Yuki Kasahara (笠原 友希, Kasahara Yūki; born June 3, 2001) is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the super…Yuki Kasahara (笠原 友希, Kasahara Yūki; born June 3, 2001) is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the super featherweight division of Shoot Boxing. A professional competitor since 2017, he is a two-weight Shootboxing champion, having held the Japan Super Featherweight title since 2021, and the Japan Featherweight title between 2020 and 2021. As of July 2022 he was the #6 ranked Bantamweight in the world by Combat Press.
Hiroki Kasahara (Japanese: 笠原 弘希, Kasahara Hiroki; born August 10, 1999) is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing…Hiroki Kasahara (Japanese: 笠原 弘希, Kasahara Hiroki; born August 10, 1999) is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the lightweight division of Shootboxing. He is a three-weight Shootboxing champion, having held titles at featherweight (-57.5 kg), super featherweight (-60 kg) and lightweight (-62.5 kg). As of October 2022, Beyond Kick ranks him as the tenth best featherweight kickboxer in the world.
Shō Kiryūin (鬼龍院翔, Kiryūin Shō; born June 20, 1984) is a Japanese singer and songwriter. He is the lead singer of the…Shō Kiryūin (鬼龍院翔, Kiryūin Shō; born June 20, 1984) is a Japanese singer and songwriter. He is the lead singer of the Japanese "visual kei air band" Golden Bomber. He also writes, composes and co-arranges all the songs for the band. He plays multiple instruments including guitar, bass guitar and drums, and dabbles in piano and violin. He is the voice provider for the VoiSona vocal synthesizer, KIRUNE.
Yukie Abe (阿部ゆきえ, Abe Yukie), better known by her ring name Sachie Abe, is a Japanese retired professional wrestler…Yukie Abe (阿部ゆきえ, Abe Yukie), better known by her ring name Sachie Abe, is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions JWP Joshi Puroresu and JDStar.
Rumi Kazama (風間 ルミ, Kazama Rumi; November 28, 1965 – September 21, 2021) was a Japanese professional wrestler and…Rumi Kazama (風間 ルミ, Kazama Rumi; November 28, 1965 – September 21, 2021) was a Japanese professional wrestler and promoter. Along with Shinobu Kandori, she co-founded the promotion Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling.
Hayashiya Shōzō IX (九代目 林家 正蔵, Kudaime Hayashiya Shōzō; born Yasutaka Ebina (海老名 泰孝, Ebina Yasutaka), December 1, 1962…Hayashiya Shōzō IX (九代目 林家 正蔵, Kudaime Hayashiya Shōzō; born Yasutaka Ebina (海老名 泰孝, Ebina Yasutaka), December 1, 1962 in Negishi, Taito, Tokyo, Japan), formerly known as Hayashiya Kobuhei (林家 こぶ平, Hayashiya Kobuhei), is a Japanese rakugoka, tarento and voice actor. He is an associate professor of humanities at Josai International University. He is the son of Hayashiya Sanpei I.
Toyoko Iwahara (岩原 豊子, Iwahara Toyoko; born May 11, 1945 in Taito-ku, Tokyo) is a female Japanese former volleyball…Toyoko Iwahara (岩原 豊子, Iwahara Toyoko; born May 11, 1945 in Taito-ku, Tokyo) is a female Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics and in the 1972 Summer Olympics. In 1968 she was part of the Japanese team which won the silver medal in the Olympic tournament. She played all seven matches. Four years later she won her second Olympic silver medal with the Japanese team. She played one match.
Kei Ogura (Ogura Kei, 小椋佳, born January 18, 1944, in Ueno, Taito, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese singer, songwriter and…Kei Ogura (Ogura Kei, 小椋佳, born January 18, 1944, in Ueno, Taito, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese singer, songwriter and composer. He was also a bank clerk of Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, after graduating from the University of Tokyo. His musical career was in parallel with banking activity. His major works include Saraba seishun (さらば青春) and Oretachi-no-tabi (俺たちの旅). He is known for offering his work to other singers.
Kinichi Hagimoto (萩本 欽一, Hagimoto Kin'ichi; born May 7, 1941) is a Japanese comedian. He is active as a stage…Kinichi Hagimoto (萩本 欽一, Hagimoto Kin'ichi; born May 7, 1941) is a Japanese comedian. He is active as a stage performer, emcee, and manager of the amateur Ibaraki Golden Golds (ibaraki goruden goruzu) of the Japanese Baseball Association (nippon yakyuu renmei). Born in the Taito ward of Tokyo, Japan, he graduated from Komagome High School, and now belongs to the Asai Kikaku talent agency. He is called "Kin-chan" by fans and those within the entertainment industry. He is also known as "Hagimo", "Kin", etc. Amongst the many entertainers he has developed on his shows, who are known as the "Kinchan Family", he is known as "Taisho" ("The General"). In the 1970s and 80s, with acts like "nande so naru no!" ("Why does that happen?!") and physical comedy such as his distinctive "Kinchan run" (based on Hachiro Azuma) he blossomed into a polished professional. Many of his famous lines like "dochira dake" and "banzaai nashi yo" are still heard today. Some comedic jargon such as "ukeru" (and "yaya uke", "baka uke", etc.) that have become common Japanese words are said to have originated from his variety show Kinchan No Don To Itte Miyo. He presented three successful variety programmes in the 1970s and 1980s, and by the mid-1980s was one of the most popular comedians on Japanese television.
Chiemi Eri (江利 チエミ, Eri Chiemi; January 11, 1937 – February 13, 1982) was a Japanese singer and actress. Eri was born…Chiemi Eri (江利 チエミ, Eri Chiemi; January 11, 1937 – February 13, 1982) was a Japanese singer and actress. Eri was born as Chiemi Kubo (久保 智恵美, Kubo Chiemi) on January 11, 1937 in Tokyo, Japan. She was born to a musician father and a mother who was a singer, thus encouraging her musical career. She started her singing career at the age of 14 with her version of "Tennessee Waltz." She regularly sang on American military bases as a teenager. Her repertoire consisted largely of traditional Japanese songs as well as a few American songs such as "Jambalaya" and "Come on-a My House". Eri started her career as an actress similar to Hibari Misora. Eri, Misora and Izumi Yukimura formed a trio. In her concerts, she was supported by Nobuo Hara's jazz band. The actress was one of Japan's best-known singers in the mid-20th century and also appeared in numerous television shows from the early 1950s until just before her death. However, she is fairly unknown in many other parts of the world since her albums were rarely distributed in other markets, in which her music can almost only be accessed via the internet. Eri married Ken Takakura in 1959 and they divorced in 1971. She released the single "Sakaba Nite" (酒場にて, lit. "At the Bar") in 1974. The song was later included in the omnibus album "Enka no Kokoro".
Asaki Takamori (高森 朝樹, Takamori Asaki; September 4, 1936 – January 21, 1987), known by the pen names Ikki Kajiwara (梶原…Asaki Takamori (高森 朝樹, Takamori Asaki; September 4, 1936 – January 21, 1987), known by the pen names Ikki Kajiwara (梶原 一騎, Kajiwara Ikki) and Asao Takamori (高森 朝雄, Takamori Asao), was a Japanese author, manga writer, and film producer. He is known for the work about sports and martial arts, with images of heroic young men with the occasional fine details as he moves from one topic to another. Tiger Mask and Star of the Giants have been cited as his life's work.
Jirō Tsunoda (Japanese: つのだじろう Tsunoda Jirō, born 3 July 1936) is a Japanese manga artist. He is known in Japan for his…Jirō Tsunoda (Japanese: つのだじろう Tsunoda Jirō, born 3 July 1936) is a Japanese manga artist. He is known in Japan for his horror manga series such as Kyōfu Shinbun and Ushiro no Hyakutarō as well as illustrator of the karate series Karate Master.
Momoko Kōchi (河内 桃子, Kōchi Momoko) (7 March 1932 – 5 November 1998), born Momoko Ōkōchi (大河内 桃子, Ōkōchi Momoko), was a…Momoko Kōchi (河内 桃子, Kōchi Momoko) (7 March 1932 – 5 November 1998), born Momoko Ōkōchi (大河内 桃子, Ōkōchi Momoko), was a Japanese film, stage and television actress. She is best known for her roles in the original Godzilla, playing the character of Emiko Yamane (a role she reprised in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah in 1995), and in The Mysterians, playing Hiroko Iwamoto.
Koichi Sugiyama (すぎやま こういち, Sugiyama Kōichi; April 11, 1931 – September 30, 2021) was a Japanese composer, conductor…Koichi Sugiyama (すぎやま こういち, Sugiyama Kōichi; April 11, 1931 – September 30, 2021) was a Japanese composer, conductor, and orchestrator. He was best known for composing for the Dragon Quest franchise, along with several other video games, anime, film, television shows, and pop songs. Classically trained, Sugiyama was considered a major inspiration for other Japanese game music composers and was active from the 1960s until his death in 2021. Sugiyama was also a council member of the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers, and Publishers (JASRAC), board member of the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals, and honorary chairman of the Japanese Backgammon Society. Prior to his death, the Japanese government honored him with Order of the Rising Sun and named him a Person of Cultural Merit. Sugiyama was also active in politics and activism, promoting ideas such as Japanese nationalism while denying Japanese war crimes.
Takeyoshi Tanuma (田沼 武能, Tanuma Takeyoshi; February 18, 1929 – June 1, 2022) was a Japanese photographer. In 2019, the…Takeyoshi Tanuma (田沼 武能, Tanuma Takeyoshi; February 18, 1929 – June 1, 2022) was a Japanese photographer. In 2019, the Japanese government honoured him with the Order of Culture, making him the first photographer to receive the order.
Kiyoshi Atsumi (Japanese: 渥美 清, Hepburn: Atsumi Kiyoshi), born Yasuo Tadokoro (田所 康雄, Tadokoro Yasuo; 10 March 1928 – 4…Kiyoshi Atsumi (Japanese: 渥美 清, Hepburn: Atsumi Kiyoshi), born Yasuo Tadokoro (田所 康雄, Tadokoro Yasuo; 10 March 1928 – 4 August 1996), was a Japanese actor. He is best known for portraying Tora-san in the Japanese comedy film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo, a role he played 48 times over 26 years.
Nobuo Kaneko (金子信雄, Kaneko Nobuo; 27 March 1923 – 20 January 1995) was a Japanese actor. His wife was actress Yatsuko…Nobuo Kaneko (金子信雄, Kaneko Nobuo; 27 March 1923 – 20 January 1995) was a Japanese actor. His wife was actress Yatsuko Tanami. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1946 and 1993.
Shōtarō Ikenami (池波 正太郎, Ikenami Shōtarō; January 25, 1923 – May 3, 1990) was a Japanese author. He wrote a number of…Shōtarō Ikenami (池波 正太郎, Ikenami Shōtarō; January 25, 1923 – May 3, 1990) was a Japanese author. He wrote a number of historical novels. He won the Naoki Award for popular literature in 1960. Many of his historical novels were adapted for TV and cinema.
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.
Yūnosuke Itō (伊藤 雄之助, Itō Yūnosuke; 3 August 1919 – 11 March 1980) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than…Yūnosuke Itō (伊藤 雄之助, Itō Yūnosuke; 3 August 1919 – 11 March 1980) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than ninety films from 1947 to 1979.
Mitsuo Nakamura (中村 光夫, Nakamura Mitsuo; 5 February 1911 – 12 July 1988) was the pen-name of a writer of biographies…Mitsuo Nakamura (中村 光夫, Nakamura Mitsuo; 5 February 1911 – 12 July 1988) was the pen-name of a writer of biographies and stage-plays, and a literary critic active in Shōwa period Japan. His real name was Koba Ichirō.
Minoru Inuzuka (犬塚 稔, Inuzuka Minoru; 15 February 1901 – 17 September 2007) was a Japanese film director and…Minoru Inuzuka (犬塚 稔, Inuzuka Minoru; 15 February 1901 – 17 September 2007) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Starting out as a screenwriter at Shochiku in 1924, he also participated in the production of Teinosuke Kinugasa's A Page of Madness. When Chōjirō Hayashi (later known as Kazuo Hasegawa) became a jidaigeki star at Shochiku, Inuzuka directed many of his films. After World War II, Inuzuka returned to specializing in screenplays and was known for his scripts for the Zatoichi series. He published his autobiography in 2002, and died in 2007 at the age of 106. When he died, he was called the last surviving director to have directed a silent film in the 1920s. Inuzuka wrote scripts for over 150 films and directed over 50.
Noburō Ōfuji (大藤 信郎, Ōfuji Noburō; June 1, 1900 – July 28, 1961) was a Japanese film director and animator. One of the…Noburō Ōfuji (大藤 信郎, Ōfuji Noburō; June 1, 1900 – July 28, 1961) was a Japanese film director and animator. One of the most notable auteurs of anime (one of the industry's most prestigious awards, the Mainichi Film Awards' Ōfuji Noburō Award, is named after him), he worked primarily with cutout and silhouette animation. He also made a number of films in traditional animation, using then-expensive, imported cels, while his earliest work known to have survived is a live-action/animated film. He trained under Jun'ichi Kōuchi before starting his own company. He is known for his employment of washi, especially the coloured and patterned Edo chiyogami, which gives his films a distinctively Japanese appearance. He was one of the first Japanese animators to earn international recognition for his work.
Toshiko Tamura (田村 俊子, Tamura Toshiko; 25 April 1884 – 16 April 1945) was an early modern feminist novelist who wrote…Toshiko Tamura (田村 俊子, Tamura Toshiko; 25 April 1884 – 16 April 1945) was an early modern feminist novelist who wrote during the late Meiji era, Taishō era, and early Shōwa era. She wrote under the pen-names Roei (露英), Child Bird (鳥の子, Tori no ko), Toshiko Suzuki (鈴木 俊子, Suzuki Toshiko), Yukari (優香里, Yukari), Jun-Sheng (俊生), and Zuo Jun-zhi (佐俊芝), as well as under her maiden name Toshiko Satō (佐藤 俊子, Satō Toshiko) and her married name Toshiko Tamura, by which she is best known. Her birth name was Toshi Satō (佐藤 とし, Satō Toshi).
Mokichi Okada (岡田茂吉 Okada Mokichi; 23 December 1882 – 10 February 1955) was the founder of the World Church of Messiah…Mokichi Okada (岡田茂吉 Okada Mokichi; 23 December 1882 – 10 February 1955) was the founder of the World Church of Messiah, that later became the Church of World Меssianity. He also acted as the spiritual leader of Shumei and the Johrei Fellowship. He is known by his followers by the honorific title Meshiya-sama (メシヤ様; lit. 'Messiah') or Meishū-sama (明主様; lit. 'Lord of Light'). He is the founder of Johrei, an energy healing ritual that uses "divine light" to dissolve the spiritual impurities that are understood to be the source of all physical, emotional, and personal problems.
Kataoka Nizaemon XII (十二代目片岡仁左衛門, Jūnidaime Kataoka Nizaemon; 9 September 1882 – 16 March 1946) was a Japanese kabuki…Kataoka Nizaemon XII (十二代目片岡仁左衛門, Jūnidaime Kataoka Nizaemon; 9 September 1882 – 16 March 1946) was a Japanese kabuki actor of the Kamigata tradition; also known as Jinzaemon. His violent death at the hands of a starving writer living on the actor's property has been cited by scholars such as John Dower as an example of the chaos and "social disintegration" in the months and years immediately following Japan's defeat in World War II.
Seiu Ito (伊藤晴雨, Itō Seiu), also romanised as Seiyu Itoh (3 March 1882 – 28 January 1961), was a Japanese painter…Seiu Ito (伊藤晴雨, Itō Seiu), also romanised as Seiyu Itoh (3 March 1882 – 28 January 1961), was a Japanese painter, recognised today as "the father of modern kinbaku". Ito's life was the subject of director Noboru Tanaka's 1977 Nikkatsu Roman porno film Beauty's Exotic Dance: Torture!, the final entry in his "Showa Era trilogy".
Kōda Shigeyuki (幸田 成行; 23 July 1867 – 30 July 1947), pen name Kōda Rohan (幸田 露伴; Japanese pronunciation: [koː.da (|)…Kōda Shigeyuki (幸田 成行; 23 July 1867 – 30 July 1947), pen name Kōda Rohan (幸田 露伴; Japanese pronunciation: [koː.da (|) ɾoꜜ.haɴ]), was a Japanese author. His daughter, Aya Kōda, was also a noted author who often wrote about him. Kōda wrote "The Icon of Liberty", also known as "The Buddha of Art" or "The Elegant Buddha", in 1889. A house in which Kōda lived, Kagyū-an (蝸牛庵; snail cottage), was rebuilt in 1972 by the Meiji Mura museum. Kōda was one of the first persons to be awarded the Order of Culture when it was established in 1937.
Aeba Kōson (饗庭 篁村; August 15, 1855 – June 20, 1922) was a Japanese author, theater critic, and calligraphy master. His…Aeba Kōson (饗庭 篁村; August 15, 1855 – June 20, 1922) was a Japanese author, theater critic, and calligraphy master. His real name is Yosaburou Aeba (饗庭與三郎). He was also called "The Master of the Bamboo Hut" (竹の屋主人). He was born in Shitaya Ryuusenji-cho in Taitō Ward, Tokyo. Among his works is his translation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue. He is buried in Somei cemetery in Tokyo.
Onoe Kikugorō V (五代目 尾上菊五郎, Godaime Onoe Kikugorō; 4 June 1844 – 18 February 1903) was a Japanese Kabuki actor, one of…Onoe Kikugorō V (五代目 尾上菊五郎, Godaime Onoe Kikugorō; 4 June 1844 – 18 February 1903) was a Japanese Kabuki actor, one of the three most famous and celebrated of the Meiji period, along with Ichikawa Danjūrō IX and Ichikawa Sadanji I. Unlike most kabuki actors, who specialize in a particular type of role, Kikugorō, as a kaneru yakusha, played both tachiyaku (male heroes) and onnagata (women) roles and was best known for his roles in plays by Kawatake Mokuami. Kikugorō was also known as one of the chief actors in the "modern" subgenre of kabuki plays known as zangirimono ("cropped hair plays"), featuring Western-style clothes and hairstyle. Kikugorō was a popular figure in ukiyo-e woodblock prints, especially in those by Toyohara Kunichika. He was also featured on Japanese postage stamps, and performed in one of the first motion pictures ever made in Japan, Momijigari, as Taira no Koremochi. The "Ten Old and New Plays" (新古演劇十種, shinko engeki jisshu) associated with the Onoe family were chosen by Kikugorō V and his son Onoe Kikugorō VI, and include many of the plays for which Kikugorō V was himself most famous.
Viscount Enomoto Takeaki (榎本 武揚; 5 October 1836 – 26 October 1908) was a Japanese samurai and admiral of the Tokugawa…Viscount Enomoto Takeaki (榎本 武揚; 5 October 1836 – 26 October 1908) was a Japanese samurai and admiral of the Tokugawa navy of Bakumatsu period Japan, who remained faithful to the Tokugawa shogunate and fought against the new Meiji government until the end of the Boshin War. He later served in the Meiji government as one of the founders of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Moe Yamaguchi (山口 もえ, Yamaguchi Moe; born 11 June 1977, in Taitō, Tokyo) is a Japanese tarento. She is affiliated with…Moe Yamaguchi (山口 もえ, Yamaguchi Moe; born 11 June 1977, in Taitō, Tokyo) is a Japanese tarento. She is affiliated with the Stardust Promotion talent agency.
Yūki Amami (天海 祐希, Amami Yūki; born August 8, 1967) is a Japanese actress and former leading otokoyaku (男役, "male…Yūki Amami (天海 祐希, Amami Yūki; born August 8, 1967) is a Japanese actress and former leading otokoyaku (男役, "male role") of Takarazuka Revue.
Kyoko Hamaguchi (浜口 京子, Hamaguchi Kyōko; born January 11, 1978 in Taito, Tokyo) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. She…Kyoko Hamaguchi (浜口 京子, Hamaguchi Kyōko; born January 11, 1978 in Taito, Tokyo) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. She has won five FILA Wrestling World Championships and two Olympic Bronze medals in the 72 kg weight class. She is sponsored by Japan Beverage Inc. and was nominated by the Japanese Olympic Committee's Special Athlete Campaign. Her father is professional wrestler Animal Hamaguchi, who is known for his emotional displays during Kyoko's matches. Although Kyoko has long wanted to follow in her father's footsteps and enter the professional game, the lack of a stable women's circuit since the collapse of All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling has kept her from doing so.
Ryuun Oyone (né Ryumoto Oyone; 1872 – June 26, 1916) was a Japanese serial killer and rapist, active during the Taishō…Ryuun Oyone (né Ryumoto Oyone; 1872 – June 26, 1916) was a Japanese serial killer and rapist, active during the Taishō era. Since many of his victims were bhikkhunī, the media nicknamed him The Nun Slayer.
