Shin Koyamada (小山田 真, Koyamada Shin) is a Japanese actor, producer, philanthropist, and martial artist. He is best…Shin Koyamada (小山田 真, Koyamada Shin) is a Japanese actor, producer, philanthropist, and martial artist. He is best known to the international audience for his co-starring roles in The Last Samurai (2003) as Nobutada and the Disney's Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006) as Shen. As producer, Koyamada develops and produces numerous content through his production company Shinobi Pictures and multimedia company Laizen Studios. In philanthropy, Koyamada serves as Board Chairs of the Koyamada International Foundation (KIF), Guardian Girls International (GGI), StarAngel International, and the Japan United States Sister City Association (JUSSCA). Koyamada holds black belts in Karate and Tae Kwon Do and won gold medals in Shaolin Kung Fu at the U.S. National Championships.
Yoshiyuki Sankai (born 1958/1959) is a Japanese billionaire businessman and academic. He is the founder, president and…Yoshiyuki Sankai (born 1958/1959) is a Japanese billionaire businessman and academic. He is the founder, president and CEO of the cyborg-robot maker Cyberdyne, as well as a professor of the Graduate School of Systems & Information Engineering at the University of Tsukuba.
Michiko Kihara (木原 美知子, Kihara Michiko; April 5, 1948 – October 18, 2007) was a Japanese swimmer and TV actress. She…Michiko Kihara (木原 美知子, Kihara Michiko; April 5, 1948 – October 18, 2007) was a Japanese swimmer and TV actress. She competed at the 1964 Olympics in the 100 m backstroke, 4 × 100 m freestyle relay and 4 × 100 m medley relay and finished fourth in the medley relay. After retiring from swimming, Kihara became a model, businesswoman and TV actress, playing in several Japanese TV series in the 1970s–80s. In 2005, she was appointed as director of the Japan Swimming Federation. She died of subarachnoid hemorrhage at age 59.
Masao Tachiki (Japanese: 立木 正夫, Hepburn: Tachiki Masao, March 31, 1941 – August 6, 2018) was a Japanese business…Masao Tachiki (Japanese: 立木 正夫, Hepburn: Tachiki Masao, March 31, 1941 – August 6, 2018) was a Japanese business executive. After serving as a director at Suntory, he became the 7th president of the Japan Volleyball Association. He also served as a municipal advisor in his hometown. He was a native of Takahashi, Okayama Prefecture.
Shigeo Takaya (高谷 茂男, Takaya Shigeo; 1 January 1937 – 8 August 2024) was a Japanese politician who was the mayor of…Shigeo Takaya (高谷 茂男, Takaya Shigeo; 1 January 1937 – 8 August 2024) was a Japanese politician who was the mayor of Okayama in Okayama Prefecture. A graduate of Okayama Prefectural University-Junior College, he was first elected in October 2005. Takaya died of kidney failure on 8 August 2024, at the age of 87.
Yoshiji Fukushima (福島 吉治, Fukushima Yoshiji; born 5 October 1933) was a Japanese business executive, who served as vice…Yoshiji Fukushima (福島 吉治, Fukushima Yoshiji; born 5 October 1933) was a Japanese business executive, who served as vice president of Nomura Securities, chairman of the board of directors of Nomura Securities Investment Trust Management Co., Ltd. (later, Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd.) and chairman of the board of directors of CSK Corporation (later, SCSK) and Sega Corporation.
Toshiwo Doko (土光 敏夫 Dokō Toshio; September 15, 1896 – August 4, 1988) was a Japanese engineer born in Mitsu District…Toshiwo Doko (土光 敏夫 Dokō Toshio; September 15, 1896 – August 4, 1988) was a Japanese engineer born in Mitsu District, Okayama, Manager, President and Chairman of Ishikawajima Heavy Industry (IHI) and Toshiba.
Sunao Okamoto (岡本 忠, Okamoto Sunao; 1 September 1894 – 2 September 1955) was a Japanese male tennis player who…Sunao Okamoto (岡本 忠, Okamoto Sunao; 1 September 1894 – 2 September 1955) was a Japanese male tennis player who represented Japan in the Davis Cup and the Olympic Games. He competed at both the Wimbledon Championships and U.S. National Championships in 1924. He won 9 career singles titles at tournaments maninly played in India.
Yukio Tomeoka (留岡 幸男, Tomeoka Yukio; 16 April 1894 – 3 May 1981) was a Japanese bureaucrat, police official, and later…Yukio Tomeoka (留岡 幸男, Tomeoka Yukio; 16 April 1894 – 3 May 1981) was a Japanese bureaucrat, police official, and later lawyer. A career official of the Home Ministry, he served as Governor of Akita Prefecture, Director-General of the ministry's Local Affairs Bureau, Superintendent-General of the Metropolitan Police, and finally as Director-General of the Hokkaidō Agency.
Ryūji Tanabe (Japanese: 田邊 隆二, Hepburn: Tanabe Ryūji; 23 January 1884 – 14 February 1945) was a Japanese bureaucrat in…Ryūji Tanabe (Japanese: 田邊 隆二, Hepburn: Tanabe Ryūji; 23 January 1884 – 14 February 1945) was a Japanese bureaucrat in the Ministry of Communications and later a prominent businessman. A graduate of the University of Tokyo with high academic honors, he was awarded the prestigious silver watch by the government—a distinction known as the "Silver Watch Group." After joining the Ministry of Communications, he was considered a candidate for the position of Vice Minister. He went on to serve as president of Kyoto Electric Power Company, and later became the inaugural president of Kansai Haiden (now Kansai Electric Power Company). He was a native of Okayama Prefecture.
Magosaburō Ōhara (大原 孫三郎, Ōhara Magosaburō; July 28, 1880 - January 18, 1943) was a Japanese businessman and…Magosaburō Ōhara (大原 孫三郎, Ōhara Magosaburō; July 28, 1880 - January 18, 1943) was a Japanese businessman and philanthropist. He was born in Kurashiki, Okayama. He studied at Waseda University but left Waseda before graduation. Later he became the most influential person in Kansai business community.