Early life Born in
Kokura (in present-day
Kitakyūshū) to a
samurai family of the
Kokura Domain in
Buzen Province, Oku joined the military forces of the nearby
Chōshū Domain during the
First and
Second Chōshū expeditions and the
Boshin War in their struggle to overthrow the
Tokugawa shogunate and bring about the
Meiji Restoration.
Military career Appointed a commander of the new
Imperial Japanese Army, Oku fought against the disgruntled samurai insurgents during the
Saga Rebellion of 1871. He was later a survivor of the
Taiwan Expedition of 1874. During the
Satsuma Rebellion, he defended
Kumamoto Castle during its siege as commander of the
13th Infantry Regiment. During the
First Sino-Japanese War Oku succeeded General
Nozu Michitsura commander of the
IJA Fifth Division of the
IJA First Army. Later, he successively held posts as commander of the
Imperial Guards and Governor-general for the defense of Tokyo. He was elevated to the title of
danshaku (
baron) under the
kazoku peerage system in 1895, and was promoted to army
general in 1903. During the
Russo-Japanese War, Oku went to the front as commanding general of the
IJA 2nd Army and was noted for his role in the
Battle of Nanshan,
Battle of Shaho,
Battle of Mukden, and other campaigns. Oku was awarded the
Order of the Golden Kite (1st class) in 1906, and elevated from baron to
hakushaku (
count) in 1907. In 1911, he received the largely honorary rank of
Field Marshal. Oku refused to attend any strategy and staff meetings, and thereby gained a reputation for being both a "lone wolf" and also a brilliant tactician capable of independent action. However, Oku's reluctance to attend the staff meetings was due to his partial deafness, and inability to comprehend and contribute to the discussions.
Post-war life Oku had absolutely no interest in politics, and lived in virtual seclusion after the war. When he died of an
Intracranial hemorrhage in 1930, many people were astonished, thinking that he had died years previously. ==Decorations==