Tag - obituary

 
 

OBITUARY

Tsuneo Watanabe (center) attends a gathering with former prime ministers Yasuhiro Nakasone (right) and Toshiki Kaifu in Tokyo in 2009.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 19, 2024
Tsuneo Watanabe, editor-in-chief of Yomiuri Shimbun Group, dies at 98
Watanabe was an influential figure in Japan's political and professional sports arenas.
Indian musician Zakir Hussain performs during a concert at the Indian Music Experience in Bangalore in 2019
CULTURE / Music
Dec 16, 2024
Zakir Hussain, peerless Indian tabla player, dies at 73
Considered a national treasure in his homeland, the percussionist brought classical Indian music to a global audience
Yutaka Mataebara (second from left) dines with his managerial colleagues at an event celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Japan Times.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 13, 2024
Here's to Yutaka Mataebara, the 'iron man' of The Japan Times
Mataebara was a pillar of the JT: During his 44 years at the paper until he retired in 2006, he worked in a variety of departments, including as the editor in chief.
Freelance television announcer Tomoaki Ogura took the role of presenter of Fuji Television Network's morning show "Tokudane!" from 1999 to 2021, gaining popularity for his frank comments.
JAPAN
Dec 10, 2024
Japanese announcer Tomoaki Ogura dies at 77
Ogura became famous for his unique narration style and trademark high-pitched voice.
Miho Nakayama rose to stardom in 1985 after the release of her first single “C,” which established her popularity as an idol.
CULTURE
Dec 9, 2024
Miho Nakayama, known for 'Love Letter' and her music, dies at 54
Nakayama had a solo Christmas show scheduled in Osaka on Friday, but had canceled the show in the morning, citing health reasons.
Hiroshi Kagawa covered a total of 10 FIFA World Cup tournaments during his career, starting with the 1974 event in West Germany.
SOCCER
Dec 5, 2024
Pioneer soccer journalist Hiroshi Kagawa dies at 99
Kagawa covered a total of 10 FIFA World Cup tournaments, starting with the 1974 event in West Germany.
Tsutomu Hotta
JAPAN
Dec 4, 2024
Ex-prosecutor Hotta, who probed Lockheed scandal, dies at 90
He also helped decide how to distribute donations made to the Japanese Red Cross Society and the Central Community Chest of Japan after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Yokozuna Kitanofuji enters the ring during the May 1970 grand sumo tournament in Tokyo.
SUMO
Nov 21, 2024
Ex-yokozuna Kitanofuji dies at 82
After a stellar career, Kitanofuji remained popular in retirement for delivering witty comments during live sumo tournament broadcasts.
Shuntaro Tanikawa
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2024
Poet Shuntaro Tanikawa dies at 92
Tanikawa, who is also known for translating the Snoopy and Charlie Brown comic strip “Peanuts” into Japanese, died of natural causes.
Princess Yuriko in May 2023
JAPAN
Nov 15, 2024
Princess Yuriko, sister-in-law of Emperor Showa, dies at 101
The oldest living member of the imperial family, Princess Yuriko died due to natural causes.
Don Kenny leaves behind a wealth of English translations of kyogen as well as work on other aspects of Japanese culture.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Nov 14, 2024
A bridge between kyogen and the world, Don Kenny dies at 88
He came here a soldier, stationed at Atsugi air base after the war, and soon fell in love with the world of Japanese theater.
Manga artist Kazuo Umezu
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Nov 5, 2024
Japanese manga artist Kazuo Umezu dies at 88
Kazuo Umezu started drawing comics from his childhood and made his debut as a manga artist in 1955, when he was a high school student.
Quincy Jones attends a reception in his honor at the Residence de France in Los Angeles on April 25, 2017.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Nov 4, 2024
Quincy Jones, renaissance man of American music, dies at 91
Jones died at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family, according to a statement from his publicist.
Tsunehisa Katsumata was known for his quick decision-making, which earned him the nickname “Razor Katsumata.”
JAPAN
Oct 31, 2024
Former Tepco chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata dies at 84
Katsumata was the company's point man after the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant went into meltdown in the wake of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
"Nenaiko Dareda," a picture book written by author Keiko Sena, in which a night-owl child is spirited away to a world of ghosts, became a bestseller, with cumulative sales exceeding 3 million copies.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Oct 28, 2024
Japanese picture book author Keiko Sena dies at 92
Sena, creator of works such as "Nenaiko Dareda," was popular for her collages that portray characters in an expressive way.
Yukio Hattori was an integral part of "Iron Chef" broadcasts, though his impact on food culture in Japan went far beyond the TV screen.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Oct 27, 2024
Remembering Yukio Hattori, the voice of ‘Iron Chef’
Yukio Hattori was best known to international audiences as the expert commentator on the original Japanese version of the popular TV program “Iron Chef,”
Stablemaster Oshima (left) congratulates Kyokushuzan on his promotion to the the jūryō division in 1995.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 23, 2024
Former ozeki Asahikuni, also a trailblazing stablemaster, dies at age 77
In 1992, the stablemaster recruited six young Mongolian men into his stable, creating a lasting connection between sumo and the central Asian nation.
Fernando Valenzuela speaks during a pregame ceremony at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in July 2019.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 23, 2024
Los Angeles Dodgers icon Fernando Valenzuela dead at 63
The Mexican pitcher played 17 seasons in MLB for six clubs but was best remembered for his time with the Dodgers.
Chieko Tsukahara, former head coach of the Japanese women's gymnastics team, died from stomach cancer on Sept. 1.
SPORTS
Oct 21, 2024
Former Olympic gymnast Chieko Tsukahara dies at 77
Olympic gymnasts Maiko Morio, Mari Kosuge and Koko Tsurumi are among those who trained under Tsukahara.
Peeco, the elder twin brother of the TV personality duo Osugi and Peeco, died of multiple organ failure due to sepsis on Sept. 3.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Oct 21, 2024
TV personality and fashion critic Peeco dies at 79
The elder twin brother of the duo Osugi and Peeco died of multiple organ failure due to sepsis on Sept. 3.

Longform

Yasuyuki Yoshida stirs a brew in a fermentation tank at his brewery in Hakusan.
The quake that shook Noto's sake brewing tradition