WEBJune 19, 2004. (2004-06-19) (aged 68) Japan. Known for. Metagrobology, puzzle collector, author. Nobuyuki Yoshigahara ( 芦ヶ原 伸之 Yoshigahara Nobuyuki, commonly known as " Nob "; May 27, 1936 – June 19, 2004) was perhaps Japan 's most celebrated inventor, collector, solver, and communicator of puzzles. [1]