Seigō Nakano (中野 正剛, Nakano Seigō; 12 February 1886 – 27 October 1943) was a journalist and politician in the Empire of…
Seigō Nakano (中野 正剛, Nakano Seigō; 12 February 1886 – 27 October 1943) was a journalist and politician in the Empire of Japan, known primarily for his involvement in far-right politics through his leadership of the Tōhōkai ("Far East Society") party, as well as his opposition to Hideki Tojo and eventual suicide under murky circumstances. Born in the city of Fukuoka, Nakano went on to attend Waseda University for four years, writing a number of articles for the journal Nihon oyobi Nihonjin (Japan and the Japanese) before graduating in July 1909. In these and in other speeches and articles he would produce, he expressed his political views. Nakano maintained an opposition to Japan's establishment throughout his life, criticizing in turn oligarchs such as Katsura Tarō, the Seiyūkai cabinet of Baron Tanaka Giichi, and eventually Hideki Tojo, the last of which ultimately cost him his life. Despite this opposition, however, Nakano would remain committed to working within political parties and the diet, rejecting the violent coups and putsches of young officers. Of great influence on his political thought was the Ōyōmei tradition. Embracing an intuitionist, autonomist view of the individual, Ōyōmei thought emphasized the following of what one identifies as "good" or "just", over wealth and obedience to corrupt authorities. In the case of Saigō Takamori, who Nakano held as a hero far greater than himself, Ōyōmei sanctified his rebellion against the Meiji Government as heroic. In his views of the Meiji Restoration, Nakano viewed the event as the result of popular discontent at the Shogunate's despotic rule. But though the leaders of the restoration had been united in a heroic effort against despotic government, a split occurred in which men valuing liberty such as Saigō were sidelined and instead, the Meiji oligarchy allowed Western ideas to flood into the country, eroding Japan's unique spirit and creating a system of oligarchic-bureaucratic rule which was opposed to popular will. During the 1st Constitutional Protection Movement, he relentlessly attacked the Katsura cabinet and the hanbatsu system of clique government as a writer at the Asahi Shimbun, earning him both a reputation as a liberal and the displeasure of the paper, leading him to launch the Tohojironsha paper in 1916. After election to the diet in 1920, Nakano would join a generation of younger, reformist politicians, eventually aligning with Inukai Tsuyoshi and the Kakushin Kurabu (Reform Club) in 1922, but later believed no serious change could be made outside of one of the two major parties and transfer to the Kenseikai in 1924. Following the Manchurian Incident, Nakano admired the plotters, contrasting their decisive action with the Tanaka cabinet's wavering between hardline policy and capitulation to the United States on China issues. To form a strong government to deal with the climate of crisis in the early 1930s, Nakano first attempted to organize a union of the Seiyukai and Minseito, then organizing the Kokumin Domei (Citizens’ Alliance) political party with Adachi Kenzo when he failed. Due to disagreements between the two personalities, however, Nakano split to form the Tōhōkai in 1936. Eventually, he would join the Taisei Yokusankai, but left in late 1940 in protest over the restraints imposed on it by conservative forces, primarily the zaibatsu and party politicians. He would go on to become a vicious opponent of Tōjō Hideki and his cabinet before committing ritual suicide while under government pressure in 1943.
Famous People from Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture: 743 people
Sazō Idemitsu (出光 佐三, Idemitsu Sazō; August 22, 1885 – March 7, 1981) was a Japanese businessman and founder of the…
Sazō Idemitsu (出光 佐三, Idemitsu Sazō; August 22, 1885 – March 7, 1981) was a Japanese businessman and founder of the petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan. He graduated from Kobe University (then Kobe Koto Shogyo Gakko). He was also an art collector, especially fond of Sengai Gibon and of Georges Rouault. He is the father of the Japanese experimental video artist, Mako Idemitsu.
Hajime Matsushita (松下 元, Matsushita Hajime; August 10, 1884 – December 1, 1953) was a Japanese naval officer and…
Hajime Matsushita (松下 元, Matsushita Hajime; August 10, 1884 – December 1, 1953) was a Japanese naval officer and educator.
Shigeru Aoki (青木 繁, Aoki Shigeru; July 13, 1882 – March 25, 1911) was a Japanese painter, noted for his work in…
Shigeru Aoki (青木 繁, Aoki Shigeru; July 13, 1882 – March 25, 1911) was a Japanese painter, noted for his work in combining Japanese legends and religious subjects with the yōga (Western-style) art movement in late 19th- and early 20th-century Japanese painting. He painted numerous works with themes from Japanese mythology and ancient Indian tales, enchanting the people of the time with rich expressiveness and creativity.
Kōhei Kashii (香椎 浩平, Kashii Kōhei; January 25, 1881 – December 3, 1954) was a lieutenant-general in the Imperial…
Kōhei Kashii (香椎 浩平, Kashii Kōhei; January 25, 1881 – December 3, 1954) was a lieutenant-general in the Imperial Japanese Army. Kashii was born in Fukuoka Prefecture, graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy, and became a lieutenant-general in 1931. He was the commander of the Japanese China Garrison Army from 22 December 1930 to 29 February 1932. In November 1931, Kashii imposed martial law over the Japanese-ruled area of the Chinese city of Tianjin. During the February 1936 coup attempt, Kashii was a leader of government forces that suppressed the revolt. Since he was sympathetic to the Imperial Way Faction, which included some of the officers who started the coup, he initially resisted military action against the revolt. He was later relieved of his duties, and then transferred to the reserves.
Tatsunosuke Yamazaki (山崎 達之輔, Yamazaki Tatsunosuke; 19 June 1880 – 15 March 1948) was a Japanese was a politician and…
Tatsunosuke Yamazaki (山崎 達之輔, Yamazaki Tatsunosuke; 19 June 1880 – 15 March 1948) was a Japanese was a politician and cabinet minister in the Taishō and early Shōwa periods of the Japan. His brother, Iwao Yamazaki was also a politician and cabinet minister, and his nephew Heihachirō Yamazaki was later a prominent member of the post-war Liberal-Democratic Party.
Hajime Sugiyama (杉山 元, Sugiyama Hajime / Sugiyama Gen; 1 January 1880 – 12 September 1945) was a Japanese field marshal…
Hajime Sugiyama (杉山 元, Sugiyama Hajime / Sugiyama Gen; 1 January 1880 – 12 September 1945) was a Japanese field marshal and one of Japan's military leaders for most of the Second World War. As Army Minister, Sugiyama was a driving force behind Japan's 1937 invasion of China in retaliation for the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. After being named the Japanese Army's Chief of Staff in 1940, he became a leading advocate for expansion into Southeast Asia and preventive war against the United States. Upon the outbreak of hostilities in the Asia-Pacific theater of World War II, Sugiyama served as the army's commander-in-chief until his removal by Prime Minister Hideki Tojo in February 1944. Following Tojo's ouster in July 1944, he once again held the post of Army Minister in Kuniaki Koiso's cabinet until its dissolution in April 1945. Ten days after Japan's surrender on 2 September 1945, he committed suicide.
Masanori Katsu (勝 正憲, Katsu Masanori; 21 May 1879 – 11 November 1957) was a Japanese bureaucrat, politician and cabinet…
Masanori Katsu (勝 正憲, Katsu Masanori; 21 May 1879 – 11 November 1957) was a Japanese bureaucrat, politician and cabinet minister in the Taishō and early Shōwa periods of the Japan.
Ryōichi Yazu (矢頭 良一, Yazu Ryōichi; 30 June 1878 – 16 October 1908) was a Japanese inventor. He is best known for his…
Ryōichi Yazu (矢頭 良一, Yazu Ryōichi; 30 June 1878 – 16 October 1908) was a Japanese inventor. He is best known for his invention of Japan's first mechanical calculator.
Hiroshi Yoshida (吉田 博, Yoshida Hiroshi; September 19, 1876 – April 5, 1950) was a 20th-century Japanese painter and…
Hiroshi Yoshida (吉田 博, Yoshida Hiroshi; September 19, 1876 – April 5, 1950) was a 20th-century Japanese painter and woodblock printmaker. Along with Hasui Kawase, he is regarded as one of the greatest artists of the shin-hanga style, and is noted especially for his landscape prints. Yoshida made numerous trips around the world, with the aim of getting to know different artistic expressions and making works of different landscapes. He traveled widely, and was particularly known for his images of non-Japanese subjects done in traditional Japanese woodblock style, including the Taj Mahal, the Swiss Alps, the Grand Canyon, and other National Parks in the United States. He was known as a mountain painter (山岳画家) in Japan and spent about half of the year on sketching travels. He was particularly fond of mountain landscapes and painted many of them, founding the Nihon Sangakugaka Kyōkai (Japan Mountain Painting Society, 日本山岳画家協会) in his later years. As a mountaineer, he climbed the mountains of the Japanese Alps every summer and created his large paintings and woodblock prints after returning home.
Yasukouchi Asakichi (15 April 1873 – 15 July 1927) was a Japanese politician who served as governor of Hiroshima…
Yasukouchi Asakichi (15 April 1873 – 15 July 1927) was a Japanese politician who served as governor of Hiroshima Prefecture from May 1918 to April 1919. He was governor of Shizuoka Prefecture (1915–1918), Fukuoka Prefecture (1919–1922) and Kanagawa Prefecture (1922–1924).
Sakai Toshihiko (堺 利彦; November 25, 1871 – January 23, 1933) was a Japanese socialist. He advocated opposition to the…
Sakai Toshihiko (堺 利彦; November 25, 1871 – January 23, 1933) was a Japanese socialist. He advocated opposition to the Russo-Japanese War, founded the Heiminsha and published the newspaper Heimin Shimbun. He formed the Japan Socialist Party and the Japanese Communist Party, and became the first general secretary of the Japanese Communist Party. His pen name is Saka Kosen (堺枯川). He is also known for his translation with Kōtoku Shūsui.
Ishibashi Ningetsu (石橋 忍月, 1 September 1865 – 1 February 1926) was a Japanese writer and literature critic. His…
Ishibashi Ningetsu (石橋 忍月, 1 September 1865 – 1 February 1926) was a Japanese writer and literature critic. His critique "Maihime", on the short story of the same name by Mori Ōgai, was an important dispute in literature during the early Meiji period. He was also among the contributors of Jogaku zasshi, an influential magazine of the Meiji era.
Baron Akashi Motojiro (明石 元二郎; 1 September 1864 – 26 October 1919) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and the…
Baron Akashi Motojiro (明石 元二郎; 1 September 1864 – 26 October 1919) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and the 7th Governor-General of Taiwan from 6 June 1918 to 26 October 1919.
George Shima (1864 – March 27, 1926) was a Japanese American businessman in California who became the first Japanese…
George Shima (1864 – March 27, 1926) was a Japanese American businessman in California who became the first Japanese American millionaire. At one point, he produced about 85% of the state's potato crop, which earned him the nickname "The Potato King".
Baron Dan Takuma (團 琢磨; September 7, 1858 – March 5, 1932) was a Japanese businessman who was Director-General of…
Baron Dan Takuma (團 琢磨; September 7, 1858 – March 5, 1932) was a Japanese businessman who was Director-General of Mitsui, one of the leading Japanese zaibatsu (family conglomerates). He was a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was married to the younger sister of statesman Kaneko Kentarō. During the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War, there were some U.S. financiers who wished to profit by lending money to Russia so she could continue her war efforts against Japan. In contrast and in support of ending this war, Frank A. Vanderlip, Jacob Schiff and other U.S. financiers supported President Theodore Roosevelt's successful role as peacemaker between Russia and Japan. Their action was greatly appreciated by many of the leaders of Japan. The early decades of the 1900s were often challenging in terms of U.S. Japan relations. Frank A. Vanderlip and his American and Japanese allies strove to encourage increased business and trade between their nations, which could also enhance the mutual respect and understanding between the U.S. and Japan. The 1908 photo illustration to the right is linked to Frank A. Vanderlip during his U.S. business delegation’s visit to Japan, where they were greeted by Baron Shibusawa Eiichi, Prince Tokugawa Iesato (a.k.a. Prince Iyesato Tokugawa), and Baron Dan Takuma and other Japanese representatives. These statesmen often allied together to promote peace and international commerce. During following year in 1909, in reciprocation for Frank A. Vanderlip’s 1908 business delegation’s visit to Japan, Baron Shibusawa accompanied by his approximately sixty member Japanese business/goodwill delegation toured the United States. During their U.S. visit, the Japanese were greeted by the Vanderlip family and top representatives of American Industry, such as General Electric and Westinghouse. As president of the Japan Society of Manhattan, Frank A. Vanderlip strove to maintain political goodwill and better understanding between the U.S. and Japan. Takuma Dan continued the cultivation of closer relations between Japan and the Western powers. In 1921, he also led a Japanese Businessmen's Mission, in which a group of Japanese business leaders visited the United States, Great Britain, and France to discuss bilateral economic issues and to promote personal ties with businesspeople of those countries. In 1927, Dan bought out Takasago Life Insurance and established Mitsui Life, as a subsidiary of Mitsui Group. On March 5, 1932, Dan was assassinated by right-wing nationalist Gorō Hishinuma for his role in Mitsui's betting against the Japanese economy in favor of Britain, as part of the League of Blood Incident. Hishinuma was sentenced to life in prison for Dan's murder. He was released under an amnesty in 1940, and died in 1990. Dan's son was embryologist Dan Katsuma, and his grandson was composer Dan Ikuma.
Kunihiko Iwadare (岩垂 邦彦, Iwadare Kunihiko; August 15, 1857 – December 20, 1941) was a Japanese businessman. A graduate…
Kunihiko Iwadare (岩垂 邦彦, Iwadare Kunihiko; August 15, 1857 – December 20, 1941) was a Japanese businessman. A graduate of the Imperial College of Engineering (Kobu Daigaku) in Tokyo, he worked as a telegraph engineer for the Japanese government.
Viscount Suematsu Kenchō (末松 謙澄; 30 September 1855 – 5 October 1920) was a Japanese politician, intellectual and author…
Viscount Suematsu Kenchō (末松 謙澄; 30 September 1855 – 5 October 1920) was a Japanese politician, intellectual and author who lived in the Meiji and Taishō periods. Apart from his activity in the Japanese government, he also wrote several important works on Japan in English. He was portrayed in a negative manner in Ryōtarō Shiba's novel Saka no Ue no Kumo.
Tōyama Mitsuru (頭山 満; 27 May 1855 – 5 October 1944) was a Japanese ultranationalist activist who founded the secret…
Tōyama Mitsuru (頭山 満; 27 May 1855 – 5 October 1944) was a Japanese ultranationalist activist who founded the secret societies Genyosha (Black Ocean Society) and Kokuryukai (Black Dragon Society). Tōyama was an anti-communist and a strong proponent of Pan-Asianism.
Count Kaneko Kentarō (金子 堅太郎, Kentarō Kaneko; 4 February 1853 – 16 May 1942) was a statesman, diplomat, and legal…
Count Kaneko Kentarō (金子 堅太郎, Kentarō Kaneko; 4 February 1853 – 16 May 1942) was a statesman, diplomat, and legal scholar in Meiji period Japan. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he drew on his connections in the American legal community over the course of his long career in Japanese government, particularly in his role helping to draft the new Meiji Constitution (Imperial Japanese Constitution). During the Russo-Japanese War, he engaged in promotion activities in the United States and contributed to Japan's victory. Kaneko was one of the most influential proponents of a Japanese-American alliance in Imperial Japan. In his later years, he opposed and worked to avoid the Pacific War, but his attempts failed. He was the first person to translate Edmund Burke into Japanese and is considered the first Burkean conservative in Japan.
Viscount Shin'ichirō Kurino (栗野 慎一郎, Kurino Shin'ichirō; 29 November 1851 – 15 November 1937) was a Japanese diplomat.…
Viscount Shin'ichirō Kurino (栗野 慎一郎, Kurino Shin'ichirō; 29 November 1851 – 15 November 1937) was a Japanese diplomat. Kurino was born in Fukuoka prefecture. He studied at Harvard University, and then worked in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as Japan's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States of America, an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia, and Ambassador to France. Kurino died in Hayama, Kanagawa.
Umegatani Tōtarō I (梅ヶ谷 藤太郎; March 16, 1845 – May 15, 1928) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from the town of…
Umegatani Tōtarō I (梅ヶ谷 藤太郎; March 16, 1845 – May 15, 1928) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from the town of Haki, Chikuzen Province, now Shiwa, Fukuoka Prefecture. He was the sport's 15th yokozuna. He was generally regarded as the strongest wrestler to emerge since the era of Tanikaze and Raiden.
Uchida Ryōgorō Shigeyoshi (written as Ryōgorō Uchida in the west), (1837 - October 22, 1921), was a Japanese jojutsu…
Uchida Ryōgorō Shigeyoshi (written as Ryōgorō Uchida in the west), (1837 - October 22, 1921), was a Japanese jojutsu practitioner, ranked menkyo in the Japanese martial art of Shintō Musō-ryū. He is the creator of the gendai budo Uchida Ryu Tanjojutsu, originally known as Sutteki jutsu or "stick method". Uchida Ryōgorō Shigeyoshi was born as Hiraoka Ryōgorō in 1837 to father Hiraoka Nisaburo. He was the eldest of six children. After Ryōgorōs 14th birthday he was adopted into the Uchida family and took on the Uchida family name. He was adopted due to a lack of an heir to the Uchida family name. Ryōgorōs biological father held a license to teach (Menkyo) in the Haruyoshi-branch of the "New Just" Muso-ryu tradition. From an early age Ryōgorō showed an aptitude for martial arts and excelled in his studies. He trained in all of the arts a bushi (warrior) was expected to learn which included horsemanship, bowmanship, gunnery, swordsmanship, spear and a multitude of other weapons and skills. Among the arts he learned was Ono-ha Itto-ryu swordsmanship from Ikuoka Heitaro, the art of spear from a retainer of the Takeda family, Kyushin-ryu jujutsu from exponent named Ishikawa and Shinto Muso-ryu Jo from Hirano Kichizo Yoshinobu of the Haruyoshi-branch. Ryōgorō is said to have received the scroll of complete transmission from each of the mentioned ryu. Sometime after the Seinan war of 1877, Ryōgorō moved to Tokyo and started teaching Shintō Musō-ryū, though in a smaller scale than his successor Shimizu Takaji. Two of his known students were Ryōhei Uchida (his son) and Nakayama Hakudo (the founder of Muso Shinden-ryu iaido and a master of kendo). Ryōgorō created a set of tanjo kata based on the teachings of Shintō Musō-ryū and influenced by the walking sticks gentleman of the era carried, which he called "Sutekki" (the Japanese way to pronounce "stick"). After his death, the set of kata were named Uchida Ryu in his honor and are now practiced as one of the heiden bujutsu of Shintō Musō-ryū.
Shinohara Tainoshin (篠原 泰之進; December 22, 1828 – June 13, 1911) was a Japanese samurai from Chikugo Province who lived…
Shinohara Tainoshin (篠原 泰之進; December 22, 1828 – June 13, 1911) was a Japanese samurai from Chikugo Province who lived during the late Tokugawa shogunate. He sided with Satsuma in the Battle of Toba–Fushimi. After the Meiji Restoration, Shinohara became a businessman and later, a devout Christian. In his memoir, Shinohara describes pivotal events and circumstances surrounding the Shinsengumi, Aburakōji Incident and his own assassination attempt on Kondō Isami.
Unryū Kyūkichi (Japanese: 雲龍 久吉; 1822 – June 15, 1890; name also read as Unryū Hisakichi) was a Japanese sumo wrestler…
Unryū Kyūkichi (Japanese: 雲龍 久吉; 1822 – June 15, 1890; name also read as Unryū Hisakichi) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Yanagawa, Chikugo Province. He was the sport's 10th yokozuna. Although the name of the style of the yokozuna 's in-ring ceremony is named after him, the fact that he himself practiced this style is highly debated.
Hisashige Tanaka (田中 久重; October 16, 1799 – November 7, 1881) was a Japanese businessman, inventor, mechanical…
Hisashige Tanaka (田中 久重; October 16, 1799 – November 7, 1881) was a Japanese businessman, inventor, mechanical engineer, and rangaku scholar who was prominent during the Bakumatsu and early Meiji period in Japan. In 1875, he founded what became the Toshiba Corporation. He has been called the "Thomas Edison of Japan" or "Karakuri Giemon."
Yoh Yoshida (吉田 羊, Yoshida Yoh; born February 3 in Kurume, Fukuoka) is a Japanese actress who is represented by the…
Yoh Yoshida (吉田 羊, Yoshida Yoh; born February 3 in Kurume, Fukuoka) is a Japanese actress who is represented by the talent agency Oranku.
Takashi Uesugi (上杉 隆, Uesugi Takashi; born May 3, 1968), is a Japanese freelance journalist and former research…
Takashi Uesugi (上杉 隆, Uesugi Takashi; born May 3, 1968), is a Japanese freelance journalist and former research assistant for the New York Times, born in Fukuoka Prefecture and raised in Tokyo. He is also former aide to Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Kunio Hatoyama, and author of numerous books, most recently The Collapse of Journalism (ジャーナリズム崩壊). He also wrote a book about the first Abe administration, The Collapse of the Residence (Kantei Hokai (官邸崩壊)), published in August 2007. He took up the post of Secretary-General of NHK Party in August 2019, but resigned in March 2021.
Eihi Shiina (椎名英姫, Shiina Eihi; born February 3, 1976) is a Japanese fashion model and actress from Fukuoka, Japan. She…
Eihi Shiina (椎名英姫, Shiina Eihi; born February 3, 1976) is a Japanese fashion model and actress from Fukuoka, Japan. She got her first big break in 1995, working for Benetton, after which she represented Japan at the global Elite Model Look '95, then continuing as a magazine model. Shiina made her film debut in 1998 with Open House. She also published a book of photographs and poems, entitled No Filter, Only Eyes, that same year. She is recognized internationally for her role as Asami Yamazaki in Takashi Miike's Audition, and as the vengeful police officer Ruka in Yoshihiro Nishimura's Tokyo Gore Police.
Kaori Maeda (前田 佳織里, Maeda Kaori; born April 25, 1996) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Kitakyushu who is…
Kaori Maeda (前田 佳織里, Maeda Kaori; born April 25, 1996) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Kitakyushu who is affiliated with Amuse. She began her activities in 2016 after passing an audition, and played her first main role as Mari Tachibana in the anime television series Back Street Girls in 2018. She is also known for her roles as Aria Futaba in Aikatsu Stars!, Yomi Takeda in Tamayomi, Shizuku Ōsaka in Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, and Lilysa Amano in 2.5 Dimensional Seduction.
Yūki Kaneko (金子有希; born January 19, 1987) is a Japanese voice actress from Fukuoka who is affiliated with Aoni…
Yūki Kaneko (金子有希; born January 19, 1987) is a Japanese voice actress from Fukuoka who is affiliated with Aoni Production.
Yūki Yoda (与田 祐希, Yoda Yūki; born May 5, 2000), is a Japanese actress and model. She is a former third generation…
Yūki Yoda (与田 祐希, Yoda Yūki; born May 5, 2000), is a Japanese actress and model. She is a former third generation member of the idol girl group Nogizaka46 and an exclusive model for the magazines MAQUIA and bis. She has played supporting roles in the television dramas Mob Psycho 100 and Zambi.
Shingo Kanemoto (兼本 新吾, Kanemoto Shingo; October 12, 1932 – February 24, 1991) was a Japanese actor and voice actor…
Shingo Kanemoto (兼本 新吾, Kanemoto Shingo; October 12, 1932 – February 24, 1991) was a Japanese actor and voice actor originally from Fukuoka Prefecture. On February 24, 1991, he died of intra-axial hematoma at the age of 58. After his death, his ongoing roles went to Takeshi Watabe.
Ryu Matsumoto (松本 龍, Matsumoto Ryū; 17 May 1951 – 21 July 2018) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…
Ryu Matsumoto (松本 龍, Matsumoto Ryū; 17 May 1951 – 21 July 2018) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Kazuyoshi Morita (森田 一義, Morita Kazuyoshi; born 22 August 1945 in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture), known by his stage…
Kazuyoshi Morita (森田 一義, Morita Kazuyoshi; born 22 August 1945 in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture), known by his stage name Tamori (タモリ) (an anagram of his surname), is a Japanese comedian and television presenter. Known for his trademark dark sunglasses, Tamori is one of the "big three" television comedians in Japan along with Takeshi Kitano (a.k.a. Beat Takeshi) and Sanma Akashiya. Since taking over the role in April 1987, Tamori has hosted the weekly music television program Music Station for over 34 years. For 32 years he hosted Waratte Iitomo!, a nationally televised live show broadcast every weekday at noon from October 1982 until March 2014. Waratte Iitomo! earned Tamori the Guinness World Record for "Longest continued hosting of a live television program", while Music Station earned him the world record for "Longest running live TV music show hosted by the same presenter" in 2021. His likeness is the basis for the Piranha Plant in All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros..
Mai Fuchigami (渕上 舞, Fuchigami Mai; born May 28, 1987) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Fukuoka Prefecture…
Mai Fuchigami (渕上 舞, Fuchigami Mai; born May 28, 1987) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Fukuoka Prefecture, affiliated with the talent agency m&i. As a singer, she is signed under record label Lantis. After passing an audition held by the talent agency Sigma Seven, she played her first main role as Kaname Asagiri in the video game Ōkami Kakushi in 2009. She is known for her roles as Iona/I-401 in Arpeggio of Blue Steel, Alice Yotsuba/Cure Rosetta in DokiDoki! PreCure, Nagisa Shiota in Assassination Classroom, Miho Nishizumi in Girls und Panzer, and Karen Hojo in The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls. Apart from voice acting, she also performed theme song for anime such as Planet With and Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight. In 2014, she received the Synergy Award at the 8th Seiyu Awards.
Yoshihiro Kawano (河野義博, Kawano Yoshihiro; born 1 December 1977) is a Japanese politician with the Komeito political…
Yoshihiro Kawano (河野義博, Kawano Yoshihiro; born 1 December 1977) is a Japanese politician with the Komeito political party. He served in the House of Councillors as a national proportional representative from 2013 to 2025.
Kazuko Yanaga (弥永 和子, Yanaga Kazuko; April 14, 1947 – November 1, 2014) was a Japanese actress and voice actress who…
Kazuko Yanaga (弥永 和子, Yanaga Kazuko; April 14, 1947 – November 1, 2014) was a Japanese actress and voice actress who worked for 81 Produce. She was the wife of fellow voice actor Hōchū Ōtsuka. On November 1, 2014, she died of sepsis at the age of 67.
Mio Imada (今田 美桜, Imada Mio; born March 5, 1997) is a Japanese actress and model from Fukuoka. Imada began her acting…
Mio Imada (今田 美桜, Imada Mio; born March 5, 1997) is a Japanese actress and model from Fukuoka. Imada began her acting and modelling career in 2015 after being labelled "Prettiest Girl in Fukuoka" by a local advertising agency. Her acting big break was in 2018 when she was cast as Airi Maya for notable Japanese drama series Boys Over Flowers Season 2.
Hibiku Yamamura (山村 響, Yamamura Hibiku; born February 10, 1988) is a Japanese voice actress and singer. As a solo…
Hibiku Yamamura (山村 響, Yamamura Hibiku; born February 10, 1988) is a Japanese voice actress and singer. As a solo singer, she used the name hibiku before 2019. She is affiliated with Haikyō. On July 7, 2021, it was announced Yamamura had tested positive for COVID-19. She recovered on July 14, 2021. On November 3, 2023, she announced her marriage to musician Yuyoyuppe.
Fuyumi Hawi Okumu Oba (Japanese: オクム大庭 冬美ハウィ, romanized: Okumu Ōba Fuyumi Hawi; born 27 June 1998) is a Japanese…
Fuyumi Hawi Okumu Oba (Japanese: オクム大庭 冬美ハウィ, romanized: Okumu Ōba Fuyumi Hawi; born 27 June 1998) is a Japanese volleyball player.
Rei Matsuzaki (松嵜 麗, Matsuzaki Rei; born 31 May 1985) is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Mausu Promotion. She…
Rei Matsuzaki (松嵜 麗, Matsuzaki Rei; born 31 May 1985) is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Mausu Promotion. She is best known for voicing Kanon Mizushiro in Jewelpet Sunshine, Hishi Akebono in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, Kirari Moroboshi in The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls, Nagahide Niwa in The Ambition of Oda Nobuna, and Yoriko Fujiwara in Tachibanakan To Lie Angle.
Haruka Kodama (兒玉 遥, Kodama Haruka; born 19 September 1996) is a Japanese actress and former member of the idol girl…
Haruka Kodama (兒玉 遥, Kodama Haruka; born 19 September 1996) is a Japanese actress and former member of the idol girl groups HKT48 and AKB48. Nicknamed Haruppi (はるっぴ), she has been the lead performer of three HKT48 singles: "Hikaeme I Love You!" (2014), "12 Byō" (2015, with Sakura Miyawaki), and "Shekarashika!" (2015).
Michiko Kichise (吉瀬 美智子, Kichise Michiko; born 17 February 1975) is a Japanese actress and model. She received the Elan…
Michiko Kichise (吉瀬 美智子, Kichise Michiko; born 17 February 1975) is a Japanese actress and model. She received the Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year in 2011 for her work in Liar Game: Season 2 (2009–10), Liar Game: The Final Stage (2010), and Bloody Monday Season 2 (2010).
Mutsuki Iwanaka (岩中 睦樹, Iwanaka Mutsuki; born 7 January 1994) is a Japanese voice actor from Kitakyushu, affiliated…
Mutsuki Iwanaka (岩中 睦樹, Iwanaka Mutsuki; born 7 January 1994) is a Japanese voice actor from Kitakyushu, affiliated with Mausu Promotion. He is known for starring as Haruki Yamauchi in Classroom of the Elite, Mamoru Izawa in Captain Tsubasa, Jay in The Gene of AI, Tsunehiro Sasaki in Negative Positive Angler, and Renji Aikawa in TsumaSho.
Kenji Utsumi (内海 賢二, Utsumi Kenji; August 26, 1937 – June 13, 2013) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from…
Kenji Utsumi (内海 賢二, Utsumi Kenji; August 26, 1937 – June 13, 2013) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from Kitakyushu, affiliated with the self-founded Ken Production. He was best known for his roles in Sally the Witch as Sally's Papa, Fist of the North Star as Raoh and Kaioh, Dr. Slump Arale-chan as Senbei Norimaki, the Dragon Ball series as Shenlong, Commander Red, Reacoom and the Tenkaichi Budōkai announcer, Fullmetal Alchemist as Alex Louis Armstrong, and Hajime no Ippo as Coach Kamogawa. He was also known for being the Japanese dubbing voice of Carl Weathers, Steve McQueen, Jack Nicholson, Sammy Davis Jr., Victor Mature and Robert Shaw for their films. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 3rd Seiyu Awards.
Yuka Inokuchi (猪口 有佳, Inokuchi Yuka; born June 5, 1978) is a Japanese voice actress who is affiliated with Ken…
Yuka Inokuchi (猪口 有佳, Inokuchi Yuka; born June 5, 1978) is a Japanese voice actress who is affiliated with Ken Production. She is originally from Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture. She voices Uzume in Ai Yori Aoshi, Rin Kamishiro in Maburaho, Anju Maaka in Karin, Tabitha in The Familiar of Zero, Nao Yorihime in Yosuga no Sora, and Ai in Dragon Crisis!. She also goes by Ayaka Kimura (木村 あやか, Kimura Ayaka) and is known for her extensive work in visual novels and adult original animation videos. Other roles include Momiji in Maple Colors, Aoi Niiyama in Akiiro Renka, Chisa in Gift, Kana Suoin in Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru, Mikan in Wanko to Kuraso, Yui Kuroda in Hoshiuta.
Marie Ueda (植田 真梨恵, Ueda Marie; born 22 September 1990) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. She debuted in 2008, and…
Marie Ueda (植田 真梨恵, Ueda Marie; born 22 September 1990) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. She debuted in 2008, and signed with Giza Studio in 2014. In 2023, she left the agency and has resumed her activities as an independent singer.
Kazuya Ohashi (大橋 和也, Ohashi Kazuya, born August 9, 1997) is a Japanese idol, singer, and actor. He is a member and…
Kazuya Ohashi (大橋 和也, Ohashi Kazuya, born August 9, 1997) is a Japanese idol, singer, and actor. He is a member and leader of the boy band Naniwa Danshi.
Tsuru Aoki (青木 鶴, Aoki Tsuru; September 9, 1892 – October 18, 1961) was a Japanese stage and screen actress whose…
Tsuru Aoki (青木 鶴, Aoki Tsuru; September 9, 1892 – October 18, 1961) was a Japanese stage and screen actress whose career was most prolific in the United States during the silent film era of the 1910s through the 1920s. Aoki may have been the first Asian actress to garner top billing in American motion pictures.