Yasuo Maekawa (前川 康男, Maekawa Yasuo; 1921–2003) was a Japanese children's book author. He was born in Tokyo Prefecture…Yasuo Maekawa (前川 康男, Maekawa Yasuo; 1921–2003) was a Japanese children's book author. He was born in Tokyo Prefecture, and attended Waseda University.
Yasusuke Gomi (20 December 1921 – 1 April 1980), known by his pen name Kosuke Gomi (五味 康祐, Gomi Kōsuke), was a Japanese…Yasusuke Gomi (20 December 1921 – 1 April 1980), known by his pen name Kosuke Gomi (五味 康祐, Gomi Kōsuke), was a Japanese novelist active during the Shōwa period of Japan. He is primarily known for his popular fiction on historical themes.
Paul Hisao Yasuda (Japanese: パウロ 安田 久雄, Hepburn: Pauro Yasuda Hisao; December 20, 1921 – April 23, 2016) was a Japanese…Paul Hisao Yasuda (Japanese: パウロ 安田 久雄, Hepburn: Pauro Yasuda Hisao; December 20, 1921 – April 23, 2016) was a Japanese prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Yasuda was born in Kurume, southwestern Japan, and was ordained a priest on 21 May 1955. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Osaka on February 5, 1970 as well as titular bishop of Tucci and was consecrated bishop on 21 March 1970. Yasuda was appointed archbishop of the Archdiocese of Osaka on November 15, 1978, where he served until his retirement on May 10, 1997. He died in April 2016 at the age of 94.
Nobuo Matsunaga (松永 信夫, Matsunaga Nobuo; December 6, 1921 – September 25, 2007) was a Japanese footballer and manager.…Nobuo Matsunaga (松永 信夫, Matsunaga Nobuo; December 6, 1921 – September 25, 2007) was a Japanese footballer and manager. He played for the Japan national team. His brother Akira Matsunaga and Seki Matsunaga also played for Japan national team.
Masao Sasakibara (佐々木原 正夫, Sasakibara Masao; 1921–2005) was an ace fighter pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy during…Masao Sasakibara (佐々木原 正夫, Sasakibara Masao; 1921–2005) was an ace fighter pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Participating in many of the Pacific War battles and campaigns as a member of several units, Sasakibara was officially credited with destroying 12 enemy aircraft. He was seriously injured while supporting the Ke operation during the Guadalcanal Campaign, but survived after a lengthy stay in the hospital. He returned to Japan in June 1945 and survived the war.
Yoshirō Vladimir Irino (入野 義朗, Irino Yoshirō; 13 November 1921, in Vladivostok – 28 June 1980, in Tokyo) was a Japanese…Yoshirō Vladimir Irino (入野 義朗, Irino Yoshirō; 13 November 1921, in Vladivostok – 28 June 1980, in Tokyo) was a Japanese composer.
Junji Nishime (西銘 順治, Nishime Junji; 5 November 1921 – 10 November 2001) was a Japanese politician who served as the…Junji Nishime (西銘 順治, Nishime Junji; 5 November 1921 – 10 November 2001) was a Japanese politician who served as the 4th Governor of Okinawa from 1978 until 1990 and mayor of Naha, the capital of Okinawa. He studied and graduated at the University of Tokyo. His son is Kosaburo Nishime a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet.
Azumafuji Kin'ichi (Japanese: 東富士 欽壹; October 28, 1921 – July 31, 1973) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from…Azumafuji Kin'ichi (Japanese: 東富士 欽壹; October 28, 1921 – July 31, 1973) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Taitō, Tokyo. He was the sport's 40th yokozuna, and later a professional wrestler.
Shinji Kawasaki (川崎 真治, Kawasaki Shinji) (1921-2007) was a Japanese archaeologist. An expert in petroglyphs and ancient…Shinji Kawasaki (川崎 真治, Kawasaki Shinji) (1921-2007) was a Japanese archaeologist. An expert in petroglyphs and ancient Japanese languages and characters, he has authored a number of books on the origin of the Japanese people and proposed a number of theories. In 1976 he authored a book on the Imperial Family of the Japanese, and another three years later, The Wajin Hozuma Legend of the Silk Road (1979). His 1980 book explored the ancient links of the Japanese with the Jōmon people.
Kamikaze Shoichi (born Shoichi Akazawa; October 19, 1921 – May 15, 1990) was a sumo wrestler from Higashikagawa, Kagawa…Kamikaze Shoichi (born Shoichi Akazawa; October 19, 1921 – May 15, 1990) was a sumo wrestler from Higashikagawa, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1937 and reached the top division in May 1942. His highest rank was sekiwake. He won six gold stars against grand champion yokozuna in the course of his career. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Kataonami. He left the Sumo Association in September 1952.
Tadao Uesako (上迫 忠夫, Uesako Tadao; 14 October 1921 – 20 October 1986) was a Japanese gymnast who competed in the 1952…Tadao Uesako (上迫 忠夫, Uesako Tadao; 14 October 1921 – 20 October 1986) was a Japanese gymnast who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics.
Yumeji Tsukioka (月丘夢路, Tsukioka Yumeji; born Akiko Hinotsume, 14 October 1922 – 3 May 2017) was a Japanese film…Yumeji Tsukioka (月丘夢路, Tsukioka Yumeji; born Akiko Hinotsume, 14 October 1922 – 3 May 2017) was a Japanese film actress. She appeared in more than 150 films between 1940 and 1994, including works by Yasujirō Ozu, Keisuke Kinoshita, Kinuyo Tanaka and others. She was married to the director Umetsugu Inoue from 1957 until his death in 2010.
Masajuro Shiokawa (塩川 正十郎, Shiokawa Masajūrō; 13 October 1921 – 19 September 2015) was a Japanese economist and…Masajuro Shiokawa (塩川 正十郎, Shiokawa Masajūrō; 13 October 1921 – 19 September 2015) was a Japanese economist and politician.
Takao Umemoto was a Japanese psychologist whose specific interest was music psychology; he was also an academic, and…Takao Umemoto was a Japanese psychologist whose specific interest was music psychology; he was also an academic, and pianist.
Professor Nobuo Kanda (神田 信夫, Kanda Nobuo; October 2, 1921 – December 30, 2003) was a Japanese historian who…Professor Nobuo Kanda (神田 信夫, Kanda Nobuo; October 2, 1921 – December 30, 2003) was a Japanese historian who specialized in early Manchu history.
Nobuo Oshima (大島 信雄, Ōshima Nobuo; October 2, 1921 – January 8, 2005) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for…Nobuo Oshima (大島 信雄, Ōshima Nobuo; October 2, 1921 – January 8, 2005) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for Shochiku Robins and the Chunchi Dragons. His professional career record was 64 wins and 41 losses. In 1940, he pitched shutouts in all 4 games at the Senbatsu Baseball Tournament, helping Gifu Prefectural Commercial High School win. He attended Keio University.
Goro Takeda (竹田 五郎) (24 October 1921 – 12 February 2020) was a Japanese military officer and military commentator who…Goro Takeda (竹田 五郎) (24 October 1921 – 12 February 2020) was a Japanese military officer and military commentator who served in the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service during the Second World War reaching the rank of captain. In 1951 Takeda joined the newly formed National Police Reserve staying on when it was reorganized into the paramilitary National Safety Force in 1952 and again in 1954 when the NSF was absorbed into the new Japan Self-Defense Force, with Takeda joining the Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). Over the course of his career in the JASDF Takeda held various command and staff positions including Chief of the Air Staff and Chairman of the Joint Staff Council of the Japan Self-Defense Force until his retirement in 1981.
Hiromu Murakami (Japanese: 村上 弘, Murakami Hiromu; 24 September 1921 – 22 March 2007) was a Japanese politician who…Hiromu Murakami (Japanese: 村上 弘, Murakami Hiromu; 24 September 1921 – 22 March 2007) was a Japanese politician who served as the third chairman of the Japanese Communist Party from 1987 until 1989.
Naoshi Kanno (菅野 直; 23 September 1921 – 1 August 1945) was a Japanese fighter ace in World War II. He is credited with…Naoshi Kanno (菅野 直; 23 September 1921 – 1 August 1945) was a Japanese fighter ace in World War II. He is credited with 25 confirmed kills. Piloting his Shiden-Kai, which had yellow stripes painted on its fuselage, he invented the "anti-large bomber tactic" of flipping over and diving headfirst vertically into the enemy aircraft from an altitude of more than 1,000 meters ahead of it, attacking it from directly above. So, he was feared by the pilots of large fighter planes of the US military and was nicknamed the "Yellow Fighter."
Hiroshi Miyazawa (宮澤 弘, Miyazawa Hiroshi; 22 September 1921 – 26 May 2012) was a Japanese politician who served as the…Hiroshi Miyazawa (宮澤 弘, Miyazawa Hiroshi; 22 September 1921 – 26 May 2012) was a Japanese politician who served as the Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture from 1973 to 1981 and the Minister of Justice from 1995 to 1996.
Hideo Haga (芳賀 日出男 Haga Hideo, 10 September 1921 – 12 November 2022) was a Japanese photographer, known for his…Hideo Haga (芳賀 日出男 Haga Hideo, 10 September 1921 – 12 November 2022) was a Japanese photographer, known for his photography of traditional Japanese festivals and folk culture.
Yukio Seki (関 行男, Seki Yukio; August 29, 1921 – October 25, 1944) was a Japanese naval aviator of the Imperial Japanese…Yukio Seki (関 行男, Seki Yukio; August 29, 1921 – October 25, 1944) was a Japanese naval aviator of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. As a kamikaze pilot, Lieutenant Seki led one of the three fighter groups of the second official kamikaze attack in World War II (the first official attack was an unsuccessful attempt led by Yoshiyasu Kunō on October 21, 1944). Seki's final action took place on October 25, 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He led a unit of five bomb-armed Mitsubishi Zero fighters, crash-diving his plane deliberately into USS St. Lo's flight deck, being the first kamikazes to sink an enemy ship.
Yōko Yaguchi (矢口 陽子, Yaguchi Yōko; born Kiyo Katō, August 27, 1921 in British Hong Kong – February 1, 1985 in Fukuoka)…Yōko Yaguchi (矢口 陽子, Yaguchi Yōko; born Kiyo Katō, August 27, 1921 in British Hong Kong – February 1, 1985 in Fukuoka) was a Japanese actress, and the wife of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa for 39 years. She had two children with Kurosawa: a son named Hisao and a daughter named Kazuko.
Kisshomaru Ueshiba (植芝 吉祥丸, Ueshiba Kisshōmaru; 27 June 1921 – 4 January 1999) was a Japanese teacher of aikido. He was…Kisshomaru Ueshiba (植芝 吉祥丸, Ueshiba Kisshōmaru; 27 June 1921 – 4 January 1999) was a Japanese teacher of aikido. He was the son of Morihei Ueshiba. After his father's death in 1969, he became the 2nd Dōshu.
Shi Yongfen (Chinese: 史永芬; pinyin: Shǐ Yǒngfēn; 27 June 1921 – 27 August 1999), known professionally as Bai Guang…Shi Yongfen (Chinese: 史永芬; pinyin: Shǐ Yǒngfēn; 27 June 1921 – 27 August 1999), known professionally as Bai Guang (Chinese: 白光; pinyin: Bái Guāng; lit. 'White Light'; also credited as Pai Kwong, Bai Kwong and Bai Kwang), was a Chinese actress and singer. By the 1940s, she became one of the Seven Great Singing Stars.
Akira Mikazuki (三ヶ月 章, Mikazuki Akira; 20 June 1921 – 14 November 2010) was a Japanese politician who served as the…Akira Mikazuki (三ヶ月 章, Mikazuki Akira; 20 June 1921 – 14 November 2010) was a Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Justice and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo. He was a leading figure in civil procedure scholarship.
Yasuhiro Ishimoto (石元 泰博, Ishimoto Yasuhiro; June 14, 1921 – February 6, 2012) was a Japanese-American photographer.…Yasuhiro Ishimoto (石元 泰博, Ishimoto Yasuhiro; June 14, 1921 – February 6, 2012) was a Japanese-American photographer. His decades-long career explored expressions of modernist design in traditional architecture, the quiet anxieties of urban life in Tokyo and Chicago, and the camera's capacity to bring out the abstract in the everyday and seemingly concrete fixtures of the world around him. Born in the United States and raised in Japan, Ishimoto returned to the States as a young adult as the Second World War began to escalate, and was soon after sent to the Amache Internment Camp in Colorado after the signing of Executive Order 9066. After the war, he studied photography at the Bauhaus-inspired Institute of Design (ID) at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and established a robust photographic practice between the United States and Japan. As a transnational interlocutor between Japanese and American art and architecture circles, Ishimoto played a prominent role in bringing visions of Japanese architectural modernism to audiences abroad. His photographs of the Katsura Imperial Villa, taken in 1953-54 and published in 1960 as Katsura: Tradition and Creation in Japanese Architecture, were widely celebrated in architecture and design circles for evoking the formal, geometric purity of the villa’s structural details with a deep sensitivity towards the atmospheric qualities of the space. The book, which features accompanying essays by Kenzō Tange and Walter Gropius, was instrumental in stimulating the discourse surrounding modernism’s relationship to tradition in Japanese architecture. Ishimoto’s work was exhibited widely in the United States and Japan during his lifetime, and two of his photographs were featured in the monumental 1955 Museum of Modern Art exhibition The Family of Man. He maintained close ties to Chicago and published a series titled Chicago, Chicago in 1969. In tandem with his architectural photographs, Ishimoto was a prolific recorder of everyday life. His photographs of streetscapes and ordinary people captured the candor, anxiety, paradoxes, and joy of modern urban life through a sensitive and deliberate lens.
Kyohei Fujita (藤田 喬平, Fujita Kyōhei; 1921 – September 18, 2004) was a Japanese glass artist. He received training early…Kyohei Fujita (藤田 喬平, Fujita Kyōhei; 1921 – September 18, 2004) was a Japanese glass artist. He received training early in his career as a worker in the factory of Toshichi Iwata and his early work shows Iwata's influence in style and materials. Fujita later matured as a glass artist and developed his own, unique style. With Histoshi Iwata, son of Toshichi Iwata, and fifty other artists, Fujita established the Japan Glass Artcrafts Association in 1972. Kyohei Fujita is best known for his glass boxes with complicated surface decorations, and his work was included in the exhibit One of a Kind: The Studio Craft Movement at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, December 22, 2006 – September 3, 2007.
Michiko Inukai (犬養 道子, Inukai Michiko; 20 April 1921 – 24 July 2017) was a Japanese Roman Catholic author and…Michiko Inukai (犬養 道子, Inukai Michiko; 20 April 1921 – 24 July 2017) was a Japanese Roman Catholic author and philanthropist. She was the founder of the Michiko Inukai Foundation, which provides financial aid for refugees seeking education.
Takeo Matsubara (松原武生, Takeo Matsubara; April 3, 1921 - December 15, 2014) was a Japanese physicist. Matsubara proposed…Takeo Matsubara (松原武生, Takeo Matsubara; April 3, 1921 - December 15, 2014) was a Japanese physicist. Matsubara proposed a method of statistical mechanics related to Green's function (many-body theory), by applying quantum field theory techniques to statistical physics. This method, commonly known as Matsubara Green's function technique, introduces the notion of imaginary time, and the reciprocal variable to this imaginary time is known as discrete Matsubara frequency. Matsubara graduated from Osaka Imperial University, and worked as full professor in Hokkaido University, Kyoto University, and Okayama University of Science. He was the winner of the Nishina Memorial Prize in 1961, and took the directorship of the Physical Society of Japan. His work with Yukata Toyozawa on impurity bands in semiconductors has led to the Matsubara-Toyozawa model that describes the motion of an electron in a random lattice. His research interests were dielectric materials, superconductivity and superfluidity. He wrote various physics textbooks in Japanese.
Kan Ishii (Japanese: 石井 歓, Hepburn: Ishii Kan; 30 March 1921 in Tokyo, Japan – 24 November 2009 in Yokohama, Japan) was…Kan Ishii (Japanese: 石井 歓, Hepburn: Ishii Kan; 30 March 1921 in Tokyo, Japan – 24 November 2009 in Yokohama, Japan) was a Japanese composer. His father, Baku Ishii, was a prominent Japanese ballet dancer, and his brother Maki Ishii was also a composer. His Symphonia Ainu won a prize at the 1958 Art Festival, inspiring him to do further work inspired by nationalist primitivism. His musical style appeals directly to the emotions, and shows the influence of Carl Orff. In addition to orchestral and vocal music, he has written extensively for the stage, including 6 operas, 3 ballets and 9 film scores, including the 1962 science-fiction film Gorath. Ishii accepted a position as professor at Shōwa College of Music in 1986.
Yasuto Mushiake (28 March 1921 – 6 October 2020) was a Japanese telecommunications engineer. He was named a fellow of…Yasuto Mushiake (28 March 1921 – 6 October 2020) was a Japanese telecommunications engineer. He was named a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, "for contributions to linear antennas and self-complementary antennas". Mushiake died on 6 October 2020, at the age of 99.
Akira Murata (村田 昭 Murata Akira; March 25, 1921 – February 3, 2006) was a Japanese businessman and the founder of…Akira Murata (村田 昭 Murata Akira; March 25, 1921 – February 3, 2006) was a Japanese businessman and the founder of Murata Manufacturing. He was the President/Statutory Representative Director from 1950 to 1991. From 1995 onward, he held the position of Honorary Chairman.
Iwao Akiyama (秋山 巌, Akiyama Iwao; March 21, 1921 – September 15, 2014) was a Japanese woodblock printmaker and artist…Iwao Akiyama (秋山 巌, Akiyama Iwao; March 21, 1921 – September 15, 2014) was a Japanese woodblock printmaker and artist known for distinctive prints of owls, cats, and other animals in the style of naive or folk art. Akiyama was born in 1921 in Takeda, Ōita Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu. He studied drawing under the direction of a Buddhist monk during his childhood, then at the Taiheiyo Bijutsu Gakkō, graduating 1956. He originally pursued suiboku-ga, a type of ink painting. However, Akiyama changed his focus to woodblock printing after meeting Shikō Munakata, under whom he studied from 1959 until 1965. Akiyama's prints are primarily made in black ink, and early ones contained a single red dot within the image, although later works sometimes feature more colors. In his prints, Akiyama limited himself to few subjects: animals, nude female figures, Buddhist deities and Buddhist monks. Akiyama's work often incorporated verses of haiku and other text by Japanese poets like Ryōkan Taigu, Kobayashi Issa, and Zen monk Santōka Taneda, as well as from his own original poetry. Iwao Akiyama died in Matsudo, Chiba, on September 15, 2014, at the age of 93.
Heitaro Nakajima (中島 平太郎, Nakajima Heitarō; 19 March 1921 – 9 December 2017) was a Japanese digital audio pioneer, who…Heitaro Nakajima (中島 平太郎, Nakajima Heitarō; 19 March 1921 – 9 December 2017) was a Japanese digital audio pioneer, who led Sony's Compact Disc project in the 1970s. Born in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, Nakajima graduated from the Tokyo Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1944, and earned a Doctor of Engineering degree from Kyushu University in 1958. In 1971, Nakajima joined Sony as a managing director, hired by Sony's co-founder and president at large, Masaru Ibuka. He became president of Aiwa in 1984. In 1989, he received the first IEEE Masaru Ibuka Consumer Electronics Award and in 1993 he was awarded the Purple Ribbon Medal for CD development.
Xie Xide (simplified Chinese: 谢希德; traditional Chinese: 謝希德; pinyin: Xiè Xīdé; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chiā Hi-tek; 19 March 1921 –…Xie Xide (simplified Chinese: 谢希德; traditional Chinese: 謝希德; pinyin: Xiè Xīdé; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chiā Hi-tek; 19 March 1921 – 4 March 2000), also known as Hsi-teh Hsieh and as Hilda Hsieh, was a Chinese physicist. She was president of Fudan University from 1983 to 1989, and remained as advisor to the university from 1989 until her death. She helped to set up the university's Centre for American Studies and founded its Modern Physics Institute in 1977. Xie also served as a member in the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party from 1982 to 1992.
Motofumi Makieda (Japanese: 槙枝元文, 4 March 1921 – 4 December 2010) was a Japanese trade union leader. Makieda qualified…Motofumi Makieda (Japanese: 槙枝元文, 4 March 1921 – 4 December 2010) was a Japanese trade union leader. Makieda qualified as a teacher during World War II, then taught at a junior high school. After the war, he was a founding member of the Japan Teachers' Union (JTU), and became its general secretary in 1962, and then president in 1971, in which role he promoted education for peace. In 1974, he led the union in a national strike. As it was illegal for teachers to strike, he was imprisoned, being released following an international campaign. From 1976, he was additionally president of the General Council of Trade Unions of Japan (Sohyo). In 1978, he was elected as president of the World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession, serving until 1982, during which time he built links between the federation and the rival International Federation of Free Teachers' Unions. Makieda retired in 1983, and thereafter devoted his time to the Japan-China Friendship Society. He also supported the merger of Sohyo into RENGO, a new trade union federation.
Kenji Misumi (三隅 研次, Misumi Kenji) (2 March 1921 – 24 September 1975) was a Japanese film director. He created film…Kenji Misumi (三隅 研次, Misumi Kenji) (2 March 1921 – 24 September 1975) was a Japanese film director. He created film series such as Lone Wolf and Cub and the initial film in the long-running Zatoichi series, and also directed Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice, starring Shintaro Katsu. He died at age 54. In 2012, his 1973 film Sakura no Daimon was voted for by Makoto Shinozaki at the BFI The Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time.
Hirofumi Daimatsu (大松 博文, Daimatsu Hirofumi; 12 February 1921 – 24 November 1978) was a Japanese volleyball coach and a…Hirofumi Daimatsu (大松 博文, Daimatsu Hirofumi; 12 February 1921 – 24 November 1978) was a Japanese volleyball coach and a Japanese politician. He led Oriental Witches, nickname of "Nichibo Kaizuka", a factory volleyball team of Dai Nippon Spinning Co., Ltd. (later, Nichibo, thereafter, Unitika) in Kaizuka, Osaka given by the reports of European media when they achieved 24 consecutive victories against other national teams on the expedition to Europe, to world champion.
Yozo Matsushima (松島 与三, Matsushima Yozō; February 11, 1921 – April 9, 1983) was a Japanese mathematician, who made…Yozo Matsushima (松島 与三, Matsushima Yozō; February 11, 1921 – April 9, 1983) was a Japanese mathematician, who made important contributions to Differential Geometry and the theory of Lie Groups.
Junzō Shōno (庄野 潤三, Shōno Junzō; 9 February 1921 – 21 September 2009) was a Japanese novelist. A native of Osaka, he…Junzō Shōno (庄野 潤三, Shōno Junzō; 9 February 1921 – 21 September 2009) was a Japanese novelist. A native of Osaka, he began writing novels after World War II. He won the 1954 Akutagawa Prize for his book Purusaido Shokei (Poolside Scene). Shōno's other award-winning books include Seibutsu (Still Life), for which he won the Shinchosha literary prize, Yube no Kumo (Evening Clouds), which was awarded the 1965 Yomiuri Prize, and Eawase (Picture Cards) which took the Noma literary prize.
Akio Morita (盛田 昭夫, Morita Akio; January 26, 1921 – October 3, 1999) was a Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony…Akio Morita (盛田 昭夫, Morita Akio; January 26, 1921 – October 3, 1999) was a Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony along with Masaru Ibuka.
Masamine Sumitani (隅谷正峯; born Sumitani Yoichiro; 14 January 1921 – 12 December 1998) was a Japanese swordsmith.…Masamine Sumitani (隅谷正峯; born Sumitani Yoichiro; 14 January 1921 – 12 December 1998) was a Japanese swordsmith. Sumitani's family ran a soy-sauce manufacturing business, but rather than entering the family trade, Masamine opted to study at Ritsumeikan University, with a view to becoming a swordsmith, graduating in 1941 with a degree in mechanical engineering. After his graduation, Sumitani remained at Kyoto, studying (alongside Masayuki Nagare) under Sakurai Masayuki. When the University's sword studio was destroyed in a fire in 1942, Sumitani moved to Onomichi to continue his education at the Foundation of National Japanese Sword Studies and the Kokoku Japanese Sword Temper Workshop there. Sumitani settled in Mattō, Ishikawa. He worked in the Bizen tradition, and was noted for his choji midare or "clove patterns" along the hamon of his blades. As well as swords, Sumitani also specialised in the forging of tosu knives and was a practitioner of bachiru. In 1975 he co-founded the Zen Nihon Toshokai ("Japanese Swordsmith's Association"), and served as the group's Vice-Secretary.
Yoichiro Nambu (南部 陽一郎, Nanbu Yōichirō; 18 January 1921 – 5 July 2015) was a Japanese-American physicist and professor…Yoichiro Nambu (南部 陽一郎, Nanbu Yōichirō; 18 January 1921 – 5 July 2015) was a Japanese-American physicist and professor at the University of Chicago. Known for his groundbreaking contributions to theoretical physics, Nambu was the originator of the theory of spontaneous symmetry breaking, a concept that revolutionized particle physics. He was also a pioneer of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), one of the founding figures of string theory, and the proposer of Nambu mechanics. In addition, he co-created the Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model, which explained the dynamical origin of mass in nucleons. He was awarded half of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2008 for the discovery in 1960 of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics, related at first to the strong interaction's chiral symmetry and later to the electroweak interaction and Higgs mechanism. The other half was split equally between Makoto Kobayashi and Toshihide Maskawa "for the discovery of the origin of the broken symmetry which predicts the existence of at least three families of quarks in nature".
Shunpei Ueyama (上山 春平, Ueyama Shunpei; January 16, 1921 in Wakayama – August 2012, in Minoyama) was a Japanese…Shunpei Ueyama (上山 春平, Ueyama Shunpei; January 16, 1921 in Wakayama – August 2012, in Minoyama) was a Japanese philosopher associated with the postwar Kyoto School. He graduated in philosophy from Kyoto University in 1943, and trained in a kamikaze human torpedo (gyorai:魚雷) squad. His main professional interest in philosophy were in the fields of logic, and American pragmatism, especially with its founding fathers Charles Sanders Peirce, William James and John Dewey. He was emeritus professor at Kyoto University.
Takasi Yamazaki (Japanese: 山崎敬) (6 January 1921–2 February 2007) was a Japanese botanist and taxonomist. He was born in…Takasi Yamazaki (Japanese: 山崎敬) (6 January 1921–2 February 2007) was a Japanese botanist and taxonomist. He was born in Odawara and grew up in Yokohama. After graduating from the former Niigata High School, he graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in 1944 and studied Plant taxonomy of since his research in the laboratory of Shoji Honda. Beginning in 1954, he taught at the University of Tokyo, and in 1972, he became been a professor at the Botanical Garden attached to the University of Tokyo. In the 1960s, he participated in a field survey in Bhutan and an academic survey of the Ogasawara Islands. He studied the taxa Scrophulariaceae and Ericaceae. From 1987 to 1988, he was the chairman of the Japanese Society of Plant Taxonomy. The standard author abbreviation T.Yamaz. is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.
Shinya Inoué (井上 信也, Inoue Shin'ya; January 5, 1921 – September 30, 2019) was a Japanese American biophysicist and cell…Shinya Inoué (井上 信也, Inoue Shin'ya; January 5, 1921 – September 30, 2019) was a Japanese American biophysicist and cell biologist, a member of the National Academy of Sciences. His research field was visualizing dynamic processes within living cells using light microscopy.
Natsuko Kahara (賀原夏子, Kahara Natsuko; 3 January 1921 – 20 February 1991) was a Japanese stage and film actress. She was…Natsuko Kahara (賀原夏子, Kahara Natsuko; 3 January 1921 – 20 February 1991) was a Japanese stage and film actress. She was a member of the Bungakuza theatre company and regularly appeared in the films of director Mikio Naruse. During her 50 years spanning career, she also worked for directors such as Yasujirō Ozu, Akira Kurosawa, Keisuke Kinoshita and Tadashi Imai.