Jun Misawa (Japanese: 三沢 淳 Misawa Jun; 1 October 1952 – 3 March 2022) was a Japanese baseball player and politician. A…Jun Misawa (Japanese: 三沢 淳 Misawa Jun; 1 October 1952 – 3 March 2022) was a Japanese baseball player and politician. A member of the New Frontier Party, the Liberal Party, and the New Conservative Party, he served in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000. Misawa died in Nagoya on 3 March 2022, at the age of 69.
Takanosato Toshihide (Japanese: 隆の里 俊英; September 29, 1952 – November 7, 2011), real name Toshihide Takaya (高谷 俊英), was…Takanosato Toshihide (Japanese: 隆の里 俊英; September 29, 1952 – November 7, 2011), real name Toshihide Takaya (高谷 俊英), was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Namioka, Aomori. He was the sport's 59th yokozuna from 1983 to 1986 and won four top division tournament championships. After retirement he established Naruto stable which he ran from 1989 until his death.
Hideki Kita (喜多 秀喜, Kita Hideki; born September 28, 1952) is a retired male long-distance runner from Japan. His…Hideki Kita (喜多 秀喜, Kita Hideki; born September 28, 1952) is a retired male long-distance runner from Japan. His personal best at the marathon distance was 2:10:30 at the 1983 Fukuoka Marathon.
Michio Hoshino (星野 道夫, Hoshino Michio; September 27, 1952 – August 8, 1996) was a Japanese-born nature photographer. He…Michio Hoshino (星野 道夫, Hoshino Michio; September 27, 1952 – August 8, 1996) was a Japanese-born nature photographer. He originally hailed from Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture. Considered one of the most accomplished nature photographers of his era and compared to Ansel Adams, Hoshino specialized in photographing Alaskan wildlife until he was killed by a brown bear while on assignment in Kurilskoye Lake, Russia, in 1996.
Kotogatake Koichi (born Yoshikazu Takeuchi; 24 September 1952 – 24 February 2024) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from…Kotogatake Koichi (born Yoshikazu Takeuchi; 24 September 1952 – 24 February 2024) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Teshikaga, Hokkaidō. He made his professional debut in November 1967 and reached the top division in July 1976. His highest rank was maegashira 1. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association. He left the Sumo Association in March 1995. Koichi died from heart failure on 24 February 2024, at the age of 71.
Michiko Godai (五大 路子, Godai Michiko), real name Michiko Ōwada (大和田 美智子, Ōwada Michiko) (born September 22, 1952 in…Michiko Godai (五大 路子, Godai Michiko), real name Michiko Ōwada (大和田 美智子, Ōwada Michiko) (born September 22, 1952 in Yokohama, Kanagawa) is a Japanese actress. She has appeared in various films and TV dramas and series as well as stage productions.
Ryuji Koizumi (大塚 拓, Koizumi Ryūji; born 17 September 1952) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House…Ryuji Koizumi (大塚 拓, Koizumi Ryūji; born 17 September 1952) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives of Japan from 2000 to 2005 and again from 2009. He served as the Minister of Justice from September 2023 to October 2024.
Masataka Nakazawa (born 17 September 1952) is a Japanese researcher in optical communication engineering. He is a…Masataka Nakazawa (born 17 September 1952) is a Japanese researcher in optical communication engineering. He is a distinguished professor at Tohoku University in Japan. His pioneering work on erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) has made a significant contribution to the development of global long-distance, high-capacity optical fiber network.
Michiyo Takagi (高木 美智代, Takagi Michiyo; born 13 September 1952) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of…Michiyo Takagi (高木 美智代, Takagi Michiyo; born 13 September 1952) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the New Komeito Party. A native of Kitakyushu, Fukuoka and graduate of Soka University she was elected for the first time in 2003.
Koichi Kobayashi (小林 光一, こばやし こういち, Kobayashi Kōichi; born September 10, 1952) is a Japanese Go player. He is one of…Koichi Kobayashi (小林 光一, こばやし こういち, Kobayashi Kōichi; born September 10, 1952) is a Japanese Go player. He is one of the 'Six Supers' who championed Japanese Go in the last three decades of Japanese Go.
Takashi Ozaki (尾崎隆, Ozaki Takashi; September 9, 1952 – May 12, 2011) was a Japanese mountaineer. He is known for having…Takashi Ozaki (尾崎隆, Ozaki Takashi; September 9, 1952 – May 12, 2011) was a Japanese mountaineer. He is known for having made the first ascent of Mount Everest's north face and the first ascent of Myanmar's Hkakabo Razi.
Zaōnishiki Toshimasa (3 September 1952 – 9 August 2020), birth name Toshimasa Adachi, was a sumo wrestler from…Zaōnishiki Toshimasa (3 September 1952 – 9 August 2020), birth name Toshimasa Adachi, was a sumo wrestler from Yamagata, Japan. He made his professional debut in September 1970, and reached the top division in November 1976. His highest rank was maegashira 1. He retired in January 1983 and served as an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under several successive names. He reached the retirement age for elders of 65 in September 2017, but stayed with the Sumo Association for an additional two years as a consultant.
Keiko Nanba (難波 啓子, Nanba Keiko) née Yokozawa, born September 2, 1952 in Chūō-ku, Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan…Keiko Nanba (難波 啓子, Nanba Keiko) née Yokozawa, born September 2, 1952 in Chūō-ku, Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, better known by the stage name Keiko Yokozawa (よこざわけい子, Yokozawa Keiko), is a Japanese voice actress, actress, and narrator. She is also the founder and executive vice president of the Japanese talent agency YU-RIN PRO.CO.ltd. She also runs The Keiko Yokozawa Voice Acting and Narration School. Her former stage name was Keiko Yokozawa (横沢 啓子, Yokozawa Keiko). She is most well known for her voice acting roles as Dorami in Doraemon, the titular character in Mami the Psychic, Sheeta in Castle in the Sky, O-Jirō in Little Ghost Q-Tarō, Benio Hanamura in Haikara-San: Here Comes Miss Modern, Takeo Kumagami in Mobile Police Patlabor, Roll Caskett in Mega Man Legends, and Fortissimo Piccolo in Okaasan to Issho.
Motoyuki Shitanda (四反田 素幸, Shitanda Motoyuki; born August 26, 1952 in Osaka Prefecture) is a contemporary Japanese…Motoyuki Shitanda (四反田 素幸, Shitanda Motoyuki; born August 26, 1952 in Osaka Prefecture) is a contemporary Japanese composer, music teacher, musicologist and conductor.
Ichirō Tomita (富田 伊知郎, Tomita Ichirō; born August 24, 1952), known professionally as MoJo (モジョ), is a Japanese folk…Ichirō Tomita (富田 伊知郎, Tomita Ichirō; born August 24, 1952), known professionally as MoJo (モジョ), is a Japanese folk singer and composer who has performed on the soundtracks of various anime and tokusatsu series and movies. He is perhaps best known as the vocalist for the theme songs for Battle Fever J, Dai Sentai Goggle V, Kagaku Sentai Dynaman, Seiun Kamen Machineman (星雲仮面マシンマン, Seiun Kamen Mashinman), Albegas, and performed image songs for various series. He also sang the theme song of the fictional character Segata Sanshiro (played by Hiroshi Fujioka) who appeared in Sega's commercials between 1997 and 1998 to advertise the Sega Saturn in Japan.
Masami Tsuchiya (Japanese: 土屋 昌巳, Hepburn: Tsuchiya Masami) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record…Masami Tsuchiya (Japanese: 土屋 昌巳, Hepburn: Tsuchiya Masami) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Ippu-Do. Following their disbandment in 1984, Tsuchiya focused on his solo career and formed several short-lived bands with well-known musicians. He has also participated in various collaborations and produced recordings for acts such as Glay, Blankey Jet City, and The Willard.
Sumie Awara (湶 純江, Awara Sumie; 19 August 1952 – 17 October 2007) was a Japanese track and field athlete. She competed…Sumie Awara (湶 純江, Awara Sumie; 19 August 1952 – 17 October 2007) was a Japanese track and field athlete. She competed in the women's long jump at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Kumiko Haba (羽場 久美子, Haba Kumiko) (born 1952) is a Japanese academic and an emeritus professor of international…Kumiko Haba (羽場 久美子, Haba Kumiko) (born 1952) is a Japanese academic and an emeritus professor of international relations at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo. Her research focus is on international relations, global cooperation, migration, nationalism and xenophobia, and political stability. She's written extensively about the EU and Brexit and more recently about Trump. Haba is the author of more than 50 books and 160 articles.
Norio Ishizawa (石澤 典夫 Ishizawa Norio, born August 16, 1952, in Yokohama) is a Japanese journalist and newscaster…Norio Ishizawa (石澤 典夫 Ishizawa Norio, born August 16, 1952, in Yokohama) is a Japanese journalist and newscaster, currently working for NHK. During his career, Ishiwaza was presenter of the morning news program NHK Morning Wide (Saturdays 1989–90), NHK News 9 (1993–95), Ohayo Nippon (1995–96) and NHK News 7 (weekends 2000–2002).
Minoru Tatsukawa (達川実, Tatsukawa Minoru; born August 16, 1952 in Osaka) is a volleyball coach from Japan. Currentry he…Minoru Tatsukawa (達川実, Tatsukawa Minoru; born August 16, 1952 in Osaka) is a volleyball coach from Japan. Currentry he serves as head coach of Denso Airybees.
Koji Tsuruoka (鶴岡 公二, Tsuruoka Koji; born 10 August 1952) is a Japanese diplomat. He served as the Japanese ambassador…Koji Tsuruoka (鶴岡 公二, Tsuruoka Koji; born 10 August 1952) is a Japanese diplomat. He served as the Japanese ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2019.
Seiki Nose (野瀬 清喜, Nose Seiki; born 10 August 1952) is a Japanese judoka who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics. Nose…Seiki Nose (野瀬 清喜, Nose Seiki; born 10 August 1952) is a Japanese judoka who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics. Nose was world finalist in Maastricht 1981 and won bronze in Moscow 1983. Nose won five consecutive All Japan titles from 1980 to 1984; won the US Open and Hungarian Open titles; and in 1981, won the Kano Cup in Tokyo.
Shinnosuke Ikehata (池畑慎之助, Ikehata Shinnosuke), professionally known as Peter, is a Japanese actor and singer. Known…Shinnosuke Ikehata (池畑慎之助, Ikehata Shinnosuke), professionally known as Peter, is a Japanese actor and singer. Known for cross-dressing, Peter was assigned male at birth but identifies as non-binary and is gay. Peter was born in Sōemonchō, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Japan, as the eldest son to their father Yuki Yoshimura, who was the fourth generation Iemoto (family head) of the Kamigatamai Yoshimura-ryu school. Peter, as a succession to the family specialty, made their debut on the stage at age 3, having been trained rigorously by their father. Peter also has one older sister, Toyoko Ishikawa. At the age of 5, their parents divorced, and Peter was told to choose which parent they liked better, and since their father “was terrifying like an ogre during his dance practice", they chose to live with their mother, Kiyoko Ikehata. In their second year of elementary school, they moved to live with their grandparents in the Kagoshima Prefecture, and lived out their childhood days there. Their mother ran a ryoutei in Tenmonkan, (a shopping district in downtown Kagoshima) named 'Yodogawa (淀川)'. From this point onwards, Peter has used their mother’s surname, ‘Ikehata (池畑)’ instead of their father's paternal surname, ‘Hashimoto (橋本)’. They went to school at Shimizu Elementary School, Kagoshima City, and then onto Japanese La Salle Academy. They studied desperately hard to make their mother happy. However, due to being unable to handle dorm life, they transferred to Jōsei Junior High School, Kagoshima City. In their third year of junior high, they ran away from home, going to Tokyo via Osaka.
Haruzo Hida (肥田 晴三 Hida Haruzo, born 6 August 1952, Sakai, Osaka) is a Japanese mathematician, known for his research…Haruzo Hida (肥田 晴三 Hida Haruzo, born 6 August 1952, Sakai, Osaka) is a Japanese mathematician, known for his research in number theory, algebraic geometry, and modular forms. Hida received from Kyoto University a B.A. in 1975, an M.A. in 1977, and a Ph.D. in 1980 with thesis On Abelian Varieties with Complex Multiplication as Factors of the Jacobians of Shimura Curves, although he left Kyoto University in 1977. He was from 1977 to 1984 an assistant professor and from 1984 to 1987 an associate professor at Hokkaidō University. Since 1987 he has been a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. From 1979 to 1981 he was a visiting scholar at the Institute for Advanced Study. Hida was an invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians (Berkeley) in 1986. In 1991 he was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship. Hida received in 1992 for his research on p-adic L-functions of algebraic groups and p-adic Hecke rings the Spring Prize of the Mathematical Society of Japan. In 2012 he was elected a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. He received the 2019 Leroy P. Steele Prize for Seminal Contribution to Research for his highly original paper "Galois representations into GL2( Z {\displaystyle \mathbb {Z} } p[[X]]) attached to ordinary cusp forms," published in 1986 in Inventiones Mathematicae.
Yuichiro Uozumi (魚住 裕一郎, Uozumi Yūichirō; born 1952) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the…Yuichiro Uozumi (魚住 裕一郎, Uozumi Yūichirō; born 1952) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kaisō District, Wakayama and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1995 after running unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in 1993.
Takayuki Sugō (菅生 隆之, Sugō Takayuki) is a Japanese actor and voice actor. He is known for voicing Yhwach and Zangetsu…Takayuki Sugō (菅生 隆之, Sugō Takayuki) is a Japanese actor and voice actor. He is known for voicing Yhwach and Zangetsu in Bleach, Senju Hashirama in Naruto, Shilliew in One Piece, Shinpachi Nagakura in Golden Kamuy, Jirochō Doromizu in Gintama, Raizen in Yu Yu Hakusho, Mihaly A. Shilage and Mister X in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown and Reddas in Final Fantasy XII.
Hideki Nakano (中野 秀樹, Nakano Hideki; born 29 July 1952) is a Japanese skier. He competed in the Nordic combined event…Hideki Nakano (中野 秀樹, Nakano Hideki; born 29 July 1952) is a Japanese skier. He competed in the Nordic combined event at the 1972 Winter Olympics.
Momotarō Dentetsu (桃太郎電鉄, Momotarō Dentetsu; Momotarō Electric Railway) (also known by the abbreviated name Momotetsu)…Momotarō Dentetsu (桃太郎電鉄, Momotarō Dentetsu; Momotarō Electric Railway) (also known by the abbreviated name Momotetsu) is a long-running digital tabletop game series in Japan; in which players travel by rail, ship, and airplane; attempting to acquire wealth through business transactions buying properties; and dealing with rival entrepreneurs and nemeses such as the God of Poverty (貧乏神, Binbōgami). The game mechanics are often compared to the board games sugoroku and Monopoly.
Koji Yamamoto (山本 浩二, Yamamoto Kōji; 28 July 1952 – 29 March 2001) was a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the…Koji Yamamoto (山本 浩二, Yamamoto Kōji; 28 July 1952 – 29 March 2001) was a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Shigeharu Aoyama (青山繁晴; born 25 July 1952) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives. Between…Shigeharu Aoyama (青山繁晴; born 25 July 1952) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives. Between 2016 and 2026, he was in the House of Councillors of Japan. He represented the National proportional representation block. He has served on the Committee on Economy and Industry (as Director); Committee on Budget; and on the Special Committee on Official Development Assistance and Related Matters.
Noboru Rokuda (六田登, Rokuda Noboru; born July 23, 1952 in Yao, Osaka Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist. He…Noboru Rokuda (六田登, Rokuda Noboru; born July 23, 1952 in Yao, Osaka Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist. He made his professional debut in 1978 with Saigo Test, for which he won the Shogakukan New Artist Award. He won the 1991 Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga for F.
Akira Kuramochi (倉持 明, Kuramochi Akira; born July 20, 1952) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. Asuka…Akira Kuramochi (倉持 明, Kuramochi Akira; born July 20, 1952) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. Asuka Kuramochi, his daughter, is one of the members of female idol group AKB48.
Mariko Hiraiwa Hasegawa (Japanese: 長谷川眞理子, born 1952) is a Japanese zoologist and anthropologist who studies behavioral…Mariko Hiraiwa Hasegawa (Japanese: 長谷川眞理子, born 1952) is a Japanese zoologist and anthropologist who studies behavioral ecology, evolutionary psychology, and physical anthropology. Hasegawa served as the president of the Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai) in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, until 2023. She is "among the rare Japanese women primatologists to have gained international recognition." Her mother Satsue Mito collected field data on Japanese macaque troupes beginning in the 1950s, ultimately documenting four decades worth of behavior. Mito documented the cultural transmission of sweet-potato-washing within a group of wild macaques. During Hasegawa's doctoral studies at the University of Tokyo, she also studied Japanese macaques, as well as Tanzanian chimpanzees. She won a British Council Scholarship and went to Cambridge for zoology. She was on the faculty of Senshu University from 1990 to 2000, at which time she joined the faculty of Waseda University.
Eiji Kimizuka (君塚栄治, Kimizuka Eiji; July 16, 1952 – December 28, 2015) was the 32nd Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground…Eiji Kimizuka (君塚栄治, Kimizuka Eiji; July 16, 1952 – December 28, 2015) was the 32nd Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the de facto army of Japan. He was promoted to four-star General and assumed the position on August 5, 2011.
Yuriko Koike (Japanese: 小池 百合子, Hepburn: Koike Yuriko; born 15 July 1952) is a Japanese politician who has served as…Yuriko Koike (Japanese: 小池 百合子, Hepburn: Koike Yuriko; born 15 July 1952) is a Japanese politician who has served as the Governor of Tokyo since 2016. Previously, she also served as a member of the House of Councillors from 1992 to 1993, a member of the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2016, Minister of the Environment under Junichiro Koizumi from 2003 to 2006, and Minister of Defense under Shinzo Abe between July and August 2007. Born and raised in Ashiya, a wealthy, small, and popular city near Kobe in Hyōgo Prefecture, Koike graduated from Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt in 1976, and served as a member of the House of Representatives of Japan from 1993 until 2016, when she resigned to run for Governor of Tokyo. Previously, she also served as the Minister of the Environment under Junichiro Koizumi's cabinet from 2003 to 2006 and briefly as Minister of Defense under the first cabinet of Shinzo Abe in between July and August 2007. Koike was elected Governor of Tokyo in 2016, becoming the metropolis' first female governor. Koike was re-elected in 2020 and 2024, winning 59.7% and 42.8% of the popular vote respectively. Considered one of the most high-profile and well-known Japanese politicians, Koike has been frequently mentioned as holding Prime Ministerial ambitions. She ran in the 2008 Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, becoming the first woman to run for the leadership of a major Japanese political party, however she came in third place losing to Tarō Asō. In 2017, Koike left the LDP amid much media attention and launched two parties: the national party, Kibō no Tō (希望の党/Party of Hope) and the regional party Tomin First no Kai (都民ファーストの会/Tokyoites First Party). Kibō no Tō contested the 2017 general election with Koike as a leader, however the party underperformed expectations and mostly disappeared after merging with the Democratic Party for the People in 2018. The same year, Koike stepped down as leader of Tomin First and officially became independent. However, Koike continues to endorse and campaign for Tomin First candidates in Tokyo and the party still makes frequent use of her image and policies. Koike has come under some scrutiny from Japanese liberals and Koreans in both Japan and Korea for her refusal to acknowledge the occurrence of 1923 Kantō Massacre, which mainly targeted ethnic Koreans, as well as her association with groups that are often labeled anti-Korean.
Yutaka Mizutani (水谷 豊, Mizutani Yutaka) is a Japanese actor and singer. He was born on July 14, 1952, in Ashibetsu…Yutaka Mizutani (水谷 豊, Mizutani Yutaka) is a Japanese actor and singer. He was born on July 14, 1952, in Ashibetsu, Hokkaidō, Japan.
Takenori Imura (Imura Takenori; 14 July 1952) is a Japanese master of Shotokan karate. He has won the JKA's version of…Takenori Imura (Imura Takenori; 14 July 1952) is a Japanese master of Shotokan karate. He has won the JKA's version of the world championships for kata on 2 occasions. He has also won the JKA All-Japan championships for kata on 5 occasions. He is currently an instructor of the Japan Karate Association.
Natsuo Yamaguchi (山口 那津男, Yamaguchi Natsuo; born 12 July 1952) is a Japanese politician who served as the chief…Natsuo Yamaguchi (山口 那津男, Yamaguchi Natsuo; born 12 July 1952) is a Japanese politician who served as the chief representative of Komeito from 2009 to 2024. He is a member of the House of Councillors since 2001 and previously served in the House of Representatives from 1990 to 1996.
Ushio Torikai (鳥養潮; surname Torikai; born July 11, 1952, in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese composer…Ushio Torikai (鳥養潮; surname Torikai; born July 11, 1952, in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese composer of contemporary classical music. She is known for her highly individual musical voice, developed over many years of research and compositional experience in diverse musical fields including European classical music, traditional Japanese music, ancient Japanese music and computer/electronics.
Kenji Terada (寺田 憲史, Terada Kenji; born 11 July 1952) is a Japanese scenario writer, anime director, series organizer…Kenji Terada (寺田 憲史, Terada Kenji; born 11 July 1952) is a Japanese scenario writer, anime director, series organizer and novelist. His more notable works include writing the first three games of the Final Fantasy series. He also worked on Batman: Dark Tomorrow, created the concept for the Sega CD game Dark Wizard, and was the series organizer and main script writer for the Kimagure Orange Road series among other things.
Hiroyuki Kanno (born July 3, 1952) is a Japanese jurist who served as an associate Justice of the Supreme Court of…Hiroyuki Kanno (born July 3, 1952) is a Japanese jurist who served as an associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan from 2016 to 2022.
Rumiko Koyanagi (小柳ルミ子, Koyanagi Rumiko), formerly known as Rumi Natsukawa (夏川るみ, Natsukawa Rumi) during her Takarazuka…Rumiko Koyanagi (小柳ルミ子, Koyanagi Rumiko), formerly known as Rumi Natsukawa (夏川るみ, Natsukawa Rumi) during her Takarazuka Revue days, is a Japanese actress and singer. She began her career as a member of Takarazuka Revue. She won the award for best new artist at the 13th Japan Record Awards and won the Japan Music Award in 1972. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 6th Japan Academy Prize for To Trap a Kidnapper and the award for best actress at the 7th Japan Academy Prize for Hakujasho.
Ichiko Hashimoto (橋本 一子, Hashimoto Ichiko; born July 1, 1952 in Kobe, Japan) is a jazz pianist, composer and singer.…Ichiko Hashimoto (橋本 一子, Hashimoto Ichiko; born July 1, 1952 in Kobe, Japan) is a jazz pianist, composer and singer. She has also acted in television and film. Hashimoto was born in Kobe, grew up in Tokyo and started playing the piano at the age of five. She attended Musashino Academia Musicae, where she graduated in 1975. Ichiko sometimes performs with her sister Mayumi Hashimoto (橋本 まゆみ, Hashimoto Mayumi).
