Obituaries

Kenzo Takada speaks to Nikkei in 2018. (Photo by Akira Kobayashi)
Obituaries

Kenzo Takada: Japan fashion icon 'rode the wave' of hippie culture

Designer and his adventurous spirit gave a new haute couture to the masses

5 October 2020
Actress Yuko Takeuchi appeared in both films and television during her career.
Life

Fans across Asia mourn Japanese actress Yuko Takeuchi's death

Agency confirms passing of film and TV star known for her big smile

28 September 2020
Yoshifumi Nishikawa speaks to Nikkei during a 2010 interview. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Obituaries

Japan's 'last banker' Yoshifumi Nishikawa dies at 82

As Sumitomo Mitsui chief, he secured capital from Goldman Sachs

12 September 2020
Osamu Masuko stepped down earlier this month as chairman and member of the board due to health concerns.
Obituaries

Osamu Masuko, former Mitsubishi Motors chairman, dies at 71

Veteran leader credited with guiding automaker through difficult times

31 August 2020
Lee Teng-hui, left, toasts his victory in Taiwan's first direct presidential election in 1996. 
Obituaries

For Lee Teng-hui, it was 'better not to be involved in politics'

Taiwan's president confronted Kuomintang, driving out influential mainlanders

2 August 2020
Tsai Ing-wen, then presidential candidate from the Democratic Progressive Party, hugs former president Lee Teng-hui during his last election rally at New Taipei City in January 2012. Tsai is now Taiwan's president.
Obituaries

Lee Teng-hui's dream of 'two states' paved way for Tsai Ing-wen

Former president's education policy helped forge Taiwanese identity

31 July 2020
Lee Teng-hui, former president of Taiwan, in 2018.
Obituaries

Lee Teng-hui, Taiwan's 'Father of Democracy,' dies at 97

First president elected by popular vote worked to raise island's global standing

31 July 2020
Yoshizo Shimano, a former president of bicycle parts giant Shimano who pushed the Japanese company's globalization, has died at the age of 85.
Obituaries

Former president of global bicycle parts giant Shimano dies

Yoshizo Shimano championed company's overseas growth and use of English

6 July 2020
Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, a tycoon once close to Philippine president and dictator Fernando Marcos, has died.
Obituaries

San Miguel chief and Marcos ally Eduardo Cojuangco dies aged 85

Philippine tycoon was known for his involvement in politics and sports

17 June 2020
Etsuhiko Shoyama believed that "a company is its people."
Obituaries

Former Hitachi chief Shoyama managed from the bottom up

Executive who told employees to 'break the bonds with your past' dies at 84

11 June 2020
Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki, seen here in 2006, discovered the syndrome we now know as Kawasaki disease. (Photo by Keimei Arashida)
Obituaries

Doctor who discovered Kawasaki disease dies at 95

Some coronavirus patients have shown symptoms similar to rare syndrome

10 June 2020
Shigeru Yokota always carried a comb Megumi gave him, saying that he would like her to comb his hair someday. The wish never came true.
Obituaries

Father's dream of seeing abducted daughter Megumi forever dashed

Long struggle helped other victims return from North Korea, but not Yokota's daughter

6 June 2020
Stanley HO was first and foremost an excellent businessman, with a keen eye for spotting, seizing and developing profitable business opportunities.
Obituaries

Stanley Ho made Macao's gaming industry into today's giant

Businessman's ingenious casinos set stage for 21st century gambling boom

29 May 2020
The Hong Kong-born Ho, pictured here in 2006, had four wives and 17 children, and dealt with a huge legal battle within the family over his fortune.
Obituaries

Stanley Ho, who turned Macao into gambling destination, dies at 98

Tycoon leaves behind sprawling business interests to his 17 children

26 May 2020
Okamoto speaks at a 2014 event on U.S.-Japan security affairs organized by the Center for Strategic & International Studies. (Photo courtesy of CSIS)
Obituaries

Yukio Okamoto, the hand that cradled the Japan-US alliance

Maverick diplomat ditched bureaucracy but remained an influencer of statecraft

10 May 2020
Yukio Okamoto helped Prime Minister Shinzo Abe draft a crucial speech commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. (Photo by Yumi Kotani)
Obituaries

Japanese diplomatic luminary Okamoto dies at 74

Architect of Okinawa base move had contracted coronavirus

8 May 2020
Indian actor Irrfan Khan speaks to the media as he promotes the film "Inferno" on a red carpet in Singapore.
Obituaries

'Life of Pi' actor Irrfan Khan dies of cancer at 54

Indian star appeared in 'Jurassic World' and 'The Namesake'

30 April 2020
Yoshio Tateishi, a former president of Omron, also served as head of the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Obituaries

Yoshio Tateishi, former Omron president, dies of coronavirus

Son of founder pursued internal change at Kyoto-based electronic parts company

21 April 2020
Irene Hirano Inouye hugs Sen. Patrick Leahy during a memorial service for her husband Sen. Daniel Inouye in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington on Dec. 20, 2012. 
Obituaries

Bridge between US and Japan, Irene Hirano Inouye dies at 71

President of US-Japan council was also widow of Sen. Daniel Inouye

9 April 2020
Ken Shimura, pictured in March 2006, stuck to focusing on the art of performing comedy skits and endured as a star. (Photo by Yukinobu Kurosaka)
Obituaries

Ken Shimura's death leaves Japanese of all generations mourning

Beloved TV personality enamored people with unique movements and expressions

31 March 2020
Business leaders from as far afield as Japan and Thailand learned from Jack Welch's success at General Electric.
Obituaries

GE's hard-driving Jack Welch was role model for Asian business

Chairman led US conglomerate to market stardom before post-crisis decline

3 March 2020
Yakult Swallows manager Katsuya Nomura is tossed in the air by his jubilating players at the Seibu Lions Stadium in Saitama after they capped thier 1993 season with a 4-3 victory over the Seibu Lions on Nov. 1, 1993.
Obituaries

Katsuya Nomura, star baseball player with rocky personal life

He spent 26 years at Nankai Hawks, racking up achievements

14 February 2020
Shin proved cooperation between the two countries could work. (Courtesy of Lotte Group)
Obituaries

Lotte Group founder showed Japan and South Korea how to work together

Shin Kyuk-ho tried to calm historical antagonism between the countries

4 February 2020
Kobe Bryant is greeted by young Chinese players during his visit to Shanghai in August 2015: the development of his charity represented the strong tie that existed between China and him.
Obituaries

Hard work and strength of character made Kobe Bryant a star in Asia

He showed endurance and charity, which endeared him to millions in China

29 January 2020
Lotte founder Shin Kyuk-ho in 1990: He built an empire that spanned candy, hotels, department stores and petrochemicals. 
Obituaries

Lotte founder built empire in 2 lands, but wished to conquer steel

Shin Kyuk-ho was last of South Korea's original chaebol generation

20 January 2020