Shuntarō Tanikawa (谷川 俊太郎, Tanikawa Shuntarō; December 15, 1931 – November 13, 2024) was a Japanese poet, translator…Shuntarō Tanikawa (谷川 俊太郎, Tanikawa Shuntarō; December 15, 1931 – November 13, 2024) was a Japanese poet, translator, children's author, and screenwriter. He was considered to be one of the most widely read and highly regarded Japanese poets, both in Japan and abroad. The English translation of his poetry volume Floating the River in Melancholy, translated by William I. Elliott and Kazuo Kawamura and illustrated by Yōko Sano, won the American Book Award in 1989.
Fujiko Yamamoto (山本富士子, Yamamoto Fujiko) (born 11 December 1931) is a Japanese stage, film and television actress. She…Fujiko Yamamoto (山本富士子, Yamamoto Fujiko) (born 11 December 1931) is a Japanese stage, film and television actress. She was the winner of the first Miss Nippon Grand Prix in 1950, and appeared in over 100 films between 1953 and 1963, including works by directors Yasujirō Ozu, Kon Ichikawa, Shirō Toyoda and Kōzaburō Yoshimura.
Naoki Sugiura (杉浦直樹, Sugiura Naoki) (8 December 1931 – 21 September 2011) was a Japanese actor. He began his career on…Naoki Sugiura (杉浦直樹, Sugiura Naoki) (8 December 1931 – 21 September 2011) was a Japanese actor. He began his career on stage, beginning his film career in 1957.
Hisato Aikura (相倉久人, 8 December 1931 in Tokyo – 8 July 2015) was a Japanese music critic and jazz presenter. He was…Hisato Aikura (相倉久人, 8 December 1931 in Tokyo – 8 July 2015) was a Japanese music critic and jazz presenter. He was known for critique of musicians such as John Coltrane.
Masami Kubota (久保田正躬, Kubota Msami; born 6 December 1931) is a Japanese former gymnast who competed in the 1956 Summer…Masami Kubota (久保田正躬, Kubota Msami; born 6 December 1931) is a Japanese former gymnast who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics.
Kyōko Kagawa (香川 京子, Kagawa Kyōko; born 5 December 1931) is a Japanese actress. During her career spanning 70 years…Kyōko Kagawa (香川 京子, Kagawa Kyōko; born 5 December 1931) is a Japanese actress. During her career spanning 70 years, she has worked with directors like Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu and Mikio Naruse, appearing in films such as Tokyo Story, Sansho the Bailiff, The Bad Sleep Well, Mothra, and High and Low.
Ingrid Fujiko (also Fuzjko) von Georgii-Hemming (a.k.a. Fujiko Hemming) (イングリット・フジコ・ヘミング; Japanese name: Ohtsuki Fujiko…Ingrid Fujiko (also Fuzjko) von Georgii-Hemming (a.k.a. Fujiko Hemming) (イングリット・フジコ・ヘミング; Japanese name: Ohtsuki Fujiko (大月フジコ)) (5 December 1932 – 21 April 2024) was a classical pianist.
Keiko Kuroda (黒田 恵子, Kuroda Keiko; December 3, 1932 – October 23, 2024), known by her pen name Keiko Sena (せな けいこ, Sena…Keiko Kuroda (黒田 恵子, Kuroda Keiko; December 3, 1932 – October 23, 2024), known by her pen name Keiko Sena (せな けいこ, Sena Keiko), was a Japanese illustrator, children's book writer, and kamishibai artist. She wrote approximately 100 books, largely published by Poplar and Fukuinkan Shoten. Born in interwar Tokyo, Sena graduated from the all-girls Ochanomizu University Senior High School and went on to study painting under Takeo Takei, one of Japan's most prominent children's illustrators of the 20th century. She was known for her distinctive use of collage to illustrate her work. A "master storyteller", her books have been described to reveal "a deep understanding of children" and feature "charming simplicity with the satisfying bite of fairy tale grim."
Andrew Takahisa Tsubaki (November 29, 1931 - December 16, 2009) was a Japanese theatre scholar who contributed to the…Andrew Takahisa Tsubaki (November 29, 1931 - December 16, 2009) was a Japanese theatre scholar who contributed to the presence and practice of Japanese theatre styles in the Western world. Tsubaki received extensive education in writing, teaching, and theatrical practices prior to his long-term career at the University of Kansas, a three-decade residency that spanned the years 1968-2000. Tsubaki was most well-known for his pedagogy of Noh, Kyōgen, and Kabuki theatre and scholarly publications and reviews. In 2006, he was awarded the honor of joining the Order of the Sacred Treasure.
Shintaro Katsu (Japanese: 勝 新太郎, Hepburn: Katsu Shintarō; 29 November 1931 – 21 June 1997) was a Japanese actor…Shintaro Katsu (Japanese: 勝 新太郎, Hepburn: Katsu Shintarō; 29 November 1931 – 21 June 1997) was a Japanese actor, singer, and filmmaker. He is known for starring in the Akumyo series, the Hoodlum Soldier series, the Hanzo the Razor series, and the Zatoichi series.
Shizuo Satō (Japanese: 佐藤静雄 Satō Shizuo; 4 November 1931 – 16 January 2022) was a Japanese politician. A member of the…Shizuo Satō (Japanese: 佐藤静雄 Satō Shizuo; 4 November 1931 – 16 January 2022) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he served in the House of Councillors from 1992 to 1998. He died from a myocardial infarction on 16 January 2022, at the age of 90.
Ikkō Narahara (奈良原 一高, Narahara Ikkō; November 3, 1931 – January 19, 2020) was a Japanese photographer. His work is…Ikkō Narahara (奈良原 一高, Narahara Ikkō; November 3, 1931 – January 19, 2020) was a Japanese photographer. His work is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Shunsuke Kikuchi (菊池 俊輔, Kikuchi Shunsuke; November 1, 1931 – April 24, 2021) was a Japanese composer who was active…Shunsuke Kikuchi (菊池 俊輔, Kikuchi Shunsuke; November 1, 1931 – April 24, 2021) was a Japanese composer who was active from the early 1960s until 2017. He specialized in incidental music for media such as television and film. Kikuchi was regarded as one of Japan's most highly demanded film and TV composers, working principally on tokusatsu and anime, popular action films, jidaigeki, and television dramas.
Chōsuke Ikariya (いかりや長介, Ikariya Chōsuke; November 1, 1931 – March 20, 2004) was a Japanese comedian and film actor…Chōsuke Ikariya (いかりや長介, Ikariya Chōsuke; November 1, 1931 – March 20, 2004) was a Japanese comedian and film actor, and leader of the comedy group The Drifters. His nickname was "Chō-san" (長さん).
Kenkichi Sonogashira (薗頭 健吉, Sonogashira Kenkichi; born 25 October 1931) is a Japanese chemist and was a professor of…Kenkichi Sonogashira (薗頭 健吉, Sonogashira Kenkichi; born 25 October 1931) is a Japanese chemist and was a professor of chemistry at Osaka University in Japan. He discovered the Sonogashira coupling in 1975. Sonogashira was later a professor at Osaka City University and retired in 2004.
Ken Utsui (宇津井健, Utsui Ken) (24 October 1931 – 14 March 2014) was a Japanese actor who worked on stage, film, and…Ken Utsui (宇津井健, Utsui Ken) (24 October 1931 – 14 March 2014) was a Japanese actor who worked on stage, film, and television from the 1950s to the 2010s.
Yoshiyuki Fukuda (福田 善之, Fukuda Yoshiyuki; Kōnosu Taizō (鴻巣 泰三), 21 October 1931 – 21 August 2025) was a Japanese…Yoshiyuki Fukuda (福田 善之, Fukuda Yoshiyuki; Kōnosu Taizō (鴻巣 泰三), 21 October 1931 – 21 August 2025) was a Japanese playwright, screenwriter and director. Remembered as one of the founding figures of the Angura ("underground") theatre movement in Japan, Fukuda also served as chairman of the Japan Directors Association from 2003 to 2007.
Ryuzo Hiraki (平木 隆三, Hiraki Ryūzō; October 7, 1931 – January 2, 2009) was a Japanese football player and manager. He…Ryuzo Hiraki (平木 隆三, Hiraki Ryūzō; October 7, 1931 – January 2, 2009) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Shōsuke Nakawa (奈河彰輔, Nakawa Shōsuke; October 6, 1931 – October 13, 2014) was a Japanese playwright and theater…Shōsuke Nakawa (奈河彰輔, Nakawa Shōsuke; October 6, 1931 – October 13, 2014) was a Japanese playwright and theater director. Under the name Yoshizō Nakagawa (中川芳三, Nakagawa Yoshizō), he serves as an advisor to the Shōchiku Corporation which produces kabuki, and is heavily involved in reviving Kamigata kabuki traditions. He is also head of the Kamigata Kabuki-juku (school) and actively works with actor Ichikawa Ennosuke III on reviving old kabuki plays Nakawa has been described as a walking dictionary of Kamigata kabuki information.
Shirō Moritani (森谷 司郎, Moritani Shirō; September 28, 1931 – December 2, 1984) was a film director and screenwriter from…Shirō Moritani (森谷 司郎, Moritani Shirō; September 28, 1931 – December 2, 1984) was a film director and screenwriter from Japan. Born in Tokyo, he debuted as an assistant director in Akira Kurosawa's 1961 film Yojimbo. His film Mount Hakkoda won the Mainichi Film Award for Excellence Film in 1978.
Koichi Sato (佐藤 耕一, Satō Kōichi; born 21 September 1931) is a Japanese ski jumper. He competed at the 1956 Winter…Koichi Sato (佐藤 耕一, Satō Kōichi; born 21 September 1931) is a Japanese ski jumper. He competed at the 1956 Winter Olympics and the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Syukuro "Suki" Manabe (真鍋 淑郎, Manabe Shukurō; born 21 September 1931) is a Japanese–American physicist, meteorologist…Syukuro "Suki" Manabe (真鍋 淑郎, Manabe Shukurō; born 21 September 1931) is a Japanese–American physicist, meteorologist, and climatologist, who pioneered the use of computers to simulate global climate change and natural climate variations. He was awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics jointly with Klaus Hasselmann and Giorgio Parisi, for his contributions to the physical modeling of Earth's climate, quantifying its variability, and predictions of climate change.
Hiroto Muraoka (村岡 博人, Muraoka Hiroto; September 19, 1931 – March 13, 2017) was a Japanese footballer. He played for…Hiroto Muraoka (村岡 博人, Muraoka Hiroto; September 19, 1931 – March 13, 2017) was a Japanese footballer. He played for the Japan national team.
Ayako Sono (曽野 綾子, Sono Ayako; September 17, 1931 – February 28, 2025) was a Japanese writer. She published numerous…Ayako Sono (曽野 綾子, Sono Ayako; September 17, 1931 – February 28, 2025) was a Japanese writer. She published numerous novels, essays and articles between the 1950s and the early 2020s. Sono was also considered to be nationalist and conservative. She provoked controversy for advocating a system similar to South Africa's apartheid for Japan's immigrants. She also advocated for women to quit their jobs after becoming pregnant.
Yoji Yamada (山田 洋次, Yamada Yōji; born 13 September 1931) is a Japanese filmmaker best known for his film series Otoko…Yoji Yamada (山田 洋次, Yamada Yōji; born 13 September 1931) is a Japanese filmmaker best known for his film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo and the Samurai Trilogy (The Twilight Samurai, The Hidden Blade, and Love and Honor). He has directed 91 films, and is well regarded by critics around the world. His Tora-san series holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running film series starring the same actor.
Osamu Ochiai (落合 治, Ochiai Osamu; born 8 September 1931) is a Japanese former sports shooter. He competed at the 1960…Osamu Ochiai (落合 治, Ochiai Osamu; born 8 September 1931) is a Japanese former sports shooter. He competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics and the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Seiji Nakamura (仲村 正治, Nakamura Seiji; 6 September 1931 – 15 November 2018) was a Japanese politician who served in the…Seiji Nakamura (仲村 正治, Nakamura Seiji; 6 September 1931 – 15 November 2018) was a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Kazumi Takahashi (高橋 和巳, Takahashi Kazumi; 31 August 1931—3 May 1971) was a Japanese novelist and scholar of Chinese…Kazumi Takahashi (高橋 和巳, Takahashi Kazumi; 31 August 1931—3 May 1971) was a Japanese novelist and scholar of Chinese literature in Shōwa-era Japan. His wife was fellow writer Takako Takahashi.
Jōji Yanami (八奈見 乗児, Yanami Jōji; born Shigemitsu Shirato (白土 繁満, Shirato Shigemitsu), August 30, 1931 – December 3…Jōji Yanami (八奈見 乗児, Yanami Jōji; born Shigemitsu Shirato (白土 繁満, Shirato Shigemitsu), August 30, 1931 – December 3, 2021) was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator who was affiliated with Aoni Production. Some of his most prominent voice roles included the narrator, Dr. Briefs, Kaiō-sama (a.k.a. King Kai or North Kaio), and Bobbidi in the Dragon Ball anime series. Other major roles included Dr. Isaac Gilmore in Cyborg 009, Gennai in Digimon, Ittan Momen in GeGeGe no Kitarō, Dr. Yumi in Mazinger Z, and numerous characters in the Time Bokan series. On September 25, 2015, Toei Animation announced that Yanami would be taking medical leave from working on the Dragon Ball Super television anime series for an indefinite amount of time, with his roles as the narrator and Kaiō-sama being taken over by Naoki Tatsuta.
Ichikawa Raizō VIII (八代目 市川 雷蔵, Hachidaime Ichikawa Raizō; August 29, 1931 – July 17, 1969) was a Japanese film and…Ichikawa Raizō VIII (八代目 市川 雷蔵, Hachidaime Ichikawa Raizō; August 29, 1931 – July 17, 1969) was a Japanese film and kabuki actor. His birth name was Akio Kamezaki (亀崎 章雄, Kamezaki Akio), and his name was legally changed several times, first to Yoshio Takeuchi (武内 嘉男, Takeuchi Yoshio), and later to Yoshiya Ōta (太田 吉哉, Ōta Yoshiya), separate from his performing name. Six months after his birth in Kyoto he became the adopted son of Ichikawa Kudanji III (三代目 市川 九團次, Sandaime Ichikawa Kudanji). He made his kabuki acting debut at the age of 15 under the name Ichikawa Enzō (市川延蔵, Ichikawa Enzō). In 1951 he was adopted by Ichikawa Jūkai III (三代目 市川 壽海, Sandaime Ichikawa Jūkai) and was renamed as Ichikawa Raizō VIII. In 1954 he began a career as a film actor. He received breakout acclaim for his performance in Enjō and received several awards for the performance including the Blue Ribbon Award and the Kinema Junpo Award, both for the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. Among his fans he was referred to lovingly as "Rai-sama." In June 1968 he was diagnosed with and underwent surgery for rectal cancer, but it metastasized to his liver and he died the following year. Ichikawa Raizō appeared mostly in period dramas (jidaigeki). He is best known for the Sleepy Eyes of Death (Nemuri Kyoshirō) series, Ninja (Shinobi no Mono) series and Nakano Spy School (Rikugun Nakano Gakkō) series (based on the Nakano School). Raizō worked many times with director Kenji Misumi. Their collaborations include The Sword (Ken) (from a book by Yukio Mishima) and Destiny's Son, originally released as 斬る (Kiru). The actor's other notable works include An Actor's Revenge (Yukinojo henge). He was so admired for his gracefulness that in his lifetime he was called "the genius who thinks with his body."
Shunichiro Okano (岡野 俊一郎, Okano Shunichiro; 28 August 1931 – 2 February 2017) was a Japanese football player and…Shunichiro Okano (岡野 俊一郎, Okano Shunichiro; 28 August 1931 – 2 February 2017) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team as a forward. He also managed Japan's national team.
Misa Yamamura (山村 美紗, Yamamura Misa; née Kimura (木村); August 25, 1934 – September 5, 1996) was a Japanese novelist and…Misa Yamamura (山村 美紗, Yamamura Misa; née Kimura (木村); August 25, 1934 – September 5, 1996) was a Japanese novelist and a mystery writer favored as the queen of both mystery novels and tricks in Japan, often compared to Agatha Christie.
Yusuke Nakahara (August 22, 1931 – March 3, 2011) was a Japanese art critic, curator, scholar, lecturer, university…Yusuke Nakahara (August 22, 1931 – March 3, 2011) was a Japanese art critic, curator, scholar, lecturer, university president, art festival organizer, and cultural administrator. He is perhaps best known as the figure who spearheaded the influential 1970 Tokyo Biennale, Between Man and Matter at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. The exhibition was a watershed moment in Post-1945 Japanese art for its promotion of avant-garde Japanese and international art practices as demonstrated by disparate artists who worked in varying mediums within the then-underrepresented movements of Arte Povera, Conceptual Art, Minimalism, and Mono-ha. The exhibition is seen as a reaction against the concurrent Expo ‘70 in Osaka for embodying the attributes of Japan's Post-World War II economic resurgence and ascension to major world status. Nakahara was a prolific writer in the Japanese art world as he published innumerable exhibition reviews, books, academic essays, magazine articles, and chapters. His writings have appeared in journals such as Bijutsu Techo, Mizue, and Geijutsu Shincho. Originally trained as a physicist, Nakahara's approach to art criticism and curation was grounded more in scientific methodologies than art historical pedagogy based on his frequent incorporation of references to human perception, physical spatiality, and kinetics, among other theoretical ideas. Since his passing in 2011, contemporary Art historians and critics consider Nakahara a significant figure in Post-1945 Japanese art history and is likened to other critics of his generation, including Ichiro Haryu, Yoshiaki Tono, and Shinichi Segi.
Kakuichi Mimura (三村 恪一, Mimura Kakuichi; 16 August 1931 – 19 February 2022) was a Japanese football player and manager.…Kakuichi Mimura (三村 恪一, Mimura Kakuichi; 16 August 1931 – 19 February 2022) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.
Yoshio Kojima (7 August 1931 – 3 March 1993) was a Japanese hammer thrower who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics. He…Yoshio Kojima (7 August 1931 – 3 March 1993) was a Japanese hammer thrower who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics. He also won the hammer throw at the Japan Championships in Athletics in 1953, 1954, 1955, and 1956. He died in 1993 in Kobe at the age of 61. The cause of death was suicide.
Motoshi Fujita (藤田 元司, Fujita Motoshi; (August 7, 1931 – February 9, 2006) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher…Motoshi Fujita (藤田 元司, Fujita Motoshi; (August 7, 1931 – February 9, 2006) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher and manager. He spent his entire career with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball, winning two Japan Series titles as a player and two more as manager.
Takashi Takabayashi (高林 隆, Takabayashi Takashi; August 2, 1931 – December 27, 2009) was a Japanese football player. He…Takashi Takabayashi (高林 隆, Takabayashi Takashi; August 2, 1931 – December 27, 2009) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Jun-Ichiro Mukai (September 30, 1931–January 5, 1998) is a Japanese biochemist, emeritus professor at faculty of…Jun-Ichiro Mukai (September 30, 1931–January 5, 1998) is a Japanese biochemist, emeritus professor at faculty of agriculture, Kyushu University.
Takashi Ono (小野 喬, Ono Takashi; born 26 July 1931) is a retired Japanese gymnast. He competed at the 1952, 1956, 1960…Takashi Ono (小野 喬, Ono Takashi; born 26 July 1931) is a retired Japanese gymnast. He competed at the 1952, 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics and won five gold, four silver and four bronze medals, making him the most decorated Japanese athlete and fourth-most decorated gymnast in Olympic history by number of total medals won. Ono was the flag bearer for Japan at the 1960 Olympics, and took the Olympic Oath at the 1964 Games. In 1998, he was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
Arata Isozaki (磯崎 新, Isozaki Arata; 23 July 1931 – 28 December 2022) was a Japanese architect, urban designer, and…Arata Isozaki (磯崎 新, Isozaki Arata; 23 July 1931 – 28 December 2022) was a Japanese architect, urban designer, and architectural theorist from Ōita. He was awarded the Royal Gold Medal in 1986 and the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2019. He taught at Columbia University, Harvard University, and Yale University.
Yasuo Ōtsuka (大塚康生, Ōtsuka Yasuo; July 11, 1931 – March 15, 2021) was a Japanese animator who worked with Toei…Yasuo Ōtsuka (大塚康生, Ōtsuka Yasuo; July 11, 1931 – March 15, 2021) was a Japanese animator who worked with Toei Animation, Nippon Animation, TMS Entertainment, and Studio Ghibli. He was considered to be one of Japan's foremost animators, and he was an important mentor to both Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
Ryōko Kinomiya (来宮 良子, Kinomiya Ryōko; 10 July 1931 – 25 November 2013) was a Japanese actress and voice actress. She…Ryōko Kinomiya (来宮 良子, Kinomiya Ryōko; 10 July 1931 – 25 November 2013) was a Japanese actress and voice actress. She was born Ryōko Sakurai in Kyoto, Japan. She was known for her low voice. Kinomiya was the Japanese dub voice of Faye Dunaway. In 2008 she won a Merit Award at the 2nd Seiyu Awards. Kinomiya died of multiple organ failure on 25 November 2013 at the age of 82.
Arawa Kimura (木村 現, Kimura Arawa; July 8, 1931 – February 21, 2007) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Arawa Kimura (木村 現, Kimura Arawa; July 8, 1931 – February 21, 2007) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Ryuzo Sato (佐藤隆三, Satō Ryūzō; born 5 July 1931) is a Japanese economist and is the C.V. Starr Professor of Economics…Ryuzo Sato (佐藤隆三, Satō Ryūzō; born 5 July 1931) is a Japanese economist and is the C.V. Starr Professor of Economics Emeritus at New York University. He made notable contributions to the fields of mathematical economics and economic growth. He is a founding editor of the Japan and the World Economy (Elsevier) and the book series Advances in Japanese Business and Economics (Springer Nature).
