Ichiro Mizuki – The most famous Japanese person in the world?

A short TV news report about Ichiro Mizuki, a musician responsible for the creation of over 1,200 anime songs:

Many of the anime series Mizuki musically contributed to are popular throughout the world, so he has visited many countries to perform live concerts for anime fans. Many international fans join in with his hand gestures and sing along. Even though many of them cannot speak Japanese, they can recognize when he makes an error and boo him accordingly.

The report claims that the Ichiro Mizuki wikipedia entry has been translated into 91 languages. At the time this measurement was taken, it put him at the top of Wikipedia rankings for Japanese people, thus making him the “most famous Japanese person in the world.”

At the end of the clip, Mizuki sings part of his most famous song, the main opening theme of “Mazinger Z.” For those of you who want to hear the full song, here’s a video of a live performance:

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Clearly someone at the television network is unaware of how Wikipedia works. This man isn’t famous, his music is – although I’ve never heard of either.

This reminds of that episode of The Best House that decided Rome Kanda was the most famous Japanese man in America because he hosted that awful “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” program. Even if people watched that show (was it a hit? I don’t even know) I doubt a quarter of them could recall the host’s name.
radical pikachu

Most famous in Wikipedia. Most famous Wikipedian ? Can I say that ?
Luke

Oh come on, I’ve never even heard of this guy, let alone heard any of his music.
Why not crown a REAL Japanese celebrity… Like Takeru Kobayashi…
http://japanjin.blogspot.com/ Xylo

I think it’s still gotta be Yoko Ono. She’s as well-known as the Beatles.
Red

Yeah, I’d have to agree with Xylo.
I don’t even know who Takeru Kobayashi is!

radical pikachu

I don’t know Takeru Kobayashi either. I vote for Takeshi Kitano from Takeshi castle as most popular person.

adsasdfdfddfsd

Or the Iron chef guy, only songs I know about this guy is the Mazinger Z song and he was maybe on Galaxy angel.

jikku

I think Ryuichi Sakamoto is the most famous Japanese musician in the world, or maybe Seiji Ozawa. Somehow I don’t think of Yoko Ono as a musician.

Some people outside Japan think Mizuki is a comedian, since he appears in Down Town’s Gaki no Tsukai “Don’t Laugh” series.
loser

Mr miyagi is the most famous

oro_the_dog

fo sho! wax in, wax out baby!

bapbap

I know GACKT but not this guy…
Have to agree with Xylo too though, Yoko Ono is definitely more famous!!!
http://twitter.com/damdx Denny

I agree, Yoko Ono is the most famous japanese person in the world.

But Japanese are not famous because of their public people, they are best known for audiovisual material or Music.

Sukiyaki song is very well known around the globe, the same as Godzilla. I mean, the japanese creations became so famous, far beyond their creators.

Another famous japanese people that I can remember just that fast could be keichii Tsuchiya, Takuma Sato, Junichiro Koizumi and that guy that every year wins the hot dog tournament in USA LOL.

P.s.: forgive my bad english :p
inuZ

i´m going for Takeshi Kitano
Ajapa

Bruce Lee is considered as the most famous Japanese person in the world except East Asian countries.

Milkman Dan

Bruce Lee is NOT Japanese.

I don’t know if Ichiro Mizuki is the most famous Japanese person either, but I already knew “Aniki” before reading this post. Though admittedly I knew his songs first.

The Overthinker

Ajapa was being very sarcastic. Too many people confuse China and Japan and think Bruce Lee is Japanese. East Asians generally know the difference.
SWater

Bruce Lee was Mr. Kato before he became famous, so he must be Japanese! Anyway, if deceased people were included, then I would vote for Akira Kurosawa.

longus dickus

well, Bruce Lee was a great UK-US actor..

Ajapa

Ah, sorry for confusing again and thanks for explanations.

I thought it was relatively well-established joke that Bruce Lee was considered as Japanese, at least, for Japanese and also for people who are interested or had lived in Japan. Anyway, I found a nice clip on YouTube:

MadTV – Average Asian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYTbpCTphdc

or alternatively with Japanese subtitles:

マッドTV『平均的アジア人』
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gha5CNtTqxg

http://www.hearingplanet.com/index.php Hearing Aids

I don’t know about the most famous Japanese person, but he obviously gets a lot of hits on Wikipedia.
Ampicillin

Wouldn’t that be Yoko Ono?

longus dickus

nooo. that would be Godzila and Akira Kurosawa.

Firetribe

You wouldn’t really expect anime fans under the age of 30 to know who ichiro-san is. By chance you are over 30 and not know, then you’ve been watching too much moe anime.^^

Ichiro Mizuki – The most famous Japanese person in the world?

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