Biographies

Yu So-chow: Peking-opera actress and Hong Kong martial-arts film star Yu So-chow Yu So-chow (1930–2017) was a Chinese actress and trained Peking-opera performer who appeared in over 240 wuxia, kung fu and Cantonese opera films and became a leading Hong Kong scr…

Wang Yue (Chinese chess grandmaster) Yue Wang Wang Yue is a leading Chinese chess grandmaster, the first from China to reach the world top 10 and to cross the 2700 rating threshold. He played a major role in the rise of Chines…

Yuhei Tokunaga — Japanese professional footballer (right-back) Yuhei Tokunaga Yuhei Tokunaga (born 1983) is a former Japanese professional football player, best known as a right-back with a long domestic career and appearances for the Japan national team.

Yui (Japanese singer-songwriter) Yui (singer) Profile of Yui, a Japanese singer-songwriter and guitarist known for acoustic-led pop rock, her acting debut in Taiyō no Uta, and later musical projects after pausing solo activiti…

Yui Horie — Japanese voice actress and singer Yui Horie Profile of Yui Horie, a prominent Japanese voice actress and pop singer: career overview, notable activities, bands, radio work, and personal notes and distinctions.

Yuichi Komano — Japanese professional football full-back Yuichi Komano Yuichi Komano (born July 25, 1981) is a Japanese professional footballer known for his long career in the J.League and his appearances for the Japan national team as a versatile fu…

Yuichiro Nagai — Japanese footballer Yuichiro Nagai Yuichiro Nagai (born 14 February 1979) is a former Japanese professional footballer, best known as a forward who spent much of his career with Urawa Red Diamonds and represented Ja…

Yuja Wang: Chinese Pianist and International Concert Artist Yuja Wang Overview of Yuja Wang, the Chinese-born pianist: training, career highlights, repertoire, recordings, performance style, awards and notable facts about her public profile.

Yuji Funayama (Japanese association football player, born 1985) Yuji Funayama Yuji Funayama (船山祐二; born 19 January 1985) is a Japanese professional association football player. This article summarizes his name, known biographical facts, typical career contex…

Yuji Hironaga (born 1975) Yuji Hironaga Yuji Hironaga (廣長 優志, born July 25, 1975) is a former Japanese professional football player. This article summarizes his background, career context, playing profile and later life…

Yuji Kishioku Yuji Kishioku (born April 2, 1954) is a former Japanese footballer who represented the Japan national team; this article summarizes his life, era, and legacy in Japanese football.

Yuji Nakayoshi Yuji Nakayoshi (born September 4, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. This article summarizes available biographical details, the football environment of his generation, an…

Yuji Nakazawa Yuji Nakazawa (born 25 February 1978) is a retired Japanese footballer best known as a commanding centre back, long-serving captain at club level and a regular for the Japan nation…

Yuji Sakakura — Japanese footballer and manager Yuji Sakakura Yuji Sakakura (born June 7, 1967) is a former Japanese footballer and manager who represented the Japan national team and later worked in coaching and club development.

Yuji Sugano — Japanese footballer (born 1961) Yuji Sugano Yuji Sugano (born April 14, 1961) is a former Japanese football player who represented Japan at senior level and played during the era before full professionalization of the domest…

Yuji Yaso — Japanese footballer (born 1969) Yuji Yaso Yuji Yaso (born October 31, 1969) is a former Japanese football player. This article summarizes known facts, contextual background of his era, and common post-playing pathways for…

Yukari Kinga: Japanese footballer, versatile defender and World Cup winner Yukari Kinga Profile of Yukari Kinga (born 1984), a Japanese footballer known for her versatility at full‑back, member of Japan's 2011 World Cup team and a prominent figure in women's club and…

Yuki Fuji (Japanese footballer, born 1981) Yuki Fuji Yuki Fuji (冨士 祐樹; born May 7, 1981) is a Japanese association football player. This entry summarizes verified facts, typical development paths in Japan, positional roles, career co…

Yuki Imamura (Japanese footballer, born 1976) Yuki Imamura Yuki Imamura (今村 優貴; born July 11, 1976) is a former Japanese association football player. This article summarizes known facts, typical career paths, and where to look for addition…

Yuki Inoue (井上 雄幾) — Japanese association football player Yuki Inoue Brief profile of Yuki Inoue (井上 雄幾; born 31 October 1977), a Japanese professional association football player, with background on his name, career context, and where to find furth…

Yuki Iwata — Japanese director, screenwriter, illustrator and lyricist Yuki Iwata Profile of Yuki Iwata (born 1972), a Japanese filmmaker and visual artist known for directing, screenwriting, illustration and lyric writing; award recognition at Japanese festival…

Yuki Nagasato — Japanese footballer and World Cup winner Yuki Nagasato Yuki Nagasato (born 15 July 1987) is a Japanese forward who starred for the Japan national team and played professionally in several top women's leagues around the world.

Yuki Otsu — Japanese footballer and international representative Yuki Otsu Profile of Yuki Otsu (born 1990), a Japanese professional footballer who has appeared for the Japan national team; overview of his career, playing style, and notable aspects.

Yuki Takita (Japanese footballer, born 1967) Yuki Takita Overview of Yuki Takita (born May 16, 1967), a former Japanese football player, his era and context, playing profile, typical career paths for his generation, and legacy.

Yukiaki Okabe - Japanese Olympic Freestyle Swimmer Yukiaki Okabe Profile of Yukiaki Okabe (1941–2018), a Japanese freestyle relay specialist who helped set a world record in 1963 and won bronze at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Yukichi Chuganji — Japanese supercentenarian and verified oldest living man (1889–2003) Yukichi Chuganji Yukichi Chuganji (1889–2003) was a Japanese supercentenarian who, at his death aged 114 years 189 days, was the world’s verified oldest living man. His case illustrates verificatio…

Yukiko Miyake (1965–2020), Japanese politician and former lawmaker Yukiko Miyake Japanese politician elected in the 2009 Democratic Party of Japan wave. Served in the House of Representatives (2009–2012). Born in Washington, D.C.; died in Tokyo Bay in 2020.

Yukinori Muramatsu Yukinori Muramatsu (born June 13, 1969) is a former Japanese football (soccer) player. Public records note his name and era; detailed career records are limited in widely available…

Yukio Goto (Japanese footballer) Yukio Goto Yukio Goto (後藤 靱雄, d. 1976) was a Japanese footballer who represented the Japan national team. Records of his life and career are limited; he is remembered as part of Japan's early…

Yukio Kasaya — Japanese Ski Jumper and 1972 Olympic Champion Yukio Kasaya Yukio Kasaya (born 1943) is a Japanese ski jumper who won Japan's first Winter Olympic gold in the normal hill event at Sapporo 1972 and remains a key figure in Japanese winter-spo…

Yukio Mishima (1925–1970): Japanese novelist, dramatist, and cultural figure Yukio Mishima Yukio Mishima was a prolific and controversial Japanese writer, playwright and public intellectual whose work explored beauty, death, politics and identity; he died after a failed…

Yukio Okamoto — Japanese diplomat and foreign policy analyst Yukio Okamoto Yukio Okamoto (1945–2020) was a Japanese diplomat and longtime advisor on foreign policy, especially Japan–United States relations. He advised several prime ministers and was a pro…

Yukio Okutsu Yukio Okutsu (1921–2003) was a Japanese American U.S. Army soldier in World War II who was awarded the Medal of Honor after a later review of his wartime record.

Yukio Shimomura Yukio Shimomura (born January 25, 1932) is a former Japanese football player and manager who represented and later led the Japan national team; a member of the postwar generation t…

Yukio Tsuda — Japanese footballer and national team player (1917–1979) Yukio Tsuda Yukio Tsuda (津田 幸男, 1917–1979) was a Japanese footballer who represented the Japan national team. This article summarizes his life, era of play, and his place in Japanese football…

Yukitaka Omi — Japanese football player and manager Yukitaka Omi Yukitaka Omi (born December 15, 1952) is a former Japanese footballer who represented the Japan national team and later worked as a manager, active during the era before profession…

Yūko Mizutani: Japanese voice actress, narrator and singer Yūko Mizutani Profile of Yūko Mizutani (1964–2016), the Japanese actress and voice performer known for roles in Chibi Maruko-chan, Digimon, Tenchi Muyo!, and as the official Japanese voice of Mi…

Yulia Tymoshenko — Ukrainian politician and two-time Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko Yulia Tymoshenko (born 27 November 1960) is a prominent Ukrainian politician, former two‑time Prime Minister, leader of Batkivshchyna/Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and long‑time parliament…

Yumi Matsutoya (Yuming) — Japanese singer-songwriter and pianist Yumi Matsutoya Yumi Matsutoya (born 1954), known as Yuming, is a prominent Japanese singer, composer, lyricist and pianist whose songs and concerts have shaped modern J‑pop.

Yumi Obe — Japanese footballer and former national team defender Yumi Obe Yumi Obe (born 15 February 1975) is a former Japanese footballer who played as a defender and served as a leader for the Japan national team during the 1990s and early 2000s.

Yun Chi-ho (1865–1945): Korean reformer, Christian activist, and controversial figure Yun Chi-ho Korean educator and reformer Yun Chi-ho (1865–1945) was a Christian intellectual who participated in late‑Joseon reform movements, journalism and later adopted accommodationist pos…

Yun Chi-young: Korean independence activist, politician and diplomat Yun Chi-young Yun Chi-young (1898–1996) was a Korean independence activist, early South Korean government minister, diplomat and mayor of Seoul, active in the Republic's formative decades.

Yun Hyon-seok (Yook Woo-dang): South Korean poet and LGBT rights activist Yun Hyon-seok Yun Hyon-seok (1984–2003), also known as Yook Woo-dang, was a South Korean poet, writer and activist whose life and death galvanized debate on LGBT rights, conscientious objection…

Yun Hyu: 17th-century Korean Neo-Confucian Scholar and Statesman Yun Hyu Yun Hyu (1617–1680) was a Joseon-era Neo-Confucian scholar, politician and military figure, noted for his writings, multiple pen names, and participation in the factional politics…

Yun Jeung: Joseon Neo-Confucian Scholar, Writer, and Statesman (1629–1714) Yun Jeung Overview of Yun Jeung (Myeongjae), a prominent Joseon dynasty Neo-Confucian scholar, his life, intellectual contributions, writings, and legacy in Korean thought and politics.

Yun Seon-do: Joseon-era Poet, Scholar, and Statesman Yun Seon-do Overview of Yun Seon-do (1587–1671), a leading Joseon Dynasty poet and Confucian scholar known for sijo, pastoral verse, political involvement, and the celebrated "Fisherman's" poe…

Yuna Kim (Kim Yeon-ah) — South Korean Figure Skater and Olympic Champion Yuna Kim Overview of Yuna Kim (Kim Yeon-ah), her major titles, skating style, historical significance for South Korea, post-competitive activities, and lasting influence on figure skating.

Yuri Alekseevich Ryzhov (1930–2017) Yuri Alekseevich Ryzhov Soviet and Russian fluid dynamicist, academician, diplomat and public activist; researcher in mechanics and turbulence, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Ambassador to…