Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Oku, Yasukata, Count

OKU, YASUKATA, COUNT, a Japanese soldier. He was born in 1846 in the province of Chikuzen, and during the rebellion of 1877 warmly espoused the imperial cause, winning distinction in several battles. In the Chinese war of 1894-1895 he commanded the Fifth Army Division, and afterward helped in reorganizing military affairs. During the Russo-Japanese war he distinguished himself as general in command of the Second Army at Kinchow, Telissu, Liao-Yang and Mukden. Three years after being made general he was in 1906 named chief of the general staff, an office which he held for six years, becoming field-marshal at the close.