Kodama Gentaro is a representative figure in the Japanese Army in Meiji era. He rendered distinguished services in the Boshin War (Japanese civil war 1863-1868) and the Satsuma Rebellion. Subsequently, he held important positions such as Chief of the First Bureau of the General Staff Office, the Commandant of Army War Collage, Governor-General of Taiwan and Minister of Army. He went to the front in the Russo-Japanese War as Chief of the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief in Manchurian Army of Japan. He died at the age of 54 in 1906 (39th year of Meiji) while he was still in service.
　The Japan Center for Asian Historical Records retains the materials relating to Kodama Gentaro.

As for underlined characters in the texts or chronological tables, small type is linked with related materials and bold-faced type is linked with the glossary, respectively.

Year Occurrence
1852 (5th year of Kaei) Born in Tokuyama, current Yamaguchi Prefecture.
1868 (4th year of Meiji) Went to the front in Boshin War (Japanese civil war 1863-1868).
1874 (7th year of Meiji) Went to the front in Saga Rebellion.
1878 (10th year of Meiji) Went to the front in Satsuma Rebellion.
1887 (20th year of Meiji)

Appointed as the Commandant of Army War College.
　The core officers of the Japanese Imperial Army such as Kodama Gentaro placed a great confidence on Klemens Wilhelm Jakob Meckel, Prussian officer employed as foreign teacher by the Japanese government.
(Pages 161 to 162, Volume 3 of Japanese pocket edition of "Saka no ue no Kumo")

Title: Proceeding to Imperial court by Foreign Teacher Meckel
 Reference code: C03030343300
　Emperor Meiji invited Meckel to the Imperial Court to express the appreciation of his efforts just before his departure from Japan at the completion of his service years.
(Source: National Institute for Defense Studies,
Ministry of Defense)

1892 (25th year of Meiji) Took office as Vice Army Minister and Director of Military Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Army, concurrently.
1898 (31st year of Meiji) Appointed as Governor-General of Taiwan.
1900 (33rd year of Meiji)

Took office as Minister of Army concurrently.

Title: Governor General of Taiwan, Army Lieutenant General and Baron Kodama Gentaro holds concurrently the Minister of War
 Reference code: A03023362200
　台湾総督だった児玉源太郎に陸軍大臣を兼任させる際の、This is the report to the Emperor for appointing Kodama Gentaro as Minister of Army concurrently while he was Governor-General of Taiwan.
(Source: National Archives of Japan (NAJ))

1903 (36th year of Meiji)

Took office as Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Education, concurrently. He was later appointed as Vice Chief of Army General Staff.
　Since Tamura Iyozo,who was in position of Vice Chief of Army General Staff died, Kodama Gentaro resigned as Minister and took office as Tamura’s position.
(Pages 157 to 160, Volume 3 of Japanese pocket edition of "Saka no ue no Kumo")

Title: General Staff Office: Concerning new military guns of France
 Reference code: C03022814700
　Kodama Gentaro took office as Vice Chief of General Staff and made efforts to gather the latest information of the international society in preparation for the opening of war against Russia.参謀本部次長になった
(Source: National Institute for Defense Studies, Ministry of Defense)

1904 (37th year of Meiji)

Promoted to General and went to the front in the Russo-Japanese War.
　On July 6, The General Headquarters staff including Field Marshal Oyama Iwao and General Kodama departed from Japan to go to the war front. Oyama and Kodama played perfect cooperation that was later applauded as best leadership.
(Pages 9 to 14, Volume 4 of Japanese pocket edition of "Saka no ue no Kumo")

Title: Staffs of General Headquarters of Manchuria
 Reference code: C03020134400
　On February 6 or just before the opening of the war, Vice Minister of Army requested a report from Vice Chief of Army General Staff Kodama on the status of preparations in case that Russian warships came into the range of the Japanese fort guns

1906 (39th year of Meiji) Appointed as Chief of Army General Staff and became Chairman of the establishment committee for South Manchurian Railway Co., Ltd. but died right after this appointment. Died at the age of 54.
Died at the age of 54.