This issue features interviews with a number of the world’s most extraordinary people including one of the greatest minds in the world today, the esteemed MIT Professor Noam Chomsky; Nelson Mandela-appointed South African constitutional court judge and freedom fighter Albie Sachs; CNN chief medical correspondent & practicing neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta; Kyocera founder and one of Japan’s most respected business leaders Dr. Kazuo Inamori; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on his recent trade delegation to Asia; and one of Japan’s greatest rock groups of all time X Japan and their bandleader Yoshiki (pictured here) on their historic concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

This issue is dedicated to Tokyo Journal’s former Editor-at-large Dr. Michael D. Brown (1957-2014), a Tokyo resident for a quarter of a century and a great friend to the Tokyo Journal.

In November 2014, the world lost the acclaimed Japanese actor Ken Takakura. After his passing, we reached out to a few people who worked with Mr. Takakura on his movies Black Rain and Mr. Baseball to share their memories of one of Japan’s greatest actors.

“I will always remember Ken. He was a great actor and a true gentleman, generous and kind. He helped me tremendously and looked after me whilst I was filming Black Rain in Japan. He will be missed.” Director Ridley Scott

“Ken Takakura’s memory will be forever imprinted in my heart ... We were family for a moment in time.” Costume Designer Ellen Mirojnick

“I knew Ken Takakura’s work when we did Mr. Baseball together. So it was indeed an honor and pure pleasure to work with him. I think of Ken Takakura often so I will miss him.” Actor Tom Selleck

The original article can be found in Issue #276 of the Tokyo Journal. Click here to order from Amazon.