Kōshū Itabashi (板橋 興宗, Itabashi Kōshū; 1927 – 5 July 2020) was a Sōtō Zen master who was the 23rd abbot of Sojiji…
Kōshū Itabashi (板橋 興宗, Itabashi Kōshū; 1927 – 5 July 2020) was a Sōtō Zen master who was the 23rd abbot of Sojiji, abbot of Gotanjoji in Takefu, Fukui, and abbot of Daijoji in Kanazawa, Ishikawa all in Japan. He was born in Tagajo, Miyagi in 1927. He graduated from the Naval Academy of Japan in 1945. He also graduated in religious studies at Tohoku University in 1953. He became a Sōtō Zen monk according to Genshū Watanabe. He was trained in Sojiji and he studied under Giyen Inoue in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. He succeeded Ryūtan Matsumoto in Daijoji and became Tanto Roshi of Sojiji leading monks. He became Godo Roshi of Sojijisoin, abbot of Daijoji. He also devised chair Zazen. He was elected vice abbot of Sojij, and became the 23rd abbot of Sojiji and Sotozen Superintendent Master (Kancho) in 1998. He retired as abbot of Sojiji in 2002. He became abbot Sojijisoin. And he was revived Gotanjoji.
Famous People Born in 1927
1927: 90 people
Yoshio Tsuchiya (土屋 嘉男, Tsuchiya Yoshio; May 18, 1927 – February 8, 2017) was a Japanese actor. He appeared in such…
Yoshio Tsuchiya (土屋 嘉男, Tsuchiya Yoshio; May 18, 1927 – February 8, 2017) was a Japanese actor. He appeared in such films as Toshio Matsumoto's surreal Funeral Parade of Roses and Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Red Beard, and Kihachi Okamoto's Kill!. He had a long-standing interest in UFOs and wrote several books on the subject. He preferred starring in science fiction films, usually as aliens, or people possessed by them, in such films as Battle in Outer Space, Monster Zero, and Destroy All Monsters.
Jiro Tsuji (May 11, 1927 – April 1, 2022) was a Japanese chemist, notable for his discovery of organometallic…
Jiro Tsuji (May 11, 1927 – April 1, 2022) was a Japanese chemist, notable for his discovery of organometallic reactions, including the Tsuji–Trost reaction, the Tsuji–Wilkinson decarbonylation reaction, and the Tsuji–Wacker reaction.
Kazuo Kasahara (笠原 和夫, Kasahara Kazuo; 8 May 1927 – 12 December 2002) was a Japanese screenwriter particularly known…
Kazuo Kasahara (笠原 和夫, Kasahara Kazuo; 8 May 1927 – 12 December 2002) was a Japanese screenwriter particularly known for his work in the yakuza film genre. He was born in the Nihonbashi area of Tokyo and dropped out of Nippon University.
Morio Kita (北 杜夫, Kita Morio) was the pen name of Sokichi Saitō (斎藤 宗吉, Saitō Sōkichi; 1 May 1927 – 24 October 2011), a…
Morio Kita (北 杜夫, Kita Morio) was the pen name of Sokichi Saitō (斎藤 宗吉, Saitō Sōkichi; 1 May 1927 – 24 October 2011), a Japanese psychiatrist, novelist and essayist. Kita was the second son of poet Mokichi Saitō. Shigeta Saitō, his older brother, was also a psychiatrist. The essayist Yuka Saitō is Kita's daughter. Kita attended Azabu High School and Matsumoto Higher School (now part of Shinshu University), and graduated from Tohoku University's School of Medicine. He initially worked as a doctor at Keio University Hospital. Motivated by the collections of his father's poems and the books of German author Thomas Mann, he decided to become a novelist. Kita suffered from manic–depressive disorder from middle age onwards.
Kazuhiko Sugawara (菅原 和彦, Sugawara Kazuhiko; 1 May 1927 – 27 October 1962) was a Japanese speed skater who competed in…
Kazuhiko Sugawara (菅原 和彦, Sugawara Kazuhiko; 1 May 1927 – 27 October 1962) was a Japanese speed skater who competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics. He finished seventh in the 10000 m and 15th in the 5000 m event.
Akira Yoshimura (吉村 昭, Yoshimura Akira; May 1, 1927 – July 31, 2006) was a Japanese writer. Internationally he is best…
Akira Yoshimura (吉村 昭, Yoshimura Akira; May 1, 1927 – July 31, 2006) was a Japanese writer. Internationally he is best known for his novels Shipwrecks and On Parole.
Tamisuke Watanuki (綿貫 民輔, Watanuki Tamisuke; 30 April 1927 – 18 August 2026) was a Japanese politician who served as…
Tamisuke Watanuki (綿貫 民輔, Watanuki Tamisuke; 30 April 1927 – 18 August 2026) was a Japanese politician who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2000 to 2003.
Masayasu Nomura (野村眞康, Nomura Masayasu; April 1927 – November 19, 2011) was a Japanese molecular biologist. Nomura was…
Masayasu Nomura (野村眞康, Nomura Masayasu; April 1927 – November 19, 2011) was a Japanese molecular biologist. Nomura was born in April 1927, a native of Hyōgo Prefecture, and completed a bachelor's degree and doctorate at the University of Tokyo. Nomura began work in 1957 as a postdoctoral researcher in the United States, alongside Sol Spiegelman, James Watson, and Seymour Benzer. Nomura returned to Japan in 1960, to teach at the Osaka University Institute of Protein Research. Three years later, Nomura accepted a position at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was named a full professor in 1966, and remained on the faculty until 1984, when he moved to the University of California, Irvine as Grace Bell Professor of Biological Chemistry. Awarded the NAS Award in Molecular Biology in 1971, Nomura gained membership into the National Academy of Sciences itself in 1978. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Academy of Microbiology, as well as the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. Nomura died in California on 19 November 2011, aged 84.
Kazue Morisaki (森崎和江, Morisaki Kazue; April 20, 1927 – June 15, 2022) was a Japanese poet and nonfiction writer. She is…
Kazue Morisaki (森崎和江, Morisaki Kazue; April 20, 1927 – June 15, 2022) was a Japanese poet and nonfiction writer. She is best known for her 1976 book Karayuki-san (からゆきさん).
Hisashi Katsuta (勝田 久, Katsuta Hisashi; 2 April 1927 – 21 February 2020) was a Japanese actor and voice actor. He is…
Hisashi Katsuta (勝田 久, Katsuta Hisashi; 2 April 1927 – 21 February 2020) was a Japanese actor and voice actor. He is best known for his voice-over portrayal of Professor Ochanomizu in three anime adaptations of the Astro Boy franchise, and also voiced Dr. Hoshi in Astroganger (1972–1973), Professor Tobishima in Groizer X (1976–1977), and Shin'ichirō Izumi in Tōshō Daimos (1978–1979).
Seiji Tsutsumi (堤 清二, Tsutsumi Seiji; March 30, 1927 − November 25, 2013) was a Japanese businessperson, author and…
Seiji Tsutsumi (堤 清二, Tsutsumi Seiji; March 30, 1927 − November 25, 2013) was a Japanese businessperson, author and poet, also known by the pen names Takashi Tsujii (辻井 喬, Tsujii Takashi) and Ikuo Yokose (横瀬 郁夫, Yokose Ikuo).
Kenichi Kumagai (born 17 March 1927) is a Japanese former sports shooter. He competed in the trap event at the 1960…
Kenichi Kumagai (born 17 March 1927) is a Japanese former sports shooter. He competed in the trap event at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Junzo Sekine (関根 潤三, Sekine Junzō; March 15, 1927 – April 9, 2020) was a Japanese professional baseball player who…
Junzo Sekine (関根 潤三, Sekine Junzō; March 15, 1927 – April 9, 2020) was a Japanese professional baseball player who played as two ways as a pitcher and outfielder. He spent the majority of this career with the Kintetsu Pearls/Kintetsu Buffalo/Kintetsu Buffaloes. As a rookie in 1950, Sekine attracted attention by batting 3rd, 4th, or 5th in the Kintetsu Pearls' lineup while pitching in the game. Sekine focused on pitching from 1950 to 1957, but spent the latter half of his career (1958 to 1965) as a position player. His best year as a pitcher was 1954, when he went 16–12 with a 2.44 earned run average and 118 strikeouts. His best years as a hitter were in 1962–1963, when he hit and .301 and .296 respectively, with a total of 21 home runs and 115 RBI. Sekine was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. Sekine died on April 9, 2020, in Tokyo, at the age of 93.
Yoichi Nishimaru (西丸 與一, Nishimaru Yoichi; 14 March 1927 – 3 April 2020) was a Japanese physician specializing in…
Yoichi Nishimaru (西丸 與一, Nishimaru Yoichi; 14 March 1927 – 3 April 2020) was a Japanese physician specializing in medical jurisprudence. His books were so popular that they became best-sellers in Japan.
Kazuo Kitamura (北村 和夫, Kitamura Kazuo; 11 March 1927 – 6 May 2007) was a Japanese actor. His son is actor Yukiya…
Kazuo Kitamura (北村 和夫, Kitamura Kazuo; 11 March 1927 – 6 May 2007) was a Japanese actor. His son is actor Yukiya Kitamura. Kitamura met Shōhei Imamura when he was a student of Waseda University and became a close friend so often worked with Imamura. Kitamura joined Bungakuza theatre company and started his acting career in 1950. In 1953, he made his film debut with An Inlet of Muddy Water directed by Tadashi Imai.
Michiko Ishimure (石牟礼道子, Ishimure Michiko; 11 March 1927 – 10 February 2018) was a Japanese writer and activist. She…
Michiko Ishimure (石牟礼道子, Ishimure Michiko; 11 March 1927 – 10 February 2018) was a Japanese writer and activist. She won the 1973 Ramon Magsaysay Award, among the most prestigious awards in Asia, for publicizing writings about Minamata disease, which was extremely controversial at the time.
Yoshiko Shigekane (重兼 芳子, Shigekane Yoshiko; March 7, 1927 – August 22, 1993) was a Japanese writer from Hokkaido. She…
Yoshiko Shigekane (重兼 芳子, Shigekane Yoshiko; March 7, 1927 – August 22, 1993) was a Japanese writer from Hokkaido. She won the Akutagawa Prize in 1979, and her work has been adapted for film.
Hitoshi Ueki (植木 等, Ueki Hitoshi; February 25, 1927 – March 27, 2007) was a Japanese actor, comedian, singer, and…
Hitoshi Ueki (植木 等, Ueki Hitoshi; February 25, 1927 – March 27, 2007) was a Japanese actor, comedian, singer, and guitarist. He won six awards for acting. His film credits stretch from 1960 to 1995. Ueki came to fame through the comic jazz-band The Crazy Cats led by Hajime Hana. His major appearances were in the Musekinin Otoko film series, the comedy variety show Shabondama Holiday, the prime-time television series The Hangman, and the ten 2-hour television shows in the Nagoya Yomeiri Monogatari franchise. He appeared in the Akira Kurosawa epic jidaigeki film Ran in 1985, receiving a nomination for the Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, and earned the Japanese Academy, Kinema Junpo, and Mainichi film awards for best supporting actor for his role as the eccentric grandfather in Big Joys, Small Sorrows in 1987. On stage, he portrayed Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago, voiced the Roddy McDowall role in the Japanese market release of Planet of the Apes, and served as the narrator in the Japanese version of Tom and Jerry. His hit song with Hana Hajime and the Crazy Cats, Sūdara-bushi, placed in the Oricon top ten, and landed him an appearance on the NHK annual music spectacular Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Ueki received the Purple Ribbon Medal of Honour in 1993 and the 4th Class Order of the Rising Sun in 1999. In 2011, new technology was used to create a Vocaloid voicebank using his voice.
Tatsuro Matsumae (Japanese: 松前達郎 Matsumae Tatsurō; 19 February 1927 – 8 September 2024) was a Japanese academic and…
Tatsuro Matsumae (Japanese: 松前達郎 Matsumae Tatsurō; 19 February 1927 – 8 September 2024) was a Japanese academic and politician. A member of the Japan Socialist Party and the Democratic Party, he served in the House of Councillors from 1977 to 2001. Matsumae died of pneumonia in Hachiōji, on 8 September 2024, at the age of 97.
Takashi Nomura (野村孝) (February 18, 1927 – May 5, 2015) was a Japanese film director for studios including Nikkatsu. The…
Takashi Nomura (野村孝) (February 18, 1927 – May 5, 2015) was a Japanese film director for studios including Nikkatsu. The Criterion Collection described him as a "prominent, stylistically daring director". In 1955, he joined Nikkatsu Film company and he made his director debut with Tokusōhan Gogō in 1960. Nomura directed such films as Itsudemo Yume wo and Quick Draw Joe (1961). He is perhaps best known for A Colt Is My Passport (1967), influenced by French New Wave filmmakers such as Jean-Pierre Melville, and by Sergio Leone-style Westerns. Nomura's use of still shots in the opening sequence has been compared to manga art techniques.
Masahiro Mori (森 政弘, Mori Masahiro; 12 February 1927 – 12 January 2025) was a Japanese roboticist noted for his…
Masahiro Mori (森 政弘, Mori Masahiro; 12 February 1927 – 12 January 2025) was a Japanese roboticist noted for his pioneering work in the fields of robotics and automation, his research achievements in humans' emotional responses to non-human entities, as well as for his views on religion. The ASIMO robot was designed by one of Masahiro's students.
Kazuko Watanabe (Japanese: 渡辺 和子; February 11, 1927 – December 30, 2016) was a Japanese religious sister, educationist…
Kazuko Watanabe (Japanese: 渡辺 和子; February 11, 1927 – December 30, 2016) was a Japanese religious sister, educationist, and writer. Her Christian name was Sister Saint John. She was a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and served as president of their Notre Dame Seishin University, Okayama Prefecture, from 1963 to 1990.
Bushi Kozu (Japanese: 神津武士; February 11, 1927 – December 17, 2025) was a Japanese politician.
Junkichi Orimoto (織本 順吉, Orimoto Junkichi; 9 February 1927 – 18 March 2019) was a Japanese actor. Orimoto often worked…
Junkichi Orimoto (織本 順吉, Orimoto Junkichi; 9 February 1927 – 18 March 2019) was a Japanese actor. Orimoto often worked with Kinji Fukasaku and Sadao Nakajima. He started his acting career at the Shinkyō theatre company in 1949. His first film appearance was in the 1952 film Yamabiko Gakkō directed by Tadashi Imai. In 2019, he died of old age at the age of 92. His final film appearance was in the 2018 film blank13.
Masayoshi Nagata (Japanese: 永田 雅宜 Nagata Masayoshi; February 9, 1927 – August 27, 2008) was a Japanese mathematician…
Masayoshi Nagata (Japanese: 永田 雅宜 Nagata Masayoshi; February 9, 1927 – August 27, 2008) was a Japanese mathematician, known for his work in the field of commutative algebra. He was celebrated for the construction of a number of intricate counterexamples for some seemingly plausible statements in commutative algebra and algebraic geometry, earning him the nickname "Mr. Counterexample".
Hiroo Inokuchi (23 Feb 1927 – 20 March 2014) was a Japanese chemist who did pioneering work in electronic processes in…
Hiroo Inokuchi (23 Feb 1927 – 20 March 2014) was a Japanese chemist who did pioneering work in electronic processes in organic materials, for which he received the 2007 Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology. Since 2006, he was the chairman of the Japan Space Forum.
Kazuo Kumakura (熊倉 一雄, Kumakura Kazuo; January 30, 1927 – October 12, 2015) was a Japanese actor, voice actor, and…
Kazuo Kumakura (熊倉 一雄, Kumakura Kazuo; January 30, 1927 – October 12, 2015) was a Japanese actor, voice actor, and theatre director. He was the head of the Theatre Echo agency at the time of his death.
Shi Chuanyin (simplified Chinese: 释传印; traditional Chinese: 釋傳印; pinyin: Chuányìn; 30 January 1927 – 11 March 2023) was…
Shi Chuanyin (simplified Chinese: 释传印; traditional Chinese: 釋傳印; pinyin: Chuányìn; 30 January 1927 – 11 March 2023) was a Chinese Buddhist monk, Chan master and religious leader. He was best known as Venerable Master of the Buddhist Association of China.
Teruo Takei (武井 昭夫, Takei Teruo; January 29 1927 – September 2, 2010) was a Japanese literary critic. While a student…
Teruo Takei (武井 昭夫, Takei Teruo; January 29 1927 – September 2, 2010) was a Japanese literary critic. While a student at the University of Tokyo, he played a central role in the founding of the nationwide student federation Zengakuren, and served as its first chairman. As a literary critic, he was at the forefront of a movement to demand that writers confront their own culpability in wartime collaboration.
Hiroshi Teshigahara (勅使河原 宏, Teshigahara Hiroshi; January 28, 1927 – April 14, 2001) was a Japanese avant-garde…
Hiroshi Teshigahara (勅使河原 宏, Teshigahara Hiroshi; January 28, 1927 – April 14, 2001) was a Japanese avant-garde filmmaker and artist from the Japanese New Wave era. He is best known for the 1964 film Woman in the Dunes. He is also known for directing other titles such as The Face of Another (1966), Natsu no Heitai (Summer Soldiers, 1972), and Pitfall (1962), which was Teshigahara's directorial debut. He has been called "one of the most acclaimed Japanese directors of all time". Teshigahara is the first person of Asian descent to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director, accomplishing this in 1964 for his work on Woman in the Dunes. Apart from being a filmmaker, Teshigahara also practiced other arts, such as calligraphy, pottery, painting, opera and ikebana.
Yutaka Takahasi (高橋 裕, Takahashi Yutaka; July 28, 1927 – May 26, 2021) was a Japanese engineer notable for his work on…
Yutaka Takahasi (高橋 裕, Takahashi Yutaka; July 28, 1927 – May 26, 2021) was a Japanese engineer notable for his work on river basin management and reduction of water-related disasters. Takahasi received the 2015 Japan Prize "for the contribution to development of innovative concept on river basin management and reduction of water-related disasters." His work showed that many previous 'river improvements' resulted in increase in flood discharges, with his recommendations changing Japanese river management policies from the 1980s onward.
Rinichi Yamamoto (山本 麟一, Yamamoto Rin'ichi) was a Japanese actor from Hokkaido. In 1953, he signed to the Toei Company…
Rinichi Yamamoto (山本 麟一, Yamamoto Rin'ichi) was a Japanese actor from Hokkaido. In 1953, he signed to the Toei Company and made his film debut in Gakusei Goninotoko. He is most famous for playing villains, and appeared more than 200 films. He also had many guest appearances as a villain in television dramas. His final role was Yoshinaka in the 1980 miniseries Shōgun.
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.
Reiji Oyama (January 15, 1927 – May 16, 2023) was a Japanese pastor, founder and chancellor of Tokyo Graduate School of…
Reiji Oyama (January 15, 1927 – May 16, 2023) was a Japanese pastor, founder and chancellor of Tokyo Graduate School of Theology, translator of the Bible into Japanese, and author of over 160 books. He was the founding pastor of the Biblical Church, which now has twenty three branch churches.
Megumu Tamura (田村 恵, Tamura Megumu; January 10, 1927 – October 8, 1986) was a Japanese football player. He played for…
Megumu Tamura (田村 恵, Tamura Megumu; January 10, 1927 – October 8, 1986) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Hiroshi Inose FREng (猪瀬 博, Inose Hiroshi; January 5, 1927 – October 11, 2000) was a Japanese electrical engineer, known…
Hiroshi Inose FREng (猪瀬 博, Inose Hiroshi; January 5, 1927 – October 11, 2000) was a Japanese electrical engineer, known as the inventor of the Time-Slot Interchange system (TSI), which is basic to modern digital telephone switches. Inose was highly involved within his career. He held positions such as director general, chairman, associate professor, and president specific committees pertaining to engineering and technology. He was awarded with many honorific titles. In 1976 he received the Marconi Prize, in 1993 the Harold Pender Award, and in 1994 the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal.
Teruaki Mukaiyama (向山 光昭, Mukaiyama Teruaki; January 5, 1927 – November 17, 2018) was a Japanese organic chemist. One…
Teruaki Mukaiyama (向山 光昭, Mukaiyama Teruaki; January 5, 1927 – November 17, 2018) was a Japanese organic chemist. One of the most prolific chemists of the 20th century in the field of organic synthesis, Mukaiyama helped establish the field of organic chemistry in Japan after World War II.
Nobuo Okishio (置塩 信雄; January 2, 1927 – November 13, 2003) was a Japanese Marxian economist and emeritus professor of…
Nobuo Okishio (置塩 信雄; January 2, 1927 – November 13, 2003) was a Japanese Marxian economist and emeritus professor of Kobe University. In 1979, he was elected President of the Japan Association of Economics and Econometrics, which is now called Japanese Economic Association. Okishio studied mathematical economics under Kazuo Mizutani. In 1950 he graduated from Kobe University and later taught there. He soon began to doubt the premises and results of modern economics, and decided to search for alternatives by studying Marxian economics. Okishio worked to clarify the logic of Karl Marx’s economic system, offering formal and mathematical proofs for many Marxian theorems. For example, in 1955, he gave the world's first proof of the “Marxian fundamental theorem”, as it was later named by Michio Morishima, which is the theory that the exploitation of surplus labor is the necessary condition for the existence of positive profit. Concerning Marx’s Falling Rate of Profit, Okishio considered that his famous theorem would not deny it. Okishio wrote many papers covering various important fields in modern and Marxian economics, for example value and price, accumulation theory, critical analysis of Keynesian economics, trade cycle theory and on the long run tendency of capitalistic economy. They were published in over twenty books and two hundred papers, almost all in Japanese. About thirty of his published papers have been translated in English, and much of these materials are collected in the book (Nobuo Okishio, Michael Kruger and Peter Flaschel, 1993).
Hironari Miyazawa (宮沢 弘成, Miyazawa Hironari; 1927–2023) was a Japanese particle and nuclear physicist, known for his…
Hironari Miyazawa (宮沢 弘成, Miyazawa Hironari; 1927–2023) was a Japanese particle and nuclear physicist, known for his work in supersymmetry, which was first proposed by Miyazawa in 1966 as a possible symmetry between mesons and baryons. Miyazawa studied physics and received his undergraduate degree in 1950 at the University of Tokyo. He joined the faculty after he received his doctorate in 1953 from the University of Tokyo, and became a full professor of physics in 1968. In 1988 he moved to the Kanagawa University and served there until 1998. He was a professor emeritus of the University of Tokyo. During these periods, he also served visiting professorships at the University of Chicago and the University of Minnesota, and directorship at the Meson Science Laboratory, the University of Tokyo. From 1953 to 1955 he was a research associate at the Institute for Nuclear Studies, the University of Chicago, where he conducted research on theoretical nuclear physics under Gregor Wentzel and Enrico Fermi. A supersymmetry relating mesons and baryons was first proposed, in the context of hadronic physics, by Miyazawa in 1966. This supersymmetry did not involve spacetime, that is, it concerned internal symmetry, and was broken badly. Miyazawa's work was largely ignored at the time. Hironari Miyazawa died in 2023.