Sunao Hari (針 すなお, Hari Sunao), real name Sunao Takagawa (高閑者 順, Takagawa Sunao), is a Japanese manga artist and…
Sunao Hari (針 すなお, Hari Sunao), real name Sunao Takagawa (高閑者 順, Takagawa Sunao), is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator, martial artist born 15 March 1933 in Saga, Saga Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from Saga Prefectural Saga High School (now Saga Prefectural Saga West High School). Hari is the fifth son of the chief priest at Kōdenji, a family temple in the former Saga Domain. He worked at a cotton spinning company and as a bank employee before moving to Tokyo in 1953 to work as a writer for a financial journal. Hari made his professional manga debut in 1956. He holds a level of 8th dan in aikido, and he studied an offshoot of Shintō Musō-ryū staff fighting called "Tai no Jō" (体の杖). He currently operates in Saga City a dojo devoted to the study of aikido and jōjutsu (staff fighting). Hari creates the politician caricatures for the Sankei Shimbun, as well as a weekly one panel manga for the Weekly Manga Times. He won the 1973 Japan Cartoonists Association Award for Excellence for his work Hari Sunao Nigaoe Mangashū: Sokkuri (針すなお似顔絵漫画集・そっくり). He also won the Bungeishunjū Manga Award in 1998 for his political caricatures.
Famous People Born on March 15
March 15: 78 people
Yumie Hiraiwa (平岩 弓枝, Hiraiwa Yumie; 15 March 1932 – 9 June 2023) was a Japanese Naoki Award-winning author.
Kenji Kurosaki (黒崎健時, Kurosaki Kenji; born March 15, 1930) is a Japanese martial arts instructor, specializing in…
Kenji Kurosaki (黒崎健時, Kurosaki Kenji; born March 15, 1930) is a Japanese martial arts instructor, specializing in full-contact karate and kickboxing. He is a 10th dan black belt (1992) in Kyokushin Karate and operates various martial schools. He is most well known as a pioneer of full-contact karate and kickboxing in both Japan and the Netherlands.
Junzo Sekine (関根 潤三, Sekine Junzō; March 15, 1927 – April 9, 2020) was a Japanese professional baseball player who…
Junzo Sekine (関根 潤三, Sekine Junzō; March 15, 1927 – April 9, 2020) was a Japanese professional baseball player who played as two ways as a pitcher and outfielder. He spent the majority of this career with the Kintetsu Pearls/Kintetsu Buffalo/Kintetsu Buffaloes. As a rookie in 1950, Sekine attracted attention by batting 3rd, 4th, or 5th in the Kintetsu Pearls' lineup while pitching in the game. Sekine focused on pitching from 1950 to 1957, but spent the latter half of his career (1958 to 1965) as a position player. His best year as a pitcher was 1954, when he went 16–12 with a 2.44 earned run average and 118 strikeouts. His best years as a hitter were in 1962–1963, when he hit and .301 and .296 respectively, with a total of 21 home runs and 115 RBI. Sekine was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. Sekine died on April 9, 2020, in Tokyo, at the age of 93.
Kozo Igarashi (五十嵐 広三, Igarashi Kōzō; 15 March 1926 – May 7, 2013) was a Japanese politician from Asahikawa, Hokkaido.…
Kozo Igarashi (五十嵐 広三, Igarashi Kōzō; 15 March 1926 – May 7, 2013) was a Japanese politician from Asahikawa, Hokkaido. He was the mayor of Asahikawa City from 1963 to 1974, member of the House of Representatives, construction minister in the Hosokawa Cabinet from 1993 to 1994, and chief Cabinet secretary in the government of Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama from 1994 to 1995. In 1975 and 1979, Igarashi ran for governor of Hokkaidō as a united front candidate (JSP, JCP, Kōmeitō), and lost both elections to incumbent Naohiro Dōgakinai.
Ishihara Tōru (Japanese: 石原 徹; March 15, 1923 – June 19, 1998), known by the pseudonyms Ishihara Gōjin (石原 豪人) and…
Ishihara Tōru (Japanese: 石原 徹; March 15, 1923 – June 19, 1998), known by the pseudonyms Ishihara Gōjin (石原 豪人) and Hayashi Gekkō (林 月光), was a Japanese painter and illustrator.
Kenichi Hirosawa (広沢 賢一, Hirosawa Kenichi; 15 March 1919 – 15 February 2003) was a Japanese politician and political…
Kenichi Hirosawa (広沢 賢一, Hirosawa Kenichi; 15 March 1919 – 15 February 2003) was a Japanese politician and political activist. He was a member of the Japan Socialist Party (JSP) and served one term in the House of Representatives.
Haruo Wada (Japanese: 和田春生; 15 March 1919 – 17 October 1999) was a Japanese trade unionist and politician. Wada joined…
Haruo Wada (Japanese: 和田春生; 15 March 1919 – 17 October 1999) was a Japanese trade unionist and politician. Wada joined the Japanese Merchant Navy in 1939. He was a founding member of the All-Japan Seamen's Union in 1945. Starting in 1948, he worked full-time for the union as an organizer. In 1950, he was a founding member of the General Council of Trade Unions of Japan, and worked for it as a permanent secretary. He was opposed to its increasingly left-wing stance. In 1954, he helped found the All-Japan Trade Union Congress (Zenro) split, and was appointed as its general secretary. In 1964, Zenro became part of the Japanese Confederation of Labour, and he became its vice president. In 1965, he additionally served as president of the ICFTU Asia and Pacific Regional Organisation, and served until his resignation in 1968. Wada was a member of the Democratic Socialist Party, and in 1969 he was elected to the House of Representatives, serving until 1972. From 1974 until 1979, he served in the House of Councillors.
Shōgyo Ōba (大場松魚, Ōba Shōgyo; March 15, 1916 – June 21, 2012) was a Japanese maki-e lacquer artist. He began practicing…
Shōgyo Ōba (大場松魚, Ōba Shōgyo; March 15, 1916 – June 21, 2012) was a Japanese maki-e lacquer artist. He began practicing the art of maki-e lacquerware in Kanazawa in 1945. Shōgyo was named a Living National Treasure of Japan in 1982 for his expertise in maki-e lacquerware. Shōgyo was born Ōba Katsuo on March 15, 1916, in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. His grandfather had established the family lacquer business. Shōgyo graduated from Ishikawa Prefectural Industrial School, where he studied painting and design. Shōgyo then became an apprentice of Matsuda Gonroku in Tokyo. He especially skilled in the technique of hyōmon, in which pieces of gold or silver cut lead are attached to decorative objects, often to round objects, such as vases, which can be difficult to apply this technique. Shogyo restored the gold and lacquer decorations of Chūson-ji Konjiki-dō. a 10th-century Buddhist temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate, in 1964. Shōgyo Ōba died on June 21, 2012, at the age of 96.
Shigeru Kurita (栗田 茂, Kurita Shigeru; March 15, 1916 – March 8, 1995), known by his pen name Junpei Gomikawa (五味川 純平…
Shigeru Kurita (栗田 茂, Kurita Shigeru; March 15, 1916 – March 8, 1995), known by his pen name Junpei Gomikawa (五味川 純平, Gomikawa Junpei), was a Japanese novelist. He is best known for his 1958 World War II novel The Human Condition (Ningen no joken), which became a best seller. The novel became the basis for Masaki Kobayashi's film trilogy The Human Condition as well as a radio drama. His eighteen-volume novel Men and War (Senso to ningen), formed the basis for Satsuo Yamamoto's 1970–1973 film trilogy of the same name.
Kōichirō Asakai (Japanese: 朝海浩一郎; 1906–1995) was a Japanese diplomat who served as ambassador to the United States and…
Kōichirō Asakai (Japanese: 朝海浩一郎; 1906–1995) was a Japanese diplomat who served as ambassador to the United States and ambassador to the Philippines. Asakai studied banking and graduated from Hitotsubashi University in 1929, before joining the Foreign Ministry. He was taught English by Edward Gauntlett, an English language teacher from Wales. From 1929 until 1931, he studied law at the University of Edinburgh. He became an attaché to the Japanese Embassy in London, and was posted to Nanjing before returning to the Foreign Ministry. He was bureau chief of the Central Liaison Office from March 1946. During this time, he attended meetings of the Allied Council for Japan as an "observer" and the sole diplomat. In August 1951, he was appointed the first head of the Japanese Government Overseas Agency in London. He was assisted in his work by the Japan Society of London, which had been set up two years prior. In 1956, Asakai was appointed the first post-war Japanese ambassador to the Philippines. In June 1957, he was appointed as the Japanese ambassador to the United States. He left the position in the winter of 1963, and was succeeded by Ryūji Takeuchi.
Kajirō Yamamoto (山本 嘉次郎, Yamamoto Kajirō; 15 March 1902 – 21 September 1974) was a Japanese film director…
Kajirō Yamamoto (山本 嘉次郎, Yamamoto Kajirō; 15 March 1902 – 21 September 1974) was a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and actor who was known for his war films and comedies and as the mentor of the Three Crows (Akira Kurosawa, Ishirō Honda, and Senkichi Taniguchi). The combined list of his efforts as a director for documentaries, silent, and sound films includes over 90 film titles during his lifetime.
Sumiko Kurishima (栗島すみ子, Kurishima Sumiko) (15 March, 1902 – 16 August, 1987) was a Japanese actress and master of…
Sumiko Kurishima (栗島すみ子, Kurishima Sumiko) (15 March, 1902 – 16 August, 1987) was a Japanese actress and master of traditional Japanese dance. She is often considered Japan's first female movie star.
Kenji Tomiki (富木 謙治, Tomiki Kenji; March 15, 1900 – December 25, 1979) was a Japanese martial artist who specialized in…
Kenji Tomiki (富木 謙治, Tomiki Kenji; March 15, 1900 – December 25, 1979) was a Japanese martial artist who specialized in aikido and judo family of martial arts. He was a pedagogue of martial arts theory (武道論, Budo-ron). He is the founder of Japan Aikido Association and the competitive aikido (aikido kyogi) style. Tomiki was a professor at Kenkoku University in Manchuria and later at the Faculty of Education at Waseda University. Tomiki is credited in devising and introducing new forms of Randori practice in Aikido. He founded his own Aikido system, which has many differences from other Aikido styles, mainly in randori training, and is referred by several names including Tomiki Aikido, Shodokan Aikido and Sport Aikido.
Dōgane Giichi (Japanese: 銅金 義一; 1900–1972) was a Japanese Army officer. He was also a metallurgist and mechanical…
Dōgane Giichi (Japanese: 銅金 義一; 1900–1972) was a Japanese Army officer. He was also a metallurgist and mechanical engineer.
Shiro Nukiyama (March 15, 1896 – July 2, 1983) was a Japanese mechanical engineer and discoverer of the Nukiyama Curve.…
Shiro Nukiyama (March 15, 1896 – July 2, 1983) was a Japanese mechanical engineer and discoverer of the Nukiyama Curve. His older brother was the electrical engineer Heiichi Nukiyama.
Genshin Takano (高野 源進, Takano Genshin; 15 March 1895 – 4 January 1969) was a Japanese lawyer and Home Ministry and…
Genshin Takano (高野 源進, Takano Genshin; 15 March 1895 – 4 January 1969) was a Japanese lawyer and Home Ministry and Police Bureau government official. He was born in Fukushima Prefecture. He was a graduate of the University of Tokyo. He was governor of Yamanashi Prefecture (1941–1942) and Hiroshima Prefecture from June 10 to October 11, 1945. Following the atomic attack on Hiroshima, Takano took part in the initial rescue work. On October 11, 1945, his term as governor of Hiroshima expired and he was appointed police officer, but was removed from that position in January 1946 by American occupation authorities due to the policy of purging public officials who served during World War II. Later, he worked as a private lawyer. He died of pneumonia.
Hiroo Ōhara (大原 博夫, Ōhara Hiroo; 15 March 1894 – 20 March 1971) was the Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture from 1951 to…
Hiroo Ōhara (大原 博夫, Ōhara Hiroo; 15 March 1894 – 20 March 1971) was the Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture from 1951 to 1962.
Chūichi Hara (原 忠一, Hara Chūichi; 15 March 1889 – 17 February 1964) was a Japanese admiral in the Imperial Japanese…
Chūichi Hara (原 忠一, Hara Chūichi; 15 March 1889 – 17 February 1964) was a Japanese admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Heavier and taller than the average Japanese person, he was nicknamed "King Kong" by his friends earlier in his career (after 1933, when the film King Kong premiered).
Hiroaki Abe (阿部 弘毅, Abe Hiroaki; 15 March 1889 – 6 February 1949) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during…
Hiroaki Abe (阿部 弘毅, Abe Hiroaki; 15 March 1889 – 6 February 1949) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.
Kyohei Inukai (1886–1954) was a Japanese-American artist who painted portraits and watercolors during the early part of…
Kyohei Inukai (1886–1954) was a Japanese-American artist who painted portraits and watercolors during the early part of the twentieth century.
Katsuzō Nishi (西 勝造, にし•かつぞー, Nishi Katsuzō) (1884 – 1959) was the Japanese founder of Nishi Shiki in 1927, who was at…
Katsuzō Nishi (西 勝造, にし•かつぞー, Nishi Katsuzō) (1884 – 1959) was the Japanese founder of Nishi Shiki in 1927, who was at that time the chief technical engineer for Japan's first subway project, the Tokyo subway. He was also an aikido teacher.
Kunihiko Hashida (橋田 邦彦, Hashida Kunihiko; 15 March 1882 – 14 September 1945) was a Japanese physician and…
Kunihiko Hashida (橋田 邦彦, Hashida Kunihiko; 15 March 1882 – 14 September 1945) was a Japanese physician and physiologist. Hashida was born in Tottori in 1882. He became a medical professor of Tokyo Imperial University. He also became the Headmaster of the First Higher School in 1937. He served as the Minister of Education from 1940 to 1943 under the Konoe and Tōjō cabinets. After World War II, Hashida came under suspicion of war crimes committed during his tenure as minister during the war. Hashida denied wrongdoing and committed suicide by taking potassium cyanide.
Iha Fuyū (伊波 普猷; March 15, 1876 – August 13, 1947) is considered the father of Okinawaology and was a Japanese scholar…
Iha Fuyū (伊波 普猷; March 15, 1876 – August 13, 1947) is considered the father of Okinawaology and was a Japanese scholar who studied various aspects of Japanese and Okinawan culture, customs, linguistics, and folklore. He signed his name as Ifa Fuyu in English, because of the Okinawan pronunciation. Iha studied linguistics at the University of Tokyo and was devoted to the study of Okinawan linguistics, folklore, and history. His most well-known work, Ko Ryūkyū (Ancient Ryūkyū), was published in 1911 and remains one of the best works on Okinawan studies. He devoted much time to uncovering the origins of the Okinawan people to establish their history. He had considerable influence not only on the study of Okinawan folklore but also on Japanese folklore.
Kambara Hayao (蒲原 隼雄, 15 March 1876 – 3 February 1952), known by his pen name Kambara Ariake (蒲原 有明), was a Japanese…
Kambara Hayao (蒲原 隼雄, 15 March 1876 – 3 February 1952), known by his pen name Kambara Ariake (蒲原 有明), was a Japanese poet and novelist active during the Taishō and Shōwa eras of Japan. He is also known as Kambara Yūmei.
Wasaburo Oishi (大石 和三郎, Ōishi Wasaburō; 15 March 1874 – 18 December 1950) was a Japanese meteorologist. Born in Tosu…
Wasaburo Oishi (大石 和三郎, Ōishi Wasaburō; 15 March 1874 – 18 December 1950) was a Japanese meteorologist. Born in Tosu, Saga, he is best known for his discovery of the high-altitude air currents now known as the jet stream. He was also an important Esperantist, serving as the second board president of the Japanese Esperanto Institute from 1930 to 1945.
Sakutaro Tachi (立 作太郎, Tachi Sakutarō; 1874–1943) was a Japanese expert on international law. Studied law at Tokyo…
Sakutaro Tachi (立 作太郎, Tachi Sakutarō; 1874–1943) was a Japanese expert on international law. Studied law at Tokyo Imperial University, and graduated in 1897. In 1900–04 studied law in Europe. In 1904 became professor of law at Tokyo Imperial University. In 1919 served as member of the Commission of Responsibilities, which dealt with the issue of war crimes. In 1921–22 served as member of the Japanese delegation to the Washington naval conference. He opposed the idea to outlaw war in the Kellogg–Briand Pact, arguing the idea was unrealistic. From 1931 onward, justified Japanese policy in north-China as self-defense relating to Japanese interests. Regarding the mandates system under the League of Nations, held the view that the mandatory power had total sovereignty over the mandate territory.
Tetchou Suehiro (末広 鐵腸, Suehiro Tetchō; March 15, 1849 – February 5, 1896), born Yuujirou Suehiro (末広 雄次郎, Suehiro…
Tetchou Suehiro (末広 鐵腸, Suehiro Tetchō; March 15, 1849 – February 5, 1896), born Yuujirou Suehiro (末広 雄次郎, Suehiro Yūjirō) was a Japanese politician, novelist, and journalist. He was proponent of the Freedom and People's Rights Movement. Born of samurai lineage in what is now Ehime Prefecture, he was the second son of the family. His father, Teisuke, was an accountant. He graduated from a local samurai school and became a teacher in 1869. Thereafter, he moved to Tokyo and worked for the Ministry of Finance for six years before going into the newspaper business. He was imprisoned twice for challenging the existing free press laws and was instrumental in forming the first national political party. He wrote a political, proto-science fiction novel Setchūbai (Plum Blossoms in the Snow, 1886). The income from his books allowed him to travel to the United States and Europe in 1888, around which time he briefly became the travelling companion of Filipino propagandist and patriot José Rizal. He would later acknowledge Rizal's influence in another novel, Nanyo no daiharan (The Great Wave in the South Seas). In 1890 he was elected in the first national election, but was later ousted because he left the Liberal Party. Suehiro was still a member of the Diet (Meiji 29) when he died in 1896 of tongue cancer and was buried in Ehime.