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".
Famous People Born in 1878
1878: 34 people
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.
Hiraide Shū (平出 修; 3 April 1878 – 17 March 1914) was a novelist, poet, and lawyer in late Meiji period Japan. As a…
Hiraide Shū (平出 修; 3 April 1878 – 17 March 1914) was a novelist, poet, and lawyer in late Meiji period Japan. As a lawyer, he was noted for his involvement in the defense of the accused in the High Treason Incident.
Tadahiko Okada (岡田 忠彦, Okada Tadahiko; 21 March 1878 – 30 October 1958) was a Japanese politician. He was governor of…
Tadahiko Okada (岡田 忠彦, Okada Tadahiko; 21 March 1878 – 30 October 1958) was a Japanese politician. He was governor of Saitama Prefecture (1916–1919), Nagano Prefecture (1921–1922) and Kumamoto Prefecture (1922–1923).
Umegatani Tōtarō II (梅ヶ谷 藤太郎; March 11, 1878 – September 2, 1927) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Toyama…
Umegatani Tōtarō II (梅ヶ谷 藤太郎; March 11, 1878 – September 2, 1927) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture. He was the sport's 20th yokozuna. Umegatani had a great rivalry with fellow yokozuna Hitachiyama Taniemon. Their era was known as the Ume-Hitachi Era and it brought sumo to heights of popularity never before seen in the Meiji period.
Vice Admiral Baron Yuzuru Hiraga (平賀 譲, Hiraga Yuzuru; March 8, 1878 – February 17, 1943) was a career naval officer in…
Vice Admiral Baron Yuzuru Hiraga (平賀 譲, Hiraga Yuzuru; March 8, 1878 – February 17, 1943) was a career naval officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy, Doctor of Engineering and head of the engineering school of Tokyo Imperial University and a leading Japanese naval architect in the 1910s and 1920s, responsible for designing a number of famous warships, many of which would later see action during World War II. He participated in establishing the Chiba Institute of Technology from 1941.
Takeo Arishima (有島 武郎, Arishima Takeo; March 4, 1878 – June 9, 1923) was a Japanese novelist, short-story writer and…
Takeo Arishima (有島 武郎, Arishima Takeo; March 4, 1878 – June 9, 1923) was a Japanese novelist, short-story writer and essayist during the late Meiji and Taishō periods. His two younger brothers, Ikuma Arishima (有島生馬) and Ton Satomi (里美弴), were also authors. His son was the internationally known film and stage actor Masayuki Mori.
Teiichi Okano (Japanese: 岡野貞一 Okano Teiichi; 16 February 1878, Tottori, Tottori, Japan – 29 December 1941) was a…
Teiichi Okano (Japanese: 岡野貞一 Okano Teiichi; 16 February 1878, Tottori, Tottori, Japan – 29 December 1941) was a Japanese composer.
Katayama Hiroko (片山広子 born 10 February 1878 in Tokyo, died 19 March 1957) was a Japanese poet and translator. She did…
Katayama Hiroko (片山広子 born 10 February 1878 in Tokyo, died 19 March 1957) was a Japanese poet and translator. She did many translations of Irish writers under the pseudonym Matsumura Mineko. Her husband was a noted bureaucrat. She reportedly took her pseudonym from a name she saw on a child's umbrella. She maintained a friendship with Ryūnosuke Akutagawa and he reportedly said of her "Finally I have met a woman who can be called my equal in the arena of words." She also acted as a mentor to Muraoka Hanako who is known in Japan for translating Anne of Green Gables.
Sakuzō Yoshino (吉野 作造, Yoshino Sakuzō; January 29, 1878 – March 18, 1933) was a Japanese academic, historian, author…
Sakuzō Yoshino (吉野 作造, Yoshino Sakuzō; January 29, 1878 – March 18, 1933) was a Japanese academic, historian, author and professor of political science. Yoshino was active as a political thinker in the Taishō period. He is best known for his formulation of the theory of "Minponshugi," or politics of the people. He influenced liberal democratic thought in Japan.
Sadaji Itō (17 January 1878 – 1943) was a Japanese politician who served as Mayor of the City of Hiroshima from May…
Sadaji Itō (17 January 1878 – 1943) was a Japanese politician who served as Mayor of the City of Hiroshima from May 1930 to May 1934.
Otake Chikuha (尾竹 竹坡; January 11, 1878 – June 2, 1936) was a Japanese painter. He was first known for his nihonga and…
Otake Chikuha (尾竹 竹坡; January 11, 1878 – June 2, 1936) was a Japanese painter. He was first known for his nihonga and ukiyo-e paintings. Although he was a praised figure at the height of his career, he later lost his reputation. He moved onto experimenting with more ambitious styles motivated by his anti-mainstream sentiments.
Tokugoro Ito (1878-January 22, 1939) was a Japanese judoka and professional wrestler. Ito was one of the founding…
Tokugoro Ito (1878-January 22, 1939) was a Japanese judoka and professional wrestler. Ito was one of the founding fathers of mixed martial arts in Brazil.
Iwahiko Tsumanuma, a.k.a. Thomas S. Rockrise, A.I.A., (1878 – February 5, 1936) was one of the earliest Japanese…
Iwahiko Tsumanuma, a.k.a. Thomas S. Rockrise, A.I.A., (1878 – February 5, 1936) was one of the earliest Japanese immigrants to receive an architecture degree at an American university and was among the first Japanese architects to be licensed in the State of New York in 1916. His practice was based in New York City and included work in the United States as well as Asia.