Japanese Scriptwriter James Miki Dies at 91
Tokyo, June 19 (Jiji Press)--Japanese scriptwriter James Miki, known for public broadcaster NHK's period drama series "Dokuganryu Masamune" and other works, died of pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital Saturday. He was 91.
Born in northeastern China, Miki, whose real name was Kiyomoto Yamashita, began his career as a singer after belonging to the training school of theater company Haiyuza.
He later studied under film director Yoshitaro Nomura and became a scriptwriter.
"Miotsukushi," a 1985 NHK drama series written by him, became a huge hit. Actor Ken Watanabe played the lead role in "Dokuganryu Masamune," aired in 1987.
In addition to his work in television and film, Miki wrote novels and essays.
(2025/06/19-13:54)
To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe.
NATIONAL
-
06/20 12:59 (Update) Tokio's Kokubun to Leave Nippon TV Program after Compliance Issue - 06/20 12:37 Tokio Member Kokubun Commits Compliance Violations
- 06/20 12:30 Ishiba Calls for Expanding Japan-South Korea Exchanges
- 06/20 12:06 Japan Team Finds Apparent Grave Goods for Big Ancient Tumulus
- 06/20 11:54 Japan Emperor, Empress to Visit Mongolia July 6-13
- 06/20 09:47 Fuji TV Apologizes to Ex-Worker over Nakai Scandal
- 06/20 09:30 Okinawa Remains at Mercy of Armed Forces: Expert
- 06/19 22:35 (Update) Emperor, Empress Mourn A-Bomb Victims in Hiroshima
- 06/19 22:10 (Update) LDP Pledges to Raise Wages by 1 M. Yen by FY 2030
- 06/19 22:10 Hidankyo Vows to Collect More Testimonies on Atomic Bombings
- 06/19 21:29 Hiroshima A-Bomb Nursing Home Awaits Imperial Couple's Visit
- 06/19 20:52 (Update) Main Opposition CDP Decides to Skip No-Confidence Motion
-
06/19 19:42 Temperatures Top 35 C in Many Areas across Japan - 06/19 19:15 LDP Has Most Support ahead of Upper House Election: Jiji Poll
- 06/19 19:05 Japan to Survey Farmers on Rice Production Intentions
- 06/19 19:01 (Update 2) Japan to Send SDF Aircraft to Djibouti to Evacuate Japanese
- 06/19 18:16 Many in Japan Concerned about Ties with South Korea: Jiji Poll
- 06/19 17:53 Japan Preparing Fresh Measure for Gasoline Price Surge
- 06/19 17:52 Diet to Carry Over Surname Bills to Autumn Session
- 06/19 17:42 LDP Pledges to Raise Wages by 1 M. Yen
- 06/19 17:15 Main Opposition CDP Decides to Skip No-Confidence Motion
- 06/19 17:07 (Update) Japan to Send SDF Aircraft to Djibouti to Evacuate Japanese
- 06/19 16:56 Japan Urges Restraint from Both Parties in Iran-Israel Conflict
- 06/19 16:47 (Update) Ishiba Cabinet Approval Rate Improves to 27 Pct: Jiji Poll
- 06/19 16:19 Ishiba Calls for Opposition Support on Tariff Talks
- 06/19 16:17 Nippon Steel Satisfied with U.S. Steel Buyout: CEO
- 06/19 15:28 Ishiba Cabinet Approval Rate Improves to 27 Pct: Jiji Poll
- 06/19 14:10 Amid Tokyo Race, Social Media Exposes Divide between Age Groups
- 06/19 13:59 Japan's Emperor, Empress Arrive in Hiroshima
- 06/19 13:54 Japanese Scriptwriter James Miki Dies at 91
- 06/19 10:36 Japanese American Museum Blasts Trump Order
- 06/19 09:55 SDF Aircraft to Be Sent to Djibouti to Evacuate Japanese
- 06/19 00:15 Nippon Steel Completes 2-T.-Yen Acquisition of U.S. Steel
- 06/18 23:48 Osaka Man Arrested for Selling Colorized "Godzilla" Film from 1954
- 06/18 22:24 (Update) JR East to Suspend E8 Shinkansen Trains for Time Being
- 06/18 22:20 CDP to Decide on No-Confidence Motion after Party Heads Meet Thurs.
- 06/18 21:47 Diet Seen Skipping Vote on Surname Bills in Current Session
- 06/18 21:00 JR East to Suspend E8 Shinkansen Trains for Time Being
- 06/18 20:27 (Update) Japan Lower House Dismisses Panel Chair for 1st Time
- 06/18 19:39 Govt to Seek Students' Opinions for Sexual Abuse Prevention
- 06/18 19:16 Memorial Services at Sea to Be Held off Northern Territories
- 06/18 18:53 Japan, U.S., S. Korea Conduct Joint Aerial Drill
- 06/18 18:13 Hidankyo Calls for Halt to Israel-Iran Conflict
- 06/18 18:05 Japan Lower House Dismisses Panel Chair for 1st Time
- 06/18 17:12 Tax Evasion in Japan Totals 8.2 B. Yen in FY 2024
- 06/18 16:55 Foreign Visitors to Japan at Record High for May
- 06/18 16:03 Japan's Exports to U.S. Fall 11.1 Pct in May
- 06/18 15:35 Japan Core Machinery Orders Down 9.1 Pct in April
- 06/18 15:29 Japan, S. Korea Leaders Agree to Develop Bilateral Ties
- 06/18 15:20 Japan Enacts Bill to Ban Online Casino Ads
- 06/18 14:07 (Update) G-7 Summit in Canada Ends without Communique
- 06/18 13:31 Japan Govt Ordered to Pay Compensation for Overstayers
- 06/18 13:24 (Update) Japan's Ishiba Backs Cash Handout over Tax Cut
- 06/18 11:27 Ishiba Conveys to Zelenskyy Japan's Resolve to Help Ukraine
- 06/18 10:42 PM Ishiba Vows Japan-U.S. Tariff Deal Benefiting Both Nations
- 06/18 10:28 G-7 Summit in Canada Comes to End
- 06/18 09:57 520 Landings, Takeoffs Conducted at Chinese Flattops in Pacific
- 06/18 08:30 INTERVIEW: Keidanren Exec Calls for Japan-First Stance
- 06/17 23:50 Reiwa Shinsengumi Lawmaker with ALS to Retire
- 06/17 22:10 Japan Raises Travel Warning for Iran to Highest Level
- 06/17 21:16 Trump Calls Japan "Tough" in Tariff Talks
- 06/17 21:00 G-7 Backs Israel's Self-Defense, Rejects Iran's Nuclear Possession
- 06/17 20:25 Japan to Fine 12,000 Yen for Using Mobile Phone while Bicycling
- 06/17 20:22 (Update 2) Tohoku Shinkansen Services Temporarily Halted for Tokyo-Sendai
- 06/17 20:15 (Update) BOJ to Consider Market Stability When Tapering JGB Buying
- 06/17 19:52 Princess Kako Returns from Brazil Visit
- 06/17 19:11 Japan Post to Lose Truck Transport Biz Permit
- 06/17 18:22 Japan FTC Gives 1st Warning over Freelance Law Breaches
- 06/17 17:43 (Update) Tohoku Shinkansen Services Temporarily Halted for Tokyo-Sendai
- 06/17 17:41 Japan Key Rice Price Hits Record High amid Thin Trade in May
- 06/17 17:01 Tohoku Shinkansen Services Suspended for Tokyo-Sendai
- 06/17 16:46 BOJ to Consider Market Stability When Tapering JGB Buying: Ueda
- 06/17 16:36 Opposition Parties Submit Motion to Dismiss Lower House Panel Chief
- 06/17 16:23 Prominent Ex-Sumo Wrestler Masuiyama Dies at 76
- 06/17 16:11 Japan to Require All Intermediaries to Report Rice Inventories
- 06/17 14:47 (Update) U.S. Urged to Withdraw High Tariff Measures at G-7 Summit
- 06/17 14:21 Japanese, Canadian Leaders Agree to Enhance Security Ties
- 06/17 13:45 (Update) BOJ Decides to Slow Down JGB Purchase Cuts
- 06/17 13:37 Ohtani Returns to MLB Pitching for 1st Time in 2 Seasons
- 06/17 13:16 Ohtani's Ex-Interpreter Mizuhara Begins Prison Sentence
- 06/17 12:57 Japanese, German Leaders Discuss U.S. Tariffs
- 06/17 12:21 Japan Opposition DPFP Pledges Tax Cuts to Boost Take-Home Pay
- 06/17 12:10 Japan SDF's Handling of Secrets Raises Serious Concern: Report
- 06/17 11:49 U.S. Urged to Withdraw High Tariffs at G-7 Summit
- 06/17 10:37 (Update) Japan, U.S. Leaders Fail to Reach Tariff Agreement
- 06/17 09:26 Japan, U.S. Leaders Fail to Reach Tariff Agreement
- 06/16 22:15 Japan Retail Rice Prices Fall for 3rd Week in Row
- 06/16 21:52 Iwaya Urges Restraint in Phone Talks with Iranian Counterpart
- 06/16 21:26 (Update) Japan to Scrap Rice Crop Yield Index
- 06/16 20:50 New S. Korean Leader Hopes for Forward-Looking Ties with Japan
- 06/16 20:31 Saitama Man Arrested for Alleged Murder of Woman in 2018
- 06/16 20:20 Rooting Out Wrong-Way Driving on Expressways Seen Difficult for Now in Japan
- 06/16 18:06 Japan to Scrap Rice Crop Yield Index
- 06/16 18:04 Efforts Underway to Raise Youth Turnout in Tokyo Assembly Poll
- 06/16 17:15 Pop Group Member Referred to Prosecutors Over Gambling
- 06/16 16:20 Many Areas of Japan Eager to Host Disaster Agency Branches
- 06/16 16:13 Japan's Ishiba to Meet with Trump in Canada Mon.
- 06/16 15:20 Japan Suspects Chinese Flattops Conducted Drills against U.S.
- 06/16 09:34 Japan's Ishiba Arrives in Canada for G-7 Summit
- 06/15 23:55 Ishiba Leaves for Canada for G-7 Summit
- 06/15 17:44 Items from Teen A-Bomb Victim Donated to Hiroshima Museum
- 06/15 16:09 Japan Eyes Registration System for Rural Areas' Connected Population
- 06/15 13:15 (Update) Japanese Director Aoki's "ChaO" Wins French Anime Award
- 06/15 12:01 Akazawa, Lutnick Speak by Phone over U.S. Tariffs
- 06/15 11:07 Japanese Director Aoki's "ChaO" Wins French Anime Award
- 06/14 14:25 Akazawa Vows to Work toward Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement
- 06/14 10:56 Tokyo Woman Working to Help Disabled People Get Jobs
- 06/13 23:06 Ishiba, Trump Agree to Meet in Canada
- 06/13 22:41 Japan's LDP to Include 20,000-Yen Benefits in Campaign Pledges
- 06/13 22:28 Japan to Review Rice Statistics Drastically
- 06/13 20:43 (Update) Japan Condemns Israeli Strikes on Iran
- 06/13 19:58 (Update) Japan Govt Vows to Put Priority on Raising Wages
- 06/13 19:26 Japan Govt Vows to Put Priority on Raising Wages
- 06/13 18:50 (Update 2) Campaign Begins for Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Election
- 06/13 18:42 Japan to Prohibit Resale of Govt-Stockpiled Rice
- 06/13 18:31 Trial of Ex-PM Abe's Assassin Set to begin on Oct. 28
- 06/13 18:16 Hyogo Gov. Referred to Prosecutors over Baseball Parade
- 06/13 17:55 Japan Seen Immune to U.S. Auto Tariff Hike: Akazawa
- 06/13 17:36 Ishiba, Trump to Hold Phone Talks Shortly
- 06/13 17:13 (Update 2) Tokyo Stocks Fall amid Middle East Tensions
- 06/13 16:50 Japan Rejects China's Claim over Fighter Jet Close Approaches
- 06/13 16:49 Japanese Emperor Naruhito Meets with Kosovo's Pres.
- 06/13 16:06 Govt Paper Seeks to Link Next-Gen Energy Tech to Biz Opportunities
- 06/13 15:50 (Update) Campaign Begins for Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Election
- 06/13 15:47 Japan Condemns Israeli Strikes on Iran
- 06/13 15:12 Japan Consumers' Social Media Worries Swell to Record Level
- 06/13 14:54 Japan Enacts Revised Pension Reform Bill
