Seiichi Itō

Seiichi Itō (伊藤 整一, Itō Seiichi, July 26, 1890 – April 7, 1945) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and the flag officer of the task force centered around the battleship Yamato on her final mission towards the end of World War II.

Born in Miike County Takada Town (present day Miyama City, Fukuoka Prefecture), Itō graduated from the 39th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1911.

After serving for two years, Itō commanded Cruiser Division 8 (CruDiv 8) in November 1940 until his appointment as Chief of Staff of the Combined Fleet in April 1941.

In early April 1945, Ito commanded the last major offensive by the Imperial Japanese Navy when he led the battleship Yamato on its final sortie accompanied by the light cruiser Yahagi and eight destroyers in Operation Ten-Go, which aimed to destroy United States Navy during the Battle of Okinawa.

Itō initially opposed the mission, which he viewed as futile and wasteful, but ultimately relented, after being informed that the Emperor was expecting the Navy to mount some kind of attack.

Itō as captain (1931-37)
2nd Fleet Staff in Yamato . The third person from left in front is Itō