Departures of note

Yamada Goro (born December 5, 1958) was a Japanese cultural commentator, editor, and columnist. After graduating from Sophia University, he joined Kodansha in 1981, where he edited fashion and lifestyle magazines such as Hot‑Dog Press, Sophia, and Checkmate. He later became the editor‑in‑chief of Hot‑Dog Press and contributed to numerous other publications.

In the early 1990s Yamada entered television, appearing on variety shows like Tamori Club as the “butt‑critic” and later becoming a regular guest on several programs. He launched the YouTube channel “Yamada Goro Adult Education” in 2021, where he produced popular videos on art, history, and everyday culture, amassing a large subscriber base. From 2014 until his death he co‑hosted the JFN radio program “Yamada Goro and Shoko Nakagawa’s Remix Z,” a two‑hour show that mixed commentary, interviews, and archival clips.

Yamada was also a member of the Tokyo National Museum council and an active participant in clock‑collecting societies. He publicly disclosed a diagnosis of stage‑IV cancer in 2024 and continued to work despite severe health challenges. He passed away on July 14, 2026 at his home in Shibuya, Tokyo, aged 67, after a brief period of coma and declining health.

His career spanned over four decades, influencing Japanese media through print, television, radio, and online platforms, and he is remembered for his witty critiques and ability to make cultural topics accessible to a broad audience.