This morning, the  Asahi (the most liberal of Japan's three major daily papers)'s  Vox Populi, Vox Dei column tells me that its August and the 50th anniversaries of the deaths of several prominent people are coming up: American movie star Marilyn Monroe on the 5th, Japanese folklorist Yanagita Kunio on the 8th, and German author Herman Hesse on the 9th. Where else in the world would you find a list like this?

Come to think of it that is a serious question. I don't know the answer. Suggestions, please.