginning his naval career. The academy was located at Etajima from 1888; the supported date is year-level only.

3. Wounded at the Battle of Tsushima

   1905-05-01 · Tsushima Strait, between Kyushu, Japan and Tsushima, Japan

   

   Serving aboard the armored cruiser Nisshin in the Russo-Japanese War, Yamamoto was wounded and lost two fingers during the battle. Battle-month precision is used because the cited biography identifies the battle but does not state its day in the quoted passage; coordinate is a representative point in the Tsushima Strait battle area.

4. Naval Staff College study

   1914-01-01 · Naval Staff College, Tsukiji, Tokyo, Japan

   Yamamoto returned to the Naval Staff College for advanced naval education, later completing the course as a lieutenant commander. Coordinate represents the Naval Staff College's Tsukiji location; the source supports the year of return but not a more precise date.

5. Study at Harvard

   1919-01-01 · Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

   Yamamoto went to Harvard to study English, an early formative period of his exposure to the United States. He studied at Harvard from 1919 to 1921; this card records the documented arrival year.

6. Visit to the U.S. Naval War College

   1924-02-13 · United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, United States

   As Captain Yamamoto, he joined a Japanese delegation visiting the U.S. Naval War College.

7. Naval attaché posting in Washington

   1926-01-01 · Washington, D.C., United States

   

   Yamamoto began his second posting as Japanese naval attaché in Washington, where he observed American society, commerce, and naval affairs. The source documents a 1926–1928 posting; this card records its opening year.

8. London Naval Conference delegation

   1930-01-01 · London, England, United Kingdom

   

   As a rear admiral, Yamamoto participated in the London Naval Conference on naval arms limitations. The source supports year-level precision only; coordinate represents central London.

9. Arrival for Second London Naval Conference

   1934-10-16 · Southampton, England, United Kingdom

   

   Yamamoto arrived in England as part of Japan’s delegation for preliminary negotiations preceding the Second London Naval Conference. Coordinate represents Southampton's port area.

10. Second London Naval Conference

    1935-01-01 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Yamamoto participated in the 1935 London Naval Conference as a vice admiral during negotiations over naval limitations. The source supports year-level precision only; coordinate represents central London.

11. Commanding from Yamato during Midway

    1942-06-01 · Battleship Yamato, northwestern Pacific near Midway Atoll

    

    Yamamoto exercised overall command of the Midway operation from the bridge of the battleship Yamato; the dispersed main body was too distant to engage directly. Coordinate is a representative point for Yamamoto's Main Body in the northwestern Pacific during the Battle of Midway; the source establishes presence aboard Yamato but does not provide an exact ship position.

12. Arrival at Rabaul for Operation I-Go

    1943-04-03 · Rabaul, New Britain, Territory of New Guinea

    

    Yamamoto left the fleet flagship Musashi and flew to Rabaul to direct Operation I-Go, a Japanese air offensive in the Solomon Islands. Coordinate represents Rabaul.

13. Death over Bougainville

    1943-04-18 · Yamamoto crash site, Bougainville Island, Territory of New Guinea

    

    Yamamoto was killed when U.S. P-38 fighters intercepted his transport during his inspection flight; his aircraft crashed in Bougainville's jungle. Coordinates are the crash-site coordinates published in the source; Yamamoto died on April 18, 1943.

14. Departure from Rabaul on inspection flight

    1943-04-18 · Rabaul, New Britain, Territory of New Guinea

    

    During an inspection tour following Guadalcanal, Yamamoto departed Rabaul by transport aircraft for Balalae; the flight was intercepted before arrival. The scheduled destination was Balalae Airfield, but Yamamoto did not arrive because his aircraft was shot down over Bougainville.