Hatsune Okumura (奥村 初音, Okumura Hatsune) (born October 11, 1990) is a Japanese singer-songwriter signed to Avex Trax.…Hatsune Okumura (奥村 初音, Okumura Hatsune) (born October 11, 1990) is a Japanese singer-songwriter signed to Avex Trax. Born and raised in Osaka, Okumura started to write lyrics and compose music at the age of five after attending music competitions. On September 5, 2007, she debuted with the single "Koi, Hanabi". In 2009, Okumura started to perform mononymously as Hatsune (初音).
Hiroshi Nishio (Japanese: 西尾 孔志, Hepburn: Nishio Hiroshi) is a Japanese film director, animator, and writer born in…Hiroshi Nishio (Japanese: 西尾 孔志, Hepburn: Nishio Hiroshi) is a Japanese film director, animator, and writer born in 1974 in Osaka, where he is currently based. Nishio started his career as an animator on anime including "Moldiver" and the TV series Sosei kishi Gaiasu. As a teenager, he started working on sets of movies by Japanese director Kinji Fukasaku. He moved on from animation, starting off with short films, before making his first feature film National Anthem—a horror film—in 2003. His next movie was the surreal Ochon-chan: Pussy's Adventures in Love and Revolution (Ochonchan no ai to bōken to kakumei おちょんちゃんの愛と冒険と革命) in 2005. Ochon-chan was picked for Osaka's CO2 Film Festival, and then was one of two movies selected from that to feature at the 2005 Raindance Film Festival in London. His most recent film Hakodate Coffee was shot in Hokkaido, Japan, and was based on the manga of the same name. His recent movies are often generally quirky dramas, with a touch of comedy, set in rural Japan. Nishio won the Osaka Film Festival New Director's Award in 2013, for Souru furawâ torein. His most recent movie is the human comedy drama, Shining Star Kuzu.
Yuka Ishii (石井 遊佳, Ishii Yūka; born 1963) is a Japanese writer. Her book Hyakunen doro (100 Years Mud) won the 154th…Yuka Ishii (石井 遊佳, Ishii Yūka; born 1963) is a Japanese writer. Her book Hyakunen doro (100 Years Mud) won the 154th Akutagawa Prize and the 49th Shincho Prize for New Writers.
Hitoshi Asada (born December 29, 1950, in Osaka Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member…Hitoshi Asada (born December 29, 1950, in Osaka Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2016. He represents the Osaka at-large district and is a member of the Japan Innovation Party.
Takashi Suzuki (鈴木隆史, Suzuki Takashi; born Tuesday, June 21st, 1949) is a Japanese public official. Suzuki graduated…Takashi Suzuki (鈴木隆史, Suzuki Takashi; born Tuesday, June 21st, 1949) is a Japanese public official. Suzuki graduated from Kyoto University and joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1973. He was appointed General Manager of the Washington office of Japan National Oil Corporation in May 1988, Deputy Director-General of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy in July 2001, and Director of the Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau in July 2006. He was also Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office from July 2008, but has since stepped down.
Mikirō Sasaki (佐々木 幹郎, Sasaki Mikirō; October 20, 1947) is a Japanese poet and travel author, winner of the 2003…Mikirō Sasaki (佐々木 幹郎, Sasaki Mikirō; October 20, 1947) is a Japanese poet and travel author, winner of the 2003 Yomiuri Prize for travel essays. Sasaki won the award for his book Ajia kaidō kikō: umi wa toshi de aru (A Travel Journal of the Asian Seaboard, 2002). He has published more than a score of poetry collections and travel books. His Demented flute: selected poems, 1967-1986 was published in English in 1988. In 2012, his poetry collection Ashita(Tomorrow) won the 2012 Sakutarō Hagiwara Prize, one of the most prestigious prizes in the world of Japanese poetry. He was a Part-time Lecturer in music literature at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Music.
Akio Nakajima (Japanese: 中島章夫; 27 January 1936 – 8 June 2024) was a Japanese politician. As a member of the Japan New…Akio Nakajima (Japanese: 中島章夫; 27 January 1936 – 8 June 2024) was a Japanese politician. As a member of the Japan New Party, the New Party Sakigake, and the Democratic Party, he served in the House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996 and in the House of Councillors from 2003 to 2004.
Toshihiko Fukui (福井 俊彦, Fukui Toshihiko; 7 September 1935) is a Japanese economist and central banker. He was the 29th…Toshihiko Fukui (福井 俊彦, Fukui Toshihiko; 7 September 1935) is a Japanese economist and central banker. He was the 29th Governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and a Director of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
Tsuyako Yamashita, (née Ikuta) (山下 艶子; 19 March, 1928 – 12 February, 2021) was a Japanese figure skater and coach. She…Tsuyako Yamashita, (née Ikuta) (山下 艶子; 19 March, 1928 – 12 February, 2021) was a Japanese figure skater and coach. She was a two-time Japanese champion in 1953 and 1954.
Atsuhito Nakata (中田 厚仁, Nakata Atsuhito; January 10, 1968 – April 8, 1993) was a Japanese UN Volunteer working as a…Atsuhito Nakata (中田 厚仁, Nakata Atsuhito; January 10, 1968 – April 8, 1993) was a Japanese UN Volunteer working as a District Electoral Supervisor with the United Nations who was gunned down in Kampong Thom, Cambodia along with his friend and interpreter Lek Sopheip. As a United Nations Volunteer, Nakata traveled to Cambodia to help organize the first national elections at the community level in Cambodia after the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Nakata was one of 465 UNV District Election Volunteer Election Supervisors deployed with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia.
Makoto Miyoshi (三好誠, Miyoshi Makoto) is a Japanese musical composer and arranger. In 1999, he became a member of a rock…Makoto Miyoshi (三好誠, Miyoshi Makoto) is a Japanese musical composer and arranger. In 1999, he became a member of a rock band Rumania Montevideo. Afterwards, he regularly provided music for other artists from the same recording company, Giza Studio, until 2007. In 2019, through social network, he announced resumption of music activities along with Rumania Montevideo. In 2020, he formed an alternative rock band "Morphing people".