From Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, Yamamoto Isoroku graduated from the Naval Academy and participated in the Battle of Tsushima during the Russo-Japanese War, losing two fingers on his left hand. He later studied at Harvard University, gaining an intimate knowledge of American industrial and national power, and came to believe that Japan should not go to war with the United States. He championed the theory of air-power primacy and worked hard to develop carrier strike forces, but consistently opposed the start of the Pacific War. Nevertheless, as Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, he planned and directed the attack on Pearl Harbor, and subsequently suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Midway. He was also an outstanding leader known for the saying: "Show them, tell them, let them try, and then praise them — otherwise people will not move." In April 1943, American forces intercepted information about his inspection flight and ambushed his aircraft, shooting it down over Bougainville Island; he died at age 59. The contradiction of a man who opposed the war yet followed his orders encapsulates the anguish and sense of duty of the modern military officer. His life has been depicted repeatedly in NHK dramas and films, making him a symbolic figure in narratives of wartime tragedy.

A man of foresight and rational thinking. An innovative officer who championed air power over battleship doctrine. Known for his love of gambling—he said "a man who cannot gamble cannot command."

An iconic figure of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Assessments are divided—he commanded both the Pearl Harbor triumph and the Midway disaster. His leadership maxims are still quoted in modern management.