Hiromu Naruse, Master Test Driver

Toyota’s 67-year-old designer and master test driver died in a crash near the Nurburgring test track in Germany.

The Nightmare World of Satoshi Kon

Japanese writer and filmmaker Satoshi Kon had a unique style and vision that was unlike any other in anime.

Osamu Tezuka, God of Manga

Osamu Tezuka, hugely influential illustrator and author, was born Nov. 3, 1928. Here are 20 things you should know about the Japanese artist and his creations.

Yukio Mishima: Man of Words, Man of Action

Novelist Yukio Mishima committed ritual suicide on this day after failing to inspire an insurrection against the Japanese government. Forty years later, Japan still grapples with his legacy.

Never Got to Go for Gold

Not every Olympic-caliber athlete makes it to the Olympics. For some, injury intervenes and shuts down their chance to compete. For others, it may be financial hardship that prevents them from going to the Olympic Games. But for many athletes, it isn't their bodies or personal circumstances that get in the way — it's politics.

Akira Kurosawa's Samurai Movies Inspired Hollywood Classics

If you like these classic movies, you'll love the Akira Kurosawa films that inspired them.

Setsuko Hara (1920 - 2015)

Setsuko Hara, a Japanese actress known best in the United States for her roles in Yasujiro Ozu's films "Late Spring" and "Tokyo Story," has died, according to multiple news sources. She was 95.

Japanese Disabled Care Home Attack Victims

At least 15 people have died in a knife attack at a residential care center in Japan.

Masaya Nakamura (1925 - 2017), Father of Pac-Man

Masaya Nakamura, the founder of the video game company Namco who was also known as the Father of Pac-Man, died Jan. 22, 2017, according to multiple news sources. He was 91.

Ikutaro Kakehashi (1930–2017), Roland Corp. founder

Music innovator founded the Roland instrument company.

Haruo Nakajima (1929 - 2017), actor who played Godzilla

Japanese actor played legendary monster Godzilla in the original and 11 sequels.

Mikio Fujioka (2018), guitarist for Japanese band Babymetal

Nicknamed “The Little God” by fans.

Seo Minwoo (1985–2018), Lead singer of K-pop band 100%

“Song For You” was a top 10 hit in Japan.

Isao Takahata (1935 – 2018), acclaimed anime director

Director of “Grave of the Fireflies” and “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.”

Masazo Nonaka (1905–2019), world’s oldest man

Masazo Nonaka (1905–2019) was recognized by Guiness World Records as the world’s oldest man in April, 2018, when he was 112 years old. He died from natural causes at his family’s hot springs inn located on the island of Hokkaido. Nonaka ran the inn for many years and now his granddaughter Yuko operates the business. In his retirement, he enjoyed reading newspapers, watching sumo wrestling on TV, and eating sweets.

Kyoto Animation Studio Fire Victims (2019)

At least 33 people were killed in a fire at the acclaimed Kyoto Animation Co. in Kyoto, Japan on Thursday.

Takuo Aoyagi (1936–2020), pulse oximeter inventor

Takuo Aoyagi was a Japanese engineer who developed technology that made the modern pulse oximeter possible, allowing us to measure the level of oxygen in the blood.

Kumiko Okae (1956–2020), Japanese voice actress in “Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew”

Kumiko Okae was a Japanese actress, voice actress, and TV host who was the voice of Jenny in the 2005 film “Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.”

Yuko Takeuchi (1980–2020), star of “Miss Sherlock,” “Ring”

Yuko Takeuchi was a Japanese actress known for roles including the title character in the HBO Asia/Hulu series “Miss Sherlock.”

Isamu Akasaki (1929–2021), inventor who made LED light widely accessible

Isamu Akasaki was a Japanese physicist who was part of the Nobel Prize-winning team that developed blue LED light, a breakthrough that led to the widespread use of LED today.

Ei-ichi Negishi (1935–2021), top scientist revolutionized drug-making, made OLED TVs possible

Dr. Ei-ichi Negishi was a scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work, which paved the way for new medicines and OLED televisions.

Maki Kaji (1951–2021), “Father of Sudoku”

Maki Kaji was known as the “Father of Sudoku” for bringing the number puzzle to a worldwide audience through his magazine, Nikoli.

Sonny Chiba (1939–2021), “Kill Bill” star and martial arts legend

Sonny Chiba was a Japanese martial artist and actor known for roles in the “Kill Bill” series and “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.”

Eiichi Yamamoto (1940–2021), anime pioneer known for “Belladonna of Sadness”

Eiichi Yamamoto was a Japanese amine pioneer who directed and co-wrote classics of the genre including "Belladonna of Sadness," “Astro Boy” and “Kimba the White Lion.”

Masayuki Uemura (1943–2021), Nintendo NES and Super NES creator

Masayuki Uemura was a Japanese video game producer who created the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super NES home gaming systems.

Akira Takarada (1934–2022), star of original “Godzilla”

Akira Takarada was a Japanese actor who starred in the original “Godzilla” movie in 1954.

Kane Tanaka (1903–2022), world’s oldest person  

Kane Tanaka was the oldest person in the world when she passed away at the age of 119.   

Shinzo Abe (1954–2022), longtime Japanese prime minister

Shinzo Abe was the prime minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007 and 2012 to 2020, the country’s longest-serving prime minister.

Yoko Shimada (1953–2022), star of “Shōgun”

Yoko Shimada was a Japanese actress who starred in the popular 1980 miniseries “Shōgun.”

Issey Miyake (1938–2022), influential fashion designer

Issey Miyake was an influential Japanese fashion designer known for intricate pleats and signature perfumes.

Hanae Mori (1926–2022), influential Japanese fashion designer

Hanae Mori was a fashion designer who combined Western fashion with elements from her native Japan as she dressed international superstars.

Yoshio Yoda (1934–2023), Fuji in “McHale’s Navy”

Yoshio Yoda was an actor best known for playing Fuji in the classic sitcom “McHale’s Navy.”

Shoichiro Toyoda (1925–2023), transformative Toyota leader

Shoichiro Toyoda was a Japanese automotive executive and son of Toyota Motors founder Kiichiro Toyoda. He is credited with the success of Toyota’s modern global expansion.

Leiji Matsumoto (1938–2023), Manga legend 

Leiji Matsumoto was a Japanese manga and anime creator best known for “Space Battleship Yamato” (a.k.a. “Star Blazers”) and “Galaxy Express 999.” 

Joe Pepitone (1940–2023), colorful Yankees All-Star

Joe Pepitone was a colorful three-time All-Star for the New York Yankees. He joined the team at the end of one of its most dominant periods, and became one of its most entertaining – and sometimes controversial – players of the day. He would go on to an equally colorful post-Yankees career, which included an infamous stint as a professional player in Japan and adult modeling.

Ryuichi Sakamoto (1952–2023), Oscar-winning electronic music pioneer

Ryuichi Sakamoto was a Japanese composer and keyboardist who won an Academy Award for his score for “The Last Emperor.”

Anna Shay (1960–2023), Bling Empire star

Anna Shay was an heiress and socialite who starred on the Netflix reality series “Bling Empire.” 

Masashi Ozawa (1947–2023), pro wrestler known as Killer Khan

Masashi Ozawa was a WWE star of the 1980s who went by the ring name Killer Khan. 

Sarah Rice (1955–2024), first Johanna in Sweeney Todd

Sarah Rice was a stage actress and Theatre World Award winner who played the original Johanna in “Sweeney Todd.” 

Seiji Ozawa (1935–2024), norm-breaking conductor 

Seiji Ozawa was an offbeat, norm-breaking Japanese conductor who led the Boston Symphony Orchestra longer than any other music director.

Damo Suzuki (1950–2024), singer for avant garde Krautrock band Can

Damo Suzuki was a singer and musician best known for his 1970s tenure with the influential Krautrock band Can, appearing on three of their most widely praised records: “Tago Mago,” “Ege Bamyası,” and “Future Days.”

Akira Toriyama (1955–2024), creator of Dragon Ball media franchise 

Akira Toriyama was a Japanese artist and character designer best known for his manga, “Dragon Ball,” and its associated anime spinoffs, and for his character designs on such video games as “Chrono Trigger,” “Dragon Quest,” and “Blue Dragon.” 

Shigeichi Negishi (1923–2024), inventor of karaoke 

Shigeichi Negishi was a Japanese engineer who invented the world’s first commercially available karaoke machine, the Sparko Box.

Akebono Tarō (1969–2024), Hawaiian-born sumo star

Akebono Tarō was a Hawaiian-born sumo star who became the first ever non-Japanese wrestler to achieve the sport’s highest rank and helped lead a resurgence of interest in the sport. 

Akira Endo (1933–2024), biochemist who found way to fight cholesterol

Akira Endo was a biochemist whose research led to the creation of cholesterol-fighting statin drugs, now some of the most widely prescribed pharmaceuticals in the world.

Russell Malone (1963–2024), acclaimed jazz guitarist

Russell Malone was an acclaimed jazz guitarist who has worked with noted artists such as Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, and many others.

Kazuo Umezu (1936–2024), manga’s “god of horror”

Kazuo Umezu was a longtime manga artist who was sometimes called the “god of horror” over the course of his decades creating works like “Reptilia,” “The Drifting Classroom,” and “My Name Is Shingo.” 

Chad Posthumus (1991–2024), Canadian basketball player

Chad Posthumus was a Canadian basketball player who played for the Winnipeg Sea Bears, among others, in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. 

Miho Nakayama (1970–2024), Japanese singer and actress

Miho Nakayama was an award-winning Japanese singer and actress who rose to fame with a succession of Top 10 singles and the 1995 film “Love Letter.”