Who Come To Mind When You Think Of Famous Japanese People?

[JessicaSu]

Who come to mind when you think of famous Japanese people and how do you know them?

I am running a small research for a TV show. I'd really appreciate if you could help me answering this question! Please feel free to write as many names as you like. It is even better if they have specific cultural connection with UK. Thank you!

[kvalidir]

Hideo Kojima- Brilliant Game Developer
Hayao Mizayaki- Studio Ghibli- 'nuff said
Isao Takahata - Studio Ghibli- 'nuff said
Yayoi Kusama- Artist
Takashi Murakami- Artist
Hashimoto- I have his syndrome
Hirohito- Emperor of Japan
Yoko Ono- artist etc famous for marrying John Lennon

in that order x

[lankeela]

Hashimoto (the mouse)

[Theland]

Hirohito, should have been hanged.
Tojo, was hanged.
Yamashita, also hanged, unfairly in my opinion.

[Lie-in King]

Stomu Yamash'ta - musician

[jno]

Isao Tomita, first time I'd heard electronic music (except for Delia Derbyshire's masterwork, of course)

Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, as kvalidir says
Akira Kurosawa
Kyu Sakamoto, who sang "Sukiyaki". Which had nothing to do with sukiyaki, Columbia just tried to find a Japanese title that Americans might have heard of. Died in the plane crash on Fujiyama.

[candysherbet]

Hajime Tanaka

[Prudie]

Oooh is this becoming a bit competitive & elitist? - I bet most of us haven't heard of any of these people so not famous to me :0)

[BagPussAA]

Issei Sagawa - Japanese Cannibal who got away with murdering his girlfriend and eating her.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Confucius & Toru Iwatani - inventor of Pac Man

[Samuraisan]

I thought Confucious was Chinese ?

[emmie]

Akira Kurasowa, famous film director

[redtrev]

Kanō Jigorō founder of Judo

[Khandro]

Film-maker, Akira Kurasawa
And like Chris, Kenzo Tange (whom I once had the honour of meeting),
and of course, Hokusai

[ichkeria]

Ian Duncan Smith and Eddie Jones :-)

[CrapAtCryptics]

My apologies Confucius was Chinese - having a blonde moment.

[237SJ]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Ryuichi Sakamoto. He was quite big in the 80's

[douglas9401]

Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa.

[237SJ]

And what about the man who serves the 330ml glasses of wine at Cafe Bon in Narita? Don't forget him

[sandyRoe]

Matsuo Basho, poet

[Old_Geezer]

Umm.
Err.
That's it.