Oyama Iwao is a statesman and army officer in Meiji and Taisho eras. Oyama Iwao contributed to the foundation of the Japanese Army and went to the front in the Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War. He died in 1916 (5th year of Taisho) at the age of 74.
　The Japan Center for Asian Historical Records retains the materials relating to Oyama Iwao.
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
1842 (13th year of Tenpo) Born in Kajiya-machi, current Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture.
1863 (3rd year of Bunkyu) Served in Anglo-Satsuma War.
1868 (4th year of Keio) Went to the front in Boshin War (Japanese civil war 1863-1868).
1878 (10th year of Meiji)

Oyama Iwao stayed in Europe to study from 1870 (3rd year of Meiji) to 1874 (7th year of Meiji), and was promoted to important positions in the army.

Title: Placing Oyama Iwao and other six persons studying abroad under the control of Staff Bureau.
 Reference code: A03023105700
　This is a document indicating that Oyama Iwao studying in France was assigned under Staff Bureau, a predecessor of Army General Staff Office.
(Source: National Archives of Japan (NAJ))

1880 (13th year of Meiji)

Appointed as Minister of War. He held various important positions such as Minister of Army and Army General Staff office.

Title: Allowance to Saito Kan dispatched to China
 Reference code: A01100196100
　This material indicates the content of earlier work of Oyama Iwao who was appointed as Minister of Army.
(Source: National Archives of Japan (NAJ))

1894 (27th year of Meiji)

Went to the front in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895.
　The Japanese army got victory in battles with the Qing army stationed in Korea. Japan then organized the 1st Army and the 2nd Army to attack the mainland of China.
(Page 88, Volume 2 of Japanese pocket edition of "Saka no ue no Kumo")

Title: Under the Army Promotion Ordinance, giving an authority to Count Oyama Iwao, the second army commander and General, Junii Kun'itto to do the job related to promotion, discharging of subordinates.
 Reference code: A03023061900
　This is a notification of assigning the authority of promotion/discharge of subordinates to Army General Oyama Iwao serving as Commander-In-Chief of the 2nd Army.
(Source: National Archives of Japan (NAJ))

1899 (32nd year of Meiji) Promoted to Army General and Chief of the General Staff office.
1904 (35th year of Meiji)

Went to the front in the Russo-Japanese War.
　Liaoyang was the first objective of the Manchurian Army’s offensive under command of Oyama Iwao. The battle at Liaoyang continued after September 4 when the Japanese army occupied this city. Although the Japanese army drove out the Russian army, the Japanese army was also heavily damaged.
(Pages 97 to 150, Volume 4 of Japanese pocket edition of "Saka no ue no Kumo")

Title: Address of thanks to the resolution of the House of Representatives
 Reference code: C03025893800
　The Japanese army under the command of General Oyama Iwao occupied Liaoyang in September, 1904. This document conveys the scene of Oyama Iwao expressing his appreciation of the fact that the House of Representatives sent a letter of thanks to the army for the distinguished services.
(Source: National Institute for Defense Studies,
Ministry of Defense)

1916 (5th year of Taisho) Oyama Iwao died at the age of 74.