Kazunori Tanaka (田中 和徳, Tanaka Kazunori; born 21 January 1949) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of…Kazunori Tanaka (田中 和徳, Tanaka Kazunori; born 21 January 1949) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and Minister of Reconstruction. A native of Toyoura District, Yamaguchi and graduate of Hosei University he was elected for the first time in 1996 after serving in local assemblies. Tanaka was general director of the Liberal Democratic Party International bureau in 2015.
Yasuko Aoike (青池 保子, Aoike Yasuko; born July 24, 1948, in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi) is a female Japanese manga artist.…Yasuko Aoike (青池 保子, Aoike Yasuko; born July 24, 1948, in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi) is a female Japanese manga artist. Most of her works are shōjo manga, predominantly focused on romance, adventure and light comedy, and many of them contain elements of shōnen-ai. She is included in the Year 24 Group. Aoike grew up as the youngest child in a large family (including five sisters and a brother) that owned a construction company, so in her childhood she was surrounded by the strong men employed by the company. Her father, an amateur artist who had studied ink wash painting under a master of the Southern School style, was a great influence on Aoike. Aoike made her professional debut at the age of 15 in Ribon magazine's 1963 Winter Special Edition with the short story Sayonara Nanette. Her short works appeared in Shōjo Friend and other Kodansha publications through the mid-1970s. She began writing serial works primarily for Akita Shoten, starting with Miriam Blue's Lake in the January 1975 issue of Princess. Her work has also appeared in Shueisha's Monthly Seventeen Magazine in the late 1970s (most notably El Alcon and Seven Seas, Seven Skies) and Hakusensha's Lala magazine in the 1980s. She is best known for From Eroica with Love, which has been serialized by Akita Shoten since 1976 and has produced several spinoff series. It was licensed in English by CMX, which published 15 volumes from 2004 to 2010. In 1991 Aoike was awarded the Japan Cartoonists Association Award's Excellence Award for Alcazar.
Teruzane Utada (宇多田 照實, Utada Teruzane; born July 21, 1948) is a Japanese record producer and record executive. He…Teruzane Utada (宇多田 照實, Utada Teruzane; born July 21, 1948) is a Japanese record producer and record executive. He married Junko Utada (née Keiko Fuji) and oversaw her career. They were married to and divorced each other seven times. Their only child is the singer Hikaru Utada, one of Japan's most successful pop music singers of all time. Teruzane Utada was born in Tokuji, Utada also uses the names Sking U, Utada Sking Teruzane, and Utada Skingg Teruzane.
Hiromitsu Kadota (門田 博光, Kadota Hiromitsu; February 26, 1948 – January 23, 2023) was a Japanese professional baseball…Hiromitsu Kadota (門田 博光, Kadota Hiromitsu; February 26, 1948 – January 23, 2023) was a Japanese professional baseball player for the Hawks franchise (known during his career as the Nankai Hawks and the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks) and the Orix Braves. Celebrated for his slugging ability, he ate a lot and became a strong hitter, though was later weakened by diabetes mellitus. With 567 home runs, Kadota is number three on the NPB career list. Kadota won the Nippon Professional Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1980 with 41 home runs and 84 RBI. He hit 44 home runs at the age of 40 in 1988, also knocking in 125 runs and winning the Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award. He became the first 40-year-old to win the award in NPB history and is still the oldest player to win MVP in NPB history. That year he was also given the Matsutaro Shoriki Award, for contribution to the development of professional baseball. After playing for the Orix Braves for two seasons, he returned to the Hawks in 1991; he retired after his last game against pitcher Hideo Nomo in 1992. Kadota was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. Kadota died on January 23, 2023, after a police officer found him lying on the ground after having not showed up to an outpatient treatment in a hospital in Aioi, Hyogo and was confirmed dead on the scene.
Kaiketsu Masateru (Japanese: 魁傑 將晃, born Teruyuki Nishimori; February 16, 1948 – May 18, 2014) was a Japanese sumo…Kaiketsu Masateru (Japanese: 魁傑 將晃, born Teruyuki Nishimori; February 16, 1948 – May 18, 2014) was a Japanese sumo wrestler, who reached the second highest rank of ōzeki on two occasions. He also won two top division tournament championships. After his retirement in 1979 he became a coach under the name of Hanaregoma-oyakata and established Hanaregoma stable. He was also chairman of the Japan Sumo Association from 2010 to 2012.
Kenshi Hirokane (Japanese: 弘兼 憲史, Hepburn: Hirokane Kenshi; born September 9, 1947) is a Japanese manga artist from…Kenshi Hirokane (Japanese: 弘兼 憲史, Hepburn: Hirokane Kenshi; born September 9, 1947) is a Japanese manga artist from Iwakuni, Yamaguchi. He graduated from Waseda University with a degree in law, then worked for Matsushita Electric for four years, before making his manga debut in 1974 with Kaze Kaoru. Hirokane is known for manga that addresses social issues, as well as for creating the best-selling seinen manga Hello Harinezumi, adapted as an original video animation (OVA) called Domain of Murder. He has received numerous awards, including the 1985 Shogakukan Manga Award for seinen/general manga as the artist for Human Crossing, the 1991 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga for Kachō Kōsaku Shima, and an Excellence Prize for manga at the 2000 Japan Media Arts Festival for Tasogare Ryūseigun ("Like Shooting Stars in the Twilight"). He is married to manga artist Fumi Saimon. They have a son and a daughter.
Masato Sako (佐古正人, Sako Masato; November 9, 1946 – January 11, 2003) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from Iwakuni…Masato Sako (佐古正人, Sako Masato; November 9, 1946 – January 11, 2003) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from Iwakuni, Yamaguchi. He stood at 168 centimeters (5 feet, 7 inches) tall and weighed in at 62 kilograms (136 pounds). Sako dropped out of Chuo University. He then enrolled in the theater company Gekidan Kumo. He later transferred to Engekishūdan En. He has performed in Shakespeare, television dramas, dubs of western films and animation. His oldest daughter, Mayumi Sako, is enrolled in the Bungaku Company. On January 11, 2003, Masato Sako died of oral cancer in an Iwakuni hospital at the age of 56.
Naoto Kan (菅 直人, Kan Naoto; born 10 October 1946) is a Japanese former politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan…Naoto Kan (菅 直人, Kan Naoto; born 10 October 1946) is a Japanese former politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) from June 2010 to September 2011. Kan was the first Prime Minister since the resignation of Junichiro Koizumi in 2006 to serve for more than one year, with his predecessors Yukio Hatoyama, Tarō Asō, Yasuo Fukuda, and Shinzo Abe either resigning prematurely or losing an election. On 26 August 2011, Kan announced his resignation. Yoshihiko Noda was elected as his successor. On 1 August 2012, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Kan would be one of the members of the UN high-level panel on the post-2015 development agenda. Kan would announce his retirement from politics in November 2023. In February 2024 he would publish a memoir reflecting on his time in politics titled 'Fifty Years of Citizen Politics' (市民政治50年, Shimin Seiji 50-nen).
Masatoshi Shinomaki (篠巻 政利, born October 6, 1946) is a retired Japanese heavyweight judoka, who won the world title in…Masatoshi Shinomaki (篠巻 政利, born October 6, 1946) is a retired Japanese heavyweight judoka, who won the world title in the open category in 1969 and 1971, placing third in 1967. He also competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Masaaki Ikenaga (池永 正明, Ikenaga Masaaki; August 18, 1946 – September 25, 2022) was a Japanese professional baseball…Masaaki Ikenaga (池永 正明, Ikenaga Masaaki; August 18, 1946 – September 25, 2022) was a Japanese professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he played in Japan for the Nishitetsu Lions. Ikenaga was one of the top pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball before a scandal derailed his career at age 23. Before being implicated in the Black Mist Scandal, he made five consecutive All-Star teams at the beginning of his career, and was in the top 10 in ERA every season of his career.
Nobuko Takagi (高樹 のぶ子, Takagi Nobuko; born April 9, 1946) is the professional name of Nobuko Tsuruta (鶴田 信子, Tsuruta…Nobuko Takagi (高樹 のぶ子, Takagi Nobuko; born April 9, 1946) is the professional name of Nobuko Tsuruta (鶴田 信子, Tsuruta Nobuko), a Japanese author. She has won the Akutagawa Prize and the Tanizaki Prize, she has been named a Person of Cultural Merit, and her work has been adapted for film.
Yoshiaki Yoshimi (吉見 義明, Yoshimi Yoshiaki; born 1946) is a professor of Japanese modern history at Chuo University in…Yoshiaki Yoshimi (吉見 義明, Yoshimi Yoshiaki; born 1946) is a professor of Japanese modern history at Chuo University in Tokyo, Japan. He is a founding member of the Center for Research and Documentation on Japan's War Responsibility. He was born in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and studied at the University of Tokyo.
Yoshiaki Takaki (高木 義明, Takaki Yoshiaki; born 22 December 1945) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House…Yoshiaki Takaki (高木 義明, Takaki Yoshiaki; born 22 December 1945) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Democratic Party of Japan. A native of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi and high-school graduate he was elected to the Diet for the first time in 1990 after serving in the union executive and local assemblies for 15 years.
Tsuyoshi Okudaira (Japanese: 奥平 剛士, romanized: Okudaira Tsuyoshi; IPA: [o̞kɯ̟da̠iɾa̠ t͡sɨjo̞ɕi]; July 21, 1945 – May…Tsuyoshi Okudaira (Japanese: 奥平 剛士, romanized: Okudaira Tsuyoshi; IPA: [o̞kɯ̟da̠iɾa̠ t͡sɨjo̞ɕi]; July 21, 1945 – May 30, 1972) was a Japanese communist activist and one of the leaders of the militant group Japanese Red Army (JRA). He was killed carrying out the Lod Airport Massacre near Lod, Israel on May 30, 1972. At the time of his death, he was married to JRA leader Fusako Shigenobu. He was the older brother of fellow JRA activist Junzō Okudaira.
Kazuo Hara (Japanese: 原一男, Hepburn: Hara Kazuo; 8 June 1945) is a Japanese documentary film director. After dropping…Kazuo Hara (Japanese: 原一男, Hepburn: Hara Kazuo; 8 June 1945) is a Japanese documentary film director. After dropping out of university to work at a special education school, he made his 1972 debut work Goodbye CP about a group of individuals with cerebral palsy. He won the award for Best Director at the 12th Hochi Film Award and at the 9th Yokohama Film Festival for The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On. That film also earned him the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award. In 2017 he released the documentary Sennan Asbestos Disaster which received the 2017 Audience Award at the Tokyo Filmex International Film Festival and the 2017 BIFF Mecenat Award at the Busan International Film Festival. His documentary works often depict people who push against the boundaries of propriety and obedience in Japanese society.
Gin Maeda (前田吟, Maeda Gin) (born February 21, 1944) is a Japanese actor. He had a regular role in the Otoko wa Tsurai…Gin Maeda (前田吟, Maeda Gin) (born February 21, 1944) is a Japanese actor. He had a regular role in the Otoko wa Tsurai yo films, beginning with the first in the series (1969), as Sakura's husband.
Kenji Harada (原田建司, Harada Kenji; February 8, 1944 – April 22, 2015), known by his pen name Yoichi Funado (船戸与一, Funado…Kenji Harada (原田建司, Harada Kenji; February 8, 1944 – April 22, 2015), known by his pen name Yoichi Funado (船戸与一, Funado Yoichi), was a Japanese writer of adventure fiction.
Kazuo Tsukuda (佃 和夫, Tsukuda Kazuo) is the chairman of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, one of the core companies of the…Kazuo Tsukuda (佃 和夫, Tsukuda Kazuo) is the chairman of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, one of the core companies of the Mitsubishi Group. Born in 1943. Tsukuda graduated from the School of Engineering of the University of Tokyo in 1968 with an advanced degree in marine mechanical engineering and joined Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) immediately after graduation. After years with the company he eventually became deputy general manager of Takasago Machinery Works and, later, general manager of Nagoya Machinery Works. Tsukuda became a member of the board of directors of MHI in June 1999. In April 2002 he was appointed a managing director and the general manager for the Global Strategic Planning & Operations Headquarters. In June 2003, Tsukuda became president of MHI. Tsukuda became a director and an advisor of MHI in April 2013 and an advisor of MHI in June 2013.
Masahisa Fujita (藤田 昌久, Fujita Masahisa; born 21 July 1943) is a Japanese economist who has studied regional science…Masahisa Fujita (藤田 昌久, Fujita Masahisa; born 21 July 1943) is a Japanese economist who has studied regional science, urban economics, international trade, and spatial economy (new economic geography). He is a professor at Konan University and an adjunct professor at Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University. Fujita majored in urban planning as an undergraduate at Kyoto University. He studied regional science in University of Pennsylvania under Walter Isard and obtained a Ph.D. (in Regional Science) from University of Pennsylvania in 1972. He taught at University of Pennsylvania for about 20 years, and has been the faculty of Institute of Economic Research (KIER) Kyoto University since 1995, where he served as Director in 1999. He was the President of Institute of Developing Economies during 2003 to 2007, and proposed a basic concept of Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia to JETRO and METI. In 2007, he became President and Chief Research Officer of the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry. Fujita is known as one of the pioneers of New Economic Geography, as well as Paul Krugman. Fujita is the recipient of the 1983 Tord Palander Prize, the 1998 Walter Isard Award in regional science, and was also awarded the first Alonso Prize, alongside Paul Krugman.
Takeo Kawamura (河村 建夫, Kawamura Takeo; born 10 November 1942) is a former Japanese politician from the Liberal…Takeo Kawamura (河村 建夫, Kawamura Takeo; born 10 November 1942) is a former Japanese politician from the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as Chief Cabinet Secretary from 2008 to 2009, and a member of the House of Representatives from 1990 to 2021, representing the Yamaguchi 3rd district.
Shingo Haketa (羽毛田 信吾, Haketa Shingo; born 5 April 1942) is a Japanese bureaucrat. He served as Grand Steward of the…Shingo Haketa (羽毛田 信吾, Haketa Shingo; born 5 April 1942) is a Japanese bureaucrat. He served as Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency from 1 April 2005 to 1 June 2012. Appointed by Prime Minister Junichirō Koizumi, a promoter of absolute primogeniture, Haketa is known as a supporter of the report submitted by the Advisory Council on Imperial Household Act, recommending absolute primogeniture. He criticized Prince Tomohito of Mikasa for his comment that agnatic primogeniture should be kept, and requested the members of the Imperial House to refrain from expressing their opinions on the succession. Right after the birth of Prince Hisahito of Akishino, he commented that the newborn prince would not solve the succession crisis, and insisted that the law be changed. In November 2011, he held a meeting with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to discuss the possibility for allowing women to head branches of the Imperial House (rather than losing imperial status upon marriage), in order to replenish the number of imperial members who can help fulfill the court-related duties. He had worked at the Ministry of Health until he was installed as Vice-Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency in 2001. Among his senior colleagues at the Ministry of Health was Teijiro Furukawa, a member of the Advisory Council on the Imperial Household Law. Haketa announced his retirement effective 1 June 2012, and was replaced by Noriyuki Kazaoka.
Masahiko Kōmura (高村 正彦, Kōmura Masahiko; born 15 March 1942) is a Japanese politician who served as Vice President of…Masahiko Kōmura (高村 正彦, Kōmura Masahiko; born 15 March 1942) is a Japanese politician who served as Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party from 2012 to 2018. He served in several cabinet position, including as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1998 to 1999 and again from 2007 to 2008. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1980 to 2017.
Tasuku Honjo (本庶 佑, Honjo Tasuku; born January 27, 1942) is a Japanese physician-scientist and immunologist. He won the…Tasuku Honjo (本庶 佑, Honjo Tasuku; born January 27, 1942) is a Japanese physician-scientist and immunologist. He won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and is best known for his identification of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). He is also known for his molecular identification of cytokines IL-4 and IL-5, as well as the discovery of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) that is essential for class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation. He was elected as an international member of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States in 2001, a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in 2003, and as a member of the Japan Academy in 2005. In 2018, he was awarded a Nobel Prize with James P. Allison. He and Allison together had won the 2014 Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science for the same achievement.
Takeshi Tokutomi (徳富 斌, Tokutomi Takeshi; born November 13, 1941) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed…Takeshi Tokutomi (徳富 斌, Tokutomi Takeshi; born November 13, 1941) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics. In 1964 he was a squad member of the Japanese team which won the bronze medal in the Olympic tournament.
Akira Fujii (藤井 旭, Fujii Akira; 12 January 1941 – 28 December 2022) was a Japanese astrophotographer and astronomer.…Akira Fujii (藤井 旭, Fujii Akira; 12 January 1941 – 28 December 2022) was a Japanese astrophotographer and astronomer. PBS has described him as "the world's foremost wide-angle astrophotographer". Fujii graduated from Tama Art University in 1961, and began working at observatories, producing a substantial bibliography of general-audience astronomy books. In 1974, Fujii began Japan's first star party, the "Invitation to Starlit Skies", which he hosted on Mount Azuma until 1984. Fujii's work is marketed by David Malin; he collaborated with Serge Brunier in the production of 2001's Great Atlas of the Stars. The main-belt asteroid 3872 Akirafujii is named in his honor. Fujii died on 28 December 2022, at the age of 81.
Tsutomu Hanahara (花原 勉, Hanahara Tsutomu; January 3, 1940 – February 5, 2024) was a Japanese wrestler who won a gold…Tsutomu Hanahara (花原 勉, Hanahara Tsutomu; January 3, 1940 – February 5, 2024) was a Japanese wrestler who won a gold medal in the flyweight class at the 1964 Olympics. He competed at the 1958 and 1967 world championships and finished in sixth and third place, respectively.
Takashi Masuda (益田 隆司, MASUDA Takashi; born 1939) is a Japanese computer scientist. He was born in Hagi City, Yamaguchi…Takashi Masuda (益田 隆司, MASUDA Takashi; born 1939) is a Japanese computer scientist. He was born in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1939. Masuda graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1963, and received his MS degree in 1956 there. From 1956 to 1977, he worked at Hitachi's Central Research Center and then Systems Laboratory, studying from 1969 at Carnegie Mellon University's Computer Science School on a sabbatical. He received his PhD from University of Tokyo. His doctorate thesis was on the "Analysis and Evaluation of the Computer System Which Uses Virtual Memory". From 1977 Masuda taught at the College of Information Science in University of Tsukuba. In 1988 he moved to University of Tokyo's School of Science as a professor of computer science and became the dean of the (Graduate) School of Science there in 1995. He then moved to University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo, as a professor in 2000 and became the president there in 2004. He retired from the university in 2008. From 2003 to 2005, Masuda served as president of the Information Processing Society of Japan. From 2008, he has served as an executive director of the Funai Foundation for Information Technology, which helps those who study abroad to get Ph.D.
Kōichirō Matsuura (松浦 晃一郎, Matsūra Kōichirō; born 29 September 1937) is a Japanese diplomat. He is the former…Kōichirō Matsuura (松浦 晃一郎, Matsūra Kōichirō; born 29 September 1937) is a Japanese diplomat. He is the former Director-General of UNESCO. He was first elected in 1999 to a six-year term and reelected on 12 October 2005 for four years, following a reform instituted by the 29th session of the General Conference. In November 2009, he was replaced by Irina Bokova. He studied law at the University of Tokyo and economics at Haverford College (Pennsylvania, USA) and began his diplomatic career in 1959. Posts held by Mr Matsuura include those of Director-General of the Economic Co-operation Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1988); Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1990); and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (1992–1994). He was Japan’s Ambassador to France from 1994 to 1999. After one year as the Chairperson of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, he became UNESCO’s ninth Director-General on 12 November 1999.
Koshin Fujitani (藤谷 光信, Fujitani Kōshin; born January 1, 1937) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…Koshin Fujitani (藤谷 光信, Fujitani Kōshin; born January 1, 1937) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A former member of the assembly of Yamaguchi Prefecture, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007. Fujitani is also an ordained Shin Buddhist priest within Honganji-ha.
Akira Machida (町田 顯 Machida Akira, October 16, 1936 – April 5, 2015) was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan…Akira Machida (町田 顯 Machida Akira, October 16, 1936 – April 5, 2015) was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan from 2002 to 2006. He was born in Shimonoseki, Japan. He first began his career in 1959, when he was appointed as a legal apprentice. In 1961 he was appointed as an assistant judge to the Tokyo District and its Family Court, the judge of the Muroran branch of the Sapporo District and its Family Court, and the judge of the Civil Affairs Bureau of the General Secretariat of the Supreme Court. In 1971 he was promoted to judge of the Sapporo District and its Family Court. In 1973 he became Chief of the Budget Division, Financial Affairs Bureau, and General Secretariat of the Supreme Court. He began serving as the Chief of the General Affairs Division in 1975, and although he quit being Chief of the Budget Division, he continued to perform in his other two positions until 1977, when he became Counsellor of the Cabinet Legislative Bureau. In 1983 he was appointed as a judge of the Tokyo District, and a presiding judge of the Division. From 1984 until 1991 he regained his position as General Secretariat of the Supreme Court; however, he also attained the status of Director of the Secretary and Public Information Division in 1984, which he kept until 1986 when he became Director of the Financial Affairs Bureau. In 1991 he became Chief Judge of the Kofu District Court and its Family Court. In 1993 he became Chief Judge of the Chiba District Court. In 1994 he was appointed judge of the Tokyo High Court, and a presiding judge of the Division. In 1998 he began serving as president of the Fukuoka High Court. In 1999 he became president of the Tokyo High Court. In 2000 he was appointed as a justice of the Supreme Court of Japan. He was appointed Chief Justice on November 6, 2002. One notable case his court has presided over, but he himself did not participate in, was over whether Japanese nationals living in foreign countries had the constitutional right to vote for a specific candidate in parliamentary elections. In addition, Chief Justice Machida voted with the majority to overturn a ruling from the Tokyo High Court that said the Tokyo Metropolitan Government could not bar a civil servant from her managerial exam due to her South Korean nationality. On October 15, 2006, Akira Machida retired upon reaching the age of 70. He was succeeded by Niro Shimada.
Masuo Matsuoka (Japanese: 松岡満寿男 Matsuoka Masua; 4 October 1934 – 9 June 2024) was a Japanese politician. A member of…Masuo Matsuoka (Japanese: 松岡満寿男 Matsuoka Masua; 4 October 1934 – 9 June 2024) was a Japanese politician. A member of multiple political parties, he served in the House of Councillors from 1983 to 1989 and again from 1998 to 2004. He also served in the House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996. Matsuoka died in Hikari, Yamaguchi Prefecture on 9 June 2024, at the age of 89.
Baku Akae (赤江 瀑, Akae Baku; April 22, 1933 – June 8, 2012) was a Japanese novelist. He was born in Shimonoseki…Baku Akae (赤江 瀑, Akae Baku; April 22, 1933 – June 8, 2012) was a Japanese novelist. He was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi. His novel Oidipusu no yaiba (オイディプスの刃, Oedipus' Sword) won the 1st Kadokawa Novel Award in 1974. In 1984, his novels Kaikyou (海峡 Straits) and Yakumo ga Koroshita (八雲が殺した Yakumo Kills) won the Izumi Kyōka Prize for Literature.
Kazuko Nakamura (中村和子, Nakamura Kazuko; April 1, 1933 – August 3, 2019) was a Chinese-born Japanese animator. Nakamura…Kazuko Nakamura (中村和子, Nakamura Kazuko; April 1, 1933 – August 3, 2019) was a Chinese-born Japanese animator. Nakamura has worked on Princess Knight, A Thousand and One Nights and Cleopatra.
Ikuhiko Hata (秦 郁彦, Hata Ikuhiko; born 12 December 1932) is a Japanese historian. He earned his PhD at the University…Ikuhiko Hata (秦 郁彦, Hata Ikuhiko; born 12 December 1932) is a Japanese historian. He earned his PhD at the University of Tokyo and has taught history at several universities. He is the author of a number of influential and well-received scholarly works, particularly on topics related to Japan's role in the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. He has written extensively on such controversial subjects as the Nanjing Massacre and the comfort women. He does not believe that comfort women were coerced by the Japanese military to work. Fellow historian Edward Drea has called him "the doyen of Japanese military historians". Hata is variously regarded as being a "conservative" historian or a "centrist".
Shinji Satō (佐藤 信二 Satō Shinji, 8 February 1932 – 3 May 2016) was a Japanese politician who was minister of transport…Shinji Satō (佐藤 信二 Satō Shinji, 8 February 1932 – 3 May 2016) was a Japanese politician who was minister of transport from 1988 to 1989, and Minister of International Trade and Industry from 1996 to 1997. He was also a member of the House of Councillors from 1974 to 1979, and a member of the House of Representatives from 1979 to 2000 and again from 2003 to 2005. He was member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A member of the Satō-Kishi-Abe family, he was the second son of Prime Minister Eisaku Satō.
Yoji Yamada (山田 洋次, Yamada Yōji; born 13 September 1931) is a Japanese filmmaker best known for his film series Otoko…Yoji Yamada (山田 洋次, Yamada Yōji; born 13 September 1931) is a Japanese filmmaker best known for his film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo and the Samurai Trilogy (The Twilight Samurai, The Hidden Blade, and Love and Honor). He has directed 91 films, and is well regarded by critics around the world. His Tora-san series holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running film series starring the same actor.
Heisuke Hironaka (広中 平祐, Hironaka Heisuke; April 9, 1931 – March 18, 2026) was a Japanese mathematician who was awarded…Heisuke Hironaka (広中 平祐, Hironaka Heisuke; April 9, 1931 – March 18, 2026) was a Japanese mathematician who was awarded the Fields Medal in 1970 for his contributions to algebraic geometry.
Hideo Hamamura (濱村 秀雄, Hamamura Hideo; 20 July 1928 – 7 May 2000) was a Japanese marathon runner. He won the Boston…Hideo Hamamura (濱村 秀雄, Hamamura Hideo; 20 July 1928 – 7 May 2000) was a Japanese marathon runner. He won the Boston Marathon in 1955 in a time of 2:18.22 which was a course record. He was 16th in the 1956 Olympic Games marathon in Melbourne. After retiring from competitive racing, he became an athletics coach. He died on 7 May 2000 from a malignant tumour.
Yoshiro Hayashi (林 義郎, Hayashi Yoshirō; 16 June 1927 – 3 February 2017) was a Japanese politician who was Minister of…Yoshiro Hayashi (林 義郎, Hayashi Yoshirō; 16 June 1927 – 3 February 2017) was a Japanese politician who was Minister of Finance from 1992 to 1993 and Minister of Health and Welfare from 1982 to 1983. He was elected ten times as a member of the House of Representatives since 1969.
Shintaro Abe (安倍 晋太郎, Abe Shintarō; 29 April 1924 – 15 May 1991) was a Japanese politician who served as Minister of…Shintaro Abe (安倍 晋太郎, Abe Shintarō; 29 April 1924 – 15 May 1991) was a Japanese politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1982 to 1986. He was a leading member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). He was the father of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and part of the Satō–Kishi–Abe family.
Takashi Eda (江田 孝, Eda Takashi; March 18, 1923 – February 11, 1978) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. From…Takashi Eda (江田 孝, Eda Takashi; March 18, 1923 – February 11, 1978) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. From 1948 to 1955 he went by the name of Koichi Eda. He finished his career in 1957.
Hideo Fujimoto (藤本 英雄, Fujimoto Hideo) (also known as Hideo Nakagami) (May 10, 1918 – April 26, 1997) was a Japanese…Hideo Fujimoto (藤本 英雄, Fujimoto Hideo) (also known as Hideo Nakagami) (May 10, 1918 – April 26, 1997) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He holds the Japanese records for lowest career ERA (1.90) and seasonal ERA (0.73), as well as best all-time winning percentage (.697). During his career, which spanned the one-league and two-league era, he played for the Tokyo Kyojin/Yomiuri Giants and the Chunichi Dragons. He was the player-manager of the Giants in 1944 and part of 1946 (the league cancelled all games in 1945 because of the Pacific War).
Tadahiko Hayashi (Japanese: 林 忠彦, Hepburn: Hayashi Tadahiko; 1918–1990) was a Japanese photographer noted for a wide…Tadahiko Hayashi (Japanese: 林 忠彦, Hepburn: Hayashi Tadahiko; 1918–1990) was a Japanese photographer noted for a wide range of work including documentary (particularly genre scenes of the period immediately after the war) and portraiture.
Michiyo Kogure (木暮実千代, Kogure Michiyo) (31 January 1918 – 13 June 1990) was a Japanese film actress. She appeared in…Michiyo Kogure (木暮実千代, Kogure Michiyo) (31 January 1918 – 13 June 1990) was a Japanese film actress. She appeared in nearly 200 films in a career which spanned 45 years, starring in works by Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu, Mikio Naruse, and others. Film historian Donald Richie once called her "[o]ne of Japan's most versatile actresses, and perhaps the most intellectual of all in her approach to acting."
Osamu Matsubara (松原 治, Matsubara Osamu; October 7, 1917 – January 3, 2012) was a Japanese businessman, business…Osamu Matsubara (松原 治, Matsubara Osamu; October 7, 1917 – January 3, 2012) was a Japanese businessman, business executive, and former chairman and CEO of Books Kinokuniya. Matsubara was President of Kinokuniya Company Ltd., the parent company of Books Kinokuniya, from October 1980 to November 2002. In November 2002, he became the Chief Executive Office and board chairman for Kinokuniya Company Ltd. Outside Japan, Matsubara oversaw the 2007 relocation of Books Kinokuniya's New York City location from Rockefeller Center to a new, 23,800 sq. feet, three-floor store across from Bryant Park. The store, with its 250,000 items, is considered the largest Japanese bookstore in the United States. The inventory of the New York location includes an equal amount of Japanese and English books, which is in line with the company's goal to offer a wide assortment of titles in both Japanese and English. Osamu Matsubara died from heart failure on January 3, 2012, at the age of 94.
Eiji Sasaki (佐々木 英治, Sasaki Eiji; 23 August 1915 – 15 December 2007) was a Japanese businessman, former Vice President…Eiji Sasaki (佐々木 英治, Sasaki Eiji; 23 August 1915 – 15 December 2007) was a Japanese businessman, former Vice President of Ube Industries and former President of TYS.
