Ch'oe Namsŏn (Korean: 최남선; April 26, 1890 – October 10, 1957), also known by the Japanese pronunciation of his name Sai…Ch'oe Namsŏn (Korean: 최남선; April 26, 1890 – October 10, 1957), also known by the Japanese pronunciation of his name Sai Nanzen, was a Korean historian, political activist, poet, and publisher who was best remembered as a leading member of the Korean independence movement.
Kiyohide Shima (志摩 清英, Shima Kiyohide; 25 February 1890 – 7 November 1973) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy…Kiyohide Shima (志摩 清英, Shima Kiyohide; 25 February 1890 – 7 November 1973) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.
Yukio Kasahara (笠原 幸雄, Kasahara Yukio; 6 November 1889 – 2 January 1988) was a leading general in the Imperial Japanese…Yukio Kasahara (笠原 幸雄, Kasahara Yukio; 6 November 1889 – 2 January 1988) was a leading general in the Imperial Japanese Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (谷崎 潤一郎, Tanizaki Jun'ichirō; 24 July 1886 – 30 July 1965) was a Japanese author who is considered…Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (谷崎 潤一郎, Tanizaki Jun'ichirō; 24 July 1886 – 30 July 1965) was a Japanese author who is considered to be one of the most prominent figures in modern Japanese literature. The tone and subject matter of his work range from shocking depictions of sexuality and destructive erotic obsessions to subtle portrayals of the dynamics of family life within the context of the rapid changes in 20th-century Japanese society. Frequently, his stories are narrated in the context of a search for cultural identity in which the West and Japanese tradition are juxtaposed. He was one of six authors on the final shortlist for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1964, the year before his death.
Taizō Ishizaka (石坂 泰三, Ishizaka Taizō; June 3, 1886 – March 6, 1975) was a leading Japanese businessman and President…Taizō Ishizaka (石坂 泰三, Ishizaka Taizō; June 3, 1886 – March 6, 1975) was a leading Japanese businessman and President of the Japanese Federation of Economic Organizations (now the Japan Business Federation) who served as Chairman of the National Board of the Boy Scouts of Japan.
Mamoru Oguma (Japanese: 小熊 捍; August 24, 1885 – September 10, 1971) was a Japanese entomologist and geneticist. He held…Mamoru Oguma (Japanese: 小熊 捍; August 24, 1885 – September 10, 1971) was a Japanese entomologist and geneticist. He held the degree of Doctor of Agriculture and is best known for his pioneering work in insect morphology and human genetics.
Michiji Tajima (Japanese: 田島道治) (July 2, 1885 – December 2, 1968) was a Japanese businessman and educator. He was Grand…Michiji Tajima (Japanese: 田島道治) (July 2, 1885 – December 2, 1968) was a Japanese businessman and educator. He was Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Office (June 5, 1948 – May 31, 1949) and continued as Grand Steward of its successor, the Imperial Household Agency (June 1, 1949 – December 16, 1953). He graduated from the University of Tokyo. Documents written by Tajima and made public by the Japanese broadcaster NHK in 2019 suggest that Emperor Hirohito sought to apologize to the Japanese people for the damage caused during World War II. These include 18 notebooks, as well as a 1948 draft for an apology speech written in preparation for Japan gaining independence from Allied occupation in April 1952, which included phrases such as "deep shame" due to "my fault" (for the war). However, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida sought to avoid all mention of the war by Hirohito, and the passage referencing the emperor's "remorse" was dropped altogether.
Zenmaro Toki (土岐 善麿 Toki Zenmaro; June 8, 1885 – April 15, 1980) was a Japanese Naturalist tanka poet. After initially…Zenmaro Toki (土岐 善麿 Toki Zenmaro; June 8, 1885 – April 15, 1980) was a Japanese Naturalist tanka poet. After initially taking up tanka in his teens, he studied under Kun'en Kaneko, and when in attendance at Waseda University he socialized with other notable Naturalist poets such as Bokusui Wakayama. Later, he earned the respect of the famous poet Takuboku Ishikawa, with whom he corresponded until the latter's death in 1912.
Kanokogi Kazunobu (鹿子木員信, 1884–1949) was a Japanese professor, philosopher, mountaineer and author. Although less well…Kanokogi Kazunobu (鹿子木員信, 1884–1949) was a Japanese professor, philosopher, mountaineer and author. Although less well known than Ikki Kita, Kanokogi has been referred to on several occasions as "the pioneer of Japanese totalitarianism." After training as a naval engineer, he saw combat in the Russo-Japanese War; after converting to Christianity he resigned his commission and travelled to the United States to study theology at Union Theological Seminary and philosophy at Columbia University. He received his doctorate (supervised by Rudolf Eucken) while studying in Germany at the University of Jena. After returning to Japan in 1912 he taught at Keio University, Tokyo Imperial University and Kyushu Imperial University. Kanokogi became involved in the Pan-Asianism movement, which led to him travelling to India. He was arrested by the British in Calcutta, and deported to Singapore, where he was imprisoned briefly. Following this incident, he began advocating for Indian independence. Kanokogi was a nationalist who emphasised the importance of the Imperial family in Japanese history. One of his principal works was Der Geist Japans ("The Spirit of Japan"), which was derived from a collection of lectures he gave in Germany arguing against Chinese influences on Japanese history. He was a member of the Yūzonsha society. After the war, he was held at Sugamo Prison as a Class-A war criminal. He was released in 1946 on medical grounds because he was diagnosed with terminal pulmonary tuberculosis, and died three years later from this condition.
Hisayoshi Takeda (武田 久吉, Takeda Hisayoshi; March 2, 1883 – June 7, 1972) was a Japanese botanist whose father was the…Hisayoshi Takeda (武田 久吉, Takeda Hisayoshi; March 2, 1883 – June 7, 1972) was a Japanese botanist whose father was the British diplomat Sir Ernest Satow. He was a founder of the Japanese Natural History Society, and is known for his campaign to preserve the environment at Oze, which is now Oze National Park.
Kaoru Osanai (小山内 薫, Osanai Kaoru; July 26, 1881 – December 25, 1928), was a Japanese theater director, playwright, and…Kaoru Osanai (小山内 薫, Osanai Kaoru; July 26, 1881 – December 25, 1928), was a Japanese theater director, playwright, and actor central in the development of modern Japanese theater.
Yasuhiko Asahina (朝比奈泰彦 Asahina Yasuhiko; April 16, 1881 – June 30, 1975) was a Japanese chemist and lichenologist.…Yasuhiko Asahina (朝比奈泰彦 Asahina Yasuhiko; April 16, 1881 – June 30, 1975) was a Japanese chemist and lichenologist. Asahina was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1951 and 1952, but did not win the award.
Hisanori Fujita (藤田 尚徳, Fujita Hisanori; 30 October 1880 – 23 July 1970) was a Japanese admiral in the Imperial…Hisanori Fujita (藤田 尚徳, Fujita Hisanori; 30 October 1880 – 23 July 1970) was a Japanese admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, court official and Shinto priest. After retiring from active service, he served as Chief Priest of Meiji Shrine and the Grand Chamberlain to Emperor Hirohito during World War II.
Suehiko Shiono (塩野季彦, Shiono Suehiko; born Shunpei Yamadera; 1 January 1880 – 7 January 1949) was a Japanese lawyer…Suehiko Shiono (塩野季彦, Shiono Suehiko; born Shunpei Yamadera; 1 January 1880 – 7 January 1949) was a Japanese lawyer, politician and cabinet minister noted for his prosecution of high-profile cases of political crimes and thought crimes under the Peace Preservation Law of the Empire of Japan.
Shunroku Hata (畑 俊六, Hata Shunroku; July 26, 1879 – May 10, 1962) was a field marshal (gensui) in the Imperial Japanese…Shunroku Hata (畑 俊六, Hata Shunroku; July 26, 1879 – May 10, 1962) was a field marshal (gensui) in the Imperial Japanese Army who served as Minister of the Army from 1939 to 1940. He was the last surviving Japanese military officer with a marshal's rank. In the aftermath of World War II Hata was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1948, but was paroled in 1955.
Akira Aoyama (Japanese: 青山士, September 23, 1878 - March 21, 1963) was a Japanese civil engineer who led the projects of…Akira Aoyama (Japanese: 青山士, September 23, 1878 - March 21, 1963) was a Japanese civil engineer who led the projects of the drainage canals of the Arakawa River, Tokyo, and the Shinano River, Niigata Prefecture. He also worked as one of the leaders of the land surveyor teams during the construction of the Panama Canal.
Vice Admiral Baron Yuzuru Hiraga (平賀 譲, Hiraga Yuzuru; March 8, 1878 – February 17, 1943) was a career naval officer in…Vice Admiral Baron Yuzuru Hiraga (平賀 譲, Hiraga Yuzuru; March 8, 1878 – February 17, 1943) was a career naval officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy, Doctor of Engineering and head of the engineering school of Tokyo Imperial University and a leading Japanese naval architect in the 1910s and 1920s, responsible for designing a number of famous warships, many of which would later see action during World War II. He participated in establishing the Chiba Institute of Technology from 1941.
Takuo Godō (伍堂 卓雄, Godō Takuo; 23 September 1877 – 7 April 1956) was a naval architect, vice admiral in the Imperial…Takuo Godō (伍堂 卓雄, Godō Takuo; 23 September 1877 – 7 April 1956) was a naval architect, vice admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, entrepreneur and cabinet minister in the pre-war Empire of Japan.
Harukazu Nagaoka (長岡 春一, Nagaoka Harukazu; January 16, 1877 in Kobe, Japan – June 30, 1949) was a Japanese diplomat and…Harukazu Nagaoka (長岡 春一, Nagaoka Harukazu; January 16, 1877 in Kobe, Japan – June 30, 1949) was a Japanese diplomat and jurist who served as member of the Japanese delegation to the Commission of Responsibilities at the Paris Peace Conference and represented Japan to the League of Nations. He also sat on a number of national and international judicial and arbitral positions, including as a judge on the Permanent Court of International Justice.
Baron Kinpei Matsuoka (松岡 均平, Matsuoka Kinpei; 28 November 1876 – 10 June 1960) was a Japanese politician and academic.…Baron Kinpei Matsuoka (松岡 均平, Matsuoka Kinpei; 28 November 1876 – 10 June 1960) was a Japanese politician and academic. He was a member of the House of Peers and a Professor of Law at Tokyo Imperial University. He was the son of Baron Matsuoka Yasutake.
Saishū Onoe (尾上 柴舟, Onoe Saishū) (20 August 1876 – 1, January, 1957) was the pen name of Hachirō Onoe (尾上 八郎, Onoe…Saishū Onoe (尾上 柴舟, Onoe Saishū) (20 August 1876 – 1, January, 1957) was the pen name of Hachirō Onoe (尾上 八郎, Onoe Hachirō), a Japanese tanka poet, educator, and calligrapher.
Count Hideo Kodama (兒玉 秀雄, Kodama Hideo; 19 July 1876 – 7 April 1947) was a Japanese official and politician who served…Count Hideo Kodama (兒玉 秀雄, Kodama Hideo; 19 July 1876 – 7 April 1947) was a Japanese official and politician who served as cabinet minister. He was the eldest son of famed Russo-Japanese War general Gentarō Kodama, and his wife was the daughter of Prime Minister Masatake Terauchi.
General Nobuyuki Abe (阿部 信行, Abe Nobuyuki; 24 November 1875 – 7 September 1953) was a general in the Imperial Japanese…General Nobuyuki Abe (阿部 信行, Abe Nobuyuki; 24 November 1875 – 7 September 1953) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, Prime Minister of Japan, and the last Governor-General of Korea.
Kambara Hayao (蒲原 隼雄, 15 March 1876 – 3 February 1952), known by his pen name Kambara Ariake (蒲原 有明), was a Japanese…Kambara Hayao (蒲原 隼雄, 15 March 1876 – 3 February 1952), known by his pen name Kambara Ariake (蒲原 有明), was a Japanese poet and novelist active during the Taishō and Shōwa eras of Japan. He is also known as Kambara Yūmei.
Shitagau Noguchi (野口 遵, Noguchi Shitagau; July 26, 1873-January 15, 1944) was a Japanese entrepreneur who founded the…Shitagau Noguchi (野口 遵, Noguchi Shitagau; July 26, 1873-January 15, 1944) was a Japanese entrepreneur who founded the Nichitsu zaibatsu. Known as the father of electrochemical engineering in Japan, he invested heavily in the development of Korea and Manchukou in cooperation with the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. His company was dissolved under the American occupation after World War II, and its successor companies include the Chisso Corporation, and portions of Asahi Kasei, Sekisui Chemical Company, and Shin-Etsu Chemical.
Kido Okamoto (岡本 綺堂, Okamoto Kidō; October 15, 1872 – March 1, 1939) was a Japanese author and playwright. His real…Kido Okamoto (岡本 綺堂, Okamoto Kidō; October 15, 1872 – March 1, 1939) was a Japanese author and playwright. His real name was Keiji Okamoto (岡本 敬二, Okamoto Keiji). His best known work is the Shin Kabuki play Bancho Sarayashiki. Kido was born in the district of Shiba Takanawa, a neighbourhood in Minato Ward, Tokyo.
Hisaakira Hijikata (土方 久徴, Hijikata Hisaakira; October 8, 1870 – August 25, 1942) was a Japanese businessman, central…Hisaakira Hijikata (土方 久徴, Hijikata Hisaakira; October 8, 1870 – August 25, 1942) was a Japanese businessman, central banker and the 12th Governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ).
Naomasa Yamasaki (山崎 直方, Yamasaki Naomasa; March 10, 1870 – July 26, 1929) was a Japanese geographer and regarded as…Naomasa Yamasaki (山崎 直方, Yamasaki Naomasa; March 10, 1870 – July 26, 1929) was a Japanese geographer and regarded as the father of modern Japanese geography. He was a professor at Tokyo Imperial University from 1911 to 1929, where he created the department of geography and founded The Association of Japanese Geographers. The latter is the primary academic geographic society in Japan.
Bizan Kawakami (川上 眉山, Kawakami Bizan; March 5, 1869 – June 15, 1908) was a Japanese novelist of the Meiji era. His…Bizan Kawakami (川上 眉山, Kawakami Bizan; March 5, 1869 – June 15, 1908) was a Japanese novelist of the Meiji era. His real name was Akira Kawakami (川上 亮, Kawakami Akira). Born in Osaka Prefecture, he dropped out of the school of liberal arts in Tokyo University and joined Ken'yusha. After struggling with the rise of naturalist literature yet remaining a popular author until his death, he died by suicide at age 40. Aozora Bunko has a digitalized collection of his works.
Atsushi Yasuda (安田篤 Yasuda Atsushi; September 8, 1868 – May 12, 1924) was a Japanese lichenologist. For a time, he was…Atsushi Yasuda (安田篤 Yasuda Atsushi; September 8, 1868 – May 12, 1924) was a Japanese lichenologist. For a time, he was the only lichenologist in Japan.
Yamada Bimyō (山田 美妙), born Yamada Taketarō (山田 武太郎; 1868–1910), was a Japanese novelist. Jim Reichert, author of Yamada…Yamada Bimyō (山田 美妙), born Yamada Taketarō (山田 武太郎; 1868–1910), was a Japanese novelist. Jim Reichert, author of Yamada Bimyō: Historical Fiction and Modern Love, wrote that Bimyō was "one of the most influential literary reformers of the 1880s" who had "an instrumental role" in producing rekishi shōsetsu, the modern form of a Japanese historical novel. According to Reichert, during the 1880s the public perceived Bimyō "to be at the forefront of the literary reform movement, offering a fresh and exciting strategy for reforming Japanese literature." Louis Frédéric, author of the Japan Encyclopedia, wrote that Bimyō was, along with Kōda Rohan, "the most representative authors" of the first modern school of literature to appear in Meiji Japan.
Saitō Masaru (斎藤 賢; 24 January 1868 – 13 April 1904), better known by his pen name Saitō Ryokuu (斎藤 緑雨), was a Japanese…Saitō Masaru (斎藤 賢; 24 January 1868 – 13 April 1904), better known by his pen name Saitō Ryokuu (斎藤 緑雨), was a Japanese author and critic who lived during the Meiji Era. His Dharma name was Shungyōin Ryokuu Suikaku Koji (春暁院緑雨醒客居士), which was chosen by Kōda Rohan.
Ozaki Kōyō (尾崎 紅葉; January 10, 1868 – October 30, 1903) was a Japanese author and poet. His real name was Ozaki…Ozaki Kōyō (尾崎 紅葉; January 10, 1868 – October 30, 1903) was a Japanese author and poet. His real name was Ozaki Tokutarō (尾崎 徳太郎), and he was also known by various noms de plume including Enzan (縁山) and Tochimandō (十千万堂).
Kōda Shigeyuki (幸田 成行; 23 July 1867 – 30 July 1947), pen name Kōda Rohan (幸田 露伴; Japanese pronunciation: [koː.da (|)…Kōda Shigeyuki (幸田 成行; 23 July 1867 – 30 July 1947), pen name Kōda Rohan (幸田 露伴; Japanese pronunciation: [koː.da (|) ɾoꜜ.haɴ]), was a Japanese author. His daughter, Aya Kōda, was also a noted author who often wrote about him. Kōda wrote "The Icon of Liberty", also known as "The Buddha of Art" or "The Elegant Buddha", in 1889. A house in which Kōda lived, Kagyū-an (蝸牛庵; snail cottage), was rebuilt in 1972 by the Meiji Mura museum. Kōda was one of the first persons to be awarded the Order of Culture when it was established in 1937.
Natsume Sōseki (; Japanese: 夏目 漱石; born Natsume Kinnosuke (夏目 金之助); 9 February 1867 – 9 December 1916) was a Japanese…Natsume Sōseki (; Japanese: 夏目 漱石; born Natsume Kinnosuke (夏目 金之助); 9 February 1867 – 9 December 1916) was a Japanese novelist, poet, and scholar. He is considered one of the greatest writers in modern Japanese history and is often called the first modern novelist of Japan. Sōseki's fiction explored themes of individualism, loneliness, and the conflict between traditional Japanese values and the rapid Westernization of the Meiji era. His major works include I Am a Cat (1905), Botchan (1906), Sanshirō (1908), Kokoro (1914), and his unfinished final novel Light and Dark (1916). Born on the cusp of the Meiji Restoration, Sōseki had a turbulent childhood, having been given up for adoption twice. He graduated from Tokyo Imperial University and became a scholar of English literature. In 1900, he was sent by the Japanese government to study in London, where he spent two miserable years marked by poverty, racial alienation, and a severe nervous breakdown. Upon his return to Japan, he succeeded Lafcadio Hearn as a lecturer in English literature at Tokyo Imperial University. In 1905, he achieved fame with the publication of the satirical novel I Am a Cat. This success prompted him to begin a prolific writing career, and in 1907, he resigned from his university post to become a full-time author for the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, a move that marked the birth of the professional artist in modern Japan. For the rest of his life, Sōseki published a novel a year while also writing poetry and literary criticism. His work is characterized by its psychological depth, its blend of humor and pessimism, and its exploration of the human ego. Throughout his adult life, he suffered from severe stomach ulcers and recurring bouts of mental illness, including paranoid delusions, which deeply affected his work and personal life. Sōseki died from complications of his stomach condition in 1916 at the age of 49, leaving his final novel, Light and Dark, unfinished. His influence on Japanese literature is profound, and he remains one of the country's most beloved and widely read authors. His portrait appeared on the 1,000-yen banknote from 1984 to 2004.
Ippo Yamada (山田一法 Yamada Ippō) is a video game music composer. He has contributed music to such titles as Mega Man Zero…Ippo Yamada (山田一法 Yamada Ippō) is a video game music composer. He has contributed music to such titles as Mega Man Zero (2002), Mega Man ZX (2006), Mega Man 9 (2008), and Azure Striker Gunvolt (2014). He is a founding member of Inti Creates, a Japanese video game development company formed by ex-Capcom staff in May 1996.
Shigeo Hirose (広瀬 茂男, Hirose Shigeo) (born 1947 in Tokyo) is a pioneer of robotics technology and a professor at the…Shigeo Hirose (広瀬 茂男, Hirose Shigeo) (born 1947 in Tokyo) is a pioneer of robotics technology and a professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Born in Tokyo and attending Hibiya High School, he graduated from Yokohama National University in 1971 and received a Ph.D. from Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1976 where he later took professorship. His works includes designs for robots capable of various types of movement such as walking, crawling, swimming and slithering. Specific designs include a "ninja-robot" capable of climbing buildings and a seven-ton robot capable of climbing mountainous slopes with the aim of installing bolts in the ground so as to prevent landslides. Hirose is also involved in work with the United Nations to develop a remotely controlled robot capable of clearing landmines.
