The statue of Yoshifuru Akiyama

Yoshifuru Akiyama(1859-1930)
Yoshifuru Akiyama was born as the third son of Hisataka Akiyama, the samurai who belonged to the domain of Matsuyama, at Kachi-machi, Matsuyama City. He was Vice Admiral Saneyuki Akiyama's elder brother.
He entered the department of cavalry of Military Academy in 1877 (Meiji 10) and the Army War College in 1883 (Meiji 16). In 1888 (Meiji 20), he went to France to study.
During the Sino-Japanese War, he became to the first commander of cavalry, and later the principal of the cavalry school. He developed the cavalry department of Meiji army and he was looked up to the father of cavalry in Japan.
During the Russo-Japanese War, he fought against the world's strongest Cossack cavalry men at the Battle of Mukden and others as the first cavalry brigade commander, and he earned his greatest distinction.
In 1916 (Taisho 5) he became a full general after commanding the 1st Division and the Imperial Guard Division. He then worked in various important posts in the army: commander of the Army of Korea, director general of education and military councilor.
After that, he became the principal of Hokuyo Junior High School (the present Matsuyama Kita High School) as request and he devoted himself to educate the younger men. Yoshifuru, Saneyuki and his close friend, Shiki Masaoka were depicted in the novel "The clouds over the top of hill" by Ryotaro Shiba, as its main characters.
This statue was built in January of 1970 (Showa 45).