Aru Tateno (Japanese: 立野 在; born August 29, 1997) is a retired Japanese ice dancer. With his former skating partner…Aru Tateno (Japanese: 立野 在; born August 29, 1997) is a retired Japanese ice dancer. With his former skating partner, Rikako Fukase, he has competed in the final segment at three ISU Championships. The duo placed 19th at the 2016 World Junior Championships in Debrecen, Hungary; 13th at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Taipei, Taiwan; and 11th at the 2018 Four Continents Championships in Taipei.
Osamu Nishimura (西村修, Nishimura Osamu; September 23, 1971 – February 28, 2025) was a Japanese professional wrestler.…Osamu Nishimura (西村修, Nishimura Osamu; September 23, 1971 – February 28, 2025) was a Japanese professional wrestler. Nishimura was best known for his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and MUGA World Pro Wrestling (MUGA). Outside of pro wrestling, he was also a politician, having served as a member of the Tokyo Bunkyo Ward Assembly as a food education instructor.
Hideo Shiraki (白木秀雄; 1 January 1933 in Tokyo – 31 August 1972) was a Japanese jazz drummer and bandleader, best known…Hideo Shiraki (白木秀雄; 1 January 1933 in Tokyo – 31 August 1972) was a Japanese jazz drummer and bandleader, best known for his work in the 1950s and 1960s. Famed earlier on for hard bop, he later explored world music and became a pioneer of fusing traditional music forms with jazz structuring. He emerged in the new Japanese jazz scene of the 1950s that grew out of the influence of the US occupying forces. He studied percussion at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and, during this period, played with Masashi Nagao's Blue Coats. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, his quintet was popular in Japan and was associated with the "funky boom" craze for hard bop. Hidehiko "Sleepy" Matsumoto, Terumasa Hino and Yuzuru Sera all passed through his quintet. Notable albums include 1961's In Fiesta (Teichiku Japan), which included a version of Benny Golson's "Five Spot After Dark". Performers on the album included Hidehiko Matsumoto on tenor and flute and Yuzuru Sera on piano. 1965's Sakura Sakura united the quintet (including Terumasa Hino on trumpet) with three female koto players as Shiraki moved into a world jazz approach. An invited November 1965 performance at the Berlin Jazz Festival, organised by Joachim-Ernst Berendt, saw the quintet work with a koto quartet and was feted for mixing jazz with traditional Japanese music. He also played with Toshiko Akiyoshi, including two tracks on her 1961 album Toshiko Meets Her Old Pals. On July 22, 1966, he played with the John Coltrane quintet in Tokyo while the group was touring Japan.
Mamoru Watanabe (渡辺 護, Watanabe Mamoru; March 19, 1931 – December 24, 2013) was a Japanese film director, screenwriter…Mamoru Watanabe (渡辺 護, Watanabe Mamoru; March 19, 1931 – December 24, 2013) was a Japanese film director, screenwriter and actor, known for his work in the pink film genre. Along with directors Genji Nakamura and Banmei Takahashi, Watanabe was known as one of the "Three Pillars of Pink".
Kakuei Tanaka (田中 角栄, Tanaka Kakuei; IPA: [ta̠na̠ka̠ ka̠kɯ̟e̞ː]; 4 May 1918 – 16 December 1993) was a Japanese…Kakuei Tanaka (田中 角栄, Tanaka Kakuei; IPA: [ta̠na̠ka̠ ka̠kɯ̟e̞ː]; 4 May 1918 – 16 December 1993) was a Japanese politician who served as prime minister of Japan from 1972 to 1974. Known for his background in construction and earthy and tenacious political style, Tanaka is the only modern Japanese prime minister who did not finish high school or graduate from a university. Born in Niigata Prefecture to a poor farmer, Tanaka left school at age 14. He later received an engineering education and founded his own construction company in 1936. In 1940, he was drafted into the army and served in Manchuria until 1941; during the Pacific War, he made a fortune from government contracts. After the war, Tanaka was first elected to the National Diet in 1947. He joined the Liberal Democratic Party on its foundation in 1955, and held a series of cabinet positions, including posts as telecommunications minister from 1957 to 1958, finance minister from 1962 to 1965, and international trade and industry minister from 1971 to 1972. He built up a large faction in the party by political maneuvering and extensive use of money. After a power struggle with Takeo Fukuda, Tanaka succeeded Eisaku Satō as prime minister in 1972. Domestically, he pursued his "Plan to Remodel the Japanese Archipelago", an infrastructure development program, before it was shelved due to inflation and the 1973 oil crisis. In 1972, Tanaka established relations with the People's Republic of China. Although he had entered office with a very high popularity rating, this declined quickly amid allegations of corruption before his resignation in 1974. In 1976, Tanaka was arrested and charged with taking ¥500 million in bribes in the Lockheed scandal, and in 1983 was sentenced to four years in prison. However, Tanaka remained free on appeal to the Supreme Court until his death in 1993. Throughout his legal problems, he maintained influence through his faction, the largest faction in the LDP, and continued to serve as kingmaker for subsequent premiers, which earned him the nickname "Shadow Shogun" among others. A debilitating stroke he suffered in 1985 led to the collapse of his political faction, with most members regrouping under the leadership of Noboru Takeshita in 1987.
Yoshio Kimura (木村 義雄, Kimura Yoshio; February 21, 1905 – November 17, 1986) was a Japanese professional shogi player…Yoshio Kimura (木村 義雄, Kimura Yoshio; February 21, 1905 – November 17, 1986) was a Japanese professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 8-dan (which was the highest dan level during his time). He was a Lifetime Meijin who won the title eight times. At the time, the Meijin title was the only shogi title. From December 1947 to March 1948 he was the first president of the Japan Shogi Association.
Sensui Shoji (Japanese: 庄司 浅水, Hepburn: Shōji Sensui; 10 November 1903 – 7 September 1991) was a Japanese bibliophile…Sensui Shoji (Japanese: 庄司 浅水, Hepburn: Shōji Sensui; 10 November 1903 – 7 September 1991) was a Japanese bibliophile and author. He wrote and translated over 100 books and articles, mainly on the history of Japanese and Western literature, but also in the area of the supernatural.
Tomizo Yoshida (吉田 富三, Yoshida Tomizō; 1903–1973) was a prominent Japanese pathologist, famous for discovering the…Tomizo Yoshida (吉田 富三, Yoshida Tomizō; 1903–1973) was a prominent Japanese pathologist, famous for discovering the Yoshida sarcoma. In addition, he is known for demonstrating the chemical-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats with his mentor Takaoki Sasaki. Yoshida received the Imperial Prize of the Japan Academy twice (1936 and 1953) as well as the Robert Koch Gold Medal (1963).
Shirō Akabori (赤堀 四郎 Akahori Shirō), 20 October 1900 – 3 November 1992 in Chihama, Ogasa (now Kakegawa, Shizuoka…Shirō Akabori (赤堀 四郎 Akahori Shirō), 20 October 1900 – 3 November 1992 in Chihama, Ogasa (now Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture), was a Japanese chemist and university professor, known for the Akabori amino-acid reactions.
Gaijiro Fujishima (藤島亥治郎, Fujishima Gaijirō) (1 May 1899 – 15 July 2002), was a Japanese architectural historian. His…Gaijiro Fujishima (藤島亥治郎, Fujishima Gaijirō) (1 May 1899 – 15 July 2002), was a Japanese architectural historian. His son, Yukihiko Fujishima, is a lecturer at Waseda University.
Etsusaburo Shiina (椎名 悦三郎, Shiina Etsusaburō; 16 January 1898 – 30 September 1979) was a career bureaucrat and…Etsusaburo Shiina (椎名 悦三郎, Shiina Etsusaburō; 16 January 1898 – 30 September 1979) was a career bureaucrat and politician. As Foreign Minister of Japan from 1964 to 1966 he played a pivotal role in diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea.
Kim Seong-su (Korean: 김성수; Hanja: 金性洙; October 11, 1891 – February 18, 1955), art name Inchon, was a Korean educator…Kim Seong-su (Korean: 김성수; Hanja: 金性洙; October 11, 1891 – February 18, 1955), art name Inchon, was a Korean educator, independence activist, journalist, entrepreneur, politician, and calligrapher. He served as the second Vice President of South Korea from 1951 to 1952. Kim Seong-su founded Korea University and The Dong-A Ilbo. He graduated from Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, majoring in Political Science and Economics.
Song Jin-woo (Korean: 송진우, 8 May 1889 – 30 December 1945) was a Korean independence activist, journalist, and…Song Jin-woo (Korean: 송진우, 8 May 1889 – 30 December 1945) was a Korean independence activist, journalist, and politician. His art name was Goha (고하; 古下). He was the 3rd, 6th and 8th CEO of the Dong-a Ilbo and the founding leader of the Korea Democratic Party. In 1945, he was assassinated by Han Hyeon-woo, a member of the far-right terrorist group the White Shirts Society.
Isuke Shinmen (23 October 1889 – 8 September 1967) was a Japanese judoka and wrestler. He competed in the men's…Isuke Shinmen (23 October 1889 – 8 September 1967) was a Japanese judoka and wrestler. He competed in the men's freestyle lightweight at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
Togo Yamamoto (山本冬郷, Yamamoto Tōgō; November 4, 1886 – March 24, 1952) was a pioneering actor who appeared on stage and…Togo Yamamoto (山本冬郷, Yamamoto Tōgō; November 4, 1886 – March 24, 1952) was a pioneering actor who appeared on stage and film in the United States and Japan.
Hitoshi Ikebe (池部 鈞, Ikebe Hitoshi; 3 March 1886 – 17 December 1969) was a Japanese painter. His work was part of the…Hitoshi Ikebe (池部 鈞, Ikebe Hitoshi; 3 March 1886 – 17 December 1969) was a Japanese painter. His work was part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Kiyoshi Akita (秋田 清, Akita Kiyoshi; 29 August 1881 – 3 December 1944) was a politician and cabinet minister in the…Kiyoshi Akita (秋田 清, Akita Kiyoshi; 29 August 1881 – 3 December 1944) was a politician and cabinet minister in the Empire of Japan, serving as a member of the Lower House of the Diet of Japan for ten terms, and twice as a cabinet minister. He also served as Speaker of the House from 1932-1934.
Tokugoro Ito (1878-January 22, 1939) was a Japanese judoka and professional wrestler. Ito was one of the founding…Tokugoro Ito (1878-January 22, 1939) was a Japanese judoka and professional wrestler. Ito was one of the founding fathers of mixed martial arts in Brazil.
Gōtarō Mikami (三上 剛太郎, Mikami Gōtarō; 15 November 1869 – October 1964) was a Japanese medical doctor during the…Gōtarō Mikami (三上 剛太郎, Mikami Gōtarō; 15 November 1869 – October 1964) was a Japanese medical doctor during the 1904–1905 Russo-Japanese War noted for his work with the Red Cross.
Junnosuke Inoue (井上 準之助, Inoue Junnosuke; May 6, 1869 – February 9, 1932) was a Japanese financier and statesman of the…Junnosuke Inoue (井上 準之助, Inoue Junnosuke; May 6, 1869 – February 9, 1932) was a Japanese financier and statesman of the Taisho and Showa eras. He was the 9th and 11th Governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ), and Minister of Finance in 1923-1924 and 1929-1931. He was assassinated during the League of Blood Incident in 1932.
Baron Ijūin Hikokichi (伊集院 彦吉, Ijūin Hikokichi; 22 July 1864 – 26 April 1924) was a Japanese diplomat and politician…Baron Ijūin Hikokichi (伊集院 彦吉, Ijūin Hikokichi; 22 July 1864 – 26 April 1924) was a Japanese diplomat and politician who served as minister of foreign affairs and Japanese ambassador to the Qing dynasty.
Admiral Arima Ryōkitsu (有馬 良橘; December 16, 1861 – May 1, 1944) was a career naval officer in the Imperial Japanese…Admiral Arima Ryōkitsu (有馬 良橘; December 16, 1861 – May 1, 1944) was a career naval officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy during Meiji and Taishō periods.
