Motoshi Okuma (大熊 元司, Ōkuma Motoshi, December 17, 1941 – December 27, 1992) was a Japanese professional wrestler. He is…Motoshi Okuma (大熊 元司, Ōkuma Motoshi, December 17, 1941 – December 27, 1992) was a Japanese professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenures in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), Japan Wrestling Association (JWA), International Wrestling Enterprise (IWE) and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). During most of his career he teamed with Great Kojika.
Hidetoshi Nagasawa (長澤 英俊, Nagasawa Hidetoshi; 30 October 1940 – 24 March 2018) was a Japanese sculptor and architect…Hidetoshi Nagasawa (長澤 英俊, Nagasawa Hidetoshi; 30 October 1940 – 24 March 2018) was a Japanese sculptor and architect, who lived and worked in Italy from 1967 until his death in 2018. Nagasawa was born in Tonei, Manchuria. He graduated in architecture in Tokyo in 1963. In 1966 he embarked on a long bicycle trip across Asia and Europe, eventually reaching Milan where he decided to permanently settle in 1968. In 1979 he founded the Casa degli Artisti in Milan together with Luciano Fabro and Jole De Sanna. Nagasawa's sculptures were made of materials such as paper, wood, stone and metal, and incorporated Eastern and Western cultural and religious elements. In the 1980s, he started creating his first environments, exploring the relationship between sculpture and architecture. Nagasawa was a lecturer at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan. He participated to the Venice Biennale in 1972, 1976, 1982 and 1988. He was invited to Documenta 9 in Kassel in 1992 and in 2006 he participated in the XII Biennale of Sculpture in Carrara. He has also held solo shows at the Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea in Milan (1988), the Galleria Comunale in Bologna (1993), and the Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró in Mallorca (1996).
Toshio Yamaguchi (山口 敏夫, Yamaguchi Toshio; born 29 August 1940) is a Japanese politician who served as Minister of…Toshio Yamaguchi (山口 敏夫, Yamaguchi Toshio; born 29 August 1940) is a Japanese politician who served as Minister of Labour and as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet of Japan. Yamaguchi was first elected to the House of Representatives in the 1967 general election and served ten consecutive terms in the Diet, holding his seat until the 1996 general election. He served as labour minister from 1984 to 1985 in the cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone. During his time in the Diet, he frequently appeared in the media and was dubbed the "Ushiwakamaru of politics." In 1994, Yamaguchi persuaded the heads of Tokyo Kyowa Credit Association and Anzen Credit Bank to arrange illegal loans for companies controlled by Yamaguchi and his family. He was arrested in December 1995 and held in prison for a year pending trial. In 1996, he was found guilty of breach of trust, embezzlement, fraud and perjury, and sentenced to four years in prison. He appealed the verdict to the Tokyo High Court, and told reporters in 2002 that he was considering a return to office in 2004; his appeal was rejected in February 2003. He was taken to prison in March 2007 to serve the remaining 3.5 years of his term. Following his release, in 2015, Yamaguchi distributed pamphlets to members of the Diet calling for former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to resign as head of the 2020 Summer Olympics organizing committee, causing a stir in the political world as Yamaguchi and Mori had been acquaintances since Mori was still a student. At the age of 75, Yamaguchi entered the 2016 Tokyo gubernatorial election as a candidate of the People's Sovereignty Party (国民主権の会, Kokumin Shuken no Kai). He placed eleventh out of twenty-one candidates.
Toshio Kojima (小島 敏男, Kojima Toshio; born 11 November 1939) is a retired Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Toshio Kojima (小島 敏男, Kojima Toshio; born 11 November 1939) is a retired Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kumagaya, Saitama and graduate of Chuo University, he had served in the city assembly of Kumagaya for three terms since 1971 and in the assembly of Saitama Prefecture for four terms since 1983. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1999.
Shohei Kasahara (笠原 章平, Kasahara Shōhei; born 21 July 1939) is a Japanese former hammer thrower who competed in the…Shohei Kasahara (笠原 章平, Kasahara Shōhei; born 21 July 1939) is a Japanese former hammer thrower who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Sumio Iijima (飯島 澄男, Iijima Sumio; born 2 May 1939) is a Japanese physicist and inventor, often cited for his discovery…Sumio Iijima (飯島 澄男, Iijima Sumio; born 2 May 1939) is a Japanese physicist and inventor, often cited for his discovery of carbon nanotubes. Although carbon nanotubes had been observed prior to his "invention", Iijima's 1991 paper generated unprecedented interest in the carbon nanostructures and has since fueled intense research in the area of nanotechnology. Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1939, Iijima graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in 1963 from the University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo. He received a Master's degree in 1965 and completed his Ph.D. in solid-state physics in 1968, both at Tohoku University in Sendai. Between 1970 and 1982 he performed research with crystalline materials and high-resolution electron microscopy at Arizona State University. He visited the University of Cambridge during 1979 to perform studies on carbon materials. He worked for the Research Development Corporation of Japan from 1982 to 1987, studying ultra-fine particles, after which he joined NEC Corporation where he is still employed. He discovered carbon nanotubes in 1991. When he discovered carbon nanotubes, he not only took pictures of them but he put two together and explained what they really are. Afterwards, he was credited with the discovery. He is also a University Professor at Meijo University since 1999. Furthermore, he is the Honorary AIST Fellow of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Distinguished Invited University Professor of Nagoya University. He was awarded the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics in 2002, "for the discovery and elucidation of the atomic structure and helical character of multi-wall and single-wall carbon nanotubes, which have had an enormous impact on the rapidly growing condensed matter and materials science field of nanoscale science and electronics." He is a foreign associate of National Academy of Sciences, foreign member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. He is also a Member of the Japan Academy.
Wakachichibu Komei (real name Komei Kato, 16 March 1939 – 17 September 2014) was a sumo wrestler from Chichibu…Wakachichibu Komei (real name Komei Kato, 16 March 1939 – 17 September 2014) was a sumo wrestler from Chichibu, Saitama, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1954 and reached the top division in September 1958. His highest rank was sekiwake. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, under the name Tokiwayama. He reached the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age in March 2004.
Kuniyoshi Kaneko (金子 國義, Kaneko Kuniyoshi; 23 July 1936 – 17 March 2015) was a Japanese painter, illustrator and…Kuniyoshi Kaneko (金子 國義, Kaneko Kuniyoshi; 23 July 1936 – 17 March 2015) was a Japanese painter, illustrator and photographer perhaps best known for his paintings and drawings of women in bondage such as his illustrations for a Japanese edition of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The musical performer Momus released a song about his work entitled "The Cabinet of Kuniyoshi Kaneko". In 1991 Kaneko provided the artwork for Alice: An Interactive Museum click-and-go adventure game. In 1992 his work was included in Adam and Eve an exhibition at the Saitama Kenritsu Kindai Bijutsukan (Museum of Modern Art) in Saitama. Kuniyoshi died of heart failure on 17 March 2015 at the age of 78.
Mari Shimizu (Japanese: 清水 マリ, Hepburn: Shimizu Mari; born 7 June 1936) is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with 81…Mari Shimizu (Japanese: 清水 マリ, Hepburn: Shimizu Mari; born 7 June 1936) is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with 81 Produce. She is known for voicing the titular protagonist of the 1963 Astro Boy television series and its 1980 colour remake, Belo in Humanoid Monster Bem, and the titular protagonist of Jetter Mars.
Satoru Ozawa (Japanese: 小沢 さとる, Hepburn: Ozawa Satoru; born 1937) is a Japanese manga artist from Saitama Prefecture…Satoru Ozawa (Japanese: 小沢 さとる, Hepburn: Ozawa Satoru; born 1937) is a Japanese manga artist from Saitama Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut as a manga artist in 1957 with Rumi Shinanai de and is known for creating ocean-themed science fiction manga.
Matsushige Ono (大野 松茂, Ōno Matsushige; 15 January 1936 – 7 August 2026) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal…Matsushige Ono (大野 松茂, Ōno Matsushige; 15 January 1936 – 7 August 2026) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Sayama, Saitama and high school graduate, he was elected to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly in 1979 where he served for two terms, and then to be the mayor of his hometown Sayama in 1986, serving for two terms. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1996. Ono died from pneumonia on 7 August 2026, at the age of 90.
Yukio Ninagawa (蜷川 幸雄, Ninagawa Yukio; October 15, 1935 – May 12, 2016) was a Japanese theatre director, actor and film…Yukio Ninagawa (蜷川 幸雄, Ninagawa Yukio; October 15, 1935 – May 12, 2016) was a Japanese theatre director, actor and film director, particularly known for his Japanese language productions of the Greek tragedies as well as Shakespeare—he directed eight distinct renditions of Hamlet. Ninagawa was also emeritus of the Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music. Although most famous abroad for his touring productions of European classics, Ninagawa also directed works based on contemporary writing from Japan, including the Modern Noh plays of Yukio Mishima (which toured to New York's Lincoln Center in early summer 2005) and several other plays by Japanese dramatists, including Shūji Terayama and Kunio Shimizu. His production of Titus Andronicus was performed in England in June 2006, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford and the Theatre Royal in Plymouth. In 2007 his company participated in the Barbican International Theatre Event (BITE) series at the Barbican Arts Centre in London, with their production of Coriolanus.
Chieko Itō (伊藤 智恵子, Itō Chieko; née Kitagawa, born December 14, 1933), known professionally as Chie Kitagawa (北川 智繪…Chieko Itō (伊藤 智恵子, Itō Chieko; née Kitagawa, born December 14, 1933), known professionally as Chie Kitagawa (北川 智繪, Kitagawa Chie), is a Japanese actress and voice actress from Tokyo. She is also the founder of the Wagei-Sha Storytelling School. She is also very well known for her voice acting roles as Taeko's Grandmother in Only Yesterday, Mombi in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Tsuru Nohara in Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called: The Adult Empire Strikes Back, Mini-Dora in Dorami-chan: Mini-Dora SOS!!!, Okanagan in Shadow Hearts: From the New World, Kiyo Shimizu in Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories, Matsu in Ranma ½, and Hedwig the Sea Witch in Saban's Adventures of the Little Mermaid.
Shōzō Uchii (内井 昭蔵, Uchii Shōzō) was a Japanese architect and academic authority on the works of Frank Lloyd Wright.…Shōzō Uchii (内井 昭蔵, Uchii Shōzō) was a Japanese architect and academic authority on the works of Frank Lloyd Wright. Known for the design of landmark structures such as the Setagaya Art Museum, Oita City Museum of Art, and the Fukiage Palace, the residence on the grounds of the Tokyo Imperial Palace for the Emperor of Japan. Uchii was awarded the R.S Reynolds Memorial Prize in 1980 for his design of the Treasury building of the Kuon-ji Temple in Minobu, Yamanashi Prefecture.
Michiko Ishii (5 February 1933 – 7 December 2012) was a Japanese politician. Ishii was born on 5 February 1933 and…Michiko Ishii (5 February 1933 – 7 December 2012) was a Japanese politician. Ishii was born on 5 February 1933 and attended the Tokyo College of Pharmacy. She was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. She served as Minister of the Environment in 1996.
Seiichi Morimura (森村 誠一, Morimura Seiichi; January 2, 1933 – July 24, 2023) was a Japanese novelist and author, born in…Seiichi Morimura (森村 誠一, Morimura Seiichi; January 2, 1933 – July 24, 2023) was a Japanese novelist and author, born in Kumagaya. He is best known for the controversial The Devil's Gluttony (悪魔の飽食) (1981), which revealed the atrocities committed by Unit 731 of the Imperial Japanese Army during the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945).
Taneaki Tanami (Japanese: 田並胤明 Tanami Taneaki; 31 October 1932 – 18 March 2026) was a Japanese politician. A member of…Taneaki Tanami (Japanese: 田並胤明 Tanami Taneaki; 31 October 1932 – 18 March 2026) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Japan Socialist Party and the Democratic Party of Japan, he served in the House of Representatives from 1983 to 1993 and again from 2000 to 2003. Tanami died of multiple organ failure in Hanyū, on 18 March 2026, at the age of 93.
Noriyuki Sekine (Japanese: 関根則之 Sekine Noriyuki; 13 January 1931 – 19 June 2022) was a Japanese politician. A member of…Noriyuki Sekine (Japanese: 関根則之 Sekine Noriyuki; 13 January 1931 – 19 June 2022) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he served in the House of Councillors from 1991 to 1998. Sekine died in Kawagoe, Saitama on 19 June 2022 at the age of 91.
Yasuo Takei (武井保雄, Takei Yasuo) (January 4, 1930 – August 10, 2006) was the founder and former chairman of Takefuji…Yasuo Takei (武井保雄, Takei Yasuo) (January 4, 1930 – August 10, 2006) was the founder and former chairman of Takefuji (武富士), Japan's number one consumer finance group. On 17 November 2004 he was given a three-year suspended sentence for wiretapping and defamation of character, after ordering the phones of two freelance journalists who had written articles critical of Takefuji to be bugged between December 2000 and February 2001. The defamation of character charge followed Takei's ordering Takefuji employees to place libelous statements about one of the journalists on its web site. According to a Forbes survey in June 2006, Takei was the second-wealthiest person in Japan (after Masayoshi Son) - he possessed an estimated net worth of US$5.6 billion.
Toshio Masuda (増田 敏男, Masuda Toshio; born 20 April 1929) is a retired Japanese politician who served as a member of the…Toshio Masuda (増田 敏男, Masuda Toshio; born 20 April 1929) is a retired Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives.
Koji Sone (曽根 康治, Sone Kōji; November 14, 1928 – April 27, 1981) was a Japanese judoka and world champion. He was born…Koji Sone (曽根 康治, Sone Kōji; November 14, 1928 – April 27, 1981) was a Japanese judoka and world champion. He was born in the city Chichibu, Saitama and started judo in his childhood. His father was a 6th Dan in judo and his uncle a 9th Dan. Sone is a university-trained judoka from Meiji University. After that he belonged to Fuji Iron & Steel. As fifth dan, measuring 5 feet and 10 1/2 inches in height and weighing 215 pounds, he received a gold medal at the 1958 World Judo Championships in Tokyo against teammate and 4th dan Akio Kaminaga. Sone was surprisingly eliminated in the second round of the 1960 All-Japan Judo Championships, a contemporary report by the martial artist Donn F. Draeger calling his performance there a "pitiful sight" and mentioning that he was aging. Sone won a silver medal at the 1961 World Judo Championships in Paris, behind Anton Geesink. His loss against Geesink, 5th dan, was heralded as the end of the era in which the best Japanese judokas could not be defeated by foreigners. Within nine minutes of the 20-minute contest, a foot sweep forced Sone onto the ground where he was held for the necessary 30 seconds with a Mune-gatame. Despite that, many believed that Sone was the technically better judoka. At the age of 33 Sone was relatively old for a judoka. It would be the last World Championship without a division into weight classes. After the loss against Geesink, Sone became coach of the Japanese judo team. Sone was accused by Geesink's teammates in the 1965 World Judo Championships of having Seiji Sakaguchi lose against the more rested Matsunaga to have Matsunaga take on the weary Geesink in the final round. Matsunaga still lost, Geesink winning the heavy-weight title by decision. But the Japanese team hoped to beat him with Isao Inokuma in the all-weight class the next day. Before the match, however, Geesink quit. The jubilant Japanese team carried Sone on their shoulders and paraded him around the gym. In 1977 he achieved the rank of 8th Dan. In 1981 he died of cerebral hemorrhage in Tokyo.
Yutaka Taniyama (谷山 豊, Taniyama Yutaka; 12 November 1927 – 17 November 1958) was a Japanese mathematician known for the…Yutaka Taniyama (谷山 豊, Taniyama Yutaka; 12 November 1927 – 17 November 1958) was a Japanese mathematician known for the Taniyama–Shimura conjecture.
Shunzō Miyawaki (宮脇 俊三, Miyawaki Shunzō; December 9, 1926 – February 26, 2003) was a Japanese travel writer and editor.…Shunzō Miyawaki (宮脇 俊三, Miyawaki Shunzō; December 9, 1926 – February 26, 2003) was a Japanese travel writer and editor. He wrote over 40 books in his lifetime, mostly focused on rail transport in Japan and overseas. He was the recipient of the 47th Kikuchi Kan Prize in 1999 for "establishing railway travelogues as a genre of literature".
Isamu Ihara (井原 勇, Ihara Isamu; 17 November 1926 – 7 October 2007) was a Japanese politician. He was the last mayor of…Isamu Ihara (井原 勇, Ihara Isamu; 17 November 1926 – 7 October 2007) was a Japanese politician. He was the last mayor of Yono, Saitama. After graduating from the University of Tokyo, Ihara joined Niigata Engineering in 1950. He was appointed as treasurer of Yono in April 1979. Ihara won in the mayoral election held in April 1983, succeeding Saburō Shiratori, who had governed Yono for 24 years. He served as mayor for 18 years until the city of Yono was dissolved to form the city of Saitama on 1 May 2001. He also served as acting mayor of Saitama until Sōichi Aikawa was elected as its first mayor on 27 May 2001. Ihara did not run in the mayoral election to maintain neutrality. Ihara died of pneumonia at age 80. A statue of him was built at the ward office of Chūō to honor him in 2008.
Buichi Saitō (斎藤武市, Saitō Buichi; 27 January 1925 – January 2011) was a Japanese film director from Saitama Prefecture.…Buichi Saitō (斎藤武市, Saitō Buichi; 27 January 1925 – January 2011) was a Japanese film director from Saitama Prefecture. His representative works included Wataridori series starring Akira Kobayashi, Farewell to Southern Tosa(1959) and Gazing at Love and Death(1964). Saitō often worked with Akira Kobayashi, Joe Shishido and Sayuri Yoshinaga. After graduating Waseda University, he joined Shochiku Film and started working as an assistant director under Yasujirō Ozu and Kōzaburō Yoshimura etc. In 1954, he transferred to Nikkatsu Film and made his director debut in the 1956 film Anesan no Oyomeiri.
Tōta Kaneko (金子 兜太, Kaneko Tōta), (September 23, 1919 – February 20, 2018) was a Japanese writer. Kaneko was born in…Tōta Kaneko (金子 兜太, Kaneko Tōta), (September 23, 1919 – February 20, 2018) was a Japanese writer. Kaneko was born in Chichibu. He studied at the University of Tokyo and worked for the Bank of Japan. Kaneko died in Kumagaya on February 20, 2018, of Acute respiratory distress syndrome in Kumagaya, Saitama at the age of 98.
Kuniko Miyake (三宅 邦子, Miyake Kuniko; 17 September 1916 – 4 November 1992) was a Japanese actress. She appeared in…Kuniko Miyake (三宅 邦子, Miyake Kuniko; 17 September 1916 – 4 November 1992) was a Japanese actress. She appeared in nearly 200 films between 1934 and 1991.
Monta Suzuki (鈴木 聞多, Suzuki Monta; 1 April 1913 – 10 July 1939) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 100…Monta Suzuki (鈴木 聞多, Suzuki Monta; 1 April 1913 – 10 July 1939) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 100 metres at the 1936 Summer Olympics. He died at the front in China on 10 July 1939 during the Second Sino-Japanese War while serving as a lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Army.
Yawara Hata (畑和, Hata Yawara; 29 September 1910 – 26 January 1996) was a Japanese politician, who served as a member of…Yawara Hata (畑和, Hata Yawara; 29 September 1910 – 26 January 1996) was a Japanese politician, who served as a member of the House of Representatives and a governor of Saitama Prefecture. In 1993 he received the highest distinction of the Scout Association of Japan, the Golden Pheasant Award.
Ko Takamoro (高師 康, Takamoro Ko; November 9, 1907 – March 26, 1995) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Ko Takamoro (高師 康, Takamoro Ko; November 9, 1907 – March 26, 1995) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Momoko Ishii (石井 桃子, Ishii Momoko; March 10, 1907 – April 2, 2008) was a Japanese writer and translator of children's…Momoko Ishii (石井 桃子, Ishii Momoko; March 10, 1907 – April 2, 2008) was a Japanese writer and translator of children's books. She was the first member of the Japan Art Academy from the field of children's literature.
Seijuro Arafune (荒舩 清十郎, Arafune Seijūrō; 9 March 1907 – 25 November 1980) was a Japanese politician and a Minister of…Seijuro Arafune (荒舩 清十郎, Arafune Seijūrō; 9 March 1907 – 25 November 1980) was a Japanese politician and a Minister of Transport. He was a member of Liberal Democratic Party. Arafune resigned the Minister of Transport 1966 after a political scandal where he had taken two businessmen with him on a trip paid for by the Japanese govermnement, and ordered the National Railways to create an express stop in his home town.
Suda Kokuta (Japanese: 須田 剋太; 1 May 1906 – 14 July 1990) was a Japanese artist of the 20th century. He is known for his…Suda Kokuta (Japanese: 須田 剋太; 1 May 1906 – 14 July 1990) was a Japanese artist of the 20th century. He is known for his paintings and calligraphy.
Heihachiro Okawa (Japanese: 大川 平八郎, Hepburn: Ōkawa Heihachirō; 9 September 1905 – 27 May 1971), also credited as Henry…Heihachiro Okawa (Japanese: 大川 平八郎, Hepburn: Ōkawa Heihachirō; 9 September 1905 – 27 May 1971), also credited as Henry Okawa (ヘンリー大川), was a Japanese film actor active from the 1930s to 1971. With hopes of starting a business, he traveled to the United States in 1923 and studied at Columbia University. He also studied at the Paramount Studios acting school and eventually began working in Hollywood, appearing in films by Howard Hawks and William Wellman. He returned to Japan in 1933 and co-starred in the Photo Chemical Laboratories (PCL) film Horoyoi jinsei. He later appeared in foreign films under the name Henry Okawa. He is best known for Moyuru ōzora (1940), Dawn of Freedom (1944) Tokyo File 212 (1951), Floating Clouds (1955) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957).
Saburo Hasumi (蓮見 三郎, Hasumi Saburō; born 23 January 1896, date of death unknown) was a Japanese middle-distance…Saburo Hasumi (蓮見 三郎, Hasumi Saburō; born 23 January 1896, date of death unknown) was a Japanese middle-distance runner. He competed in the men's 800 metres at the 1920 Summer Olympics.
Bokuzen Hidari (左 卜全, Hidari Bokuzen; 20 February 1894 – 26 May 1971) was a Japanese actor and comedian born in…Bokuzen Hidari (左 卜全, Hidari Bokuzen; 20 February 1894 – 26 May 1971) was a Japanese actor and comedian born in Kotesashi Village (now part of Tokorozawa), Iruma District, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. He appeared in such films as Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, The Lower Depths and Ikiru. Hidari was famous among Japanese audiences for his portrayals of meek, downtrodden men, and although a teetotaller, was renowned for his convincing drunk scenes (see esp. "Ikiru").
Myōkō Naganuma (長沼妙佼, Naganuma Myōkō; 1889–1957) was the co-founder and first vice-president of the Buddhist religious…Myōkō Naganuma (長沼妙佼, Naganuma Myōkō; 1889–1957) was the co-founder and first vice-president of the Buddhist religious sect Risshō Kōsei Kai.
Heitarō Kimura (木村 兵太郎, Kimura Heitarō (sometimes Kimura Hyōtarō); September 28, 1888 – December 23, 1948) was a…Heitarō Kimura (木村 兵太郎, Kimura Heitarō (sometimes Kimura Hyōtarō); September 28, 1888 – December 23, 1948) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army. He was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to death by hanging.
Taizō Ishizaka (石坂 泰三, Ishizaka Taizō; June 3, 1886 – March 6, 1975) was a leading Japanese businessman and President…Taizō Ishizaka (石坂 泰三, Ishizaka Taizō; June 3, 1886 – March 6, 1975) was a leading Japanese businessman and President of the Japanese Federation of Economic Organizations (now the Japan Business Federation) who served as Chairman of the National Board of the Boy Scouts of Japan.
Yasushi Tanaka (Japanese: 田中 保, Hepburn: Tanaka Yasushi; 13 May 1886 – 24 April 1941) was a Japanese-born artist and…Yasushi Tanaka (Japanese: 田中 保, Hepburn: Tanaka Yasushi; 13 May 1886 – 24 April 1941) was a Japanese-born artist and art teacher, best known for his portraits of women.
Morita Tsunetomo (Japanese: 森田 恒友; born 9 April 1881, Tamai, now part of Kumagaya – died 8 April 1933, Tokyo) was a…Morita Tsunetomo (Japanese: 森田 恒友; born 9 April 1881, Tamai, now part of Kumagaya – died 8 April 1933, Tokyo) was a Japanese painter in the yōga style; known primarily for landscapes.
Takekoshi Yosaburō (竹越 與三郎; November 22, 1865 – January 12, 1950) was a Japanese historian and politician, member of…Takekoshi Yosaburō (竹越 與三郎; November 22, 1865 – January 12, 1950) was a Japanese historian and politician, member of the Diet and Privy councillor. He was a graduate of Keiō Gijuku. Takekoshi was a committed advocate of Japanese expansion into the South Seas, rather than China. Among his works published in English are Japanese Rule in Formosa and a monumental Economic Aspects of the Civilization of Japan, which includes a wealth of quantitative data from pre-modern sources.
Nakajima Utako (中島 歌子; 14 December 1844, Tokyo – 30 January 1903) was a Japanese waka and tanka poet and conservatory…Nakajima Utako (中島 歌子; 14 December 1844, Tokyo – 30 January 1903) was a Japanese waka and tanka poet and conservatory founder. Associated with Keien court poetry, she founded the Haginoya poetry school (萩の舎, "House of Bush Clover"), the most notable of the poetry conservatories during the Meiji period.
Shibusawa Eiichi, 1st Viscount Shibusawa (渋沢 栄一; 16 March 1840 – 11 November 1931) was a Japanese business magnate…Shibusawa Eiichi, 1st Viscount Shibusawa (渋沢 栄一; 16 March 1840 – 11 November 1931) was a Japanese business magnate widely known today as the "Father of Japanese capitalism", having introduced Western capitalism to Japan after the Meiji Restoration. He introduced many economic reforms including use of double-entry accounting, joint-stock corporations and modern note-issuing banks. He founded the first modern bank based on joint stock ownership in Japan. The bank was aptly named The First National Bank (Dai Ichi Kokuritsu Ginkō, now merged into Mizuho Bank) and had the power to issue its own notes. Through this bank, he founded hundreds of other joint stock corporations in Japan. Many of these companies still survive to this day as quoted companies in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which Shibusawa also founded. The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry was founded by him as well. He was also involved in the foundation of many hospitals, schools, universities (including the first women's university), the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo and charitable organizations including the Japanese Red Cross Society. Another notable aspect of Shibusawa's career is that, despite being the founder of hundreds of corporations, he refused to maintain a controlling stake in these corporations, effectively preventing himself from forming a zaibatsu. What is known as the Shibusawa zaibatsu was a holding company to look after his estate for his family. The Shibusawa Zaibatsu did not hold any controlling stake in any companies. Despite his humble origin as a farmer, he was granted the title of Viscount, while all other zaibatsu founders were awarded the title of Baron. He was also awarded Shōnii, Second Honour under the ritsuryō rank system, which is usually given to high-ranking nobility and prime ministers. Shibusawa is featured on the 10,000 yen note, one of the new designs that went into circulation on 3 July 2024. Shibusawa was also printed on bank notes issued by the Korea First Bank, which he owned, in 1902. The choice of Shibusawa has previously been criticised in South Korea.
Banny Oikawa (バニー及川, Banī Oikawa) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently performing the Japanese promotion Ice…Banny Oikawa (バニー及川, Banī Oikawa) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently performing the Japanese promotion Ice Ribbon where she is a former Triangle Ribbon Champion.
Aki Misato (美郷 あき, Misato Aki; born September 2, 1981) is a female Japanese J-pop singer from Saitama, Japan. Most of…Aki Misato (美郷 あき, Misato Aki; born September 2, 1981) is a female Japanese J-pop singer from Saitama, Japan. Most of her songs are theme songs for anime and video games. She made her debut in 2004 with her first single Kimi ga Sora Datta (君が空だった), which was featured as the ending theme of the anime Mai-HiME. To date she has released sixteen singles, and in addition has been featured in several compilation albums. She's currently under both SOLID VOX and Lantis recording labels.
Coolkyousinnjya (クール教信者, Kūrukyōshinja) is a Japanese manga artist known for the series Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, I…Coolkyousinnjya (クール教信者, Kūrukyōshinja) is a Japanese manga artist known for the series Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying, and Komori-san Can't Decline.
Akari Nibu (Japanese: 丹生 明里, Hepburn: Nibu Akari; born February 15, 2001) is a Japanese YouTuber, radio personality…Akari Nibu (Japanese: 丹生 明里, Hepburn: Nibu Akari; born February 15, 2001) is a Japanese YouTuber, radio personality, and actress, represented by Seed & Flower. Focusing on video games and anime, she often appears in gaming-related events and television shows and was a voice actress for Deemo: Memorial Keys (2021). Nibu began her career as a member of the girl group Hinatazaka46 (formerly Hiragana Keyakizaka46) from 2017 to 2024, and was the lead performer of the group's single "One Choice" (2023). She also hosts Akari Nibu Happy Caravan on TBS Radio.
