Itō's career placed him at the centre of Japanese naval power. He participated in the Meiji Restoration, travelled to Britain, brought Naniwa home, commanded the Naval Academy and Yokosuka Naval District, and led the Readiness Fleet. During the First Sino-Japanese War he became the Combined Fleet's first commander-in-chief and won major actions including the Yalu and Weihaiwei campaigns. He then headed the Naval General Staff from 1895 through the Russo-Japanese War, receiving promotion, noble rank, and high honours while professing no interest in politics. A leader with that record and continuity could hardly have remained detached from the navy's largest transformation.
Chapter · 7:38-12:50
Itō's command record and ten years atop the Naval General Staff
Itō's restoration-era service, fleet commands, combat victories, and decade as professional head of the navy make passive oversight of the plan implausible.