Science
Toyohiro Akiyama, first Japanese citizen and journalist in space, dies at 84
The former TBS correspondent, who made history on the Soyuz TM-11 mission, died from lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
The short version
- Toyohiro Akiyama, the first Japanese citizen and first journalist to travel to space, has died at age 84.
- Japanese media reported that his death on August 26 was caused by lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Akiyama was selected by the Tokyo Broadcasting System to fly on the Soviet Soyuz TM-11 mission after training near Moscow.
Key facts
- Toyohiro Akiyama died on August 26 at the age of 84 due to lower gastrointestinal bleeding, according to Japanese news reports.[Ars Technica]
- Akiyama was the first Japanese national to enter space, the first commercially sponsored cosmonaut, and the first journalist to broadcast from space.[Ars Technica]
- He was selected from 163 applicants at Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) to fly in honor of the network's 40th anniversary and trained at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.[Ars Technica]
- A private funeral was held with close relatives attending.[Ars Technica]