Toyohiro Akiyama Dies at 84 After Spaceflight

Toyohiro Akiyama became the first Japanese citizen to travel into space and the first journalist from any country to do so. According to a report from Ars Technica, he passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. He was 84 years old at the time of his death. The publication described him as Japan's first citizen and the world's first journalist to launch into space. This announcement comes via their official account on social media linking to a detailed article about his life and achievements in space travel.