John Frieda died at age 75
John Frieda, the British businessman and celebrity hairstylist who founded hair salon and hair-product businesses, died on November 3, 2026, aged 75. Born Alan Howard Frieda in London on July…
Famous Dead People from Japan
Over 600 obituaries for famous people from Japan who died. Additional info, news, and memorial pages.
Kojiro Ikegaya passes away at age 74
Kojiro Ikegaya, a Japanese professional baseball player with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, died October 29, 2026, aged 74. Born in Shizuoka on June 28, 1952, he was identified in the…
Gotaro Yoshimura died at age 87
Gotaro Yoshimura, a Japanese politician who served in the House of Councillors, died of aspiration pneumonia on October 27, 2026, aged 87. Born on January 3, 1939, in Harbin, then…
Tetsuya Chiba dies at age 87
Tetsuya Chiba, the Japanese manga artist best known for the sports series “Ashita no Joe,” died October 27, 2026, aged 87. Born January 11, 1939, in Tsukiji, Tokyo, Chiba became…
Akio Usami, died aged 83
Akio Usami, a Japanese Olympic long-distance runner, died of cancer on October 26, 2026, aged 83. Born May 31, 1943, in Tsubame, Niigata, Japan, he represented his country in the…
Mahadev Shankar dies at 94
Mahadev Shankar, a Malaysian jurist and former judge of the Court of Appeal, died on October 26, 2026, aged 94. He served on the court from 1994 to 1997 and…
Jumbo Baretta died at age 58
American professional wrestler Jumbo Baretta died October 25, 2026, aged 58. Born Julio Barrera in Tampa, Florida, in 1967, he trained with Boris Malenko and made his professional debut in…
Jiro Ono death at age 73
Jiro Ono, a Japanese politician, died of aspiration pneumonia at a hospital in Kodaira, Tokyo, on October 23, 2026, aged 73. Born in Itabashi, Tokyo, and a native of Hokuto…
Ryū Murakami dies at 74
Ryū Murakami, the Japanese novelist whose books included *Almost Transparent Blue*, *Audition* and *In the Miso Soup*, died October 23, 2026, aged 74. Born Ryūnosuke Murakami in Sasebo, Nagasaki, on…
Yasuo Fukuda passed away at age 90
Yasuo Fukuda, a Japanese politician who served as prime minister, chief cabinet secretary and member of parliament, died on October 22, 2026, aged 90. Born in Takasaki on July 16,…
Ng Joo Pong dies at 80
Ng Joo Pong, a Malaysian Olympic cyclist, died October 21, 2026, aged 80. Born in Kuala Lumpur on June 19, 1946, he competed for Malaysia on the international cycling stage.…
Chiaki Ishii dies at age 85
Chiaki Ishii, the Japanese-born Brazilian judoka who won Brazil’s first Olympic medal in judo, died on October 16, 2026, aged 85. Born in Ashikaga, Japan, on October 1, 1941, he…
Senji Kuroi dies at age 94
Senji Kuroi, a Japanese writer of fiction and essays, died on October 12, 2026, aged 94. Born Osabe Shunjirō, he published under the pen name Kuroi Senji. He belonged to…
Hiroshi Tsuchida obituary: died at age 54
Hiroshi Tsuchida, a Japanese actor and voice actor known for Ninja Sentai Kakuranger and Attack on Titan, died of heart failure on October 11, 2026, aged 54. Born in Tokyo…
Marcellino Taiji Tani died at age 73
Marcellino Taiji Tani, a Japanese Roman Catholic prelate and former bishop of Saitama, died October 10, 2026, aged 73. Born in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, on February 13, 1953, he was…
Marcellino Taiji Tani died at age 73
Marcellino Taiji Tani, a Japanese Roman Catholic prelate who served as bishop of Saitama, died on October 10, 2026, aged 73. Born Daiji Tani in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on…
Kazuhiko Yamaguchi dies at age 89
Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, a Japanese film director associated with “Sister Street Fighter,” died of pneumonia in Yokohama on October 6, 2026, aged 89. Born in Nagano Prefecture on February 5, 1937,…
Fusako Yusaki death at age 89
Fusako Yusaki, the Japanese-Italian stop-motion animator, died October 6, 2026, aged 89. Born in 1937, she studied at Brera Academy and became known for claymation, making animated works with plasticine.…
Obituary: Toshitsugu Saito, dead at age 81
Toshitsugu Saito, a Japanese Liberal Democratic Party politician and member of the House of Representatives, died of acute myeloid leukemia on October 3, 2026, aged 81. He represented a seat…
Masako Watanabe has died at age 97
Masako Watanabe, a Japanese manga artist, died October 3, 2026, aged 97. Born in Tokyo, she began her professional career in 1949 as an illustrator of books. After reading works…
Toshio Kamo passes away at age 81
Toshio Kamo, a Japanese political scientist and professor emeritus of Osaka City University, died of acute respiratory failure on October 1, 2026, aged 81. His scholarship focused on local government…
Nobutaka Tsutsui dies at age 81
Nobutaka Tsutsui, a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in Japan’s Diet as a member of the Democratic Party of Japan, died on October 1, 2026, aged…
Amos Rapoport passed away at age 97
Amos Rapoport, the Polish-American architect and professor, died September 29, 2026, aged 97. He was one of the founders of Environment-Behavior Studies (EBS) and produced more than 200 academic publications…
Naoki Bandō obituary: died at age 68
Naoki Bandō, a Japanese voice actor known for work in anime and video games, died on September 28, 2026, at age 68. Born in Asahikawa, Japan, on December 12, 1957,…
Asami Yaguchi dies at age 47
Asami Yaguchi, a Japanese voice actress, died on September 26, 2026, at age 47. Born on July 31, 1979, in Saitama Prefecture, she was affiliated with Kenyu Office and worked…
Hirokazu Ueyonabaru has died at age 55
Hirokazu Ueyonabaru, a Japanese Paralympic athlete, died on September 26, 2026, aged 55. Born in Okinawa in 1971, he competed mainly in T52 long-distance events and represented Japan at the…
Tokushin Yamauchi dies at age 91
Tokushin Yamauchi, a Japanese politician and former Japan–North Korea friendship activist, died on September 26, 2026, aged 91. A native of Yomitan in Okinawa, he graduated from the University of…
Isao Takeuchi has died at age 74
Isao Takeuchi, a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Councillors and mayor of Tottori, died of a cerebral hemorrhage on September 24, 2026, aged 74.…
Isao Takeuchi has died at age 74
Isao Takeuchi, a Japanese politician who served in the House of Councillors and as mayor of Tottori, died on September 24, 2026, aged 74. He was born in Tottori in…
Tsuneko Okazaki passes away at age 93
Tsuneko Okazaki, the Japanese molecular biologist known for her work on DNA replication, died of gastrointestinal bleeding on September 22, 2026, aged 93. Born in Nagoya in 1933, she studied…
Obituary: Sō Kuramoto, dead at age 91
Sō Kuramoto, a Japanese screenwriter and playwright, died on September 18, 2026, at age 91. Born in Tokyo, he attended Azabu Junior and Senior High School and the University of…
Obituary: Kōichi Watanabe, dead at age 68
Kōichi Watanabe, a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives and as mayor of Iwamizawa, died on September 17, 2026, aged 68. A member of…
Tsuneyuki Mitamura died at age 82
Tsuneyuki Mitamura, a Japanese politician who served as mayor of Yame and a member of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly, died on September 16, 2026, aged 82. Born in Yame, he…
Toji Mitamura has died at age 82
Toji Mitamura, the Japanese politician who served as mayor of Yame and as a member of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly, died on September 16, 2026, aged 82. Born in Yame…
Junichi Kakizaki dies at age 55
Junichi Kakizaki, a contemporary art figure, died September 15, 2026, aged 55. Tags Artists, 15 September 2026, Capricorn, Japan, Junichi, Kakizaki, September 15, September 2026
Chung Ho-yong passed away at age 94
Chung Ho-yong, a South Korean politician and army general, died on September 13, 2026, aged 94. He served as minister of the interior and later as minister of defense in…
Hidetoshi Nakanishi died at age 68
Hidetoshi Nakanishi, a Japanese Olympic judoka and former world champion in the lightweight division, died on September 12, 2026, aged 68. Born on July 3, 1958, in Fukuoka Prefecture, he…
Mike McFarland obituary: died at age 56
Mike McFarland, an American voice actor, died on September 10, 2026, aged 56. Born in Texas City, Texas, he worked extensively on English-language dubs of Japanese anime as a voice…
Futagodake Takeshi death at age 82
Futagodake Takeshi, the Japanese sumo wrestler also known as Takeshi Yamanaka, died on September 10, 2026, aged 82, after hepatocellular carcinoma. Born in Kanagi, Aomori, Japan, on November 15, 1943,…
Isao Harimoto dies at age 86
Isao Harimoto, a Japanese baseball player, died on September 9, 2026, at age 86. Known in Korean as Jang Hun, he was born in Hiroshima on June 19, 1940, and…
Takao Jinnouchi has died at age 93
Takao Jinnouchi, a Japanese politician and former bureaucrat, died on September 8, 2026, aged 93. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he served in Japan’s Upper House for three…
Admire Moon obituary: died at age 23
Admire Moon, the Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and breeding stallion, died on September 7, 2026, aged 23. The Japanese-bred colt was foaled in 2003 in Hayakita and was sired by End…
Great Gidayo passes away at age 67
Great Gidayo, the Japanese actor known for roles in films including "Kikujiro," died on September 7, 2026, aged 67. Born Masayuki Suzuki on December 26, 1958, in Itabashi, Japan, he…
Great Gidayū dead at age 67
Great Gidayū, the Japanese actor known for roles in films including Kikujiro and Ikinai, died on September 7, 2026, aged 67. Born Masayuki Suzuki in Itabashi on December 26, 1958,…
Shin’ichi Abe has died at age 76
Shin'ichi Abe, a Japanese mangaka, died on September 4, 2026, at age 76. Born in Tagawa on April 7, 1950, he joined the magazine Garo at 20 and later saw…
Shin’ichi Abe has died at age 76
Shin'ichi Abe, a Japanese mangaka and novelist, died on September 4, 2026, at age 76. Born in Tagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, he became active from the 1970s and was known for…
Hasegawa Yoshikazu passed away at age 96
Hasegawa Yoshikazu, a Japanese vertebrate paleontologist and honorary museum director, died on September 2, 2026, aged 96. Born in 1930, he studied at Yokohama National University, where he later served…
Yuri Nakamura death at age 44
Yuri Nakamura, a Japanese-born Korean actress and former singer, died on September 1, 2026, at age 44. Born Yuri Sei in Neyagawa, she was also known as Woori Song and…
Ronald McCoy passes away at age 96
Ronald McCoy, the Malaysian obstetrician and peace activist who helped propose and initiate the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, died on September 1, 2026, aged 96. McCoy was best…
Toyohiro Akiyama dies at 84
Toyohiro Akiyama, the Japanese journalist and cosmonaut who became the first person of Japanese nationality to fly in space, died on August 31, 2026, aged 84. Born in Setagaya in…
Yoshimi Masaki death at age 64
Yoshimi Masaki, a Japanese judoka and professor at Tenri University, died on August 30, 2026, aged 64. Born in Osaka Prefecture on August 20, 1962, he began judo in elementary…
Shu Takahashi passed away at age 96
Shu Takahashi, a Japanese painter, printmaker and sculptor, died on August 29, 2026, aged 96. Born in the Ashina district in 1930, he also worked as an art director and…
Shigeko Kagawa died at age 115
Shigeko Kagawa, a Japanese supercentenarian who was Japan’s oldest living person, died on August 27, 2026, aged 115. Born in Nara Prefecture on May 28, 1911, she graduated from Kansai…
Death of Toshio Masuda at age 98
Toshio Masuda, the Japanese film director behind The Battle of Port Arthur, Red Handkerchief and Rusty Knife, died on August 26, 2026, aged 98. Born in Kobe on October 5,…
Takashi Hanyūda dead at age 78
Takashi Hanyūda, a Japanese politician and former member of Japan’s House of Councillors, died on August 25, 2026, at age 78. Born in Maebashi in 1948, he was a doctor…
Izuru Narushima, died aged 65
Izuru Narushima, a Japanese film director and screenwriter known for Midnight Eagle, The Lone Scalpel and Solomon's Perjury, died on August 24, 2026, aged 65, of lung cancer. Born in…
Hideki Shirakawa obituary: died at age 90
Hideki Shirakawa, the Japanese chemist and Nobel Prize laureate whose work on conductive polymers helped reshape materials science, died on August 24, 2026, aged 90. Born in Tokyo on August…
Nakayama Festa, died aged 20
Nakayama Festa, a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse, died on August 23, 2026, aged 20. Born in Mukawa on April 5, 2006, the Japanese-bred colt became a champion on the track and…
Bun’yō Ishikawa dies at age 88
Bun'yō Ishikawa, the Japanese photographer and photojournalist, died on August 23, 2026, aged 88. Born in Chiba Prefecture on March 10, 1938, he covered the Vietnam War while stationed in…
John Anson dies at 77
John Anson, a Canadian professional wrestler, died on August 22, 2026, aged 77. Born in Vancouver in 1949, he began his career in 1971 and wrestled under the ring name…
Sengaku Mayeda obituary: died at age 95
Sengaku Mayeda, a Japanese writer and philosopher, died on August 22, 2026, aged 95. Born in Nagoya on April 1, 1931, he was known for his work on Indian philosophy…
Obituary: Isao Tsukamoto, dead at age 92
Isao Tsukamoto, a Japanese academic and translator, died on August 20, 2026, aged 92. He was a Japanese scholar of Korean language and a former professor at Osaka University of…
Tamisuke Watanuki died at age 99
Tamisuke Watanuki, the Japanese politician who served as speaker of the House of Representatives from 2000 to 2003, died on August 18, 2026, aged 99. Born in Inami, Toyama Prefecture,…
Yukio Ota died at age 86
Yukio Ota, the Japanese graphic designer best known for creating the ISO 7010 exit sign and the pictorial language LoCoS, died on August 18, 2026, aged 86. Born on September…
Takeshi Fukuda dies at age 105
Takeshi Fukuda, a Japanese politician and former mayor of Kanuma in Tochigi Prefecture, died on August 16, 2026, aged 105. Born in Tochigi, he studied at Utsunomiya Middle School, Keio…
Toshio Kanbe dies at 83
Toshio Kanbe, a Japanese baseball player and former Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes pitcher, died on August 15, 2026, at age 83. Born in Harima on March 24, 1943, he went on…
Yayoi Kusama passes away at age 97
Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese installation and performance artist whose work helped define postwar avant-garde art, died on August 14, 2026, aged 97. Born in Matsumoto in 1929 and known also…
Yukio Shimomura obituary: died at age 94
Yukio Shimomura, the Japanese football player and manager who represented Japan as both a player and coach, died on August 13, 2026, aged 94. Born in Hiroshima on January 25,…
Obituary: Takamitsu Ota, dead at age 56
Takamitsu Ota, a Japanese footballer who played for Shimizu S-Pulse, Consadole Sapporo and Jatco TT, died on August 12, 2026, aged 56. Born in Shizuoka Prefecture on July 19, 1970,…
Hiroshi Okuda, died aged 93
Hiroshi Okuda, the Japanese automotive executive who led Toyota as president and chairman, died on August 8, 2026, aged 93. Okuda, born in Tsu on December 29, 1932, graduated from…
Matsushige Ono has died at age 90
Matsushige Ono, a Japanese politician who served as deputy chief cabinet secretary, died on August 8, 2026, at age 90. A native of Sayama, Saitama, and a graduate of Kawagoe…
Chikara Sakaguchi passes away at age 92
Chikara Sakaguchi, a Japanese politician who served as minister of health, labour and welfare and as a member of the House of Representatives, died on August 7, 2026, aged 92.…
Death of Keiko Kishi at age 93
Keiko Kishi, the Japanese actress known for films including The Makioka Sisters, Snow Country and The Rendezvous, died on August 7, 2026, aged 93. Born in Yokohama on August 11,…
Hatsuo Royama dead at age 78
Hatsuo Royama, a Japanese karate practitioner, died on August 3, 2026, aged 78. Born on March 31, 1948, in Yagō, he was also known by his Korean name, Noh Cho…
Kayo Sumi death at age 94
Kayo Sumi, a Japanese actress, died on August 3, 2026, aged 94. No additional biographical details were provided in the available record, and the notice supplied for this name is…
Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi dead at age 31
Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi, a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse, died on August 2, 2026, aged 31. Foaled on April 6, 1995, in the Saru district, he was a son of Symboli Rudolf and…
Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi dead at age 31
Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi, a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse, died on August 2, 2026, aged 31. Foaled on April 6, 1995, in Saru district, he was a son of Symboli Rudolf and later…
Ryotaro Shimizu passes away at age 37
Ryotaro Shimizu, a Japanese actor and impressionist, died on August 1, 2026, at age 37. Born in Tokyo on August 15, 1988, he began his career in 2006 after enrolling…
Takeaki Matsumoto, died aged 67
Takeaki Matsumoto, a Japanese politician who served as foreign minister in 2011 and internal affairs minister from 2022 to 2024, died on July 27, 2026, at age 67 from complications…
Kitaseumi Hiromitsu has died at age 78
Kitaseumi Hiromitsu, a Japanese sumo wrestler, died on July 26, 2026, aged 78. Born Takashi Tsuchiya in Kitahiyama, Hokkaidō, he entered professional sumo in July 1964 and reached the top…
Hirokazu Mizuta obituary: died at age 88
Hirokazu Mizuta, a Japanese business executive who served as president and later chairman of Tokyu Department Store, died on July 25, 2026, aged 88. Known in Japanese as Mizuta Hirokazu,…
Kōzō Okamoto passed away at age 78
Kōzō Okamoto, the Japanese Red Army militant responsible for the 1972 Lod Airport massacre, died on July 23, 2026. Born on December 7, 1947, in Ashikita, Japan, he was also…
Keigo Higashino dead at age 68
Keigo Higashino, the Japanese author best known for The Devotion of Suspect X and Journey Under the Midnight Sun, died on July 23, 2026. He was 68. Born in Ikuno-ku,…
Eiji Bandō has died at age 86
Eiji Bandō, the Japanese baseball player and entertainer known for his time with the Chunichi Dragons, died on July 22, 2026, at age 86. A native of Hulin, he became…
Toshiaki Fushimi, died aged 50
Toshiaki Fushimi, the Japanese cyclist and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, died on July 19, 2026, following a crash. He was 50. Born on February 4, 1976, in Shirakawa, Fukushima, Fushimi…
Tohjiro dies at age 70
Tohjiro, the Japanese adult video director and screenwriter who founded the AV studio Dogma, died on July 17, 2026. Born in 1956 in Tokyo and known professionally as Tohjiro or…
Obituary: Isamu Sonoda, dead at age 79
Isamu Sonoda, the Japanese judoka who won Olympic gold, died on July 16, 2026, at the age of 79. Born in Yanagawa, Fukuoka, Japan, on November 4, 1946, he became…
Susumu Tonegawa died at age 86
Susumu Tonegawa, the Japanese biologist who won the 1987 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering V(D)J recombination, died on July 11, 2026. Born in Nagoya on September 5,…
Jun Isezaki has died at age 90
Jun Isezaki, a Japanese potter and ceramicist, died on July 11, 2026, at the age of 90. Born in Bizen on February 20, 1936, he studied at Okayama University and…
Jun Isezaki has died at age 90
Jun Isezaki died on July 11, 2026. He was a Japanese potter and ceramicist. Born in Bizen on February 20, 1936, he was known for his work in ceramics and…
Takao Mikami death at age 92
Takao Mikami, a Japanese politician who served in the House of Councillors from 1989 to 1995, died on July 9, 2026. Born on November 2, 1933, in Aomori Prefecture, he…
Kimitaka Fujino dies at age 78
Kimitaka Fujino, a Japanese politician who served in the House of Councillors from 2003 to 2007, died on July 9, 2026, at the age of 78. Born on May 29,…
Obituary: Taiichirō Nishikawa, dead at age 84
Taiichirō Nishikawa died on July 5, 2026. He was a Japanese politician. Tags Politicians, 05 July 2026, Gemini, Japan, Nishikawa, July 2026, July 5, Taiichirō
Yukiko Nikaido passed away at age 85
Yukiko Nikaido, the Japanese actress and voice actress best known as the voice of Fujiko Mine in Lupin the 3rd Part I, died on July 3, 2026. Born Kazuko Yagyu…
Hikaru Kurosaki passes away at age 64
Hikaru Kurosaki died on July 2, 2026. He was a Japanese actor and stunt performer. Born on January 31, 1962, in Osaka Prefecture, Kurosaki also worked as a singer. He…
Hikaru Kurosaki passes away at age 64
Hikaru Kurosaki died on July 2, 2026. Tags Actors, 02 July 2026, Aquarius, Hikaru, Japan, Kurosaki, July 2, July 2026
Akiko Hayashi has died at age 81
Akiko Hayashi died on July 1, 2026. She was a Japanese illustrator. Tags Artists, 01 July 2026, Akiko, Hayashi, Japan, Pisces, Suwa, July 1, July 2026
Teruki Gotō obituary: died at age 43
Teruki Gotō, a Japanese musician and political activist, died on June 28, 2026. He was 43. Born on December 8, 1982, in Kunitachi, he was also known as a perennial…
Katsuya Uechi obituary: died at age 67
Katsuya Uechi, a Japanese-American chef and restaurateur, died on June 25, 2026. Born in 1959 in Okinawa, Japan, he trained in traditional Edomae sushi techniques in Okinawa and Osaka before…