Harumi Takahashi (高橋 はるみ, Takahashi Harumi; born 6 January 1954) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Harumi Takahashi (高橋 はるみ, Takahashi Harumi; born 6 January 1954) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and currently a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Mariko Bando (坂東 眞理子, Bandō Mariko) is a Japanese writer, critic, and former bureaucrat. Bando started her career in…Mariko Bando (坂東 眞理子, Bandō Mariko) is a Japanese writer, critic, and former bureaucrat. Bando started her career in the Prime Minister's office, later becoming a consul general and the first director general of the Japanese Cabinet Office's Gender Equality Bureau. Her 2006 book The Dignity of a Woman has sold more than three million copies in Japan. She is currently the president and chancellor of Showa Women's University.
Takakazu Ishii (石井 隆一, Ishii Takakazu; born 15 December 1945) is a Japanese politician and a former governor of Toyama…Takakazu Ishii (石井 隆一, Ishii Takakazu; born 15 December 1945) is a Japanese politician and a former governor of Toyama Prefecture in Japan, first elected in 2004. A native of Toyama, Toyama and a graduate of the University of Tokyo, he worked in the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1969 before being elected governor.
Masahiro Futahashi (二橋 正弘, Futahashi Masahiro; December 27, 1941 – June 8, 2026) was a Japanese official who served…Masahiro Futahashi (二橋 正弘, Futahashi Masahiro; December 27, 1941 – June 8, 2026) was a Japanese official who served twice as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary from 2003 to 2006 and 2007 to 2008. He served under the cabinets of Junichiro Koizumi and Yasuo Fukuda. Before that, Futuhashi was a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Home Affairs, serving as administrative vice minister from 1999 to 2001.
Tokuji Wakasa (若狭 得治; March 11, 1914 – December 27, 2005) was a Japanese businessman, the former head of All Nippon…Tokuji Wakasa (若狭 得治; March 11, 1914 – December 27, 2005) was a Japanese businessman, the former head of All Nippon Airways. He became President of the company in 1970, one year after becoming vice-president. In 1976, he was imprisoned as a result of a bribery scandal. After serving time, he regained some honorary status with the company, but withdrew over a dispute with the new president, Seiji Fukatsu. Wakasa died of pneumonia in 2005.
Matsutarō Shōriki (正力 松太郎, Shōriki Matsutarō; 11 April 1885 – 9 October 1969) was a Japanese media proprietor and…Matsutarō Shōriki (正力 松太郎, Shōriki Matsutarō; 11 April 1885 – 9 October 1969) was a Japanese media proprietor and politician. He was the owner of the Yomiuri Shimbun, founder of the Yomiuri Giants and the Nippon Television Network Corporation. After a career as a police officer, Shoriki acquired the bankrupt Yomiuri Shimbun in 1924. Under his management it would become one of the major newspapers in Japan. Shoriki also popularised professional baseball in Japan during this time and founded the Yomiuri Giants. After the war Shoriki was arrested as a war criminal, but the charges were dropped in 1947. He founded Japan's first commercial television station, Nippon Television Network Corporation in 1952. Shoriki also became a prominent supporter of nuclear power in Japan. In 1955 he was elected to the House of Representatives. Shoriki became the first chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission under Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama and Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission under Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. For his varied activities he received several appellations, such as the "father of Japanese professional baseball," the "father of Japanese private broadcasting" and the “father of Japanese nuclear power”.
Hiroshi Minami (南 弘, Minami Hiroshi; 13 November 1869 – 8 February 1946) was a Japanese bureaucrat, politician and…Hiroshi Minami (南 弘, Minami Hiroshi; 13 November 1869 – 8 February 1946) was a Japanese bureaucrat, politician and cabinet minister in Taishō and early Shōwa period Japan.
