Mitsumasa Anno (安野 光雅, Anno Mitsumasa; 20 March 1926 – 24 December 2020) was a Japanese illustrator and writer of…Mitsumasa Anno (安野 光雅, Anno Mitsumasa; 20 March 1926 – 24 December 2020) was a Japanese illustrator and writer of children's books, known best for picture books with few or no words. He received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1984 for his "lasting contribution to children's literature."
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.
Den Fujita (藤田 田, Fujita Den, March 3, 1926 – April 21, 2004) was a Japanese businessman. He was the founder of…Den Fujita (藤田 田, Fujita Den, March 3, 1926 – April 21, 2004) was a Japanese businessman. He was the founder of McDonald's Japan.
Kenjirō Azuma (吾妻 兼治郎, Azuma Kenjirō; March 12, 1926 – October 15, 2016) was a Japanese-born sculptor, painter and…Kenjirō Azuma (吾妻 兼治郎, Azuma Kenjirō; March 12, 1926 – October 15, 2016) was a Japanese-born sculptor, painter and teacher.
Risuke Ōtake (大竹利典, Otake Risuke) (10 March 1926 – 7 June 2021) full name Ōtake Risuke Minamoto no Takeyuki (大竹利典源健之…Risuke Ōtake (大竹利典, Otake Risuke) (10 March 1926 – 7 June 2021) full name Ōtake Risuke Minamoto no Takeyuki (大竹利典源健之, Ōtake Risuke Minamoto no Takeyuki), was a Japanese martial artist. He was a long time shihan (Teaching Master) of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū bujutsu, which he learned as a disciple of the previous teaching master Hayashi Yazaemon (1892-1964) from the time he entered the school in 1942 at the age of 16. In 1967, when Otake-sensei was 42 years old, he received gokui kaiden, the highest level of attainment in the tradition, and at the same time became the school's teaching master. He lived and taught in rural location near Narita city, in Chiba Prefecture of Japan. The teachings of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū were designated an Intangible Cultural Asset of Chiba Prefecture in 1960, with Ōtake designated as guardian of the tradition. He authored Strategy and the Art of Peace, as well as an earlier three-volume set of books on the tradition entitled The Deity and the Sword: Katori Shinto-ryu. He was a member of the Chiba Prefecture Board of Registrars and Appraisers for Muskets and Swords; a position he held since 1979. Ōtake shihan died on 7 June 2021.
Yoshimi Ōsawa (大澤慶巳, Ōsawa Yoshimi; 6 March 1926 – 21 October 2022) was a Japanese judoka. Before his death, he was the…Yoshimi Ōsawa (大澤慶巳, Ōsawa Yoshimi; 6 March 1926 – 21 October 2022) was a Japanese judoka. Before his death, he was the only living Kodokan 10th dan (and one of only 15 to have attained this rank), having been promoted at the New Year Kagami Biraki Ceremony, 8 January 2006 along with Toshiro Daigo and Ichiro Abe.
Michiko Nagai (永井路子, Nagai Michiko); (March 31, 1925 – January 27, 2023) was a Japanese historical fiction writer. Her…Michiko Nagai (永井路子, Nagai Michiko); (March 31, 1925 – January 27, 2023) was a Japanese historical fiction writer. Her real name is Hiroko Kuroita (黒板擴子, Kuroita Hiroko).
Shigeichi Nagano (長野 重一, Nagano Shigeichi; March 30, 1925 – January 30, 2019) was a Japanese photographer. He won the…Shigeichi Nagano (長野 重一, Nagano Shigeichi; March 30, 1925 – January 30, 2019) was a Japanese photographer. He won the Ina Nobuo Award in 1986 and had a major retrospective at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography in 2000.
Masaru Hayami (速水 優, Hayami Masaru; 24 March 1925 – 17 May 2009) was a Japanese businessman, central banker, the 28th…Masaru Hayami (速水 優, Hayami Masaru; 24 March 1925 – 17 May 2009) was a Japanese businessman, central banker, the 28th Governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and a Director of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
Takeshi Umehara (梅原 猛, Umehara Takeshi; March 20, 1925 – January 12, 2019) was born in Miyagi Prefecture in Tōhoku and…Takeshi Umehara (梅原 猛, Umehara Takeshi; March 20, 1925 – January 12, 2019) was born in Miyagi Prefecture in Tōhoku and graduated from the philosophical faculty of Kyoto University in 1948. He taught philosophy at Ritsumeikan University and was subsequently appointed president of the Kyoto City University of Arts. He is noted for his prolific essays on Japanese culture, in which he has endeavoured to refound the discipline of Japanese studies along more Japanocentric lines, notably in his book Nihongaku kotohajime (日本学事始) written in 1972 in collaboration with Shunpei Ueyama. Aside from his voluminous academic essays on numerous aspects of Japanese culture he has also composed theatrical works on figures as varied as Yamato Takeru and Gilgamesh. He was appointed in 1987 to head the International Research Center for Japanese Studies, otherwise known by the abbreviation of Nichibunken, established by Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone to function as a centralized academic body collecting and classifying all available information about Japanese culture, both within Japan and abroad. He retired as head administrator of Nichibunken in 1995.
Leo Esaki (江崎 玲於奈, Esaki Reona; born March 12, 1925) is a Japanese physicist who shared the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physics…Leo Esaki (江崎 玲於奈, Esaki Reona; born March 12, 1925) is a Japanese physicist who shared the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physics with Ivar Giaever and Brian Josephson for his work on tunneling in semiconductors, which led to his invention of the tunnel diode that exploits this phenomenon. His research was done when he was with Sony. He has also contributed in being a pioneer of semiconductor superlattices. Since the death of Yoichiro Nambu in 2015, Esaki is the oldest living Japanese Nobel laureate.
Fukuzo Iwasaki (岩崎 福三, Iwasaki Fukuzō; March 11, 1925 – February 29, 2012) was a Japanese real estate magnate with an…Fukuzo Iwasaki (岩崎 福三, Iwasaki Fukuzō; March 11, 1925 – February 29, 2012) was a Japanese real estate magnate with an estimated fortune of $5.7 billion, putting him among the five richest people in Japan. He was chairman of the Iwasaki Sangyo Group, a major transportation, tourism and hotel company in southern Japan, founded by his father, Yōhachirō Iwasaki. Forbes' 2007 list of billionaires estimates his net worth at $2.1 billion. Iwasaki was a resident of Kagoshima and held a bachelor's degree from Rikkyo University.
Ichiro Nakagawa (中川 一郎, Nakagawa Ichirō; 9 March 1925 – 9 January 1983) was a Japanese politician from Hokkaidō. He was…Ichiro Nakagawa (中川 一郎, Nakagawa Ichirō; 9 March 1925 – 9 January 1983) was a Japanese politician from Hokkaidō. He was a significant leader of the right wing of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Ken-Ichi Inada (稲田 献一, Inada Ken'ichi; March 8, 1925 – May 17, 2002) was a Japanese economist. Beginning in the 1950s…Ken-Ichi Inada (稲田 献一, Inada Ken'ichi; March 8, 1925 – May 17, 2002) was a Japanese economist. Beginning in the 1950s, Inada wrote a number of important papers on welfare economics, economic growth and international trade. His contributions include an early extension of Kenneth Arrow's impossibility theorem on the existence of a social welfare function (1955). Inada's extension of the Stolper–Samuelson theorem to the many-good, many-factor case is also considered as a classic piece in trade theory (1971). Inada has taught at universities including Osaka University and Tokyo Metropolitan University, served as a member of the honorary board of editors for the Japanese Economic Review since its first publishing in 1995, as well as being elected president of the Japanese Economic Association in 1980. He is known for the Inada conditions on a production function that can guarantee the stability of an economic growth path in a neoclassical growth model.
Seiuemon Inaba (1925-2020) was a Japanese roboticist who was the founder and honorary chairman of FANUC. Inaba was born…Seiuemon Inaba (1925-2020) was a Japanese roboticist who was the founder and honorary chairman of FANUC. Inaba was born in 1925 in Ibaraki Prefecture, north of Tokyo. Inaba played a key role in the development of the robot industry. In 1992, he was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for pioneering achievements in numerically controlled machine tools and factory automation and contributions to engineering research and education. Inaba died on October 2, 2020, at the age of 95.
Peter Takaaki Hirayama (March 31, 1924 – July 15, 2023) was a Japanese prelate of the Catholic Church. Hirayama was…Peter Takaaki Hirayama (March 31, 1924 – July 15, 2023) was a Japanese prelate of the Catholic Church. Hirayama was born in Seoul and was ordained a priest on March 19, 1957. Hirayama was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Oita on November 15, 1969, and was consecrated on January 25, 1970. Hirayama served in this capacity until his retirement on May 10, 2000.
Saburo Date (伊達三郎, Date Saburō; 27 March 1924 – 12 September 1991) was a Japanese actor. In 1945, he signed a contract…Saburo Date (伊達三郎, Date Saburō; 27 March 1924 – 12 September 1991) was a Japanese actor. In 1945, he signed a contract with Daiei Film company and started his acting career. Following year, he made his film debut with Okagura Kyōdai directed by Hiroshi Inagaki. At the same time, he was given the stage name Saburo Date by Inagaki. As the Daiei studio gave up film production in 1970, he left Daiei and became a freelance actor. He appeared in nearly 200 films between 1947 and 1990.
Soichiro Ito (伊藤宗一郎, Itō Sōichirō; 21 March 1924 – 4 September 2001) was a Japanese politician who served in the House…Soichiro Ito (伊藤宗一郎, Itō Sōichirō; 21 March 1924 – 4 September 2001) was a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives from 1967 until his death in 2001. From 1981 to 1982, Ito was the Director General of the Japan Defense Agency. Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1924, he studied law at Tohoku University and served briefly as a second lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Army.
Yasushi Mieno (三重野 康, Mieno Yasushi; March 17, 1924 – April 15, 2012) was a Japanese businessman, central banker, the…Yasushi Mieno (三重野 康, Mieno Yasushi; March 17, 1924 – April 15, 2012) was a Japanese businessman, central banker, the 26th Governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and a Director of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
Morihiko Hiramatsu (平松 守彦, Hiramatsu Morihiko; 12 March 1924 – 21 August 2016) was a Japanese politician who was…Morihiko Hiramatsu (平松 守彦, Hiramatsu Morihiko; 12 March 1924 – 21 August 2016) was a Japanese politician who was governor of Ōita Prefecture from April 1979 to April 2003. He is best known for initiating the One Village One Product movement in the prefecture, which was later followed by various other countries.
Kimifusa Abe (安部 公房, Abe Kimifusa; March 7, 1924 – January 22, 1993), known by his pen name Kōbō Abe (安部 公房, Abe Kōbō)…Kimifusa Abe (安部 公房, Abe Kimifusa; March 7, 1924 – January 22, 1993), known by his pen name Kōbō Abe (安部 公房, Abe Kōbō), was a Japanese writer, playwright and director. His 1962 novel The Woman in the Dunes was made into an award-winning film by Hiroshi Teshigahara in 1964. Abe has often been compared to Franz Kafka for his modernist sensibilities and his surreal, often nightmarish explorations of individuals in contemporary society. He died aged 68 of heart failure in Tokyo after a brief illness.
Takeshi Taketsuru (Japanese: 竹鶴威, 6 March 1924 – 17 December 2014) was a Japanese whisky distiller. He was the nephew…Takeshi Taketsuru (Japanese: 竹鶴威, 6 March 1924 – 17 December 2014) was a Japanese whisky distiller. He was the nephew of Masataka Taketsuru, from his sister Nobuyo, and his wife Rita Taketsuru, the founders of the Nikka Whisky company before being adopted by them after his father's death in 1943. After their deaths, he took over the company, and expanded its business substantially. He died on 17 December 2014, at the age of 90. Having married his wife, Utako, in 1951, he is survived by his two children, Kotaro and Minobu.
Noboru Minowa (Japanese: 箕輪登, romanized: Minowa Noboru) (March 5, 1924 – May 14, 2006) was a member of the House of…Noboru Minowa (Japanese: 箕輪登, romanized: Minowa Noboru) (March 5, 1924 – May 14, 2006) was a member of the House of Representatives of Japan from Hokkaido 1st district. He was from Otaru, Hokkaido, and a graduate of Hokkaido University.
Tomiichi Murayama (村山 富市, Murayama Tomiichi; 3 March 1924 – 17 October 2025) was a Japanese politician who served as…Tomiichi Murayama (村山 富市, Murayama Tomiichi; 3 March 1924 – 17 October 2025) was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1994 to 1996. He was the country's only socialist premier since Tetsu Katayama in 1948, and is best remembered for the Murayama Statement on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, in which he officially apologized for Japan's past colonial wars and aggression. Born in Ōita Prefecture, Murayama graduated from Meiji University in 1946, and became a labor union official in his home prefecture. He was elected to the Ōita City Council in 1955 as a member of the Japan Socialist Party; he was then elected to the Ōita Prefectural Assembly in 1963 and to the National Diet in 1972. After the JSP joined the government following the 1993 election, he became its leader, then became prime minister in 1994 as the head of a new coalition of the JSP, Liberal Democratic Party, and New Party Sakigake. During his time as prime minister, Murayama was noted for his Murayama Statement in which he apologised for the country's actions during World War II, oversaw a crumbling relationship between Japan and the United States, and his government was criticized for its responses to the Great Hanshin earthquake and Tokyo subway sarin attack in 1995. He resigned as prime minister in 1996, and reorganized the JSP as the Social Democratic Party. The new party lost many of its seats in the 1996 election, and he resigned as its leader soon after.
Shūsaku Endō (遠藤 周作, Endō Shūsaku; March 27, 1923 – September 29, 1996) was a Japanese writer who wrote from the…Shūsaku Endō (遠藤 周作, Endō Shūsaku; March 27, 1923 – September 29, 1996) was a Japanese writer who wrote from the perspective of a Japanese Catholic. Internationally, he is known for his 1966 historical fiction novel Silence, adapted into a 2016 film by Martin Scorsese. He was the laureate of several prestigious literary accolades, including the Akutagawa Prize and the Order of Culture, and was inducted into the Roman Catholic Order of St. Sylvester by Pope Paul VI. Together with Junnosuke Yoshiyuki, Shōtarō Yasuoka, Junzo Shono, Hiroyuki Agawa, Ayako Sono (also Catholic), and Shumon Miura, Endō is categorized as part of the "Third Generation" (that is, the third major group of Japanese writers to appear after World War II).
Nobuo Kaneko (金子信雄, Kaneko Nobuo; 27 March 1923 – 20 January 1995) was a Japanese actor. His wife was actress Yatsuko…Nobuo Kaneko (金子信雄, Kaneko Nobuo; 27 March 1923 – 20 January 1995) was a Japanese actor. His wife was actress Yatsuko Tanami. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1946 and 1993.
Ryūichi Tamura (田村 隆一, Tamura Ryūichi; 18 March 1923 – 26 August 1998) was a Japanese poet, essayist and translator of…Ryūichi Tamura (田村 隆一, Tamura Ryūichi; 18 March 1923 – 26 August 1998) was a Japanese poet, essayist and translator of English language novels and poetry who was active during the Shōwa period of Japan.
Takashi Eda (江田 孝, Eda Takashi; March 18, 1923 – February 11, 1978) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. From…Takashi Eda (江田 孝, Eda Takashi; March 18, 1923 – February 11, 1978) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. From 1948 to 1955 he went by the name of Koichi Eda. He finished his career in 1957.
Eiji Funakoshi (船越 英二, Funakoshi Eiji; 17 March 1923 – 17 March 2007) was a Japanese actor. He received the Kinema…Eiji Funakoshi (船越 英二, Funakoshi Eiji; 17 March 1923 – 17 March 2007) was a Japanese actor. He received the Kinema Junpo Award for Best Actor and the Mainichi Film Concours for Best Actor for his performance in Fires on the Plain.
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.
Yasuharu Ōyama (大山 康晴 Ōyama Yasuharu, March 13, 1923 - July 26, 1992) was a professional shogi player, 15th Lifetime…Yasuharu Ōyama (大山 康晴 Ōyama Yasuharu, March 13, 1923 - July 26, 1992) was a professional shogi player, 15th Lifetime Meijin and president of Japan Shogi Association (1976 - 1989). He studied shogi under Kinjiro Kimi (木見金治郎, Kinjirō Kimi). He won 80 titles (2nd on record), 44 other type tournaments (2nd on record) and 1433 games (2nd on record) in life, and was awarded five lifetime titles: Lifetime Meijin, Lifetime Jūdan, Lifetime Ōi, Lifetime Kisei and Lifetime Ōshō. Among his 80 titles, 18 were the Meijin title (most prestigious title in shogi, along with Ryūō). He has appeared in the Meijin title match 25 times winning 18; he also holds the record for the most consecutive Meijin titles (13 in a row from 1959 to 1971), the most overall Meijin titles, and being the oldest player to challenge for the Meijin title, at age 63 in 1986. Ōyama played as professional from 1940 until his death in 1992. His students include Michio Ariyoshi, Isao Nakata and Hisashi Namekata. He was awarded as honorary citizen of Kurashiki, Okayama, his birthplace and then Hyakkoku, Aomori (now merged to Oirase, Aomori). Ōyama had a strong interest in other kinds of boardgames, including go, mahjong, chess, chu shogi and xiangqi. He founded the Japan Xiangqi Association in 1973 and served as its president.
Masao Ono (大埜 正雄, Ono Masao; March 2, 1923 – February 11, 2001) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Masao Ono (大埜 正雄, Ono Masao; March 2, 1923 – February 11, 2001) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Kiyoyuki Terada (寺田精之, Terada Kiyoyuki, March 20, 1922 – July 13, 2009) was a Japanese aikido teacher. He was ranked…Kiyoyuki Terada (寺田精之, Terada Kiyoyuki, March 20, 1922 – July 13, 2009) was a Japanese aikido teacher. He was ranked 10th dan in Yoshinkan Aikido and served as the most senior instructor in Yoshinkan Aikido until his death.
Hiroo Onoda (Japanese: 小野田 寛郎, Hepburn: Onoda Hiroo; IPA: [o̞no̞da̠ çiɾo̞ː]) (19 March 1922 – 16 January 2014) was a…Hiroo Onoda (Japanese: 小野田 寛郎, Hepburn: Onoda Hiroo; IPA: [o̞no̞da̠ çiɾo̞ː]) (19 March 1922 – 16 January 2014) was a Japanese soldier who served as a second lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. One of the last Japanese holdouts, Onoda continued fighting for nearly 29 years after the war's end in 1945, carrying out guerrilla warfare on Lubang Island in the Philippines until 1974. Onoda initially held out with three other soldiers. One surrendered in 1950, and two were killed, one in 1954 and one in 1972. The men did not believe flyers and letters from their families stating that the war was over. They survived on wild fruits, game, and stolen rice, and occasionally engaged in shootouts (using their service rifles) with locals and police. Onoda was contacted in the jungles of Lubang by Japanese adventurer Norio Suzuki in 1974 but still refused to surrender until he was formally relieved of duty by his former commanding officer, Major Yoshimi Taniguchi, who flew from Japan to the island to issue the order. Onoda surrendered on 10 March 1974 and received a hero's welcome when he returned to Japan. That year, he wrote and published an autobiography and later moved to Brazil, where he became a cattle rancher. In 1984, Onoda returned to Japan, where he died in 2014 at the age of 91.
Shigeru Mura (Japanese: 武良 茂, Hepburn: Mura Shigeru; March 8, 1922 – November 30, 2015), best known by his pen name…Shigeru Mura (Japanese: 武良 茂, Hepburn: Mura Shigeru; March 8, 1922 – November 30, 2015), best known by his pen name Shigeru Mizuki (水木 しげる, Mizuki Shigeru), was a Japanese manga artist, illustrator and folklorist. He is best known for popularizing and reviving interest in yōkai, supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore, especially through his most famous series GeGeGe no Kitarō. Raised in Sakaiminato, Mizuki developed an early interest in art and the supernatural. Drafted during World War II, he lost his left arm in combat, an experience that deeply shaped his later antimilitarist works, including Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths. Mizuki began his career in kamishibai (paper theater) and transitioned to manga in the late 1950s. His signature style contrasted cartoonish characters with highly detailed backgrounds and grotesque depictions of yōkai. Deeply influenced by oral folklore, especially stories told by a woman he called "Nonnonba," he also engaged in extensive ethnographic research. His works often combined autobiography, history, and fantasy to critique modernization, nationalism, and imperialism. A recipient of numerous awards, his legacy extends into global pop culture through translations, adaptations, and homages in media.
Akira Yamada (山田 晶, Yamada Akira; 7 March 1922 – 29 February 2008) was a Japanese scholar and philosopher of the West…Akira Yamada (山田 晶, Yamada Akira; 7 March 1922 – 29 February 2008) was a Japanese scholar and philosopher of the West European Medieval philosophy. He was member of the Japan Academy since 1998.
Kotonishiki Noboru (March 7, 1922 – July 14, 1974, born Noboru Fujimura) was a sumo wrestler and coach from Kanonji…Kotonishiki Noboru (March 7, 1922 – July 14, 1974, born Noboru Fujimura) was a sumo wrestler and coach from Kanonji, Kagawa, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. He was runner-up in the January 1949 tournament and earned seven gold stars for defeating yokozuna. After his retirement in 1955 he founded the Sadogatake stable and produced yokozuna Kotozakura among others. He ran the stable until his death in 1974.
Kazuo Nakamoto (Japanese: 中本 一男, 1 March 1922 - 7 June 2011) was a Japan-born American chemist and Professor Emeritus…Kazuo Nakamoto (Japanese: 中本 一男, 1 March 1922 - 7 June 2011) was a Japan-born American chemist and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Marquette University. He specialized in infrared and Raman spectroscopy.
Kan Ishii (Japanese: 石井 歓, Hepburn: Ishii Kan; 30 March 1921 in Tokyo, Japan – 24 November 2009 in Yokohama, Japan) was…Kan Ishii (Japanese: 石井 歓, Hepburn: Ishii Kan; 30 March 1921 in Tokyo, Japan – 24 November 2009 in Yokohama, Japan) was a Japanese composer. His father, Baku Ishii, was a prominent Japanese ballet dancer, and his brother Maki Ishii was also a composer. His Symphonia Ainu won a prize at the 1958 Art Festival, inspiring him to do further work inspired by nationalist primitivism. His musical style appeals directly to the emotions, and shows the influence of Carl Orff. In addition to orchestral and vocal music, he has written extensively for the stage, including 6 operas, 3 ballets and 9 film scores, including the 1962 science-fiction film Gorath. Ishii accepted a position as professor at Shōwa College of Music in 1986.
Yasuto Mushiake (28 March 1921 – 6 October 2020) was a Japanese telecommunications engineer. He was named a fellow of…Yasuto Mushiake (28 March 1921 – 6 October 2020) was a Japanese telecommunications engineer. He was named a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, "for contributions to linear antennas and self-complementary antennas". Mushiake died on 6 October 2020, at the age of 99.
Akira Murata (村田 昭 Murata Akira; March 25, 1921 – February 3, 2006) was a Japanese businessman and the founder of…Akira Murata (村田 昭 Murata Akira; March 25, 1921 – February 3, 2006) was a Japanese businessman and the founder of Murata Manufacturing. He was the President/Statutory Representative Director from 1950 to 1991. From 1995 onward, he held the position of Honorary Chairman.
Iwao Akiyama (秋山 巌, Akiyama Iwao; March 21, 1921 – September 15, 2014) was a Japanese woodblock printmaker and artist…Iwao Akiyama (秋山 巌, Akiyama Iwao; March 21, 1921 – September 15, 2014) was a Japanese woodblock printmaker and artist known for distinctive prints of owls, cats, and other animals in the style of naive or folk art. Akiyama was born in 1921 in Takeda, Ōita Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu. He studied drawing under the direction of a Buddhist monk during his childhood, then at the Taiheiyo Bijutsu Gakkō, graduating 1956. He originally pursued suiboku-ga, a type of ink painting. However, Akiyama changed his focus to woodblock printing after meeting Shikō Munakata, under whom he studied from 1959 until 1965. Akiyama's prints are primarily made in black ink, and early ones contained a single red dot within the image, although later works sometimes feature more colors. In his prints, Akiyama limited himself to few subjects: animals, nude female figures, Buddhist deities and Buddhist monks. Akiyama's work often incorporated verses of haiku and other text by Japanese poets like Ryōkan Taigu, Kobayashi Issa, and Zen monk Santōka Taneda, as well as from his own original poetry. Iwao Akiyama died in Matsudo, Chiba, on September 15, 2014, at the age of 93.
Heitaro Nakajima (中島 平太郎, Nakajima Heitarō; 19 March 1921 – 9 December 2017) was a Japanese digital audio pioneer, who…Heitaro Nakajima (中島 平太郎, Nakajima Heitarō; 19 March 1921 – 9 December 2017) was a Japanese digital audio pioneer, who led Sony's Compact Disc project in the 1970s. Born in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, Nakajima graduated from the Tokyo Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1944, and earned a Doctor of Engineering degree from Kyushu University in 1958. In 1971, Nakajima joined Sony as a managing director, hired by Sony's co-founder and president at large, Masaru Ibuka. He became president of Aiwa in 1984. In 1989, he received the first IEEE Masaru Ibuka Consumer Electronics Award and in 1993 he was awarded the Purple Ribbon Medal for CD development.
Xie Xide (simplified Chinese: 谢希德; traditional Chinese: 謝希德; pinyin: Xiè Xīdé; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chiā Hi-tek; 19 March 1921 –…Xie Xide (simplified Chinese: 谢希德; traditional Chinese: 謝希德; pinyin: Xiè Xīdé; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chiā Hi-tek; 19 March 1921 – 4 March 2000), also known as Hsi-teh Hsieh and as Hilda Hsieh, was a Chinese physicist. She was president of Fudan University from 1983 to 1989, and remained as advisor to the university from 1989 until her death. She helped to set up the university's Centre for American Studies and founded its Modern Physics Institute in 1977. Xie also served as a member in the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party from 1982 to 1992.
Motofumi Makieda (Japanese: 槙枝元文, 4 March 1921 – 4 December 2010) was a Japanese trade union leader. Makieda qualified…Motofumi Makieda (Japanese: 槙枝元文, 4 March 1921 – 4 December 2010) was a Japanese trade union leader. Makieda qualified as a teacher during World War II, then taught at a junior high school. After the war, he was a founding member of the Japan Teachers' Union (JTU), and became its general secretary in 1962, and then president in 1971, in which role he promoted education for peace. In 1974, he led the union in a national strike. As it was illegal for teachers to strike, he was imprisoned, being released following an international campaign. From 1976, he was additionally president of the General Council of Trade Unions of Japan (Sohyo). In 1978, he was elected as president of the World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession, serving until 1982, during which time he built links between the federation and the rival International Federation of Free Teachers' Unions. Makieda retired in 1983, and thereafter devoted his time to the Japan-China Friendship Society. He also supported the merger of Sohyo into RENGO, a new trade union federation.
Kenji Misumi (三隅 研次, Misumi Kenji) (2 March 1921 – 24 September 1975) was a Japanese film director. He created film…Kenji Misumi (三隅 研次, Misumi Kenji) (2 March 1921 – 24 September 1975) was a Japanese film director. He created film series such as Lone Wolf and Cub and the initial film in the long-running Zatoichi series, and also directed Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice, starring Shintaro Katsu. He died at age 54. In 2012, his 1973 film Sakura no Daimon was voted for by Makoto Shinozaki at the BFI The Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time.
Hiroshi Akutagawa (芥川比呂志, Akutagawa Hiroshi; 30 March 1920 – 28 October 1981) was a Japanese stage and film actor and…Hiroshi Akutagawa (芥川比呂志, Akutagawa Hiroshi; 30 March 1920 – 28 October 1981) was a Japanese stage and film actor and director. In his 30 years spanning career, he appeared in numerous stage productions and films by directors such as Shirō Toyoda, Tadashi Imai, Heinosuke Gosho, Akira Kurosawa and Nagisa Ōshima.
Tetsuharu Kawakami (川上 哲治, Kawakami Tetsuharu; March 23, 1920 – October 28, 2013) was a Japanese baseball player and…Tetsuharu Kawakami (川上 哲治, Kawakami Tetsuharu; March 23, 1920 – October 28, 2013) was a Japanese baseball player and manager, known for his red bat, and his nickname dageki no kamisama (打撃の神様, "the God of Batting/Hitting"). He was a professional player for 18 years, winning the batting title five times, two home run crowns, three RBI titles, and had six titles for the most hits in a season. He was the MVP of the 1953 Japan Series. He was the first player in Japanese pro baseball to achieve 2,000 hits and was named the league's MVP three times. As manager of the Yomiuri Giants from 1961 to 1974, he led the Giants to eleven championships, with nine of them being in consecutive years; his teams never lost a Japan Series with him as a manager. He has the most Japan Series championships as a manager. Kawakami was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1965.
