The Japanese Field Marshal who helped write the national anthem and loved French luxury

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Prince Ōyama Iwao was a titan of the Meiji era, commanding armies in two major wars and shaping Japan's military trajectory. Yet, this formidable strategist was also a man of surprising contradictions: a fluent linguist, a fan of German architecture, and the first recorded Japanese customer of Louis Vuitton.

Born into a samurai family in Kagoshima, Ōyama Iwao rose to become a foundational figure of the Imperial Japanese Army. His military education was deeply international; he served as an observer during the Franco-Prussian War and studied in Geneva, gaining fluency in Russian and other European languages. This global perspective informed his leadership, as he commanded the Second Army during the First Sino-Japanese War and later served as the Supreme Commander of Japanese forces in Manchuria during the Russo-Japanese War. His tactical success in major engagements like the Battle of Liaoyang and the Battle of Mukden secured his status as a premier commander of the late modern period.

Beyond the battlefield, Ōyama was a central figure in the Meiji political establishment. As a member of the genrō, he upheld autocratic power, though he notably avoided the political maneuvering that defined his peers. His personal life was equally complex. He married Sutematsu, a Vassar graduate and survivor of the Battle of Aizu, who famously insisted on remodeling their German-style mansion in Tokyo to include traditional Japanese rooms. Ōyama’s influence extended into cultural life as well; in 1869, he was tasked with selecting the lyrics for the Japanese national anthem, 'Kimigayo', drawing on his deep knowledge of Japanese and Chinese literature.

Despite his immense prestige, including being awarded the Order of Merit by King Edward VII and reaching the rank of prince, Ōyama’s later years were marked by personal loss and health struggles. His weight, which exceeded 210 pounds, likely contributed to the health issues that led to his death in 1916 at age 75. His legacy remains multifaceted: he was a military architect of the Japanese Empire, a patron of European luxury, and a man who bridged the gap between the feudal traditions of the samurai and the rapidly modernizing world of the early 20th century.

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