Naoto Takenaka (竹中 直人, Takenaka Naoto; born March 20, 1956) is a Japanese actor, comedian, singer, whistler, and…Naoto Takenaka (竹中 直人, Takenaka Naoto; born March 20, 1956) is a Japanese actor, comedian, singer, whistler, and director from Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, affiliated with From First Production. He is married to idol singer and actress Midori Kinouchi. He is also known as the voice of Samuel L. Jackson in the dubbed version of the Avengers film series as Nick Fury.
Satoshio Matsuura (松浦 敏夫, Matsuura Satoshio; born November 20, 1955) is a former Japanese football player and manager.…Satoshio Matsuura (松浦 敏夫, Matsuura Satoshio; born November 20, 1955) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Nahomi Azuma (Japanese: 東菜穂美), known professionally as Nahomi Edamoto (Japanese: 枝元なほみ; March 22, 1955 – February 27…Nahomi Azuma (Japanese: 東菜穂美), known professionally as Nahomi Edamoto (Japanese: 枝元なほみ; March 22, 1955 – February 27, 2025), was a Japanese culinary expert. She wrote various cookbooks and frequently appeared on Japanese cooking shows.
Kengo Kuma (隈 研吾, Kuma Kengo; born August 8, 1954) is a Japanese architect and emeritus professor in the Department of…Kengo Kuma (隈 研吾, Kuma Kengo; born August 8, 1954) is a Japanese architect and emeritus professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of Tokyo. Frequently compared to contemporaries Shigeru Ban and Kazuyo Sejima, Kuma designed the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, built for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Masako Ōkawara (大河原 雅子; born 8 April 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party and a former…Masako Ōkawara (大河原 雅子; born 8 April 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party and a former member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture and 1977 graduate of International Christian University, she had served in the assembly of Tokyo for three terms (ten years) since 1993. She was a member of the House of Councillors between 2007 and 2013.
Shunmyō Masuno (枡野 俊明, Masuno Shunmyō) (born 28 February 1953) is a Japanese monk and garden designer. He is chief…Shunmyō Masuno (枡野 俊明, Masuno Shunmyō) (born 28 February 1953) is a Japanese monk and garden designer. He is chief priest of the Sōtō Zen temple Kenkō-ji (建功寺), professor at Tama Art University, and president of a design firm that has completed numerous projects in Japan and overseas. He has been called "Japan's leading garden designer".
Koji Sekimizu (born 3 December 1952) is a Japanese official who was Secretary General of the International Maritime…Koji Sekimizu (born 3 December 1952) is a Japanese official who was Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization between 2012 and 2015, as well as Chancellor of the World Maritime University.
Norio Ishizawa (石澤 典夫 Ishizawa Norio, born August 16, 1952, in Yokohama) is a Japanese journalist and newscaster…Norio Ishizawa (石澤 典夫 Ishizawa Norio, born August 16, 1952, in Yokohama) is a Japanese journalist and newscaster, currently working for NHK. During his career, Ishiwaza was presenter of the morning news program NHK Morning Wide (Saturdays 1989–90), NHK News 9 (1993–95), Ohayo Nippon (1995–96) and NHK News 7 (weekends 2000–2002).
Akira Kuramochi (倉持 明, Kuramochi Akira; born July 20, 1952) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. Asuka…Akira Kuramochi (倉持 明, Kuramochi Akira; born July 20, 1952) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. Asuka Kuramochi, his daughter, is one of the members of female idol group AKB48.
Eiko Matsuda (松田暎子, Matsuda Eiko) (18 May 1952 – 9 March 2011) was a Japanese actress. She is best known for her…Eiko Matsuda (松田暎子, Matsuda Eiko) (18 May 1952 – 9 March 2011) was a Japanese actress. She is best known for her performance as Sada Abe in In the Realm of the Senses. She also appeared in Seibo Kannon daibosatsu (1977) and Pinku saron: Kōshoku gonin onna (1978). She died on 9 March 2011 of a brain tumor.
Mitsuyoshi Yoshino (吉野 光義, Yoshino Mitsuyoshi; born 13 December 1951), known professionally as Mickie Yoshino (ミッキー吉野…Mitsuyoshi Yoshino (吉野 光義, Yoshino Mitsuyoshi; born 13 December 1951), known professionally as Mickie Yoshino (ミッキー吉野, Mikkī Yoshino), is a Japanese keyboardist, composer, producer, and arranger. Yoshino is known for leading the rock band Godiego. In 2005, he won a Japan Academy Prize for his music. Yoshino's compositions were used in the film Swing Girls (Altamira Pictures). Yoshino still produces music with groups such as Godiego and EnTRANS.
Hideki Matsutake (born August 12, 1951 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese composer, arranger, and…Hideki Matsutake (born August 12, 1951 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese composer, arranger, and computer programmer. He is known for his pioneering work in electronic music and particularly music programming, as the assistant of Isao Tomita during the early 1970s and as the "fourth member" of the band Yellow Magic Orchestra during the late 1970s to early 1980s. Through his participation in the session recording of Ryuichi Sakamoto's 1978 album Thousand Knives, he joined the recordings of Yellow Magic Orchestra during 1978–1982 as their sound programmer, to become known as "the fourth member" of the group. In 1981, he formed a unit of his own under the name Logic System, which released its latest album in 2020. He also continued to take part in solo activities by YMO members such as Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi beyond the group's breakup in 1983. He was also a member of the video game music group Akihabara Electric Circus in 1988 and composed music for the 1996 video game Guardian Heroes. Matsutake was also a member of the musical group MONOLITH, which was responsible for creating the music for various Dragon Ball video games and insert songs from 1990 through the mid 2000s. Today, Matsutake is also Chairman of Japan Synthesizer Programmers Association (JSPA).
Minoru Sano (佐野 実, Sano Minoru; April 4, 1951 – April 11, 2014) was a Japanese celebrity chef who specialized in ramen.…Minoru Sano (佐野 実, Sano Minoru; April 4, 1951 – April 11, 2014) was a Japanese celebrity chef who specialized in ramen. He was called the Oni of Ramen in Japan. He founded the Shinasobaya Company and helped run the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum. Minoru Sano was born in Totsuka-ku in the city of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He had numerous appearances in the Japanese media. He had many ramen chef disciples. He died of multiple organ failure after suffering with Diabetes for 3 years prior to his death in hospital, surrounded by family.
Yoshiaki Kawajiri (川尻 善昭, Kawajiri Yoshiaki; born November 18, 1950) is a Japanese writer, director, storyboard artist…Yoshiaki Kawajiri (川尻 善昭, Kawajiri Yoshiaki; born November 18, 1950) is a Japanese writer, director, storyboard artist and animator. A co-founder of the anime studio Madhouse, he is best known as the director of Wicked City, Ninja Scroll, and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.
Kin'ichi Kusumi (久須美欽一, Kusumi Kin'ichi) (born September 23, 1950) is a Japanese actor who has also used the stage name…Kin'ichi Kusumi (久須美欽一, Kusumi Kin'ichi) (born September 23, 1950) is a Japanese actor who has also used the stage name Mamoru Kusumi (久須美護, Kusumi Mamoru). He has appeared in tokusatsu kaiju productions (monster movies) and in pink films.
Sayoko Yamaguchi (Japanese: 山口小夜子, September 19, 1949 – August 14, 2007) was a Japanese model and actress. She was…Sayoko Yamaguchi (Japanese: 山口小夜子, September 19, 1949 – August 14, 2007) was a Japanese model and actress. She was known for her black hair, distinctive makeup, white skin, red lip makeup and for her clothes inspired by Japanese culture.
Keiko Erikawa is a Japanese businesswoman and video game designer. She co-founded Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd., a…Keiko Erikawa is a Japanese businesswoman and video game designer. She co-founded Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd., a Japanese game development company, with her husband Yoichi Erikawa in 1978.
Masayoshi Kabe (加部 正義, Kabe Masayoshi) (5 November 1948 – 26 September 2020) often known by his stage names Louis or…Masayoshi Kabe (加部 正義, Kabe Masayoshi) (5 November 1948 – 26 September 2020) often known by his stage names Louis or Louise Louis, was a Japanese bassist and guitarist from Yokohama, Japan. Numerous online sources present him as half-French and half-Japanese, but this was actually a marketing creation from the producers of the Golden Cups; Kabe was half-American and half-Japanese. He began his career in 1966 as a member of The Golden Cups. He was a studio musician throughout the 1970s and also a member of various bands such as Speed, Glue & Shinki until he joined the group Johnny, Louis & Char (later renamed Pink Cloud) in 1978. After they disbanded in 1994 he formed the instrumental side-project ZokuZokuKazoku (ZZK) while providing support to other musicians as a bassist. He also recorded three albums as bass player for a reunion version of the 1970s band Vodka Collins from 1995 to 1998. He died on 26 September 2020, of multiple organ failure.
Akira Terao (寺尾 聰, Terao Akira; born May 18, 1947) is a Japanese musician, singer and actor. As of 2012, he is the only…Akira Terao (寺尾 聰, Terao Akira; born May 18, 1947) is a Japanese musician, singer and actor. As of 2012, he is the only male actor to have received both the Japan Record Award and the Japan Academy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
Bishin Jumonji (十文字 美信, Jūmonji Bishin) is a Japanese photographer known for advertising, portrait, and architectural…Bishin Jumonji (十文字 美信, Jūmonji Bishin) is a Japanese photographer known for advertising, portrait, and architectural work. Jumonji was born in Yokohama on 4 March 1947. After studying at the Tokyo College of Photography he worked as an assistant to Kishin Shinoyama and went freelance in 1971, working as the photographer for advertisements for Matsushita Electric and Shiseido products. The association with Matsushita would later bring awards from the Art Directors Club every year from 1975 to 1979. Jumonji has continued to do editorial and commercial work (notably for Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories). In 1972, with nine other photographers, he participated in an exhibition of portraits of Simon Yotsuya at the Kinokuniya Gallery in Shinjuku. Jumonji had started taking his "Untitled" series of portraits of people framed to exclude their heads in 1971. In 1972, these appeared in the magazine Camera Mainichi and were shown in the Neikrug gallery in New York; a year later they were included in "New Japanese Photography", at the New York MoMA. Up to 1980, Jumonji made nineteen trips to Hawaii, photographing the islands and photographing and interviewing elderly first-generation Japanese immigrants. The series juxtaposes photographs of Hawaiʻi and black-and-white portraits of the people living there. Installments were published in Camera Mainichi in 1979 and the set was exhibited in 1980, when it won the Ina Nobuo Award. It was published, as Orchid Boat, in 1981. Jumonji's second published collection was Kéntauros, a large-format booklet of black-and-white photographs of the members of the motorbike organization Kéntauros striking poses with switchblades and other props. In 1981, Jumonji went to Indochina to photograph the religious customs of the Yao people. In 1983–84 he visited Thailand, Burma and Laos. The result was published as Sumitōtta yami in 1987. Jumonji had started photographing gold works of art in 1981. The first exhibition of the results was in Matsuya department store (Ginza), in 1987. This work culminated in the book Ōgon fūtenjin, published in 1990. This won the Domon Ken Award the following year. Some of these works would also be shown in two of a set of four volumes of stereoscopes, all photographed by Jumonji and published in 1993–4. Jumonji started photographing architecture and gardens in 1988, and the Katsura Detached Palace in particular in 1991. Jumonji photographed Matsumoto Kōshirō IX for a collection of black-and-white portraits; in 2005 he published a second volume, Nippon Geki-gan, of monochrome portraits of actors taken with a large-format camera shortly before or after performance. In 1998, Jumonji started work on Wabi, his attempt to depict (in color) the Japanese aesthetic ideal of wabi. The project started with cha-no-yu but branched out into everyday scenes. Jumonji exhibited composite photographs of four Japanese waterfalls at the Shiseido Gallery (Ginza) in June and July 2004. Jumonji's photographs have appeared in Zoom and Stern.
Hiroaki Nakanishi (中西 宏明, Nakanishi Hiroaki; March 14, 1946 – June 27, 2021) was a Japanese businessman and chairman of…Hiroaki Nakanishi (中西 宏明, Nakanishi Hiroaki; March 14, 1946 – June 27, 2021) was a Japanese businessman and chairman of Hitachi. He became the 10th president of Hitachi in 2010, and in 2014, assumed the position of chairman and CEO. He was also chairman of the compensation committee and general manager of the post-earthquake reconstruction & redevelopment division. Nakanishi acted as head of the Japan Business Federation from 2018 until his resignation less than a month before his death.
Yoko Aki (阿木 燿子, Aki Yōko; born May 1, 1945) is a Japanese songwriter, actress, novelist and essayist. With her…Yoko Aki (阿木 燿子, Aki Yōko; born May 1, 1945) is a Japanese songwriter, actress, novelist and essayist. With her husband, Ryudo Uzaki, she has written many songs for other singers, with Aki as lyricist and Uzaki as composer. They are especially famous for a series of hit songs of Momoe Yamaguchi's. She has acted in several films, and she won the award for best supporting actress at the 5th Hochi Film Award for Shiki Natsuko. She was a model under an exclusive contract with Kanebo Cosmetics for many years.
Riken Yamamoto (山本理顕, Yamamoto Riken) (born 1945) is a Japanese architect. In 2024, he received the Pritzker…Riken Yamamoto (山本理顕, Yamamoto Riken) (born 1945) is a Japanese architect. In 2024, he received the Pritzker Architecture Prize, considered to be the most prestigious award in architecture, becoming the 9th Japanese architect to receive such honor.
Peeco (ピーコ, Pīko; born Katsuaki Sugiura (杉浦 克昭, Sugiura Katsuaki), 18 January 1945 - 3 September 2024) was a Japanese…Peeco (ピーコ, Pīko; born Katsuaki Sugiura (杉浦 克昭, Sugiura Katsuaki), 18 January 1945 - 3 September 2024) was a Japanese tarento, fashion critic, journalist, and chanson singer. His younger identical twin brother is film critic Osugi, they both came out gay during their debut and took his advantage as a tarento and commentator. On 20 October 2024, it was announced that Peeco had died on 3 September of that year due to sepsis as a result of multiple organ failure.
Masataka Shimizu (清水 政孝, Shimizu Masataka; born June 23, 1944) is a director of Fuji Oil Company, and was the president…Masataka Shimizu (清水 政孝, Shimizu Masataka; born June 23, 1944) is a director of Fuji Oil Company, and was the president and chief executive officer of Japanese electric utility Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) from 2008 to 2011. He was also a vice-chairman of Keidanren, the employers' federation of the companies of Japan, until he stepped down after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. On July 25, 2012, he became an outside director of Fuji Oil.
Isao Shibata (柴田 勲, Shibata Isao) (born February 8, 1944) is a former professional baseball outfielder who played his…Isao Shibata (柴田 勲, Shibata Isao) (born February 8, 1944) is a former professional baseball outfielder who played his entire career with the Yomiuri Giants from 1962 to 1981. A speedy switch-hitter, he won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award in 1966, after he hit .565 with 13 hits in the 1966 Japan Series. With 579 career stolen bases, Shibata is third on the all-time Nippon Professional Baseball list. With more than 2,000 career hits, Shibata is a member of Meikyukai, otherwise known as the Golden Players Club.
Masako Mori (森 真沙子 Mori Masako, born January 4, 1944) is the pen name of Masako Fukae (深江雅子 Fukae Masako) a Japanese…Masako Mori (森 真沙子 Mori Masako, born January 4, 1944) is the pen name of Masako Fukae (深江雅子 Fukae Masako) a Japanese author, mystery writer, horror writer and historical novelist. Mori was born in Yokohama, in the Kanagawa Prefecture. She attended Hokkaido Hakodate Nishi High School and graduated from Nara Women's University. She then worked as a magazine and weekly magazine reporter. In 1979, her first published work, the short story "Ballad in Blue" (バラード・イン・ブルー, Barādo in burū ) won the 33 Shōsetsu Gendai Shinjinshō Award (小説現代新人賞). Her early works contained elements of mystery and suspense while her later works increased her scope of interest to the genre of horror and historical novel.
Masaru Emoto (Japanese: 江本 勝, Hepburn: Emoto Masaru; July 22, 1943 – October 17, 2014) was a Japanese businessman…Masaru Emoto (Japanese: 江本 勝, Hepburn: Emoto Masaru; July 22, 1943 – October 17, 2014) was a Japanese businessman, author and pseudoscientist who claimed that human consciousness could affect the molecular structure of water. His 2004 book The Hidden Messages in Water was a New York Times best seller. His ideas had evolved over the years, and his early work revolved around pseudoscientific hypotheses that water could react to positive thoughts and words and that polluted water could be cleaned through prayer and positive visualization. Starting in 1999, Emoto published several volumes of a work entitled Messages from Water, containing photographs of ice crystals and accompanying experiments such as that of the "rice in water 30 day experiment."
Masaru Yamamoto (山本 勝, Yamamoto Masaru; October 30, 1941 – August 28, 2010), known by his ring name Kotetsu Yamamoto…Masaru Yamamoto (山本 勝, Yamamoto Masaru; October 30, 1941 – August 28, 2010), known by his ring name Kotetsu Yamamoto (山本小鉄, Yamamoto Kotetsu) was a Japanese professional wrestler, referee, and color commentator for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He was named "Kotetsu" ("Little Iron") by former Japanese pro wrestler Toyonobori after the famous knight, Aizu-No-Kotetsu. Originally a wrestler, Yamamoto was mostly known for his tag team the Yamaha Brothers with Kantaro Hoshino but made his biggest mark as a trainer in the New Japan Dojo having helped train Keiji Mutoh, Jushin Thunder Liger, Minoru Suzuki, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Masahiro Chono among others.
Tatsuya Fuji (藤 竜也, Fuji Tatsuya; born 27 August 1941) is a Japanese actor. He was born in Beijing and raised in…Tatsuya Fuji (藤 竜也, Fuji Tatsuya; born 27 August 1941) is a Japanese actor. He was born in Beijing and raised in Yokohama. In 1962, Fuji joined Nikkatsu Company and began his acting career with small roles in Nikkatsu film. In 1968, Fuji married actress Izumi Ashikawa. He gained popularity through his role in Jikandesuyo on TBS. He played his first leading role in the 1974 film Ninkyō Hanaichirin. He starred in two films (Empire of Passion and Bright Future) that were entered into the Cannes Film Festival. Fuji co-starred in Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Bright Future with Tadanobu Asano and Joe Odagiri. In 2005, he won the Golden Goblet Award for Best Actor for his work in the Village Photobook. In 2015, Fuji won best actor award of Tokyo Sports Film Award for his work in the Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen. In 2023, he won the Silver Shell for Best Leading Performance at the 2023 San Sebastián Film Festival for his role in the Great Absence.
Mori Masaki (真崎 守, Masaki Mori; born March 10, 1941 in Yokohama) is a Japanese manga artist, screenwriter and director.…Mori Masaki (真崎 守, Masaki Mori; born March 10, 1941 in Yokohama) is a Japanese manga artist, screenwriter and director. Masaki's career as an animator began in 1963 at Mushi Production, where he was involved in Kimba the White Lion. After a few more works, he left the studio in 1968 and dedicated himself to his work as a mangaka. In 1979, he returned to the film and worked at Studio Madhouse as a director and screenwriter. He directed Natsu e no Tobira and Haguregumo, later wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of the manga Barefoot Gen and the sci-fi adventure Toki no Tabibito: Time Stranger. In 1986, Masaki retired from anime, although he continued his manga career into the 90s.
Tsuneo Suzuki (鈴木 恒夫, Suzuki Tsuneo; born 10 February 1941) is a retired Japanese politician who served in the House of…Tsuneo Suzuki (鈴木 恒夫, Suzuki Tsuneo; born 10 February 1941) is a retired Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Hiroshi Yoshimura (吉村 弘, Yoshimura Hiroshi; 22 October 1940 – 23 October 2003) was a Japanese musician and composer. He…Hiroshi Yoshimura (吉村 弘, Yoshimura Hiroshi; 22 October 1940 – 23 October 2003) was a Japanese musician and composer. He is considered a pioneer of ambient music in Japan. His music lies mostly in the minimalist genre of kankyō ongaku, or environment music—soft electronic melodies infused with the sounds of nature: babbling brooks, steady rain, and morning birds. However, not all Yoshimura's work included nature sounds. Green (1986) only had them in the United States release, as they were excluded in the Japanese version.
Hibari Misora (美空 ひばり, Misora Hibari; born Kazue Katō (加藤 和枝, Katō Kazue) May 29, 1937 – June 24, 1989) was a Japanese…Hibari Misora (美空 ひばり, Misora Hibari; born Kazue Katō (加藤 和枝, Katō Kazue) May 29, 1937 – June 24, 1989) was a Japanese singer and actress. She received a Medal of Honor for her contributions to music and for improving the welfare of the public, and was the first woman to receive the People's Honour Award, which was conferred posthumously for giving the public hope and encouragement after World War II. Misora recorded a total of 1,200 songs and sold 68 million records. After she died, consumer demand for her recordings grew significantly, and, by 2001, she had sold more than 80 million records. By 2019, record sales surpassed 100 million. Her swan-song "Kawa no Nagare no Yō ni" (川の流れのように) is often performed by numerous artists and orchestras as a tribute to her, including notable renditions by The Three Tenors (Spanish/Italian), Teresa Teng (Taiwanese) and Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan (Mexican). Each year there is a special on Japanese television and radio featuring her songs. A memorial concert for Misora was held at the Tokyo Dome on November 11, 2012. It featured numerous musicians such as Ai, Koda Kumi, Ken Hirai, Kiyoshi Hikawa, Exile, AKB48 and Nobuyasu Okabayashi amongst others, paying tribute by singing her most famous songs.
Katsuhiko Akasegawa (赤瀬川 克彦, Akasegawa Katsuhiko; March 27, 1937 – October 26, 2014), known by his pseudonym Genpei…Katsuhiko Akasegawa (赤瀬川 克彦, Akasegawa Katsuhiko; March 27, 1937 – October 26, 2014), known by his pseudonym Genpei Akasegawa (赤瀬川 原平, Akasegawa Genpei), was a Japanese artist and writer. In literary works, he also went by Katsuhiko Otsuji (尾辻 克彦, Otsuji Katsuhiko). A member of the influential artist groups Neo-Dada Organizers and Hi-Red Center, Akasegawa went on to maintain a multi-disciplinary practice throughout his career as an individual artist. He is also known for having coined the term and concept of Hyperart Thomasson and for having founded the Rojō Kansatsu Gakkai (路上観察学会; lit. 'Street Observation Society'). Akasegawa has had retrospective exhibitions at the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, Chiba City Museum, and Oita City Museum. His work is in the permanent collection at Museum of Modern Art in New York. Artist Nam June Paik has described Akasegawa as "one of those unexportable geniuses of Japan".
Miyata Noboru (宮田 登, Miyata Noboru; October 14, 1936 - February 10, 2000) was a Japanese folklorist, and a close…Miyata Noboru (宮田 登, Miyata Noboru; October 14, 1936 - February 10, 2000) was a Japanese folklorist, and a close collaborator and friend of the historian Amino Yoshihiko.
Katsura Utamaru (桂 歌丸; 14 August 1936 – 2 July 2018) was a Japanese rakugo comedian best known for hosting the Shōten…Katsura Utamaru (桂 歌丸; 14 August 1936 – 2 July 2018) was a Japanese rakugo comedian best known for hosting the Shōten comedy show on Nippon TV. He is known as a master of the Japanese comic art of rakugo, in which a single performer or storyteller appears on stage and tells comedic stories to the audience.
Akiko Koyama (小山 明子, Koyama Akiko; born 27 January 1935) is a Japanese stage and film actress who appeared in over 80…Akiko Koyama (小山 明子, Koyama Akiko; born 27 January 1935) is a Japanese stage and film actress who appeared in over 80 films, many directed by her husband Nagisa Ōshima.
Shizuko Gō (郷静子; April 20, 1929–September 30, 2014) was a Japanese novelist. She was best known for her 1972 novel…Shizuko Gō (郷静子; April 20, 1929–September 30, 2014) was a Japanese novelist. She was best known for her 1972 novel Requiem, which won the Akutagawa Prize.
Shinichiro Sakurai (桜井 眞一郎, Sakurai Shin'ichirō; 1929–2011) was a Japanese engineer for Prince Motor Company and later…Shinichiro Sakurai (桜井 眞一郎, Sakurai Shin'ichirō; 1929–2011) was a Japanese engineer for Prince Motor Company and later Nissan. He continued to work in the automotive field up until his death. He is best known for the development of several generations of the Nissan Skyline, earning him the nickname "Father of the Skyline".
Toshiro Mayuzumi (黛 敏郎, Mayuzumi Toshirō; Japanese pronunciation: [majɯꜜzɯmi toɕiɾoː]; 20 February 1929 – 10 April…Toshiro Mayuzumi (黛 敏郎, Mayuzumi Toshirō; Japanese pronunciation: [majɯꜜzɯmi toɕiɾoː]; 20 February 1929 – 10 April 1997) was a Japanese composer. He was known for his implementation of avant-garde instrumentation alongside traditional Japanese musical techniques. His works drew inspiration from a variety of sources ranging from jazz to Balinese music, and he was considered a pioneer in the realm of musique concrète and electronic music, being the first artist in his country to explore these techniques. Over the span of his career, he wrote symphonies, ballets, operas, and film scores. Mayuzumi was the first Japanese composer to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score, for the 1966 film The Bible: In the Beginning.... He was the recipient of an Otaka prize by the NHK Symphony Orchestra and the Purple Medal of Merit. John Huston called him a "modern Beethoven".
Kanji Higuchi (樋口 寛治, Higuchi Kanji; January 19, 1929 – November 8, 2010), better known as Joe Higuchi (ジョー樋口, Jō…Kanji Higuchi (樋口 寛治, Higuchi Kanji; January 19, 1929 – November 8, 2010), better known as Joe Higuchi (ジョー樋口, Jō Higuchi) was a Japanese professional wrestler, road agent, on-air personality and referee best known for his tenures with the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) and All Japan Pro-Wrestling. The first official Japanese referee in the NWA, he was known as one of the best referees in the business and the most popular referee in Japanese Puroresu history. He was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum as a member of the Class of 2018.
Tatsuo Suzuki (鈴木 達夫, Suzuki Tatsuo; April 27, 1928 – July 12, 2011) Yokohama, Japan was an 8th Dan Japanese karateka…Tatsuo Suzuki (鈴木 達夫, Suzuki Tatsuo; April 27, 1928 – July 12, 2011) Yokohama, Japan was an 8th Dan Japanese karateka instrumental in spreading the martial art of Wadō-ryū karate to Europe and the United States.
Hikosaburo Okonogi (小此木 彦三郎; 26 January 1928 – 4 November 1991) was a Japanese politician who served as a member of the…Hikosaburo Okonogi (小此木 彦三郎; 26 January 1928 – 4 November 1991) was a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1991, as Minister of International Trade and Industry from 1983 to 1984, and as Minister of Construction from 1988 to 1989.
Koji Nanbara (南原 宏治, Nanbara Kōji; June 7, 1927 – December 20, 2001) was a Japanese actor. He was born in Yokohama…Koji Nanbara (南原 宏治, Nanbara Kōji; June 7, 1927 – December 20, 2001) was a Japanese actor. He was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. In 1951, he signed with Daiei film company. and made his film debut with Kamikaze Tokkotai. Mostly famous later in his career for playing villains, he began acting in the 1950s under the name Shinji Nanbara. He died of a myocardial infarction in Chōfu, Tokyo at age 74.
