isoroku yamamoto
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (1884-1943) is honored as a navy hero in Japan. Yamamoto was assigned the task of planning and leading the attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor.
Although we hope to achieve surprise, everyone should be prepared for terrific American resistance ... Japan has faced many worthy opponents in her glorious history -- but in this operation we will meet the strongest and most resourceful opponent of all."
- Adm. Yamamoto, November 17, 1941
Isoroku Yamamoto
_I shudder as I think of the problem of Japan's relationship with Germany and Italy in face of the tremendous changes now taking place in Europe."
- Yamamoto in a letter to Adm. Shimada