Obituaries

Japanese singer Shinji Tanimura performs in concert in Beijing on Sept. 28, 2018. (Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images)
Obituaries

Japanese singer Shinji Tanimura dies at 74

He found fame across Asia with 'Subaru' and other hits

16 October 2023
Kenichi Suematsu, former president of Japan's Sakura Bank, talks with Nikkei in April 1991.
Obituaries

Japan banker Kenichi Suematsu dies at 97

Former president of today's SMBC revived 'Mitsui' name

20 September 2023
Former Shiseido Chairman Yoshiharu Fukuhara received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star -- one of the highest honors the Japanese government bestows on private individuals -- in 2004.
Obituaries

Shiseido Honorary Chairman Yoshiharu Fukuhara dies at 92

Grandson of founder laid groundwork for growth into world-class cosmetics company

6 September 2023
Ivan Menezes, seen here in October 2022, was instrumental in the "Keep Walking" campaign for Johnnie Walker whisky when he was Diageo's marketing chief. 
Obituaries

Diageo's India native boss Ivan Menezes dies at 63

Longtime CEO drove sales surge and sustainability push at spirits king

7 June 2023
Tina Turner during a concert at the Arrowhead Pond arena in Anaheim, California, in December 2000.
Obituaries

Tina Turner, the 'queen of rock 'n' roll,' dies at 83

Legendary singer with powerful voice dominated Top 40 list in 1980s

25 May 2023
Art collector Joe Price helped draw renewed attention to Edo master Ito Jakuchu. (Photo by Wataru Ito)
Obituaries

Joe Price, American collector of Edo-era Japan paintings, dies at 93

His love of Japanese art led to a rediscovery of painter Ito Jakuchu

18 April 2023
Ryuichi Sakamoto, who passed away on March 28, absorbed music from all directions, including classical, rock and jazz. He was also politically active, becoming involved in social action throughout his life.
Obituaries

Ryuichi Sakamoto, defiant musical innovator, sought meaning of sound

Multifaceted Oscar winner dismantled barriers in search of 'people's music,' social justice

3 April 2023
Ryuichi Sakamoto was the first Japanese composer to win the Academy Award for Best Original Score, for the 1987 film "The Last Emperor." (Photo obtained by Nikkei)
Obituaries

Ryuichi Sakamoto, Japanese musician and Oscar winner, dies at 71

He won award for 'The Last Emperor' and co-founded Yellow Magic Orchestra

2 April 2023
Gordon Moore holds a silicon wafer at Intel headquarters in Santa Clara, California, in 2005. 
Obituaries

Gordon Moore, a chip pioneer who set the stage for Google, Apple

Intel co-founder's prediction on chip innovation guided Silicon Valley

26 March 2023
Ito-Yokado founder Masatoshi Ito in 1996. (Photo obtained by Nikkei)
Obituaries

Ito-Yokado founder was cautious merchant who dared to save 7-Eleven

Masatoshi Ito turned family shop into retail group with $74bn in sales

15 March 2023
In addition to calling for Taiwanese independence, Koo Kwang-ming, pictured here in 2004, advocated strong ties with Japan, where he lived for over two decades.
Obituaries

Koo Kwang-ming, tireless advocate for Taiwanese independence, dies at 96

He criticized the DPP government for moderating its stance in recent years

9 March 2023
Hsing Yun, the Taiwan-based founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist monastic order, supported calls for China and Taiwan to "peacefully unify" and encouraged a reconciliation between Beijing and the exiled Tibetan government. 
Obituaries

Buddhist leader Hsing Yun wooed Beijing to access China

Venerated monk's politics were increasingly anachronistic in modern Taiwan

23 February 2023
Japanese manga artist Leiji Matsumoto, known for "Galaxy Express 999" and "Space Battleship Yamato," died last week. (Source photos by Kazumi Saito and Kyodo)
Obituaries

Leiji Matsumoto, creator of 'Galaxy Express 999,' dead at 85

Legendary artist was recipient of two major government achievement awards

20 February 2023
Shoichiro Toyoda, a car enthusiast, test-drove new models even into his later years.
Obituaries

Shoichiro Toyoda, a humble car fan who set stage for Toyota's global rise

The founder's son negotiated automobile deal with U.S. to bring down trade tensions

15 February 2023
Shoichiro Toyoda led the company for a long time when Japanese cars were a critical issue of Japan-U.S. trade frictions. (File photo by Reuters) 
Obituaries

Shoichiro Toyoda, son of Toyota founder, dies at 97

Father of current president expanded Japanese carmaker into global leader

14 February 2023
Nobuo Ishihara served the top administrative position in a record seven cabinets. He died Jan. 29 from multiple organ failure. (Photo by Akiyoshi Inoue)
Obituaries

Former Japan top official Nobuo Ishihara dies at 96

Bureaucrat served record seven governments as deputy chief cabinet secretary

1 February 2023
Arata Isozaki at the Elysee Palace in Paris in May 2019. The rebel smuggled art-world trends into architecture.
Obituaries

Arata Isozaki, architect warned of the death of architecture

Japanese Pritzker Prize-winner rebelled against the mainstream

14 January 2023
Chihiro Kanagawa: The chairman of Shin-Etsu Chemical died on Jan. 1.
Obituaries

Shin-Etsu Chairman Chihiro Kanagawa dies at 96

His fast decision-making helped Japan company become key semiconductor supplier

5 January 2023
(Source photos by Reuters and Kyodo) 
Obituaries

Obituaries 2022: Remembering those who passed away

Abe and Jiang, Inamori and Idei, Mori and Miyake and more changed our lives

29 December 2022
Jiang Zemin smiles at Bill Clinton during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in 1997: The Chinese president was criticized by party cadres as pro-American.
Opinion

Jiang Zemin's death is prompting Chinese to question Xi's path

Economic troubles also raise doubts about departures from 'reform and opening'

5 December 2022
Chinese President Jiang Zemin, left, and U.S. President Bill Clinton hold a news conference in Washington in October 1997.
Comment

Jiang Zemin's leadership, forged by struggle and pride

Ex-president found his footing as China rose in the world

2 December 2022
As Panasonic's CEO, Kunio Nakamura pushed through drastic reforms that broke the rules of Japanese business management.
Obituaries

Kunio Nakamura, dead at 83, transformed Panasonic as president

'Destruction and creation' turnaround saved company from brink of failure

1 December 2022
Jiang Zemin applauds in Beijing during a 1992 news conference to introduce new members of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee -- China's most powerful political body.
Obituaries

Jiang Zemin: His political career in pictures

China's leader after Tiananmen crackdown made visits to U.K., U.S.

1 December 2022
Jiang Zemin in 2002, toward the end of his presidency: The former leader is rumored to have not seen eye-to-eye with current President Xi Jinping.
Obituaries

Jiang Zemin, China's post-Tiananmen leader, dies at 96

Retired president's tenure saw economic boom, worsening corruption

30 November 2022
Ash Carter, while serving as U.S. defense secretary, attends a news conference during 2016 in London.
Obituaries

Former U.S. defense secretary Ash Carter dies at 68

Obama official helped launch military strategy that pushed back Islamic State

25 October 2022