The Japan Times looks at influential figures from the Heisei Era, which began in 1989 and will end when Emperor Akihito abdicates on April 30, 2019. In Heisei, Japan was roiled by economic excess and stagnation, as well as a struggle for political and social reform. This series explores those who left their imprint along the way.
Takafumi Horie: Bane of the old guard
Masayoshi Son: Betting big and winning
Sadako Ogata: Waging peace on war
Ichiro Ozawa: The kingmaker and destroyer
Takeshi Kitano: From comic to giant of film
Takashi Murakami: The face of Japanese contemporary art