Suzuko Ogino, (Japanese: 荻野 鈴子; born 31 January 1994) known by her stage name Uryu Hirano (平野 雨龍) and Suzuko Hirano (平野…
Suzuko Ogino, (Japanese: 荻野 鈴子; born 31 January 1994) known by her stage name Uryu Hirano (平野 雨龍) and Suzuko Hirano (平野 鈴子) before 2021, is a Japanese right-wing politician, political activist, and former model. She is the representative of the social organization "Uryu-kai". Hirano came to public attention following the 2019 Hong Kong pro-democracy movement and has been described as Japan's leading figure opposing the Extradition Bill to China, Taiwanese media occasionally referring to Hirano as the "Anti-Extradition Goddess." She has been active in advocating for the protection of Uyghur human rights and a review of Japan's immigration policies toward Chinese nationals. Her activities have been reported in media of both Taiwan and Hong Kong. Hirano ran as an independent candidate from the Tokyo constituency in the 2025 Japanese House of Councillors election, becoming the youngest candidate in the race under an anti-immigrant campaign focusing on strengthening restrictions on Chinese immigration and deepening relations with Taiwan and Hong Kong. Although did not reach the vote threshold for being elected, she received 235,411 votes, placing 14th out of 32 candidates and the highest among all independent candidates.
Famous Japanese People: Activist
Activist: 224 people
Ayaka Otsu (大津 綾香, Ōtsu Ayaka; born 18 November 1992) is a Japanese politician and former child actress who is the…
Ayaka Otsu (大津 綾香, Ōtsu Ayaka; born 18 November 1992) is a Japanese politician and former child actress who is the disputed de jure leader of The Collaborative Party. She was an agent of Five Eight Ltd. during her active years as a child actress.
Masako Ganaha (Japanese: 我那覇（がなは）真（まさ）子（こ）; born August 10, 1989) is a Japanese freelance journalist and JSDF…
Masako Ganaha (Japanese: 我那覇（がなは）真（まさ）子（こ）; born August 10, 1989) is a Japanese freelance journalist and JSDF reservist. She is a representative operating committee member of the Citizens' and People's Association for Correcting the Ryukyu Shimpo and the Okinawa Times (琉球新報、沖縄タイムスを正す県民・国民の会). She is also an external advisor for the Sanseitō party.
Ikumi Yoshimatsu (吉松 育美, Yoshimatsu Ikumi; born 21 June 1987) is a Japanese actress, stunt woman, book author, opinion…
Ikumi Yoshimatsu (吉松 育美, Yoshimatsu Ikumi; born 21 June 1987) is a Japanese actress, stunt woman, book author, opinion leader, social activist and beauty queen who was crowned Miss International 2012 in Okinawa. It was Japan's first Miss International win in the 52-year history of the pageant. In 2014, she was intimidated and criticized by Japanese nationalist and right-wing groups for publicly advocating on behalf of the historical comfort women issues and has been an outspoken leader for women's rights issues. Yoshimatsu started the "STALKER-ZERO" campaign to introduce strict new laws to protect victims of stalking and intimidation in Japan, after becoming the first high-profile woman to go public with her personal experience in an international press conference. She was a featured presenter at Ted Talks where she advocated for stronger laws to protect women in Japan. Ikumi started the Global Student Diplomacy Network in 2015 to connect elementary and middle school classrooms from various countries with each other by Skype for cultural exchange. The first exchange featured special guest Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary and the governor of Saga Prefecture, Yasushi Furukawa." She obtained a degree in education and international education at the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo, Japan. Ikumi is both an actress and stunt double for Tao Okamoto in three episodes of the HBO series Westworld. She is also acting in Michael Bay's Netflix movie 6 Underground. Ikumi has been cast to star in, and is currently filming the 10 episode of, international action thriller series, LightStinger. Ikumi starred as the lead actress in Nico Santucci's movie Sarogeto, starring alongside Winsor Harmon and Eric Roberts.
Mai Nakagawa (中川 真依, Nakagawa Mai; born 7 April 1987) is a Japanese diver. She competed at the 10 metre platform event…
Mai Nakagawa (中川 真依, Nakagawa Mai; born 7 April 1987) is a Japanese diver. She competed at the 10 metre platform event at the 2008 Summer Olympics and at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Koyuki Higashi (東 小雪, Higashi Koyuki; born 1 February 1985) is a Japanese LGBT activist, stage actress and writer. From…
Koyuki Higashi (東 小雪, Higashi Koyuki; born 1 February 1985) is a Japanese LGBT activist, stage actress and writer. From 2005 to 2006, she was an otokoyaku member of the Takarazuka Revue Hana-gumi under the name Aura Maki (あうら真輝). In the fall of 2010, she became involved in LGBT issues.
Teruki Gotō (後藤 輝樹, Gotō Teruki; December 8, 1982 – June 28, 2026) was a Japanese musician and perennial candidate…
Teruki Gotō (後藤 輝樹, Gotō Teruki; December 8, 1982 – June 28, 2026) was a Japanese musician and perennial candidate known for his naked election posters. He held a number of nationalist views and ran as a candidate for Mayor of Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo (2013), City Assembly of Chiyoda (2015), Governor of Tokyo (2016), Governor of Tokyo (2020), and Governor of Tokyo (2024). According to his website, he wished to make Japan the "strongest, kindest, and most interesting country in the world." In 2016, his television speech became a meme on the Internet when he ran for governor of Tokyo. He continued to speak prohibited words, and as a result 10% of his speech was censored by NHK without his permission. Gotō died on June 28, 2026, at the age of 43.
Fumino Sugiyama (杉山文野, Sugiyama Fumino; born August 10, 1981) is a Japanese transgender activist and former fencer. He…
Fumino Sugiyama (杉山文野, Sugiyama Fumino; born August 10, 1981) is a Japanese transgender activist and former fencer. He is a co-representative director of Tokyo Rainbow Pride, an annual festival that celebrates Tokyo's LGBT community and has served as a member of the Shibuya Ward Gender Equality and Diversity Society Promotion Council, a director of the Japan Fencing Association, and the Japanese Olympic Committee. He has also authored several books, including Double Happiness in 2006.
Mami Tamura (たむら まみ, Tamura Mami; born 23 April 1976) is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of…
Mami Tamura (たむら まみ, Tamura Mami; born 23 April 1976) is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Councillors of Japan.
Hirotada Ototake (乙武 洋匡, Ototake Hirotada) (born April 6, 1976) is a Japanese writer from Tokyo, who has written in the…
Hirotada Ototake (乙武 洋匡, Ototake Hirotada) (born April 6, 1976) is a Japanese writer from Tokyo, who has written in the memoir, fiction and sports journalism genres.
Makiko Kishi is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Councillors of Japan. Kishi was elected for the…
Makiko Kishi is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Councillors of Japan. Kishi was elected for the first time in the 2019 House of Councillors election. As of October 2023, she serves as a member of several important committees within the House of Councillors, including the Committee on General Affairs, the Committee on Fiscal Affairs, and the Special Committee on Regional Revitalization and the Formation of a Digital Society, where she holds the position of chief director.
Maki Muraki (村木 真紀, Muraki Maki; born 1974) is a Japanese LGBTQ activist. She is the head of the Osaka-based Japanese…
Maki Muraki (村木 真紀, Muraki Maki; born 1974) is a Japanese LGBTQ activist. She is the head of the Osaka-based Japanese LGBT rights organization, Nijiiro ("Rainbow") Diversity. Through lectures and media appearances, she is an advocate for gay-friendly policies in office environments in Japanese companies and society.
Hajime Matsumoto (松本 哉, Matsumoto Hajime; born October 17, 1974) is a Japanese activist, and owner of a second-hand…
Hajime Matsumoto (松本 哉, Matsumoto Hajime; born October 17, 1974) is a Japanese activist, and owner of a second-hand goods shop in Koenji, Tokyo.
Daisuke Tsuda (津田 大介, Tsuda Daisuke; born November 15, 1973), is a Japanese YouTuber, political activist, social…
Daisuke Tsuda (津田 大介, Tsuda Daisuke; born November 15, 1973), is a Japanese YouTuber, political activist, social activist and writer originally from Kita, Tokyo. He graduated from the Social Sciences Department of Waseda University. He launched the YouTube channel "POLITAS TV (ポリタスTV)" in 2020 and became a political opinion YouTuber.
Ken Noguchi (野口 健, Noguchi Ken; born August 21, 1973 in Boston) is a Japanese mountaineer and environmental activist.…
Ken Noguchi (野口 健, Noguchi Ken; born August 21, 1973 in Boston) is a Japanese mountaineer and environmental activist. His father was a diplomat, so he lived in the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Japan. He was often bullied because he was half-Japanese. In 1999, at the age of 25, he became the youngest person (at that time) to scale the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. He graduated from Asia University in 2000, and studied environmental education at Aomori University. Since then, he has worked on various mountain clean-up projects around the world, including projects at Mount Everest, Mount Fuji and Manaslu. His work has had a notable effect on efforts in Japan, where he has given many lectures to promote better environmental practices.
Yūko Ōtsubaki (Japanese: 大椿 裕子, Hepburn: Ōtsubaki Yūko; born August 14, 1973) is a Japanese politician and labor…
Yūko Ōtsubaki (Japanese: 大椿 裕子, Hepburn: Ōtsubaki Yūko; born August 14, 1973) is a Japanese politician and labor activist. She was a member of the House of Councillors from 2023 to 2025, representing the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and served as a vice-chair of the party until 2026. She previously served as the chairperson of the Osaka Educational Workers' Union. She is married; her spouse is a Catalan from Barcelona.
Takafumi Horie (堀江 貴文, Horie Takafumi; born October 29, 1972) is a Japanese entrepreneur who founded Livedoor, a…
Takafumi Horie (堀江 貴文, Horie Takafumi; born October 29, 1972) is a Japanese entrepreneur who founded Livedoor, a website design operation that grew into a popular internet portal. After being arrested and charged with securities fraud in 2006, he severed all connections with the company. His trial began on September 4, 2006. On March 16, 2007, Horie was sentenced to imprisonment of 2 years and 6 months. He is popularly known as Horiemon (ホリエモン) due to his resemblance to Doraemon, the chubby robot cat in a popular Japanese cartoon. The name Horiemon was also given to a racehorse he owned, after the name had been chosen by voting on a Livedoor website.
Koichi Toyama (Japanese: 外山 恒一, Hepburn: Toyama Kōichi; born July 26, 1970) is a Japanese street musician and a fringe…
Koichi Toyama (Japanese: 外山 恒一, Hepburn: Toyama Kōichi; born July 26, 1970) is a Japanese street musician and a fringe political activist who was a candidate for the governor of Tokyo in the year 2007. He was born in Kagoshima Prefecture and lives in Fukuoka. He gained notoriety with his provocative 2007 Tokyo gubernatorial election speech.
Kimiko Hirata (平田 仁子, Hirata Kimiko, born 1970) is a Japanese climate activist. As a founder of the Kiko Network, a…
Kimiko Hirata (平田 仁子, Hirata Kimiko, born 1970) is a Japanese climate activist. As a founder of the Kiko Network, a non-governmental organization, she has campaigned for emissions reductions for more than 20 years. As of December 2022, her grassroots work has led to the cancellation of 17 planned coal-power plants. Hirata also led landmark coal divestment campaigns against Mizuho Financial Group and Mitsubishi UFJ. She currently serves as executive director for the Tokyo-based think tank, Climate Integrate, which focuses on accelerating decarbonization. In 2021, Hirata became the first Japanese woman to be awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, nicknamed the "Green Nobel". In 2022, she was named to the BBC 100 list of influential women. She holds a PhD in social sciences from Waseda University, and is the author of Climate Change and Politics (2019) in Japanese, and co-author of many books and articles.
Aya Sugimoto (杉本 彩, Sugimoto Aya; born July 19, 1968) is a Japanese TV personality, actress, dancer, author, gravure…
Aya Sugimoto (杉本 彩, Sugimoto Aya; born July 19, 1968) is a Japanese TV personality, actress, dancer, author, gravure idol and singer born in Kyoto. She also had a J-pop career in the late 1980s to the early 1990s.
Mariko Kawana (Japanese: 川奈まり子, Hepburn: Kawana Mariko) (born November 9, 1967) began the most notable phase of her…
Mariko Kawana (Japanese: 川奈まり子, Hepburn: Kawana Mariko) (born November 9, 1967) began the most notable phase of her life as a Japanese model and actress who has appeared in softcore pink film and V-Cinema, and who has also been a hardcore adult video (AV) performer and director. She was one of the earliest AV actresses in the "mature woman" or "madame" (jukujo) category of performers. She is now retired as an actress and has returned to her pre-acting career as a writer.
Takashi Moriya is a Japanese politician who is a former member of the House of Councillors of Japan.
Masayoshi Toyoda (豊田 正義, Toyoda Masayoshi; born 1966) is a Japanese journalist and writer. In 1995, he also became the…
Masayoshi Toyoda (豊田 正義, Toyoda Masayoshi; born 1966) is a Japanese journalist and writer. In 1995, he also became the founder of the Japanese men's liberation organization Men's Lib Tokyo. After his graduation from Waseda University, he went to New York City and worked as a reporter. He wrote books about domestic violence and child abuse in Japan. He leads men's liberation in Tokyo now. Toyoda also complained about the "Yellow cab" controversy. He wrote a book about serial killer Futoshi Matsunaga and his common-law wife Junko Ogata because their relationships seemed to be domestic violence.
Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a…
Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, film director, and fashion designer. He is best known as the leader of the visual kei rock bands X Japan and the Last Rockstars, for which he is the drummer, pianist, and main songwriter. He has been described by Billboard as a "musical innovator" and named "one of the most influential composers in Japanese history" by Consequence. Time labeled Yoshiki as "an absolute force" and "one of Japan's most celebrated musicians". Yoshiki's solo career includes several classical studio albums and collaborations with artists such as George Martin, Bono, will.i.am, St. Vincent, the Chainsmokers, Skrillex, Ellie Goulding, Stan Lee, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Gene Simmons and Kiss, Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Brightman, Jonas Brothers, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Diana Ross, and Josh Groban. In 1999, at the request of the Japanese Imperial family, he composed and performed a classical song at a celebration in honor of the tenth anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement. Yoshiki also composed the theme for the 69th Golden Globe Awards as well as for several anime and film soundtracks including Attack on Titan and Saw IV. In 2023, he made his directorial debut with the feature documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Yoshiki the best drummer and the best keyboardist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election". In 2023, he was selected as the first Japanese artist to be honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in nearly 100 years. In 2024, Variety selected Yoshiki as the International Achievement in Music honoree. Time named Yoshiki one of the most influential people of 2025 in their Time 100 list.
Masaaki Satake (Japanese: 佐竹 雅昭, Satake Masaaki; born August 17, 1965) is a Japanese former heavyweight karateka…
Masaaki Satake (Japanese: 佐竹 雅昭, Satake Masaaki; born August 17, 1965) is a Japanese former heavyweight karateka, kickboxer, professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He is one of the pioneering heavyweight fighters in K-1, having been a member of Kazuyoshi Ishii's Seidokaikan school.
Masahito Ozawa (born August 13, 1965, in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a…
Masahito Ozawa (born August 13, 1965, in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2019. He represents the National Proportional Representation Block as a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party. Ozawa graduated high school in 1984 and worked as a postal worker. He participated in the formation of a postal workers' union and served as its deputy chairperson. As of 2023, he is a member of the following committees: Committee on General Affairs (which he directs) Committee on Oversight Special Committee on Consumer Affairs
Michihiro Ishibashi (石橋 通宏, Ishibashi Michihiro; born 1 July 1965) is a Japanese politician from the Constitutional…
Michihiro Ishibashi (石橋 通宏, Ishibashi Michihiro; born 1 July 1965) is a Japanese politician from the Constitutional Democratic Party and a former trade union leader. He currently serves as members of the House of Councillors being elected from the National Representation list in 2010. His father Daikichi Ishibashi was a member of the House of Representatives.
Hiroshi Mikitani (三木谷浩史, Mikitani Hiroshi; born March 11, 1965) is a Japanese billionaire business magnate and writer.…
Hiroshi Mikitani (三木谷浩史, Mikitani Hiroshi; born March 11, 1965) is a Japanese billionaire business magnate and writer. He is the founder and CEO of Rakuten, Inc. He is also the president of Crimson Group, chairman of the football club Vissel Kobe, chairman of Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and a board member of Lyft and The Thacher School.
Makoto Oniki (鬼木 誠, Makoto Oniki, born 7 December 1963) is a Japanese politician from the Constitutional Democratic…
Makoto Oniki (鬼木 誠, Makoto Oniki, born 7 December 1963) is a Japanese politician from the Constitutional Democratic Party.
Yoshitaka Saitō (born February 18, 1963, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a…
Yoshitaka Saitō (born February 18, 1963, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2010. He represents the Aichi at-large district and is a member of the Democratic Party of Japan.
Akie Abe (安倍 昭恵, Abe Akie; née Matsuzaki; born 10 June 1962) is the widow of Shinzo Abe, who served as Prime Minister…
Akie Abe (安倍 昭恵, Abe Akie; née Matsuzaki; born 10 June 1962) is the widow of Shinzo Abe, who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020.
Natsuko Godai (伍代夏子), (born 18 December 1961), of Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese enka singer.
Yoshifumi Hamano is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Councillors of Japan.
Akiko Kurabayashi (Japanese: 倉林 明子; born 3 December 1960) is a Japanese politician, serving as member of the Japanese…
Akiko Kurabayashi (Japanese: 倉林 明子; born 3 December 1960) is a Japanese politician, serving as member of the Japanese House of Councillors since 2013. A member of the Japanese Communist Party, she represents the Kyoto at-large district.
Shun Medoruma (目取真 俊, Medoruma Shun; born 10 October 1960) is a Japanese writer, who, along with Tatsuhiro Oshiro, Tami…
Shun Medoruma (目取真 俊, Medoruma Shun; born 10 October 1960) is a Japanese writer, who, along with Tatsuhiro Oshiro, Tami Sakiyama, and Eiki Matayoshi, is one of the most important contemporary writers from Okinawa, Japan. Early in his career he won the 11th Ryukyu Shimpō Short Story Prize in 1983 for "Taiwan Woman: Record of a Fish Shoal" ("Gyogunki"), translated by Shi-Lin Loh in Islands of Protest: Japanese Literature from Okinawa, and the New Okinawan Literature Prize in 1986 for "Walking the Street Named Peace Boulevard" ("Heiwa doori to nazukerareta machi o aruite"). He was awarded the 27th Kyushu Arts Festival Literary Prize and the 117th Akutagawa Prize in 1997 for his short story "A Drop of Water" ("Suiteki"). (Also translated as "Droplets" by Michael Molasky, appearing in the collection of translated stories and poems from Japanese into English titled Southern Exposure: Modern Japanese literature from Okinawa.) In 2000, his short story "Mabuigumi" ("Spirit Stuffing," 1998) won the prestigious Kawabata Yasunari and Kiyama Shōhei literary prizes. Medoruma also wrote the screenplay for the film Fūon: The Crying Wind, which received the Montreal Film Festival Innovation Prize in 2004, and published a novel based on the screenplay the same year. His critically acclaimed novel In the Woods of Memory (眼の奥の森, Me no oku no mori; translated by Kasumi Sminkey) is the first full-length novel by an Okinawan writer to be translated and published in English.
Yōichi Takahashi (高橋 陽一, Takahashi Yōichi; born 28 July 1960) is a Japanese cartoonist and manga artist, best known for…
Yōichi Takahashi (高橋 陽一, Takahashi Yōichi; born 28 July 1960) is a Japanese cartoonist and manga artist, best known for his work Captain Tsubasa. Takahashi has published art books, manga, novels, and guides, most of which are about Captain Tsubasa. He is also known for his soccer series, Hungry Heart: Wild Striker. He is currently the chairman of Nankatsu SC. Yoichi Takahashi visited FC Barcelona, Tsubasa Oozora's Spanish football club in the manga, on 17 January 2016 as a guest of the club. In 2018, Takahashi received the Honorary Citizen Award from Katsushika for his contributions to the city through his manga.
Gaku Ito (born March 6, 1960, in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House…
Gaku Ito (born March 6, 1960, in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan from 2019 to 2025. He represented the Saitama at-large district and is a member of the Japanese Communist Party. He was defeated in the July 2025 House of Councillors election.
Yoshihiro Tamogami (田母神 慈宏, Tamogami Yoshihiro; born May 15, 1959 in Tokyo), better known by his pen name Hiroshi Aro…
Yoshihiro Tamogami (田母神 慈宏, Tamogami Yoshihiro; born May 15, 1959 in Tokyo), better known by his pen name Hiroshi Aro (あろ ひろし, Aro Hiroshi), is a Japanese manga artist. He is mostly known for being the author of Futaba-Kun Change!, Morumo 1/10 and Yuu and Mii. Aro worked as an assistant to manga artist Osamu Akimoto. He admitted that Futaba-kun Change! was created to be his version of Ranma ½ by Rumiko Takahashi, just as Yuu & Mi was his version of Takahashi's Maison Ikkoku. Aro makes guest appearances in his own comics, drawing himself as an alligator wearing glasses.
Tetsunari Iida (飯田 哲也, Iida Tetsunari; born 1959, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan) is director of the Institute for…
Tetsunari Iida (飯田 哲也, Iida Tetsunari; born 1959, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan) is director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies in Japan. Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, he is calling for a decrease in Japan's reliance on nuclear power and an increase in renewable energy use. Iida started his career as a nuclear engineer, but he quit in 1992, and went to study renewable energy in Sweden. In September 2011, Iida launched the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation, which is backed by ¥1 billion (US$13 million) from Japan's richest man, Masayoshi Son. Solar power in Japan has been expanding since the late 1990s. The country is a leading manufacturer of photovoltaics (PV) and a large installer of domestic PV systems with most of them grid connected.
Merzbow (Japanese: メルツバウ, Hepburn: Merutsubau) is a Japanese noise project started in 1979 by Masami Akita, best known…
Merzbow (Japanese: メルツバウ, Hepburn: Merutsubau) is a Japanese noise project started in 1979 by Masami Akita, best known for a style of harsh noise music. Since 1980, Akita has released over 500 recordings and collaborated with numerous artists. The name Merzbow comes from the German dada artist Kurt Schwitters' artwork Merzbau, in which Schwitters transformed the interior of his house using found objects. The name was chosen to reflect Akita's dada influence and junk art aesthetic. In addition to this, Akita has cited a wide range of musical influences from progressive rock, heavy metal, free jazz, and early electronic music to non-musical influences like dadaism, surrealism and fetish culture. Since the early 2000s, he has been inspired by animal rights and environmentalism, and began to follow a vegan, straight edge lifestyle. In addition to being a prolific musician, he has been a writer and editor for several books and magazines in Japan, and has written several books of his own. He has written about a variety of subjects, mostly about music, modern art, and underground culture. His more renowned works were on the topics of BDSM and Japanese bondage. Other art forms Akita has been interested in include painting, photography, filmmaking, and Butoh dance. In 2000, Extreme Records released the 50 CD box set Merzbox. Akita's work has been the subject of several remix albums and at least one tribute album. This, among other achievements, has helped Merzbow to be regarded by some as the "most important artist in noise".
Hideroku Hara (原 秀六; born 1956) is a Japanese legal scholar and professor emeritus at Shiga University. He was granted…
Hideroku Hara (原 秀六; born 1956) is a Japanese legal scholar and professor emeritus at Shiga University. He was granted the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Law for his study of The Legal Theory on the Distribution of the Synergistic Effects caused by Mergers from Waseda University. His research covers Commercial law, Corporate Law and Securities.
Teruaki Masumoto (増元照明; born October 5, 1955, in Kagoshima Prefecture) is the secretary general of the Japanese…
Teruaki Masumoto (増元照明; born October 5, 1955, in Kagoshima Prefecture) is the secretary general of the Japanese Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, which advocates for the return of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea and calls for the Japanese government to impose sanctions on the country. His older sister Rumiko is one of the victims. On February 1, 2007, he married actress Yuuko Wakamiya. in May 2012 he testified at North Korean human rights in European Parliament about his sister and other abductees including Megumi Yokota and Yaeko Taguchi.
Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃, Asahara Shōkō; March 2, 1955 – July 6, 2018), born as Chizuo Matsumoto (松本 智津夫, Matsumoto…
Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃, Asahara Shōkō; March 2, 1955 – July 6, 2018), born as Chizuo Matsumoto (松本 智津夫, Matsumoto Chizuo), was a Japanese cult leader and domestic terrorist who founded and led the doomsday cult known as Aum Shinrikyo. He was convicted of masterminding the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway which killed 14 people and injured thousands more, and was also involved in several other assassinations and terrorist attacks. Asahara was sentenced to death in 2004, and his final appeal failed in 2011. In June 2012, his execution was postponed due to further arrests of Aum members. He was executed along with other senior members of Aum Shinrikyo on July 6, 2018.
Chieko Akaishi (Japanese: 赤石千衣子, Akaishi Chieko; born 1955) is a Japanese activist who served as the founding…
Chieko Akaishi (Japanese: 赤石千衣子, Akaishi Chieko; born 1955) is a Japanese activist who served as the founding chairperson of the nonprofit Single Mothers' Forum until June 28, 2025, when she officially announced her retirement.
Feng Zhenghu (born 1 July 1954) is a Chinese economist and scholar based in Shanghai. Citing Amnesty International, The…
Feng Zhenghu (born 1 July 1954) is a Chinese economist and scholar based in Shanghai. Citing Amnesty International, The Guardian said that Feng was "a prominent human rights defender" in mainland China. In 2001 he was sent to prison for three years ostensibly for "illegal business activity". He was released in 2004 and has since written critical pieces highlighting alleged malpractice by local governments and forced evictions. Outside mainland China, Feng is best known for having been refused re-entry into mainland China eight times in 2009, despite being a Chinese citizen. He protested and remained in the immigration hall of Narita International Airport for 92 days, attracted concern from Asian activists, and received worldwide media attention.
Yoshinori Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 よしのり or 小林 善範, Hepburn: Kobayashi Yoshinori; born August 31, 1953) is a Japanese…
Yoshinori Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 よしのり or 小林 善範, Hepburn: Kobayashi Yoshinori; born August 31, 1953) is a Japanese manga artist known for his far-right political commentary manga Gōmanism Sengen. In particular, the three volumes On War (Sensōron) of this series made him famous in Japan, together selling more than 1.5 million volumes since first appearing in 1998.
Masaru Kaneko (金子 勝, Kaneko Masaru; born June 25, 1952) is a Japanese Marxian economist specializing in Institutional…
Masaru Kaneko (金子 勝, Kaneko Masaru; born June 25, 1952) is a Japanese Marxian economist specializing in Institutional economics, public finance and local government finance. He is best known for appearance in TV shows such as Sunday Morning or Asamade nama terebi and authoring several books and newspaper articles. Since 2000, he has been a professor at Keio University.
Kang Chang-il (Korean: 강창일; born 28 January 1952) is a South Korean politician who is member of the National Assembly…
Kang Chang-il (Korean: 강창일; born 28 January 1952) is a South Korean politician who is member of the National Assembly since 2004. Kang served as South Korea's ambassador to Japan from January 2021 to 2022.
Ryuichi Sakamoto (Japanese: 坂本 龍一, Hepburn: Sakamoto Ryūichi; January 17, 1952 – March 28, 2023) was a Japanese…
Ryuichi Sakamoto (Japanese: 坂本 龍一, Hepburn: Sakamoto Ryūichi; January 17, 1952 – March 28, 2023) was a Japanese musician, composer, keyboardist, record producer, singer and actor. He pursued a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the synth-based band Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). With his YMO bandmates Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, Sakamoto influenced and pioneered a number of electronic music genres. As a film score composer, Sakamoto won an Academy Award (Oscar), BAFTA, Grammy and two Golden Globe Awards. Sakamoto began his career as a session musician, producer, and arranger while he was at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in the mid 1970s. His first major success came in 1978 as co-founder of YMO. He pursued a solo career at the same time, releasing the experimental electronic fusion album Thousand Knives in that year, and the album B-2 Unit in 1980. B-2 Unit includes the track "Riot in Lagos", which had a significant influence on the development of electro, hip hop and dance music. He went on to produce more solo records, and collaborate with many international artists, including David Sylvian, DJ Spooky, Carsten Nicolai, Youssou N'Dour, and Fennesz. Sakamoto composed music for the opening ceremony of the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Games, and his composition "Energy Flow" (1999) was the first instrumental number-one single in Japan's Oricon charts history. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) marked his debut as both an actor and a film score composer; its main theme was adapted into the single "Forbidden Colours", which became an international hit. His most successful work as a film composer was his original score for The Last Emperor (1987), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Original Score, making him the first Japanese composer to win an Academy Award. He continued earning accolades composing for films such as The Sheltering Sky (1990), Little Buddha (1993), and The Revenant (2015). On occasion, Sakamoto also worked as a composer and a scenario writer on anime and video games. He was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French Ministry of Culture in 2009 for his contributions to music. Sakamoto died on March 28, 2023, from colorectal cancer at the age of 71.
Nobuaki Koga (古賀 伸明, Koga Nobuaki; born February 23, 1952) is a Japanese unionist. From 2009 to 2015, he served as…
Nobuaki Koga (古賀 伸明, Koga Nobuaki; born February 23, 1952) is a Japanese unionist. From 2009 to 2015, he served as president of Rengo, the largest national trade union federation in Japan, having previously been its general secretary.