Matsuji Ijuin was a baron and had served as aide-de-camp to Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu during the 1930s. Those connections helped his career, but he is also judged one of the more capable Japanese commanders at Empress Augusta Bay. His flagship Sendai was sunk during the battle. He later died when another flagship was torpedoed north of Saipan on 19 May 1944 and received a posthumous promotion to vice admiral. His career provides a comparison with officers whose uncontrolled aggression could endanger their own forces.
Notable Point · 1:18:29-1:29:18
Matsuji Ijuin's connections and command record
Ijuin combined political connections with a comparatively favorable command assessment, then died in a later sinking after surviving the loss of Sendai.