Tomoka Shibasaki (柴崎 友香, Shibasaki Tomoka; born October 20, 1973) is a Japanese writer from Osaka. She has won the Noma…Tomoka Shibasaki (柴崎 友香, Shibasaki Tomoka; born October 20, 1973) is a Japanese writer from Osaka. She has won the Noma Literary New Face Prize and the Akutagawa Prize, and two of her works have been adapted for film.
Yoshiyuki Abe (阿部良之, Abe Yoshiyuki; born August 15, 1969 in Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese racing cyclist, who last…Yoshiyuki Abe (阿部良之, Abe Yoshiyuki; born August 15, 1969 in Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese racing cyclist, who last rode for Japanese amateur team Abenova. He turned professional with Shimano Racing, the team operated by Shimano, after graduating from Osaka Institute of Technology, but soon transferred to Italian teams. He won the Japan Cup in 1997 and is still the only Japanese to win that important race. He became Japanese national champion in the road race in 1997 and 2000, and in the individual time trial in 1999 and 2000. Abe represented Japan in the 2000 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in the 2006 Asian Games in the team time trial.
Kōshū Tani (谷 甲州, Tani Kōshū; born March 30, 1951 in Itami, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese science fiction…Kōshū Tani (谷 甲州, Tani Kōshū; born March 30, 1951 in Itami, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese science fiction writer. He graduated from the Osaka Institute of Technology, and worked as a volunteer in Nepal and the Philippines. He made his professional debut with the story 137th Mobile Brigade in 1979 while still in Nepal. He is known mostly for his hard science fiction works, for which he won the Seiun Award three times (twice for Best Novel, and once for Best Short Story), and the Nitta Jirō Culture Award once. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of Japan, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan, the Space Authors Club, and an associate member of the Hard SF Laboratory. Tani currently lives in Komatsu in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Fumio Ōtsubo (大坪文雄, Fumio Ōtsubo; born September 5, 1945) was the President of Panasonic. He also serves as a member of…Fumio Ōtsubo (大坪文雄, Fumio Ōtsubo; born September 5, 1945) was the President of Panasonic. He also serves as a member of the board of Teijin
Hiroyuki Matsunami (松波弘之 born June 5, 1939) is a Japanese engineer, researcher and educator. He was awarded the IEEE…Hiroyuki Matsunami (松波弘之 born June 5, 1939) is a Japanese engineer, researcher and educator. He was awarded the IEEE Edison Medal in 2023 for his pioneering contributions to the development of the material silicon carbide and its applications in electronic power devices. Currently, he holds the position of professor emeritus at Kyoto University and serves as a specially appointed professor at Kyoto University of Advanced Science.
Masao Sakon (Japanese: 左近 正男 Sakon Masao; 26 November 1936 – 16 October 2024) was a Japanese politician. A member of…Masao Sakon (Japanese: 左近 正男 Sakon Masao; 26 November 1936 – 16 October 2024) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Japan Socialist Party and later the Social Democratic Party, he served in the House of Representatives from 1983 to 1996. Sakon died in Heguri on 16 October 2024, at the age of 87.
Kazuo Kageyama (蔭山 和夫, Kageyama Kazuo; January 16, 1927 – November 17, 1965) was a Japanese professional baseball third…Kazuo Kageyama (蔭山 和夫, Kageyama Kazuo; January 16, 1927 – November 17, 1965) was a Japanese professional baseball third basemen and manager for the Nankai Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He was named manager of the Hawks in November 1965, but died of a sleeping pill overdose later that month.
Osamu Matsubara (松原 治, Matsubara Osamu; October 7, 1917 – January 3, 2012) was a Japanese businessman, business…Osamu Matsubara (松原 治, Matsubara Osamu; October 7, 1917 – January 3, 2012) was a Japanese businessman, business executive, and former chairman and CEO of Books Kinokuniya. Matsubara was President of Kinokuniya Company Ltd., the parent company of Books Kinokuniya, from October 1980 to November 2002. In November 2002, he became the Chief Executive Office and board chairman for Kinokuniya Company Ltd. Outside Japan, Matsubara oversaw the 2007 relocation of Books Kinokuniya's New York City location from Rockefeller Center to a new, 23,800 sq. feet, three-floor store across from Bryant Park. The store, with its 250,000 items, is considered the largest Japanese bookstore in the United States. The inventory of the New York location includes an equal amount of Japanese and English books, which is in line with the company's goal to offer a wide assortment of titles in both Japanese and English. Osamu Matsubara died from heart failure on January 3, 2012, at the age of 94.
Yuko Minamimura (南村 侑広, Minamimura Yukō; born April 17, 1917 – April 17, 1990) was a Nippon Professional Baseball…Yuko Minamimura (南村 侑広, Minamimura Yukō; born April 17, 1917 – April 17, 1990) was a Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder. He became a professional baseball player at the age of 33, doing so for the Nishi Nippon Pirates. When the Pirates fizzled out after one season of play, he shuffled over to the Yomiuri Giants. From 1950 to 1953 he went by the name of Fukashi Minamimura. In the 1951 Japan Series, he batted .563 with nine hits that drove in four runs to lead the Yomiuri Giants to their first Japan Series championship. Minamimura was named Series MVP for his efforts. He became a bench player in 1956 and retired after the following season. He played in 774 games in NPB and batted .283. He became a coach and a baseball commentator in his post-playing career.
Taizo Kawamoto (川本 泰三, Kawamoto Taizō; January 17, 1914 – September 20, 1985) was a Japanese football player and…Taizo Kawamoto (川本 泰三, Kawamoto Taizō; January 17, 1914 – September 20, 1985) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for and later managed the Japan national team.
Masatake Okumiya (奥宮 正武, Okumiya Masatake; July 27, 1909 – February 22, 2007) was a historian and lieutenant general in…Masatake Okumiya (奥宮 正武, Okumiya Masatake; July 27, 1909 – February 22, 2007) was a historian and lieutenant general in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Okumiya graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1930 as a midshipman. He was commissioned an ensign in April 1932, received his wings in November 1933 as a naval aviator, and was promoted to sub-lieutenant in the same month. He entered the Naval Air Corps at Ōmura, receiving promotion to lieutenant in December 1936. In 1937, he participated in the attack on the USS Panay. Promoted to lieutenant-commander in October 1941, Okumiya served throughout World War II, including on the aircraft carrier Ryūjō and with the 2nd Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. During 1942–1943, he served as chief of staff of the 26th Naval Air Squadron, and was appointed to a staff post in August 1944. He was promoted to his final rank of commander in November 1944. At the end of the war, Okumiya was interrogated by Allied intelligence officers, after which he was demobilized. Following the occupation of Japan, he joined the nascent Japan Air Self-Defense Force in 1954. He returned to active duty in July 1957 with the rank of colonel, and was appointed commander of the air base at Utsunomiya. He was promoted to major general in February 1958 and served as deputy head of Personnel and Training from August 1959 to April 1960. He commanded the 3rd Air Wing from Komaki Air Base in 1961, followed by command of the Ichigaya Air Base in 1962. He was promoted to lieutenant-general in 1963 and ended his career as commander of the ATC and Meteorological Group. He retired the following year. Okumiya wrote extensively on Japan's role in World War II. He co-wrote with Mitsuo Fuchida Midway: The Battle that Doomed Japan; the Japanese Navy's Story, published 1955. His remark that "I am firmly convinced that the Pacific War was started by men who did not understand the sea, and fought by men who did not understand the air." is often quoted. He also co-wrote, with Jiro Horikoshi and Martin Caidin, an historical account of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, titled Zero! The book was published in 1956.
Tatsuji Miyoshi (三好 達治, Miyoshi Tatsuji; 23 August 1900 – 5 April 1964) was a Japanese poet, literary critic, and…Tatsuji Miyoshi (三好 達治, Miyoshi Tatsuji; 23 August 1900 – 5 April 1964) was a Japanese poet, literary critic, and literary editor active during the Shōwa period of Japan. He is known for his lengthy free verse poetry, which often portray loneliness and isolation as part of contemporary life, but which are written in a complex, highly literary style reminiscent of classical Japanese poetry.
Masaharu Taniguchi (谷口 雅春, Taniguchi Masaharu; 22 November 1893 – 17 June 1985) was a Japanese New Thought leader who…Masaharu Taniguchi (谷口 雅春, Taniguchi Masaharu; 22 November 1893 – 17 June 1985) was a Japanese New Thought leader who was the founder of Seicho-No-Ie.
Sanjugo Naoki (直木 三十五, Naoki Sanjūgo) was a pen name of a novelist in Taishō and Shōwa period Japan. His real name was…Sanjugo Naoki (直木 三十五, Naoki Sanjūgo) was a pen name of a novelist in Taishō and Shōwa period Japan. His real name was Sōichi Uemura (植村 宗一, Uemura Sōichi).
Narashige Koide (小出楢重, Koide Narashige; October 13, 1887 – February 13, 1931) was a Japanese painter and illustrator…Narashige Koide (小出楢重, Koide Narashige; October 13, 1887 – February 13, 1931) was a Japanese painter and illustrator, noted for his work in pioneering the Hanshinkan Modernism trend in yōga (Western-style) portraiture and nude painting in early 20th century Japanese painting.
