Hiroyuki Agawa (阿川 弘之, Agawa Hiroyuki; December 24, 1920 – August 3, 2015) was a Japanese author. He was known for his…Hiroyuki Agawa (阿川 弘之, Agawa Hiroyuki; December 24, 1920 – August 3, 2015) was a Japanese author. He was known for his fiction centered on World War II, as well as his biographies and essays.
Makoto Kumada (熊田 誠, Kumada Makoto; 17 January 1920 – 28 June 2007) was a Japanese chemist and was a Professor of…Makoto Kumada (熊田 誠, Kumada Makoto; 17 January 1920 – 28 June 2007) was a Japanese chemist and was a Professor of Chemistry first at Osaka City University until his retirement in 1983 at Kyoto University in Japan. In 1972, Kumada's group reported nickel-catalyzed cross coupling reactions nearly concurrently with the Corriu group working in France. The Kumada coupling now bears his name. In an interview after the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was announced, Nobel Committee member Jan Bekvall (professor at Stockholm University) said: "If Professor Kumada been alive, he could have won this year's Nobel Prize for his work in developing cross-coupling."
Tal-su Kim (金達寿、キム・タルス/キムダルス、김달수, Kimu Darusu/Tarusu) was a Korea-born, Japan-raised writer. He is considered the…Tal-su Kim (金達寿、キム・タルス/キムダルス、김달수, Kimu Darusu/Tarusu) was a Korea-born, Japan-raised writer. He is considered the "founding father" of Resident Korean literature. He was born in Masanhoewon-gu. Although he spent most of his life in Japan, many of his literary works are set in Korea and explore the injustices of colonial rule and its painful aftermath.
Osamu Hayaishi MJA (早石 修, Hayaishi Osamu; January 8, 1920 – December 17, 2015), was a Japanese biochemist…Osamu Hayaishi MJA (早石 修, Hayaishi Osamu; January 8, 1920 – December 17, 2015), was a Japanese biochemist, physiologist, and military physician. He discovered Oxygenases at the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, National Institutes of Health in 1955. Citing his "outstanding and pioneering contributions to biomedical sciences and enzymology," the Wolf Foundation awarded Hayaishi the 1986 Wolf Prize in Medicine "for his discovery of the oxygenase enzymes and elucidation of their structure and biological importance". Hayaishi was President of International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from 1973 to 1976.
Shinnen Tagaya (多賀谷 真稔, Tagaya Shinnen; 20 January 1920 – 9 April 1995) was a Japanese politician. He graduated from…Shinnen Tagaya (多賀谷 真稔, Tagaya Shinnen; 20 January 1920 – 9 April 1995) was a Japanese politician. He graduated from Waseda University in 1943 and became general secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Japan Socialist Party in December 1977.
Takeji Iwamiya (岩宮 武二, Iwamiya Takeji; 1920–1989) was a Japanese photographer particularly known for his depiction of…Takeji Iwamiya (岩宮 武二, Iwamiya Takeji; 1920–1989) was a Japanese photographer particularly known for his depiction of architecture, gardens, and Japanese crafts.
This is a list of Japan international footballers – Japanese association football players who have played for the Japan…This is a list of Japan international footballers – Japanese association football players who have played for the Japan national football team as recorded by the Japan Football Association.
Yukio Inokuma (born 2 January 1920, date of death unknown) was a Japanese sports shooter. He competed at the 1952…Yukio Inokuma (born 2 January 1920, date of death unknown) was a Japanese sports shooter. He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics, 1956 Summer Olympics and 1960 Summer Olympics. Inokuma is deceased.
Masato Ide ( 井 手 雅人, い で ま さ と, Ide Masato?), born on January 1, 1920, in Saga, Japan and died on July 17, 1989, was a…Masato Ide ( 井 手 雅人, い で ま さ と, Ide Masato?), born on January 1, 1920, in Saga, Japan and died on July 17, 1989, was a Japanese screenwriter and novelist.
Park Choong-hoon (Korean: 박충훈; 19 January 1919 – 16 March 2001) was a South Korean politician who served as the acting…Park Choong-hoon (Korean: 박충훈; 19 January 1919 – 16 March 2001) was a South Korean politician who served as the acting prime minister and acting president of South Korea in 1980.
Terukuni Manzō (Japanese: 照國 万藏; January 10, 1919 – March 20, 1977) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from…Terukuni Manzō (Japanese: 照國 万藏; January 10, 1919 – March 20, 1977) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ogachi, Akita. He was the sport's 38th yokozuna. He was promoted to yokozuna without any top division tournament titles to his name, although he later attained two.
Ryō Kurusu (来栖 良, Kurusu Ryō; January 8, 1919 – February 17, 1945) was an officer in the Imperial Japanese Army. He is…Ryō Kurusu (来栖 良, Kurusu Ryō; January 8, 1919 – February 17, 1945) was an officer in the Imperial Japanese Army. He is noted for being the only Eurasian (American-Japanese Hāfu) person to be commemorated in Japan's Yasukuni Shrine.
Jirō Noguchi (野口二郎, Noguchi Jirō) (January 6, 1920 – May 21, 2007) was a Japanese baseball pitcher and…Jirō Noguchi (野口二郎, Noguchi Jirō) (January 6, 1920 – May 21, 2007) was a Japanese baseball pitcher and outfielder/infielder who played 13 seasons in the Japanese Baseball League and then Nippon Professional Baseball, from 1939 to 1952. A two-way player who really excelled at pitching, Noguchi was a six-time 20-game winner, a three-time 30-game winner, and once won 40 games in a season. His 1.96 career earned run average is second all-time. As a batter, Noguchi had a 31-game hitting streak, a Japanese professional baseball record which stood for 25 years. He was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Noguchi was one of four brothers who played professional baseball in Japan.
Yoshio Tabata (田端義夫, Tabata Yoshio; January 1, 1919 – April 25, 2013) was a Japanese ryūkōka and enka singer…Yoshio Tabata (田端義夫, Tabata Yoshio; January 1, 1919 – April 25, 2013) was a Japanese ryūkōka and enka singer, songwriter, and electric guitarist. His debut song "Shima no Funauta" (島の舟唄, literally "Island Ship Song") was released in 1939. Along with enka-shi Haruo Oka's 1939 debut, his debut had a big impact on Japanese popular music because Japanese popular ryūkōka music of that time was mainly sung by classical music singers such as Ichiro Fujiyama and Noriko Awaya. He was born in Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture, Japan.
Sergeant Mutsuhiro Watanabe (渡邊 睦裕, Watanabe Mutsuhiro; 18 January 1918 – 1 April 2003), nicknamed "The Bird" by his…Sergeant Mutsuhiro Watanabe (渡邊 睦裕, Watanabe Mutsuhiro; 18 January 1918 – 1 April 2003), nicknamed "The Bird" by his prisoners, was a Japanese soldier who served in several prisoner-of-war camps during World War II. Infamous for his mistreatment of Allied prisoners of war, after the surrender of Japan in 1945 American occupational authorities classified Watanabe as a war criminal for his mistreatment and torture of POWs, but he managed to elude arrest and was never tried in court.
Kichirō Tazawa (田沢 吉郎, Tazawa Kichirō; 1918 – 12 December 2001) was a Japanese politician. He held different cabinet…Kichirō Tazawa (田沢 吉郎, Tazawa Kichirō; 1918 – 12 December 2001) was a Japanese politician. He held different cabinet posts and served as defense minister from 1988 to 1989.
Mitsuko Miura (三浦光子, Miura Mitsuko; 17 January 1917 – 14 June 1969) was a Japanese actress active from 1938 to 1964.…Mitsuko Miura (三浦光子, Miura Mitsuko; 17 January 1917 – 14 June 1969) was a Japanese actress active from 1938 to 1964. She appeared in over 150 films under the direction of filmmakers like Mikio Naruse, Kenji Mizoguchi and Hiroshi Shimizu.
Koo Chen-fu (Chinese: 辜振甫; pinyin: Gū Zhènfǔ; Wade–Giles: Ku Chen-fu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ko͘ Chín-hú, 6 January 1917 – 3…Koo Chen-fu (Chinese: 辜振甫; pinyin: Gū Zhènfǔ; Wade–Giles: Ku Chen-fu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ko͘ Chín-hú, 6 January 1917 – 3 January 2005), also known as C.F. Koo, was a Taiwanese businessman, diplomat, and film producer. He led the Koos Group of companies from 1940 until his death. As a chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), Koo arranged the first direct talks between Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China since 1949 and served as Taiwan's negotiator in both the 1993 and 1998 Wang-Koo summit. He was also a film producer and produced a number of Taiwanese films between 1973 and 1982, such as Love, Love, Love (1974), Eight Hundred Heroes (1975), Heroes of the Eastern Skies (1977), The Coldest Winter in Peking (1981), and Attack Force Z (1982).
Masayuki Fujio (藤尾 正行 Fujio Masayuki, January 1, 1917 – October 22, 2006) was the Japanese Minister of Education, under…Masayuki Fujio (藤尾 正行 Fujio Masayuki, January 1, 1917 – October 22, 2006) was the Japanese Minister of Education, under the government of Yasuhiro Nakasone until 1986. He was a member of the right-wing Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, where he was described as being a "loyal vassal" to Takeo Fukuda, the founder of the faction. In 1986, Fujio was made Minister of Education by Prime Minister Nakasone, but he was soon fired by Nakasone after an interview with Bungei Shunju in which he made several controversial remarks about Japan's role in the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. In the interview, Fujio questioned the criminality of the Nanjing Massacre, claiming "It is not murder under international law to kill in war". Further, he compared the Nanjing Massacre with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and implied that if Japan's war time actions were wrong then so were America's. Fujio died of pneumonia on October 22, 2006 at the age of 89.
Dairoku Harada (原田 大六, Harada Dairoku; January 1, 1917 – May 27, 1985) was a Japanese archaeologist who studied in the…Dairoku Harada (原田 大六, Harada Dairoku; January 1, 1917 – May 27, 1985) was a Japanese archaeologist who studied in the Fukuoka area.
Tsuneo Shibahara (柴原 恒雄, Shibahara Tsuneo; born 1 January 1917, date of death unknown) was a Japanese diver who…Tsuneo Shibahara (柴原 恒雄, Shibahara Tsuneo; born 1 January 1917, date of death unknown) was a Japanese diver who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. In 1936 he finished fourth in the 3 metre springboard event and sixth in the 10 metre platform competition. Shibahara is deceased.
Shuntaro Hida (肥田舜太郎, Hida Shuntaro; January 1, 1917 – March 20, 2017) was a Japanese physician who was an eyewitness…Shuntaro Hida (肥田舜太郎, Hida Shuntaro; January 1, 1917 – March 20, 2017) was a Japanese physician who was an eyewitness when the Little Boy atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima by the Enola Gay on 6 August 1945. He treated survivors as a medical doctor and wrote about the effects of radiation on the human body.
Haruo Oka (岡晴夫, Oka Haruo; January 12, 1916 – May 19, 1970), real name Tatsuo Sasaki (佐々木 辰夫, Sasaki Tatsuo), was a…Haruo Oka (岡晴夫, Oka Haruo; January 12, 1916 – May 19, 1970), real name Tatsuo Sasaki (佐々木 辰夫, Sasaki Tatsuo), was a Japanese ryūkōka singer. He studied music as an enka-shi or a street musician. At that time, he was encouraged by Taro Shoji in Ginza. He signed with King Records in 1938. He debuted with song "Kokkyō no Haru" (国境の春, lit. "Spring at the Border") in 1939. He married Kiyoko Okuda in 1940. In 1944, during the Pacific War, he was dispatched to Ambon Island, but soon returned due to sickness. After the war, his popularity grew, and he starred in Akogare no Hawaii kōro with Hibari Misora. However, he never performed at the Kohaku Uta Gassen partly because he attached importance to live performances.
Masaharu Taguchi (田口 正治, Taguchi Masaharu; January 9, 1916 – June 29, 1982) was a Japanese freestyle swimmer. At the…Masaharu Taguchi (田口 正治, Taguchi Masaharu; January 9, 1916 – June 29, 1982) was a Japanese freestyle swimmer. At the 1936 Olympics, he won a gold medal in the 4 × 200 m relay, setting a new world record. In the individual 100 m race, he finished almost simultaneously with Masanori Yusa and Shigeo Arai and was placed fourth, although photographs suggest he was second. Taguchi graduated from Rikkyo University, later worked at a Daimaru department store and coached swimming at a local Daimaru swimming club. He was recruited 1961 to prepare the national swimming team for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Tōichi Katō (加藤 東一, Katō Tōichi; 6 January 1916 – 3 December 1996) was a Japanese painter in the Nihonga style and…Tōichi Katō (加藤 東一, Katō Tōichi; 6 January 1916 – 3 December 1996) was a Japanese painter in the Nihonga style and board chairman of the Nitten, a significant Japanese art conference. He and his older brother, Eizō Katō, have a museum dedicated to their works in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture.
Fumiteru Nakano (中野文照, Nakanō Fumiteru; Japanese pronunciation: [nakano ɸɯmiteɾɯ]; 13 January 1915 – 30 December 1989)…Fumiteru Nakano (中野文照, Nakanō Fumiteru; Japanese pronunciation: [nakano ɸɯmiteɾɯ]; 13 January 1915 – 30 December 1989) was a male tennis player from Japan who was active from the 1930s until the 1950s.
Shinji Tatsuta (23 December 1914 – 1 January 1991) was a Japanese ski jumper. He competed in the individual event at…Shinji Tatsuta (23 December 1914 – 1 January 1991) was a Japanese ski jumper. He competed in the individual event at the 1936 Winter Olympics.
Shinzo Yamada (山田 伸三, Yamada Shinzō; 17 January 1914 – 20 March 2000) was a Japanese cross-country skier. He competed…Shinzo Yamada (山田 伸三, Yamada Shinzō; 17 January 1914 – 20 March 2000) was a Japanese cross-country skier. He competed in the men's 18 kilometre event at the 1936 Winter Olympics.
Taizo Kawamoto (川本 泰三, Kawamoto Taizō; January 17, 1914 – September 20, 1985) was a Japanese football player and…Taizo Kawamoto (川本 泰三, Kawamoto Taizō; January 17, 1914 – September 20, 1985) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for and later managed the Japan national team.
Kiyoshige Koyama (小山 清茂, Koyama Kiyoshige; January 15, 1914 – June 6, 2009), was a Japanese composer for orchestras…Kiyoshige Koyama (小山 清茂, Koyama Kiyoshige; January 15, 1914 – June 6, 2009), was a Japanese composer for orchestras, vocal, and traditional Japanese instrumentation. He was born in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. Although nationalistic he did not compose until his thirties, which was after the period of Imperial expansionism.
Yasuhira Kiyohara (清原 康平, married name Yasuhira Yukawa; January 14, 1914 – April 7, 2001) was a second lieutenant in…Yasuhira Kiyohara (清原 康平, married name Yasuhira Yukawa; January 14, 1914 – April 7, 2001) was a second lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Army who was sentenced to life imprisonment for directing a mob in the February 26 Incident of 1936. He was assigned to the 3rd Company, 3rd Infantry Regiment. He was granted amnesty in December 1941. After amnesty, he became the president of an airplane company. After the World War II, he was engaged in various enterprises related to Korea since he was acquainted with Korean President Park Chung-hee.
Mieko Kamiya (神谷 美恵子, Kamiya Mieko; January 12, 1914 – October 22, 1979) was a Japanese psychiatrist who treated…Mieko Kamiya (神谷 美恵子, Kamiya Mieko; January 12, 1914 – October 22, 1979) was a Japanese psychiatrist who treated leprosy patients at Nagashima Aiseien Sanatorium. She was known for translating books on philosophy. She worked as a medical doctor in the Department of Psychiatry at Tokyo University following World War II. She was said to have greatly helped the Ministry of Education and the General Headquarters, where the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers stayed, in her role as an English-speaking secretary, and served as an adviser to Empress Michiko. She wrote many books as a highly educated, multi-lingual person; one of her books, titled On the Meaning of Life (ikigai ni tsuite in Japanese), based on her experiences with leprosy patients, attracted many readers.
Hatsuho Matsuzawa (松澤 初穂, Matsuzawa Hatsuho; 8 October 1914 – 1 January 2011) was a Japanese swimmer. She competed in…Hatsuho Matsuzawa (松澤 初穂, Matsuzawa Hatsuho; 8 October 1914 – 1 January 2011) was a Japanese swimmer. She competed in the 100 m freestyle event at the 1932 Olympics, but was eliminated in the preliminaries. On 29 August 1933 Matsuzawa set a national record in the 50 m freestyle at 31.06 seconds that stood until 21 August 1954. In 1934 she became a high school teacher, and in 1936 a national swimming coach at the Berlin Olympics. She married in 1937 and later had five children, including Sadahiko Sugaya (菅谷定彦), who became president and CEO of TV Tokyo. She returned to swimming in 1984, and between 1986 and 2000 competed at national and world masters championships.
Yoshiro Asakuma (朝隈 善郎, Asakuma Yoshirō; 7 January 1914 – 22 December 2008) was a Japanese athlete. He competed in the…Yoshiro Asakuma (朝隈 善郎, Asakuma Yoshirō; 7 January 1914 – 22 December 2008) was a Japanese athlete. He competed in the men's high jump at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Kim Jeong-yeon(7 January 1914 – 16 July 1992), also known as 'Seien Kin', was a Korean speed skater. He competed in…Kim Jeong-yeon(7 January 1914 – 16 July 1992), also known as 'Seien Kin', was a Korean speed skater. He competed in three events at the 1936 Winter Olympics.
Hayao Miyazaki (宮崎 駿 or 宮﨑 駿, Miyazaki Hayao; [mijaꜜzaki hajao]; born January 5, 1941) is a Japanese animator…Hayao Miyazaki (宮崎 駿 or 宮﨑 駿, Miyazaki Hayao; [mijaꜜzaki hajao]; born January 5, 1941) is a Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist. He co-founded Studio Ghibli and serves as its honorary chairman. Throughout his career, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Japanese animated feature films, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most accomplished filmmakers in the history of animation. Born in Tokyo City, Miyazaki expressed interest in manga and animation from an early age. He joined Toei Animation in 1963, working as an inbetween artist and key animator on films like Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon (1965), The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968), and Animal Treasure Island (1971), before moving to A-Pro in 1971, where he co-directed Lupin the Third Part I (1971–1972) with Isao Takahata. After moving to Zuiyō Eizō (later Nippon Animation) in 1973, Miyazaki worked as an animator on World Masterpiece Theater and directed the television series Future Boy Conan (1978). He joined Tokyo Movie Shinsha in 1979 to direct his first feature film, The Castle of Cagliostro (1979), and the television series Sherlock Hound (1984–1985). He wrote and illustrated the manga Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1982–1994) and directed the 1984 film adaptation produced by Topcraft. Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli in 1985, writing and directing films such as Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), and Porco Rosso (1992), which were met with critical and commercial success in Japan. Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke (1997) was the first animated film to win the Japan Academy Film Prize for Picture of the Year and briefly became the highest-grossing film in Japan; its Western distribution increased Ghibli's worldwide popularity and influence. Spirited Away (2001) became Japan's highest-grossing film and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature; it is frequently ranked among the greatest films of the 21st century. Miyazaki's later films—Howl's Moving Castle (2004), Ponyo (2008), and The Wind Rises (2013)—also enjoyed critical and commercial success. He retired from feature films in 2013 but later returned to make The Boy and the Heron (2023), which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Miyazaki's works are frequently subject to scholarly analysis and have been characterized by the recurrence of themes such as humanity's relationship with nature and technology, the importance of art and craftsmanship, and the difficulty of maintaining a pacifist ethic in a violent world. His protagonists are often strong girls or young women, and several of his films present morally ambiguous antagonists with redeeming qualities. Miyazaki's works have been highly praised and awarded; he was named a Person of Cultural Merit for outstanding cultural contributions in 2012, received the Academy Honorary Award for his impact on animation and cinema in 2014, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2024. Miyazaki has frequently been cited as an inspiration for numerous animators, directors, and writers.
Takeo Hatanaka (畑中 武夫, Hatanaka Takeo; 1 January 1914 – 10 November 1963) was a Japanese radio astronomer. He founded…Takeo Hatanaka (畑中 武夫, Hatanaka Takeo; 1 January 1914 – 10 November 1963) was a Japanese radio astronomer. He founded the Nobeyama Radio Observatory. The crater Hatanaka on the Moon is named after him.
Takashi Yokoyama (横山 隆志, Yokoyama Takashi; 24 December 1913 – 1945) was a Japanese swimmer. He competed at the 1932…Takashi Yokoyama (横山 隆志, Yokoyama Takashi; 24 December 1913 – 1945) was a Japanese swimmer. He competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics, where he won a gold medal in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay event. He died in Kōchi, Japan.
Motoo Tatsuhara (立原 元夫, Tatsuhara Motoo; January 14, 1913 – ?) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Motoo Tatsuhara (立原 元夫, Tatsuhara Motoo; January 14, 1913 – ?) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Lieutenant Chitoshi Isozaki (磯崎 千利, Isozaki Chitoshi; 12 January 1913–20 June 1993) was an officer and ace fighter…Lieutenant Chitoshi Isozaki (磯崎 千利, Isozaki Chitoshi; 12 January 1913–20 June 1993) was an officer and ace fighter pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific theater of World War II. In aerial combat over China, the Pacific, and Japan, he was officially credited with destroying twelve enemy aircraft. Isozaki survived World War II.
Hidemitsu Tanaka (田中 英光, Tanaka Hidemitsu; 10 January 1913 – 3 November 1949) was a novelist of the Buraiha genre in…Hidemitsu Tanaka (田中 英光, Tanaka Hidemitsu; 10 January 1913 – 3 November 1949) was a novelist of the Buraiha genre in Shōwa period Japan. His name was also pronounced "Tanaka Eiko" on occasion.
Susumu Matsushima (松島 進, Matsushima Susumu; 5 January 1913 – 2009) was a Japanese photographer famous for portraits of…Susumu Matsushima (松島 進, Matsushima Susumu; 5 January 1913 – 2009) was a Japanese photographer famous for portraits of women, fashion photography, and nudes.
Goro Adachi (安達 五郎, Adachi Gorō; 1 January 1913 – 13 September 1999) was a Japanese ski jumper. He competed in the 1932…Goro Adachi (安達 五郎, Adachi Gorō; 1 January 1913 – 13 September 1999) was a Japanese ski jumper. He competed in the 1932 and 1936 Winter Olympics.
Yasutarō Sakagami (阪上 安太郎, Sakagami Yasutarō; 9 January 1912 – 27 February 1984) was a Japanese male water polo player…Yasutarō Sakagami (阪上 安太郎, Sakagami Yasutarō; 9 January 1912 – 27 February 1984) was a Japanese male water polo player and politician. He was a member of the Japan men's national water polo team. He competed with the team at the 1932 Summer Olympics and 1936 Summer Olympics.
Susumu Fujita (藤田 進, Fujita Susumu; 8 January 1912 – 23 March 1991) was a Japanese film and television actor. He played…Susumu Fujita (藤田 進, Fujita Susumu; 8 January 1912 – 23 March 1991) was a Japanese film and television actor. He played the lead role in Akira Kurosawa's first feature, Sanshiro Sugata, and appeared in other Kurosawa films including The Men Who Tread On the Tiger's Tail (as Togashi, commander of the border guards) and The Hidden Fortress (as General Tadokoro). Later, he was a supporting actor in Ishirō Honda's Mothra vs. Godzilla, among many other films. Before and during World War II Fujita was considered one of the great stars of Japanese cinema. In the post-war period he became known for supporting roles, often playing a soldier in war films, such as in Masaki Kobayashi's The Human Condition (film series). During the 1960s and 1970s he played minor roles in "special effects pictures" such as Ultraman and Frankenstein vs. Baragon.
Tadashi Imai (今井正, Imai Tadashi; January 8, 1912 – November 22, 1991) was a Japanese film director known for social…Tadashi Imai (今井正, Imai Tadashi; January 8, 1912 – November 22, 1991) was a Japanese film director known for social realist filmmaking informed by a left-wing perspective. His most noted films include An Inlet of Muddy Water (1953) and Bushido, Samurai Saga (1963).
