Deaths from Japan
Yoshiharu Yamaguchi dead at age 83, stroke
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, he made his Japan debut against a touring New Zealand Universities team… · 29 May 2026 · Aquarius · May 2026 · Stroke
Yoshihiro Nishimura dead at age 59, Mutant Girls Squad, Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl), cirrho…
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 the horror genre and began his career in 1995. He was known… · 25 May 2026 · May 2026 · Aries
Tadateru Konoe dead at age 87, Japanese humanitarian, president of the International Federation of…
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 was 87. Konoe also served as president of the Japanese Red Cross… · 23 May 2026 · May 2026 · Cancer
Toshifumi Suzuki dead at age 93, Japanese businessman
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 involved in business since the early 1970s. He brought the 7-Eleven franchise… · Heart Failure · 18 May 2026 · May 2026
Tatsuya Hori dead at age 90, Japanese politician, governor of Hokkaido, lung cancer
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. 22, 1935, and graduated from Hokkaido University’s Department of Agriculture in 1958.… · 16 May 2026 · May 2026
Shinichiro Tawada dead at age 78, Japanese linguist
a Japanese linguist, died on May 15, 2026 · 15 May 2026 · May 2026 · Cancer
Takahiro Fujiwara dead at age 43, Japanese voice actor
2026. He was a Japanese voice actor known for his work on My Hero Academia, Berserk, and Captain Earth. His death was reported in a neutral notice that identified him by these roles · 14 May 2026 · May 2026 · May 14
Koji Suzuki Japanese writer dead at age 68
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 lived in Tokyo and wrote works that were adapted into films, manga,… · 08 May 2026 · May 2026
Kenji Ohba Japanese actor and stuntman dead at age 71
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 Kenji Ohba and had an acting career that lasted from 1965 to… · 06 May 2026 · May 2026
Kazuhiro Ninomiya Japanese judoka dead at age 79
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 after graduating from Tenri University and training under Isao Okano at the… · 04 May 2026 · May 2026
Yuji Ohno dead at age 84, Japanese musician and composer
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, he was active from 1968 to 2026 and worked in jazz fusion,… · 04 May 2026 · May 2026 · Yūji
Juliet Winters Carpenter dead at age 77, American translator
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 Arbor, Michigan, in 1948, she studied Japanese literature at the University of Michigan… · 01 May 2026 · Capricorn · May 2026
Katsumi Miyaji Japanese rugby union player and coach dead at age 85
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 to Doshisha University. During his university years, he joined the second Japanese… · 25 April 2026 · April 2026
Adrienne Staples New Zealand politician, mayor of South Wairarapa and member of the Greater Welling…
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 of South Wairarapa from 2004 to 2016, becoming the district’s first female… · Japan · 19 April 2026 · April 2026
Kenji Gokenya Japanese politician dead at age 87
a Japanese politician, died on April 18, 2026 · 18 April 2026 · April 2026
Kazuo Imanishi Japanese football player and manager, pneumonia dead at age 85
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 of Education and joined the club in 1963. He played in the… · 16 April 2026 · April 2026
Masayoshi Tsuchida Japanese politician dead at age 82
a Japanese politician, died on April 16, 2026 · 16 April 2026 · April 2026
Seigō Tsuchida Japanese politician, mayor of Higashine dead at age 82
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 terms, and died in office. Born in Higashine on October 25, 1943,… · 16 April 2026 · April 2026 · Seigo
Hiroshi Shiono Japanese legal scholar and academic dead at age 94
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 the University of Tokyo. Shiono was also a member of the Japan… · 15 April 2026 · April 2026
Izumi Okamoto Japanese baseball player and coach dead at age 95
2026. He was a Japanese baseball player with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and later worked as a coach. His death was announced on that date · 15 April 2026 · April 2026 · April 15
Isami Okamoto Japanese baseball player and coach dead at age 95
2026. He was a Japanese baseball player with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and later served as a coach. His career was linked to Japanese professional baseball, where he worked as both a player and a coach · 15 April 2026 · April 2026 · April 15
Takao Fujii Japanese politician, heart attack dead at age 83
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, the national legislature. A native of Shirakawa, Gifu, he was born in… · 13 April 2026 · April 2026
Yōsuke Tamori dead at age 74, Japanese mangaka and writer
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 Newspaper and later grew into a wider franchise that included role-playing video… · France · Italy · 10 April 2026 · April 2026 · Yôsuke
Bae Myeong-in South Korean politician, minister of justice dead at age 93
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 born on November 8, 1932, in Changwon, Japanese-occupied Korea. Bae’s death was… · 06 April 2026 · April 2026
Yataro Tsuda Japanese politician, member of the House of Councillors dead at age 73
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 in the House of Councillors, the upper house of Japan’s national legislature,… · 06 April 2026 · April 2026
Yoshihisa Kishimoto Japanese video game developer dead at age 64
a Japanese video game developer, died on April 2, 2026 · 02 April 2026 · April 2026
Shozin Fukui Japanese film director and screenwriter dead at age 64
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 for the films "964 Pinocchio," "Rubber's Lover" and "S-94." Born in 1961,… · 02 April 2026 · April 2026
The Pillows Japanese rock drummer, esophageal cancer dead at age 61
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 in 1989 and disbanded in 2025. The group was best known in… · 22 March 2026 · March 2026
Jun Matsumoto (politician) Japanese politician, twice MP, deputy chief cabinet secretary, and chair…
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 Liberal Democratic Party, he served as deputy chief cabinet secretary from 2008… · 19 March 2026 · March 2026 · Cancer
Heisuke Hironaka Japanese mathematician, Fields Medal winner dead at age 94
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 his contributions to algebraic geometry. Hironaka is also associated with Hironaka's example… · 18 March 2026 · March 2026
Taneaki Tanami Postal worker dead at age 93
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 of Representatives from 1983 to 1993 and again from 2000 to 2003.… · 18 March 2026 · March 2026
Wakashimazu Mutsuo Japanese sumo wrestler dead at age 69
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 top-division yūshō championships. He joined Futagoyama stable in March 1975 after completing… · 15 March 2026 · March 2026
Shigeaki Mori Historian dead at age 88
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 into Allied prisoners of war who died during air raids on Japan.… · 14 March 2026 · March 2026
Chaos UK British guitarist dead at age -1
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, near Bristol, and emerged from the anarcho-punk scene with a fast, aggressive… · Japan · 12 March 2026 · March 2026
Richard Bozulich Writer, publisher dead at age 90
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 Kiseido Publishing Co., which produced Go books in English. Bozulich worked with… · Japan · 09 March 2026 · March 2026
Tsutomu Shibayama Japanese anime director dead at age 84
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 was active from the 1960s and worked on a wide variety of… · 06 March 2026 · March 2026 · Other
Yonehiko Kitagawa Voice actor dead at age 94
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 in Tokyo on June 9, 1931, he was also credited as Kunihiko… · 05 March 2026 · March 2026
Masaru Urata Flight cadet dead at age 100
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 from 1992 to 1998. Urata was born on June 20, 1925, and… · 05 March 2026 · March 2026
Toshikazu Kawasaki Japanese paperfolder and origami theorist dead at age 70
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 twisting maneuver to make the petals appear to curl out from the… · 03 March 2026 · March 2026
Yoshiharu Tsuge Japanese manga artist, aspiration pneumonia dead at age 88
the Japanese manga artist and essayist known for "Nejishiki," died on March 3, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan, of aspiration pneumonia. Born in Katsushika, Tokyo, on October 30, 1937, Tsuge was active in comics from 1955 to 1987. His work ranged… · 03 March 2026 · March 2026
Masako Ikeda Japanese voice actress dead at age 87
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 1948 to 2026 and was known for voicing Reika "Madame Butterfly" Ryuuzaki… · Intracerebral Hemorrhage · 03 March 2026 · March 2026
Kazumasa Nagai Japanese printmaker and graphic designer dead at age 96
a Japanese printmaker and graphic designer, died on March 2, 2026. Born in Osaka on April 20, 1929, he attended the Tokyo University of the Arts to study sculpture before withdrawing because of health problems. He was a founding member… · 02 March 2026 · March 2026
Kohei Otsuka Japanese politician dead at age 66
a Japanese politician and former leader of the Democratic Party for the People and the Democratic Party, died on March 2, 2026. A native of Nagoya, Aichi, he attended Waseda University and received a Ph.D. in fiscal and monetary policies… · 02 March 2026 · March 2026
Takeshi Amemiya Japanese economist dead at age 90
a Japanese economist, died on February 25, 2026. Born in Tokyo on March 29, 1935, he specialized in econometrics and the economy of ancient Greece. Amemiya was the Edward Ames Edmonds Professor of Economics emeritus and a professor of classics… · 25 February 2026 · February 2026
Hidé Ishiguro 94–95 dead at age 94
a Japanese analytic philosopher and emeritus professor at Keio University in Tokyo, died on February 20, 2026. Born in Tokyo in August 1931, she studied at Tokyo University before pursuing graduate work at the Sorbonne and earning a doctorate in… · 20 February 2026 · February 2026
Kazue Sawai Japanese musician dead at age 85
a Japanese koto player and musician, died on February 17, 2026. Born in Kyoto on January 1, 1941, she began studying the koto at age eight with Michio Miyagi and later graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts… · 17 February 2026 · February 2026
Shinya (musician) Japanese musician dead at age 56
the Japanese musician best known as the drummer of Luna Sea, died on February 17, 2026, at age 56 of cancer. Born in Hadano, Kanagawa, on January 13, 1970, he was also a media personality and businessman. He played with… · 17 February 2026 · February 2026
Sega Japanese businessman and engineer dead at age 75
a Japanese businessman and engineer, died on February 14, 2026. Sega Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo and a subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings, is a Japanese video game company known for franchises including Sonic the Hedgehog, Angry Birds, Football Manager, Phantasy… · 14 February 2026 · February 2026 · Other
Toshio Motoya Japanese hospitality executive dead at age 82
a Japanese hospitality executive, died on February 13, 2026. He was the president of APA Group, which included APA Hotels & Resorts, one of Japan’s largest hotel chains. Motoya founded the APA Group real estate business in Ishikawa Prefecture in… · 13 February 2026 · February 2026
Shutaro Iida Castlevania series, Bloodstained series dead at age 52
a Japanese video game programmer, died on February 10, 2026, at the age of 52. He was born on March 11, 1973, and worked at Konami from 1996 to 2015, mainly as a programmer in various areas. Iida was known… · 10 February 2026 · February 2026 · Other
Takamitsu Muraoka Japanese linguist dead at age 88
a Japanese linguist and Semitist, died on February 10, 2026, at the age of 88. He was Chair of Hebrew, Israelite Antiquities, and Ugaritic at Leiden University in the Netherlands from 1991 to 2003. Muraoka was noted for his studies… · 10 February 2026 · February 2026
Tadao Yasuda Japanese rikishi and professional wrestler dead at age 62
a Japanese rikishi and professional wrestler who competed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, died on February 8, 2026, at age 62. Born in Tokyo on October 9, 1963, he made his professional sumo debut in 1979 under the shikona Takanofuji Tadao… · 08 February 2026 · February 2026
Tadamasa Goto Yakuza dead at age 83
a Japanese crime boss and yakuza, died on February 8, 2026. He was the founding head of the Goto-gumi, a Fujinomiya-based affiliate of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan’s largest yakuza syndicate. Born in Tokyo on September 16, 1942, Goto was convicted at… · 08 February 2026 · February 2026 · Gotō
Masashi Furukawa Engineer dead at age 90
a Japanese politician, died on February 7, 2026. A member of Komeito, he served in the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1990. Born in Hiroshima Prefecture on December 12, 1935, Furukawa died in Fukuyama at the age of 90 · 07 February 2026 · February 2026
Tōsha Meishō Musician dead at age 84
a Japanese hayashi musician, died on February 4, 2026. Born Isao Nakagawa in Tokyo in 1941, he was one of a long line of Tōsha school musicians specializing in musical accompaniment for kabuki theatre. He began studying under his father,… · 04 February 2026 · February 2026
Morishige Naruse Business executive dead at age 92
a Japanese politician, died on February 4, 2026, in Okazaki, Japan, two days before his 93rd birthday. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he served in the House of Councillors from 1989 to 2001. Born in Okazaki on February… · 04 February 2026 · February 2026
Seiichirō Dōkyū Banker dead at age 72
a Japanese politician, died on February 3, 2026, at the age of 72. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2012. Born in Miyazaki on April 1, 1953, Dōkyū also worked… · 03 February 2026 · February 2026
Nobuhiko Ochiai Japanese journalist and novelist dead at age 84
a Japanese journalist and novelist, died on February 1, 2026. He was born in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan, on January 8, 1942. Ochiai wrote works reporting on international affairs and intelligence-related situations, along with novels and translations based on them. In… · 01 February 2026 · February 2026
Masaru Ikeda Japanese voice actor, heart attack dead at age 83
a Japanese actor and voice actor known for his work in Yatterman, Sakura Wars and One Piece, died on January 31, 2026, of a heart attack. Born in Tokyo on September 27, 1942, he was active from 1963 to 2026.… · 31 January 2026 · January 2026
Kazuhiko Hasegawa Japanese film director dead at age 80
a Japanese film director and screenwriter, died on January 31, 2026, at the age of 80. Born in Kamo District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on January 5, 1946, he began his career in film at Nikkatsu in the early 1970s as… · 31 January 2026 · January 2026
Kikuo Arakawa Research of hypertension, cardiovascular medicine dead at age 96
a Japanese medical scientist and internist, died on January 23, 2026. He specialized in hypertension and cardiovascular medicine and was a Professor Emeritus at Fukuoka University. Arakawa also served as the 12th President of the International Society of Hypertension. Born… · 23 January 2026 · January 2026
Homare Suguro Japanese actor and singer dead at age 85
a Japanese actor and singer, died on January 23, 2026, at the age of 85. Born in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on June 1, 1940, he worked for Shochiku Geino and was active from 1961 to 2026. Suguro made his acting… · 23 January 2026 · January 2026
Toshikatsu Yamamoto Japanese physician dead at age 96
a Japanese physician who worked in the field of acupuncture, died on January 20, 2026. Born on December 15, 1929, he graduated in 1956 from Nippon Medical School in Tokyo. He later gained qualifications in surgery, anesthesia and obstetrics in… · 20 January 2026 · January 2026
David Rosen (businessman) American businessman, co-founder of Sega dead at age 95
an American businessman and co-founder of Sega, died on December 25, 2025, at age 95. Born on January 22, 1930, in Brooklyn, New York, he served in the United States Air Force from 1948 to 1952, primarily in Japan and… · 25 December 2025 · December 2025 · Other
Uichiro Niwa Japanese businessman and diplomat, ambassador to China dead at age 86
a Japanese businessman and diplomat who served as ambassador to China from 2010 to 2012, died on December 24, 2025, at the age of 86. Born in Nagoya, Japan, on January 29, 1939, he joined Itochu Corporation in 1962 after… · 24 December 2025 · December 2025
Ike Schab One of the last surviving Pearl Harbor attack veterans dead at age 105
an American Navy sailor and World War II veteran, died on December 20, 2025, at age 105. Born Ira Schab in Chicago on July 4, 1920, he joined the United States Navy at 18. At age 21, he served aboard… · Japan · 20 December 2025 · December 2025 · Other
Miyako Sumiyoshi
Japanese Olympic speed skater (2014) · 23 January 2018 · January 2018 · January 23 · Other
Yosuke Natsuki
Japanese actor (Storm Over the Pacific · 19 January 2018 · January 2018 · January 19 · Yôsuke
Katsuhikari Toshio
Japanese sumo wrester · 17 January 2018 · January 2018 · January 17 · Other
Marley Carib
Japanese manga writer (Old Boy) · 15 January 2018 · January 2018 · January 15
Mikio Fujioka
Japanese guitarist (Babymetal) · 09 January 2018 · January 2018 · January 9
Senichi Hoshino
Japanese Hall of Fame baseball player (Chunichi Dragons) and manager (Chunichi Dragons · 05 January 2018 · January 2018 · January 5
Chu Ishikawa
Japanese composer (Tetsuo: The Iron Man) · 31 December 2017 · December 2017 · December 31
Tamio Ōki
Japanese voice actor and narrator · 20 December 2017 · December 2017 · December 20 · Oki
Heitaro Nakajima
Japanese digital audio pioneer · 13 December 2017 · December 2017 · December 13 · Other
Ryusuke Morimoto
Japanese calligrapher · 13 December 2017 · December 2017 · December 13 · Other
Atsutoshi Nishida
Japanese businessman · 09 December 2017 · December 2017 · December 9 · Other
Akira Hirose
Japanese-born Canadian plasma physicist · 06 December 2017 · December 2017 · December 6
Don Arakawa
Japanese professional wrestler (NJPW) · 02 December 2017 · December 2017 · December 2
Norihiko Hashida
Japanese folk singer-songwriter (The Folk Crusaders) · 02 December 2017 · December 2017 · December 2
Noriko Hashida
Japanese folk singer-songwriter (The Folk Crusaders) · 02 December 2017 · December 2017 · December 2
Hiromi Tsuru
Japanese voice actress (Dragon Ball · 17 November 2017 · November 2017 · November 17
Tokyo Joe
Japanese-Canadian professional wrestler · 06 November 2017 · November 2017 · November 6
Devil Murasaki
Japanese professional wrestler · 29 October 2017 · October 2017 · October 29
Ryūji Saikachi
Japanese voice actor (Castle in the Sky · 03 October 2017 · October 2017 · October 3 · Ryuji
Kenji Watanabe
Japanese Olympic swimmer · 19 September 2017 · September 2017 · September 19
Toshihiko Nakajima
Japanese voice actor (Cowboy Bebop) · 16 September 2017 · September 2017 · September 16