Toru Matsuoka (松岡 徹, Matsuoka Tōru; born November 26, 1951) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan…Toru Matsuoka (松岡 徹, Matsuoka Tōru; born November 26, 1951) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Osaka, Osaka and high school graduate, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 after serving in the assembly of Osaka Prefecture for three terms since 1991.
Kaoru Shintani (新谷 かおる, Shintani Kaoru; born April 26, 1951 in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist.…Kaoru Shintani (新谷 かおる, Shintani Kaoru; born April 26, 1951 in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist. Shintani is best known for his series Area 88. In addition to his pilot comics, Shintani has ventured into science fiction, fantasy, comedy, and hentai comics as well. In 1985, he was awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen for Area 88 and Futari Daka. Shintani began his career in 1972 as a shōjo artist and was nominated for the Ribon Comics Award for best new artist of that year. After working as an assistant to Leiji Matsumoto, the creator of Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999 and the creative director for Space Battleship Yamato, Shintani began to publish aviator titles in various comic magazines. Serialization of Area 88 began in 1979 and the title has been popular ever since. While working as an assistant to Matsumoto, one of Shintani's duties was to construct plastic models for drawing reference. Matsumoto often states that he based the character Yattaran (who appears as a supporting character in several Harlock stories) on Shintani.
Jun Nishikawa (西川 純, Nishikawa Jun; born 8 August 1950) is a former member of the Japanese Red Army (JRA). He was a…Jun Nishikawa (西川 純, Nishikawa Jun; born 8 August 1950) is a former member of the Japanese Red Army (JRA). He was a member of the group that attacked the French embassy in The Hague in 1974. In April 1975 he was arrested in Stockholm before being released later that year as part of a deal with the Japanese government to free the hostages that JRA had taken in the AIA building siege in Kuala Lumpur. He has been linked with the Japan Airlines Flight 472 hijacking carried out by the JRA on September 28, 1977. As a demand they asked for the release of several JRA members, including Junzo Okudaira, and their demands were met by the Japanese government. Nishikawa remained at large during this time. Following an investigation co-ordinated by Interpol, and involving Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, he was located and arrested 20 years later in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. He was eventually deported to Japan in November 1997, where he was arrested and put on trial. Nishikawa was found guilty of violating the hijacking law, passport forgery, attempted murder and taking hostages. On 30 March 2007, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Japan's Supreme Court said on September 13, 2011, that it turned down an appeal by Nishikawa against his sentence of life imprisonment.
Junzō Okudaira (Japanese: 奥平 純三, romanized: Okudaira Junzō; Japanese pronunciation: [o̞kɯ̟da̠iɾa̠ d͡ʑɨ̃nd͡zo̞ː]; born…Junzō Okudaira (Japanese: 奥平 純三, romanized: Okudaira Junzō; Japanese pronunciation: [o̞kɯ̟da̠iɾa̠ d͡ʑɨ̃nd͡zo̞ː]; born February 2, 1949) is a Japanese former militant who was one of the three Japanese Red Army (JRA) members who attacked the French embassy in The Hague in 1974 and was the person who detonated a car bomb in front of a USO club in Naples in 1988. He was the younger brother of fellow JRA activist Tsuyoshi Okudaira.
Ayako Daidōji (Japanese: 大道寺 あや子, romanized: Daidōji Ayako, born 20 October 1948) is a Japanese far-left militant and…Ayako Daidōji (Japanese: 大道寺 あや子, romanized: Daidōji Ayako, born 20 October 1948) is a Japanese far-left militant and fugitive. She was initially a member of the East Asia Anti-Japan Armed Front (EAAJAF), and was married to the group's leader Masashi Daidōji. Following the 1974 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries bombing, Daidoji was arrested for her involvement, but was subsequently released as part of a hostage exchange following the hijacking of JAL Flight 472 by the Japanese Red Army. Following her release, Daidoji joined the Japanese Red Army and still remains at large. Her whereabouts are unknown.
Toshio Tamogami (田母神 俊雄, Tamogami Toshio; born July 22, 1948) is a retired Japan Air Self-Defense Force general and…Toshio Tamogami (田母神 俊雄, Tamogami Toshio; born July 22, 1948) is a retired Japan Air Self-Defense Force general and politician. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Air Self-Defense Force from March 2007 until his dismissal in October 31, 2008. Tamogami was dismissed in 2008 due to a controversial essay he wrote. In the essay, he denied that Japan was an aggressor in World War II and claimed that Japan had been drawn into the war by Chiang Kai-shek and Franklin D. Roosevelt. He also argued that Japan's wartime actions were not acts of aggression but were justified as self-defense and efforts to "liberate Asia from Western colonialism." Tamogami turned to politics following his retirement from the military. In 2014 he ran as a candidate for governor of Tokyo and for the House of Representatives; in which he both lost. He was arrested in April 2016 for alleged violations of campaign finance laws (illegal payments to supporters) in relation to his gubernatorial campaign. He made a political comeback in 2024 by running for the Tokyo gubernatorial election, but placed fourth and performed worse compared to his 2014 run. He has been described as a "champion of Japan's right wing". He denies that women were forced by the Empire of Japan into sex work as "comfort women" and that the Nanjing Massacre occurred.
Minoru Kamata (鎌田 實 Kamata Minoru, born June 28, 1948) is a Japanese physician, writer, and humanitarian. Throughout…Minoru Kamata (鎌田 實 Kamata Minoru, born June 28, 1948) is a Japanese physician, writer, and humanitarian. Throughout his medical career he has been an advocate of patient-centered care, and he has also been actively involved in international medical and humanitarian aid. As a founding member of the Japan Chernobyl Foundation, Kamata has been particularly active in promoting medical aid programs for victims of the Chernobyl disaster, and subsequently for victims of other international and domestic disasters and conflicts. His book Gambaranai, which became a best seller in Japan in 2000, was dramatized for Japanese television. Kamata has been the recipient of numerous awards for his contributions to medicine, publishing and broadcasting, as well as for his overseas aid work and peace efforts.
Haruo Wakō (和光 晴生, Wakō Haruo; June 12, 1948 – November 4, 2023) was a Japanese communist militant, member of the…Haruo Wakō (和光 晴生, Wakō Haruo; June 12, 1948 – November 4, 2023) was a Japanese communist militant, member of the Japanese Red Army (JRA). Wakō attended Keio University, but dropped out in 1970. Later he worked for a time as an assistant for Kōji Wakamatsu's Wakamatsu Productions, a producer of leftist movies.
Shoukichi Kina (喜納昌吉, Kina Shōkichi; born June 10, 1948 in Koza, Okinawa), is a Japanese rock musician and politician.…Shoukichi Kina (喜納昌吉, Kina Shōkichi; born June 10, 1948 in Koza, Okinawa), is a Japanese rock musician and politician. He, along with his band Champloose, played a large role in the Okinawan home-grown "folk rock" scene in the 1970s and 1980s. His first big hit was "Haisai Ojisan" ("Hey, old man") in 1972, which he wrote when he was in high school. A Song from the 1980 album Blood Lines, "Hana" also named "Subete no Hito no Kokoro ni Hana o", is frequently heard in international markets. He was elected a member of the House of Councillors in July 2004. In 2010 he ran for a second term but lost.
Masashi Daidōji (大道寺将司, Daidōji Masashi) (5 June 1948 – 24 May 2017) was a Japanese far-left militant who founded the…Masashi Daidōji (大道寺将司, Daidōji Masashi) (5 June 1948 – 24 May 2017) was a Japanese far-left militant who founded the East Asia Anti-Japan Armed Front and formulated the group's ideology, anti-Japaneseism. Following the group's bombing of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries headquarters in 1974, Daidōji was arrested, and sentenced to death for his role in the bombing. Daidōji remained on death row until he died of natural causes in 2017.
Kōzō Okamoto (Japanese: 岡本 公三, Hepburn: Okamoto Kōzō; IPA: [o̞ka̠mo̞to̞ ko̞ːzo̞ː]; 7 December 1947 – 23 July 2026) was…Kōzō Okamoto (Japanese: 岡本 公三, Hepburn: Okamoto Kōzō; IPA: [o̞ka̠mo̞to̞ ko̞ːzo̞ː]; 7 December 1947 – 23 July 2026) was a Japanese communist militant and a member of the Japanese Red Army (JRA), responsible for the massacre of 26 passengers at Ben-Gurion International Airport in Israel in 1972. While at university, Okamoto was introduced to the Red Army Faction (the precursor organization to the JRA) by his brother, a member of the group. He later traveled to Beirut, Lebanon, where he received military training by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and was selected to carry out the Lod Airport massacre. He was the sole survivor of the three perpetrators. After his arrest by Israeli forces, Okamoto was sentenced to three life sentences, but was released in the 1985 Jibril Agreement after serving 13 years. He would later move to Lebanon, where he spent three years in prison on false visa charges before being granted asylum, despite a Japanese extradition request.
Hiroyasu Koga (Japanese: 古賀浩靖 Koga Hiroyasu, born 15 August 1947) is a former Tatenokai member and kaishakunin…Hiroyasu Koga (Japanese: 古賀浩靖 Koga Hiroyasu, born 15 August 1947) is a former Tatenokai member and kaishakunin responsible for the decapitations of Yukio Mishima and Masakatsu Morita during their seppuku on November 25, 1970. He studied law at Kanagawa University and intended to become a lawyer. Koga, known by the nickname Furu-Koga (distinguishing him from another Tatenokai member named Masayoshi Koga who was in turn nicknamed Chibi-Koga, 小賀), was a skilled practitioner of kendo (swordsmanship). It was originally planned that Mishima would be decapitated by Masakatsu Morita, the Tatenokai's student leader; however, Morita was not trained in the sword and failed, at which point Koga stepped in to complete it. Koga then decapitated Morita as part of Morita's own seppuku. Koga and two other participating Tatenokai members (Masayoshi Koga and Masahiro Ogawa) went on trial on March 24, 1971, facing charges of bodily injury, violence, illegal possession of firearms and swords, and assisting a suicide. They were convicted and sentenced to four years' penal servitude, and were released in 1974, a few months early. As of 2005, it was believed that he was a practising Shinto priest at a shrine on Shikoku. However, an alternative belief is that he never became a Shinto priest, instead becoming the head of the Hokkaido branch of Seicho-no-Ie and was renamed Hiroyasu Arechi. It is further posited that he now resides in Kumamoto.
Yū Kikumura (菊村 憂, Kikumura Yū; born 1947) is an alleged member of the Japanese Red Army, an armed militant…Yū Kikumura (菊村 憂, Kikumura Yū; born 1947) is an alleged member of the Japanese Red Army, an armed militant organization.
Kenji Utsunomiya (宇都宮 健児, Utsunomiya Kenji; born December 1, 1946) is a Japanese lawyer and former chair of the Japan…Kenji Utsunomiya (宇都宮 健児, Utsunomiya Kenji; born December 1, 1946) is a Japanese lawyer and former chair of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
Soichiro Fukutake (福武 總一郎, Fukutake Sōichirō; born 1945) is a Japanese billionaire, and the former chairman of the…Soichiro Fukutake (福武 總一郎, Fukutake Sōichirō; born 1945) is a Japanese billionaire, and the former chairman of the Benesse Corporation, a publishing firm and juku company known for its patronage of the arts.
Fusako Shigenobu (Japanese: 重信 房子, romanized: Shigenobu Fusako; IPA: [ɕiɡe̞no̞bɯ̟ ɸɯ̟sa̠ko̞]; born September 28, 1945)…Fusako Shigenobu (Japanese: 重信 房子, romanized: Shigenobu Fusako; IPA: [ɕiɡe̞no̞bɯ̟ ɸɯ̟sa̠ko̞]; born September 28, 1945) is a Japanese communist activist, writer, and the founder and leader of the now-disbanded militant group Japanese Red Army (JRA). Born in Japan, Shigenobu became involved in New Left activism while attending night school at Meiji University in Tokyo. In 1969, she joined the Red Army Faction (RAF), a communist group that advocated immediate, armed revolution against the governments of the United States and Japan. Eventually becoming one of its senior leaders, Shigenobu played a significant role in establishing the International Relations Bureau for the organization. In 1971, she helped found the JRA as an offshoot of the RAF. That same year, Shigenobu and the JRA relocated to the Middle East in an effort to start a world revolution, therefore she came in contact with terror groups within Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). During the 1970s and 1980s, members of the JRA took part in a number of violent incidents, including bombings, mass shootings, and hijackings. Although Shigenobu did not directly participate in these activities, during this time she attained international fame as the leader and public-facing spokesperson for the JRA. Under her leadership, the JRA allied with Palestinian militant groups to carry out high-profile terrorist attacks globally, most notably the Lod Airport Massacre (at what is now Ben Gurion Airport) on May 30, 1972. Arriving in the baggage area, the gunmen pulled assault rifles and grenades from violin cases and fired indiscriminately into the crowd. 26 people were murdered (mostly Puerto Rican pilgrims and Israeli citizens) and over 80 were injured. Two attackers died during the assault, while the third, Kozo Okamoto, was captured. Shigenobu coordinated logistics and provided political backing for the attack. Despite initially supporting Terror acts, in later years Shigenobu expressed remorse about her involvement with violent militancy, and focused on grassroots support for and solidarity with the Palestinian people. Throughout her years in hiding and later imprisonment, Shigenobu authored 10 books, including a book of poetry. Following her arrest in 2000 after several years of hiding, Shigenobu was put on trial for passport forgery and conspiracy involving an attempted hostage-taking operation at the French Embassy in The Hague in 1974. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2006 and released in 2022.
Masakatsu Morita (森田 必勝, Morita Masakatsu; 25 July 1945 – 25 November 1970) was a Japanese political activist who…Masakatsu Morita (森田 必勝, Morita Masakatsu; 25 July 1945 – 25 November 1970) was a Japanese political activist who killed himself via seppuku with Yukio Mishima in Tokyo. Morita was the youngest child of the headmaster of an elementary school. Losing both parents at the age of three, Morita was cared for by his brother Osamu and educated at a Catholic school. He entered Waseda University in 1966, but was dismayed by the presence of Communist Zengakuren students at the university and became heavily involved in the small right-wing faction at the university. He first met Mishima on 19 June 1967, and joined the Tatenokai at its establishment in October 1968. As early as March of that year, he had written a letter to Mishima expressing a willingness to die for him. Mishima was interested in using his society for direct political action, and he approached several members in April and May 1970. The inner circle then consisted of Mishima, Morita, Masahiro Ogawa (小川正洋) and Masayoshi Koga (小賀正義) ("Chibi" Koga). No clear plan was developed until late June. Shortly afterwards, Mishima went on holiday to Shimoda and paid for the others to go to Hokkaido. On 2 September in Tokyo, Morita and "Chibi Koga" recruited Hiroyasu Koga (古賀浩靖) ("Furu" Koga), who was a Tatenokai member also, and he met Mishima to hear details of the plan on 9 September. Originally all four Tatenokai members had planned to commit seppuku along with Mishima. However, Mishima attempted to dissuade them and three of the members acquiesced to his wishes. Only Morita persisted, saying, "I can't let Mr. Mishima die alone." So, in November, Mishima ruled that only he and Morita were to die. Morita said to other members who had wanted to die together, "We are alive or dead together, because we can meet again somewhere." But Mishima knew that Morita had a girlfriend and still hoped he might live. On 21 and 22 November 1970, supplies were bought, and Morita asked Hiroyasu Koga to stand in for him if he should fail to behead Mishima properly. The next two days were spent rehearsing. On the morning of 25 November, the group drove to the Japan Self-Defense Force's Ichigaya garrison on the pretext of a friendly visit. They barricaded themselves inside General Mashita's office, taking him prisoner, and issued demands. At noon, Mishima began to make a speech from the balcony to assembled troops, but his words were drowned out by helicopters. Immediately after his return from the balcony, Mishima stabbed himself in the abdomen and Morita then attempted to behead him. After three failed attempts by Morita, Hiroyasu Koga stepped in and beheaded Mishima. According to the testimony of the surviving coup members, just before his seppuku, Mishima tried one more time to dissuade Morita, saying "Morita, you must live, not die." Nevertheless, after Mishima's seppuku, Morita knelt and stabbed himself in the abdomen and Koga again performed the kaishakunin duty. Masayoshi Koga, Masahiro Ogawa, and Hiroyasu Koga, who were tried for various charges, including murder with the victim's consent, were freed from prison for good behavior in October 1974. All three were aged 26 at the time.
Tsuyoshi Okudaira (Japanese: 奥平 剛士, romanized: Okudaira Tsuyoshi; IPA: [o̞kɯ̟da̠iɾa̠ t͡sɨjo̞ɕi]; July 21, 1945 – May…Tsuyoshi Okudaira (Japanese: 奥平 剛士, romanized: Okudaira Tsuyoshi; IPA: [o̞kɯ̟da̠iɾa̠ t͡sɨjo̞ɕi]; July 21, 1945 – May 30, 1972) was a Japanese communist activist and one of the leaders of the militant group Japanese Red Army (JRA). He was killed carrying out the Lod Airport Massacre near Lod, Israel on May 30, 1972. At the time of his death, he was married to JRA leader Fusako Shigenobu. He was the older brother of fellow JRA activist Junzō Okudaira.
Takemitsu Takizaki (born 10 June 1945) is a Japanese billionaire businessman, honorary chairman and founder of Keyence…Takemitsu Takizaki (born 10 June 1945) is a Japanese billionaire businessman, honorary chairman and founder of Keyence, a Japanese manufacturer of automation sensors, vision systems, barcode readers, laser markers, measuring instruments, and digital microscopes. As of September 29, 2022, Takizaki has a net worth of US$18.6 billion.
Misako Enoki (榎 美沙子, Enoki Misako; born 23 January 1945) is a Japanese feminist, pharmacist, and politician. She helped…Misako Enoki (榎 美沙子, Enoki Misako; born 23 January 1945) is a Japanese feminist, pharmacist, and politician. She helped launch and became a symbol of the feminist movement in Japan when she organized activists to push for the legalization of the birth control pill. As a sign of respect for her elderly parents, Enoki was compelled to marry at the age of 24. She married physician Natsuo Kiuchi, retaining her maiden name. Enoki began her involvement with the Japanese women's liberation translation group known as Wolf Group (Urufu no Kai). She distributed a pamphlet calling for the legalization of the birth control pill, initially using the group's name, angering group members who did not share her position. Enoki attended the Ribu Conference of May 1972, recruiting women to form a protest group called Chūpiren ([ja: 中ピ連]; sometimes known as Pink Panthers or pink helmets) as a radical wing of the Japanese feminist movement. Chūpiren was an abbreviation for Chūzetsu Kinshi Hō ni Hantai Shi Piru Kaikin o Yōkyū Suru Josei Kaihō Rengō (Women's Liberation Federation for Opposing the Abortion Prohibition Law and Lifting the Pill Ban). The group organized well-attended demonstrations for a series of campaigns addressing the concerns of women. Chūpiren was concerned with legal rights in divorce and marriage, access to birth control, abortion, and equal pay. Wearing pink hard hats to ensure maximal media attention, the demonstrators marched in white military-style uniforms. They held protest rallies and sit-ins and took part in publicity stunts such as confronting unfaithful husbands in their offices. The male-dominated media gave coverage to Chūpiren but did not take them seriously, instead ridiculing the movement. Enoki debated with Japanese feminist Mitsu Tanaka, who did not think that Chūpiren could be considered part of uuman ribu, the Japanese women's liberation movement. Enoki was not well trusted in the ribu and members of Chūpiren were critical of her style of leadership. Enoki formed the Japan Woman's Party (Nihon Joseitō) for the 1977 House of Councillors election. The party put forward 10 to 12 candidates in the election and fared poorly, receiving only 0.4 per cent of the popular vote. Following the election, Chūpiren was disbanded and Enoki left public life. Enoki's husband lent her $38,000 to help finance the 1977 political campaign of the Japan Women's Party. They struck a bargain where she would resume housework at their apartment in suburban Tokyo and he would write off $2,670 of the loan for each month of housework.
Tsuneo Mori (森 恒夫, Mori Tsuneo; December 6, 1944 – January 1, 1973) was a Japanese radical leftist and terrorist. He…Tsuneo Mori (森 恒夫, Mori Tsuneo; December 6, 1944 – January 1, 1973) was a Japanese radical leftist and terrorist. He was born in Osaka and entered the Osaka City University where he became involved in leftist politics, eventually joining the Red Army Faction, which was a schismatic militant subfaction of the Japan Communist League. After many members of the Red Army Faction were arrested by the Japanese police with Mori remaining at large, several members of the group went to North Korea with Japan Airlines Flight 351 and some formed the Japanese Red Army. Mori remained in Japan and eventually became the leader of the United Red Army. Along with Hiroko Nagata, he allegedly killed 12 members and he was arrested in February 1972. He committed suicide by hanging in his cell in Tokyo on January 1, 1973.
Seiji Mataichi (又市 征治, Mataichi Seiji; 18 July 1944 – 18 September 2023) was a Japanese politician who served as a…Seiji Mataichi (又市 征治, Mataichi Seiji; 18 July 1944 – 18 September 2023) was a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Councillors. He was also the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party. Mataichi died on 18 September 2023, at the age of 79.
Mitsuo Matayoshi (又吉 光雄, Matayoshi Mitsuo; February 5, 1944 – July 20, 2018), also known as Jesus Matayoshi (又吉 イエス…Mitsuo Matayoshi (又吉 光雄, Matayoshi Mitsuo; February 5, 1944 – July 20, 2018), also known as Jesus Matayoshi (又吉 イエス, Matayoshi Iesu) or The Only God Matayoshi Jesus Christ (唯一神又吉光雄・イエス・キリスト, Yui'itsu-shin Matayoshi Mitsuo Iesu Kirisuto), was a Japanese political activist and perennial candidate. He was the leader and founder of the World Economic Community Party (Sekai Keizai Kyōdōtai-tō (世界経済共同体党)). He was born in Ginowan, Okinawa on February 5, 1944. After graduating from Chuo University in Tokyo in 1968, he moved back to Okinawa and ran a juku, a private school. Matayoshi was trained as a Protestant preacher, and through his religious studies developed a particular concept of Christianity strongly influenced by eschatology. In 1997, he established the World Economic Community Party, a political party based on his conviction that he was God. His concept was both religious and political, a mix of Christian eschatology like Augustine's De civitate Dei ("City of God") and conservative collectivism. He died from kidney cancer on 20 July 2018 in Tokyo, aged 74.
Takaya Shiomi (塩見 孝也, Shiomi Takaya; May 22, 1941 - November 14, 2017) was a Japanese communist activist and the…Takaya Shiomi (塩見 孝也, Shiomi Takaya; May 22, 1941 - November 14, 2017) was a Japanese communist activist and the founder and leader of Red Army Faction (Sekigunha), a schismatic militant subfaction of the Japan Communist League. He was the mastermind behind the hijacking of Japan Air Lines Flight 351 to North Korea in 1970, although his arrest just days prior prevented his direct participation in the incident.
Ratna Sari Dewi Sukarno (ラトナ サリ デヴィ スカルノ, Ratona Sari Devi Sukaruno; born Naoko Nemoto (根本 七保子, Nemoto Naoko); February…Ratna Sari Dewi Sukarno (ラトナ サリ デヴィ スカルノ, Ratona Sari Devi Sukaruno; born Naoko Nemoto (根本 七保子, Nemoto Naoko); February 6, 1940), widely known in Japan as Dewi Fujin (デヴィ夫人, Devi Fujin; literally Lady Dewi or Madame Dewi) is a Japanese businesswoman, socialite, and television personality. She was one of the wives of the first President of Indonesia, Sukarno.
Yōhei Sasakawa (笹川 陽平, Sasakawa Yōhei; born 8 January 1939) is a Japanese businessman and diplomat. He's the World…Yōhei Sasakawa (笹川 陽平, Sasakawa Yōhei; born 8 January 1939) is a Japanese businessman and diplomat. He's the World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. He was chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Japan's largest charitable foundation, from 2005 to 2025. His father was the controversial businessman and politician Ryōichi Sasakawa.
Mitsuko Tokoro (所 美都子, Tokoro Mitsuko; January 3, 1939 – January 27, 1968), also known by her pen name Mimie Tomano…Mitsuko Tokoro (所 美都子, Tokoro Mitsuko; January 3, 1939 – January 27, 1968), also known by her pen name Mimie Tomano, was a Japanese biologist and New Left activist remembered as one of the leading theorists of the apolitical and radically anti-hierarchical Zenkyōtō movement that carried out the 1968-69 Japanese student uprisings at universities across Japan.
Michiko Kanba (Japanese: 樺 美智子; November 8, 1937 – June 15, 1960) was a Japanese communist, University of Tokyo…Michiko Kanba (Japanese: 樺 美智子; November 8, 1937 – June 15, 1960) was a Japanese communist, University of Tokyo undergraduate and Zengakuren activist. She died in clashes between demonstrators and police at the South Gate of the National Diet Building in central Tokyo at the height of the 1960 Anpo Protests against the US–Japan Security Treaty.
Eiji Uehiro (上廣 榮治, Uehiro Eiji; 6 June 1937 – 11 January 2019) was a Japanese ethicist, social educator, and writer.…Eiji Uehiro (上廣 榮治, Uehiro Eiji; 6 June 1937 – 11 January 2019) was a Japanese ethicist, social educator, and writer. He founded the Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education in 1987 and the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics in 2003.
Sadao Fuchigami (渕上 貞雄, Fuchigami Sadao; 19 March 1937 – 13 October 2023) was a Japanese politician and member of the…Sadao Fuchigami (渕上 貞雄, Fuchigami Sadao; 19 March 1937 – 13 October 2023) was a Japanese politician and member of the House of Councillors for the Social Democratic Party. He died from ureteral cancer on 13 October 2023, at the age of 86.
Yoshiomi Tamai (玉井 義臣, Tamai Yoshiomi; 6 February 1935 – 5 July 2025) was a Japanese activist, philanthropist and…Yoshiomi Tamai (玉井 義臣, Tamai Yoshiomi; 6 February 1935 – 5 July 2025) was a Japanese activist, philanthropist and educator who was the founder and president of Ashinaga and the founder and headmaster of Kokorojuku dormitory.
Kisho Kurokawa (黒川 紀章, Kurokawa Kishō) (April 8, 1934 – October 12, 2007) was a leading Japanese architect and a…Kisho Kurokawa (黒川 紀章, Kurokawa Kishō) (April 8, 1934 – October 12, 2007) was a leading Japanese architect and a founder of the Metabolist Movement.
Hirofumi Yamashita (山下 弘文, Yamashita Hirofumi) (died 2000) was a Japanese ichthyologist and environmentalist. For 25…Hirofumi Yamashita (山下 弘文, Yamashita Hirofumi) (died 2000) was a Japanese ichthyologist and environmentalist. For 25 years, he opposed the reclamation project in Isahaya Bay, one of the world's largest wetlands, compelling the Japanese government to scale back the massive dike project and reevaluate the environmental costs of reclamation. He was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1998 for his efforts on marine protection.
Yoko Ono (Japanese: 小野 洋子, romanized: Ono Yōko, usually spelled in katakana as オノ・ヨーコ; born February 18, 1933) is a…Yoko Ono (Japanese: 小野 洋子, romanized: Ono Yōko, usually spelled in katakana as オノ・ヨーコ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese retired artist, musician, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono was born and grew up in Tokyo and moved to New York City in 1952 to join her family. She became involved with New York City's downtown artists scene in the early 1960s, which included the Fluxus group, and became widely known outside the contemporary art world in 1969 when she married English musician John Lennon of the Beatles, with whom she would subsequently record as a duo in the Plastic Ono Band. The couple used their honeymoon as a stage for public protests against the Vietnam War with what they called a bed-in. She and Lennon remained married until he was murdered in front of the couple's apartment building, The Dakota, on December 8, 1980. Together, they had one son, Sean, who later also became a musician. Ono began a career in popular music in 1969, forming the Plastic Ono Band with Lennon and producing a number of avant-garde music albums in the 1970s. She achieved commercial and critical success in 1980 with the chart-topping album Double Fantasy, a collaboration with Lennon which was released three weeks before his murder, winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. To date, she has had twelve number one singles on the US Dance charts, and in 2016 was named the 11th most successful dance club artist of all time by Billboard magazine. Many musicians have paid tribute to Ono as an artist in her own right and as a muse and icon, including the B-52's, Sonic Youth and Meredith Monk. As Lennon's widow, Ono works to preserve his legacy. She funded the Strawberry Fields memorial in Manhattan's Central Park, the Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland, and the John Lennon Museum in Saitama, Japan (which closed in 2010). She has made significant philanthropic contributions to the arts, peace and disaster relief in Japan and the Philippines, and other such causes. In 2002, she inaugurated a biennial $50,000 LennonOno Grant for Peace. In 2012, she received the Dr. Rainer Hildebrandt Human Rights Award and co-founded the group Artists Against Fracking.
Ng Chiau-tong (Chinese: 黃昭堂; pinyin: Huáng Zhāotáng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: N̂g Chiau-tông; 21 September 1932 – 17 November 2011)…Ng Chiau-tong (Chinese: 黃昭堂; pinyin: Huáng Zhāotáng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: N̂g Chiau-tông; 21 September 1932 – 17 November 2011) was a Taiwanese pro-independence activist who served as the chairman of the World United Formosans for Independence (WUFI) until his death in 2011.
Oda Makoto (小田 実, Oda Makoto; June 2, 1932 – July 30, 2007) was a Japanese novelist, peace activist, academic and Time…Oda Makoto (小田 実, Oda Makoto; June 2, 1932 – July 30, 2007) was a Japanese novelist, peace activist, academic and Time Asian Hero.
Osamu Yatabe (Japanese: 矢田部理 Yatabe Osamu; 15 February 1932 – 5 December 2021) was a Japanese lawyer and politician. A…Osamu Yatabe (Japanese: 矢田部理 Yatabe Osamu; 15 February 1932 – 5 December 2021) was a Japanese lawyer and politician. A member of the Japan Socialist Party and later the New Socialist Party of Japan, he served in the House of Councillors from 1974 to 1998.
Hisae Sawachi (Japanese: 澤地久枝, Japanese: さわち ひさえ born 3 September 1930) is a Japanese writer, magazine editor and…Hisae Sawachi (Japanese: 澤地久枝, Japanese: さわち ひさえ born 3 September 1930) is a Japanese writer, magazine editor and anti-nuclear activist. She is known for her non-fiction writing on Japan's Shōwa era and wartime experiences as well as for her autobiographical work. She is a recipient of the Asahi Prize, the Kikuchi Kan Prize and the Japan Women Broadcasters Association Award.
Takeshi Ito (Japanese: 伊東壮; 5 October 1929 – 3 March 2000) was a Japanese economist and peace activist. He served as…Takeshi Ito (Japanese: 伊東壮; 5 October 1929 – 3 March 2000) was a Japanese economist and peace activist. He served as the president of the University of Yamanashi, a representative committee member of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) that won the Nobel Prize in 2024, and the chairman of the Tokyo Confederation of A-Bomb Sufferers Organizations.
Akira Yamagishi (山岸 章, Yamagishi Akira; 18 July 1929 – 10 April 2016) was a Japanese trade union leader who served as…Akira Yamagishi (山岸 章, Yamagishi Akira; 18 July 1929 – 10 April 2016) was a Japanese trade union leader who served as the first president of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation from 1989 to 1994.
Toru Miyoshi (Japanese: 三好達 Miyoshi Tōru; 31 October 1927 – 6 March 2023) was a prominent Japanese jurist and political…Toru Miyoshi (Japanese: 三好達 Miyoshi Tōru; 31 October 1927 – 6 March 2023) was a prominent Japanese jurist and political activist. He held the position of Chief Justice of Japan from 1995 to 1997. Miyoshi also served as the third president and later as honorary Chairman of Nippon Kaigi. He died in Tokyo on 6 March 2023, at the age of 95.
Michiko Ishimure (石牟礼道子, Ishimure Michiko; 11 March 1927 – 10 February 2018) was a Japanese writer and activist. She…Michiko Ishimure (石牟礼道子, Ishimure Michiko; 11 March 1927 – 10 February 2018) was a Japanese writer and activist. She won the 1973 Ramon Magsaysay Award, among the most prestigious awards in Asia, for publicizing writings about Minamata disease, which was extremely controversial at the time.
Tadanobu Usami (Japanese: 宇佐美忠信; 31 October 1925 – 10 November 2011) was a Japanese trade union leader. Born in Tokyo…Tadanobu Usami (Japanese: 宇佐美忠信; 31 October 1925 – 10 November 2011) was a Japanese trade union leader. Born in Tokyo, Usami was educated at the Takachiho College of Economics. In 1946, he began working at the Fuji Cotton Spinning Company. Later in the year, he moved to work full-time for the new Japan Federation of Textile Workers' Unions. He served on the union's Central Executive Committee from 1947, became Assistant General Secretary in 1955, General Secretary in 1961, and President in 1971. In 1972, Usami additionally became vice president of the Japanese Confederation of Labour, serving as president from 1980. The same year, he was elected as president of the ICFTU Asia and Pacific Regional Organisation. Usami died of pneumonia in November 2011.
Masao Haji (土師 政雄, Haji Masao; September 27, 1925 – June 9, 1998) was a Japanese political activist, mathematics…Masao Haji (土師 政雄, Haji Masao; September 27, 1925 – June 9, 1998) was a Japanese political activist, mathematics lecturer and critic. He also wrote books under the name Ryūsuke Nomi (野見隆介, Nomi Ryusuke). He was chair of mathematics at the correspondence-course "Z-kai", and taught at the three top exam preparation schools (juku): Yoyogi Seminar, Sundai Preparatory School and Kawai Juku Groupwork.
Tatsu Ishimoda (Japanese: 石母田 達 Ishimoda Tatsu; 11 May 1924 – 12 February 2022) was a Japanese politician. A member of…Tatsu Ishimoda (Japanese: 石母田 達 Ishimoda Tatsu; 11 May 1924 – 12 February 2022) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Japanese Communist Party, he served in the House of Representatives from 1972 to 1976. He died in Atsugi on 12 February 2022, at the age of 97.
Gan Tanigawa (谷川 雁; December 25, 1923 – February 2, 1995) was a Japanese poet, critic, and social activist. He is best…Gan Tanigawa (谷川 雁; December 25, 1923 – February 2, 1995) was a Japanese poet, critic, and social activist. He is best known for his work with the Sakuru Mura (サークル村) poetry group.
Suzuko Numata (Japanese: 沼田鈴子, romanized: Numata Suzuko; July 30, 1923 - July 12, 2011) was a Japanese peace activist…Suzuko Numata (Japanese: 沼田鈴子, romanized: Numata Suzuko; July 30, 1923 - July 12, 2011) was a Japanese peace activist and a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
Shunsuke Tsurumi (鶴見 俊輔, Tsurumi Shunsuke; June 25, 1922 – July 20, 2015) was a Japanese philosopher, historian, and…Shunsuke Tsurumi (鶴見 俊輔, Tsurumi Shunsuke; June 25, 1922 – July 20, 2015) was a Japanese philosopher, historian, and sociologist.
