The most influential person in Japan is filmmaker Takeshi Kitano, well-known abroad for his bleak gangster films and at home for his deadpan television personality, according to an Internet survey released by Sankei news Thursday. Mr. Kitano’s crowning is representative of the rest of the top 100 ranking where entertainers overshadowed the country’s political and business leaders. Naoto Kan didn’t even play second fiddle to the movie director, maker of Zatoichi and Fireworks, or “Hana-bi” in Japanese, who also answers to nickname “Beat Takeshi”. (Wall Street Journal)