Masaaki Satake (Japanese: 佐竹 雅昭, Satake Masaaki; born August 17, 1965) is a Japanese former heavyweight karateka…Masaaki Satake (Japanese: 佐竹 雅昭, Satake Masaaki; born August 17, 1965) is a Japanese former heavyweight karateka, kickboxer, professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He is one of the pioneering heavyweight fighters in K-1, having been a member of Kazuyoshi Ishii's Seidokaikan school.
Toru Matsuoka (松岡 徹, Matsuoka Tōru; born November 26, 1951) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan…Toru Matsuoka (松岡 徹, Matsuoka Tōru; born November 26, 1951) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Osaka, Osaka and high school graduate, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 after serving in the assembly of Osaka Prefecture for three terms since 1991.
Kaoru Shintani (新谷 かおる, Shintani Kaoru; born April 26, 1951 in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist.…Kaoru Shintani (新谷 かおる, Shintani Kaoru; born April 26, 1951 in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist. Shintani is best known for his series Area 88. In addition to his pilot comics, Shintani has ventured into science fiction, fantasy, comedy, and hentai comics as well. In 1985, he was awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen for Area 88 and Futari Daka. Shintani began his career in 1972 as a shōjo artist and was nominated for the Ribon Comics Award for best new artist of that year. After working as an assistant to Leiji Matsumoto, the creator of Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999 and the creative director for Space Battleship Yamato, Shintani began to publish aviator titles in various comic magazines. Serialization of Area 88 began in 1979 and the title has been popular ever since. While working as an assistant to Matsumoto, one of Shintani's duties was to construct plastic models for drawing reference. Matsumoto often states that he based the character Yattaran (who appears as a supporting character in several Harlock stories) on Shintani.
Jun Nishikawa (西川 純, Nishikawa Jun; born 8 August 1950) is a former member of the Japanese Red Army (JRA). He was a…Jun Nishikawa (西川 純, Nishikawa Jun; born 8 August 1950) is a former member of the Japanese Red Army (JRA). He was a member of the group that attacked the French embassy in The Hague in 1974. In April 1975 he was arrested in Stockholm before being released later that year as part of a deal with the Japanese government to free the hostages that JRA had taken in the AIA building siege in Kuala Lumpur. He has been linked with the Japan Airlines Flight 472 hijacking carried out by the JRA on September 28, 1977. As a demand they asked for the release of several JRA members, including Junzo Okudaira, and their demands were met by the Japanese government. Nishikawa remained at large during this time. Following an investigation co-ordinated by Interpol, and involving Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, he was located and arrested 20 years later in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. He was eventually deported to Japan in November 1997, where he was arrested and put on trial. Nishikawa was found guilty of violating the hijacking law, passport forgery, attempted murder and taking hostages. On 30 March 2007, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Japan's Supreme Court said on September 13, 2011, that it turned down an appeal by Nishikawa against his sentence of life imprisonment.
Tsuneo Mori (森 恒夫, Mori Tsuneo; December 6, 1944 – January 1, 1973) was a Japanese radical leftist and terrorist. He…Tsuneo Mori (森 恒夫, Mori Tsuneo; December 6, 1944 – January 1, 1973) was a Japanese radical leftist and terrorist. He was born in Osaka and entered the Osaka City University where he became involved in leftist politics, eventually joining the Red Army Faction, which was a schismatic militant subfaction of the Japan Communist League. After many members of the Red Army Faction were arrested by the Japanese police with Mori remaining at large, several members of the group went to North Korea with Japan Airlines Flight 351 and some formed the Japanese Red Army. Mori remained in Japan and eventually became the leader of the United Red Army. Along with Hiroko Nagata, he allegedly killed 12 members and he was arrested in February 1972. He committed suicide by hanging in his cell in Tokyo on January 1, 1973.
Yoshiomi Tamai (玉井 義臣, Tamai Yoshiomi; 6 February 1935 – 5 July 2025) was a Japanese activist, philanthropist and…Yoshiomi Tamai (玉井 義臣, Tamai Yoshiomi; 6 February 1935 – 5 July 2025) was a Japanese activist, philanthropist and educator who was the founder and president of Ashinaga and the founder and headmaster of Kokorojuku dormitory.
Oda Makoto (小田 実, Oda Makoto; June 2, 1932 – July 30, 2007) was a Japanese novelist, peace activist, academic and Time…Oda Makoto (小田 実, Oda Makoto; June 2, 1932 – July 30, 2007) was a Japanese novelist, peace activist, academic and Time Asian Hero.
Akira Yamagishi (山岸 章, Yamagishi Akira; 18 July 1929 – 10 April 2016) was a Japanese trade union leader who served as…Akira Yamagishi (山岸 章, Yamagishi Akira; 18 July 1929 – 10 April 2016) was a Japanese trade union leader who served as the first president of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation from 1989 to 1994.
Suzuko Numata (Japanese: 沼田鈴子, romanized: Numata Suzuko; July 30, 1923 - July 12, 2011) was a Japanese peace activist…Suzuko Numata (Japanese: 沼田鈴子, romanized: Numata Suzuko; July 30, 1923 - July 12, 2011) was a Japanese peace activist and a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
Uchimura Kanzō (内村 鑑三; 26 March 1861 – 28 March 1930) was a Japanese author, Christian evangelist, and the founder of…Uchimura Kanzō (内村 鑑三; 26 March 1861 – 28 March 1930) was a Japanese author, Christian evangelist, and the founder of the Nonchurch Movement (Mukyōkai) of Christianity during the Meiji and Taishō periods in Japan. He is often considered to be the most well-known Japanese pre–World War II pacifist.
