Eisuke Mochizuki (望月衛介, Mochizuki Eisuke; born October 1970, in Tokyo, Japan), birth name Mamoru Mochizuki, is a…Eisuke Mochizuki (望月衛介, Mochizuki Eisuke; born October 1970, in Tokyo, Japan), birth name Mamoru Mochizuki, is a Japanese pianist, composer, npo director, producer and former member of the pop group B.B.Queens.
Shigeo Kobayashi (小林 成男, Kobayashi Shigeo; born April 21, 1970) is a Japanese actor. Born and raised in Tokyo…Shigeo Kobayashi (小林 成男, Kobayashi Shigeo; born April 21, 1970) is a Japanese actor. Born and raised in Tokyo, Kobayashi worked on over 80 films, theatrical productions and TV drama series. In 2008, he played the leading role in a short film "Todai (the Light House)" a part of Otokotachi no Uta. His most recent work includes the role of a Japanese Lieutenant in The Flowers of War, starring Christian Bale and directed by Zhang Yimou. Shigeo continues to build a unique career as an actor, noted for his ability to express subtle emotions. While attending Keio University, he studied acting as an apprentice of renowned kabuki actor Yorozuya Kinnosuke. After performing in historical plays with Yorozuya, during which he trained for Japanese swordfights, he broadened his scope to film and television. In 1999, he appeared in Railroad Man with Ken Takakura. Over the years he earned recognition as both a film and theatrical actor who specialises in Yakuza, samurai, soldier and detective roles.
Fumiko Kono (Japanese: 狐野扶実子 born 1969) is a Japanese personal and business chef who prepares fusion dishes of French…Fumiko Kono (Japanese: 狐野扶実子 born 1969) is a Japanese personal and business chef who prepares fusion dishes of French and Japanese cuisine. Classically trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, she has cooked for celebrities throughout the world, been the featured subject of documentaries, and has written her own cookbooks.
Masazumi Gotoda (後藤田 正純, Gotōda Masazumi; born 5 August 1969) is a Japanese politician and the current governor of…Masazumi Gotoda (後藤田 正純, Gotōda Masazumi; born 5 August 1969) is a Japanese politician and the current governor of Tokushima Prefecture. A native of Oe District, Tokushima and graduate of Keio University, he worked at Mitsubishi Corporation from 1993 to 1998. Gotoda was a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet, for the Liberal Democratic Party, between 2000 and 2023. In 2023 he was elected as governor of Tokushima, defeating three other candidates including 5-term incumbent Kamon Iizumi.
Hideaki Okubo (大久保 秀昭, Okubo Hideaki; born July 3, 1969) is a Japanese baseball catcher who won a silver medal in the…Hideaki Okubo (大久保 秀昭, Okubo Hideaki; born July 3, 1969) is a Japanese baseball catcher who won a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics. He also played for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes in the Pacific League from 1998 to 2000.
Masahito Kohiyama (小桧山 雅仁, Kohiyama Masahito; born May 7, 1969) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He…Masahito Kohiyama (小桧山 雅仁, Kohiyama Masahito; born May 7, 1969) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama BayStars and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Chinatrust Whales.
Shoko Noda (born 1969) is a Japanese United Nations official currently serving as assistant secretary-general…Shoko Noda (born 1969) is a Japanese United Nations official currently serving as assistant secretary-general, assistant administrator, and director of the Crisis Bureau of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). With a career spanning over 25 years in the United Nations system, she spearheaded her expertise in peacebuilding and management.
Akihiko Hoshide (Japanese: 星出 彰彦, Hepburn: Hoshide Akihiko; born December 28, 1968) is a Japanese engineer, JAXA…Akihiko Hoshide (Japanese: 星出 彰彦, Hepburn: Hoshide Akihiko; born December 28, 1968) is a Japanese engineer, JAXA astronaut, and former commander of the International Space Station. On August 30, 2012, Hoshide became the third Japanese astronaut to walk in space.
Kazuki Kaneshiro (金城 一紀, Kaneshiro Kazuki; born 29 October 1968) is a Zainichi Korean novelist who was born in…Kazuki Kaneshiro (金城 一紀, Kaneshiro Kazuki; born 29 October 1968) is a Zainichi Korean novelist who was born in Kawaguchi, Saitama. Later in his life he acquired Japanese citizenship. Due to early influence from his Marxist-Leninist father, he studied at the Chongryon-affiliated elementary school and middle school. Afterwards his father switched his affiliation for Mindan, he instead studied at Hozen High School (保善高等学校) in Tokyo Shibuya. He graduated in Law at Keio University. With the strong confusions with Chongryon, Mindan, and Japanese politics he wanted to promote an alternative "Korean-Japanese" (コリアン・ジャパニーズ) identity to overcome social obstacles, but later he abandoned this concept.
Masaaki Kanai (Japanese: 金井 正明, romanized: Kanai Masaaki) is a Japanese diplomat, serving as director-general of the…Masaaki Kanai (Japanese: 金井 正明, romanized: Kanai Masaaki) is a Japanese diplomat, serving as director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau.
Mikio Fujita (藤田 幹雄, Fujita Mikio; born 11 October 1968) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Mikio Fujita (藤田 幹雄, Fujita Mikio; born 11 October 1968) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Tokyo and graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2005. He represented the Southern Kanto proportional representation block from 2005 to 2009.
Lee Jae-yong (Korean: 이재용; born June 23, 1968) is a South Korean business executive who has been chairman of Samsung…Lee Jae-yong (Korean: 이재용; born June 23, 1968) is a South Korean business executive who has been chairman of Samsung since October 2022. In 2017, Lee was convicted of bribery, embezzlement, and concealment of criminal proceeds. He served a prison sentence until being pardoned by President Yoon Suk Yeol in August 2022. Born into the family that controls the Samsung conglomerate, Lee has held various positions in the company since joining Samsung in 1991. Lee has consistently ranked among the wealthiest persons in South Korea, with a net worth reaching tens of billions of dollars. He has also been named to Forbes’ list of the world’s top 100 billionaries.
Kosuke Takahashi (高橋 浩祐, Takahashi Kōsuke; born October 13, 1968 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa) is a Japanese journalist. He…Kosuke Takahashi (高橋 浩祐, Takahashi Kōsuke; born October 13, 1968 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa) is a Japanese journalist. He contributes to IHS Jane's Defence, NK News, and Toyo Keizai Online among other media by writing in both English and Japanese. He is also currently a regular TV commentator of Tokyo MX's Morning Cross program. Takahashi worked as the senior online news editor at Thomson Reuters in Tokyo from April 2016 to January 2017, where he focuses on expanding its online news coverage across multiple digital channels. He was appointed editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Japan in September 2014 where he was in charge of overseeing all of the day-to-day editorial content and operations of the Huffington Post Japan. Previously, he has worked as Tokyo correspondent for IHS Jane's Defence Weekly from January 2009 to early September 2014, specializing in Japan's defense and politics as well as East Asian affairs such as on Sino-Japanese relations and Korean Peninsula issues. He also has worked for the Asahi Shimbun, Bloomberg News, Dow Jones Japan and The Wall Street Journal Japan as staff writer/editor, and Nikkei CNBC Japan as regular TV commentator. He used the pen name Kosuke Goto (後藤 浩祐, Goto Kosuke) at Bloomberg. His work has appeared in the International Herald Tribune, The Guardian, The Straits Times, Institutional Investor magazine, Asia Times Online, The Diplomat, NK News and Japan's Tokyo Keizai magazine, among other publications. His comments on international affairs have appeared in worldwide articles such as those of the Christian Science Monitor, the Australian, Italy's daily newspaper Il Foglio, the Taipei Times, the Ukrainian Week, China's Xinhua News Agency and South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo. The news media Takahashi has worked for: Tokyo Correspondent for The Diplomat, May 2023– Present Tokyo Correspondent for Janes Defence Weekly, January 2017– April 2023 Senior Online News Editor of Thomson Reuters, April 1, 2016– January 2017 Editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Japan, September 8, 2014– March 14, 2016 Tokyo Correspondent for IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, January 2009– September 7, 2014 Editor at Wall Street Journal Japan, Oct 2012 - Dec 2013 Senior Writer at Asia Times Online, May 2004– Sept 2012 TV Commentator at Nikkei CNBC Japan, March 2009– March 2012 (under his pen name Kosuke Goto) Freelancer for Institutional Investor Magazine, January 2009–December 2010 Staff Writer at Bloomberg News, July 2005 - Sept 2008 (under his pen name Kosuke Goto) Staff Writer at RIM Intelligence Co, Feb 2004 - May 2005 Intern at the Tokyo bureau of The New York Times, May- July, 2002 Copy Editor at Dow Jones Japan, 2000–2001 Staff Writer at The Asahi Shimbun, 1993–1999 Takahashi graduated from Keio University with a B.A. in economics in 1993. After working for The Asahi Shimbun and Dow Jones, he studied at Columbia University's Journalism School and School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and graduated with Master of Science in Journalism in 2003 and Master of International Affairs in 2004. Prior to joining the Asahi as a reporter in 1993, he worked for Baltimore Economic Development Corporation as an exchange trainee to a sister city program of Kawasaki City, and researched trade issues between the United States and Japan. He was awarded an Honorary citizenship of Baltimore for his work in 1988.
James Kondo (近藤 正晃ジェームス Kondo Masaakira James, born December 9, 1967) is an executive whose career spans social…James Kondo (近藤 正晃ジェームス Kondo Masaakira James, born December 9, 1967) is an executive whose career spans social, technology, government, business and academic sectors. From January 2019, he is Chairman of International House of Japan.
Kōtarō Nogami (born 20 May 1967) is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and…Kōtarō Nogami (born 20 May 1967) is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from September 2020 to October 2021. He previously served as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary from 2016 to 2019, and is also a member of the House of Councilors of Japan, winning his first election in 2001. Nogami served in the House of Councilors for Toyama from 2001 to 2007, serving one term. After losing re-election, he ran again in 2010 and successfully won the seat. In 2013, he was named State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and served in that position for a year. In 2016, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appointed him as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, and he served in that position until 2019.
Taro Yamada (山田 太郎, Yamada Tarō; born May 12, 1967) is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of Councillors…Taro Yamada (山田 太郎, Yamada Tarō; born May 12, 1967) is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of Councillors for the Liberal Democratic Party. He is known as a defender of freedom of expression in manga and anime, and has promoted policies to exempt sexual depictions of fictional characters from legal restrictions. He is an honorary advisor at Association for Freedom of Entertainment Expression. Taro Yamada was born in Ōta, Tokyo, and began his career as a businessman. After becoming a politician as a member of the Diet for the Your Party in 2012, he lost an election. In 2019 he became a member of the House of Councillors for the Liberal Democratic Party. In the first and second Kishida Cabinets, he served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Digital Affairs and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. During his tenure, he pushed for the inclusion of paragraph 3 in Article 14 of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime to decriminalize manga and anime, and visited Visa headquarters to end financial censorship.
Takehiro Shimada (島田 丈裕, Shimada Takehiro; born April 25, 1967) is a Japanese diplomat. After joining the Ministry of…Takehiro Shimada (島田 丈裕, Shimada Takehiro; born April 25, 1967) is a Japanese diplomat. After joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1991, he served in a number of senior positions, including Deputy Assistant Minister (Shingikan) in the Minister's Secretariat and Chief of Protocol. In July 2024, he was appointed Minister at the Embassy of Japan in the United States. His father served as a medical officer at a Japanese consulate in Brazil.
Tatsuo Fukuda (福田達夫, Fukuda Tatsuo; born 5 March 1967) is a Japanese politician who currently serves as chairman of the…Tatsuo Fukuda (福田達夫, Fukuda Tatsuo; born 5 March 1967) is a Japanese politician who currently serves as chairman of the General Council of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He also serves as a member of the House of Representatives for the Liberal Democratic Party. He is the son of former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and grandson of former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda.
Naoki Kazama (風間 直樹, Kazama Naoki; born 22 October 1966) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic…Naoki Kazama (風間 直樹, Kazama Naoki; born 22 October 1966) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Myōkō, Niigata and graduate of Keio University, he had served in the assembly of Niigata Prefecture between 1999 and 2003. He was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007.
Keishi Ōtomo (Japanese: 大友啓史, Hepburn: Ōtomo Keishi; born May 6, 1966) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He…Keishi Ōtomo (Japanese: 大友啓史, Hepburn: Ōtomo Keishi; born May 6, 1966) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is known for psychological thrillers and historical dramas, as well as adapting a variety of manga and novels to film, including The Vulture (2009), Ryōmaden (2010), and the Rurouni Kenshin film series. Ōtomo’s awards include the Audience Award at the 18th Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal (2014), the Popularity Award at the 38th Japanese Academy Awards (2014), and Best Director at the 31st Japanese Critics Award (2022).
Keiichiro Kobayashi (小林 慶一郎, Kobayashi Keiichirō) (born 1966) is a Japanese macroeconomist at the Keio University. His…Keiichiro Kobayashi (小林 慶一郎, Kobayashi Keiichirō) (born 1966) is a Japanese macroeconomist at the Keio University. His areas of expertise are endogenous growth theory, general equilibrium, business cycles, debt problems, debt control policy, and macropolitical economy. He received a Ph.D. in economics in 1998 from the University of Chicago. His dissertation The Division of Labor, the Extent of the Market, and Economic Growth was written under supervision of Robert Lucas, a prominent American economist and a Nobel Prize winner in Economics in 1995. Kobayashi was awarded the Nikkei Economics Book Award in 2001 and the Osaragi Jiro Critics Award in 2002, both for Trap of the Japanese Economy.
Kiyotaka Tsurisaki (釣崎 清隆, born 1966 in Toyama Prefecture) is a Japanese photographer who specializes in photographing…Kiyotaka Tsurisaki (釣崎 清隆, born 1966 in Toyama Prefecture) is a Japanese photographer who specializes in photographing dead bodies. After graduation from Keio University, he worked as an adult video director and became a dead body photographer in 1994. He has taken pictures in Thailand, Colombia, Russia, Palestine, India, Mexico, Ukraine, Japan, Brazil, Philippines, Israel, France and elsewhere.
Yasuhiro Matsuda (松田 康博, Matsuda Yasuhiro; born November, 1965 in Hokkaido) is a Japanese professor of international…Yasuhiro Matsuda (松田 康博, Matsuda Yasuhiro; born November, 1965 in Hokkaido) is a Japanese professor of international politics at the University of Tokyo.
Tetsuya Bessho (別所 哲也, Bessho Tetsuya; born August 31, 1965) is a Japanese actor and radio presenter. Since 2014, he…Tetsuya Bessho (別所 哲也, Bessho Tetsuya; born August 31, 1965) is a Japanese actor and radio presenter. Since 2014, he has hosted the Miss International pageant.
Kohei Ito (伊藤 公平, Itō Kōhei; born 1965) is a Japanese physicist. He is the 20th president of Keio University and…Kohei Ito (伊藤 公平, Itō Kōhei; born 1965) is a Japanese physicist. He is the 20th president of Keio University and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Keio University. His research fields include solid-state physics, quantum computers, electronic materials, nanotechnology, and semiconductor isotope engineering. As one of Japan's pioneers in quantum computational research, he has led Keio University into a quantum educational initiative with IBM, alongside the University of Tokyo, University of Chicago, Yonsei University and Seoul National University.
Gala Inc. (株式会社ガーラ, Gala Kabushiki gaisha) is a holding company based in Tokyo, Japan, that administers GALA Group…Gala Inc. (株式会社ガーラ, Gala Kabushiki gaisha) is a holding company based in Tokyo, Japan, that administers GALA Group, which is made up of subsidiary companies of Gala Inc. The group of companies comprises three types of businesses: MMORPG games, web design, and data mining. Within the group companies Gala Lab Corp. was established in South Korea after the merger of Aeonsoft and n Flavor and develops games for the group's online gaming portal gPotato. GALA Group focuses on developing largely multiplayer online role-playing games. To cover local areas, there are group companies located in the United States, Japan, and South Korea. GALA Group's games are free-to-play. However, there is a micro-currency system that can be used to buy in-game upgrades. Games and their item shops can be accessed by the Group's regional gPotato portal sites.
Hiroshi Ando (安藤裕, Ando Hiroshi; born 28 March 1965) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…Hiroshi Ando (安藤裕, Ando Hiroshi; born 28 March 1965) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2025. From 2012 to 2021, he was a member of the House of Representatives.
Iehiro Tokugawa (Shinjitai: 徳川家広, Kyūjitai: 德川家廣, Tokugawa Iehiro; born 7 February 1965) is a Japanese author and…Iehiro Tokugawa (Shinjitai: 徳川家広, Kyūjitai: 德川家廣, Tokugawa Iehiro; born 7 February 1965) is a Japanese author and translator who is the 19th generation and current head of the main House of Tokugawa. His great-great-grandfather was the famed Matsudaira Katamori of Aizu, and his maternal great-great-grandfather was Tokugawa Iesato, the sixteenth head of the House of Tokugawa.
Reversi is an abstract strategy board game for two players, played on an 8×8 uncheckered board. It was invented in…Reversi is an abstract strategy board game for two players, played on an 8×8 uncheckered board. It was invented in 1883. Othello, a variant with a fixed initial setup of the board, was patented in 1971. Two players compete, using 64 identical game pieces ("disks") that are light on one side and dark on the other. Each player chooses one color to use throughout the game. Players take turns placing one disk on an empty square, with their assigned color facing up. After a play is made, any disks of the opponent's color that lie in a straight line bounded by the one just played and another one in the current player's color are turned over. When all playable empty squares are filled, the player with more disks showing in their own color wins the game.
Shigeki Kobayashi (小林 茂樹, Kobayashi Shigeki; born 9 October 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Shigeki Kobayashi (小林 茂樹, Kobayashi Shigeki; born 9 October 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Shigeo Yamada (山田 重夫, Yamada Shigeo; born July 17, 1964) is a Japanese diplomat. He has served as Japanese Ambassador…Shigeo Yamada (山田 重夫, Yamada Shigeo; born July 17, 1964) is a Japanese diplomat. He has served as Japanese Ambassador to the United States since 2023.
Hirotaka Ishihara (石原 宏高, Ishihara Hirotaka; born 19 June 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Hirotaka Ishihara (石原 宏高, Ishihara Hirotaka; born 19 June 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He has been Minister of the Environment within Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet since 2025. A native of Kanagawa Prefecture and graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2005 after an unsuccessful run in 2003. He is the son of Shintaro Ishihara, former governor of Tokyo, and like his father affiliated to the revisionist lobby Nippon Kaigi.
Edo Harumi (エド・はるみ; born 14 May 1964, in Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian, actress and graduate student. Edo Harumi is…Edo Harumi (エド・はるみ; born 14 May 1964, in Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian, actress and graduate student. Edo Harumi is represented with Yoshimoto Kogyo in Tokyo (also known as Tokyo Yoshimoto, a subsidiary of Yoshimoto Creative Agency). She spent her childhood in Ibaraki Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture and Tokyo. Edo Harumi graduated from Meiji University Faculty of Literature Department of Literature Department of Drama Studies. She is known in variety programmes as -gū (○○グゥ〜).
Yasuharu Sorimachi (反町 康治, Sorimachi Yasuharu; born March 8, 1964) is a Japanese former football player and manager. He…Yasuharu Sorimachi (反町 康治, Sorimachi Yasuharu; born March 8, 1964) is a Japanese former football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.
Takao Ochi (越智 隆雄, Ochi Takao; born 27 February 1964) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Takao Ochi (越智 隆雄, Ochi Takao; born 27 February 1964) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Ichirō Hirosawa (Japanese: 広沢 一郎, Hepburn: Hirosawa Ichirō; born December 27, 1963) is a Japanese businessman and…Ichirō Hirosawa (Japanese: 広沢 一郎, Hepburn: Hirosawa Ichirō; born December 27, 1963) is a Japanese businessman and politician who is the mayor of Nagoya since 2024. Born in Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, he previously worked as a producer and CEO for Magnolia kabushiki-gaisha before entering politics in 2011. Hirosawa was a member of the Aichi Prefectural Assembly for Mizuho-ku from 2011 to 2014 alongside Taro Kawashima. He lost elections for the House of Representatives for Aichi 1st district in the 2014 and for the House of Councillors for Aichi at-large district in 2022. He was later appointed as Deputy Mayor for Nagoya from 2017 to 2021. A member of the Aichi-based regional party Genzei Nippon, Hirosawa served as deputy general-secretary for the party from 2011 to 2023. He also served as the deputy general-secretary for Conservative Party of Japan from 2023 to 2024.
Motoyuki Odachi (尾立 源幸, Odachi Motoyuki; born October 9, 1963) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal…Motoyuki Odachi (尾立 源幸, Odachi Motoyuki; born October 9, 1963) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Sakai, Osaka and graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 after running unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in 2000.
Toshiharu Furukawa (古川 俊治, Furukawa Toshiharu; born 14 January 1963) is a Japanese medical doctor, attorney, and…Toshiharu Furukawa (古川 俊治, Furukawa Toshiharu; born 14 January 1963) is a Japanese medical doctor, attorney, and politician of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Taro Kono (河野 太郎, Kōno Tarō; born 10 January 1963) is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister for Digital…Taro Kono (河野 太郎, Kōno Tarō; born 10 January 1963) is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister for Digital Transformation from 2022 to 2024. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he previously served as Minister for Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform from 2015 to 2016 and from 2020 to 2021, and was the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He is also a member of the House of Representatives representing Kanagawa's 15th district since 1996. Born in 1963 the eldest son of House Speaker and LDP President Yōhei Kōno, Kono grew up in a political family. Originally planning to study economics in Japan, he dropped out to attend Georgetown University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service in 1983. After working in the private sector for more than a decade, Kono was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1996. In his career in the House, Kono served on various committees before running in the 2009 LDP leadership election; after losing to Sadakazu Tanigaki, he became Deputy Secretary-General of the LDP. After two years in the opposition, the LDP returned to power in the 2012 general election, while Kono remained a backbencher. In October 2015, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appointed Kono Minister for Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform, a position he served in for less than year before resigning amidst a cabinet reshuffle. Kono returned to government in 2017 as Foreign Minister under Abe. His tenure oversaw a trade dispute with South Korea and deepening of ties with the United States. After about two years in that role, Abe designated Kono as Minister of Defense in 2019. As Defense Minister, he presided over the cancellation of the Aegis Ashore missile defense system, a more tense relationship with China, and the strengthening of security partnerships with nations in the Indo-Pacific. After Abe resigned in 2020, he was succeeded by Yoshihide Suga who retained Kono in his cabinet. Kono returned to his prior role as the Administrative Reform Minister, organizing Japan's vaccine rollout in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Suga supported Kono to replace him as party president in the 2021 LDP leadership election, losing to Fumio Kishida in a second round run-off. After spending less than a year in the backbenches, Kono was appointed Digital Affairs Minister by Kishida in 2022. In this role he attempted to revive the My Number card system, and rolled out reforms for thousands of regulations in an effort to cut down on bureaucratic red tape. After Kishida resigned, he ran for party leadership for the third time in the 2024 LDP presidential election, coming in eighth place. He subsequently resigned as Digital Affairs Minister and has since continued as a backbencher in the Diet. Kono has developed a reputation as a political maverick, with a tendency to hold positions on issues contrary to his party. Belonging to the conservative and centre-right Shikōkai faction, he is considered a centrist within the LDP, supporting same-sex marriage and more acceptance of immigrants into Japan. Kono also favors a strong national defense, strengthening alliances with the US and Canada, as well as Pacific partners like Australia and South Korea, and is a proponent of the concept of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. He is also known for his large following on social media and his fluency in English. Kono has long been speculated as a potential future prime minister, running for party leadership three times.
Hisataka Ikuta (生田久貴, Ikuta Hisataka) is a former Japanese rugby union player, and currently CEO and president of…Hisataka Ikuta (生田久貴, Ikuta Hisataka) is a former Japanese rugby union player, and currently CEO and president of Mikuni.
Makoto Nishida (西田 実仁, Nishida Makoto; born 27 August 1962) is a Japanese politician who serves as secretary general of…Makoto Nishida (西田 実仁, Nishida Makoto; born 27 August 1962) is a Japanese politician who serves as secretary general of the Komeito since 2024. He has served as a member of the House of Councillors since 2004.
Daijiro Murai (村井大次郎, Murai Daijirō) (born Tokyo, 24 August 1962) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as…Daijiro Murai (村井大次郎, Murai Daijirō) (born Tokyo, 24 August 1962) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a fullback.
Masashi Mito (水戸 将史, Mito Masashi; born July 28, 1962) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…Masashi Mito (水戸 将史, Mito Masashi; born July 28, 1962) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, and a former member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Tomamae District, Hokkaidō and 1985 graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007 after serving in the assembly of Kanagawa Prefecture for three terms from 1995 until 2007.
Katsuhiko Nakagawa (中川 勝彦, Nakagawa Katsuhiko; July 20, 1962 – September 17, 1994) was a Japanese actor and musician…Katsuhiko Nakagawa (中川 勝彦, Nakagawa Katsuhiko; July 20, 1962 – September 17, 1994) was a Japanese actor and musician from Tokyo. He is the father of the multi-tarento Shoko Nakagawa. He appeared in the 1986 adaptation of Toki o Kakeru Shōjo, voiced the lead character of Superpowered Robo Garat, and released 10 singles and 9 albums before his death in 1994, with two albums released posthumously. After his debut appearance as a musician in NHK's Young Music Festival, he started to become known after appearing in the movies Narawareta Gakuen (1981) and Tenkōsei (1982). On February 22, 1984, he released simultaneously his debut album and single entitled Shite Mitai through Warner Pioneer. In September 1992 he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. He passed 9 months fighting against the disease and managed to make a comeback to Japanese entertainment, but his leukemia reappeared in August 1994, leading to his death on September 17, 1994.
Yukiyoshi Yamano (山野 之義, Yamano Yukiyoshi; born 30 March 1962) is a Japanese politician, who serves as a governor of…Yukiyoshi Yamano (山野 之義, Yamano Yukiyoshi; born 30 March 1962) is a Japanese politician, who serves as a governor of Ishikawa Prefecture.
Yōji Sakate (坂手 洋二, Sakate Yōji; born March 11, 1962) is a contemporary Japanese playwright notable for his plays that…Yōji Sakate (坂手 洋二, Sakate Yōji; born March 11, 1962) is a contemporary Japanese playwright notable for his plays that frequently comment on social and political issues in Japan. His most prominent plays are The Attic (屋根裏 Yaneura, 2002), Come Out (カムアウト Kamu auto, 1989), Tokyo Trial (トーキョー裁判 Tōkyō saiban, 1988), and Epitaph for the Whales (くじらの墓標 Kujira no bohyō, 1993). In his works, he focuses on dramatizing real-life events, and also depicts the historical past. In 1983, he founded his own theater company called the Phosphorescence Troupe (燐光群 Rinkōgun). Sakate is currently the president of the Japanese Playwrights Association, and the director of both the Japan Directors Association and Japanese Center of International Theater Institute.
Akihisa Nagashima (長島 昭久, Nagashima Akihisa) is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan as well as a visiting…Akihisa Nagashima (長島 昭久, Nagashima Akihisa) is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan as well as a visiting professor at Chuo University's Graduate School of Public Studies. He served as the Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense in the Kan Cabinet.
