Early service builds Mikawa's torpedo expertise

Mikawa graduated third in a class of 149 at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1910. His early ships included Asama, Soya, Satsuma, Kongo, Aso, the destroyer Sugi, and the transport Sado, with operations around China as Japan entered World War I. Gunnery and torpedo schools, followed by the Naval War College, gave him technical grounding and staff preparation at a moment when wartime expansion created new opportunities. As an instructor he contributed to torpedo development associated with the Long Lance and became especially strong in torpedo tactics. That expertise provides context for the night attacks that later defined his combat reputation.