Soya Fujiwara (藤原奏哉, Fujiwara Soya; born September 9, 1995) is a Japanese football player who plays as a midfielder for…Soya Fujiwara (藤原奏哉, Fujiwara Soya; born September 9, 1995) is a Japanese football player who plays as a midfielder for J1 League club Gamba Osaka.
Yūya Kubo (久保 裕也, Kubo Yūya; born 24 December 1993) is a Japanese former professional footballer who plays as a forward…Yūya Kubo (久保 裕也, Kubo Yūya; born 24 December 1993) is a Japanese former professional footballer who plays as a forward or midfielder.
Riki Harakawa (原川 力, Harakawa Riki; born 18 August 1993) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kashiwa…Riki Harakawa (原川 力, Harakawa Riki; born 18 August 1993) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kashiwa Reysol.
Shohei Ono (大野将平, Ōno Shōhei; born 3 February 1992) is a Japanese retired judoka. Ono is regarded as one of judo's top…Shohei Ono (大野将平, Ōno Shōhei; born 3 February 1992) is a Japanese retired judoka. Ono is regarded as one of judo's top fighters, having won two Olympic gold medals, three World Championships and five Grand Slams. He was the most dominant lightweight wrestler of the 2010s having won in every major championship he competed since 2015. Ono specializes in osoto gari (having written his masters' thesis on it) and uchimata. He is known for his classical technique and all ippon style, holding one of the highest ippon rates in judo. Ono is also one of the most searched judokas on the Internet.
Junko Hirose (広瀬 順子, Hirose Junko; born 12 October 1990 in Yamaguchi City) is a Japanese Paralympic judoka. She…Junko Hirose (広瀬 順子, Hirose Junko; born 12 October 1990 in Yamaguchi City) is a Japanese Paralympic judoka. She represented Japan at the 2016 Summer Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and she won one of the bronze medals in the women's 57 kg event.
Daiki Kamikawa (上川 大樹, Kamikawa Daiki; born 9 November 1989 in Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese judoka. He won the…Daiki Kamikawa (上川 大樹, Kamikawa Daiki; born 9 November 1989 in Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese judoka. He won the gold medal in the openweight division at the 2010 World Judo Championships by defeating Teddy Riner of France by a flags decision. Kamikawa is known for being a very technical judoka for a heavy weight and uses techniques such as harai goshi and uchi mata with frequency. He represented Japan at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Akihiko Takeshige (竹重 安希彦, Takeshige Akihiko; born August 21, 1987) is a Japanese football player who currently plays…Akihiko Takeshige (竹重 安希彦, Takeshige Akihiko; born August 21, 1987) is a Japanese football player who currently plays for SC Sagamihara.
Shinjiro Otani (大谷晋二郎, Ōtani Shinjirō; born July 21, 1972) is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and the…Shinjiro Otani (大谷晋二郎, Ōtani Shinjirō; born July 21, 1972) is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and the current acting president of Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1). He is currently inactive from pro-wrestling competition due to a cervical spine injury sustained in April 2022. A product of the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) dojo, Otani is best known for his longtime association with Zero1, a promotion he founded in 2001 along with Shinya Hashimoto. Starting his career in NJPW as a junior heavyweight, Otani gained a reputation as a gutsy underdog and would go on to hold several championships during his nine-year run with the promotion, including the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and the J-Crown, as well as forming a successful tag team with dojo classmate Tatsuhito Takaiwa, twice holding the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. After jumping to the heavyweight division in 2001, Otani would leave New Japan the same year, joining Shinya Hashimoto as one of the founders of Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1). Following the departure of Hashimoto in 2004, Otani was pushed as one of the promotions top stars, becoming a six time Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, a one time World Heavyweight Champion and a four-time winner of the Fire Festival. In addition to his role as a wrestler, Otani has also served as acting company president since 2007.
Seiichi Tanabe (田辺誠一) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 24th Yokohama Film Festival for Hush!…Seiichi Tanabe (田辺誠一) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 24th Yokohama Film Festival for Hush! and at the 27th Hochi Film Award for Hush! and Harmful Insect.
Akinori Nakanishi (仲西 昭徳) (born 1954 in Japan) is the chief designer for Mitsubishi Motors, based at the company's…Akinori Nakanishi (仲西 昭徳) (born 1954 in Japan) is the chief designer for Mitsubishi Motors, based at the company's design and research centre in Okazaki, Aichi. He was appointed to this position in June 2004, having previously worked as the General Manager for Mitsubishi Design Europe in Trebur, Germany. He began working for Mitsubishi in 1977 as soon as he graduated, and was responsible for both the 1991 and 2003 Colts, the HSR concept cars and the Mitsubishi Triton, among others. He cites fashion designers Issey Miyake and Giorgio Armani and movies such as The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings as inspirations, and names the original Mini and the Jaguar E-type as his personal favourite automotive designs. For his company's future, he has envisaged a sporty, wide-track look, saying "We are not a giant company, so we should be unique. This [look] gives them a wider stance. The bean counters don't like that. It is too expensive."
Keigo Masuya (桝屋 敬悟, Masuya Keigo; born 3 April 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a…Keigo Masuya (桝屋 敬悟, Masuya Keigo; born 3 April 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Abu District, Yamaguchi and graduate of the Soka University, he worked at the government of Yamaguchi Prefecture from 1975 to 1992. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1993.
Teruzane Utada (宇多田 照實, Utada Teruzane; born July 21, 1948) is a Japanese record producer and record executive. He…Teruzane Utada (宇多田 照實, Utada Teruzane; born July 21, 1948) is a Japanese record producer and record executive. He married Junko Utada (née Keiko Fuji) and oversaw her career. They were married to and divorced each other seven times. Their only child is the singer Hikaru Utada, one of Japan's most successful pop music singers of all time. Teruzane Utada was born in Tokuji, Utada also uses the names Sking U, Utada Sking Teruzane, and Utada Skingg Teruzane.
Akira Fujii (藤井 旭, Fujii Akira; 12 January 1941 – 28 December 2022) was a Japanese astrophotographer and astronomer.…Akira Fujii (藤井 旭, Fujii Akira; 12 January 1941 – 28 December 2022) was a Japanese astrophotographer and astronomer. PBS has described him as "the world's foremost wide-angle astrophotographer". Fujii graduated from Tama Art University in 1961, and began working at observatories, producing a substantial bibliography of general-audience astronomy books. In 1974, Fujii began Japan's first star party, the "Invitation to Starlit Skies", which he hosted on Mount Azuma until 1984. Fujii's work is marketed by David Malin; he collaborated with Serge Brunier in the production of 2001's Great Atlas of the Stars. The main-belt asteroid 3872 Akirafujii is named in his honor. Fujii died on 28 December 2022, at the age of 81.
Kōichirō Matsuura (松浦 晃一郎, Matsūra Kōichirō; born 29 September 1937) is a Japanese diplomat. He is the former…Kōichirō Matsuura (松浦 晃一郎, Matsūra Kōichirō; born 29 September 1937) is a Japanese diplomat. He is the former Director-General of UNESCO. He was first elected in 1999 to a six-year term and reelected on 12 October 2005 for four years, following a reform instituted by the 29th session of the General Conference. In November 2009, he was replaced by Irina Bokova. He studied law at the University of Tokyo and economics at Haverford College (Pennsylvania, USA) and began his diplomatic career in 1959. Posts held by Mr Matsuura include those of Director-General of the Economic Co-operation Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1988); Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1990); and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (1992–1994). He was Japan’s Ambassador to France from 1994 to 1999. After one year as the Chairperson of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, he became UNESCO’s ninth Director-General on 12 November 1999.
Hideo Hamamura (濱村 秀雄, Hamamura Hideo; 20 July 1928 – 7 May 2000) was a Japanese marathon runner. He won the Boston…Hideo Hamamura (濱村 秀雄, Hamamura Hideo; 20 July 1928 – 7 May 2000) was a Japanese marathon runner. He won the Boston Marathon in 1955 in a time of 2:18.22 which was a course record. He was 16th in the 1956 Olympic Games marathon in Melbourne. After retiring from competitive racing, he became an athletics coach. He died on 7 May 2000 from a malignant tumour.
Osamu Matsubara (松原 治, Matsubara Osamu; October 7, 1917 – January 3, 2012) was a Japanese businessman, business…Osamu Matsubara (松原 治, Matsubara Osamu; October 7, 1917 – January 3, 2012) was a Japanese businessman, business executive, and former chairman and CEO of Books Kinokuniya. Matsubara was President of Kinokuniya Company Ltd., the parent company of Books Kinokuniya, from October 1980 to November 2002. In November 2002, he became the Chief Executive Office and board chairman for Kinokuniya Company Ltd. Outside Japan, Matsubara oversaw the 2007 relocation of Books Kinokuniya's New York City location from Rockefeller Center to a new, 23,800 sq. feet, three-floor store across from Bryant Park. The store, with its 250,000 items, is considered the largest Japanese bookstore in the United States. The inventory of the New York location includes an equal amount of Japanese and English books, which is in line with the company's goal to offer a wide assortment of titles in both Japanese and English. Osamu Matsubara died from heart failure on January 3, 2012, at the age of 94.
Eiji Sasaki (佐々木 英治, Sasaki Eiji; 23 August 1915 – 15 December 2007) was a Japanese businessman, former Vice President…Eiji Sasaki (佐々木 英治, Sasaki Eiji; 23 August 1915 – 15 December 2007) was a Japanese businessman, former Vice President of Ube Industries and former President of TYS.
Yojiro Kimura (木村 陽二郎, Kimura Yōjirō; 1912–2006) was a Japanese botanist, known for his classification of…Yojiro Kimura (木村 陽二郎, Kimura Yōjirō; 1912–2006) was a Japanese botanist, known for his classification of monocotyledons, and of Japanese species of Hypericum.
Shigeaki Hinohara (日野原 重明, Hinohara Shigeaki; 4 October 1911 – 18 July 2017) was a Japanese physician. In 1941, he…Shigeaki Hinohara (日野原 重明, Hinohara Shigeaki; 4 October 1911 – 18 July 2017) was a Japanese physician. In 1941, he began his long working association with St. Luke's International Hospital in central Tokyo and worked as a medical doctor throughout the wartime firebombing of the city. From 1990 he served as the hospital's honorary director. He was also Sophia University's Grief Care Institute director emeritus. He was honorary chairman of the Foundation Sasakawa Memorial Health Cooperation. Hinohara is credited with establishing and popularizing Japan's practice of annual medical checkups.
Chūya Nakahara (中原 中也, Nakahara Chūya; 29 April 1907 – 22 October 1937), born Chūya Kashimura (柏村 中也, Kashimura Chūya)…Chūya Nakahara (中原 中也, Nakahara Chūya; 29 April 1907 – 22 October 1937), born Chūya Kashimura (柏村 中也, Kashimura Chūya), was a Japanese poet active during the early Shōwa period. Originally shaped by Dada and other forms of European (mainly French) experimental poetry, he was one of the leading renovators of Japanese poetry. Although he died at the young age of 30, he wrote more than 350 poems throughout his life. Many called him the "Japanese Rimbaud" for his affinities with the French poet whose poems he translated in 1934.
Raizō Tanaka (田中 頼三, Tanaka Raizō; 27 April 1892 – 9 July 1969) was a rear admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)…Raizō Tanaka (田中 頼三, Tanaka Raizō; 27 April 1892 – 9 July 1969) was a rear admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during most of World War II. A specialist in the heavy torpedoes that were carried by all the destroyers and cruisers of the IJN, Tanaka mainly commanded destroyer squadrons, with a cruiser or two attached, and he was the primary leader of the "Tokyo Express" reinforcement and resupply shipments during the long campaign for the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands of the South Pacific Ocean. From the Americans, Tanaka acquired the nickname of "Tenacious Tanaka" for his stalwart opposition.
Miyagi Tamayo (宮城タマヨ, Miyagi Tamayo; 1 February 1892 – 19 November 1960), née Ueda (植田, Ueda), was a Japanese social…Miyagi Tamayo (宮城タマヨ, Miyagi Tamayo; 1 February 1892 – 19 November 1960), née Ueda (植田, Ueda), was a Japanese social worker and politician who was a member of the House of Councillors.
Tomokiyo Yoshisane (Japanese: 友清歓真; October 9, 1888 – February 15, 1952), also known as Tomokiyo Banzan (友清磐山) or…Tomokiyo Yoshisane (Japanese: 友清歓真; October 9, 1888 – February 15, 1952), also known as Tomokiyo Banzan (友清磐山) or Tomokiyo Kugo (友清九吾), was a Japanese religious leader known for founding the Shintō Tenkōkyo religion in 1920.
Count Terauchi Masatake (寺内 正毅; 5 February 1852 – 3 November 1919) was a Japanese military officer and politician who…Count Terauchi Masatake (寺内 正毅; 5 February 1852 – 3 November 1919) was a Japanese military officer and politician who served as prime minister of Japan from 1916 to 1918. He was a Gensui (or Marshal) in the Imperial Japanese Army.
Hattori Ichizo (Japanese: 服部 一三, Hepburn: Hattori Ichizō; 13 March 1851 – 25 January 1929) was a Japanese politician…Hattori Ichizo (Japanese: 服部 一三, Hepburn: Hattori Ichizō; 13 March 1851 – 25 January 1929) was a Japanese politician who served as governor of Hiroshima Prefecture from July to December 1898. He was also governor of Iwate Prefecture (1891–1898), Nagasaki Prefecture (1898–1900) and Hyōgo Prefecture (1900–1916). He was the first president of the Seismological Society of Japan (1880–1882), as well as president of Kyoritsu Women's University (1886–1891). He was on the faculty of the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University.
Baron Utsumi Tadakatsu (内海 忠勝; 12 September 1843 – 20 January 1905) was a Japanese bureaucrat, statesman and cabinet…Baron Utsumi Tadakatsu (内海 忠勝; 12 September 1843 – 20 January 1905) was a Japanese bureaucrat, statesman and cabinet minister, active in Meiji period Empire of Japan.
Viscount Yamao Yōzō (山尾 庸三; 5 November 1837 – 21 December 1917) was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period who…Viscount Yamao Yōzō (山尾 庸三; 5 November 1837 – 21 December 1917) was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period who became an influential member of the Meiji era government of Japan.
Marquess Inoue Kaoru (井上 馨; 16 January 1836 – 1 September 1915) was a Japanese politician and a prominent member of the…Marquess Inoue Kaoru (井上 馨; 16 January 1836 – 1 September 1915) was a Japanese politician and a prominent member of the Meiji oligarchy during the Meiji period of the Empire of Japan. As one of the senior statesmen (Genrō) in Japan during that period, he had a tremendous influence on the selection of the nation's leaders and formation of its policies.
Ōmura Masujirō (大村 益次郎; May 30, 1824 – December 7, 1869) was a Japanese military leader and theorist in Bakumatsu…Ōmura Masujirō (大村 益次郎; May 30, 1824 – December 7, 1869) was a Japanese military leader and theorist in Bakumatsu period Japan. He was the "Father" of the Imperial Japanese Army, launching a modern military force closely patterned after the French system of the day.
Yoko Tanaka (田中 陽子, Tanaka Yōko; born 30 July 1993) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for…Yoko Tanaka (田中 陽子, Tanaka Yōko; born 30 July 1993) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Renofa Yamaguchi FC Ladies. She has also been a member of the Japan national team.
Kasumi Ishikawa (石川 佳純, Ishikawa Kasumi) (born 23 February 1993) is a retired Japanese table tennis player. A regular…Kasumi Ishikawa (石川 佳純, Ishikawa Kasumi) (born 23 February 1993) is a retired Japanese table tennis player. A regular member of the Japanese national team, she won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, a bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Women's team. She is a left-handed inverted rubber shakehand player who primarily uses speedy top-spins and loops in offensive play.
Hijiri Kuwano (桑野聖, Kuwano Hijiri; born February 12) is a Japanese violinist, composer and arranger. Kuwano began…Hijiri Kuwano (桑野聖, Kuwano Hijiri; born February 12) is a Japanese violinist, composer and arranger. Kuwano began taking violin lessons at age six and studied under Yonosuke Ishii, Shizuko Ishii and Chikashi Tanaka. While attending Tokyo University of the Arts, he performed as a guest concertmaster at Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra and Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra. Before graduating from the university, he became interested in playing non-classical music and started performing with Toshihito Nakanishi, who inspired him in many ways. Kuwano also started a career as composer, when he produced an album published together with a photobook by Kenji Ishikawa, Moonlight Blue. Kuwano handled string arrangements for albums and movies for Kome Kome Club and began his career as arranger as well. Kuwano worked on recordings, concerts with various artists, movies and video games as a soloist and as the "Hijiri Kuwano strings group". He is credited in Whisper of the Heart, Shall We Dance, Nobody Knows, Kind of Love, Melody of Oblivion, Good Luck Girl!, Final Fantasy XIII and numerous other productions as a performer, composer and arranger. He is also known as the violin player in the battle theme "Blinded by Light" in Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIII (composed by Masashi Hamauzu). He works closely with Hamauzu and Imeruat (Masashi Hamauzu and Mina) as a supporting artist. He toured with Imeruat to Europe and Hong Kong and performed several pieces on "α" Clock: World Time, Sony Global website (composed by Masashi Hamauzu).
