Akina Nakamori (中森 明菜, Nakamori Akina; born 13 July 1965) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, record producer and…
Akina Nakamori (中森 明菜, Nakamori Akina; born 13 July 1965) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. She is one of the most popular and best-selling music artists in Japan. Akina achieved national recognition after winning the 1981 season of the talent show Star Tanjō!. Her debut single "Slow Motion" was released to moderate success, peaking at number thirty on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart. Nakamori's popularity increased with the release of her follow-up single, "Shōjo A", which peaked at number five on the Oricon charts and sold over 390,000 copies. Her second album Variation became her first number-one on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart, staying in that position for three weeks. She made her acting debut in 1985 with an appearance in the Japanese romance movie Ai, Tabidachi . After an extended hiatus from 2010 to 2014, Akina released two compilation albums, All Time Best: Original and All Time Best: Utahime Cover, both of which were commercially successful.
Famous Alumni of Meiji University
Meiji University: 549 people
Naohiko Minobe (美濃部 直彦, Minobe Naohiko; born July 12, 1965) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He…
Naohiko Minobe (美濃部 直彦, Minobe Naohiko; born July 12, 1965) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He currently is the manager of club, Asuka FC.
Kazuoki Kodama (児玉 和興, Kodama Kazauoki)(born June 8, 1965) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed from 1989…
Kazuoki Kodama (児玉 和興, Kodama Kazauoki)(born June 8, 1965) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed from 1989 to 1991. He won a bronze medal in the 3 x 10 km team event at the 1991 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme. He also competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Osamu Ota (太田 治, Ota Osamu) (born 23 March 1965, in Akita) is a former Japanese rugby union player and a coach. He…
Osamu Ota (太田 治, Ota Osamu) (born 23 March 1965, in Akita) is a former Japanese rugby union player and a coach. He played as a prop.
Satoru Akahori (あかほり さとる, Akahori Satoru; born 赤堀 悟) is a Japanese scriptwriter, novelist and manga author. He is known…
Satoru Akahori (あかほり さとる, Akahori Satoru; born 赤堀 悟) is a Japanese scriptwriter, novelist and manga author. He is known for NG Knight Ramune & 40 and the Sorcerer Hunters series. His other works include Saber Marionette and Sakura Wars, which come in anime, novel and manga forms.
Riku Sanjo (Japanese: 三条 陸, Hepburn: Sanjō Riku; born October 3, 1964) is a Japanese manga writer and screenwriter. He…
Riku Sanjo (Japanese: 三条 陸, Hepburn: Sanjō Riku; born October 3, 1964) is a Japanese manga writer and screenwriter. He works as a story writer for manga, anime and live-action film. Sanjo graduated from Meiji University. Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (1989–1996), which he created with illustrator Koji Inada, is one of the best-selling manga in history with over 47 million copies sold. The two also created Beet the Vandel Buster (2002–2006, 2016–present), which has 4 million copies in print.
Yasuharu Kawase (河瀬泰治, Kawase Yasuharu), (born Osaka, 15 June 1959) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played…
Yasuharu Kawase (河瀬泰治, Kawase Yasuharu), (born Osaka, 15 June 1959) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as flanker. He is a former Japanese international and served as the forwards coach of the Japanese national team, as well as head coach for the Japanese U21 and U23 national teams. Kawase was also appointed as Japan selection coach, Japan A national team coach, head coach of the Japan students national team, as well as Kansai representative coach. Currently, he coaches Setsunan University RFC (inaugurated in 1986), which plays in the Kansai University Rugby Football Leagues' A League. Additionally, he teaches at Setsunan University.
Atsushi Muroga (室賀厚, Muroga Atsushi; born 18 May 1964) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is known for…
Atsushi Muroga (室賀厚, Muroga Atsushi; born 18 May 1964) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is known for his action and yakuza films, including Score (1995), Junk (2000), and the Gun Crazy series (2002–03), as well as for directing Wangan Midnight: The Movie (2009), a film adaptation of the manga series of the same name.
Goro Tameike (溜池ゴロー, Tameike Gorō) is a Japanese adult video (AV) director who has directed more than 450 videos. He…
Goro Tameike (溜池ゴロー, Tameike Gorō) is a Japanese adult video (AV) director who has directed more than 450 videos. He was one of the first exponents of the "mature woman" (熟女, jukujō) genre in AV.
Hideki Arai (新井 英樹, Arai Hideki) (born 15 September 1963 in Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese manga artist. He…
Hideki Arai (新井 英樹, Arai Hideki) (born 15 September 1963 in Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese manga artist. He received the 38th Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga in 1993 for Miyamoto kara Kimi e. His manga The World Is Mine was chosen by the editors of Pulp for their Manga Hell list of controversial manga. He attended Kawawa High School and graduated from the Meiji University.
Kōichi Hagiuda (萩生田 光一, Hagiuda Kōichi; born 31 August 1963) is a Japanese politician of Liberal Democratic Party who…
Kōichi Hagiuda (萩生田 光一, Hagiuda Kōichi; born 31 August 1963) is a Japanese politician of Liberal Democratic Party who currently serves as executive acting secretary-general of the LDP, He previously served as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and was Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary from 2015 to 2016 and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology from 2019 to 2021.
Yuzo Takada (高田裕三, Takada Yūzō; born March 21, 1963 in Edogawa, Tokyo) is the pseudonym of Yūji Takada (高田裕次, Takada…
Yuzo Takada (高田裕三, Takada Yūzō; born March 21, 1963 in Edogawa, Tokyo) is the pseudonym of Yūji Takada (高田裕次, Takada Yūji), a popular Japanese manga artist. He worked as an assistant for manga artist Fujihiko Hosono before starting his career as an original author. His first work appeared in November 1983 in Young Magazine, and his first series Tokonatsu Bank started in that publication in January 1984 and ran until February 1985. Takada is better known for his supernatural manga 3×3 Eyes and Blue Seed, and for the comedy-action manga All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku. The anime versions of these series all star voice-actress Megumi Hayashibara. In 1993, he won the Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen for 3×3 Eyes. Takada has also worked on character design and illustration for video games, including Enix's Just Breed.
Yutaka Matsushige (松重 豊, Matsushige Yutaka; born January 19, 1963 in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese actor.
Hayashiya Shōzō IX (九代目 林家 正蔵, Kudaime Hayashiya Shōzō; born Yasutaka Ebina (海老名 泰孝, Ebina Yasutaka), December 1, 1962…
Hayashiya Shōzō IX (九代目 林家 正蔵, Kudaime Hayashiya Shōzō; born Yasutaka Ebina (海老名 泰孝, Ebina Yasutaka), December 1, 1962 in Negishi, Taito, Tokyo, Japan), formerly known as Hayashiya Kobuhei (林家 こぶ平, Hayashiya Kobuhei), is a Japanese rakugoka, tarento and voice actor. He is an associate professor of humanities at Josai International University. He is the son of Hayashiya Sanpei I.
Takehiro Sonohara (Japanese: 園原 健弘; born November 9, 1962, in Nagano Prefecture) is a retired male race walker from…
Takehiro Sonohara (Japanese: 園原 健弘; born November 9, 1962, in Nagano Prefecture) is a retired male race walker from Japan. He competed for his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Hakase Suidobashi (水道橋 博士, Suidōbashi Hakase; born 18 August 1962 in Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan) is a Japanese comedian…
Hakase Suidobashi (水道橋 博士, Suidōbashi Hakase; born 18 August 1962 in Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan) is a Japanese comedian who is a member of the comedy duo Asakusa Kid. His real name is Masayoshi Ono (小野 正芳, Ono Masayoshi). Suidobashi is represented with Office Kitano. He is also a manzai comedian, commentator, and a writer in magazine columns and essays.
Katsumi Hirosawa (広澤 克実, born April 10, 1962) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player. A slugger who divided…
Katsumi Hirosawa (広澤 克実, born April 10, 1962) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player. A slugger who divided his time between infield (first base and third base) and the outfield, Hirosawa played for the Yakult Swallows, the Yomiuri Giants, and the Hanshin Tigers. Hirosawa was a four-time Central League Best Nine Award-winner, an eight-time NPB All-Star (including winning the NPB All-Star Game MVP in the 1991 Game 2), and twice led the Central League in RBI. Before joining the Swallows, Hirosawa played baseball for Japan in the 1984 Summer Olympics. Although baseball was a demonstration sport during that Olympics (and no medals were awarded), the Japanese team defeated the United States to take the "gold medal." Hirosawa was part of the Central League-champion Swallows team that lost the 1992 Japan Series to Seibu, as well as the championship team that defeated the Lions in a rematch in 1993. Hirosawa topped off his playing career as part of the 2003 Hanshin Tigers squad that narrowly lost the Japan Series to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. After retiring he served as a coach on the Tigers from 2007 to 2008.
Tetsuo Shinohara (篠原 哲雄, Shinohara Tetsuo; born 9 February 1962 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese film director. His film…
Tetsuo Shinohara (篠原 哲雄, Shinohara Tetsuo; born 9 February 1962 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese film director. His film First Love was the 3rd Best Film at the 22nd Yokohama Film Festival.
Takehiro Watanabe (渡辺 武弘, Watanabe Takehiro; born 16 December 1961) is a Japanese table tennis player. He competed at…
Takehiro Watanabe (渡辺 武弘, Watanabe Takehiro; born 16 December 1961) is a Japanese table tennis player. He competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Eiichi Sato (佐藤 栄一, Satō Eiichi; born 5 October 1961) is the mayor of Utsunomiya, Tochigi in Japan. A graduate of Meiji…
Eiichi Sato (佐藤 栄一, Satō Eiichi; born 5 October 1961) is the mayor of Utsunomiya, Tochigi in Japan. A graduate of Meiji University, he has been serving his first term of mayor since 29 November 2004.
Hideyuki Nakano (born 6 September 1961) is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Representatives of…
Hideyuki Nakano (born 6 September 1961) is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan.
Masaaki Akaike (赤池 誠章, Akaike Masaaki; born 19 July 1961) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who…
Masaaki Akaike (赤池 誠章, Akaike Masaaki; born 19 July 1961) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Akira Takasaki (高崎 晃, Takasaki Akira; born February 22, 1961) is a Japanese musician. He is best known as the lead…
Akira Takasaki (高崎 晃, Takasaki Akira; born February 22, 1961) is a Japanese musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist and sole constant member of the heavy metal band Loudness. He is also the guitarist of the band Lazy, with which he first rose to prominence in the 1970s. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Takasaki the best guitarist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election".
Tsuyoshi Fujita (藤田剛, Fujita Tsuyoshi), (born Osaka Prefecture, January 27, 1961) is a former Japanese rugby union…
Tsuyoshi Fujita (藤田剛, Fujita Tsuyoshi), (born Osaka Prefecture, January 27, 1961) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as hooker.
Miho Imada (Japanese: 今田 美穂; born 1962) is a sake brewmaster at Imada Shuzō in Akitsu, Hiroshima. Imada has a…
Miho Imada (Japanese: 今田 美穂; born 1962) is a sake brewmaster at Imada Shuzō in Akitsu, Hiroshima. Imada has a reputation for making some of the finest sake in the world.
Kayoko Kishimoto (岸本加世子, Kishimoto Kayoko; born 29 December 1960 in Shizuoka, Japan) is an actress. She appeared in…
Kayoko Kishimoto (岸本加世子, Kishimoto Kayoko; born 29 December 1960 in Shizuoka, Japan) is an actress. She appeared in several of Takeshi Kitano's films, such as Hana-bi, Kikujiro and Dolls. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 23rd Japan Academy Prize for Kikujiro.
Kanako Fukaura (深浦 加奈子, Fukaura Kanako; 4 April 1960 – 25 August 2008) was a Japanese actress. Born in Tokyo, she…
Kanako Fukaura (深浦 加奈子, Fukaura Kanako; 4 April 1960 – 25 August 2008) was a Japanese actress. Born in Tokyo, she developed fame largely through many performances as a supporting actress.
Takeshi Kawamura (川村 毅, Kawamura Takeshi; born 1959) is a Japanese playwright and director. He gained recognition in…
Takeshi Kawamura (川村 毅, Kawamura Takeshi; born 1959) is a Japanese playwright and director. He gained recognition in the 1980s for his popular-culture-influenced, violent, highly physical plays. Building upon this early work with later projects of social criticism and postmodern theatrical experimentation, Kawamura secured his position as an internationally recognized theatre artist. As artistic director of theatre companies Daisan Erotica and T Factory, Kawamura uses his plays to comment directly and indirectly on Japanese social conditions and current events while prompting audiences to consider issues such as the shaping influences of media, the confusion of reality with fantasy, and the nature of human individuality.
Kei Nakazawa (中沢 けい, Nakazawa Kei; born 1959) is the professional name of Emiko Honda (本田 恵美子, Honda Emiko), a Japanese…
Kei Nakazawa (中沢 けい, Nakazawa Kei; born 1959) is the professional name of Emiko Honda (本田 恵美子, Honda Emiko), a Japanese writer and professor. Nakazawa has won the Gunzo Prize for New Writers and the Noma Literary New Face Prize, and two of her novels have been adapted for film. Since 2005 she has been a professor of literature at Hosei University.
Miki Watanabe (渡邉 美樹, Watanabe Miki; born October 5, 1959) is a Japanese entrepreneur and politician. He founded the…
Miki Watanabe (渡邉 美樹, Watanabe Miki; born October 5, 1959) is a Japanese entrepreneur and politician. He founded the Watami chain of izakaya restaurants and headed the company until 2011, when he resigned to run in the 2011 Tokyo gubernatorial election. Watanabe's run for the governorship of Tokyo was inspired by Michael Bloomberg's mayorship of New York City. Watanabe came in third with 16.8%, losing to incumbent governor Shintaro Ishihara.
Tetsuya Nakashima (中島哲也) (born 1959) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He was born in Fukuoka, attending…
Tetsuya Nakashima (中島哲也) (born 1959) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He was born in Fukuoka, attending high school in Chikushino. His 2010 film Confessions was awarded Best Picture at the Japanese Academy Awards, where Nakashima was also awarded Director of the Year and Screenplay of the Year. At the Asian Film Awards, the film was nominated for Best Film and Best Director, among other categories. Confessions was also selected as the Japanese entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards and made the final shortlist in January 2011. Nakashima was given the Best Director award at the 2005 Yokohama Film Festival for his film Kamikaze Girls, which also won Best Film. For Kamikaze Girls, he also won Best Film and Best Director at the 14th Japan Film Professional Awards. His 2006 film Memories of Matsuko received 14 nominations at the 30th Japanese Academy Awards, including Picture of the Year and Director of the Year. In 2014, he was nominated for the Audience Choice Award at the Chicago International Film Festival, for his film The World of Kanako. He was originally slated to direct an adaptation of the hit manga Attack on Titan, but in December 2012 he left the project due to differences with the rest of the production team.
Yukari Fujimoto (藤本 由香里, Fujimoto Yukari) is a manga researcher and professor of global Japanese studies at Meiji…
Yukari Fujimoto (藤本 由香里, Fujimoto Yukari) is a manga researcher and professor of global Japanese studies at Meiji University. She was born in Kumamoto Prefecture. She was an editor for Chikuma Shobō. She is a manga critic, gender theorist, author, and liberal feminist. She is a member of the Agency for Cultural Affairs awards selection committee. She is also a member of the Japanese National Diet Library legal deposit deliberation committee.
Otomo Yoshihide (大友 良英, Ōtomo Yoshihide; born August 1, 1959) is a Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist. He…
Otomo Yoshihide (大友 良英, Ōtomo Yoshihide; born August 1, 1959) is a Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist. He mainly plays guitar, turntables and electronics. He first came to international prominence in the 1990s as the leader of the experimental rock group Ground Zero, and has since worked in a variety of contexts, ranging from free improvisation to noise, jazz, avant-garde and contemporary classical. He is also a pioneering figure in the EAI-scene, and is featured on important records on labels like Erstwhile Records. He has composed music for many films, television dramas, and commercials. In 2017, Otomo became the 2nd Guest Artistic Director of The Sapporo International Art Festival 2017.
Katsuo Hirata (平田 勝男, Hirata Katsuo; born July 31, 1959) is a former professional baseball player from Matsuura…
Katsuo Hirata (平田 勝男, Hirata Katsuo; born July 31, 1959) is a former professional baseball player from Matsuura, Nagasaki, Japan.
Hitoshi Okino (沖野 等, Okino Hitoshi; March 19, 1959 – September 11, 2009) was a Japanese football player and manager.
Hiroyuki Suzuki (鈴木 弘幸, Suzuki Hiroyuki; born March 5, 1959 in Kagoshima, Japan) is a Japanese figure skater who is now…
Hiroyuki Suzuki (鈴木 弘幸, Suzuki Hiroyuki; born March 5, 1959 in Kagoshima, Japan) is a Japanese figure skater who is now a coach. He competed in ice dancing with Tomoko Tanaka (his wife). They placed 18th in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. They are three-time Japanese National Champions.
George Iida (飯田 譲治, Iida Jōji; born 1 March 1959) is a Japanese film and television director, screenwriter, manga…
George Iida (飯田 譲治, Iida Jōji; born 1 March 1959) is a Japanese film and television director, screenwriter, manga author, and novelist. Iida has worked continually in Japan's film, television, anime and manga industries since the early 1980s, predominantly in the genres of horror and science fiction.
Amy Yamada (山田 詠美, Yamada Eimi; born February 2, 1959) is a contemporary Japanese writer who is most famous for her…
Amy Yamada (山田 詠美, Yamada Eimi; born February 2, 1959) is a contemporary Japanese writer who is most famous for her stories that address issues of sexuality, racism, and interracial love and marriage. Her debut and subsequent popular success in the 1990s was a part of Japan's hip-hop and Black culture boom. While she is most known for her stories of complicated and messy romantic love, she also writes on the daily minutiae of life (slice-of-life), child-raising, and bullying.
Masaji Matsuyama (松山 政司, Matsuyama Masaji; born 20 January 1959) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…
Masaji Matsuyama (松山 政司, Matsuyama Masaji; born 20 January 1959) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Shiida, Fukuoka and graduate of Meiji University, he was elected for the first time in 2001.
Minoru Kawasaki (河崎実), born 15 August 1958, is a Japanese filmmaker, best known for low-budget parody films featuring…
Minoru Kawasaki (河崎実), born 15 August 1958, is a Japanese filmmaker, best known for low-budget parody films featuring surreal humour and traditional practical effects. Kawasaki began his career with mostly self-financed work, including the Den-Ace short films, featuring a parody of kyodai-style Japanese superheroes, before working on Tsuburaya Production's Ultraman Tiga (1996-1997). He had his first hit with The Calamari Wrestler (2004), about a wrestler who inexplicably becomes a giant squid. He followed this up with Executive Koala (2005), about an anthropomorphic koala salaryman who may or may not have murdered his wife, and Kabuto-O Beetle (also 2005), another wrestling-themed movie, this time with a giant stag beetle. In 2006, he released The World Sinks Except Japan, a spoof of Shinji Higuchi's remake of Japan Sinks, and Crab Goalkeeper (also 2006), a film Kawasaki describes as being his Forrest Gump (1994). Kawasaki has also directed 2008's Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit, a sequel to the 1967 Shochiku kaiju film The X from Outer Space. While the original, made during the height of Japan's "Kaiju Boom" (1966–1967), is "played straight", the sequel is another parody. Kawasaki has since directed two more kaiju films: Kaiju Mono (2016) and Monster Seafood Wars (2020).
Kazushi Kimura (木村 和司, Kimura Kazushi; born July 19, 1958) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played…
Kazushi Kimura (木村 和司, Kimura Kazushi; born July 19, 1958) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Miki Tori (とり·みき, Tori Miki; born February 23, 1958 in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan), also known as Micky Bird…
Miki Tori (とり·みき, Tori Miki; born February 23, 1958 in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan), also known as Micky Bird or Mickey Bird, is a Japanese manga artist, character designer, essayist, and screenplay writer. Tori has won multiple awards for his work, including two Seiun Awards (in 1994 for Dai-Hon'ya, and in 1998 for SF Taishō) and one Bungeishunjū Manga Award (in 1995 for Tōku e Ikitai). His pen name was created by mixing up the pronunciation of the kanji making up his real name. He worked as a writer on WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3. Tori attended Meiji University, majoring in English literature, though he left his studies before receiving a degree. He was a member of the rakugo research club during his time there, and attended at the same time as owarai, tarento, and senpai Masayuki Watanabe. He made his professional debut in 1979 after winning an honorable mention for his story My Alien (ぼくの宇宙人, Boku no Uchūjin) at the 12th Shōnen Champion Rookie Manga Awards, after which he became known mainly for his gag manga such as Kuru Kuru Kurin and Tōku e Ikitai, as well as manga featuring science fiction elements. For many years, his manga appeared in the television guide "TV Bros."
Yoshitaka Shindō (新藤 義孝, Shindō Yoshitaka; born 20 January 1958) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…
Yoshitaka Shindō (新藤 義孝, Shindō Yoshitaka; born 20 January 1958) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) for Saitama Prefecture 2nd District. Affiliated to the openly revisionist lobby Nippon Kaigi, Shindo is known for his committed stance on territorial disputes with neighboring countries of Japan, and his recurring visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
Kiyoshi Sasabe (佐々部清) (January 8, 1958 – March 31, 2020) was a Japanese film director.
Norifusa Mita (Japanese: 三田 紀房, Hepburn: Mita Norifusa; born January 4, 1958) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best…
Norifusa Mita (Japanese: 三田 紀房, Hepburn: Mita Norifusa; born January 4, 1958) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for Dragon Zakura for which he received the 29th Kodansha Manga Award. Dragon Zakura has been adapted to live-action television series in Japan and South Korea, its spin-off series Angel Bank received live-action television adaptation as well. His manga Investor Z was adapted into live-action television series in 2018 and The Great War of Archimedes was adapted into a film in 2019.
Katsunori Takahashi (高橋 克法, Takahashi Katsunori; born 7 December 1957) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal…
Katsunori Takahashi (高橋 克法, Takahashi Katsunori; born 7 December 1957) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Councillors.
Atsushi Onita (大仁田 厚, Ōnita Atsushi; born October 25, 1957) is a Japanese actor, politician, and semi-retired…
Atsushi Onita (大仁田 厚, Ōnita Atsushi; born October 25, 1957) is a Japanese actor, politician, and semi-retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) and is credited with introducing the deathmatch style of professional wrestling to Japan. He is a former 7-time FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Champion and 3-time All Asia Tag Team Champion alongside partners Masanobu Fuchi, Yoshitatsu, and Toy Kojima. Onita founded FMW in 1989, defeating martial artist Masashi Aoyagi under his own martial arts rules in the main event of the second night of the promotion's inaugural event. FMW later emerged as a full-fledged touring organization, moving away from martial arts-inspired shoot style matches and moving toward the rasslin'-inspired deathmatch style – which became popular with Japanese fans. He was the promotion's top star, wrestling in main event matches at sold-out events, making FMW a financially successful company, particularly for a Japanese independent promotion. Onita sold FMW to Shoichi Arai and retired from wrestling in 1995 to pursue an acting career, which was unsuccessful, forcing him to return as a wrestler in 1996. After returning to FMW, he led stables ZEN and Team Zero but departed the company in 1998 after disagreements over his position in the company. He held the FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship a record seven times and headlined the first six editions of FMW's premier Anniversary Show event from 1989 to 1995.
Kazuaki Ichimura (市村 和昭, Ichimura Kazuaki; born 11 August 1957) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in two events…
Kazuaki Ichimura (市村 和昭, Ichimura Kazuaki; born 11 August 1957) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in two events at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Yoshitaka Katori (鹿取 義隆, Katori Yoshitaka; born March 10, 1957 in Kami, Kōchi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional…
Yoshitaka Katori (鹿取 義隆, Katori Yoshitaka; born March 10, 1957 in Kami, Kōchi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Masahiro Akimoto (秋元 正博, Akimoto Masahiro) (born 3 September 1956) is a Japanese former ski jumper.