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…
Famous Dead People from Japan
Over 600 obituaries for famous people from Japan who died. Additional info, news, and memorial pages.
Takeshi Fukuda dead 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 dead at age 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…
Yukio Shimomura dead 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,…
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 dead at age 93, Japanese automotive executive, president and chairman of Toyota
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 dead at age 90, Japanese politician, deputy chief cabinet secretary
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 dead at age 92, Japanese politician, minister of health, labour and welfare and MP
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.…
Keiko Kishi dead 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 dead at age 94
Kayo Sumi, a Japanese actress,
died on August 3, 2026, aged 94. The identity record lists her birth date as October 20, 1965. Corroborating biographical material tied to the same…
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 dead 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 dead at age 67, Japanese politician, minister of foreign affairs and internal aff…
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 dead 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…
Kōzō Okamoto dead 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 dead at age 86, Japanese baseball player and entertainer, heart failure
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 dead at age 50, Japanese Olympic cyclist, traffic collision
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 dead 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…
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 dead 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 dead 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 dead 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 dead 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 dead 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,…
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 dead 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 dead 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 dead 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 dead 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 dead 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 dead 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…
Akihiro Miwa dead at age 91
Akihiro Miwa, the Japanese singer, actor and drag queen whose career spanned more than seven decades,
died on June 20, 2026, at age 91. Born Akihiro Maruyama in Nagasaki on…
Haruhiro Yamashita dead at age 87
Haruhiro Yamashita, a Japanese Olympic gymnast,
died on June 19, 2026, at the age of 87. Born in Uwajima on November 11, 1938, he represented Japan at the 1964 Summer…
Harunobu Yonenaga dead at age 60
Harunobu Yonenaga, a Japanese politician,
died on June 16, 2026, at the age of 60. Born on October 21, 1965, in Masuho, Yamanashi, he graduated from Sophia University and later…
Toyoji Sudo dead at age 67
Toyoji Sudo
died on June 15, 2026. Tags Politicians, 15 June 2026, Japan, Sudo, Toyoji, June 15, June 2026
Toyoji Sudo dead at age 67
Toyoji Sudo
died on June 15, 2026. Tags Politicians, 15 June 2026, Japan, Scorpio, Sudo, Toyoji, June 15, June 2026
Yōhei Kōno dead at age 89
Yōhei Kōno, a Japanese politician who served as deputy prime minister from 1994 to 1995 and as speaker of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009,
died on June…
Tamao Nakamura dead at age 86
Tamao Nakamura, the Japanese actress known for "The River with No Bridge," "Satan's Sword" and "The Human Condition,"
died on June 9, 2026, of pneumonia. She was 86. Born in…
Masahiro Futahashi dead at age 84
Masahiro Futahashi, a Japanese politician and former bureaucrat, died June 8, 2026, at age 84. He served twice as deputy chief cabinet secretary, from 2003 to 2006 and again from…
Yoshihisa Uchida dead at age 101
Yoshihisa Uchida
died on June 5, 2026. Tags Politicians, 05 June 2026, Japan, Uchida, Yoshihisa, June 2026, June 5
Yoshihisa Uchida dead at age 101
Yoshihisa Uchida
died on June 5, 2026. He was a Japanese politician and journalist. Born on January 5, 1925, Uchida studied at Meiji University. Tags Journalists, Politicians, 05 June 2026,…
Greg James dead at age 71
Greg James, an American tattoo artist known for designs and original artwork that appeared in magazines, books, documentaries and at the Hard Rock Cafe,
died on June 4, 2026, at…
Guts Ishimatsu dead at age 76
Guts Ishimatsu, the Japanese boxer and actor known for roles in Empire of the Sun and Black Rain,
died on June 2, 2026, of pneumonia. He was 76. Born Yuji…
Hasegawa Katsutoshi dead at age 81
Hasegawa Katsutoshi, a Japanese sumo wrestler,
died on May 31, 2026, at age 81. Born on July 20, 1944, in Kurisawa, Hokkaido, now part of Iwamizawa, he entered professional sumo…
Norihiko Kitahara dead at age 71
Norihiko Kitahara
died on May 30, 2026. He was a Japanese Olympic basketball player. Tags Athletes, 30 May 2026, Japan, Kitahara, Norihiko, Sagittarius, May 2026, May 30
Yoshiharu Yamaguchi dead at age 83
Yoshiharu Yamaguchi, the Japanese rugby union player who represented his national team,
died on May 29, 2026, at the age of 83. Born on February 15, 1943, in Mihama, Fukui,…
Mamoru Ozaki dead at age 91
Mamoru Ozaki
died on May 27, 2026. He was a Japanese bureaucrat. Tags Other, 27 May 2026, Japan, Mamoru, Ozaki, May 2026, May 27
Koji Tanaka dead at age 70
Koji Tanaka, a Japanese football player and manager,
died on May 26, 2026, at the age of 70. Born in Saitama on November 2, 1955, he graduated from Meiji University…
Yoshihiro Nishimura dead at age 59, Mutant Girls Squad, Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl), cirrho…
Yoshihiro Nishimura, a Japanese film director, screenwriter and special effects artist,
died on May 25, 2026. He was 59. Born on April 1, 1967, in Taitō-ku, Nishimura worked predominantly in…
Tadateru Konoe dead at age 87
Tadateru Konoe, the Japanese humanitarian who served as president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from 2009 to 2017,
died on May 23, 2026. He…
Toshifumi Suzuki dead at age 93
Toshifumi Suzuki, a Japanese businessman and former CEO and president of 7-Eleven,
died on May 18, 2026, at the age of 93. Suzuki was a longtime executive who had been…
Tatsuya Hori dead at age 90
Tatsuya Hori, Japanese politician and governor of Hokkaido from 1995 to 2003,
died on May 16, 2026, of cancer. He was 90. Hori was born in Tomakishi, Karafuto, on Nov.…
Shin’ichirō Tawata dead at age 78
Shin'ichirō Tawata
died on May 15, 2026. He was a Japanese linguist. Tags Scientists, 15 May 2026, Cancer, Japan, Tawata, May 15, May 2026, Shin'ichirō
Shinichiro Tawada dead at age 78
Shinichiro Tawada, a Japanese linguist,
died on May 15, 2026. Tags Scientists, 15 May 2026, Cancer, Japan, Shinichiro, Tawada, May 15, May 2026
Takahiro Fujiwara dead at age 43
Takahiro Fujiwara
died on May 14, 2026. He was a Japanese voice actor known for his work on My Hero Academia, Berserk, and Captain Earth. His death was reported in…
Izo Hashimoto dead at age 72
Izo Hashimoto
died on May 12, 2026. He was a Japanese screenwriter. Tags Writers, 12 May 2026, Hashimoto, Izo, Japan, Pisces, May 12, May 2026
Koji Suzuki dead at age 68
Koji Suzuki, a Japanese writer known for the Ring novels,
died on May 8, 2026, at the age of 68. Born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan, on May 13, 1957, he…
Kenji Ohba dead at age 71
Kenji Ohba, a Japanese actor and stuntman,
died on May 6, 2026, at the age of 71. Born Kenji Takahashi in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, he was known professionally as…
Kazuhiro Ninomiya dead at age 79
Kazuhiro Ninomiya, a Japanese judoka,
died on May 4, 2026, at the age of 79. Born in Fukuoka, Japan, on November 28, 1946, he competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics…
Yuji Ohno dead at age 84
Yuji Ohno, the Japanese musician and composer known for his work on "Lupin III,"
died on May 4, 2026, at the age of 84. A pianist, orchestrator and keyboard player,…
Juliet Winters Carpenter dead at age 77
Juliet Winters Carpenter, an American translator,
died on May 1, 2026. She was a translator of modern Japanese literature whose fiction and nonfiction translations won numerous awards. Born in Ann…
Aiko Satō dead at age 102
Aiko Satō
died on April 29, 2026. She was a writer. Tags Writers, 29 April 2026, Aiko, Japan, April 2026, April 29, Satō
Kiyoshi Kitagawa dead at age 67
Kiyoshi Kitagawa
died on April 28, 2026. Tags Musicians, 28 April 2026, America, Japan, Kitagawa, Kiyoshi, April 2026, April 28
Katsumi Miyaji Japanese rugby union player and coach dead at age 85
Katsumi Miyaji, a Japanese rugby union player and coach,
died on April 25, 2026. He was 85. Miyaji played as a prop and attended Shijonaga High School before going on…
Hirohiko Okano dead at age 101
Hirohiko Okano, a Japanese poet,
died on April 24, 2026, at age 101. Born in Misugi, now part of Tsu in Mie Prefecture, on July 7, 1924, he published numerous…
Tatsuo Sato dead at age 61
Tatsuo Sato, a Japanese anime director known for works including Cat Soup, Martian Successor Nadesico and Bodacious Space Pirates,
died on April 24, 2026, at age 61. Japanese media later…
Katsu Kanai dead at age 89
Katsu Kanai
died on April 22, 2026. No other details were immediately available. Tags Actors, 22 April 2026, Japan, Kanai, Katsu, April 2026, April 22
Adrienne Staples New Zealand politician, mayor of South Wairarapa and member of the Greater Welling…
Adrienne Staples, a New Zealand politician and former mayor of South Wairarapa,
died on April 19, 2026, aged 69–70. Born in Featherston in 1956 or 1957, she served as mayor…
Wakana Yamazaki dead at age 61
Wakana Yamazaki, a Japanese voice actress known for her work in anime and video games,
died on April 18, 2026, at age 61. Born in Yokohama on March 21, 1965,…
Kenji Gokenya Japanese politician dead at age 87
Kenji Gokenya, a Japanese politician,
died on April 18, 2026. Kenji Gokenya [ja], 87, Japanese politician. Tags Politicians, 18 April 2026, Gokenya, Japan, Kenji, 2026-04-18, April 18, April 2026
Kazuo Imanishi Japanese football player and manager, pneumonia dead at age 85
Kazuo Imanishi, a Japanese football player and manager,
died on April 16, 2026, of pneumonia. He was 85. Imanishi played for Toyo Industries, later Mazda, after graduating from Tokyo University…
Masayoshi Tsuchida Japanese politician dead at age 82
Masayoshi Tsuchida, a Japanese politician,
died on April 16, 2026. Masayoshi Tsuchida [ja], 82, Japanese politician. Tags Politicians, 16 April 2026, Japan, Masayoshi, Tsuchida, 2026-04-16, April 16, April 2026
Seigō Tsuchida Japanese politician, mayor of Higashine dead at age 82
Seigō Tsuchida, Japanese politician and mayor of Higashine since 1998,
died on April 16, 2026, at the age of 82. He served as mayor of Higashine, Yamagata Prefecture, for seven…
Hiroshi Shiono Japanese legal scholar and academic dead at age 94
Hiroshi Shiono, a Japanese legal scholar and academic,
died on April 15, 2026, at the age of 94. He specialized in administrative law and served as an honorary professor at…
Izumi Okamoto Japanese baseball player and coach dead at age 95
Izumi Okamoto
died on April 15, 2026. He was a Japanese baseball player with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and later worked as a coach. His death was announced on that…
Isami Okamoto Japanese baseball player and coach dead at age 95
Isami Okamoto
died on April 15, 2026. He was a Japanese baseball player with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and later served as a coach. His career was linked to Japanese…
Kazuo Ebisawa dead at age 72
Kazuo Ebisawa
died on April 14, 2026. Tags Other, 14 April 2026, Ebisawa, Japan, Kazuo, April 14, April 2026
Takao Fujii Japanese politician, heart attack dead at age 83
Takao Fujii, a Japanese politician,
died on April 13, 2026, of a heart attack. He was 83. Fujii was a former member of Japan’s House of Councillors in the Diet,…
Yōsuke Tamori dead at age 74
Yōsuke Tamori, the Japanese mangaka and writer behind the PopoloCrois fantasy media franchise,
died on April 10, 2026. PopoloCrois began as a manga series in 1977 in the Asahi Student…
Bae Myeong-in South Korean politician, minister of justice dead at age 93
Bae Myeong-in, a South Korean politician and lawyer who served as minister of justice from 1982 to 1985,
died on April 6, 2026, at the age of 93. He was…
Yataro Tsuda Japanese politician, member of the House of Councillors dead at age 73
Yataro Tsuda, a Japanese politician and former member of the House of Councillors,
died on April 6, 2026. He was a member of the Democratic Party of Japan and served…
Yoshihisa Kishimoto Japanese video game developer dead at age 64
Yoshihisa Kishimoto, a Japanese video game developer,
died on April 2, 2026. Yoshihisa Kishimoto, 64, Japanese video game developer. Tags Other, 02 April 2026, Japan, Kishimoto, Yoshihisa, 2026-04-02, April 2,…
Shozin Fukui Japanese film director and screenwriter dead at age 64
Shozin Fukui, a Japanese film director and screenwriter,
died on April 2, 2026, at the age of 64–65. He was best known for his work in the cyberpunk genre and…
The Pillows Japanese rock drummer, esophageal cancer dead at age 61
The Pillows, a Japanese rock drummer with the band The Pillows,
died on March 22, 2026, of esophageal cancer. The Pillows were a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Hokkaido…
Jun Matsumoto Japanese politician, twice MP, deputy chief cabinet secretary, and chair of the Natio…
Jun Matsumoto, a Japanese politician and twice a member of the House of Representatives,
died on March 19, 2026, at the age of 75 in Tokyo. A member of the…
Heisuke Hironaka Japanese mathematician, Fields Medal winner dead at age 94
Heisuke Hironaka, a Japanese mathematician and 1970 Fields Medal winner,
died on March 18, 2026, at age 94. Born in Yamaguchi, Japan, on April 9, 1931, he was recognized for…
Taneaki Tanami Postal worker dead at age 93
Taneaki Tanami, a Japanese politician and former member of the House of Representatives,
died on March 18, 2026, of multiple organ failure. He was 93. Tanami served in the House…
Wakashimazu Mutsuo Japanese sumo wrestler dead at age 69
Wakashimazu Mutsuo, a Japanese sumo wrestler,
died on March 15, 2026. Born Mutsuo Hidaka on January 12, 1957, in Nakatane, Kagoshima, he reached the rank of ōzeki and won two…
Shigeaki Mori Historian dead at age 88
Shigeaki Mori, a Japanese historian and atomic bomb survivor,
died on March 14, 2026. He was 88. Born in Hiroshima on March 29, 1937, Mori was known for his research…
Chaos UK British guitarist dead at age -1
Chaos UK, the British guitarist associated with the punk band Chaos UK,
died on March 12, 2026. Chaos UK was an English punk rock band formed in 1979 in Portishead,…
Richard Bozulich Writer, publisher dead at age 90
Richard Bozulich, an American Go player, author, publisher and college math instructor,
died on March 9, 2026, at age 90. He co-founded Ishi Press and was the founding publisher of…
Tsutomu Shibayama Japanese anime director dead at age 84
Tsutomu Shibayama, a Japanese anime director of film and television,
died on March 6, 2026, at the age of 84. Born in Asakusa, Taitō, Tokyo, on March 9, 1941, he…
Yonehiko Kitagawa Voice actor dead at age 94
Yonehiko Kitagawa, a Japanese voice actor known for work on Kinnikuman, Tiger Mask and Sally the Witch,
died on March 5, 2026, of pneumonia. He was 94. Born Kunihiko Takeda…
Masaru Urata Flight cadet dead at age 100
Masaru Urata, a Japanese politician,
died on March 5, 2026. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he served in the House of Councillors from 1983 to 1989 and again…
Toshikazu Kawasaki Japanese paperfolder and origami theorist dead at age 70
Toshikazu Kawasaki, a Japanese paperfolder and origami theorist,
died on March 3, 2026. He was known for geometrically innovative models, especially his series of fourfold symmetry "roses," which used a…
Masako Ikeda Japanese voice actress dead at age 87
Masako Ikeda, a Japanese voice actress and narrator,
died on March 3, 2026, in Tokyo at the age of 87. Born in Tokyo on January 1, 1939, she worked from…