Seiji Naruse was born as the second son of ViscountMasayasu Naruse on December 26, 1893, in Yokohama, Japan. His father, Masayasu was president of “The 15 Bank” and was also managing other banks and companies.[3] Thus, he grew up in a wealthy environment with his brothers (Seiichi Naruse, Shunsuke Naruse etc), and graduated First Higher School (jp:第一高等学校 (旧制)).[4]
Seiji Naruse started his military career on July 21 (1920) in Yokosuka Naval District as an engineer of naval weapons. Then, he was promoted to the position of assistant division chief at the Kure Naval Arsenal on December 23, 1922.
The year 1925 was a major turning point for him. He was promoted to the position of development management officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy Technical Department, and sent to the United Kingdom from May 20, 1925, to October 15, 1926. The purpose of this tour of duty was obtaining aerial torpedo technology, which did not exist in Japan at that time. Therefore, he diligently visited arsenals in the UK.
After he returned, he began a project to develop the first (and last) domestic Aerial torpedo. He started development of this aerial torpedo at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on May 1, 1927. On December 1 (1930), he moved to the Combined Fleet for the examination of the prototype. Finally, he engaged the production and subsequent deployment of the completed “Type 91 torpedo” as the development management officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy Technical Department from December 1, 1931.
He and his team continuously improved the Type 91 torpedo at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal (from December 1, 1932), the Kure Naval Arsenal (from July 1, 1936), and the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal (from June 15, 1940). There were multiple revisions. On April 1 (1943), the Imperial Japanese Navy created the Torpedo Development Division for him, and he worked as the director of this new division until the end of World War II.
During the World War II, the Type 91 torpedo was used as a main weapon for Naval warfare, affixed to and deployed from the underbelly of aircraft.
On September 30 (1945), with the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy (following the Surrender of Japan), Seiji Naruse retired from his post. After retirement, he managed to convert the defunct arsenal site for Japan's post-war industrial recovery. Tokyu Car Corporation was a notable user of this site.
Seiji Naruse married Sumi Nakamura (January 26, 1900 – December 23, 1994), who was a daughter of Lieutenant generalYūjirō Nakamura (jp:中村雄次郎).
Together, they had three children.[7]
