Toyohiro Akiyama, First Japanese Person in Space, Dies at 84

Toyohiro Akiyama, a journalist known for becoming the first Japanese person to travel into space, has died at the age of 84.

In 1990, Akiyama flew to space as part of a Soviet crew. The mission was notable not primarily for scientific reasons but as an elaborate media undertaking, reportedly costing around $35 million, aimed at boosting television ratings.

His unconventional public image, including his reputation as a heavy smoker, contributed to him being remembered as an unusual figure among Japan's space travelers — a kind of 'antihero' compared to the more polished image typically associated with astronauts.

The flight took place during the late Soviet era, at a time when space missions were increasingly being used for commercial and media purposes alongside their traditional scientific and national goals. Akiyama's journey remains one of the most distinctive examples of this trend.

His death marks the end of a notable chapter in the history of televised space exploration, one that blended journalism, broadcasting commerce and human spaceflight.