ABSTRACT
He was sent to Britain for two years, 1899-1901, followed by nine months in the USA. There followed three appointments as Executive Officer, and in 1903 he was appointed to the staff of the Second Fleet, and was present at the battle of Tsushima in 1905 (see TOGO). He interspersed sea commands (the cruisers Soya and Aso), with appointments at the naval college. His only sea appointment as a flag officer was as CoS of the 1st Fleet briefly, 1913-14. He was the director of the naval staff college for five years, 1915-20, and his career ended as C-in-C of the Maizuru naval district, 1920-21 and as a member of the Admiralty Board, 1921-22. He later became a senator in the upper house of the Japanese parliament
At a time when the preponderant Army faction was pushing for expansion ashore in Asia, Sato saw that Japan, as an island, must ultimately rely on sea-power for security, and he advocated expansion through the South Pacific. He realized that this might bring conflict with America, but thought that Japan, limited by treaty to 60 per cent of America’s naval force, would hold its own, since America had to split its navy between two oceans. To make doubly sure, he recommended that, in the event of a USA-Japanese war, the Japanese should seek a decisive battle, like Tsushima had been, and as the British believed would occur in the North Sea.
