Rural medicine pioneer Toshikazu Wakatsuki dies at 96

Rural medicine pioneer Toshikazu Wakatsuki dies at 96

NAGANO, Japan - File photo taken in August 2000 shows Toshikazu Wakatsuki, a pioneer in rural medicine, who died of pneumonia at Saku Central Hospital in Saku, Nagano Prefecture, on Aug. 22/ He was 96. With the idea that disease prevention is more effective than treatment, Wakatsuki, honorary president of Saku Central Hospital, worked for expanding medical knowledge in local areas.

Reijiro Wakatsuki

Reijiro Wakatsuki

A bureaucrat turned politician who first served as Japan's 25th prime minister from 1926 to 1927 and later as 28th prime minister from April 14, 1931 to Dec. 13 the same year. As Japan's chief delegate to the 1930 London Naval Conference, Wakatsuki signed the disarmament treaty despite opposition from the navy leadership.

Baseball: Japan Series

Baseball: Japan Series

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) bumps fists with catcher Kenya Wakatsuki (2) after escaping a sixth-inning jam in Game 6 of the Japan Series against the Yakult Swallows on Nov. 27, 2021 at Hotto Motto Field Kobe in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

Rural medicine pioneer Toshikazu Wakatsuki dies at 96

Rural medicine pioneer Toshikazu Wakatsuki dies at 96

NAGANO, Japan - File photo taken in August 2000 shows Toshikazu Wakatsuki, a pioneer in rural medicine, who died of pneumonia at Saku Central Hospital in Saku, Nagano Prefecture, on Aug. 22/ He was 96. With the idea that disease prevention is more effective than treatment, Wakatsuki, honorary president of Saku Central Hospital, worked for expanding medical knowledge in local areas. (Kyodo)

Japanese baby dies in U.S. while waiting for heart transplant

Japanese baby dies in U.S. while waiting for heart transplant

SHIZUOKA, Japan - An undated file photo shows Yuina Wakatsuki, a 7-month-old Japanese girl with a serious heart problem, who died at a California hospital on Nov. 30 while waiting to receive a heart transplant. Yuina, from Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, had suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy, which causes the heart muscles to enlarge, since she was 1-month old. She left for the United States on Nov. 8. (Kyodo)