Masaya Nishigaki (西垣雅矢, Nishigaki Masaya; born June 21, 1999, in Asago, Hyōgo, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Masaya Nishigaki (西垣雅矢, Nishigaki Masaya; born June 21, 1999, in Asago, Hyōgo, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He is a pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Wataru Matsumoto (松本 航, Matsumoto Wataru; born November 28, 1996 in Asago, Hyōgo, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Wataru Matsumoto (松本 航, Matsumoto Wataru; born November 28, 1996 in Asago, Hyōgo, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Ryohei Fujiwara (藤原 良平, Fujiwara Ryohei; born in Hyogo, Japan) is a former Japanese professional Nippon Professional…Ryohei Fujiwara (藤原 良平, Fujiwara Ryohei; born in Hyogo, Japan) is a former Japanese professional Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. He attended Tottori Jōhoku High School.
Hajime Kanzaka (神坂 一, Kanzaka Hajime; born July 17, 1964) is a Japanese novelist and manga story writer from Asago…Hajime Kanzaka (神坂 一, Kanzaka Hajime; born July 17, 1964) is a Japanese novelist and manga story writer from Asago, Hyōgo Prefecture. Kanzaka is best known for writing the Slayers novels that were adapted into the hit anime series, OVA and manga spin-offs.
Toshio Yodoi (淀井 敏夫, Yodoi Toshio; February 15, 1911 – February 14, 2005) was a Japanese sculptor, and a pioneer of…Toshio Yodoi (淀井 敏夫, Yodoi Toshio; February 15, 1911 – February 14, 2005) was a Japanese sculptor, and a pioneer of Japanese modern and contemporary arts. In 1994, he was officially recognized by the Japanese government as a "Person of Cultural Merit" and in 2001, the Order of Culture was conferred.
Takashi Shimura (Japanese: 志村 喬, romanized: Shimura Takashi, born Shōji Shimazaki; March 12, 1905 – February 11, 1982)…Takashi Shimura (Japanese: 志村 喬, romanized: Shimura Takashi, born Shōji Shimazaki; March 12, 1905 – February 11, 1982) was a Japanese actor who appeared in over 200 films between 1934 and 1981. He appeared in 21 of Akira Kurosawa's 30 films (more than any other actor), including as a lead actor in Drunken Angel (1948), Rashomon (1950), Ikiru (1952) and Seven Samurai (1954). He played Professor Kyohei Yamane in Ishirō Honda's original Godzilla (1954) and its first sequel, Godzilla Raids Again (1955). In total, Shimura appeared in more than 300 film roles between 1934 and 1980. He was twice nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor, and won the Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor in 1950. For his contributions to the arts, the Japanese government decorated Shimura with the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1974 and the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette in 1980.
Sumiyuki Kotani (小谷 澄之, Kotani Sumiyuki; August 3, 1903 – October 9, 1991) was a Japanese martial artist. He was a…Sumiyuki Kotani (小谷 澄之, Kotani Sumiyuki; August 3, 1903 – October 9, 1991) was a Japanese martial artist. He was a member of the 1932 Japanese Olympic wrestling team. He was one of the highest-ranked judoka, and was awarded a 10th dan in April 1984 by the Kodokan. He was for a long time the oldest 10th dan until Ichiro Abe was awarded the rank age of 83 years. Kotani studied at the Tokyo College of Education and studied judo directly under Jigoro Kano. As a young man, he was known to take on any challenges. Kotani was very active in promoting judo throughout the world and was the director of the international division at the Kodokan for many years. He was also a professor at Tokai University. He was the Kodokan's top representative and vice president of the All Japan Judo Federation. He died on October 19, 1991.
Sanzo Wada (和田 三造, Wada Sanzō; 3 March 1883 – 22 August 1967) was a Japanese painter and costume designer who won the…Sanzo Wada (和田 三造, Wada Sanzō; 3 March 1883 – 22 August 1967) was a Japanese painter and costume designer who won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for his work on the jidaigeki film Gate of Hell (1953). Wada reorganized the Japan Standard Color Association into the Japan Color Research Laboratory in 1945, and served as its president. He was a member of the Japan Art Academy. His painting South Wind and other works are part of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo collection.