Toyohiro Akiyama, who became the first Japanese citizen to travel to space in 1990 as a reporter for TBS, has died at age 84.
Key facts
- •Akiyama was the 239th person to orbit Earth and the 246th to cross the boundary into space.
- •TBS reportedly invested between $12 million and $37 million in the mission.
- •He authored several books, including works on his spaceflight and his experience as a displaced person following the 2011 earthquake.
- •Akiyama received the Soviet Order of Friendship of Peoples medal and the Russian medal 'For Merit in Space Exploration' for his 1990 flight.
- •He was a professor at the Kyoto University of the Arts from 2011 until 2023.
Toyohiro Akiyama, a journalist who made history as the first Japanese citizen to orbit Earth, has died at 84. Akiyama traveled to the Mir space station in 1990 as a correspondent for the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), spending nearly eight days in space. His mission was part of a high-profile effort by the network to increase its international presence.
Space Mission and Career
Akiyama launched to space as part of the Soyuz TM-10 mission, landing in Kazakhstan on December 10, 1990, alongside cosmonauts Gennadi Manakov and Gennady Strekalov. He spent a total of seven days, 21 hours, and 54 minutes in space. Before his flight, Akiyama served as the network's chief correspondent in Washington, DC, and had previously worked for the BBC World Service.
Life After Spaceflight
Following his return, Akiyama served as deputy director of the TBS news division but resigned in 1995 due to concerns over the commercialization of television. He subsequently pursued farming, focusing on mushrooms and organic rice. In 2011, he was forced to abandon his farm in the Fukushima Prefecture following the Great East Japan Earthquake. He later taught as a professor at the Kyoto University of Art and Design until 2023.
Timeline
- 1990Akiyama completed his mission to space aboard Soyuz TM-10.
- 1995Akiyama left TBS and divorced his wife, Kyoko Akiyama.
- 2011He was forced to evacuate his home following the Great East Japan Earthquake.
- 2023Akiyama concluded his tenure as a professor at the Kyoto University of the Arts.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Ars Technica.
