He fought against the Russians in 1905, losing two fingers on his left hand. He studied at Harvard University from 1919 to 1921. Before Pearl Harbor he was unpopular with Japan's super-nationalistic military hawks. He opposed war with the United States but was devoted to duty. His life ended in 1943. The United States had broken Japan's code and U.S. naval forces targeted the airplane carrying him on an inspection tour, with knowledge that he was aboard.