Shin'ichirō Ikebe (Japanese: 池辺 晋一郎 Ikebe Shin'ichirō; born September 15, 1943, in Mito, Ibaraki) is a Japanese…Shin'ichirō Ikebe (Japanese: 池辺 晋一郎 Ikebe Shin'ichirō; born September 15, 1943, in Mito, Ibaraki) is a Japanese composer of contemporary classical music.
Akira Ejiri (江尻 亮, Ejiri Akira; born January 10, 1943) is a former professional baseball player from Japan. Ejiri…Akira Ejiri (江尻 亮, Ejiri Akira; born January 10, 1943) is a former professional baseball player from Japan. Ejiri played baseball for the Taiyo Whales. He eventually served as a manager for the Chiba Lotte Marines
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.
Wakanami Jun (born Jun Tomiyama, 1 March 1941 – 17 April 2007) was a sumo wrestler from Iwai, Ibaraki, Japan. His…Wakanami Jun (born Jun Tomiyama, 1 March 1941 – 17 April 2007) was a sumo wrestler from Iwai, Ibaraki, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. He won a top division tournament championship in March 1968. He was also a sumo coach.
Junichi Saga (佐賀 純一, Saga Jun'ichi; born 1941) is a Japanese countryside physician and writer whose work records…Junichi Saga (佐賀 純一, Saga Jun'ichi; born 1941) is a Japanese countryside physician and writer whose work records countryside experiences of numerous individuals (typically, his patients).
Motoharu Kurosawa (黒澤元治, Kurosawa Motoharu; born 6 August 1940), nicknamed "Gan-san", is a retired professional…Motoharu Kurosawa (黒澤元治, Kurosawa Motoharu; born 6 August 1940), nicknamed "Gan-san", is a retired professional Japanese racing driver. He is the patriarch of a racing family; his three sons, Takuya, Haruki, and Tsubasa, are all racing drivers.
Kainoyama Isamu (born Isamu Irii; June 28, 1940 – July 5, 1997) was a sumo wrestler from Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki, Japan. He…Kainoyama Isamu (born Isamu Irii; June 28, 1940 – July 5, 1997) was a sumo wrestler from Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1955, and reached the top division in January 1961. His highest rank was sekiwake. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Onogawa. He left the Sumo Association in September 1971.
Takashi Tachibana (立花 隆, Tachibana Takashi; 28 May 1940 – 30 April 2021, Nagasaki) was a Japanese journalist. He was…Takashi Tachibana (立花 隆, Tachibana Takashi; 28 May 1940 – 30 April 2021, Nagasaki) was a Japanese journalist. He was known for his articles on Japanese social problems.
Fumiko Ito (伊藤 文子, Itō Fumiko; born March 5, 1940) is a retired Japanese long jumper. She placed 12th at the 1960…Fumiko Ito (伊藤 文子, Itō Fumiko; born March 5, 1940) is a retired Japanese long jumper. She placed 12th at the 1960 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal at the 1962 Asian Games.
Motoo Andoh (安藤 統男, Andō Motoo) (born April 8, 1939) is a Japanese former baseball player. He played for the Hanshin…Motoo Andoh (安藤 統男, Andō Motoo) (born April 8, 1939) is a Japanese former baseball player. He played for the Hanshin Tigers from 1962 to 1973 and served as their manager from 1982 to 1984.
Takeshi Terauchi (寺内タケシ, Terauchi Takeshi; 17 January 1939 – 18 June 2021), also known as Terry, was a Japanese…Takeshi Terauchi (寺内タケシ, Terauchi Takeshi; 17 January 1939 – 18 June 2021), also known as Terry, was a Japanese instrumental rock guitarist. His preferred guitar was a black Mosrite with a white pickguard. His guitar sound was characterized by frenetic picking, heavy use of tremolo picking and frequent use of his guitar's vibrato arm. Terauchi started his career playing rhythm guitar at American military bases with ensembles like the Honshu Cowboys, and the country and Western act "Jimmie Tokita & His Mountain Playboys", which had bassist Chosuke Ikariya. In 1962 he formed his first group, The Blue Jeans, which released a debut album "Surfing" in 1963. In 1966 he left the group, citing exhaustion, and missed opening for the Beatles during their tour. In December 1966 he formed a new band, "The Bunnys", and released "Lets Go Terry!". In May 1967, he also established his own company named "Teraon". He won the "arrangement award" with the song "Let's Go Unmei" at the 9th Japan Record Awards in 1967. He left the Bunnys in 1968. He reformed the Blue Jeans in 1969 and the band was active until 2021. On November 26, 2008, Takeshi Terauchi and the Blue Jeans released the album Mr. Legend from King Records.
Masakatsu Miyamoto (宮本 征勝, Miyamoto Masakatsu; July 4, 1938 – May 7, 2002) was a Japanese football player and manager.…Masakatsu Miyamoto (宮本 征勝, Miyamoto Masakatsu; July 4, 1938 – May 7, 2002) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Tatsuo Umemiya (梅宮 辰夫, Umemiya Tatsuo; 11 March 1938 – 12 December 2019) was a Japanese actor, tarento, and…Tatsuo Umemiya (梅宮 辰夫, Umemiya Tatsuo; 11 March 1938 – 12 December 2019) was a Japanese actor, tarento, and businessman. He was represented by the agency Pickles. His daughter is model and tarento Anna Umemiya. The son of a doctor, Umemiya gave up a medical career to debut as a Toei New Face at the Toei Studios. As an actor, he appeared in films and television dramas and also in restaurant variety shows. Umemiya died of kidney failure on 12 December 2019. He was 81 years old.
Yukio Takano (Japanese: 高野之夫 Takano Yukio; 25 December 1937 – 9 February 2023) was a Japanese businessman and…Yukio Takano (Japanese: 高野之夫 Takano Yukio; 25 December 1937 – 9 February 2023) was a Japanese businessman and politician, member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Mitsuo Kamata (鎌田 光夫, Kamata Mitsuo; born December 16, 1937) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He…Mitsuo Kamata (鎌田 光夫, Kamata Mitsuo; born December 16, 1937) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.
Haruhisa Ishida (Japanese: 石田晴久) (30 October 1936 – 9 March 2009) was a Japanese Internet pioneer, information…Haruhisa Ishida (Japanese: 石田晴久) (30 October 1936 – 9 March 2009) was a Japanese Internet pioneer, information scientist, and university teacher. He was the head of Japan Network Information Center and the Japanese chapter of the Internet Society. Ishida also served as the director of the computer center at the University of Tokyo. He has authored and translated books and authored and co-authored a number of scientific publications.
Hiroshi Tomihari (富張 広司, Tomihari Hiroshi; born 1936, Ibaraki Prefecture) is a Japanese artist specializing in modern…Hiroshi Tomihari (富張 広司, Tomihari Hiroshi; born 1936, Ibaraki Prefecture) is a Japanese artist specializing in modern moku hanga woodblock prints. He turned to the medium in 1959, about two years after his graduation from Ibaraki University. He has since had numerous exhibitions in Japan, the U.S., and Australia. In 1978–79, the Japanese Ministry of Culture sent him to the U.S. as a delegate artist.
Yasumitsu Toyoda (豊田 泰光, Toyoda Yasumitsu; February 12, 1935 – August 14, 2016) was a Japanese professional baseball…Yasumitsu Toyoda (豊田 泰光, Toyoda Yasumitsu; February 12, 1935 – August 14, 2016) was a Japanese professional baseball player and coach, who played as a shortstop. He played and coached for the Nishitetsu Lions and the Swallows franchise of Nippon Professional Baseball. In 1972, he coached the Kintetsu Buffaloes.
Tarō Matsuno (born October 17, 1934) is a Japanese meteorologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo and…Tarō Matsuno (born October 17, 1934) is a Japanese meteorologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo and Hokkaido University. He is the winner of the 55th IMO prize, the most prestigious award of the World Meteorological Organization. He is the winner of the 2013 Blue Planet Prize with Daniel Sperling. Matsuno showed that Kelvin waves should also exist at the equator
Yoshiaki Kawashima (born 10 May 1934) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1956…Yoshiaki Kawashima (born 10 May 1934) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
Yoji Kondo (近藤 陽次, Kondō Yōji; May 26, 1933 – October 9, 2017) was a Japanese-born American astrophysicist who also…Yoji Kondo (近藤 陽次, Kondō Yōji; May 26, 1933 – October 9, 2017) was a Japanese-born American astrophysicist who also wrote science fiction under the pseudonym Eric Kotani. He edited Requiem: New Collected Works by Robert A. Heinlein and Tributes to the Grand Master (1992), and contributed to New Destinies, Vol. VI/Winter 1988—Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Issue (1988), after his friend, writer Robert A. Heinlein, died in 1988. Kondo also edited the non-fiction book Interstellar Travel & Multi-Generational Space Ships, part of the Apogee Books Space Series. For his work in the NASA Space program, Kondo was awarded the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement Yoji Kondo was also an accomplished teacher of Shodokan Aikido and judo.
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.
Osamu Yatabe (Japanese: 矢田部理 Yatabe Osamu; 15 February 1932 – 5 December 2021) was a Japanese lawyer and politician. A…Osamu Yatabe (Japanese: 矢田部理 Yatabe Osamu; 15 February 1932 – 5 December 2021) was a Japanese lawyer and politician. A member of the Japan Socialist Party and later the New Socialist Party of Japan, he served in the House of Councillors from 1974 to 1998.
Kyōko Kagawa (香川 京子, Kagawa Kyōko; born 5 December 1931) is a Japanese actress. During her career spanning 70 years…Kyōko Kagawa (香川 京子, Kagawa Kyōko; born 5 December 1931) is a Japanese actress. During her career spanning 70 years, she has worked with directors like Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu and Mikio Naruse, appearing in films such as Tokyo Story, Sansho the Bailiff, The Bad Sleep Well, Mothra, and High and Low.
Kinji Fukasaku (Japanese: 深作 欣二, Hepburn: Fukasaku Kinji; 3 July 1930 – 12 January 2003) was a Japanese filmmaker.…Kinji Fukasaku (Japanese: 深作 欣二, Hepburn: Fukasaku Kinji; 3 July 1930 – 12 January 2003) was a Japanese filmmaker. Known for his "broad range and innovative filmmaking", he worked in many different genres and styles, but was best known for his gritty yakuza films, typified by the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series (1973–1976). According to the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, his "turbulent energy and at times extreme violence express a cynical critique of social conditions and genuine sympathy for those left out of Japan's postwar prosperity". He used a cinema verite-inspired shaky camera technique in many of his films from the early 1970s. Fukasaku wrote and directed over 60 films between 1961 and 2003. Some Western sources have associated him with the Japanese New Wave movement of the 1960s and 1970s, but this belies his commercial success. His works include the Japanese portion of the Hollywood war film Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), jidaigeki such as Shogun's Samurai (1978), the space opera film Message from Space (1978), the science fiction film Virus (1980), the fantasy film Samurai Reincarnation (1981), and the highly influential dystopian thriller film Battle Royale (2000). Fukasaku won the Japan Academy Film Prize for Director of the Year three times from nine nominations. He served as the sixth president of the Directors Guild of Japan from 1996 until his death from prostate cancer in 2003. He received the Purple Medal of Honor from the Japanese government for his work in 1997. His films have inspired directors such as Quentin Tarantino, William Friedkin, and John Woo.
Kenjiro Tamiya (田宮 健次郎, Tamiya Kenjiro; February 11, 1928 – May 5, 2010) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…Kenjiro Tamiya (田宮 健次郎, Tamiya Kenjiro; February 11, 1928 – May 5, 2010) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player and manager. In his early years as a professional player, Tamiya was utilized as a pitcher and first baseman, but during the prime of his career, he transitioned to playing as an outfielder. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Shin'ichi Okada (9 January 1928 – 27 October 2014), also spelled as Shinichi Okada, was a Japanese architect active in…Shin'ichi Okada (9 January 1928 – 27 October 2014), also spelled as Shinichi Okada, was a Japanese architect active in the second half of the twentieth century. He was particularly known for designing schools, hospitals, museums, and government buildings.
Rikuo Nemoto (根本 陸夫, Nemoto Rikuo; November 20, 1926 – April 30, 1999) was a Japanese professional baseball catcher and…Rikuo Nemoto (根本 陸夫, Nemoto Rikuo; November 20, 1926 – April 30, 1999) was a Japanese professional baseball catcher and manager in the Nippon Professional Baseball. For his management skills in the front office, he was elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.
Kazuhiko Nishijima (西島 和彦, Nishijima Kazuhiko) (4 October 1926 – 15 February 2009) was a Japanese physicist who made…Kazuhiko Nishijima (西島 和彦, Nishijima Kazuhiko) (4 October 1926 – 15 February 2009) was a Japanese physicist who made significant contributions to particle physics. He was professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University until his death in 2009. He was born in Tsuchiura, Japan. He is most well known for his work on the Gell-Mann–Nishijima formula, and the concept of strangeness, which he called the "eta-charge" or "η-charge", after the eta meson (η). He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1960, 1961, 1964, 1966~1970.
Ōuchiyama Heikichi (大内山 平吉; 19 June 1926 – 1 November 1985; born Heikichi Ōuchi) was a sumo wrestler from Hitachinaka…Ōuchiyama Heikichi (大内山 平吉; 19 June 1926 – 1 November 1985; born Heikichi Ōuchi) was a sumo wrestler from Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1944, and reached the top makuuchi division in 1949. He reached the second highest rank of ōzeki in 1955, and was a runner-up in two tournaments. He was well known for his extraordinary size – at 2.02 m (6 ft 7+1⁄2 in) tall he was the tallest modern era ōzeki until Akebono in 1992. After his retirement in 1959 he worked as a coach at Tokitsukaze stable and Tatsutagawa stable until his death in 1985.
Seiroku Kajiyama (梶山 静六, Kajiyama Seiroku; March 27, 1926 – June 6, 2000) was a Japanese politician who served in the…Seiroku Kajiyama (梶山 静六, Kajiyama Seiroku; March 27, 1926 – June 6, 2000) was a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1976 and from 1979 to 2000, as Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party from 1992 to 1993, and as Chief Cabinet Secretary from 1996 to 1998.
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).
Kiichiro Toyama (遠山喜一郎, Tōyama Kiichirō; 22 November 1909 – 15 September 1999) was a Japanese gymnast. He competed in…Kiichiro Toyama (遠山喜一郎, Tōyama Kiichirō; 22 November 1909 – 15 September 1999) was a Japanese gymnast. He competed in eight events at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Hiroshi Yoneyama (米山 弘, Yoneyama Hiroshi; 1908 in Ibaraki – January 24, 1988) was a Japanese swimmer who competed in…Hiroshi Yoneyama (米山 弘, Yoneyama Hiroshi; 1908 in Ibaraki – January 24, 1988) was a Japanese swimmer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. A graduate of Waseda University, Yoneyama was a member of the Japanese team which won the silver medal for the 4 × 200 meter freestyle relay event at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. He also placed fifth in the semifinal of the 400 meter freestyle event, and did not advance.
Munenori Akagi (赤城 宗徳, Akagi Munenori; December 2, 1904 – November 11, 1993) was a Japanese politician and historian…Munenori Akagi (赤城 宗徳, Akagi Munenori; December 2, 1904 – November 11, 1993) was a Japanese politician and historian who served three times as Minister of Agriculture and once as Director of the Japan Defense Agency (now the Ministry of Defense).
Minanogawa Tōzō (Japanese: 男女ノ川 登三; September 17, 1903 – January 20, 1971), also known as Asashio Kyojiro (朝潮 供次郎), was…Minanogawa Tōzō (Japanese: 男女ノ川 登三; September 17, 1903 – January 20, 1971), also known as Asashio Kyojiro (朝潮 供次郎), was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tsukuba, Ibaraki. He was the sport's 34th yokozuna.
Kiyoshi Mutō (武藤 清, Mutō Kiyoshi; 29 January 1903 – 12 March 1989) was a Japanese architect and structural engineer. He…Kiyoshi Mutō (武藤 清, Mutō Kiyoshi; 29 January 1903 – 12 March 1989) was a Japanese architect and structural engineer. He is considered the "father of the Japanese skyscraper" for his contributions to earthquake engineering.
Harumi Hanayagi (花柳 はるみ, Hanayagi Harumi; 24 February 1896 – 11 October 1962) was a pioneering Japanese film and stage…Harumi Hanayagi (花柳 はるみ, Hanayagi Harumi; 24 February 1896 – 11 October 1962) was a pioneering Japanese film and stage actress.
Iwao Frederick Ayusawa (鮎沢 巌, Ayusawa Iwao) (October 15, 1894 – November 30, 1972) was a diplomat and international…Iwao Frederick Ayusawa (鮎沢 巌, Ayusawa Iwao) (October 15, 1894 – November 30, 1972) was a diplomat and international authority on social and labor issues.
Kōzaburō Tachibana (橘 孝三郎, Tachibana Kōzaburō; 18 March 1893 – 30 March 1974) was a Japanese political activist and…Kōzaburō Tachibana (橘 孝三郎, Tachibana Kōzaburō; 18 March 1893 – 30 March 1974) was a Japanese political activist and ultra-nationalist.
Hironori Ōtsuka (大塚 博紀, Ōtsuka Hironori; June 1, 1892 – January 29, 1982)[a] was a Japanese master of karate who…Hironori Ōtsuka (大塚 博紀, Ōtsuka Hironori; June 1, 1892 – January 29, 1982)[a] was a Japanese master of karate who created the Wadō-ryū style of karate. He was the first Grand Master of Wadō-ryū karate, and received high awards within Japan for his contributions to karate.
Masaichi Kobayashi (14 February 1891 – 25 December 1973) was a Japanese architect. His work was part of the…Masaichi Kobayashi (14 February 1891 – 25 December 1973) was a Japanese architect. His work was part of the architecture event in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Takeo Kurita (Japanese: 栗田 健男, Hepburn: Kurita Takeo; 28 April 1889 – 19 December 1977) was a vice admiral in the…Takeo Kurita (Japanese: 栗田 健男, Hepburn: Kurita Takeo; 28 April 1889 – 19 December 1977) was a vice admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. Kurita commanded IJN 2nd Fleet, the main Japanese attack force during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history.
Jo Iimura (飯村 穣, Iimura Jō; 20 May 1888 – 21 February 1976) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army in the Pacific…Jo Iimura (飯村 穣, Iimura Jō; 20 May 1888 – 21 February 1976) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army in the Pacific War.
Nakamura Tsune (中村彝) (3 July 1887 – 24 December 1924) was a Japanese yōga painter best known for his portraits of Sōma…Nakamura Tsune (中村彝) (3 July 1887 – 24 December 1924) was a Japanese yōga painter best known for his portraits of Sōma Toshiko, including Girl (1914).
Akira Kazami (風見 章; Kazami Akira; 1886–1961) was a Japanese politician. He served as Secretary-General of the First…Akira Kazami (風見 章; Kazami Akira; 1886–1961) was a Japanese politician. He served as Secretary-General of the First Konoe Cabinet (1937–1939) and Minister of Justice of the Second Konoe Cabinet (1940).
Gunji Koizumi (小泉 軍治, Koizumi Gunji; 8 July 1885 – 15 April 1965), known affectionately by colleagues as G.K., was a…Gunji Koizumi (小泉 軍治, Koizumi Gunji; 8 July 1885 – 15 April 1965), known affectionately by colleagues as G.K., was a Japanese master of judo who introduced this martial art to the United Kingdom, and came to be known as the 'Father of British Judo.' He was the founder of the Budokwai, a pioneering Japanese martial arts society in England. Koizumi helped establish the British Judo Association, and founded the European Judo Union. He held the rank of 8th dan in judo. Koizumi's apparent suicide in 1965 shocked the worldwide judo community.
