Toshiaki Hirose (廣瀬俊朗, Hirose Toshiaki; born October 17, 1981 in Osaka) is Japanese former rugby union player who…Toshiaki Hirose (廣瀬俊朗, Hirose Toshiaki; born October 17, 1981 in Osaka) is Japanese former rugby union player who played as a wing or fly half, and captained the national team between 2012 and 2013. After becoming a regular starter for Toshiba Brave Lupus in the Top League, Hirose made his debut for Japan in 2007 against Hong Kong at fly-half scoring two tries, but never featured again under coach John Kirwan. He continued to be a key player at domestic level though, captaining Toshiba Brave Lupus to back to back Top League victories in 2009 and 2010. In 2012, five years after his debut, he was recalled and named captain of the Japan national rugby union team by new coach, Eddie Jones. He had by now converted from fly-half to wing, and later that year led them to their first ever away wins in Europe against Romania and Georgia. He was also on the receiving end of a rant by Jones after a loss to the French Barbarians in June. Hirose continued as captain in 2013, leading Japan to their first ever victory over Wales, but was dropped in 2014 with his place coming under increasing pressure from new caps Akihito Yamada and Kotaro Matsushima, and Jones citing a lack of pace. From there onwards he became a bit part player at international level with his remaining caps all coming off the bench as a utility player who could cover both fly-half and wing. He was retained for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, with his leadership skills praised by Jones, but was the only player in the 31 man squad not to make the field in the tournament, and following a final season with Toshiba Brave Lupus decided to retire.
Kotaro Tatsumi (Japanese: 辰巳 孝太郎, Hepburn: Tatsumi Kōtarō; born 21 August 1976) is a Japanese politician who serves in…Kotaro Tatsumi (Japanese: 辰巳 孝太郎, Hepburn: Tatsumi Kōtarō; born 21 August 1976) is a Japanese politician who serves in the House of Representatives for Kinki PR as a member of the Japanese Communist Party. Tatsumi was in the House of Councillors for Osaka from 2013 to 2019. He was a candidate in the 2023 Osaka gubernatorial election.
Kenji Kasahara (笠原 健治, Kenji Kasahara; born December 6, 1975 in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese entrepreneur who…Kenji Kasahara (笠原 健治, Kenji Kasahara; born December 6, 1975 in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese entrepreneur who founded Mixi, a social networking site. In 2008, he was ranked as the 37th richest Japanese person.
Michael Kawajo (川条 志嘉, Kawajō Shika; born 25 January 1970) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Michael Kawajo (川条 志嘉, Kawajō Shika; born 25 January 1970) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Tōru Hashimoto (橋下 徹, Hashimoto Tōru; born 29 June 1969) is a Japanese television personality, former politician, and…Tōru Hashimoto (橋下 徹, Hashimoto Tōru; born 29 June 1969) is a Japanese television personality, former politician, and lawyer. He is a former governor of Osaka Prefecture and mayor of City of Osaka. He is a founder of Nippon Ishin no Kai and the Osaka Restoration Association. He is one of Japan's leading right-wing conservative-populist politicians.
Ryutaro Nonomura (野々村 竜太郎, Nonomura Ryūtarō; born July 29, 1966) is a Japanese former politician and convicted…Ryutaro Nonomura (野々村 竜太郎, Nonomura Ryūtarō; born July 29, 1966) is a Japanese former politician and convicted fraudster known for his crying outburst during a press conference in 2014. Being elected to the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly in 2011, Nonomura had a short legislative career before resigning in 2014 due to a financing scandal. His press conference became a meme due to his hysterical crying after being asked to explain his finances. In 2016, he was sentenced to three years in prison and four years suspended sentence for expenses fraud and misuse of funding.
Takao Nakano (中野貴雄, Nakano Takao; born May 15, 1962) is a Japanese film director, screenwriter and actor who has worked…Takao Nakano (中野貴雄, Nakano Takao; born May 15, 1962) is a Japanese film director, screenwriter and actor who has worked in pink film, adult videos (AV), and in mainstream comedy, horror and fantasy films. Film critic Jasper Sharp describes him as one of the few figures in the Japanese erotic film scene who have made a name for themselves overseas.
Midori Matsushima (Japanese: 松島 みどり, Hepburn: Matsushima Midori; born 15 July 1956) also known by her legal name Midori…Midori Matsushima (Japanese: 松島 みどり, Hepburn: Matsushima Midori; born 15 July 1956) also known by her legal name Midori Baba (馬場 みどり, Baba Midori) is a Japanese politician. She served as Japan's Minister of Justice in 2014, later resigning in the same year after an allegation of violating electoral laws by distributing paper fans to voters.
Satoshi Kinsui (金水 敏, Kinsui Satoshi; born (1956-04-29)29 April 1956) is a Japanese linguist who is currently a…Satoshi Kinsui (金水 敏, Kinsui Satoshi; born (1956-04-29)29 April 1956) is a Japanese linguist who is currently a professor at Osaka University.
Shiro Nakamura (中村 史郎, Nakamura Shirō; born 17 October 1950) is a former Japanese car designer and company executive.…Shiro Nakamura (中村 史郎, Nakamura Shirō; born 17 October 1950) is a former Japanese car designer and company executive. Nakamura served as Senior Vice President of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. From 2006, Nakamura had been Nissan's Chief Creative Officer. He was Chief Creative Officer of Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun. Nakamura retired in 2017. Known as a hands-on creative, he goes by the nickname "Fingers".
Yukihiro Ozaki (尾崎 幸洋, Ozaki Yukihiro; born October 19, 1949) is a Japanese scientist. Kwansei Gakuin University…Yukihiro Ozaki (尾崎 幸洋, Ozaki Yukihiro; born October 19, 1949) is a Japanese scientist. Kwansei Gakuin University, Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, professor emeritus, Fellow. He was born in Sakai, Osaka, Japan. In 1973, he had B.Sc. in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Osaka University. In 1978, he had PhD in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Osaka University. He worked as a research associate (Fixed-term) in Division of Biological Sciences, National Research Council of Canada. In 1981, he became an instructor in Division of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Science, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan and became an assistant professor there. From 1989 he started working as an associate professor in Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Kwansei Gakuin University, Nishinomiya, Japan. And he became a professor there in 1993. Because of the government reorganization, he became a professor in Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University from 2001. He was a dean of the School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University from 2006 to 2010 and he was a vice president from 2013 to 2018. He was also the president of The Spectroscopical Society of Japan (SPSJ) from 2014 to 2016. He is a researcher in molecular spectroscopy in condensed phase, physical chemistry and analytical chemistry. He investigates basic studies and application of various spectroscopies, IR, Raman, NIR, FUV, and FIR/terahertz spectroscopy. He has made many achievements in spectroscopy which would be a bridge between the basis and the application. Recently, he is very active in application of quantum chemistry to molecular spectroscopy, developing a strong bridge between them. From 1999 to 2017, for 19 years in a row, he published more than 30 papers in a year. As of December 2025, his h-index is 89, and he has published more than 1140 papers and has been cited more than 39,000 times in total.
Masayuki Naoshima (直嶋 正行, Naoshima Masayuki; born October 23, 1945) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…Masayuki Naoshima (直嶋 正行, Naoshima Masayuki; born October 23, 1945) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Ikeda, Osaka and graduate of Kobe University, he was elected for the first time in 1992 and served until the 2016 Japanese House of Councillors election. Before becoming a politician, he worked for Toyota and its union for a long time.
Tsuneo Mori (森 恒夫, Mori Tsuneo; December 6, 1944 – January 1, 1973) was a Japanese radical leftist and terrorist. He…Tsuneo Mori (森 恒夫, Mori Tsuneo; December 6, 1944 – January 1, 1973) was a Japanese radical leftist and terrorist. He was born in Osaka and entered the Osaka City University where he became involved in leftist politics, eventually joining the Red Army Faction, which was a schismatic militant subfaction of the Japan Communist League. After many members of the Red Army Faction were arrested by the Japanese police with Mori remaining at large, several members of the group went to North Korea with Japan Airlines Flight 351 and some formed the Japanese Red Army. Mori remained in Japan and eventually became the leader of the United Red Army. Along with Hiroko Nagata, he allegedly killed 12 members and he was arrested in February 1972. He committed suicide by hanging in his cell in Tokyo on January 1, 1973.
Kōki Chūma (中馬 弘毅, Chūma Kōki; born 8 October 1936) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of…Kōki Chūma (中馬 弘毅, Chūma Kōki; born 8 October 1936) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Osaka, Osaka and graduate of the University of Tokyo he was elected for the first time in 1976 as a member of the now-defunct party New Liberal Club. His father is Kaoru Chūma, former Mayor of Osaka.
Hiro Sachiya (ひろさちや, Hirosachiya; 1936 – April 7, 2022) was a Japanese religious scholar and a popular contemporary…Hiro Sachiya (ひろさちや, Hirosachiya; 1936 – April 7, 2022) was a Japanese religious scholar and a popular contemporary writer of Buddhism. His birth name is Yoshihiko Masuhara (増原 良彦). He was born in Osaka Prefecture and studied Indian philosophy at University of Tokyo, graduating in 1960. Under the pen name Hiro Sachiya (derived from the Sanskrit Satya), he has written more than 400 books and articles. His interest in religion is not limited to Buddhism. He is mostly known for his comparative studies in all religions including Buddhism, Shinto, Christianity, Islam, and Confucianism.
Haruko Wakita (脇田晴子, Wakita Haruko; March 9, 1934 – September 27, 2016) was a Japanese academic, editor and expert in…Haruko Wakita (脇田晴子, Wakita Haruko; March 9, 1934 – September 27, 2016) was a Japanese academic, editor and expert in medieval Japanese women's history.
Osamu Tezuka (手塚 治虫, born 手塚 治, Tezuka Osamu, (1928-11-03)3 November 1928 – 9 February 1989) was a Japanese manga…Osamu Tezuka (手塚 治虫, born 手塚 治, Tezuka Osamu, (1928-11-03)3 November 1928 – 9 February 1989) was a Japanese manga artist, cartoonist and animator. Considered to be among the greatest and most influential cartoonists of all time, his prolific output, pioneering techniques and innovative redefinitions of genres earned him such titles as "the Father of Manga" (マンガの父, Manga no Chichi), "the Godfather of Manga" (マンガの教父, Manga no Kyōfu) and "the God of Manga" (マンガの神様, Manga no Kami-sama). Additionally, he is often considered the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney, who served as a major inspiration during Tezuka's formative years. Though this phrase praises the quality of his early manga works for children and animations, it also blurs the significant influence of his later, more literary, gekiga works. Inspired by the early Chinese animated film Princess Iron Fan, Tezuka began what was known as the manga revolution in Japan with his New Treasure Island published in 1947. His output would spawn some of the most influential, successful and well-received manga series including the children's manga Astro Boy, Princess Knight and Kimba the White Lion, and the adult-oriented series Black Jack, Phoenix and Buddha, all of which won several awards. Tezuka died of stomach cancer in 1989. His death had an immediate impact on the Japanese public and other cartoonists. A museum was constructed in Takarazuka dedicated to his memory and life works, and Tezuka received many posthumous awards. Several animations were in production at the time of his death along with the final chapters of Phoenix, which were never released.
Den Fujita (藤田 田, Fujita Den, March 3, 1926 – April 21, 2004) was a Japanese businessman. He was the founder of…Den Fujita (藤田 田, Fujita Den, March 3, 1926 – April 21, 2004) was a Japanese businessman. He was the founder of McDonald's Japan.
Takeo Matsubara (松原武生, Takeo Matsubara; April 3, 1921 - December 15, 2014) was a Japanese physicist. Matsubara proposed…Takeo Matsubara (松原武生, Takeo Matsubara; April 3, 1921 - December 15, 2014) was a Japanese physicist. Matsubara proposed a method of statistical mechanics related to Green's function (many-body theory), by applying quantum field theory techniques to statistical physics. This method, commonly known as Matsubara Green's function technique, introduces the notion of imaginary time, and the reciprocal variable to this imaginary time is known as discrete Matsubara frequency. Matsubara graduated from Osaka Imperial University, and worked as full professor in Hokkaido University, Kyoto University, and Okayama University of Science. He was the winner of the Nishina Memorial Prize in 1961, and took the directorship of the Physical Society of Japan. His work with Yukata Toyozawa on impurity bands in semiconductors has led to the Matsubara-Toyozawa model that describes the motion of an electron in a random lattice. His research interests were dielectric materials, superconductivity and superfluidity. He wrote various physics textbooks in Japanese.
Osamu Hayaishi MJA (早石 修, Hayaishi Osamu; January 8, 1920 – December 17, 2015), was a Japanese biochemist…Osamu Hayaishi MJA (早石 修, Hayaishi Osamu; January 8, 1920 – December 17, 2015), was a Japanese biochemist, physiologist, and military physician. He discovered Oxygenases at the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, National Institutes of Health in 1955. Citing his "outstanding and pioneering contributions to biomedical sciences and enzymology," the Wolf Foundation awarded Hayaishi the 1986 Wolf Prize in Medicine "for his discovery of the oxygenase enzymes and elucidation of their structure and biological importance". Hayaishi was President of International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from 1973 to 1976.
Hiroshi Noma (野間宏, Noma Hiroshi; February 23, 1915 – January 2, 1991) was a Japanese poet, novelist and essayist.…Hiroshi Noma (野間宏, Noma Hiroshi; February 23, 1915 – January 2, 1991) was a Japanese poet, novelist and essayist. According to literary scholar Doug Slaymaker, Noma is widely credited with having discovered or invented the style of writing called by the term "postwar literature" (sengo bungaku) in Japan.
Seiseki Abe (阿部醒石, Abe Seiseki) (April 26, 1915 – May 18, 2011, Osaka, Japan) was a Japanese shodo and aikido teacher…Seiseki Abe (阿部醒石, Abe Seiseki) (April 26, 1915 – May 18, 2011, Osaka, Japan) was a Japanese shodo and aikido teacher who had a unique relationship with aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, being both his student in aikido and his teacher in calligraphy.
Heiichi Sugiyama (Japanese: 杉山 平一, Hepburn: Sugiyama Heiichi; 2 November 1914 – 19 May 2012) was a Japanese poet, film…Heiichi Sugiyama (Japanese: 杉山 平一, Hepburn: Sugiyama Heiichi; 2 November 1914 – 19 May 2012) was a Japanese poet, film critic, and film theorist.
Kaoru Morimoto (森本薫, Morimoto Kaoru; 4 June 1912 – 6 October 1946) was a Japanese playwright, screenwriter and…Kaoru Morimoto (森本薫, Morimoto Kaoru; 4 June 1912 – 6 October 1946) was a Japanese playwright, screenwriter and translator. He is famous for his critically acclaimed play A Woman's Life (Onna no isshō), which became one of the most often performed plays in post-war Japan.
Ryōichi Kuroda (黒田了一, Kuroda Ryōichi; 16 March 1911 – 24 July 2003) was a Japanese jurist and politician from Suita…Ryōichi Kuroda (黒田了一, Kuroda Ryōichi; 16 March 1911 – 24 July 2003) was a Japanese jurist and politician from Suita, Osaka.
Junichi Ueno (上野 淳一, Ueno Jun'ichi; November 11, 1910 – October 10, 1997) was the co-owner of the Asahi Shimbun (朝日新聞…Junichi Ueno (上野 淳一, Ueno Jun'ichi; November 11, 1910 – October 10, 1997) was the co-owner of the Asahi Shimbun (朝日新聞, , Asahi Shinbun). This powerful Japanese journalist owned and published a newspaper which is the second most circulated out of the five national newspapers in Japan. During the years of his ownership, Asahi's circulation rose to approximately 8.27 million for its morning edition and 3.85 million for its evening edition. Ueno represented the third generation of the family who owned the newspaper and its subsidiary businesses, which included television and satellite broadcasting.
Takeyoshi Kawashima (川島 武宜, Kawashima Takeyoshi; 17 October 1909 – 21 May 1992) was a Japanese jurist. He was a…Takeyoshi Kawashima (川島 武宜, Kawashima Takeyoshi; 17 October 1909 – 21 May 1992) was a Japanese jurist. He was a prominent representative of post-war liberalism in Japan and the country's leading legal sociologist. Serving as Sakae Wagatsuma's assistant after 1932, Kawashima was appointed professor of civil law at the University of Tokyo in 1934. In his writings, he sought to develop a system of modern, Western, capitalist society based on the principle of the exchange of goods, which he contrasted to Japanese society with its remaining pre-modern and feudalist elements. His criticism of Japanese domestic ideology in The familial structure of Japanese society (日本社會の家族的構成; Nihon shakai no kazokuteki kōsei) (1954) was a popular success. As a collaborator on the post-war reform of Japanese family law, Kawashima was unable to realize his ambitious ideas, but served as a counterweight to conservatives including Eiichi Makino. In his 1963 article "Dispute Resolution in Contemporary Japan", he argued that although litigation is not a preferred method of dispute resolution anywhere, the Japanese have a particular cultural aversion to litigation. The article has sparked heated debate, generating various perspectives, notably John Haley's "The Myth of the Reluctant Litigant" and Mark Ramseyer's "Reluctant Litigant Revisited".
Takuma Yasui (安井 琢磨, Yasui Takuma; April 1, 1909 – December 17, 1995) was a Japanese economist known for his…Takuma Yasui (安井 琢磨, Yasui Takuma; April 1, 1909 – December 17, 1995) was a Japanese economist known for his contributions to mathematical economics. In particular, he is recognized as one of the first economists to utilize Lyapunov stability theory for analyzing the stability of economic equilibria. In 1970, he served as president of the Japanese Economic Association.
Jirō Yoshihara (吉原 治良, Yoshihara Jirō; January 1, 1905 – February 10, 1972) was a Japanese painter, art educator…Jirō Yoshihara (吉原 治良, Yoshihara Jirō; January 1, 1905 – February 10, 1972) was a Japanese painter, art educator, curator, and businessman. Mainly known for his gestural abstract impasto paintings from the 1950s and Zen-painting inspired hard-edge Circles beginning in the 1960s, Yoshihara's oeuvre also encompasses drawings, murals, sculptures, calligraphy, ink wash paintings, ceramics, watercolors, and stage design. Yoshihara was a key figure of postwar Japanese art and culture through his work as painter, art educator, promoter of the arts, and networker between the arts, commerce, and industry in the Kansai region and beyond, and, especially, as the leader of the postwar avant-garde art collective Gutai Art Association, which he co-founded in 1954. Under Yoshihara's guidance, Gutai explored radically experimental approaches, including outdoor exhibitions, performances, onstage presentations, and interactive works. Fueled by Yoshihara's global ambitions, Gutai developed artistic strategies to communicate internationally and insert themselves into a globalizing art world. Aside from his artistic activities, Yoshihara was involved in the management and direction of his family's cooking oil business Yoshihara Oil Mill, Ltd.
Hashimoto Kunihiko (橋本國彦; also Qunihico Hashimoto) (September 14, 1904 – May 6, 1949) was a Japanese composer…Hashimoto Kunihiko (橋本國彦; also Qunihico Hashimoto) (September 14, 1904 – May 6, 1949) was a Japanese composer, violinist, conductor, and musical educator.
Yūzō Saeki (佐伯 祐三, Saeki Yūzō; 28 April 1898 – 16 August 1928) was a Japanese painter, noted for his work in developing…Yūzō Saeki (佐伯 祐三, Saeki Yūzō; 28 April 1898 – 16 August 1928) was a Japanese painter, noted for his work in developing modernism and Fauvist Expressionism within the yōga (Western-style) art movement in early twentieth-century Japanese painting.
Tōyō Mitsunobu (光延 東洋, Mitsunobu Tōyō; 9 October 1897 – 8 June 1944) was a captain of the Imperial Japanese Navy.…Tōyō Mitsunobu (光延 東洋, Mitsunobu Tōyō; 9 October 1897 – 8 June 1944) was a captain of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Mitunobu worked in the Japanese naval command in China.
Seiichiro Kashio (柏尾 誠一郎, Kashio Seiichirō; January 2, 1892 – September 6, 1962) was a tennis player from Japan, and…Seiichiro Kashio (柏尾 誠一郎, Kashio Seiichirō; January 2, 1892 – September 6, 1962) was a tennis player from Japan, and with Ichiya Kumagae was one of the first Japanese Olympic medalists. He won the 1919 Canadian Open by defeating United States player Walter Wesbrook 3–6, 6–3, 6–1, 11–9.
Hidetsugu Yagi (八木 秀次, Yagi Hidetsugu; January 28, 1886 – January 19, 1976) was a Japanese electrical engineer from…Hidetsugu Yagi (八木 秀次, Yagi Hidetsugu; January 28, 1886 – January 19, 1976) was a Japanese electrical engineer from Osaka, Japan. When working at Tohoku Imperial University, he wrote several articles that introduced a new antenna designed by his assistant Shintaro Uda to the English-speaking world. The Yagi-Uda antenna, patented in 1926, allows directional transmission using radio waves, and is especially useful in the very high frequency and ultra high frequency radio bands. Antennas of this type were widely used for television and radio reception, and are still common in communication and radar systems. Yagi also tried, unsuccessfully, to introduce a wireless power transmission system. He participated in establishing the Chiba Institute of Technology. He was the fourth president of Osaka University from February 1946 to December 1946. In 1942, he became the President of Tokyo Institute of Technology, in 1944 he became the President of the Technical Institution, and in 1946 also the President of the Osaka Imperial University. He was decorated with the Medal of Honor with Blue Ribbon Award in 1951, with the Order of Culture in 1956, and posthumously with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in 1976.
Kenkichi Ueda (植田 謙吉, Ueda Kenkichi; 8 March 1875 – 11 September 1962) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army…Kenkichi Ueda (植田 謙吉, Ueda Kenkichi; 8 March 1875 – 11 September 1962) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. He played an active role in the Soviet-Japanese Border Wars of the late 1930s.
Nakashōji Ren (仲小路 廉; 12 August 1866 – 17 January 1924) was a politician and cabinet minister in the pre-war Empire of…Nakashōji Ren (仲小路 廉; 12 August 1866 – 17 January 1924) was a politician and cabinet minister in the pre-war Empire of Japan. Nakashōji was a graduate of the Osaka Prefectural Kitano High School. After graduating from the Kaisei Academy, he worked for a period as court-appointed attorney in the lower court system, and subsequently as a legal councilor in the Court of Appeals and assessor in the Administrative Court system. Afterwards, he entered the central government bureaucracy, and served in various capacities within the Ministry of Communications and Home Ministry. He was selected as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce under the Third Katsura Cabinet from 1912 to 1913, and again to the same portfolio under the Terauchi Cabinet from 1916 to 1918. He was later appointed to a seat in the Upper House of the Diet of Japan, and served on the Privy Council.
Nagao Ariga also spelled Nagao Aruga (有賀 長雄; 13 November 1860 – 17 June 1921) was a Japanese legal expert during the…Nagao Ariga also spelled Nagao Aruga (有賀 長雄; 13 November 1860 – 17 June 1921) was a Japanese legal expert during the Meiji period. In addition to law, he also studied sociology at Tokyo Imperial University. During the Sino-Japanese war, he advised Field-Marshal Ōyama Iwao on issues of international law. In 1913 he accepted the invitation by Yuan Shikai, to prepare a draft constitution for the new Chinese republic, together with Ushikichi Nakae (中江 丑吉). Ariga doubted that China was ready to implement a liberal democracy and recommended a balance between monarchy and republic. Ariga also worked as a translator.
Akiko Ōishi (Japanese: 大石 晃子, Hepburn: Ōishi Akiko; born 27 May 1977) is a Japanese politician. A former member of…Akiko Ōishi (Japanese: 大石 晃子, Hepburn: Ōishi Akiko; born 27 May 1977) is a Japanese politician. A former member of Reiwa Shinsengumi, she served as a member of the House of Representatives for the Kinki proportional representation block from 2021 to 2026. She was a co-representative and policy council chairperson of Reiwa Shinsengumi until her resignation on 9 July 2026.
Junko Abe (阿部純子, Abe Junko) (born May 7, 1993) formerly known by her stage name Jun Yoshinaga (吉永淳, Yoshinaga Jun), is…Junko Abe (阿部純子, Abe Junko) (born May 7, 1993) formerly known by her stage name Jun Yoshinaga (吉永淳, Yoshinaga Jun), is a Japanese actress and model.
Yumiko Udo (有働 由美子, Udō Yumiko; born March 22, 1969) is a Japanese journalist, television reporter, television…Yumiko Udo (有働 由美子, Udō Yumiko; born March 22, 1969) is a Japanese journalist, television reporter, television personality, and former NHK announcer, affiliated with Chatterbox.
Motojirō Kajii (梶井 基次郎, Kajii Motojirō; also Motojirou Kajii, February 17, 1901 – March 24, 1932) was a Japanese writer…Motojirō Kajii (梶井 基次郎, Kajii Motojirō; also Motojirou Kajii, February 17, 1901 – March 24, 1932) was a Japanese writer in the early Shōwa period known for his poetic short stories. Kajii's works included Remon (檸檬; "Lemon"), "Shiro no aru machi nite" (城のある町にて; "In a Castle Town"). Fuyu no hi (冬の日; "Winter Days") and Sakura no ki no shita ni wa (櫻の樹の下には; "Beneath the Cherry Trees"). His poetic works were praised by fellow writers including Yasunari Kawabata and Yukio Mishima. Today his works are admired for their finely tuned self-observation and descriptive power. Despite the limited body of work he created during his short lifetime, Kajii has managed to leave a lasting footprint on Japanese culture. "Lemon" is a staple of literature textbooks. According to a report in major daily newspaper Asahi Shimbun, many high school students have emulated the protagonist's defiant act of leaving a lemon in the book section of Maruzen, a department store chain. The opening line of "Under the Cherry Trees" (Dead bodies are buried under the cherry trees!) is popularly quoted in reference to hanami, the Japanese custom of cherry blossom viewing.
Kanae Yamamoto (山本 香苗, Yamamoto Kanae; born 1971) is a Japanese politician of the Komeito who served as a member of the…Kanae Yamamoto (山本 香苗, Yamamoto Kanae; born 1971) is a Japanese politician of the Komeito who served as a member of the House of Councillors from 2001 to 2024. A native of Hiroshima Prefecture and graduate of Kyoto University, she joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1995, attending Istanbul University while in the ministry. In 2001, after leaving the ministry, she was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time. Yamamoto left the House of Councillors to run from Osaka 16th district, in the 2024 House of Representatives election, to replace the retiring Kazuo Kitagawa, but was defeated by Masaki Kuroda of the Japan Innovation Party.