Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: famous person

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5 Japanese kings

倭の五王
alternative words: Five Japanese kings, Wa no goou, Wa no goo, Wanogoou, Wanogoo
keywords: china , emperor , famous person
related topics: Himiko , Yamato dynasty , Kofun period , Wa , Emperor Yuryaku
related web sites: http://www.tg.rim.or.jp/~picno/ , http://www.inetmie.or.jp/~jin/WAGOOU.html
explanation: After Himiko and her successor Toyo sent mission to China in 3th century, Japan entered a civil war period so the diplomatic relation stopped. After an establishment of Yamato dynasty in 5th, 5 Japanese emperors, so called "5 Japanese kings", sent mission to China in order to get a recognition of their dynasty. The difference of genealogy between existing Chinese and Japanese documents has provoked a controversy: only Emperor Yuryaku (Bu in Chinese) is unanimously recognized.

Abe no Hirafu

阿倍比羅夫 比羅夫
alternative words: Abeno Hirafu, Hirafu, Abe no Hirabu, Hirabu
keywords: famous person , military man , northern territory
related topics: Emperor Tenchi , Ezo , Battle of Hakusukinoe , Paekche
related web sites: http://www2.freeweb.ne.jp/~maoda/hirafu2.html
explanation: Japanese admiral of Asuka period in the reign of Empress Saimei and Emperor Tenchi. As general governor of Koshi region (northern part of Honshu on the coast of Sea of Japan), he beat Ainu then with their aid, he led 180 battle ships to beat Misehashi (Tungus tribe living in actual maritime province of Russia) at the delta of Amur river. He was then called to Korea to help Paekche to recover their country but severely defeated by Chinese fleet at the battle of Hakusukinoe in 663.

Abe no Seimei

安部晴明
alternative words: Abeno Seimei, Abe Seimei, Abenoseimei
keywords: famous person , mystery , philosophy
related topics: Onmyodo , Heian period , Konjaku monogatari
related web sites: http://kodansha.cplaza.ne.jp/abeseimeijinja/ , http://www.geocities.co.jp/HeartLand/1608/kotenindex.html , http://www.people.or.jp/~seimei/
explanation: The most famous specialist of onmyodo in Heian period. Born in 921 and died in 1005. A legend says that his mother would be a fox (fox was considered an animal having magical power in Japan). First he learned the astrology from Kamono Tadayuki and became a doctor of onmyodo attached to the imperial court. His exploits of predicting natural catastrophes and divination are abundantly cited in Konjaku monogatari.

Admiral Togo

東郷平八郎
alternative words: Tougou Heihachirou, Togo Hehachiro, Togo Heihachiro, Togo
keywords: famous person , military man , russia
related topics: Russo-Japanese war , Edo shogunate , Meiji period , Mikasa , Battle of Tsushima , Boshin war
related web sites: http://plaza20.mbn.or.jp/~igyou/FIRE/report/tougou/toubou.htm , http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/ro/gi11496/03/3e-005.html , http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~chiba-vs/tougou2.htm
explanation: Japanese admiral, born in 1847 in a samurai's family of Kagoshima. After having participated in Boshin war against Edo shogunate in 1868, he studied in naval academy of England. Then he had commanded several battle ships and became the director of Japanese naval academy before nominated to the supreme commander of Japanese fleet in 1903. On the flag ship Mikasa, he annihilated Russian Baltic fleet in the battle of Tsushima on May 27, 1905. He died in 1934.


Akebono Taro

曙太郎
alternative words: Akebono, Taro Akebono, Chad George Rowan
keywords: famous person , foreigner , sumo
related topics: Sumo , Yokozuna
related web sites: http://cen4.ec.hokudai.ac.jp/~s960084/report/yokoduna/y64.html , http://www.wnn.or.jp/wnn-t/database/rikishidata/akebono.html , http://www.educ.cc.keio.ac.jp/~i05259/sumo/yokoduna/64.html
explanation: Born on May 8, 1969 in Hawaii, he is the first foreign born sumo wrestler who has reached the rank of a great champion, Yokozuna. He won 11 times championship in the national tournaments and belongs to the stable of Azumazeki alias Takamiyama, another Hawaii born sumo wrestler. Chad George Rowan is his American name. He retired in January 2001.

Akechi Mitsuhide

明智光秀
alternative words: Mitsuhide Akechi, Mitsuhide
keywords: famous person , war lord
related topics: Sengoku period , Oda Nobunaga , Toyotomi Hideyoshi
related web sites: http://www.geocities.co.jp/Milkyway-Orion/6291/ , http://www.inv.co.jp/~yoshio/HJ/
explanation: Born in 1526 in Gifu prefecture as son of a local seignior. After the death of his suzerain, he wandered place to place. He was engaged by Oda Nobunaga in 1558 but unhappy with his treatment, he sent troops to Honnoji temple at Kyoto to assassinate Nabunaga (Honnoji incident). He tried then ally other seigniors but was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi at the battle of Yamazaki near Kyoto in 1582. He was killed by marauding peasants but a legend says that he may have escaped and become priest Tenkai.

Ando Hiroshige

安藤広重 広重
alternative words: Hiroshige Ando, Andou Hiroshige, Hiroshige Andou, Hiroshige
keywords: artist , famous person , ukiyoe
related topics: Ukiyoe , Edo period
related web sites: http://www.csweb.co.jp/TBK/hirosige/art-hiro.htm , http://www.hikyaku.com/gallery/english/hakone.htm
explanation: Ukiyoe artist, Ando Hiroshige was born in Edo (actual Tokyo) in the 9th year of Kanse era (1797). At first, he learned to paint from Utagawa Hiroshige, then formed his own style by learning even from Western schools. The success of the series, Tokaido Gojyusantsugi made definitive his fame as a landscape painter.

Arai Hakuseki

新井白石
alternative words: Hakuseki Arai
keywords: famous person , scholar , statesman
related topics: Edo period , Edo shogunate , Ronin , Hatamoto
related web sites: http://www2.justnet.ne.jp/~jingu/daijiten-arai-hakuseki.htm
explanation: Scholar and statesman born in 1657 in a samurai family of Chiba prefecture. He remained a ronin in his youth but continued to learn in school of Kinoshita Junan. He was engaged as a confucianist teacher by Tokugawa Ienori who would become later the 6th shogun. He remained as a confident of Ienori and carried out many reforms such as suppression of bad quality moneys to stop the inflation. He was also excellent scholars and wrote many books such as Seiyo Kibun. He died in 1725.

Ashikaga Takauji

足利尊氏
alternative words: Takauji Ashikaga
keywords: famous person , shogun
related topics: Muromachi shogunate , Kamakura shogunate , Shogun , Emperor Godaigo , Kusunoki Masashige , Nanbokucho period
related web sites: http://www.ryomonet.co.jp/p-soft/
explanation: 1st shogun of Muromachi shogunate. Born in an important family of samurai in 1305. Called by Kamakura shogunate to subdue a rebellion, he had betrayed it and supported Emperor Godaigo. After another treason, he overthrew the imperial regime of Godaigo (Nan-cho) and set up another regime (Hoku-cho) by nominating Emperor Kome. He himself became shogun by opening Muromachi shogunate at Kyoto. Dead by illness in 1358 before unifying 2 imperial regimes.

Ashikaga Yoshimasa

足利義政
alternative words: Yoshimasa Ashikaga
keywords: famous person , shogun
related topics: Muromachi shogunate , Muromachi period , Onin war , Shogun
related web sites: http://www.hikyaku.com/gallery/english/kyoto.htm
explanation: Born in 1463 as a son of Ashikaga Yoshinori, the 6th Muromachi shogun. After a premature death of his brother, Yoshikatsu, he became the 8th shogun. Unable to get a child, he had chosen his young brother, Yoshimi, as his hair. One year later, his wife gave a son, Yoshihisa, and this provoked the most bloodiest power struggle in Muromachi period, "Onin War". Uninterested in politics, he gave up his title to Yoshihisa and retired in Ginkakuji Temple, built for his taste. He died in 1490.
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148 articles extracted from postgresql database.




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