Famous People Born In Nagoya

Akira Toriyama is a Japanese character designer and manga artist. The creator of one of the most popular manga series of all time, Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama is widely considered one of the most influential artists to have changed the history of manga; his creation Dragon Ball is often cited as a source of inspiration by several manga artists.

Born in Japan, Naoko Mori moved to the U.S. with her parents at 4 and then returned to Japan later, only to move to the UK at 12. She is best known as Toshiko Sato from Torchwood. Fans also loved her as Yoko Ono in the TV film Lennon Naked.

Akio Morita was a Japanese businessman best remembered as the co-founder of Sony Group Corporation along with Masaru Ibuka. He also served as the president of Sony from 1971 and later served as its chairman. Akio Morita was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Albert Medal.

Toshio Suzuki is a Japanese film producer best known for producing anime. He is also credited with co-founding an animation film studio named Studio Ghibli, where he also served as the president. The enormous box office success of many Ghibli films has established Toshio Suzuki as one of the most successful producers in Japan.

Susumu Tonegawa is a Japanese scientist known for his discovery of the genetic mechanism that produces antibody diversity. For this work, he received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1987. Even though he won the coveted award for his work in immunology, he is a molecular biologist by training. He now studies neuroscience. 

Hiroshi Tamaki is a Japanese actor, model, and singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Sato in the 2001 Japanese comedy film Waterboys. Tamaki is also known for his contribution to video games and TV shows.

Born to a photography studio owner in Nagoya City, Toshiki Kaifu grew up to be the prime minister of Japan. The Liberal-Democratic Party member has also held important portfolios such as the ministry of education. He was the first major political leader to visit China after the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Kobayashi Makoto is a Japanese physicist who won one-fourth of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2008. Kobayashi has also received other prestigious awards such as the Nishina Memorial Prize, Sakurai Prize, and Asahi Prize.

Toshihide Maskawa was a Japanese theoretical physicist best remembered for his work on CP-violation. He won one-quarter of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2008. He also won other prestigious awards, including the Nishina Memorial Prize. Toshihide Maskawa is also remembered for his association with the Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, where he served as director from 1997 to 2003.

Along with his wife and collaborator Madeline Gins, artist and architect Shusaku Arakawa designed buildings such as the Bioscleave house, which included surrealist features, such as sand-dune-shaped floors and the lack of doors. His art and his Reversible Destiny Foundation were geared toward increasing human longevity.

Shigefumi Mori is a Japanese mathematician best known for his contribution to algebraic geometry. In 1990, he was honored at the International Congress of Mathematicians with the prestigious Fields Medal. Shigefumi Mori also works as a professor at Kyoto University.

The most democratic Japanese prime minister in pre Second World War period, Katō Takaaki began his political career as private secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Later he himself became the Minister of Foreign Affairs four times before being appointed as the Prime Minister of Japan. Enactment of universal male suffrage was one of the hallmarks of his era.

Former Square Enix director and president Yoichi Wada has also led the CESA as its chairman. Though a fan of 3D games since childhood, Wada’s early career saw him working in the investment and finance firm Nomura and for Japan’s foreign ministry in Poland. He is currently associated with Metaps.