Masaki Ōtake (Japanese: 大竹正輝, Hepburn: Ōtake Masaki; born 24 December 1984), known by the stage name Durian…Masaki Ōtake (Japanese: 大竹正輝, Hepburn: Ōtake Masaki; born 24 December 1984), known by the stage name Durian Lollobrigida (ドリアン・ロロブリジーダ, Dorian Roroburijīda), is a Japanese actor, drag performer, singer, and television host. A native of Tokyo, Lollobrigida began dressing in drag in 2006. He appeared in Daishi Matsunaga's 2022 queer drama Egoist, and was a commentator on the Japanese television series The Boyfriend. He uses the pronouns he/him in and out of drag.
Yuta Imamura (今村雄太, Imamura Yūta) (born 31 October 1984 in Mie, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Imamura has…Yuta Imamura (今村雄太, Imamura Yūta) (born 31 October 1984 in Mie, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Imamura has played 38 international matches for the Japan national rugby union team. Imamura was a member of the Japan team at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Yuto Aoki (青木 悠人, Aoki Yūto; born 11 July 1984 in Tokushima Prefecture) is a Japanese hurdler. He finished seventh in…Yuto Aoki (青木 悠人, Aoki Yūto; born 11 July 1984 in Tokushima Prefecture) is a Japanese hurdler. He finished seventh in the 110 metres hurdles at the 2010 Asian Games.
Ryoko Nakagawa (中川 諒子, Nakagawa Ryōko; born 29 May 1984) is a Japanese female track cyclist. She competed in the 500 m…Ryoko Nakagawa (中川 諒子, Nakagawa Ryōko; born 29 May 1984) is a Japanese female track cyclist. She competed in the 500 m time trial and team sprint event at the 2011 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. She is also a professional keirin cyclist.
Takahiro Yamaguchi (山口 貴弘, Yamaguchi Takahiro; born May 8, 1984 in Tokyo) is a former Japanese footballer who last…Takahiro Yamaguchi (山口 貴弘, Yamaguchi Takahiro; born May 8, 1984 in Tokyo) is a former Japanese footballer who last played for Oita Trinita.
Ryosuke Baba (馬場 亮輔, Baba Ryōsuke; born 4 February 1984) is a Japanese artistic gymnast. Baba was part of the Japanese…Ryosuke Baba (馬場 亮輔, Baba Ryōsuke; born 4 February 1984) is a Japanese artistic gymnast. Baba was part of the Japanese team that won the silver medal in the team event at the 2006 Asian Games as well as the 2010 Asian Games. Prior to his silver medal, he was thought of as the future of Japanese men's artistic gymnastics.
Shinichi Takeuchi (武内 晋一, Takeuchi Shin'ichi; born December 10, 1983 in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a former…Shinichi Takeuchi (武内 晋一, Takeuchi Shin'ichi; born December 10, 1983 in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played infield and outfield for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Takamichi Sasaki (佐々木隆道, Sasaki takamichi; born 30 October 1983) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as…Takamichi Sasaki (佐々木隆道, Sasaki takamichi; born 30 October 1983) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a flanker. He played for both Suntory Sungoliath and Hino Red Dolphins in Japan's domestic Top League, playing over 100 times. He was named in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, making 1 appearances in the tournament. He made a further 12 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring four tries.
Ema Kuribayashi (栗林 江麻, Kuribayashi Ema; born 6 October 1983) is a Japanese ex-cricketer who played five Women's One…Ema Kuribayashi (栗林 江麻, Kuribayashi Ema; born 6 October 1983) is a Japanese ex-cricketer who played five Women's One Day Internationals in 2003. She was born in Tokyo in 1983. At the 2010 Asian Games, Kuribayashi led Japan to a bronze medal, beating China by 7 wickets in a low-scoring match. Her 24* was the highest score for Japan in the match. Kuribayashi's debut ODI match was against Pakistan on 21 July 2003.
Haruko Obokata (小保方 晴子, Obokata Haruko; born 1983) is a former stem-cell biologist and research unit leader at Japan's…Haruko Obokata (小保方 晴子, Obokata Haruko; born 1983) is a former stem-cell biologist and research unit leader at Japan's Laboratory for Cellular Reprogramming, Riken Center for Developmental Biology. She claimed in 2014 to have developed a radical and remarkably easy way to generate stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) cells that could be grown into tissue for use anywhere in the body. In response to allegations of irregularities in Obokata's research publications involving STAP cells, Riken launched an investigation that discovered examples of scientific misconduct on the part of Obokata. Attempts to replicate Obokata's STAP cell results failed. The ensuing STAP cell scandal gained worldwide attention.
Hideaki Nagai (永井 秀昭, Nagai Hideaki; born 5 September 1983) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier. He was born in…Hideaki Nagai (永井 秀昭, Nagai Hideaki; born 5 September 1983) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier. He was born in Hachimantai in the Iwate Prefecture. He competed at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2013 in Val di Fiemme, and at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. He competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where he placed 12th in Individual large hill/10 km, 14th in Individual normal hill/10 km, and fourth with the Japanese team in the Team large hill/4 × 5 km.
Yūichi Nakamaru (中丸雄一, Nakamaru Yuuichi; born on September 4, 1983 in Kita-ku, Tokyo, Japan), is a Japanese…Yūichi Nakamaru (中丸雄一, Nakamaru Yuuichi; born on September 4, 1983 in Kita-ku, Tokyo, Japan), is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, television personality and radio host under Starto Entertainment. He joined the talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1998 and then officially debuted as part of KAT-TUN in 2006, group to which he belonged until its disbandment in April 2025. Individually, he has acted in numerous drama serials and is most known as a commentator and host of his own segment on NTV information variety show Sunday Countdown Show Shūichi.
Shingo Doi (土井 槙悟, Doi Shingo; born 23 August 1983) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in two events at the 2010…Shingo Doi (土井 槙悟, Doi Shingo; born 23 August 1983) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in two events at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Yusuke Aoki (青木佑輔, Aoki Yūsuke) (born 19 June 1983 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Aoki has played…Yusuke Aoki (青木佑輔, Aoki Yūsuke) (born 19 June 1983 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Aoki has played 28 matches for the Japan national rugby union team. Aoki was a member of the Japan team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, where he played one match. Aoki currently plays for Top League team Suntory Sungoliath. He started with the club in 2006.
Kazunori Yamamoto (山本 一徳, born June 13, 1983) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon…Kazunori Yamamoto (山本 一徳, born June 13, 1983) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2007, and from 2009 to 2010 and with the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2011.
Ryūnosuke Kawai (河合 龍之介, Kawai Ryūnosuke; born 23 May 1983, in Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actor. He was…Ryūnosuke Kawai (河合 龍之介, Kawai Ryūnosuke; born 23 May 1983, in Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actor. He was represented by T-artist and Riche Management and later, in May 2016, became a freelancer. Kawai graduated from Waseda Jitsugyo Gakko High School and Waseda University School of Social Sciences.
Michito Sakaki (born 19 May 1983) is an Australian rules football player from Japan. Michito has achieved recognition…Michito Sakaki (born 19 May 1983) is an Australian rules football player from Japan. Michito has achieved recognition as currently being one of the best and most successful players to learn and play the game outside of Australia, being named in the World Team 3 times, captaining Japan, playing pre-season matches with the Essendon Football Club and playing semi-professionally in Australia.
Masahiro Okamoto (岡本 昌弘, Okamoto Masahiro; born May 17, 1983) is a Japanese football player who plays as a goalkeeper…Masahiro Okamoto (岡本 昌弘, Okamoto Masahiro; born May 17, 1983) is a Japanese football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Sagan Tosu.
Maki Mita (三田 真希, Mita Maki; born 22 April 1983) is a Japanese former swimmer who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics…Maki Mita (三田 真希, Mita Maki; born 22 April 1983) is a Japanese former swimmer who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics and in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Misaki Kumakura (熊倉 美咲, Kumakura Misaki; born 29 March 1983) is a Japanese rower. She competed in the women's…Misaki Kumakura (熊倉 美咲, Kumakura Misaki; born 29 March 1983) is a Japanese rower. She competed in the women's lightweight double sculls event at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Shota Goto (後藤翔太, Goto Shota; born 7 January 1983) is a Japanese politician and former rugby union player serving as a…Shota Goto (後藤翔太, Goto Shota; born 7 January 1983) is a Japanese politician and former rugby union player serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2025. From 2005 to 2006, he played for the Japan national rugby union team.
Junri Namigata (波形 純理, Namigata Junri; born 5 July 1982) is a Japanese tennis player. Her career-high WTA singles…Junri Namigata (波形 純理, Namigata Junri; born 5 July 1982) is a Japanese tennis player. Her career-high WTA singles ranking is 105, which she reached in February 2011. Her career-high doubles ranking is 101, achieved May 2015.
Yuki Uekusa (植草 裕樹, Uekusa Yūki; born July 2, 1982 in Ichihara, Chiba) is a Japanese football player currently playing…Yuki Uekusa (植草 裕樹, Uekusa Yūki; born July 2, 1982 in Ichihara, Chiba) is a Japanese football player currently playing for Shimizu S-Pulse.
Hiroyasu Tanaka (Japanese:田中 浩康, born May 24, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He was the…Hiroyasu Tanaka (Japanese:田中 浩康, born May 24, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He was the number 1 draft pick for the Yakult Swallows in 2005.
Eiji Ando (安藤英次, Andō Eiji; born 14 May 1982) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a fly-half. He was…Eiji Ando (安藤英次, Andō Eiji; born 14 May 1982) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a fly-half. He was named in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, but didn't make an appearance at the tournament. He did though make 13 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring 55 points.
Yusuke Omae (大前 祐介, Ōmae Yūsuke; born 6 April 1982 in Tokyo) is a Japanese retired track and field sprinter who…Yusuke Omae (大前 祐介, Ōmae Yūsuke; born 6 April 1982 in Tokyo) is a Japanese retired track and field sprinter who specialized in the 200 metres. His personal best in the event is 20.29 seconds set in Matsumoto in 2001. This is the current Asian U20 record. He won multiple medals with the Japanese 4 × 100 metres relay team.
Mami Tani née Sato (谷 真海, Tani Mami, born 12 March 1982) is a Japanese paratriathlete and former long jumper. She was a…Mami Tani née Sato (谷 真海, Tani Mami, born 12 March 1982) is a Japanese paratriathlete and former long jumper. She was a World bronze medalist and has competed in three Paralympic Games in track and field, her highest achievement was reaching sixth place at the 2008 Summer Paralympics. Tani competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics as a triathlete and finished in tenth position. Tani had her right leg amputated below her knee after she developed osteosarcoma while at Waseda University.
Norichika Aoki (青木 宣親, Aoki Norichika; born January 5, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He…Norichika Aoki (青木 宣親, Aoki Norichika; born January 5, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Mets and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Aoki is one of only six players, alongside Ichiro Suzuki, Matt Murton, Alex Ramirez, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, and Shogo Akiyama, to amass 200 or more hits in a single season in Japanese professional baseball and the only individual to do so in two separate seasons. He played in the 2006, 2009, and 2017 World Baseball Classics as well as the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Kazuyuki Nagashima (長島 和幸, Nagashima Kazuyuki; born 25 September 1981 in Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese wrestler. He won…Kazuyuki Nagashima (長島 和幸, Nagashima Kazuyuki; born 25 September 1981 in Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese wrestler. He won the silver medal in the 74 kg class in the men's freestyle wrestling competition, at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
Fumino Sugiyama (杉山文野, Sugiyama Fumino; born August 10, 1981) is a Japanese transgender activist and former fencer. He…Fumino Sugiyama (杉山文野, Sugiyama Fumino; born August 10, 1981) is a Japanese transgender activist and former fencer. He is a co-representative director of Tokyo Rainbow Pride, an annual festival that celebrates Tokyo's LGBT community and has served as a member of the Shibuya Ward Gender Equality and Diversity Society Promotion Council, a director of the Japan Fencing Association, and the Japanese Olympic Committee. He has also authored several books, including Double Happiness in 2006.
Shintaro Yoshida (由田 慎太郎, Yoshida Shintarō; born July 20, 1981) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the…Shintaro Yoshida (由田 慎太郎, Yoshida Shintarō; born July 20, 1981) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Aoi Tada (多田葵, Tada Aoi; born 3 July 1981 in Tokyo) is a Japanese singer and former voice actress. She formerly…Aoi Tada (多田葵, Tada Aoi; born 3 July 1981 in Tokyo) is a Japanese singer and former voice actress. She formerly belonged to the Gekidan Himawari theatre group. She voiced the role of Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV in Cowboy Bebop and performed an insert song to the series, "Wo Qui Non Coin". In March 2005, she signed on to Moon-Bunny Entertainment and began her singer-songwriting career. She has performed the theme songs for Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino and Angel Beats!. She is also affiliated with the group Veil. She is credited for her Veil-related songs as Veil ∞ Aoi.
Takashi Toritani (鳥谷 敬, Toritani Takashi; born June 26, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball shortstop…Takashi Toritani (鳥谷 敬, Toritani Takashi; born June 26, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball shortstop, commentator, critic, and coach. Toritani was one of the most highly coveted position players in years as a senior for Waseda University in 2003. He holds the current NPB record for most consecutive games played without missing an inning as a shortstop, and appeared in every Tigers game for over 13 years from 2005 to May 27, 2018 (1,939 regular season games).
Ken the 390 (stylized as KEN THE 390; born Takeshi Sakuma on June 17, 1981) is a Japanese rapper, songwriter, and music…Ken the 390 (stylized as KEN THE 390; born Takeshi Sakuma on June 17, 1981) is a Japanese rapper, songwriter, and music director from Machida, Tokyo. He began performing in 1999 and built a reputation through club performances and freestyle MC battles before releasing his first solo album, Prologue, in 2006. He later established the independent label DREAM BOY in 2011. Beyond his solo recording career, KEN THE 390 has worked in television, anime, artist development, and stage productions.
Daisuke Obara (小原 大輔, Obara Daisuke; born June 4, 1981) is a Japanese professional ice hockey center currently playing…Daisuke Obara (小原 大輔, Obara Daisuke; born June 4, 1981) is a Japanese professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Oji Eagles of the Asia League. He began his professional career in 2003–2004, at the American ECHL, playing for the Peoria Rivermen, Charlotte Checkers and Augusta Lynx; later he played for the Kokudo/Seibu Prince Rabbits between 2004 and 2009; for the Nippon Paper Cranes from 2009 to 2014; and since 2014, the (Oji Eagles. He also has played for the Japan national team since 2000 (Japan U20 and Senior).
Shogo Asayama (朝山 正悟, Asayama Shōgo) is a Japanese who became the head coach and was a professional basketball player…Shogo Asayama (朝山 正悟, Asayama Shōgo) is a Japanese who became the head coach and was a professional basketball player of the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the Japanese B.League.
Shūzō Oshimi (押見 修造, Oshimi Shūzō; born 1981) is a Japanese manga artist and writer based in Tokyo who publishes works…Shūzō Oshimi (押見 修造, Oshimi Shūzō; born 1981) is a Japanese manga artist and writer based in Tokyo who publishes works primarily for Kodansha. He made his debut with Superfly in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Magazine. He is best known for his manga Drifting Net Cafe (2009–2011), The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014), Happiness (2015–2019), and Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023). His works have been adapted into many different media including television drama, anime, and live action film. In 2001, he won the Tetsuya Chiba Award. Oshimi is particularly known to write stories to his manga that reflect his own experiences, often centered around gender, puberty or psychosexual development, and other coming-of-age themes that reflect adolescence.
Tsuyoshi Wada (和田 毅, Wada Tsuyoshi; born February 21, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He…Tsuyoshi Wada (和田 毅, Wada Tsuyoshi; born February 21, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2003 to 2011, and 2016 to 2024 for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. He also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2014 to 2015 for the Chicago Cubs. Wada pitched in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as the 2006 World Baseball Classic for the Japanese national team. He set a Tokyo Big6 Baseball League record with 476 strikeouts during his college career at Waseda University and was the Pacific League Most Valuable Rookie in 2003.
Tetsuya Tsuchida (土田哲也; Tsuchida Tetsuya, born February 18, 1981, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa), better known by his stage…Tetsuya Tsuchida (土田哲也; Tsuchida Tetsuya, born February 18, 1981, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa), better known by his stage name Tetsuya and Exile Tetsuya (stylized as TETSUYA and EXILE TETSUYA), is a Japanese dancer, actor, businessman and lecturer. He is a member of Exile and Exile the Second. He was also a member of Dance Earth Party and J Soul Brothers' second generation Nidaime J Soul Brothers until their migration to Exile in 2009. Tetsuya is represented with LDH. He is engaged in various activities in the field of dance education and has graduated with a master's degree in sport sciences from Waseda University in 2018. Furthermore, he is the director of the "EXILE Performance Institute (EPI)", the coffee brand AMAZING COFFEE and "EXPG High School".
Yoshio Kojima (小島 よしお, Kojima Yoshio; real name: 小島 義雄, born November 16, 1980) is a Japanese comedian famous for…Yoshio Kojima (小島 よしお, Kojima Yoshio; real name: 小島 義雄, born November 16, 1980) is a Japanese comedian famous for appearing only in a small bathing suit, during both performances and interviews. Among his well-known catchphrases are Sonna no kankei nee (そんなの関係ねぇ or "that has nothing to do with it", usually as a reaction to an intentional mistake in his routine) and Oppapī (おっぱっぴー), an abbreviation of "Ocean Pacific Peace", (オーシャン・パシフィック・ピース). All of his catchphrases are typically said followed by a signature dance, which has him hunched over, making a punching motion towards the ground while his hind leg is kneed upward simultaneously. A soundbite such as Oppapī, or something similarly random, is commonly used by Japanese comedians as an easy to remember and easy to repeat hook that can help popularise them and their comedy. Kojima has also appeared on the Japanese obstacle course show Sasuke.
Yosuke Hatakeyama (born 28 July 1980) is a Japanese skier. He competed in the Nordic combined event at the 2006 Winter…Yosuke Hatakeyama (born 28 July 1980) is a Japanese skier. He competed in the Nordic combined event at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Susumu Tabuchi (田渕 晋, Tabuchi Susumu; born 2 July 1980) is a Japanese former swimmer who competed in the 2000 Summer…Susumu Tabuchi (田渕 晋, Tabuchi Susumu; born 2 July 1980) is a Japanese former swimmer who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics and in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Ikuko Nishikori (錦織 育子, Nishikori Ikuko; born 5 January 1980 in Izumo, Shimane) is a retired Japanese pole vaulter. She…Ikuko Nishikori (錦織 育子, Nishikori Ikuko; born 5 January 1980 in Izumo, Shimane) is a retired Japanese pole vaulter. She won the bronze medal at the 2005 East Asian Games, finished fifth at the 2005 Asian Championships, won the gold medal at the 2006 Asian Indoor Championships, the bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games and the gold medal at the 2008 Asian Indoor Championships. Her personal best jump is 4.36 metres, achieved in April 2006 in Hiroshima. Indoors she has 4.31 metres, achieved in February 2006 in Yokohama. These are both former national records.
Saou Ichikawa (市川 沙央, Ichikawa Saō; born 1979) is a Japanese writer. She is best known for her debut novel Hunchback…Saou Ichikawa (市川 沙央, Ichikawa Saō; born 1979) is a Japanese writer. She is best known for her debut novel Hunchback, for which she won the Akutagawa Prize in 2023.
