Kumamoto University
The Memorial Museum of the Fifth High School

Prominent Alumni

Torahiko Terada (1878–1935)

  • • Physicist and essayist
  • • Studied under Natsume Soseki at the Fifth High School
  • • Became a professor of physics at Tokyo Imperial University after graduating from its Department of Science
  • • Interests included all fields of physics
  • • Known for unique literary sketches and scientific essays, as can be seen in "The Collected Works of Torahiko Terada" and other books

Tetsuto Uno (1875–1974)

  • • Philologist of Classical Chinese born in Kumamoto City
  • • Became a professor of Classical Chinese at Tokyo Imperial University after graduating from its Department of Literature
  • • President of Jissen Women's Educational Institute
  • • Specialized in Chinese philosophy of the Song Dynasty
  • • Presided over the Sinology Committee

Hyoe Oouchi (1888–1980)

  • • Economist born in Hyogo prefecture
  • • Graduated from Tokyo Imperial University's Economics Department
  • • Served at the Ministry of Finance before becoming a professor at the university
  • • President of Hosei University. One of the leaders of Marxist economics in Japan
  • • Was active in the post-war social welfare system as well as peace and constitutional law issues

Hayato Ikeda (1899–1965)

  • • Politician and prime minister born in Hiroshima prefecture
  • • Graduated from Tokyo Imperial University's Law Department
  • • Served in the Ministry of Finance before entering the world of politics
  • • Appointed prime minister in 1960 and known for leading Japan through the era of rapid economic growth with a casual demeanor

Eisaku Sato (1901–1975)

  • • Politician and prime minister born in Yamaguchi prefecture
  • • Graduated from Tokyo Imperial University's Law Department
  • • Served in the Ministry of Railways before entering the world of politics
  • • Appointed prime minister in 1964, and holds the record for the longest term in history at seven years and eight months
  • • Organized the return of Okinawa from US to Japan in 1972
  • • Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

Junji Kinoshita (1914–2006)

  • • Playwright and novelist born in Tokyo
  • • Graduated from Tokyo Imperial University's English Literature Department
  • • Dramatic theorist and author of historical, folk tale, and contemporary plays such as "Furo (Windy Wave)," depicting the kamikaze
  • • Penned "Yuzuru (Crane wife)" and "Shigosen no Matsuri (Story of Heike)"

Haruo Umezaki (1915–1965)

  • • Author born in Fukuoka prefecture
  • • Graduated from Tokyo Imperial University's Japanese Literature Department
  • • Debuted in 1946 with the wartime memoir "Sakura-jima," quickly becoming highly regarded as a unique post-war author
  • • Penned "Hi no Hate (End of the Day)" and "Genka (Illusion)"
  • • Won the 32nd Naoki Award in 1954 for "Boro-ya no Shunju (Lives in a Poor House)"

Contents

  • History of High School System Before 1949
  • Timeline
  • Prominent Professors
  • Prominent Alumni
  • The Fifth High School Structures