Hiroko Yasutake (安武 洋子, Yasutake Hiroko; 26 July 1928 – 8 August 2019) was a Japanese politician. Originally a public…Hiroko Yasutake (安武 洋子, Yasutake Hiroko; 26 July 1928 – 8 August 2019) was a Japanese politician. Originally a public servant in Akashi, Hyōgo, she became active as a prefectural and regional trade union branch leader and a member of the Japanese Communist Party Central Committee, before serving in the House of Councillors for the Hyōgo at-large district from 1974 until 1986.
Toshio Masuda (舛田 利雄, Masuda Toshio; October 5, 1927 – August 26, 2026) was a Japanese film director, screenwriter and…Toshio Masuda (舛田 利雄, Masuda Toshio; October 5, 1927 – August 26, 2026) was a Japanese film director, screenwriter and cinematographer. He developed a reputation as a consistent box office hit-maker. Over the course of five decades, 16 of his films made the yearly top ten lists at the Japanese box office—a second place record in the industry. Between 1958 and 1968 he directed 52 films for the Nikkatsu Company. Masuda was their top director of action films and worked with the company's top stars, including Yujiro Ishihara with whom he made 25 films. After the breakdown of the studio system, he moved on to a succession of big-budget movies including the American-Japanese co-production Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) and the disaster epic Prophecies of Nostradamus (1974). He worked on such anime productions as the Space Battleship Yamato series. His corporate drama Company Funeral (1989) earned him a Japanese Academy Award nomination and wins at the Blue Ribbon Awards and Mainichi Film Awards. In Japan, his films are well-remembered by fans and called genre landmarks by critics. He remains little known abroad save for rare exceptions of his post-Nikkatsu work such as Tora! Tora! Tora!. However, a number of his films were screened in a 2005 Nikkatsu Action Cinema retrospective in Italy, and a few have since made their way to the United States. In 2009, he helped produce Space Battleship Yamato: Resurrection.
Atsuko Anzai (安西 篤子, Anzai Atsuko; born August 11, 1927) is a Japanese novelist in Shōwa and Heisei period Japan. Anzai…Atsuko Anzai (安西 篤子, Anzai Atsuko; born August 11, 1927) is a Japanese novelist in Shōwa and Heisei period Japan. Anzai has concentrated her efforts on stories set in China with historical themes, or on contemporary stories based on traditional Chinese motifs.
Nobuo Okishio (置塩 信雄; January 2, 1927 – November 13, 2003) was a Japanese Marxian economist and emeritus professor of…Nobuo Okishio (置塩 信雄; January 2, 1927 – November 13, 2003) was a Japanese Marxian economist and emeritus professor of Kobe University. In 1979, he was elected President of the Japan Association of Economics and Econometrics, which is now called Japanese Economic Association. Okishio studied mathematical economics under Kazuo Mizutani. In 1950 he graduated from Kobe University and later taught there. He soon began to doubt the premises and results of modern economics, and decided to search for alternatives by studying Marxian economics. Okishio worked to clarify the logic of Karl Marx’s economic system, offering formal and mathematical proofs for many Marxian theorems. For example, in 1955, he gave the world's first proof of the “Marxian fundamental theorem”, as it was later named by Michio Morishima, which is the theory that the exploitation of surplus labor is the necessary condition for the existence of positive profit. Concerning Marx’s Falling Rate of Profit, Okishio considered that his famous theorem would not deny it. Okishio wrote many papers covering various important fields in modern and Marxian economics, for example value and price, accumulation theory, critical analysis of Keynesian economics, trade cycle theory and on the long run tendency of capitalistic economy. They were published in over twenty books and two hundred papers, almost all in Japanese. About thirty of his published papers have been translated in English, and much of these materials are collected in the book (Nobuo Okishio, Michael Kruger and Peter Flaschel, 1993).
Shigeo Sugimoto (杉本 茂雄, Sugimoto Shigeo; December 4, 1926 – April 2, 2002) was a Japanese football player. He played…Shigeo Sugimoto (杉本 茂雄, Sugimoto Shigeo; December 4, 1926 – April 2, 2002) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Tadahiro Sekimoto (関本忠弘, Sekimoto Tadahiro; November 14, 1926 – November 11, 2007) was a Japanese electronics engineer…Tadahiro Sekimoto (関本忠弘, Sekimoto Tadahiro; November 14, 1926 – November 11, 2007) was a Japanese electronics engineer, a recipient of the IEEE Medal of Honor (2004), chairman of Japan's Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies (IISE), and former chairman of the Board of Councilors of the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) who served as president and later chairman of Japan's NEC Corporation (NEC). Born in Hyōgo, Japan, Sekimoto earned his BS in physics in 1948 and his Doctor of Engineering degree in 1962 at the University of Tokyo. On 11 November 2007, he died after a series of strokes.
Yoshio Okada (岡田 吉夫, Okada Yoshio; August 11, 1926 – June 22, 2002) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Yoshio Okada (岡田 吉夫, Okada Yoshio; August 11, 1926 – June 22, 2002) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Yasuo Matsushita (松下 康雄, Matsushita Yasuo; January 1, 1926 – July 20, 2018) was a Japanese businessman, central banker…Yasuo Matsushita (松下 康雄, Matsushita Yasuo; January 1, 1926 – July 20, 2018) was a Japanese businessman, central banker, the 27th Governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and a Director of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
Toshio Iwatani (岩谷 俊夫, Iwatani Toshio; October 24, 1925 – March 1, 1970) was a Japanese football player. He played for…Toshio Iwatani (岩谷 俊夫, Iwatani Toshio; October 24, 1925 – March 1, 1970) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Tamio Kawakami (河上 民雄, Kawakami Tamio; 12 July 1925 – 22 September 2012) was a Japanese politician and historian. He…Tamio Kawakami (河上 民雄, Kawakami Tamio; 12 July 1925 – 22 September 2012) was a Japanese politician and historian. He served as a member of the House of Representatives for seven terms and as International Bureau Director of the Japan Socialist Party. He was also a professor at the Faculty of Political Science and Economics of Tokai University and later a visiting professor at the graduate school of Seigakuin University. He specialised in American history.
Masanori Tokita (Japanese 鴇田 正憲, Tokita Masanori; June 24, 1925 – March 5, 2004) was a Japanese football player. He…Masanori Tokita (Japanese 鴇田 正憲, Tokita Masanori; June 24, 1925 – March 5, 2004) was a Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.
Chin Shunshin or Chen Shunchen (陳 舜臣) (18 February 1924 – 21 January 2015) was a Taiwanese-Japanese novelist…Chin Shunshin or Chen Shunchen (陳 舜臣) (18 February 1924 – 21 January 2015) was a Taiwanese-Japanese novelist, translator and cultural critic. He is best known for his historical fictions and mystery novels based on Chinese and Asian history, including First Opium War, Chinese History, Ryukyu Wind. He won numerous literary awards, including the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for Literature and the Naoki Prize.
Takehiko Bessho (別所 毅彦, Bessho Takehiko; October 1, 1922 – June 24, 1999), born Akira Bessho (別所 昭, Bessho Akira), was…Takehiko Bessho (別所 毅彦, Bessho Takehiko; October 1, 1922 – June 24, 1999), born Akira Bessho (別所 昭, Bessho Akira), was a Japanese baseball player whose professional career as a player lasted from 1942 until 1960. Bessho first achieved fame as a pitcher in Japanese professional baseball; later, he served as a Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) manager. Bessho spent his first five seasons in the Japanese Baseball League (the predecessor of NPB) with the Nankai franchise (1942–43, 1946–48) and his final 12 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants (1949–1960). He quickly established himself as a top pitcher and went on to earn two Sawamura Awards, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award, and six Best Nine Awards. In 1947, Bessho set the JBL record for most complete games in a single season (47). In addition, Bessho earned the NPB Most Valuable Player Award in 1952 and 1956. Bessho retired after the 1960 season with 310 wins, a 2.18 earned run average, and 1,932 strikeouts. Up until 2019, he was also the only Hawk to ever throw a no-hitter. After he retired from the sport as a player and a manager, Bessho became a sports broadcaster. In recognition of his accomplishments, the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Bessho in 1979.
Taro Kagawa (賀川 太郎, Kagawa Tarō; August 9, 1922 – March 6, 1990) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan's…Taro Kagawa (賀川 太郎, Kagawa Tarō; August 9, 1922 – March 6, 1990) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan's national team. His brother was journalist and former footballer Hiroshi Kagawa.
Kon Sasaki (佐々木 崑, Sasaki Kon; born 1918) died March 27, 2009, was an award-winning Japanese photographer. He was a…Kon Sasaki (佐々木 崑, Sasaki Kon; born 1918) died March 27, 2009, was an award-winning Japanese photographer. He was a rare apprentice to legendary post-war photographer Ihei Kimura.
Yukio Tsuda (津田 幸男, Tsuda Yukio; August 15, 1917 – April 17, 1979) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Yukio Tsuda (津田 幸男, Tsuda Yukio; August 15, 1917 – April 17, 1979) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Taiji Tonoyama (殿山 泰司, Tonoyama Taiji; October 17, 1915 – April 30, 1989) was a Japanese character actor who made many…Taiji Tonoyama (殿山 泰司, Tonoyama Taiji; October 17, 1915 – April 30, 1989) was a Japanese character actor who made many appearances in films and on television from 1939 to 1989. He was a close friend of Kaneto Shindo and one of his regular cast members. He was also an essayist. In 1950 he helped form the film company Kindai Eiga Kyokai with Shindo and Kōzaburō Yoshimura. He served in the Japanese military in China in the Second Sino-Japanese War and considered himself to have narrowly escaped from death. He was married but also had a mistress and maintained relationships with both women until the end of his life. He was a keen reader of detective stories and a fan of jazz music. He wrote a series of semi-autobiographical essays under the title Sanmon Yakusha (三文役者), meaning "third rate actor". Kaneto Shindo wrote a biography of Tonoyama called Sanmon yakusha no shi, meaning "The death of a third-rate actor", which he also filmed as By Player.
Hiroshi Noma (野間宏, Noma Hiroshi; February 23, 1915 – January 2, 1991) was a Japanese poet, novelist and essayist.…Hiroshi Noma (野間宏, Noma Hiroshi; February 23, 1915 – January 2, 1991) was a Japanese poet, novelist and essayist. According to literary scholar Doug Slaymaker, Noma is widely credited with having discovered or invented the style of writing called by the term "postwar literature" (sengo bungaku) in Japan.
Shunkichi Hamada (浜田 駿吉, Hamada Shunkichi) (October 19, 1910 – December 7, 2009) was a Japanese field hockey player who…Shunkichi Hamada (浜田 駿吉, Hamada Shunkichi) (October 19, 1910 – December 7, 2009) was a Japanese field hockey player who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics and 1936 Summer Olympics. Hamada was born in what is now part of Minamiawaji, Hyōgo, Japan. In 1932, while a student at Keio University, he was selected to be a member of the Japanese field hockey team at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. He played two matches as goalkeeper. Thirteen goals were scored against him, but the team won the silver medal. Four years later, Hamada was a member of the Japanese field hockey team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The team won two games and lost one in elimination round and did not advance. Hamada played all three matches as goalkeeper, during which eleven goals were scored against him. Hamada died of heart failure in Shibuya, Tokyo on December 7, 2009, at the age of 99.
Nobuhiko Ushiba (牛場 信彦, Ushiba Nobuhiko; 16 November 1909 – 31 December 1984) was a Japanese diplomat who served as…Nobuhiko Ushiba (牛場 信彦, Ushiba Nobuhiko; 16 November 1909 – 31 December 1984) was a Japanese diplomat who served as Ambassador to Canada from 1961 to 1964, Ambassador to the United States from 1970 to 1973, and as Minister of State for External Economic Affairs from 1977 to 1979. The last was a position in the Cabinet of Japan created specially for him.
Nagaharu Yodogawa (淀川 長治, Yodogawa Nagaharu; April 10, 1909, Kobe, Japan – November 11, 1998, Tokyo) was a Japanese…Nagaharu Yodogawa (淀川 長治, Yodogawa Nagaharu; April 10, 1909, Kobe, Japan – November 11, 1998, Tokyo) was a Japanese film critic, historian, and television personality. Members of both the Japanese and foreign press have referred to him as the "giant of film critiques", a "cultural institution", as well as "Japan's most famous movie critic".
Kiyoshi Yabuuchi (Yabuuchi Kiyoshi 薮内 清; 12 February 1906 (Meiji 39) – 2 June 2000 (Heisei 12)), often written in…Kiyoshi Yabuuchi (Yabuuchi Kiyoshi 薮内 清; 12 February 1906 (Meiji 39) – 2 June 2000 (Heisei 12)), often written in Kunrei-shiki romanization as Kiyosi Yabuuti, was a Japanese astronomer and historian of science. He gained an international reputation as a leading pioneer in the field of pre-1840 Chinese mathematics and Chinese astronomy.
Iku Takenaka (竹中郁, Takenaka Iku 1904–1982) was a Japanese poet from Hyogo prefecture. He graduated from Kwansei Gakuin…Iku Takenaka (竹中郁, Takenaka Iku 1904–1982) was a Japanese poet from Hyogo prefecture. He graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University. His best-known work is a cinepoem Rugby. He met Ryunosuke Akutagawa who wrote closet screenplays, just before Akutagawa's suicide, and then, in Akutagawa's home, he also met Tatsuo Hori, whose work 'Kaze Tachinu' inspired Hayao Miyazaki's last work. He also met Man Ray in Paris, when Ray created cinepoems, to interview Ray for a magazine. His Dharma name was Shunkōin Shisen Ikudō Koji (春光院詩仙郁道居士).
Kōjirō Yoshikawa (吉川 幸次郎, Yoshikawa Kōjirō; 18 March 1904 – 8 April 1980) was a Japanese sinologist noted for his…Kōjirō Yoshikawa (吉川 幸次郎, Yoshikawa Kōjirō; 18 March 1904 – 8 April 1980) was a Japanese sinologist noted for his studies of Chinese history and Classical Chinese literature, especially the Book of Documents (Shujing) and Analects of Confucius. Yoshikawa was awarded many honors for his scholarship, including membership in the Japan Art Academy and he was named a Person of Cultural Merit. In 1969 he was awarded the Prix Stanislas Julien for the entire body of his work.
Ryōhei Koiso (小磯 良平, Koiso Ryōhei; Japanese: [koiso ɾʲoːheː]) (July 25, 1903 – December 16, 1988) was a Japanese…Ryōhei Koiso (小磯 良平, Koiso Ryōhei; Japanese: [koiso ɾʲoːheː]) (July 25, 1903 – December 16, 1988) was a Japanese artist. He graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts western art department in 1927 and had a successful career from early on. During World War II he was often commissioned paintings depicting Japanese military scenes, such as the signing of the British surrender of Singapore, and Japanese infantrymen making their way through high grass fields in Malaysia. He returned to mainstream painting following the war, and painted until his death. His work was also part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Seishi Yokomizo (Japanese: 横溝 正史, Hepburn: Yokomizo Seishi; 24 May 1902 – 28 December 1981) was a Japanese mystery…Seishi Yokomizo (Japanese: 横溝 正史, Hepburn: Yokomizo Seishi; 24 May 1902 – 28 December 1981) was a Japanese mystery novelist, known for creating the fictional detective Kosuke Kindaichi.
Akira Shimada (島田 叡, Shimada Akira; 25 December 1901 – c. 26 June 1945) was the last governor of Okinawa Prefecture…Akira Shimada (島田 叡, Shimada Akira; 25 December 1901 – c. 26 June 1945) was the last governor of Okinawa Prefecture before Japan's defeat in 1945. He died during the Battle of Okinawa.
Hide Kawanishi (川西 英, Kawanishi Hide; 9 July 1894 – 20 February 1965) was a Japanese painter. His work was part of the…Hide Kawanishi (川西 英, Kawanishi Hide; 9 July 1894 – 20 February 1965) was a Japanese painter. His work was part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Masaharu Taniguchi (谷口 雅春, Taniguchi Masaharu; 22 November 1893 – 17 June 1985) was a Japanese New Thought leader who…Masaharu Taniguchi (谷口 雅春, Taniguchi Masaharu; 22 November 1893 – 17 June 1985) was a Japanese New Thought leader who was the founder of Seicho-No-Ie.
Toyohiko Kagawa (賀川 豊彦, Kagawa Toyohiko; 10 July 1888 – 23 April 1960) was a Japanese Evangelical Christian pacifist…Toyohiko Kagawa (賀川 豊彦, Kagawa Toyohiko; 10 July 1888 – 23 April 1960) was a Japanese Evangelical Christian pacifist, Christian reformer, and labour activist. Kagawa wrote, spoke, and worked at length on ways to employ Christian principles in the ordering of society and in cooperatives. His vocation to help the poor led him to live among them. He advocated for women's suffrage and promoted a peaceful foreign policy.
Kimura Akebono (木村曙; April 10, 1872–October 19, 1890) was a Japanese writer. She is best known for her debut work Fujo…Kimura Akebono (木村曙; April 10, 1872–October 19, 1890) was a Japanese writer. She is best known for her debut work Fujo no Kagami (婦女の鑑).
Mari Hamada (濱田マリ, Hamada Mari; born December 27, 1968) is a Japanese singer and actress who starred in numerous…Mari Hamada (濱田マリ, Hamada Mari; born December 27, 1968) is a Japanese singer and actress who starred in numerous Japanese films and Japanese television dramas. and released two solo albums and solo singles in the 1990s, after being part of the Japanese band "Modern Choki Chokies". She was also part of the Japanese "unit" (temporary band) "Unknown Soup & Spice" in 2003.
Annu Mari (真理 アンヌ, Mari Annu; born 20 May 1948) is a Japanese actress best known in the West for her role as the femme…Annu Mari (真理 アンヌ, Mari Annu; born 20 May 1948) is a Japanese actress best known in the West for her role as the femme fatale in the film Branded to Kill (1967). Her sisters are model Prabha Sheth and actress Yuka Kumari. She is married to conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura.
Kakuko Yamagata (née Suzuki; Japanese: 山形 香公子, romanized: Yamagata Kakuko;born 23 September 1969), known professionally…Kakuko Yamagata (née Suzuki; Japanese: 山形 香公子, romanized: Yamagata Kakuko;born 23 September 1969), known professionally as Anju Suzuki (鈴木 杏樹, Suzuki Anju) is a Japanese actress, television presenter, and singer (under the stage name Kakko).
Tamayo Marukawa (丸川 珠代, Marukawa Tamayo, born 19 January 1971) is a Japanese politician and former announcer of TV…Tamayo Marukawa (丸川 珠代, Marukawa Tamayo, born 19 January 1971) is a Japanese politician and former announcer of TV Asahi, who served as a member of the House of Councillors from 2007 to 2024. She is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. She served as the head of the Women's Affairs Office of the LDP in October 2009. She graduated from the University of Tokyo with the Bachelor of Economics degree in 1993. The 2007 House of Councillors election marked her entry into politics. The documentary film "Pictures at an Election" covers some of her campaign. She is married to Taku Otsuka (a member of the House of Representatives). Their wedding ceremony was held in Meiji Shrine on 16 June 2008. They have one child. Marukawa has served twice as Minister of State for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. She first served in the role under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from August 2016 until August 2017. She was named to the post a second time by Yoshihide Suga on 18 February 2021 to replace fellow LDP lawmaker and former Olympian Seiko Hashimoto, who had resigned from her Cabinet post in order to take over as President of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee. Marukawa stood as the LDP candidate for the Tokyo 7th district in the October 2024 House of Representatives election, intending to switch houses. She thus automatically lost her seat in the House of Councillors when the election was announced. Marukawa was defeated in the election. Marukawa again contested Tokyo 7th district in the 2026 general election and was elected. She was affiliated with the nationalist organisation Nippon Kaigi.
Midori Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 美登里, Hepburn: Suzuki Midori) is a Japanese classical soprano, specializing in Baroque…Midori Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 美登里, Hepburn: Suzuki Midori) is a Japanese classical soprano, specializing in Baroque music. She has recorded many cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach with the Bach Collegium Japan, both as a soloist and as a member of the ensemble.
