Yosuke Kamide (1943–2021) was a Japanese physicist. He co-founded the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society and served as…Yosuke Kamide (1943–2021) was a Japanese physicist. He co-founded the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society and served as vice-president of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy from 2003 to 2007. He was a fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the Japan Geoscience Union. He won a Price Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society. He taught at Nagoya University.
Wataru Asō (麻生 渡, Asō Wataru; 15 May 1939 – 15 March 2025) was a Japanese bureaucrat and politician who served as the…Wataru Asō (麻生 渡, Asō Wataru; 15 May 1939 – 15 March 2025) was a Japanese bureaucrat and politician who served as the Governor of Fukuoka from 1995 to 2011. From 2005 to 2011 he was also President of the National Governors Association (Japan) (全国知事会, Zenkoku Chiji-kai).
Mineo Higashi (born 1938) is a Japanese writer. He was awarded the Akutagawa Prize in 1971 for his novel An Okinawan…Mineo Higashi (born 1938) is a Japanese writer. He was awarded the Akutagawa Prize in 1971 for his novel An Okinawan Boy (Okinawa no shonen, 1971). The novel's setting is the city of Koza (later Okinawa City) in the 1950s, where the main character grows up in a family whose business is to arrange meetings between American soldiers and Okinawan girls in the family's apartment. The novel was adapted into the 1983 film Okinawan Boys by director Taku Shinjō.
Akihiro Maruyama (丸山 明宏, Maruyama Akihiro; May 15, 1935 – June 20, 2026), better known by his stage name Akihiro Miwa…Akihiro Maruyama (丸山 明宏, Maruyama Akihiro; May 15, 1935 – June 20, 2026), better known by his stage name Akihiro Miwa (美輪 明宏, Miwa Akihiro), was a Japanese singer, actor, director, composer, author and drag queen. He appeared in the productions of Shūji Terayama, Tenjō Sajiki, Kinji Fukasaku, Yukio Mishima, and was a voice actor in two Hayao Miyazaki films.
Fujiko Nakaya (中谷 芙二子, Nakaya Fujiko; born 15 May 1933) is a Japanese artist, a member of Experiments in Art and…Fujiko Nakaya (中谷 芙二子, Nakaya Fujiko; born 15 May 1933) is a Japanese artist, a member of Experiments in Art and Technology, and a promoter, supporter, and practitioner of Japanese video art. She is best known for her fog sculptures.
Juzo Itami (伊丹 十三, Itami Jūzō), born Yoshihiro Ikeuchi (池内 義弘, Ikeuchi Yoshihiro; May 15, 1933 – December 20, 1997)…Juzo Itami (伊丹 十三, Itami Jūzō), born Yoshihiro Ikeuchi (池内 義弘, Ikeuchi Yoshihiro; May 15, 1933 – December 20, 1997), was a Japanese actor, screenwriter and film director. He directed eleven films (one short and ten features), all of which he wrote himself. He is the namesake of the Juzo Itami Award, founded in 2009 to honor his legacy.
Isao Arita (蟻田 功, Arita Isao; 1926 – 17 March 2023) was a Japanese physician, virologist and vaccination specialist who…Isao Arita (蟻田 功, Arita Isao; 1926 – 17 March 2023) was a Japanese physician, virologist and vaccination specialist who headed the World Health Organization (WHO) Smallpox Eradication Unit in 1977–85. During this period, smallpox became the first infectious disease of humans to be eradicated globally. He and his colleagues were awarded the Japan Prize in 1988 for this work. He also advised the successful programme to eradicate poliovirus from the Western Pacific region.
Jakucho Setouchi (15 May 1922 – 9 November 2021; born Harumi Mitani), formerly known as Harumi Setouchi, was a Japanese…Jakucho Setouchi (15 May 1922 – 9 November 2021; born Harumi Mitani), formerly known as Harumi Setouchi, was a Japanese Buddhist nun, writer, and activist. Setouchi wrote a best-selling translation of The Tale of Genji and over 400 fictional biographical and historical novels. In 1997, she was honoured as a Person of Cultural Merit, and in 2006, she was awarded the Order of Culture of Japan.
Shōji Ōtake (大竹 省二, Ōtake Shōji; 15 May 1920 - 2 July 2015) was a Japanese photographer famous for portraits and nudes.…Shōji Ōtake (大竹 省二, Ōtake Shōji; 15 May 1920 - 2 July 2015) was a Japanese photographer famous for portraits and nudes. Ōtake was born in Yokosuka (which later became Ōsuka, then Kakegawa), Shizuoka on 15 May 1920, the oldest son of a father who worked in the sake industry and a mother who performed on the koto and (transverse) flute. The boy's mother died when he was six, and he moved to the house of his father's elder sister, his younger brother moved to another house, both in Yokosuka, while his father tried and failed in the transportation industry and quickly moved to Tokyo. A year later, the boy moved to the house of a rich family, still in Yokosuka. He started at school, quickly showing an aptitude for drawing, gaining a special mention in a national contest. Shōji moved to Tokyo with his father in 1928, living in Nippori with his father's new wife. He became a keen photographer when very young. Ōtake joined the army, but was able to work as a photographer. In 1947 he managed to attach himself to GHQ, for which he photographed singers and actresses at the Ernie Pyle Theatre. From 1949 he became involved in a succession of photographic organizations, as he continued work as a photojournalist. Starting in 1951, he spent five years photographing classical and other musicians from around the world during their stays in Japan; these photographs were published in Asahi Camera and in 1955 were collected in the highly praised book World Musicians. He was also publishing nude photographs in the magazines Camera and Photo Art. From the 1950s through the 1970s, Ōtake moved to become the top photographer of women in Japan. For five years from 1971, Ōtake photographed housewives and "OL" nude (sometimes together with their babies or small children, also nude) on Nippon Television; this work too was later collected into books. By the 1980s, Ōtake's fame and commercial success as a portraitist and photographer of nudes had eclipsed his earlier and very different work. Republication within the volume dedicated to him of the series "Shōwa Shashin Zenshigoto" (1982), and the publication the following year of Haruka naru uta, brought it great acclaim. Besides photography, Ōtake has also worked as television screenwriter and an essayist. As a photographer, he remained active into his late 80s. Among the photographers who have trained under Ōtake are Mineko Orisaku and Sanae Numata.
Takahiko Ishikawa (石川隆彦, Ishikawa Takahiko, 1917–2008) was an All Japan Judo Champion. In the 1949 All-Japan Judo…Takahiko Ishikawa (石川隆彦, Ishikawa Takahiko, 1917–2008) was an All Japan Judo Champion. In the 1949 All-Japan Judo Championships Tahahiko fought Masahiko Kimura to a draw. In the following year he became the champion and subsequently placed three more times in the semi-finals and then retired.
Masao Yazawa (15 May 1915 – 11 December 2004) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 200 metres and the…Masao Yazawa (15 May 1915 – 11 December 2004) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 200 metres and the men's 4 x 100 meters relay events at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Shozo Makino (牧野 正蔵, Makino Shōzō; May 15, 1915 – February 12, 1987) was a Japanese Olympic swimmer. He won a silver…Shozo Makino (牧野 正蔵, Makino Shōzō; May 15, 1915 – February 12, 1987) was a Japanese Olympic swimmer. He won a silver medal for the Men's 1500 meter freestyle event in the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and a bronze medal for the Men's 400 meter freestyle event in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Makino was born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and was a graduate of Waseda University. On August 30, 1931, while still a middle school student, he set a new world record for the Men's 800-meter freestyle with a time of 10 minutes 16.6 seconds.
Jeong Ji-yong, often romanized in literature as Cheong Chi-yong (Korean: 정지용; 20 June 1902 – c. 1950), was a Korean…Jeong Ji-yong, often romanized in literature as Cheong Chi-yong (Korean: 정지용; 20 June 1902 – c. 1950), was a Korean poet and translator of English poetry who "opened a new horizon of poetic possibilities through chiselled expression, tempered sentiments, and precise visual imagery" according to the scholar of Korean poetry, Brother Anthony.
Kisaku Maekawa (前川 喜作, Maekawa Kisaku; 1893–1986) was a Japanese industrialist and philanthropist who founded Mayekawa…Kisaku Maekawa (前川 喜作, Maekawa Kisaku; 1893–1986) was a Japanese industrialist and philanthropist who founded Mayekawa Manufacturing Company in Tokyo, Japan in 1924. A graduate of Japan's Waseda University, he also founded the all-male Dormitory Wakeijuku through his philanthropic work. 1920: Graduated from Waseda University School of Science and Engineering 1924: Founded Mayekawa Manufacturing Ltd. Supplied imperial Japan with war supplies. 1948: Councilor of Waseda University (Later trustee) 1955: Established the Wakeijuku Foundation
Ichikawa Fusae (市川 房枝; May 15, 1893 – February 11, 1981) was a Japanese feminist, politician and a leader of the…Ichikawa Fusae (市川 房枝; May 15, 1893 – February 11, 1981) was a Japanese feminist, politician and a leader of the women's suffrage movement. Ichikawa was a key supporter of women's suffrage in Japan, and her activism was partially responsible for the extension of the franchise to women in 1945.
Masao Nakamura (中村 正雄, Nakamura Masao; 15 May 1892 – 25 December 1939) was a major general in the Imperial Japanese…Masao Nakamura (中村 正雄, Nakamura Masao; 15 May 1892 – 25 December 1939) was a major general in the Imperial Japanese Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War. A native of Ishikawa Prefecture, Nakamura graduated from the 25th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1913 and from the 32nd class of the Army Staff College in 1920. He was assigned as a military attaché to France from 1924 to 1927 and later served as a resident officer in Italy from 1933-1934. From 1936-1938, Nakamura served as Chief of Staff of the IJA 12th Division. He was promoted to major general in 1939 and commanded the IJA 21st Infantry Brigade of the 5th Division during the Battle of South Guangxi in 1939. During the battle, his brigade was mauled, and Nakamura was killed in action at the Battle of Kunlun Pass. He was posthumously promoted to lieutenant general.
Shigeyoshi Miwa (三輪 茂義, Miwa Shigeyoshi; May 15, 1892 – February 27, 1959) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy…Shigeyoshi Miwa (三輪 茂義, Miwa Shigeyoshi; May 15, 1892 – February 27, 1959) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He commanded the Japanese submarine forces during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Tōgo Murano (村野 藤吾, Murano Tōgo; May 15, 1891 – November 26, 1984) was a Japanese architect. Although his formative…Tōgo Murano (村野 藤吾, Murano Tōgo; May 15, 1891 – November 26, 1984) was a Japanese architect. Although his formative years were between 1910 and 1930, he remained active in design throughout his life and at the time of his death was responsible for over three hundred completed projects. Although his work lacked a distinctive singular style, he was recognised as a master of the modern interpretation of the sukiya style. His work included large public buildings as well as hotels and department stores and he has been recognised as one of Japan's modern masters.
Naokuni Nomura (野村 直邦, Nomura Naokuni; 15 May 1885 – 12 December 1973) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy…Naokuni Nomura (野村 直邦, Nomura Naokuni; 15 May 1885 – 12 December 1973) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and briefly served as Navy Minister in the 1940s.
Yasuji Okamura (岡村 寧次, Okamura Yasuji; 15 May 1884 – 2 September 1966) was a general of the Imperial Japanese Army…Yasuji Okamura (岡村 寧次, Okamura Yasuji; 15 May 1884 – 2 September 1966) was a general of the Imperial Japanese Army, commander-in-chief of the China Expeditionary Army from November 1944 to the end of World War II, and appointed to surrender all Japanese forces involved in the China Burma India theater. He was tried but found not guilty of any war crimes by the Shanghai War Crimes Tribunal after the war. As one of the Imperial Japanese Army's top China experts, General Okamura spent his entire military career on the Asian mainland.
Etsujirō Uehara (植原 悦二郎, Uehara Etsujirō; 15 May 1877 – 2 December 1962) was a politician and bureaucrat in the early…Etsujirō Uehara (植原 悦二郎, Uehara Etsujirō; 15 May 1877 – 2 December 1962) was a politician and bureaucrat in the early Shōwa period Japan, who subsequently was a politician and cabinet minister in the immediate post-war era.
Hisui Sugiura (杉浦 非水, Sugiura Hisui; May 15, 1876 – August 18, 1965) was a Japanese graphic designer who was a pioneer…Hisui Sugiura (杉浦 非水, Sugiura Hisui; May 15, 1876 – August 18, 1965) was a Japanese graphic designer who was a pioneer of modern Japanese graphic design.
Nakahara Nantenbō (中原 南天棒; April 3, 1839 – February 12, 1925), also known as Tōjū Zenchū, Tōshū Zenchū 鄧州全忠, and as…Nakahara Nantenbō (中原 南天棒; April 3, 1839 – February 12, 1925), also known as Tōjū Zenchū, Tōshū Zenchū 鄧州全忠, and as Nantenbō Tōjū, was a Japanese Zen Master. In his time known as a fiery reformer, he was also a prolific and accomplished artist. He produced many fine examples of Zen Art and helped bridge the gap between older forms of Zen Buddhist art and its continuation in the 20th century.
