Ito Ogawa (小川 糸, Ogawa Ito) is a Japanese novelist, lyricist and translator. She was born in 1973 in Yamagata…Ito Ogawa (小川 糸, Ogawa Ito) is a Japanese novelist, lyricist and translator. She was born in 1973 in Yamagata, Yamagata. Several of her books have gained international recognition, such as The Restaurant of Love Regained (2008; Japanese Title: 食堂かたつむり - Shokudō Katatsumuri), described as a "foodie fable", which was made into a film in 2010 under the title "Shokudo Katatsumuri" ("Rinco's Restaurant").
Hirohito Gotō (後藤 ひろひと, Gotō Hirohito; born February 23, 1969) is a Japanese director, playwright, and actor. Born in…Hirohito Gotō (後藤 ひろひと, Gotō Hirohito; born February 23, 1969) is a Japanese director, playwright, and actor. Born in Yamagata prefecture, he graduated from Yamagata Prefectural Yamagata East High School and dropped out of Hindi studies from Osaka University of Foreign Studies. In 1987 he joined the theater group Yūkisha. By 1989 he served as the second head of the group and handled nearly all productions. After retiring from Yūkisha in 1996, he worked as a free playwright, and in 1998 created Piper with Kawashita Taiyō of former Gekidan Sotoba Komachi fame. In 2001 he began the Royal Theater. His plays have a reputation for having a unique view of the world as well as for stories of a massive scale. Primary works include Ningen Fūsha (人間風車), Moldman the Bellringer in Dublin (ダブリンの鐘つきカビ人間), and the Big / Bigger / Biggest Biz trilogy.
Ken Kiyoyuki Okuyama (奥山 清行, Okuyama Kiyoyuki; born 1959) is a Japanese industrial designer. He is the owner of the Ken…Ken Kiyoyuki Okuyama (奥山 清行, Okuyama Kiyoyuki; born 1959) is a Japanese industrial designer. He is the owner of the Ken Okuyama Design company. Okuyama formerly worked for Pininfarina, designing and supervising projects such as the Enzo Ferrari and Ferrari P4/5.
Hiroshi Saitō (斎藤 弘, Saitō Hiroshi; born 18 October 1957) is a Japanese politician who served as the governor of…Hiroshi Saitō (斎藤 弘, Saitō Hiroshi; born 18 October 1957) is a Japanese politician who served as the governor of Yamagata Prefecture. Saitō was born in Yamagata. After graduating from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 1981, he worked at the Bank of Japan. He received Master of International Public Policy and Master of Arts degrees from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University in 1989 and 1990, respectively. He was elected as governor of Yamagata in 2005, and then defeated for reelection in an upset by Mieko Yoshimura.
Toshiaki Endo (遠藤 利明, Endō Toshiaki; born 1950) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of…Toshiaki Endo (遠藤 利明, Endō Toshiaki; born 1950) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Seigō Tsuchida (Japanese: 土田正剛, romanized: Tsuchida Seigō; October 25, 1943 – April 16, 2026) was a Japanese…Seigō Tsuchida (Japanese: 土田正剛, romanized: Tsuchida Seigō; October 25, 1943 – April 16, 2026) was a Japanese politician. He served as the Mayor of Higashine, Yamagata Prefecture between 1998 and his death in 2026. Tsuchida was a member of the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly for four terms.
Masatoshi Abe (阿部 正俊, Abe Masatoshi; 4 November 1942 – 25 October 2020) was a Japanese politician who was a member of…Masatoshi Abe (阿部 正俊, Abe Masatoshi; 4 November 1942 – 25 October 2020) was a Japanese politician who was a member of the Diet of Japan. He served as Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs under the government of Junichiro Koizumi. Abe was a native of Higashine, Yamagata Prefecture and graduated from Tohoku University. Abe died on 25 October 2020, at the age of 77.
Michihiko Kano (鹿野道彦, Kano Michihiko; 24 January 1942 – 21 October 2021) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic…Michihiko Kano (鹿野道彦, Kano Michihiko; 24 January 1942 – 21 October 2021) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan who served as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries twice. He lost his seat in the 16 December 2012 general election. Kano was born in Yamagata. He graduated from Gakushuin University. After period of illness, Michihiko Kano died on 21 October 2021 in a hospital in Yamagata City; he was 79.
Shutaro Shoji (東海林 周太郎, 12 November 1933 – 15 January 2017) was a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's…Shutaro Shoji (東海林 周太郎, 12 November 1933 – 15 January 2017) was a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Takeo Doi (土井 武夫, Doi Takeo; 31 October 1904 – 24 December 1996) was a Japanese aircraft designer. He designed many…Takeo Doi (土井 武夫, Doi Takeo; 31 October 1904 – 24 December 1996) was a Japanese aircraft designer. He designed many World War II fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. His most important work was the "Army Type 3 Fighter" (三式戦闘機, Sanshiki sentoki), a.k.a. Kawasaki Ki-61 "Hien" (飛燕, Hi-en) ("flying swallow") or "Tony". Also he was one of the chief designers of the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (NAMC) YS-11.
Kuniaki Koiso (小磯 國昭, Koiso Kuniaki; 22 March 1880 – 3 November 1950) was a Japanese politician and general who served…Kuniaki Koiso (小磯 國昭, Koiso Kuniaki; 22 March 1880 – 3 November 1950) was a Japanese politician and general who served as prime minister of Japan from 1944 to 1945, during World War II. He previously served as minister of colonial affairs in 1939 and 1940, and as governor-general of Korea from 1942 to 1944. Koiso resigned as premier after the start of the Battle of Okinawa, and following Japan's surrender he was convicted as a Class A war criminal and sentenced to life imprisonment, dying in prison in 1950.
Toyotarō Yūki (結城 豊太郎, Yūki Toyotarō; 24 May 1877 – 1 August 1951) was a central banker in the Empire of Japan, serving…Toyotarō Yūki (結城 豊太郎, Yūki Toyotarō; 24 May 1877 – 1 August 1951) was a central banker in the Empire of Japan, serving as the 15th Governor of the Bank of Japan and twice as a cabinet minister.
Shirōta Kusakabe (Japanese: 日下部 四郎太, May 5 1875 – July 3 1924) was a Japanese geophysicist, doctor of Science. He was a…Shirōta Kusakabe (Japanese: 日下部 四郎太, May 5 1875 – July 3 1924) was a Japanese geophysicist, doctor of Science. He was a professor at Tohoku Imperial University. He won the Imperial Academy Prize for his work on rock elasticity. He has published numerous treatises, and a magazine published after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 contains a treatise on earthquake prediction by Shirota Kusakabe. Shirōta Kusakabe was born in Yamagata Prefecture in 1875. In 1900, he graduated from the Department of Physics, Tokyo Imperial University. From August 1907 to December 1910, he studied abroad in Europe and visited Germany, France and the United Kingdom. He studied under Hantaro Nagaoka and proceeded with research on rocks and seismic waves. In 1914, he won the Imperial Academy Prize for his work on rock elasticity.
Ōta Masahiro (太田 政弘; 16 November 1871 – 24 January 1951) was the 14th Governor-General of Taiwan (1931–1932). He was…Ōta Masahiro (太田 政弘; 16 November 1871 – 24 January 1951) was the 14th Governor-General of Taiwan (1931–1932). He was Governor of Fukushima Prefecture (1913–1915), Ishikawa Prefecture (1915–1916), Kumamoto Prefecture (1916–1919), Niigata Prefecture (1919–1923) and Aichi Prefecture (1923–1924). He was a graduate of the University of Tokyo.
Mineichirō Adachi (安達 峰一郎, Adachi Mineichirō; July 29, 1869 – December 28, 1934) was a Japanese legal expert and…Mineichirō Adachi (安達 峰一郎, Adachi Mineichirō; July 29, 1869 – December 28, 1934) was a Japanese legal expert and President of the Permanent Court of International Justice at the Hague from 1931 until 1934.
Daijiro Kikuchi (菊池大二郎, Kikuchi Daijiro; born 9 July 1982) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…Daijiro Kikuchi (菊池大二郎, Kikuchi Daijiro; born 9 July 1982) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2024. From 2019 to 2023, he was a member of the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly.
