George Abbot Furness, a man of great significance, was born on December 31, 1896, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, a place that would forever hold a special place in his heart.
As fate would have it, Furness' life took a dramatic turn in 1946, when he made the bold decision to relocate to Japan, a country still reeling from the devastating effects of World War II.
With his impressive legal background, Furness set out to make a name for himself as one of the Western lawyers defending Japanese war criminals. His remarkable skills and unwavering dedication proved to be a winning combination, as he successfully secured an acquittal for his client, the esteemed WW2-era Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu.
This monumental achievement had far-reaching consequences, as Shigemitsu was eventually reinstated in his old job in 1954, a testament to Furness' unshakeable confidence and expertise.
But Furness' talents didn't stop there. Like many English-speaking expatriates, he also discovered a hidden passion for Japanese movies, and went on to enjoy a minor yet fulfilling second career in the industry.
