Nakaakira Tsukahara (November 11, 1933 - August 12, 1985) was a Japanese doctor, cerebral physiologist, and neurologist…Nakaakira Tsukahara (November 11, 1933 - August 12, 1985) was a Japanese doctor, cerebral physiologist, and neurologist who served as professor at the Faculty of Engineering Science at Osaka University.
Yoshio Yoshida (吉田 義男, Yoshida Yoshio; July 26, 1933 – February 3, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball player…Yoshio Yoshida (吉田 義男, Yoshida Yoshio; July 26, 1933 – February 3, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball player and manager who spent his entire career with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). His number 23 was retired by the Tigers. He worked for the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation as a live radio and television baseball commentator. Yoshida died of a stroke on February 3, 2025, at the age of 91.
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.
Masakazu "Mark" Konishi (小西 正一, Konishi Masakazu; February 17, 1933 – July 23, 2020) was a Japanese neurobiologist…Masakazu "Mark" Konishi (小西 正一, Konishi Masakazu; February 17, 1933 – July 23, 2020) was a Japanese neurobiologist, known for his research on the neuroscience underlying the behavior of owls and songbirds.
Takako Takahashi (高橋 たか子, Takahashi Takako; March 2, 1932 – July 12, 2013) was a Japanese author. Her maiden name was…Takako Takahashi (高橋 たか子, Takahashi Takako; March 2, 1932 – July 12, 2013) was a Japanese author. Her maiden name was Takako Okamoto (岡本和子, Okamoto Takako).
Kimiko Okamoto is a Japanese athlete. She won gold medals in the 4 × 100 m relay and individual 200 metres in the 1951…Kimiko Okamoto is a Japanese athlete. She won gold medals in the 4 × 100 m relay and individual 200 metres in the 1951 Asian Games.
Sakata Tōjūrō IV (四代目坂田藤十郎, Yondaime Sakata Tōjūrō; born Hirotarō Hayashi (林 宏太郎, Hayashi Hirotarō), 31 December 1931 –…Sakata Tōjūrō IV (四代目坂田藤十郎, Yondaime Sakata Tōjūrō; born Hirotarō Hayashi (林 宏太郎, Hayashi Hirotarō), 31 December 1931 – 12 November 2020) was a Japanese kabuki actor in the Kamigata style and was officially designated a Living National Treasure. Unlike most kabuki actors, he performed both male and female roles, and was renowned as both a skilled wagotoshi (actor of male roles in the wagoto tradition) and onnagata (actor of female roles). He was the fourth in the line of Sakata Tōjūrō, having revived the name after a lapse of over 230 years.
Misa Yamamura (山村 美紗, Yamamura Misa; née Kimura (木村); August 25, 1934 – September 5, 1996) was a Japanese novelist and…Misa Yamamura (山村 美紗, Yamamura Misa; née Kimura (木村); August 25, 1934 – September 5, 1996) was a Japanese novelist and a mystery writer favored as the queen of both mystery novels and tricks in Japan, often compared to Agatha Christie.
Yoshio Masui (増井 禎夫, Masui Yoshio; January 1, 1931 – April 18, 2024) was a Japanese-Canadian cell biologist. Masui…Yoshio Masui (増井 禎夫, Masui Yoshio; January 1, 1931 – April 18, 2024) was a Japanese-Canadian cell biologist. Masui retired in 1997 and held the position of Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto.
Hiroshi Awatsuji (粟辻 博, Awatsuji Hiroshi; 1929 – 1995), was a Japanese textile designer. After World War II, he…Hiroshi Awatsuji (粟辻 博, Awatsuji Hiroshi; 1929 – 1995), was a Japanese textile designer. After World War II, he produced numerous innovative designs which inspired the beginning of a new era. His works are characterized by the use of vivid colors and daring compositions which combine Japanese traditional arts and Western textile design.
Takahiro Tamura (田村高廣, Tamura Takahiro; 31 August 1928 – 16 May 2006) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in 100…Takahiro Tamura (田村高廣, Tamura Takahiro; 31 August 1928 – 16 May 2006) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in 100 films between 1954 and 2005. He and his younger brothers Masakazu and Ryō were known as the three Tamura brothers. They were sons of actor Tsumasaburo Bando.
Osamu Shimomura (下村 脩, Shimomura Osamu; August 27, 1928 – October 19, 2018) was a Japanese organic chemist and marine…Osamu Shimomura (下村 脩, Shimomura Osamu; August 27, 1928 – October 19, 2018) was a Japanese organic chemist and marine biologist, and professor emeritus at Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts and Boston University School of Medicine. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008 for the discovery and development of green fluorescent protein (GFP) with two American scientists: Martin Chalfie of Columbia University and Roger Tsien of the University of California-San Diego.
Osamu Suzuki (鈴木 治, Suzuki Osamu) (1926-2001) was a Japanese ceramicist and one of the co-founders of the artist group…Osamu Suzuki (鈴木 治, Suzuki Osamu) (1926-2001) was a Japanese ceramicist and one of the co-founders of the artist group Sōdeisha (eng. "Crawling through Mud Association"), a Japanese avant-garde ceramics movement that arose following the end of the Second World War and served as a counter to the traditional forms and styles in modern Japanese ceramics, such as Mingei. Working in both iron-rich stoneware and porcelain, Suzuki developed his style considerably over the course of his career, beginning with functional vessels in his early work, and spanning to fully sculptural works (which he called "clay images") in the latter half of his career. Suzuki has been described by The Japan Times as "one of Japan's most important ceramic artists of the 20th century."
Junichiro Itani (伊谷 純一郎, Itani Jun'ichirō; May 9, 1926 – August 19, 2001) was a Japanese anthropologist who served as a…Junichiro Itani (伊谷 純一郎, Itani Jun'ichirō; May 9, 1926 – August 19, 2001) was a Japanese anthropologist who served as a professor emeritus at Kyoto University and as president of the Primate Society of Japan. He is considered a founder of the discipline of Japanese primatology.
Hirotaro Higuchi (樋口 廣太郎, Higuchi Hirotaro; January 25, 1926 - September 16, 2012) was a Japanese business executive…Hirotaro Higuchi (樋口 廣太郎, Higuchi Hirotaro; January 25, 1926 - September 16, 2012) was a Japanese business executive, the representative director and president of The Sumitomo Bank, the representative director and president of Asahi Breweries, and the vice chairman of Keidanren.
Hiromu Nonaka (野中 廣務, Nonaka Hiromu; 20 October 1925 – 26 January 2018) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal…Hiromu Nonaka (野中 廣務, Nonaka Hiromu; 20 October 1925 – 26 January 2018) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party. Nonaka served as a local politician in Kyoto Prefecture from 1951 to 1978 and in the House of Representatives from 1983 to 2003, becoming one of its most prominent members in the 1990s. Nonaka served as Minister of Home Affairs and Head of the National Public Safety Commission from 1994 to 1995, as Chief Cabinet Secretary from 1998 to 1999, and as Head of the Okinawa Development Agency in 1999. Nonaka was widely considered as a voice of reason within the Liberal Democratic Party and viewed by some as the most powerful person in Japan during the mid-to-late 1990s.
Yasuo Mizui (水井 康雄, Mizui Yasuo; 30 May 1925 – 3 September 2008) was a Japanese stone sculptor who lived in France. He…Yasuo Mizui (水井 康雄, Mizui Yasuo; 30 May 1925 – 3 September 2008) was a Japanese stone sculptor who lived in France. He specialized in abstract art forms for public sculpture, often within architectural contexts, and participated in several sculpture symposia across Europe, the United States, Israel, and Japan.
Ichirō Tominaga (富永一朗, Tominaga Ichirō; April 25, 1925 - May 5, 2021) was a Japanese manga artist. He was a recipient…Ichirō Tominaga (富永一朗, Tominaga Ichirō; April 25, 1925 - May 5, 2021) was a Japanese manga artist. He was a recipient of the Japan Cartoonists Association Award, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, and he was Honorary Director of the Kibi Kawakami Fureai Manga Museum in Okayama Prefecture.
Umetsugu Inoue (井上 梅次, Inoue Umetsugu; May 31, 1923 – February 11, 2010) was a Japanese film director and scriptwriter.…Umetsugu Inoue (井上 梅次, Inoue Umetsugu; May 31, 1923 – February 11, 2010) was a Japanese film director and scriptwriter. He directed 115 movies, wrote 101 screenplays, and is credited with the original story for five films. In addition, he worked with all six major Japanese film production companies. His film work extended to Hong Kong, and he provided technical guidance for movies there from 1966 to 1970. He was married to the actress Yumeji Tsukioka from 1957 until his death. On 11 February 2010, Inoue died from a cerebral hemorrhage at a hospital in Minato, Tokyo.
Shozo Awazu (粟津 正蔵, Awazu Shōzō; April 18, 1923 – March 17, 2016) was a Japanese master of judo who achieved the rank…Shozo Awazu (粟津 正蔵, Awazu Shōzō; April 18, 1923 – March 17, 2016) was a Japanese master of judo who achieved the rank of Kōdōkan 9th Dan. He led the development of judo in France.
Kisshomaru Ueshiba (植芝 吉祥丸, Ueshiba Kisshōmaru; 27 June 1921 – 4 January 1999) was a Japanese teacher of aikido. He was…Kisshomaru Ueshiba (植芝 吉祥丸, Ueshiba Kisshōmaru; 27 June 1921 – 4 January 1999) was a Japanese teacher of aikido. He was the son of Morihei Ueshiba. After his father's death in 1969, he became the 2nd Dōshu.
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.
Chushiro Hayashi (林 忠四郎, Hayashi Chūshirō; July 25, 1920 – February 28, 2010) was a Japanese astrophysicist. Hayashi…Chushiro Hayashi (林 忠四郎, Hayashi Chūshirō; July 25, 1920 – February 28, 2010) was a Japanese astrophysicist. Hayashi tracks on the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram are named after him.
Tadao Umesao (梅棹 忠夫, Umesao Tadao; June 13, 1920 – July 3, 2010) was a Japanese anthropologist. A professor for decades…Tadao Umesao (梅棹 忠夫, Umesao Tadao; June 13, 1920 – July 3, 2010) was a Japanese anthropologist. A professor for decades at Kyoto University, he was also among the founders and the director-general of National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka, Japan. A number of Umesao's theories were influential on anthropologists, and his work was also well known among the general population of Japan.
Jiro Kawakita (川喜田 二郎, Kawakita Jirō) was an ethnographer, a pioneer in participation of remote Nepalese villagers in…Jiro Kawakita (川喜田 二郎, Kawakita Jirō) was an ethnographer, a pioneer in participation of remote Nepalese villagers in researching their problems, resulting in practical benefits of potable water supplies and rapid rope-way transport across mountain gorges. He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1984. He is reported as the author of KJ method for organizing notes, also termed affinity walls in UX Research. He viewed the method as an alternative to Western quantitative methods in ethnography. Kawakita established the non-profit organisation Institute for Himalayan Conservation Japan.
Mitsuko Mori (森 光子, Mori Mitsuko; May 9, 1920 – November 10, 2012), real name Mitsu Murakami (村上美津, Murakami Mitsu)…Mitsuko Mori (森 光子, Mori Mitsuko; May 9, 1920 – November 10, 2012), real name Mitsu Murakami (村上美津, Murakami Mitsu), was a Japanese actress.
Rei Takemura (竹村 令, Takemura Rei; born 29 April 1919, date of death unknown) was a Japanese freestyle swimmer. She…Rei Takemura (竹村 令, Takemura Rei; born 29 April 1919, date of death unknown) was a Japanese freestyle swimmer. She competed in two events at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Takemura is deceased.
Yoshitarō Nomura (野村 芳太郎, Nomura Yoshitarō; 23 April 1919 – 8 April 2005) was a prolific Japanese film director, film…Yoshitarō Nomura (野村 芳太郎, Nomura Yoshitarō; 23 April 1919 – 8 April 2005) was a prolific Japanese film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His first accredited film, Pigeon (鳩, Hato), was released in 1952; his last, Kikenna Onna-tachi (危険な女たち), in 1985. He received several awards during his career, including the Japanese Academy Award for "Best Director" for his 1978 film The Demon.
Unoko Tsuboi (壷井 宇乃子, Tsuboi Unoko; 13 December 1917 – 4 November 1940) was a Japanese swimmer. She competed in the…Unoko Tsuboi (壷井 宇乃子, Tsuboi Unoko; 13 December 1917 – 4 November 1940) was a Japanese swimmer. She competed in the women's 200 metre breaststroke at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Misao Yokota (横田 みさを, Yokota Misao; born 3 February 1917, date of death unknown) was a Japanese swimmer who competed at…Misao Yokota (横田 みさを, Yokota Misao; born 3 February 1917, date of death unknown) was a Japanese swimmer who competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics. She finished fifth in the 4×100 metre freestyle relay and was eliminated in the first round of the 100 m backstroke event.
Aida Yūji (会田 雄次; 5 March 1916 – 17 September 1997) was a Japanese historian specialising in the Renaissance. He was…Aida Yūji (会田 雄次; 5 March 1916 – 17 September 1997) was a Japanese historian specialising in the Renaissance. He was active as a conservative thinker, commentator and major exponent of the Nihonjinron. He was born in Kyōto on 5 March 1916. He graduated from Kyoto University in 1940 and had his master's degree in history interrupted in 1943, when he was drafted into the Imperial Japanese Army. He participated in the Burma campaign of 1944 as an infantryman. He surrendered to the British Army at the war's end and was detained at a prisoner-of-war camp in the British colony of Burma. His experiences in the camp are described in his best-selling memoir, Aaron Shūyōjo (1962). Upon his repatriation in 1947, he began to teach at Kobe University. He was appointed full professor at Kyoto University's Humanities Department in 1952. He retired from the university in 1979, when he became an emeritus professor. He died of pneumonia on 17 September 1997.
Yukio Hayashida (林田 悠紀夫; 26 November 1915 – 11 November 2007) was a Japanese politician and former member of the House…Yukio Hayashida (林田 悠紀夫; 26 November 1915 – 11 November 2007) was a Japanese politician and former member of the House of Councillors. Hayashida served as the Governor of Kyoto from 16 April 1978 until 15 April 1986. He later became the Minister of Justice from 6 November 1987 to 27 December 1988. Hayashida was born in Maizuru, Kyoto and died of heart failure at the age of 91 in Tokyo.
Nobuko Fushimi (伏見 信子, Fushimi Nobuko, born October 10, 1915) is a Japanese actress and singer who was active in the…Nobuko Fushimi (伏見 信子, Fushimi Nobuko, born October 10, 1915) is a Japanese actress and singer who was active in the 1930s. She was also known by her alias Nobue Fushimi (伏見 延江).
Sueo Ōe (大江 季雄, Ōe Sueo; August 2, 1914 – December 24, 1941) was a Japanese athlete who competed mainly in the pole…Sueo Ōe (大江 季雄, Ōe Sueo; August 2, 1914 – December 24, 1941) was a Japanese athlete who competed mainly in the pole vault. He won a bronze medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany, tying with his teammate Shuhei Nishida. When the two declined to compete against each other to decide a winner, Nishida was awarded the silver after a decision of the Japanese team, on the basis that Nishida had cleared the height in fewer attempts. On their return to Japan, Nishida and Ōe had their Olympic medals cut in half, and had a jeweler splice together two new medals, half in bronze and half in silver. In 1937 Ōe set a national record at 4 m 35 cm that stood for 21 years. In 1939 he joined the Imperial Japanese Army and was killed in action in Luzon on December 24, 1941.
Asa Dogura (土倉 麻, Dogura Asa; 11 June 1914 – 20 April 2008) was a Japanese sprinter. She competed in the women's 100…Asa Dogura (土倉 麻, Dogura Asa; 11 June 1914 – 20 April 2008) was a Japanese sprinter. She competed in the women's 100 metres at the 1932 Summer Olympics. She later married Olympic gold medallist Naoto Tajima. She died on 20 April 2008 in Kamakura.
Hatsuho Matsuzawa (松澤 初穂, Matsuzawa Hatsuho; 8 October 1914 – 1 January 2011) was a Japanese swimmer. She competed in…Hatsuho Matsuzawa (松澤 初穂, Matsuzawa Hatsuho; 8 October 1914 – 1 January 2011) was a Japanese swimmer. She competed in the 100 m freestyle event at the 1932 Olympics, but was eliminated in the preliminaries. On 29 August 1933 Matsuzawa set a national record in the 50 m freestyle at 31.06 seconds that stood until 21 August 1954. In 1934 she became a high school teacher, and in 1936 a national swimming coach at the Berlin Olympics. She married in 1937 and later had five children, including Sadahiko Sugaya (菅谷定彦), who became president and CEO of TV Tokyo. She returned to swimming in 1984, and between 1986 and 2000 competed at national and world masters championships.
Yoneichiro Sakaki (榊 米一郎, Sakaki Yoneichirō) is a Japanese electrical engineer. From 1976 to 1984, he served as the…Yoneichiro Sakaki (榊 米一郎, Sakaki Yoneichirō) is a Japanese electrical engineer. From 1976 to 1984, he served as the first president of the Toyohashi University of Technology. His son Yoshiyuki Sakaki currently serves as the sixth president of TUT.
Masaaki Morisita (森下正明光) (27 January 1913 - 25 February 1997) was a Japanese ecologist and professor emeritus of animal…Masaaki Morisita (森下正明光) (27 January 1913 - 25 February 1997) was a Japanese ecologist and professor emeritus of animal ecology at Kyoto University. He is known as the father of population ecology in Japan. Morisita's overlap index and Morisita's index of dispersion are named after him. In addition to his work on statistical ecology, he also studied the natural history of Japanese ants. With several other myrmecologists, he produced a complete catalogue of ants in Japan. Three species of ants are named after him (Pyramica morisitai, Proceratium morisitai , and Lasius morisitai).
Masao Harada (原田 正夫, Harada Masao; September 22, 1912 – January 22, 2000) was a Japanese athlete who competed mainly in…Masao Harada (原田 正夫, Harada Masao; September 22, 1912 – January 22, 2000) was a Japanese athlete who competed mainly in the triple jump. In this event he won a silver medal at the 1936 Olympics. He won two more silver medals, in the long jump and triple jump, at the 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games.
Shiro Azuma (東 史郎, Azuma Shirō; April 27, 1912 – January 3, 2006) was a Japanese soldier who openly admitted his…Shiro Azuma (東 史郎, Azuma Shirō; April 27, 1912 – January 3, 2006) was a Japanese soldier who openly admitted his participation in Japanese war crimes against the Chinese during World War II. He was one of the few former soldiers of the Empire of Japan to admit to his participation in the 1937 Nanjing Massacre. After his confession, he visited China seven times to apologize and help Chinese scholars find more evidence of the Japanese soldiers' brutality. He prepared an eighth trip to Nanjing but died of cancer on January 3, 2006 in Kyoto.
Major Kenji Hatanaka (畑中 健二, Hatanaka Kenji; 28 March 1912 – 15 August 1945) was a Japanese military officer and one of…Major Kenji Hatanaka (畑中 健二, Hatanaka Kenji; 28 March 1912 – 15 August 1945) was a Japanese military officer and one of the chief conspirators in the Kyūjō incident, a plot to seize the Imperial Palace and to prevent the broadcast of Emperor Hirohito's surrender speech announcing the end of World War II.
Nobuo Arai (新井 信男) (1909 – June 15, 1990) was a Japanese swimmer who competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam.…Nobuo Arai (新井 信男) (1909 – June 15, 1990) was a Japanese swimmer who competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Arai 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 placed fourth in the semifinal of the 1500 meter freestyle event, but did not advance to the finals. He also qualified for the semifinals of the 400 meter freestyle event, but did not start.
Kazuo Miyagawa (宮川 一夫, Miyagawa Kazuo; February 25, 1908 – August 7, 1999) was a Japanese cinematographer. He worked…Kazuo Miyagawa (宮川 一夫, Miyagawa Kazuo; February 25, 1908 – August 7, 1999) was a Japanese cinematographer. He worked with some of the most prominent directors of Japanese cinema during the 1950s and '60s, notably Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, Kon Ichikawa and Yasujirō Ozu. He won three Japan Academy Film Prizes for his work. The Museum of Modern Art called him "most influential cinematographer of postwar Japanese cinema."
