Japanese Famous Names Starting with Letter J

The Buddhist nun, writer and activist formerly known as Harumi Setouchi (Setouchi Harumi (??? ???)).

The Buddhist nun, writer and activist formerly known as Harumi Setouchi (Setouchi Harumi (??? ???)).Setouchi was born in Tokushima in 1922. She attended Tokyo Women's Christian University and graduated with a degree in Japanese Literature. After a love affair with one of her husband's students, she left her house and got an official divorce to leave for Tokyo and pursue a writing career.Setouchi's first literary award reception for Kashin was criticized as pornography. Upon being awarded the Women's Literary Prize for Natsu no Owari, she proved herself as a writer. She has also received one of Japan's more prestigious literary awards, the Tanizaki Prize for her novel Hana ni Toe in 1992. In 1973 she took up Buddhist vows and became a Buddhist nun at Chusonji Temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate prefecture and received her name Jakucho.

A Japanese enka singer[2] who is American-born of African-American and Japanese descent. His materna

A Japanese enka singer[2] who is American-born of African-American and Japanese descent. His maternal grandmother was Japanese. He is the first black enka singer in Japanese music history.Jero began singing Enka actively at the age of six and continued to

Was a Korean independence activist during the period of Japanese rule (1910 - 1935). He later became

Was a Korean independence activist during the period of Japanese rule (1910 - 1935). He later became a South Korean politician. His name was originally Yi Dae Hyong but took up the nom de guerre Ji Cheong-Cheon, meaning Earth and Blue Sky, while leading Korean guerrilla forces against the Japanese.He was a 1914 graduate of the Japanese military academy; however, he defected to the Korean guerilla forces in 1919, bringing with him knowledge of modern military techniques when he was Imperial Japanese Army Lieutenant officer. His skills were appreciated by the Korean guerilla forces who made him the superintendent of the Sinheung Military Academy where new leaders of the Korean forces were being trained.

Is a Japanese wrestler and Olympic champion in Freestyle wrestling.

Is a Japanese wrestler and Olympic champion in Freestyle wrestling.

A Japanese idol, singer-songwriter, actor, seiyu and television personality. Akanishi is a member of

A Japanese idol, singer-songwriter, actor, seiyu and television personality. Akanishi is a member of the popular J-pop boy band, KAT-TUN, and one of the group's main vocalists. Since the group's debut in 2006, it has achieved 10 consecutive number ones (including studio albums) on the Oricon charts.[1]Akanishi is also a budding actor with roles in the second season of popular NTV school drama, Gokusen, and Yukan Club. He is also a co-host of KAT-TUN's own variety show, Cartoon KAT-TUN, and used to host a radio program called R-One KAT-TUN with bandmate Junnosuke Taguchi from October 2007 to March 2008. Akanishi is also arguably one of the more popular members of the group being frequently cited as one of the most appealing male celebrities in Japan today.[2][3][4]

The governor of Nagano Prefecture in Japan. After growing up in Matsumoto, Nagano, he graduated from

The governor of Nagano Prefecture in Japan. After growing up in Matsumoto, Nagano, he graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1959 and entered the Ministry of International Trade and Industry upon graduation. In 1986 he was elected to the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) for the first time. In 2005, after winning several re-elections, he decided not to run for the house this time. In the following year he was elected governor of Nagano Prefecture.

A Japanese politician who formerly served as Minister of Justice in the cabinet of Shinzo Abe.He was

A Japanese politician who formerly served as Minister of Justice in the cabinet of Shinzo Abe.He was born in Toyama City and obtained his LL.B. from the University of Tokyo. After graduation, he worked in the Ministry of Labour. He resigned from this position in 1988 and was elected to the Diet of Japan in 1990.He served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Health, Labour and Welfare under Tomiichi Murayama, as deputy director of the Liberal Democratic Party, as Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Labour Relations under Keizo Obuchi and Yoshiro Mori, as Vice-Minister of Justice in the second Mori cabinet and as Assistant Cabinet Secretary under Junichiro Koizumi.

Was a sumo wrestler from what is now Shimane, Japan. He was the sport's 12th Yokozuna. Jinmaku was b

Was a sumo wrestler from what is now Shimane, Japan. He was the sport's 12th Yokozuna. Jinmaku was born in Ou District, Izumo Province (modern Yatsuka District, Shimane). His real name may have been Shintaro Ishigura (?? ???, Ishigura Shintaro). In 1847 b

He is known best for his humorous mysteries. His first novel, Ghost Train, was published in 1976 and

He is known best for his humorous mysteries. His first novel, Ghost Train, was published in 1976 and went on to win the annually granted All Yomimono New Mystery Writers' Prize by Bungeishunju, a Japanese literary publishing company. Other works of his, Incident in the Bedroom Suburb and Voice from Heaven, were later made into anime, while Sailor Fuku to Kikanju was made into a popular live action movie. His most recognized works to date pertain to his Mike-neko (or, Tortoiseshell Cat) Holmes series. He is extremely prolific; as of August, 2006, he had written more than 480 novels in the course of his thirty year career, over 300 million individual published volumes.

A Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in t

A Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Sagamihara, Kanagawa, he graduated from Rikkyo University and received his master's degree in economic sociology from the University of Manchester. He was elected to the first of his two terms in the assembly of Kanagawa Prefecture in 1999 and then to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2005.

A Japanese professional Go player.Akiyama became a professional in 1992. He was taught by Yasuro Kik

A Japanese professional Go player.Akiyama became a professional in 1992. He was taught by Yasuro Kikuchi. In 1999, he was promoted to 7 dan. His biggest accomplishment came in 2002 when he was runner-up for the NEC Shun-Ei title to Shinji Takao. He currently resides in Tokyo, Japan.

Is a Japanese footballer who currently plays for Vegalta Sendai.

Is a Japanese footballer who currently plays for Vegalta Sendai.

A retired Japanese ski jumper.He participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, where he f

A retired Japanese ski jumper.He participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, where he finished 28th in the normal hill, 25th in the large hill and 4th in the team event.

A Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in t

A Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Hokuto, Yamanashi and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he joined the National Police Agency in 1976, receiving a master's degree in jurisprudence from the University of Angers in France while in the agency. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2005.

Was a former tennis player from Japan. He graduated from Waseda University. He was ranked World No.3

Was a former tennis player from Japan. He graduated from Waseda University. He was ranked World No.3 in 1933, but committed suicide in Strait of Malacca during his trip to Davis Cup 1934.

Was a Japanese painter. He is in most sources named as the founder of the Gutai group in 1954. Yoshi

Was a Japanese painter. He is in most sources named as the founder of the Gutai group in 1954. Yoshihara wrote the "Gutai Manifesto" in 1956. This leader of the "Gutai" group - a group of internationally acclaimed avant-garde artists representative of Japan's post-war art world. He worked in surrealist and abstract expressionist painting styles before turning, in his final years, to the repeated depiction of circles reminiscent of "satori," the enlightenment of Zen. This white circle made by leaving the canvas unpainted while painting the background black. When asked about his circles, Yoshihara said that he could not manage to paint even one circle with satisfaction, an indication of the depths of his pursuit of this form. Indeed, no two of his circles are shaped exactly alike.

Jo Kanazawa (born July 9, 1976 in Iruma, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese football player.

Jo Kanazawa (born July 9, 1976 in Iruma, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese football player.

A retired male medley swimmer from Japan, who represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olym

A retired male medley swimmer from Japan, who represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He is best known for winning the silver medal in the Men's 200m Individual Medley at the 1995 Summer Universiade in Fukuoka, behind America's Tom Wilkens.

A Japanese actor, who was born in Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.Commonly known just as Odajou,

A Japanese actor, who was born in Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.Commonly known just as Odajou, and also known for unusual hairstyle and eclectic style of dressing, he is the epitome of 'cool Japan' known as much for his persona as his work.[citation needed] He has starred in such films as the Katsuhiro Otomo-directed live-action movie adaptation of the manga and anime series, Mushishi, where he was featured as the main character, Ginko, as well as other well-known films such as SHINOBI - Heart Under Blade.

A singer, keyboardist, saxophone player and composer. His father is Japanese while his mother is an

A singer, keyboardist, saxophone player and composer. His father is Japanese while his mother is an Han Chinese in Japan, thus he is mixed half-Chinese, half-Japanese. He is a former member of Romantic Mode. After spending many years as a studio musician, he became a producer under the MUV Rinoie Ltd. label.

A Japanese actor most recognizable for his intense, eccentric yakuza film roles and his artificially

A Japanese actor most recognizable for his intense, eccentric yakuza film roles and his artificially enlarged cheekbones. He has appeared in some 300 films but is best known in the West for his performance in the cult film Branded to Kill (1967). In Japan, he is also known by the nickname Joe the Ace (???????, Eisu no Jo?) for his popular role in the Western Fast-Draw Guy (1961).

A Japanese former boxer who was considered by many, along with Yoko Gushiken, to be one of the two b

A Japanese former boxer who was considered by many, along with Yoko Gushiken, to be one of the two best world champions to come out of Japan.

The founder and former president of Johnny & Associates, a production agency for numerous popular bo

The founder and former president of Johnny & Associates, a production agency for numerous popular boy bands in Japan. Kitagawa assembled, produced and managed more than a dozen popular bands, including Arashi, SMAP, NEWS, and KAT-TUN. Kitagawa's influence has spread beyond music to the realms of theatre and television. Regarded as one of the most powerful figures in the entertainment industry, he has held a virtual monopoly on the creation of boy bands in Japan for more than 40 years.[1]

A Japanese activist, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist.Ito has received recognition for his role

A Japanese activist, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist.Ito has received recognition for his role as an entrepreneur focused on Internet and technology companies and has founded, among other companies, PSINet Japan, Digital Garage and Infoseek Japan. He maintains a blog, a wiki and an IRC channel and contributes to the Tokyo Metroblogging. Ito is the CEO of Creative Commons.

Was a Japanese mathematician who worked mainly on number theory. In addition to working in Japan, wh

Was a Japanese mathematician who worked mainly on number theory. In addition to working in Japan, where he held a chair at Tokyo University and was eventually selected to the Japan Academy, Suetsuna also spent time studying in Europe and introduced to Japan research styles he witnessed there. Later in life, especially after World War II, he studied Buddhist philosophy.