Akiyama Yoshifuru was born on January 7, 1859 in present-day Okachi-machi, Matsuyama City. He was the third son of Hisataka Akiyama, a retainer of the Matsuyama clan. He attended the Military Academy and went to France to study cavalry tactics. He then devoted himself to the study and development of the Japanese cavalry and is known as the “Father of the Cavalry”. During the Russo-Japanese War, he fought against the Cossack cavalry, said to be the strongest in the world at the time, and contributed greatly to Japan’s victory. After his military career, he served as the principal of what is now Matsuyama Kita High School, dedicating himself to educating young people. Akiyama Yoshifuru died at the age of 71, on November 4, 1930.