Naval Battle of Awa
Part of Boshin War
Encounter between the Kasuga of the Satsuma navy (forefront), and the Kaiyo of the shogunal navy (background), during the Naval Battle of Awa.
Date January 28, 1868 Location Awa Bay Result Shogunal victory
Combatants
Imperial court, Satsuma	Tokugawa shogunate
Commanders
	Enomoto Takeaki

The Naval Battle of Awa (阿波沖海戦, Awa oki kaisen^?) occurred on January 28, 1868 during the Boshin War in Japan, in the area of Awa Bay near Osaka. Involving ships of the Tokugawa Shogunate and Satsuma vessels loyal to the imperial court in Kyoto, the battle was the first in Japanese history between modern naval forces. Enomoto Takeaki led the shogunal navy to victory at Awa, in one of the few Tokugawa successes of the Boshin War. The Boshin War (戊辰戦争 Boshin Sensō, literally War of the Year of the Dragon) was fought in 1868-1869 between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the pro-Imperial forces in Japan. ... The Japanese warship Kasuga (JPN: 春日) was built in 1862 (or possibly 1863) in Great Britain under the name Kiangsu (after the area of Jiangsu in China). ... Kaiyō Maru (Japanese: 開陽丸) was one of Japans first modern warships, powered by both sails and steam. ... Awa (阿波国; -no kuni) was an old province of Japan in the area that is today a part of Tokushima prefecture on Shikoku. ... Satsuma is the name of a town in Japan, Satsuma, Kagoshima, the surrounding district, Satsuma District, Kagoshima, the former province, Satsuma Province, which is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, a revolt, the Satsuma Rebellion. ... The Tokugawa shogunate or Tokugawa bakufu (徳川幕府) (also known as the Edo bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship of Japan established in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family until 1868. ... Enomoto Takeaki at the time of Republic of Ezo in 1869. ... The Boshin War (戊辰戦争 Boshin Sensō, literally War of the Year of the Dragon) was fought in 1868-1869 between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the pro-Imperial forces in Japan. ... The Battle of Toba-Fushimi (Japanese:鳥羽・伏見の戦い) occurred between pro-Imperial and Shogunate forces during the Boshin War in Japan. ... Combatants Imperial Army made up of forces from the Matsumoto, Kurohane, Mibu, Iwamurata, Suzaka, Hikone, Ogaki, Utsunomiya, and Kasama domains. ... Combatants Satsuma, ChōshÅ«, Tosa Bakufu, Aizu Commanders Ruler: Meiji Emperor Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori Strength 15,000 combatants 5,000 combatants Casualties unknown unknown The Battle of Aizu (Japanese:会津戦争, lit. ... Combatants Empire of Japan: Kōtetsu Kasuga HiryÅ« Teibo Yoshun Moshun Chōyō Ezo Republic: Kaiten BanryÅ« Takao Commanders Arai Ikunosuke Strength 8 steam warships 3 steam warships Casualties 3 ships damaged 1 ship scuttled The Naval Battle of Miyako Bay (宮古湾海戦) was a naval action during the Boshin War in... Combatants Empire of Japan Ezo Republic Commanders Kuroda Kiyotaka Enomoto Takeaki Strength 7,000 combatants 10 steam warships 3,000 combatants 11 steam warships Casualties 770 casualties 1 ship sunk 1 ship destroyed 1,300 killed 400 wounded 1,300 captured 2 ships sunk 3 ships captured 3 ships lost... January 28 is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... The Boshin War (戊辰戦争 Boshin Sensō, literally War of the Year of the Dragon) was fought in 1868-1869 between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the pro-Imperial forces in Japan. ... Awa (阿波国; -no kuni) was an old province of Japan in the area that is today a part of Tokushima prefecture on Shikoku. ... Osaka )   is the capital of Osaka Prefecture and the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2. ... The Tokugawa shogunate or Tokugawa bakufu (徳川幕府) (also known as the Edo bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship of Japan established in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family until 1868. ... This article is about the city Kyoto. ... Enomoto Takeaki at the time of Republic of Ezo in 1869. ...

Summary

The engagement, between warships of the fief of Satsuma and warships of the Bakufu was Japan's first naval battle between elements of a modern navy. It happened one day after the land battle of Toba-Fushimi, in which the Bakufu lost to the Imperial forces. This naval battle however was won by the Bakufu. Satsuma is the name of a town in Japan, Satsuma, Kagoshima, the surrounding district, Satsuma District, Kagoshima, the former province, Satsuma Province, which is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, a revolt, the Satsuma Rebellion. ... For the James Clavell novel, see Shogun or for the TV Miniseries. ...

The Satsuma domain was preparing to return troops to Satsuma, aboard two transportation ships, the Hoho (翔凰, Hoho^?) and the Heiun (平運, Heiun^?) protected by the warship Kasuga. They were stationed in Hyōo harbour. The shogunal navy under Enomoto Takeaki was nearby with the Kaiyo as its main unit, and had been supporting the battle of Toba-Fushimi from the sea. They moved on to blockade the Satsuma ships. The Japanese warship Kasuga (JPN: 春日) was built in 1862 (or possibly 1863) in Great Britain under the name Kiangsu (after the area of Jiangsu in China). ... Enomoto Takeaki at the time of Republic of Ezo in 1869. ... Kaiyō Maru (Japanese: 開陽丸) was one of Japans first modern warships, powered by both sails and steam. ...

On January 28th in the early morning, the Satsuma ships left Hyogo harbour. The Heiun left through the straights of Akashi, and the Kasuga went south with the Hoho towards the straights of Kien (紀淡). The Bakufu's Kaiyo pursued the two ships and prepared for combat. At a distance of 1,200-2,500 meters, Kaiyo shot about 25 times on the two ships, and Kasuga responded with 18 shots, without significant damage. As more Bakufu ships were arriving (the Banryū, the Hazuru), Kasuga broke off the engagement, and, being faster than Kaiyo, escaped to Kagoshima. Unable to flee, the Hoho was run aground at Yūzaki (由崎, Yūzaki^?) and was destroyed by her crew. Looking at the burning Hoho, Enomoto expressed sorrow at such a waste: "Although she is an enemy, how sad this is" (敵ながらあっぱれ, Teki nagra appa^?). Akashi (明石市; -shi) is a city located in southern Hyogo, Japan, on the Inland Sea west of Kobe. ... BanryÅ« The Japanese warship BanryÅ« (蟠龍）was a ship of the Bakufu Navy, and subsequently belonged to the troops loyal to the Shogun during the Boshin war in Japan in 1868. ... Kagoshima (鹿児島市; -shi) the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the southwest tip of the Kyushu island of Japan. ...

The future Admiral Togo Heihachiro was a gunner onboard Kasuga during the engagement. Admiral Togo at the age of 55, shortly before the Russo-Japanese War Fleet Admiral Count Tōgō Heihachirō (東郷 平八郎 Tōgō Heihachirō OM, January 27, 1848 - 30 May 1934) was a Japanese Admiral and one of Japans greatest naval heroes. ...

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