Samejima was the grandson of
Iwakura Tomomi, and adopted by Admiral
Samejima Kazunori a native of
Satsuma Domain and noted figure in the
Meiji restoration, Tomoshige Samejima graduated 51st of 179 cadets in the 37th class of the
Imperial Japanese Navy Academy in 1909. He served his
midshipman duty on the
cruiser Soya and
battleships
Sagami, and
Katori and as a sub-lieutenant on
Aso, and
Hashidate. After graduating from
naval artillery and
torpedo classes, he was assigned to the battleships
Kashima and
Kawachi followed by the
destroyer Kaba. He was promoted to
lieutenant in 1915. He subsequently served on the cruiser
Azuma and battleship
Kongō, and after a two-year tour as an instructor at the naval gunnery school from 1918–1920, he was reassigned to the battleship
Mutsu. In 1921, he served as
aide-de-camp to
Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito and was promoted to
lieutenant commander. From 1921-1923, he attended the
Navy Staff College, and on graduation, served two years on the light cruiser
Yura. From 1925-1927, he traveled to
England, where he studied at his own expense. On his return to Japan, he was promoted to
commander and assigned as aide-de-camp to
Prince Takamatsu Nobuhito. Samejima returned to sea as
executive officer of the
Haguro from November 1929 - November 1930. His first command was in 1931 as captain of the transport Seito. In 1931, with the
First Shanghai Incident, Samejima served on the staff of the Japanese 1st Expeditionary Fleet and was promoted to
captain. He was given command of the cruisers
Kitakami from 1932 to 1934,
Mogami from 1934 to 1935,.
Haguro from 1935–1936 and the battleship
Nagato from 1936 to 1937. As
rear admiral from December 1937, Samejima commanded
Carrier Division 4 from 1937–1938, Cruiser Division 13 from August–September 1938, and
Carrier Division 2 from September 1938 to October 1939. From November 1939 to October 1942, Samejima served as
Aide-de-camp to the Emperor of Japan, and was in this position at the time of the
attack on Pearl Harbor. He was promoted to
vice admiral in October 1941. From October 1942, Samejima returned to sea as commander of the
IJN 4th Fleet, which was responsible for defending the
South Seas Mandate against counter-attacks by the
Allied forces. From April 1943 to the
surrender of Japan, Samejima served as commander of the
IJN 8th Fleet. He retired from active service in 1946 and died in 1966. ==References==