Hu Hanmin (traditional Chinese: 胡漢民; simplified Chinese: 胡汉民; pinyin: Hú Hànmín; Jyutping: Wu4 Hon3 Man4; 9 December…Hu Hanmin (traditional Chinese: 胡漢民; simplified Chinese: 胡汉民; pinyin: Hú Hànmín; Jyutping: Wu4 Hon3 Man4; 9 December 1879 – 12 May 1936) was a Chinese philosopher and politician who was one of the early conservative right-wing faction leaders in the Kuomintang (KMT) during revolutionary China.
Kafū Nagai (永井 荷風, Nagai Kafū; 3 December 1879 – 30 April 1959) was a Japanese writer, editor and translator. His…Kafū Nagai (永井 荷風, Nagai Kafū; 3 December 1879 – 30 April 1959) was a Japanese writer, editor and translator. His novels Geisha in Rivalry and A Strange Tale from East of the River are noted for their depictions of life of the demimonde in early 20th-century Tokyo.
Rokuzan Ogiwara (荻原 碌山, Ogiwara Rokuzan; 1 December 1879 – 22 April 1910) was a sculptor active in Meiji period Japan.…Rokuzan Ogiwara (荻原 碌山, Ogiwara Rokuzan; 1 December 1879 – 22 April 1910) was a sculptor active in Meiji period Japan. His real name was Morie Ogiwara (荻原 守衛, Ogiwara Morie). He is regarded as one of the pioneers of modern western-style bronze sculpture in Japan.
Fusanosuke Gotō (後藤 房之助, Gotō Fusanosuke; 15 November 1879 – 30 July 1924) was a soldier in the Imperial Japanese Army…Fusanosuke Gotō (後藤 房之助, Gotō Fusanosuke; 15 November 1879 – 30 July 1924) was a soldier in the Imperial Japanese Army, memorialized by the Memorial Statue of the Hakkōda Death March in Aomori, Japan. In January 1902, 210 soldiers in the 5th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion became trapped on the Hakkōda Mountains; this was the start of the Hakkōda Mountains disaster. Search parties discovered Gotō. The discovery led to the rescue of the other soldiers. His arms and legs were amputated as a result of frostbite. After the incident, he retired from the army, returned to his hometown, became a member of the village assembly, and later died from a cerebral hemorrhage. In Jirō Nitta's Death March on Mount Hakkōda: A Documentary Novel, a semi-fictional account of the disaster, Gotō is portrayed by the character Corporal Etō.
Kikuchi Keigetsu (菊池契月) (14 November 1879 – 9 September 1955) was a Japanese Nihonga painter, member of the Japan Art…Kikuchi Keigetsu (菊池契月) (14 November 1879 – 9 September 1955) was a Japanese Nihonga painter, member of the Japan Art Academy, Imperial Household Artist, and emeritus professor at the Kyoto City University of Arts. In 1922 he travelled to Europe, in particular England, France, and Italy, where he studied the traditions of western art as well as contemporary movements such as Fauvism and Cubism.
Hajime Kawakami (河上 肇, Kawakami Hajime; 20 October 1879 – 30 January 1946) was a Japanese professor and economist who…Hajime Kawakami (河上 肇, Kawakami Hajime; 20 October 1879 – 30 January 1946) was a Japanese professor and economist who studied Marxism and was active in Japanese communism. He was the editor and publisher of multiple magazines and journals and his academic work includes translations of the works of Edwin R. A. Seligman, Irving Fisher, Nicolaas Pierson, and Das Kapital. Born to a retainer for the Kikkawa clan and municipal official, Kawakami was raised and educated in Iwakuni and Yamaguchi. He graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in 1902 and became a professor at the university. Kawakami left the university to join Itō Shōshin's Garden of Selflessness after being inspired by Arnold Toynbee and Leo Tolstoy. He lived with the sect for two months before returning to Tokyo. Kawakami received a job at the Kyoto Imperial University in 1908 and became a professor in 1915. He studied in Europe shortly before and during the outbreak of World War I and wrote Tale of Poverty in response to the wealth inequality he witnessed. He started studying Marxism in 1919 and reorganised his lecture around the writings of Karl Marx in 1927. Ikuo Oyama and the Labour-Farmer Party were supported by Kawakami during the 1928 Japanese general election, but the party was suppressed after the March 15 incident and Kawakami was fired from the university. Kawakami was arrested for his political activities multiple times. He was a candidate of the New Labour-Farmer Party in the 1930 Japanese general election. He joined the Japanese Communist Party in 1932 and was the editor of Shimbun Akahata. The police arrested Kawakami in 1933, and he was sentenced to prison for five years. He was released in 1937 and spent the remainder of his life writing poetry and his autobiography.
Gotō Zuigan (後藤 瑞巌; 1879–1965) was a Buddhist Rinzai Zen master the chief abbot of Myōshin-ji and Daitoku-ji temples…Gotō Zuigan (後藤 瑞巌; 1879–1965) was a Buddhist Rinzai Zen master the chief abbot of Myōshin-ji and Daitoku-ji temples, and a past president of Hanazono University in Kyoto, also known as "Rinzai University".
Eiichi Baba (馬場 鍈一, Baba Eiichi; 5 October 1879 – 21 December 1937) was a bureaucrat and cabinet minister in early…Eiichi Baba (馬場 鍈一, Baba Eiichi; 5 October 1879 – 21 December 1937) was a bureaucrat and cabinet minister in early Shōwa period Japan.
Shinobu Ishihara (石原 忍, Ishihara Shinobu; September 25, 1879 – January 3, 1963) was a Japanese ophthalmologist who…Shinobu Ishihara (石原 忍, Ishihara Shinobu; September 25, 1879 – January 3, 1963) was a Japanese ophthalmologist who created the Ishihara color test to detect colour blindness. He was an army surgeon.
Sakutarō Iwasa (岩佐 作太郎, Iwasa Sakutarō; 1879–1967) was a Japanese anarchist who was involved in the Japanese anarchist…Sakutarō Iwasa (岩佐 作太郎, Iwasa Sakutarō; 1879–1967) was a Japanese anarchist who was involved in the Japanese anarchist movement during the 20th century. Living until the age of 87, he was significant in influencing Japanese anarchists towards his anarcho-communist variety of 'pure' anarchism. It was said about him after his death that "the road which the aged Iwasa walked, extending through the Meiji, Taishō and pre-war and post-war Shōwa eras, was the history of the Japanese anarchist movement itself."
Yoshiaki Hatta (八田 嘉明, Hatta Yoshiaki; 14 September 1879 – 26 April 1964), was an engineer, entrepreneur, politician…Yoshiaki Hatta (八田 嘉明, Hatta Yoshiaki; 14 September 1879 – 26 April 1964), was an engineer, entrepreneur, politician and cabinet minister in the Empire of Japan, serving as a member of the Upper House of the Diet of Japan, and five times as a cabinet minister.
Tsutomu Sakuma (佐久間 勉, Sakuma Tsutomu; September 13, 1879 – April 15, 1910) was a career naval officer in the Imperial…Tsutomu Sakuma (佐久間 勉, Sakuma Tsutomu; September 13, 1879 – April 15, 1910) was a career naval officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and a pioneer submarine commander, known primarily as the commanding officer during the sinking of Submarine No.6.
Nobutaka Shiōden (四王天 延孝, Shiōden Nobutaka; 2 September 1878 – 8 August 1962) was a lieutenant general in the Imperial…Nobutaka Shiōden (四王天 延孝, Shiōden Nobutaka; 2 September 1878 – 8 August 1962) was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army, propagandist of a Jewish conspiracy theory during and after World War II and a legislator in the Diet of Japan.
Rentarō Taki (滝 廉太郎, Taki Rentarō; 24 August 1879 – 29 June 1903) was a Japanese pianist and composer of the Meiji era.…Rentarō Taki (滝 廉太郎, Taki Rentarō; 24 August 1879 – 29 June 1903) was a Japanese pianist and composer of the Meiji era. Taki was born in Tokyo, but moved to many places during his childhood owing to his father's job. He went to Tokyo Music School (now known as Tokyo University of the Arts) and was taught by Nobu Koda, graduating in 1901. One of his famous pieces is "Kōjō no Tsuki" (Moon Over the Ruined Castle), which was included in the songbook for junior high school students, along with the "Hakone-Hachiri" (箱根八里). "Hana" (花, "Flower") is also a well-known song. In the same year, Taki went to the Leipzig Conservatory in Germany for further studies, but fell seriously ill with pulmonary tuberculosis and therefore returned to Japan. He lived quietly in the country afterwards, but soon died at the age of 23. His posthumous work is a solo piano piece called "Urami" (憾, "Regret"), which he wrote four months before he died.
Count Hisaichi Terauchi (寺内 寿一, Terauchi Hisaichi; 8 August 1879 – 12 June 1946) was a Gensui (or field marshal) in the…Count Hisaichi Terauchi (寺内 寿一, Terauchi Hisaichi; 8 August 1879 – 12 June 1946) was a Gensui (or field marshal) in the Imperial Japanese Army, commander of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group during World War II.
Koyata Iwasaki was a Japanese industrialist who served as the fourth and last president of the unified Mitsubishi. He…Koyata Iwasaki was a Japanese industrialist who served as the fourth and last president of the unified Mitsubishi. He was the last person to hold the office before the Allied Occupation Forces ordered the dissolution of all major zaibatsu.
Shunroku Hata (畑 俊六, Hata Shunroku; July 26, 1879 – May 10, 1962) was a field marshal (gensui) in the Imperial Japanese…Shunroku Hata (畑 俊六, Hata Shunroku; July 26, 1879 – May 10, 1962) was a field marshal (gensui) in the Imperial Japanese Army who served as Minister of the Army from 1939 to 1940. He was the last surviving Japanese military officer with a marshal's rank. In the aftermath of World War II Hata was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1948, but was paroled in 1955.
Seizō Sakonji (左近司政三, Sakonji Seizō; 27 June 1879 – 20 August 1969) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and…Seizō Sakonji (左近司政三, Sakonji Seizō; 27 June 1879 – 20 August 1969) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and cabinet minister in the wartime government of the Empire of Japan.
Masanori Katsu (勝 正憲, Katsu Masanori; 21 May 1879 – 11 November 1957) was a Japanese bureaucrat, politician and cabinet…Masanori Katsu (勝 正憲, Katsu Masanori; 21 May 1879 – 11 November 1957) was a Japanese bureaucrat, politician and cabinet minister in the Taishō and early Shōwa periods of the Japan.
Asashio Tarō (Japanese: 朝潮 太郎; born Chokichi Komota (薦田 長吉), April 19, 1879 – April 30, 1962) was a Japanese…Asashio Tarō (Japanese: 朝潮 太郎; born Chokichi Komota (薦田 長吉), April 19, 1879 – April 30, 1962) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ehime Prefecture, Japan. He is the second wrestler to bear the shikona, or ring name, Asashio. He became the stablemaster of Takasago stable in 1915 while still active, and continued to run the stable after his retirement in 1919 until 1941, when he passed on the Takasago elder share to then ōzeki Maedayama. He died in 1962 at the age of 83.
Ryū Saitō (斎藤 瀏, Saitō Ryū; April 16, 1879 – July 5, 1953) was a Japanese Major General and poet during the 20th…Ryū Saitō (斎藤 瀏, Saitō Ryū; April 16, 1879 – July 5, 1953) was a Japanese Major General and poet during the 20th century. He is commonly associated with the Jinan incident, playing a major role in the diplomatic and public press of the incident. He was also known for his tanka poetry works.
Takashi Nagatsuka (長塚 節, Nagatsuka Takashi; April 3, 1879–February 8, 1915) was a Japanese poet and novelist. According…Takashi Nagatsuka (長塚 節, Nagatsuka Takashi; April 3, 1879–February 8, 1915) was a Japanese poet and novelist. According to prominent historian Ann Waswo, Nagatsuka Takashi was born into a landowning family. Nagatsuka was born in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan in Kosshō Village (国生村), itself in Ishige Town (石下町), which forms modern day Joso City (常総市). In 1896, poor health forced him to stop his middle-school education in Mito. In accordance with his duties as eldest son, he assisted his mother Taka in managing their six acres of arable land. He started experimenting in 1905 with different fertilizers, crop-rotation, charcoal-production, and commercial-grade bamboo-production. These are just some of his attempts to save the family's finances from the political career of his father Genjiro (who was elected during the late 1880s to the prefectural assembly), since he tended to absorb other people's debts. In Tokyo, he studied poetry with Masaoka Shiki from 1900 until 1902, when Shiki died of tuberculosis. His only novel The Soil ("土;" "Tsuchi") was published in 151-installment series from June–November of 1910 in the Tokyo Asahi Shimbun (東京朝日新聞), which eventually became today's Asahi Shimbun. Two years after its newspaper serialization, The Soil was published as a complete work in book form in 1912. The novel depicts life in rural Japan and in Kosshō Village. The characters are based on actual people, although their names are altered. The novel's copyright expired in the mid-1960s. He died of laryngeal tuberculosis on February 8, 1915.
Hakuchō Masamune (正宗 白鳥, Masamune Hakuchō; 3 March 1879 – 28 October 1962), born Tadao Masamune, was a noted Japanese…Hakuchō Masamune (正宗 白鳥, Masamune Hakuchō; 3 March 1879 – 28 October 1962), born Tadao Masamune, was a noted Japanese critic and writer of fiction, and a leading member of the Japanese Naturalist school of literature.
Kisaburō Andō (安藤 紀三郎, Andō Kisaburō; 11 February 1874 – 10 May 1954) was a career officer and lieutenant general in…Kisaburō Andō (安藤 紀三郎, Andō Kisaburō; 11 February 1874 – 10 May 1954) was a career officer and lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army, who served as a politician and cabinet minister in the government of the Empire of Japan during World War II.
Ide Kaoru (井手薰,いで かおる, February 6, 1879 - May 11, 1944) was Chief Architect of the Governor-General's Office in Taiwan…Ide Kaoru (井手薰,いで かおる, February 6, 1879 - May 11, 1944) was Chief Architect of the Governor-General's Office in Taiwan, when the island was part of the Japanese Empire. He held office in the Building and Repairs section of the Japanese Government-General in Taiwan, and was mainly involved with government and municipal building projects. His distinctive architectural ideas influenced the Taiwanese architectural profession. He was born in Gifu Prefecture Japan. Ide Kaoru favoured a "localisation" approach to Taiwan's architecture. He was influenced by Modernism, and in 1929 was elected President of the Taiwan Architectural Association (台湾建築学会, Taiwan Kenchiku Gakkai). He was an advocate of using reinforced concrete, and this featured in almost all his works. Seismic resistance was of the highest priority, as Taiwan is prone to earthquakes. Amongst Ide's most notable works was the Zhongshan Hall in Taipei, which remains in daily use today as a concert hall and cultural centre. Over the years, many receptions have been held there for heads of state and foreign dignitaries, and in 1992 it was designated a Class Two National Historical Site. He also designed the Judicial Yuan Building in the Imperial Crown style, which was completed in 1934. His design for the Executive Yuan building (completed 1940) was influenced by Art Deco and the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Ide graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in 1906, then moved to Taiwan in 1911. He was one of the few Japanese architects to immerse himself professionally in Taiwan, and stayed there for more than thirty years. He also wrote extensively on the subject of architecture.
Japanese supercentenarians are citizens, residents or emigrants from Japan who have attained or surpassed the age of…Japanese supercentenarians are citizens, residents or emigrants from Japan who have attained or surpassed the age of 110 years. As of January 2015, the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) had validated the longevity claims of 263 Japanese supercentenarians, most of whom are women. As of 18 October 2026, the oldest-known living Japanese person is Fuyo Kishimoto (born in Hamasaka on 20 December 1911), who is aged 114 years, 302 days. The oldest verified Japanese and Asian person ever is Kane Tanaka (1903–2022), who lived to the age of 119 years and 107 days, making her the second-oldest validated person ever as well. Japan was also home to the world's oldest man ever, Jiroemon Kimura (1897–2013), who lived to the age of 116 years and 54 days.
Zhu Shen (Chinese: 朱深; pinyin: Zhū Shēn; Wade–Giles: Chu Shen; 1879 – July 2, 1943) was a politician and public…Zhu Shen (Chinese: 朱深; pinyin: Zhū Shēn; Wade–Giles: Chu Shen; 1879 – July 2, 1943) was a politician and public prosecutor in the Republic of China. He was an important politician during the Provisional Government of the Republic of China and the Wang Jingwei regime. His courtesy name was Boyuan (博淵). He was born in Yongqing, Zhili (Hebei).
Otávio Maeda (born Mitsuyo Maeda [Japanese: 前田 光世]; November 18, 1878 – November 28, 1941) was a Japanese and Brazilian…Otávio Maeda (born Mitsuyo Maeda [Japanese: 前田 光世]; November 18, 1878 – November 28, 1941) was a Japanese and Brazilian judōka, catch wrestler, and prizefighter who is considered one of the fathers of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. He was commonly known by the nickname Conde Koma. Maeda was the head of the second generation of Kodokan judōka, and was integral to the martial art's expansion into the United States during the 1900's. Along with Soshihiro Satake, he pioneered judo in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and other countries during the following decades, eventually becoming a naturalized Brazilian citizen and a promoter of Japanese immigration to Brazil. Maeda was fundamental to the development of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, including through his teaching of Carlos Gracie and others of the Gracie family. His accomplishments led to him being called the "toughest man who ever lived".
Seiji Noma (野間 清治; 1878–1938) was a Japanese writer and publisher who was the founder of Kodansha, a leading publishing…Seiji Noma (野間 清治; 1878–1938) was a Japanese writer and publisher who was the founder of Kodansha, a leading publishing company, which his family still wholly own today. He was the founder and publisher of many well-known newspapers and magazines.
Yosano Shō (与謝野 志やう; née Hō (鳳); 7 December 1878 – 29 May 1942), known by her pen name Yosano Akiko (Shinjitai: 与謝野 晶子…Yosano Shō (与謝野 志やう; née Hō (鳳); 7 December 1878 – 29 May 1942), known by her pen name Yosano Akiko (Shinjitai: 与謝野 晶子, Kyūjitai: 與謝野 晶子, Japanese pronunciation: [jo.sa.no (|) aꜜ.kʲi̥.ko]), was a Japanese author, poet, feminist, pacifist, and social reformer, active in the late Meiji era as well as the Taishō and early Shōwa eras of Japan. She is one of the most noted, and most controversial, post-classical female poets of Japan.
Viscount Masatoshi Ōkōchi (大河内正敏, Ōkōchi Masatoshi; December 6, 1878 – August 29, 1952) was a Japanese physicist and…Viscount Masatoshi Ōkōchi (大河内正敏, Ōkōchi Masatoshi; December 6, 1878 – August 29, 1952) was a Japanese physicist and business executive. He was the third director of the Riken Institute, a position which he assumed in 1921 and held for 25 years. During this period, he was notable for establishing the Riken Konzern, a zaibatsu of companies which focused on utilizing Riken's research results to produce commercial products.
Hisakatsu Yabe (Japanese: 矢部 長克, December 3, 1878 – June 23, 1969) was a Japanese paleontologist and geologist. He is…Hisakatsu Yabe (Japanese: 矢部 長克, December 3, 1878 – June 23, 1969) was a Japanese paleontologist and geologist. He is from Tokyo and is a graduate of the University of Tokyo. He was an emeritus professor at Tohoku University. Yabe contributed to the development of geology in Japan. In 1918, He advocated Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line.
Torahiko Terada (寺田 寅彦, Terada Torahiko; November 28, 1878 – December 31, 1935) was a Japanese physicist and author who…Torahiko Terada (寺田 寅彦, Terada Torahiko; November 28, 1878 – December 31, 1935) was a Japanese physicist and author who was born in Tokyo. He was a professor at Tokyo Imperial University, a researcher at RIKEN, and worked on a wide range of topics in physics. He was also a professor at the Earthquake Research Institute. As an author, he studied under Natsume Sōseki, who was a teacher at his high school in Kumamoto. His pseudonym for his literature-related work was Fuyuhiko Yoshimura. He is best known for his numerous essays on a wide variety of topics ranging from science to manga.
Harumichi Tanabe (田辺 治通, Tanabe Harumichi; 17 October 1879 – 30 January 1950) was a Japanese bureaucrat and politician…Harumichi Tanabe (田辺 治通, Tanabe Harumichi; 17 October 1879 – 30 January 1950) was a Japanese bureaucrat and politician in the early Shōwa period.
Akira Aoyama (Japanese: 青山士, September 23, 1878 - March 21, 1963) was a Japanese civil engineer who led the projects of…Akira Aoyama (Japanese: 青山士, September 23, 1878 - March 21, 1963) was a Japanese civil engineer who led the projects of the drainage canals of the Arakawa River, Tokyo, and the Shinano River, Niigata Prefecture. He also worked as one of the leaders of the land surveyor teams during the construction of the Panama Canal.
Shigeru Yoshida (吉田 茂, Yoshida Shigeru; Japanese pronunciation: [jo.ɕi.da (|) ɕi.ɡe.ɾɯ, -ŋe.ɾɯ], 22 September 1878 – 20…Shigeru Yoshida (吉田 茂, Yoshida Shigeru; Japanese pronunciation: [jo.ɕi.da (|) ɕi.ɡe.ɾɯ, -ŋe.ɾɯ], 22 September 1878 – 20 October 1967) was a Japanese diplomat and politician who served as prime minister of Japan from 1946 to 1947 and again from 1948 to 1954, serving through most of the country's occupation after World War II. Yoshida played a major role in determining the course of post-war Japan by forging a strong relationship with the United States and pursuing economic recovery. Born in Tokyo to a former samurai family, Yoshida graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in 1906 and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He held various assignments abroad, including in China, where he advocated increased Japanese influence. From 1928 to 1930, Yoshida served as vice minister of foreign affairs, then served as ambassador to Italy until 1932. In 1936, he was considered for foreign minister in the cabinet of Kōki Hirota, but he was opposed by the Army, who strongly identified him with liberalism and friendship with Great Britain and the United States. Yoshida served as ambassador to Britain from 1936 to 1938. He largely avoided political participation during the Pacific War. During the U.S. occupation after the war's end, Yoshida served as foreign minister in the cabinets of Prince Higashikuni and Kijūrō Shidehara. Yoshida became prime minister in 1946, after Ichirō Hatoyama was purged by authorities on the verge of taking office; Yoshida served as foreign minister in his own first three cabinets. He oversaw the adoption of the Constitution of Japan before losing office after the election of 1947. He returned to the premiership in 1948, and negotiated the Treaty of San Francisco, which ended the occupation and saw the restoration of sovereignty to Japan, and a security treaty with the U.S. Yoshida pursued a strategy of concentrating on economic reconstruction while relying on an alliance with the United States for defense, a strategy known as the Yoshida Doctrine. The last years of his premiership were marked by conflict with Hatoyama, who had by then been depurged. This culminated in Yoshida being ousted and replaced by Hatoyama in 1954. Yoshida's legacy continued to play an important part in Japanese political life, particularly through his two protégés, Hayato Ikeda and Eisaku Satō, who served as prime ministers from 1960 to 1964 and 1964 to 1972 respectively. Yoshida died in 1967 and received a state funeral. His grandson, Tarō Asō, served as prime minister from 2008 to 2009.
Kiyokata Kaburaki (鏑木 清方, Kaburaki Kiyokata; August 31, 1878 – March 2, 1972) was the art-name of a Nihonga artist and…Kiyokata Kaburaki (鏑木 清方, Kaburaki Kiyokata; August 31, 1878 – March 2, 1972) was the art-name of a Nihonga artist and the leading master of the bijin-ga genre in the Taishō and Shōwa eras. His legal name was Kaburaki Ken'ichi. The artist himself used the reading "Kaburaki", but many Western (and some Japanese) sources transliterate it as "Kaburagi".
Uesugi Shinkichi (上杉 慎吉, Uesugi Shinkichi; August 18, 1878 – April 7, 1929) was a political philosopher and legal…Uesugi Shinkichi (上杉 慎吉, Uesugi Shinkichi; August 18, 1878 – April 7, 1929) was a political philosopher and legal scholar who was active in Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa period Japan. One of the founding figures of right-wing Shintō ultranationalism, he helped sow the seeds for radical right-wing activism in 1930s Japan, although he died shortly before a wave of assassinations and assassination attempts that his ideas helped inspire.
Shigeho Tanaka (田中茂穂, Tanaka Shigeho; 1878–1974) was a Japanese ichthyologist and professor of zoology at the Imperial…Shigeho Tanaka (田中茂穂, Tanaka Shigeho; 1878–1974) was a Japanese ichthyologist and professor of zoology at the Imperial University of Tokyo. He published numerous works on fishes and sharks and co-authored a book on Japanese fish with famous American scientist David Starr Jordan.
Kampō Arai (荒井 寛方, August 15, 1878 – April 16, 1945) was a Japanese Buddhist painter and reproduction artist. His given…Kampō Arai (荒井 寛方, August 15, 1878 – April 16, 1945) was a Japanese Buddhist painter and reproduction artist. His given name was Kanjūrō (寛十郎).
Tokushichi Nomura II (野村 徳七 二代; 7 August 1878 – 15 January 1945) was a Japanese businessman, investor and politician.…Tokushichi Nomura II (野村 徳七 二代; 7 August 1878 – 15 January 1945) was a Japanese businessman, investor and politician. He was the founder of the Nomura Group zaibatsu and Nomura Securities, and served as a member of the House of Peers.
Kohsaburo Iesaka (家坂 幸三郎, Iesaka Kōsaburō; 1878 – 1952) was a Japanese Christian physician who headed the Miyako…Kohsaburo Iesaka (家坂 幸三郎, Iesaka Kōsaburō; 1878 – 1952) was a Japanese Christian physician who headed the Miyako Nanseien Sanatorium (1933–1938) and Okinawa Airakuen Sanatorium (1947–1951). The church he created, "Yomigaerino Kai", still remains in the Miyako Nanseien Sanatorium, as well as a church of Nippon Sei Ko Kai and a catholic church.
Iwane Matsui (松井 石根, Matsui Iwane; July 27, 1878 – December 23, 1948) was a Japanese general in the Imperial Japanese…Iwane Matsui (松井 石根, Matsui Iwane; July 27, 1878 – December 23, 1948) was a Japanese general in the Imperial Japanese Army and the commander of the expeditionary force sent to China in 1937. He was convicted of war crimes and executed by the Allies for his involvement in the Nanjing Massacre. Born in Nagoya, Matsui chose a military career and served in combat during the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05). He volunteered for an overseas assignment there shortly after graduating from the Army War College in 1906. As Matsui rose through the ranks, he earned a reputation as the Japanese Army's foremost expert on China, and he was an ardent advocate of pan-Asianism. He played a key role in founding the influential Greater Asia Association. Matsui retired from active duty in 1935 but was called back into service in August 1937 at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War to lead the Japanese forces engaged in the Battle of Shanghai. After winning the battle Matsui succeeded in convincing Japan's high command to advance on the Chinese capital city of Nanjing. The troops under his command who captured Nanjing on December 13 were responsible for the notorious Nanjing Massacre. Matsui finally retired from the army in 1938. Following Japan's defeat in World War II he was convicted of war crimes at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE) and executed by hanging. He and other convicted war criminals were enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine in 1978, an act that has stirred controversy.
Katsuji Debuchi (出淵 勝次; July 25, 1878 – August 19, 1947) was a Japanese diplomat who served as ambassador to the United…Katsuji Debuchi (出淵 勝次; July 25, 1878 – August 19, 1947) was a Japanese diplomat who served as ambassador to the United States.
Shomu Nobori (昇 曙夢, Nobori Shomu; 17 July 1878 – 22 November 1958) was the pen-name of a noted translator and educator…Shomu Nobori (昇 曙夢, Nobori Shomu; 17 July 1878 – 22 November 1958) was the pen-name of a noted translator and educator of Russian literature in Taishō and Shōwa period Japan. His real name was Naotaka Nobori (昇 直隆, Nobori Naotaka). He also served as a special advisor to the Japanese cabinet on Russian and Soviet issues.
Ryōichi Yazu (矢頭 良一, Yazu Ryōichi; 30 June 1878 – 16 October 1908) was a Japanese inventor. He is best known for his…Ryōichi Yazu (矢頭 良一, Yazu Ryōichi; 30 June 1878 – 16 October 1908) was a Japanese inventor. He is best known for his invention of Japan's first mechanical calculator.
Hino Kumazō (日野 熊蔵, Hino Kumazō; June 9, 1878 – January 15, 1946) was a Japanese inventor and aviation pioneer. His…Hino Kumazō (日野 熊蔵, Hino Kumazō; June 9, 1878 – January 15, 1946) was a Japanese inventor and aviation pioneer. His most famous invention is the 1908 Hino–Komuro pistol.
Yoshiyuki Kawashima (川島 義之, Kawashima Yoshiyuki; 25 May 1878 – 8 September 1945) was a general in the Imperial Japanese…Yoshiyuki Kawashima (川島 義之, Kawashima Yoshiyuki; 25 May 1878 – 8 September 1945) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and Army Minister in the 1930s.
Takaoki Sasaki (佐々木 隆興, Sasaki Takaoki; 1878–1966) was a Japanese biochemist and oncologist known for demonstrating the…Takaoki Sasaki (佐々木 隆興, Sasaki Takaoki; 1878–1966) was a Japanese biochemist and oncologist known for demonstrating the induction of liver cancer in rats by Ortho-Aminoazotoluene with his pupil Tomizo Yoshida. In addition, he was also known as a master of fencing in Japan. He received the Imperial Prize of the Japan Academy twice (1924 and 1936). He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 14 nominations.