Koriki Jojima (城島光力, Jōjima Kōriki; 1 January 1947) is a Japanese politician who served four terms in the House of…Koriki Jojima (城島光力, Jōjima Kōriki; 1 January 1947) is a Japanese politician who served four terms in the House of Representatives and was Minister of Finance from 1 October to 26 December 2012.
Kazuo Nishii (西井一夫, Nishii Kazuo; 1946–2001) was a Japanese magazine editor and photography critic. Nishii was born in…Kazuo Nishii (西井一夫, Nishii Kazuo; 1946–2001) was a Japanese magazine editor and photography critic. Nishii was born in Tokyo in 1946. He graduated in economics from Keio University in 1968, and shortly after this moved to the company publishing Mainichi Shimbun, rising via stints at Sunday Mainichi and Mainich Graph to become editor in chief of Camera Mainichi from 1983 until the magazine folded in 1985. After the demise of Camera Mainichi, Nishii worked as an editor for various book-publishing projects of Mainichi Shinbun-sha. Nishii first proposed the Society of Photography Award and played a major role in setting it up.
Susumu Tachi (舘 暲, Tachi Susumu; born January 1, 1946) is professor emeritus of the University of Tokyo, Founding…Susumu Tachi (舘 暲, Tachi Susumu; born January 1, 1946) is professor emeritus of the University of Tokyo, Founding President of the Virtual Reality Society of Japan, and Founding Chairman of Telexistence Inc.
Kōki Kobayashi (小林 興起, Kobayashi Kōki) is a Japanese politician. He was a Member of the House of Representatives for…Kōki Kobayashi (小林 興起, Kobayashi Kōki) is a Japanese politician. He was a Member of the House of Representatives for Tokyo's 10th district from 1996 to 2005.
Kensei Hasegawa (長谷川 憲正, Hasegawa Kensei; born January 1, 1943) is a Japanese politician of the People's New Party, a…Kensei Hasegawa (長谷川 憲正, Hasegawa Kensei; born January 1, 1943) is a Japanese politician of the People's New Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kumagaya, Saitama and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he worked at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications from 1967 to 2003. He was elected for the first time in 2004.
Hideo Iijima (飯島 秀雄, Iijima Hideo; born January 1, 1944) is a retired Japanese sprint runner and professional baseball…Hideo Iijima (飯島 秀雄, Iijima Hideo; born January 1, 1944) is a retired Japanese sprint runner and professional baseball player. He competed at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics in the 100 m and 4 × 100 m relay events, but was eliminated in semifinals on all occasions. At the 1968 Games he ran his personal best in all competitions (10.24–10.34 seconds depending on the wind). After the 1968 Olympics Iijima became a professional baseball player. He retired in 1971 and for one year worked as a baseball coach.
Kiyohiko Ozaki (尾崎紀世彦, Ozaki Kiyohiko; 1 January 1943 – 30 May 2012) (nickname Kieyo) was a Japanese singer and actor.…Kiyohiko Ozaki (尾崎紀世彦, Ozaki Kiyohiko; 1 January 1943 – 30 May 2012) (nickname Kieyo) was a Japanese singer and actor. Known for his booming singing voice and trademark sideburns, he was sometimes referred to as the Japanese Tom Jones. Ozaki was born in Tokyo and grew up in neighbouring Kanagawa prefecture. He started performing in bands at the age of 13, before making his solo debut in 1970. His greatest hit was his 1971 single "Mata au hi made" (Until the Day We Meet Again). He died of liver cancer on 30 May 2012 after a long hospitalisation.
Kunitake Andō (安藤 国威, Andō Kunitake; born January 1, 1942) is a Japanese businessman. As of 2026, he serves as the…Kunitake Andō (安藤 国威, Andō Kunitake; born January 1, 1942) is a Japanese businessman. As of 2026, he serves as the honorable chairman of BJIT Group and served as the president & COO of Sony Corporation from 2000 to 2005. Andō is from Aichi Prefecture and graduated from University of Tokyo. Having been a Sony employee since 1969, he first served on the board from 1994 to 1997, when he was removed as part of the massive reduction in the size of the board initiated by Sony president Nobuyuki Idei. He did not return to the board until he succeeded Idei as president, even though he was named Executive Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer in April, 2000. His secondary title was altered to Group Chief Operating Officer in 2003 and to Global Hub President in 2004. On March 7, 2005, it was announced that he would step down to become an adviser, with Ryōji Chūbachi succeeding him as president. He also served as Chairman of The University of Nagano in Nagano, Japan.
Kazue Sawai (沢井 一恵, Sawai Kazue; 1 January 1941 – 15 February 2026) was a Japanese koto player noted for her…Kazue Sawai (沢井 一恵, Sawai Kazue; 1 January 1941 – 15 February 2026) was a Japanese koto player noted for her performance of contemporary classical music and free improvisation.
Hajime Sawatari (沢渡 朔, Sawatari Hajime; born 1940) is a Japanese photographer. He is known for his fashion and…Hajime Sawatari (沢渡 朔, Sawatari Hajime; born 1940) is a Japanese photographer. He is known for his fashion and advertising photography as well as his nudes of girls and women. He earned his degree from Nihon University's College of Art with a major in photography.
Toyoharu Yoshida (Japanese: 吉田豊治, Hepburn: Yoshida Toyoharu; January 1, 1940 – July 1, 2023), better known as Ippei…Toyoharu Yoshida (Japanese: 吉田豊治, Hepburn: Yoshida Toyoharu; January 1, 1940 – July 1, 2023), better known as Ippei Kuri (九里一平, Kuri Ippei), was a Japanese manga artist and the third president of animation production company Tatsunoko Production.
Hifumi Katō (加藤 一二三, Katō Hifumi; January 1, 1940 – January 22, 2026) was a Japanese professional shogi player who…Hifumi Katō (加藤 一二三, Katō Hifumi; January 1, 1940 – January 22, 2026) was a Japanese professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 9-dan. During his career, he won the Meijin, Tenth Dan, Ōi, Kiō and Ōshō major titles. He also held the record for being the youngest to have been awarded regular professional status at age 14 years and 7 months until Sōta Fujii broke it at age 14 years and 2 months in 2016. Since his given name is written using the kanji characters for the numbers "one","two" and "three", Katō was known to his fans by the nickname "Hifumin" (ひふみん).
Takashi Awamori (Japanese: 粟森喬 Awamori Takashi; 1 January 1939 – 24 March 2023) was a Japanese businessman and…Takashi Awamori (Japanese: 粟森喬 Awamori Takashi; 1 January 1939 – 24 March 2023) was a Japanese businessman and politician. A member of the Japan Socialist Party, he served in the House of Councillors from 1989 to 1995. Awamori died on 24 March 2023, at the age of 84.
Kazuo Tomita (富田 一雄, Tomita Kazuo) (born 1939) is a Japanese swimmer and Olympic medalist. He participated at the 1960…Kazuo Tomita (富田 一雄, Tomita Kazuo) (born 1939) is a Japanese swimmer and Olympic medalist. He participated at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, winning a bronze medal in 4 × 100 metre medley relay. He also previously participated at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.
Hajime Ogawa (Japanese: 小川元 Ogawa Hajime; 1 January 1939 – 15 October 2024) was a Japanese businessman and politician.…Hajime Ogawa (Japanese: 小川元 Ogawa Hajime; 1 January 1939 – 15 October 2024) was a Japanese businessman and politician. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he served in the House of Representatives from 1986 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 2000. Ogawa died in Tokyo on 15 October 2024, at the age of 85.
Mitsuaki Yoshida (吉田 光昭, Yoshida Mitsuaki; born 1939) was a Japanese virologist known for identifying the molecular…Mitsuaki Yoshida (吉田 光昭, Yoshida Mitsuaki; born 1939) was a Japanese virologist known for identifying the molecular structure of Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 responsible for Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.
Tyzen Hsiao (Chinese: 蕭泰然; pinyin: Xiāo Tàirán; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Siau Thài-jiân; 1 January 1938 – 24 February 2015) was a…Tyzen Hsiao (Chinese: 蕭泰然; pinyin: Xiāo Tàirán; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Siau Thài-jiân; 1 January 1938 – 24 February 2015) was a Taiwanese composer of the neo-Romantic school. Many of his vocal works set poems written in Taiwanese Hokkien, the mother tongue of the majority of the island's residents at the time. His compositions stand as a musical manifestation of the Taiwanese literature movement that revitalized the island's literary and performing arts in the 1970s and 1980s. Hsiao's career in music included additional success as a pianist and conductor.
Shoji Ueda (Japanese: 上田正治; 1 January 1938 – 16 January 2025) was a Japanese cinematographer. He worked several times…Shoji Ueda (Japanese: 上田正治; 1 January 1938 – 16 January 2025) was a Japanese cinematographer. He worked several times with filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work in the film Ran (1985). Ueda died from a heart attack on 16 January 2025 in Yokohama, at the age of 87.
Kumi Mizuno (水野久美, Mizuno Kumi; born 1 January 1937) is a Japanese actress best known for appearing in several Toho…Kumi Mizuno (水野久美, Mizuno Kumi; born 1 January 1937) is a Japanese actress best known for appearing in several Toho kaiju films of the 1960s and early 1970s.
Koshin Fujitani (藤谷 光信, Fujitani Kōshin; born January 1, 1937) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…Koshin Fujitani (藤谷 光信, Fujitani Kōshin; born January 1, 1937) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A former member of the assembly of Yamaguchi Prefecture, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007. Fujitani is also an ordained Shin Buddhist priest within Honganji-ha.
Shigeo Takaya (高谷 茂男, Takaya Shigeo; 1 January 1937 – 8 August 2024) was a Japanese politician who was the mayor of…Shigeo Takaya (高谷 茂男, Takaya Shigeo; 1 January 1937 – 8 August 2024) was a Japanese politician who was the mayor of Okayama in Okayama Prefecture. A graduate of Okayama Prefectural University-Junior College, he was first elected in October 2005. Takaya died of kidney failure on 8 August 2024, at the age of 87.
Shōichi Tanaka (Japanese: 田中昭一 Tanaka Shōichi; 1 January 1937 – 15 October 2025) was a Japanese politician. A member of…Shōichi Tanaka (Japanese: 田中昭一 Tanaka Shōichi; 1 January 1937 – 15 October 2025) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he served in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000. Tanaka died in Funabashi on 15 October 2025, at the age of 88.
Shoichi Tomita (富田 正一, Tomita Shōichi; born January 1, 1936) is a retired Japanese ice hockey goaltender who competed…Shoichi Tomita (富田 正一, Tomita Shōichi; born January 1, 1936) is a retired Japanese ice hockey goaltender who competed at the 1960 Winter Olympics and 1962 World Ice Hockey Championships. After retiring from competitions, Tomita worked at the Japan Ice Hockey Federation, first as management director and then as executive director. In parallel, for 27 years he was a TV commentator for NHK. He was also a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee. In 1978 he joined the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and served as its vice-president from 1994 to 2012. Tomita was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2006.
Eiko Kadono (角野 栄子, Kadono Eiko), real name Eiko Watanabe (渡辺英子, Watanabe Eiko), born January 1, 1935, is a Japanese…Eiko Kadono (角野 栄子, Kadono Eiko), real name Eiko Watanabe (渡辺英子, Watanabe Eiko), born January 1, 1935, is a Japanese author of children's literature, picture books, non-fiction, and essays. Her most famous work Kiki's Delivery Service, released in 1985, was made into an anime film by Hayao Miyazaki, and spawned a series of sequel novels. In 2018, she won the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Currently, she serves as a guest professor at the Nihon Fukushi University in Aichi Prefecture.
Kaoru Yamaya (山谷 馨; December 21, 1934 – September 18, 2026), better known by his pen name Sō Kuramoto (倉本 聰), was a…Kaoru Yamaya (山谷 馨; December 21, 1934 – September 18, 2026), better known by his pen name Sō Kuramoto (倉本 聰), was a Japanese playwright and screenwriter.
Kiyoshi Kodama (児玉 清, Kodama Kiyoshi; real name: Kiyoshi Kitagawa (北川 清), born as Kiyoshi Kodama (小玉 清), 1 January 1934…Kiyoshi Kodama (児玉 清, Kodama Kiyoshi; real name: Kiyoshi Kitagawa (北川 清), born as Kiyoshi Kodama (小玉 清), 1 January 1934 – 16 May 2011) was a Japanese TV personality and actor. He hosted the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation quiz show Panel Quiz Attack 25 continuously for thirty-six years from its start in April 1975 until he was forced to step down due to poor health at the end of March 2011. His signature catchphrase on the show is "Attack Chance!" An avid reader, Kodama hosted a TV book review show. He also published his own books. He was a voice actor for the voice of Robert Stephenson in the Japanese version of the 2004 animated movie Steamboy. Kodama died of stomach cancer at a hospital in Chuo, Tokyo on 16 May 2011.
Kikuji Kawada (川田 喜久治, Kawada Kikuji; born 1933) is a Japanese photographer. He co-founded the Vivo photographic…Kikuji Kawada (川田 喜久治, Kawada Kikuji; born 1933) is a Japanese photographer. He co-founded the Vivo photographic collective in 1959. Kawada's books include Chizu (The Map; 1965) and The Last Cosmology (1995). He was included in the New Japanese Photography exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York in 1974 and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Photographic Society of Japan in 2011.
Hideo Shiraki (白木秀雄; 1 January 1933 in Tokyo – 31 August 1972) was a Japanese jazz drummer and bandleader, best known…Hideo Shiraki (白木秀雄; 1 January 1933 in Tokyo – 31 August 1972) was a Japanese jazz drummer and bandleader, best known for his work in the 1950s and 1960s. Famed earlier on for hard bop, he later explored world music and became a pioneer of fusing traditional music forms with jazz structuring. He emerged in the new Japanese jazz scene of the 1950s that grew out of the influence of the US occupying forces. He studied percussion at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and, during this period, played with Masashi Nagao's Blue Coats. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, his quintet was popular in Japan and was associated with the "funky boom" craze for hard bop. Hidehiko "Sleepy" Matsumoto, Terumasa Hino and Yuzuru Sera all passed through his quintet. Notable albums include 1961's In Fiesta (Teichiku Japan), which included a version of Benny Golson's "Five Spot After Dark". Performers on the album included Hidehiko Matsumoto on tenor and flute and Yuzuru Sera on piano. 1965's Sakura Sakura united the quintet (including Terumasa Hino on trumpet) with three female koto players as Shiraki moved into a world jazz approach. An invited November 1965 performance at the Berlin Jazz Festival, organised by Joachim-Ernst Berendt, saw the quintet work with a koto quartet and was feted for mixing jazz with traditional Japanese music. He also played with Toshiko Akiyoshi, including two tracks on her 1961 album Toshiko Meets Her Old Pals. On July 22, 1966, he played with the John Coltrane quintet in Tokyo while the group was touring Japan.
Waichiro Omura (大村 和市郎, Ōmura Waichirō; January 1, 1933 – ?) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Waichiro Omura (大村 和市郎, Ōmura Waichirō; January 1, 1933 – ?) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Yoshio Masui (増井 禎夫, Masui Yoshio; January 1, 1931 – April 18, 2024) was a Japanese-Canadian cell biologist. Masui…Yoshio Masui (増井 禎夫, Masui Yoshio; January 1, 1931 – April 18, 2024) was a Japanese-Canadian cell biologist. Masui retired in 1997 and held the position of Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto.
Hisashi Miura (Japanese: 三浦 久 Miura Hisashi; 1 January 1931 – 3 April 2024) was a Japanese lawyer and politician. A…Hisashi Miura (Japanese: 三浦 久 Miura Hisashi; 1 January 1931 – 3 April 2024) was a Japanese lawyer and politician. A member of the Japanese Communist Party, he served in the House of Representatives from 1972 to 1976, 1979 to 1986, and 1990 to 1993. Miura died on 3 April 2024, at the age of 93.
Mitsuo Horiuchi (Japanese: 堀内 光雄, Hepburn: Horiuchi Mitsuo; 1 January 1930 – 16 May 2016) was a Japanese politician of…Mitsuo Horiuchi (Japanese: 堀内 光雄, Hepburn: Horiuchi Mitsuo; 1 January 1930 – 16 May 2016) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Misaka, Yamanashi and graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1976. He joined Sosuke Uno's cabinet as the Minister of Labour.
Haruo Nakajima (Japanese: 中島 春雄, Hepburn: Nakajima Haruo; January 1, 1929 – August 7, 2017) was a Japanese actor and…Haruo Nakajima (Japanese: 中島 春雄, Hepburn: Nakajima Haruo; January 1, 1929 – August 7, 2017) was a Japanese actor and stuntman. A pioneer of suit acting, he is best known for playing Godzilla in 12 consecutive films, starting from the original Godzilla (1954) until Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972). Nakajima also played various other kaiju in Toho's tokusatsu films, including: Rodan (1956), Mothra (1961) and The War of the Gargantuas (1966) and also appeared in a minor roles in Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954), Yojimbo, and Stray Dog (his film debut).
Masatoshi Yoshino (吉野 正敏, Yoshino Masatoshi; January 1, 1928 – July 4, 2017) was a Japanese physical geographer and…Masatoshi Yoshino (吉野 正敏, Yoshino Masatoshi; January 1, 1928 – July 4, 2017) was a Japanese physical geographer and climatologist. He served as the founder and chairman of the International Geographical Union's (IGU) Commission on Climatology from 1988 to 1992, as well as the Vice President of the IGU from 1992 until 1996. He was a full professor at Hosei University (1969–1974), University of Tsukuba (1974–1991) and Aichi University (1991–1998). In 1980, Yoshino served as the Secretary General of the International Geographical Congress' conference in Tokyo. He had been a foreign honorary member of the Romanian Academy since 1992, and a recipient of the IGU's Lauréat d'Honneur award in 2000. He died on July 4, 2017, at the age of 89.
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).
Otohiko Hara (原乙彦, Hara Otohiko; January 1, 1925 – April 9, 2018), formerly known as Otohiko Yabashi, was a Japanese…Otohiko Hara (原乙彦, Hara Otohiko; January 1, 1925 – April 9, 2018), formerly known as Otohiko Yabashi, was a Japanese corporate executive. He was a chief executive officer of Unitika Tsusho [:ja:] (later, Unitika Trading [:ja:]). One of the first Japanese businesspersons who led Dai Nippon Spinning Co., Ltd. (later, Unitika), one of Japan's three largest textile makers, to the first overseas expansion of Japanese corporations after World War II.
Kōji Nakano (中野 孝次, Nakano Kōji; 1 January 1925 – 16 July 2004) was a Japanese novelist, translator of German…Kōji Nakano (中野 孝次, Nakano Kōji; 1 January 1925 – 16 July 2004) was a Japanese novelist, translator of German literature and literary critic in Shōwa period Japan.
Genichi Taguchi (田口 玄一, Taguchi Gen'ichi; January 1, 1924 – June 2, 2012) was a Japanese engineer and statistician.…Genichi Taguchi (田口 玄一, Taguchi Gen'ichi; January 1, 1924 – June 2, 2012) was a Japanese engineer and statistician. From the 1950s on, Taguchi developed a methodology for applying statistics to improve the quality of manufactured goods. Taguchi methods have been controversial among some conventional Western statisticians, but others have accepted many of the concepts introduced by him as valid extensions to the body of knowledge.
Yoko Matsuoka McClain (January 1, 1924 – November 2, 2011) was a Japanese-born American professor of Japanese language…Yoko Matsuoka McClain (January 1, 1924 – November 2, 2011) was a Japanese-born American professor of Japanese language and literature at the University of Oregon. She was the granddaughter of Japanese novelist, Natsume Sōseki, from her maternal lineage. McClain was born Yoko Matsuoka in Tokyo. She graduated from Tsuda College in 1945 and found work as a translator during the Occupation of Japan by the Americans following World War II. She obtained a scholarship, the forebear of the Fulbright Program, to study at the University of Oregon. As a student, Matsuoka worked as a receptionist for the University of Oregon's art museum, now called the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. She received a bachelor's degree in French from the University of Oregon in 1956 and a master's degree in comparative literature in 1967. McClain taught Japanese literature at the University of Oregon from 1964 to 1994, when she became a professor emeritus. She authored more than a dozen books and scholarly works on Japanese studies. Her husband, George Robert McClain, collected Japanese prints and art, which she donated to Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art following his death. The Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs honored McClain for her contributions to Japanese-U.S. cultural relations in 2003. The University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences also awarded her the Alumni Fellows Award in 2003. In August 2011, McClain received the Gertrude Bass Warner Award from the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. McClain died from a stroke on November 2, 2011, aged 87.
Teruo Ishii (石井輝男, Ishii Teruo; January 1, 1924 – August 12, 2005) was a Japanese film director best known in the West…Teruo Ishii (石井輝男, Ishii Teruo; January 1, 1924 – August 12, 2005) was a Japanese film director best known in the West for his early films in the Super Giant series, and for his films in the ero guro ("erotic-grotesque") subgenre of sexploitation such as Shogun's Joy of Torture (1968). He also directed the 1965 film Abashiri Prison, which helped to make Ken Takakura a major star in Japan. Referred to in Japan as "The King of Cult", Ishii had a much more prolific and eclectic career than was generally known in the West during his lifetime.
Hitoshi Nozaki (野崎 一, Nozaki Hitoshi; 1922 – September 25, 2019), sometimes spelled Hitosi, was a Japanese chemist…Hitoshi Nozaki (野崎 一, Nozaki Hitoshi; 1922 – September 25, 2019), sometimes spelled Hitosi, was a Japanese chemist specializing in the field of organic chemistry, known as the head of Japanese organic chemistry research, and one of the discoverers of Nozaki–Hiyama–Kishi reaction. He was Emeritus Professor of Kyoto University.
Katsuya Susaki (須崎 勝彌, Susaki Katsuya; January 1, 1922 – January 9, 2015) was a Japanese screenwriter and novelist. He…Katsuya Susaki (須崎 勝彌, Susaki Katsuya; January 1, 1922 – January 9, 2015) was a Japanese screenwriter and novelist. He is perhaps best remembered for his contributions to war films, which drew on his personal experiences as a surviving kamikaze pilot. His works often explored themes of sacrifice, camaraderie, and the human cost of conflict, reflecting the emotional impact of losing comrades in battle. The film actors were often people who had experienced war first hand.
Masato Ide ( 井 手 雅人, い で ま さ と, Ide Masato?), born on January 1, 1920, in Saga, Japan and died on July 17, 1989, was a…Masato Ide ( 井 手 雅人, い で ま さ と, Ide Masato?), born on January 1, 1920, in Saga, Japan and died on July 17, 1989, was a Japanese screenwriter and novelist.
Yoshio Tabata (田端義夫, Tabata Yoshio; January 1, 1919 – April 25, 2013) was a Japanese ryūkōka and enka singer…Yoshio Tabata (田端義夫, Tabata Yoshio; January 1, 1919 – April 25, 2013) was a Japanese ryūkōka and enka singer, songwriter, and electric guitarist. His debut song "Shima no Funauta" (島の舟唄, literally "Island Ship Song") was released in 1939. Along with enka-shi Haruo Oka's 1939 debut, his debut had a big impact on Japanese popular music because Japanese popular ryūkōka music of that time was mainly sung by classical music singers such as Ichiro Fujiyama and Noriko Awaya. He was born in Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture, Japan.
Kichirō Tazawa (田沢 吉郎, Tazawa Kichirō; 1918 – 12 December 2001) was a Japanese politician. He held different cabinet…Kichirō Tazawa (田沢 吉郎, Tazawa Kichirō; 1918 – 12 December 2001) was a Japanese politician. He held different cabinet posts and served as defense minister from 1988 to 1989.
Masayuki Fujio (藤尾 正行 Fujio Masayuki, January 1, 1917 – October 22, 2006) was the Japanese Minister of Education, under…Masayuki Fujio (藤尾 正行 Fujio Masayuki, January 1, 1917 – October 22, 2006) was the Japanese Minister of Education, under the government of Yasuhiro Nakasone until 1986. He was a member of the right-wing Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, where he was described as being a "loyal vassal" to Takeo Fukuda, the founder of the faction. In 1986, Fujio was made Minister of Education by Prime Minister Nakasone, but he was soon fired by Nakasone after an interview with Bungei Shunju in which he made several controversial remarks about Japan's role in the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. In the interview, Fujio questioned the criminality of the Nanjing Massacre, claiming "It is not murder under international law to kill in war". Further, he compared the Nanjing Massacre with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and implied that if Japan's war time actions were wrong then so were America's. Fujio died of pneumonia on October 22, 2006 at the age of 89.
