Koji Kakamu (各務 耕司 (Kakamu Kōji, born June 7, 1977)) is a Japanese judo coach and former judoka. He is the current head…Koji Kakamu (各務 耕司 (Kakamu Kōji, born June 7, 1977)) is a Japanese judo coach and former judoka. He is the current head coach of the Saudi Arabia national judo team. He is notable for his successful tenure as a coach for the All Japan Judo Federation (AJJF), particularly as the head coach for the junior national team, leading them to numerous gold medals at the World Judo Juniors Championships.
Naoki Fukui (福井 直樹, Fukui Naoki; born Naoki Numazawa (沼澤 直樹, Numazawa Naoki) on June 7, 1977) is a Japanese…Naoki Fukui (福井 直樹, Fukui Naoki; born Naoki Numazawa (沼澤 直樹, Numazawa Naoki) on June 7, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler best known by his stage name "Black Angel" Jaki Numazawa ("黒天使"沼澤邪鬼, "Kokutenshi" Numazawa Jaki). He currently wrestles for Big Japan Pro Wrestling in the Deathmatch division, where he has held the BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Championship on one occasion.
Yugo Kanno (菅野 祐悟, Kanno Yūgo; born June 5, 1977) is a Japanese composer and musician known for his work on many…Yugo Kanno (菅野 祐悟, Kanno Yūgo; born June 5, 1977) is a Japanese composer and musician known for his work on many television dramas, anime series, and movies.
Tomokazu Soma (相馬朋和, Sōma Tomokazu) (born 5 June 1977 in Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Soma has…Tomokazu Soma (相馬朋和, Sōma Tomokazu) (born 5 June 1977 in Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Soma has played 24 matches for the Japan national rugby union team. Soma played three games for Japan at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Yukiya Yokoyama (横山 道哉, Yokoyama Yukiya; born June 1, 1977 in Ebina, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Yukiya Yokoyama (横山 道哉, Yokoyama Yukiya; born June 1, 1977 in Ebina, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Mitsuru Karahashi (唐橋 充, Karahashi Mitsuru; born May 30, 1977) is a Japanese actor and illustrator. He is known for…Mitsuru Karahashi (唐橋 充, Karahashi Mitsuru; born May 30, 1977) is a Japanese actor and illustrator. He is known for having roles in various tokusatsu series, most notably as Naoya Kaido in Kamen Rider 555 and Juzo Fuwa in Samurai Sentai Shinkenger.
Kazunari Tsuruoka (鶴岡 一成, Tsuruoka Kazunari; born May 30, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He…Kazunari Tsuruoka (鶴岡 一成, Tsuruoka Kazunari; born May 30, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He played catcher.
Sayaka Osakabe (小酒部 さやか, Osakabe Sayaka; born May 29, 1977) is a Japanese women's rights activist and politician. She…Sayaka Osakabe (小酒部 さやか, Osakabe Sayaka; born May 29, 1977) is a Japanese women's rights activist and politician. She is known for popularizing the term: "matahara" (referring to the act of harassing pregnant employees and forcing them to quit their position at work) and raising awareness in Japan that acts of matahara are illegal. She was a 2015 winner of the US State Department's International Women of Courage Award. In April 2023, Osakabe was elected to the City Assembly of Yokohama, representing the Aoba Ward.
Yukinori Suzuki (鈴木裕紀, Suzuki Yukinori) is a Japanese professional basketball coach and former player, currently…Yukinori Suzuki (鈴木裕紀, Suzuki Yukinori) is a Japanese professional basketball coach and former player, currently serving as the head coach for the Iwate Big Bulls of the B.League. Prior to Iwate, he coached the Shimane Susanoo Magic. Suzuki played college basketball for Nippon Sport Science University. He was selected by the Oita Heat Devils with the 10th pick in the 2005 bj league draft.
Atsushi Yanagisawa (柳沢 敦, Yanagisawa Atsushi; born May 27, 1977) is a Japanese former professional footballer who…Atsushi Yanagisawa (柳沢 敦, Yanagisawa Atsushi; born May 27, 1977) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a forward. He played for Japan national team. He is best known for playing the majority of his career at Kashima Antlers, in addition to his spells with Italian sides Sampdoria and Messina. Yanagisawa earned 58 caps for the Japan national team, and represented them at two FIFA World Cup, the 2000 Olympics and the 2000 AFC Asian Cup.
Satsuki Obata (小幡さつき, Obata Satsuki; born 24 May 1977) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in four events at the 1996…Satsuki Obata (小幡さつき, Obata Satsuki; born 24 May 1977) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in four events at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Tomoyuki Hirase (平瀬 智行, Hirase Tomoyuki; born 23 May 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He played twice for…Tomoyuki Hirase (平瀬 智行, Hirase Tomoyuki; born 23 May 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He played twice for the Japan national football team.
Junnosuke Schneider (シュナイダー 潤之介, Shunaidā Junnosuke; born 22 May 1977) is a Japanese former football player. He is…Junnosuke Schneider (シュナイダー 潤之介, Shunaidā Junnosuke; born 22 May 1977) is a Japanese former football player. He is goalkeeper coach of J3 League club AC Nagano Parceiro.
Aki Miyashita (みやしたあき, Miyashita Aki; born May 18, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known as Danshoku…Aki Miyashita (みやしたあき, Miyashita Aki; born May 18, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known as Danshoku Dino (男色ディーノ, Danshoku Dīno; lit. "Homosexual Dino", also transliterated as Danshoku Dieno). Miyashita has spent most of his career competing for DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT), where he plays an overly exaggerated homosexual character. His ring name comes from the character of Baron Dino (男爵ディーノ, Danshaku Dīno) from the manga series Sakigake!! Otokojuku and his gimmick itself is based on openly bisexual Japanese wrestler Men's Teioh.
Kentaro Minagawa (皆川 賢太郎, Minagawa Kentarō; born May 17, 1977) is a Japanese alpine skier. His first international…Kentaro Minagawa (皆川 賢太郎, Minagawa Kentarō; born May 17, 1977) is a Japanese alpine skier. His first international successes were at the 1996 Junior World Championships in Schwyz, with a 5th rank in Slalom, and a 9th rank in Giant slalom. Since the 1997 Alpine Skiing World Cup he has been participating regularly in World Cup races, nine times ranking in the top ten. Shortly before the 2006 Winter Olympics he ranked 4th in Wengen, Switzerland. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy he also ranked 4th, the best result of a Japanese skier since Chiharu Igaya's silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics. In June 2009, he married Japanese popular freestyle skier, Aiko Uemura.
Tomoko Ishida (石田 智子, Ishida Tomoko; born 12 May 1977 in Niiza, Saitama) is a retired Japanese sprinter who specialized…Tomoko Ishida (石田 智子, Ishida Tomoko; born 12 May 1977 in Niiza, Saitama) is a retired Japanese sprinter who specialized in the 100 metres. She competed in the 4 × 100 meters relay at the 2003 World Championships and 2005 World Championships without qualifying for the final. She was the 2005 Japanese national champion in the 100 meters and former Japanese national record holder in the 4 × 100 meters relay. She currently coach for the Hasegawa Sports Facilities Athletic Club.
Shugo Fujii (藤井 秀悟, Fujii Shūgo; born May 12, 1977 in Iyo, Ehime, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball…Shugo Fujii (藤井 秀悟, Fujii Shūgo; born May 12, 1977 in Iyo, Ehime, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Satoshi Hamada (浜田 聡, Hamada Satoshi; born 11 May 1977 in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture) is a Japanese politician and…Satoshi Hamada (浜田 聡, Hamada Satoshi; born 11 May 1977 in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture) is a Japanese politician and radiologist. He served as a member of the House of Councillors from 2019 until his loss in 2025.
Makoto Hashi (橋 誠, Hashi Makoto) (born May 10, 1977) is a former Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his…Makoto Hashi (橋 誠, Hashi Makoto) (born May 10, 1977) is a former Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in Pro Wrestling Noah.
Naoki Matoba (的場 直樹, Matoba Naoki; born May 9, 1977 in Osaka), nicknamed "Matton", is a Japanese former professional…Naoki Matoba (的場 直樹, Matoba Naoki; born May 9, 1977 in Osaka), nicknamed "Matton", is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks/Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2000, and from 2003 to 2008 and with the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2010 and 2011. Matoba is an ordained priest within the Ōtani-ha branch of Shin Buddhism.
Kanako Nishi (西 加奈子, Nishi Kanako; born May 7, 1977) is a Japanese writer and artist. She has won the Oda Sakunosuke…Kanako Nishi (西 加奈子, Nishi Kanako; born May 7, 1977) is a Japanese writer and artist. She has won the Oda Sakunosuke Prize, the Kawai Hayao Literary Prize, and the Naoki Prize, and several of her books have been adapted for film.
Nozomi Hiroyama (廣山 望, Hiroyama Nozomi; born June 6, 1975) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a…Nozomi Hiroyama (廣山 望, Hiroyama Nozomi; born June 6, 1975) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder where he is currently the head coach of Japan U17. Hiroyama played over 400 games during his career which included spells in Japan, France, Portugal, Paraguay, Brazil and United States, as well as earning two caps with the Japan national team. Hiroyama was the first Japanese footballer to dispute the Copa Libertadores competition.
Seigo Saito (齋藤 制剛, Saitō Seigō; born 4 May 1977) is a retired Japanese judoka. Saito is from Sapporo, Hokkaidō. He…Seigo Saito (齋藤 制剛, Saitō Seigō; born 4 May 1977) is a retired Japanese judoka. Saito is from Sapporo, Hokkaidō. He belonged to Asahi Kasei after graduation from Kokushikan University in 2000. Saito was good at Uchimata and Newaza in high-school days and was expected to get medal of Olympic Games or World Championships in the future. But he was not able to use the skill of them by the trouble of knee like Anterior cruciate ligament injury since 2000. In 2005, he won a gold medal at the Asian Championships and All-Japan Selected Championships with the skill that he learned newly like Kata guruma, Ōuchi gari and Kuchiki taoshi. But he was not chosen as a Japanese representative at the World Championships held in Cairo. He has coached judo at Asahi Kasei since 2010. Among his students is Tatsuki Masubuchi Yohei Takai and so on. His younger brother, Masamichi (順道) is also famous judoka and won a gold medal at the Kodokan Cup in 2001.
Hiro Mashima (真島 ヒロ, Mashima Hiro; born May 3, 1977) is a Japanese manga artist. He gained success with his first…Hiro Mashima (真島 ヒロ, Mashima Hiro; born May 3, 1977) is a Japanese manga artist. He gained success with his first serial Rave Master, published in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 1999 to 2005. His best-selling work, Fairy Tail, published in the same magazine from 2006 to 2017, became one of the best-selling manga series with over 72 million copies in print. Fairy Tail won the Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen manga in 2009, and Mashima was given the Harvey Awards International Spotlight award in 2017 and the Fauve Special Award at the 2018 Angoulême International Comics Festival.
Mina Kurobe (黒部三奈; born 2 May 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently fighting in the super atomweight…Mina Kurobe (黒部三奈; born 2 May 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently fighting in the super atomweight division of Shooto, where she is the former and inaugural Shooto Super Atomweight champion. A professional competitor since 2012, Kurobe is also the former DEEP JEWELS Atomweight champion. In June 2021, she is the #9 ranked atomweight in the world according to Sherdog.
Shintaro Ejiri (江尻 慎太郎, Ejiri Shintaro; born April 30, 1977 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Shintaro Ejiri (江尻 慎太郎, Ejiri Shintaro; born April 30, 1977 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Yuya Saito (斉藤 祐也, Saitō Yūya; born 28 April 1977) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as No. 8, currently for…Yuya Saito (斉藤 祐也, Saitō Yūya; born 28 April 1977) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as No. 8, currently for Toyota Jido Shokki. He graduated from Meiji University and used to play for Suntory Sungoliath before he went to play professional rugby in France for about one season. He's a regular at Japan national rugby union team, having played at the 2003 Rugby World Cup finals. He played at full back (No. 15) for the first time for the Steelers versus Suntory in a game on Christmas Day 2004. He married former Olympic gold medalist swimmer Kyoko Iwasaki.
Koji Homma (本間 幸司, Honma Kōji; born April 27, 1977) is a Japanese former football player. He last plays for J2 League…Koji Homma (本間 幸司, Honma Kōji; born April 27, 1977) is a Japanese former football player. He last plays for J2 League club Mito HollyHock until he retirement in 2024. He holds the ongoing record for playing in the most games in J2.
Takayuki Nishida (西田 隆維, Nishida Takayuki; born April 26, 1977) is a retired male long-distance runner from Japan who…Takayuki Nishida (西田 隆維, Nishida Takayuki; born April 26, 1977) is a retired male long-distance runner from Japan who mainly competed in the marathon race during his career. He set his personal best (2:08:45) in the classic distance on February 4, 2001 in Ōita. He has worked as an interpreter since his retirement.
Kosuke Fukudome (福留 孝介, Fukudome Kōsuke, [ɸɯ̥kɯdome koːsɯ̥ke]; born April 26, 1977) is a Japanese former professional…Kosuke Fukudome (福留 孝介, Fukudome Kōsuke, [ɸɯ̥kɯdome koːsɯ̥ke]; born April 26, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league from 1999 to 2007 and in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2008 to 2012 before returning to play in Japan from 2013 to 2022. He played primarily with the Chicago Cubs in MLB and had a long spanning career in the Nippon Professional Baseball with the Chunichi Dragons and Hanshin Tigers. Prior to arriving in MLB, Fukudome played nine seasons for the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Professional Baseball. He was also a member of the Japan national baseball team, winning a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics, a bronze medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics, and placing first in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and 2009 World Baseball Classic. He won the Central League MVP in 2006.
Daisuke Sudo (須藤 大輔, Sudō Daisuke; born April 25, 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player…Daisuke Sudo (須藤 大輔, Sudō Daisuke; born April 25, 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player, who is manager of J2 League club Yokohama FC.
Tomoko Sawada (澤田 知子, Sawada Tomoko; born 1977 in Kobe, Japan) is a Japanese contemporary feminist photographer and…Tomoko Sawada (澤田 知子, Sawada Tomoko; born 1977 in Kobe, Japan) is a Japanese contemporary feminist photographer and performance artist. She has been included in numerous group shows in Japan, Europe and the US. Her first solo exhibition was in 1997 at Japan's Gallery Chat. In 2004 she was awarded the prestigious Kimura Ihei Memorial Photography Award for Young Japanese Photographer as well as the International Center of Photography Infinity Award in the category of Young Photographer.
Hajime Miki (三木 肇, Miki Hajime; born April 25, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder who currently…Hajime Miki (三木 肇, Miki Hajime; born April 25, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder who currently serves as the manager for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB from 1996 to 2008 for the Yakult Swallows/Tokyo Yakult Swallows and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Tsuji Takashi (辻高志, Takashi Tsuji) (born 24 April 1977 in the Ibaraki Prefecture) is a Japanese former rugby union…Tsuji Takashi (辻高志, Takashi Tsuji) (born 24 April 1977 in the Ibaraki Prefecture) is a Japanese former rugby union player who played as scrum-half, he later became a coach, currently coaching NEC Green Rockets.
Kunio Katō (加藤久仁生) (born April 24, 1977) is a Japanese animator known for the short film La Maison en Petits Cubes…Kunio Katō (加藤久仁生) (born April 24, 1977) is a Japanese animator known for the short film La Maison en Petits Cubes which won the 2008 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In 2008, the same film won the Cristal for a Short Film (Grand Prix) at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, making Katō the second Japanese filmmaker to receive the award after Kōji Yamamura's Mt. Head in 2003. He also created The Diary Of Tortov Roddle, a surrealistic dream adventure.
Ryuji Sato (佐藤 隆治, Satō Ryūji; born 16 April 1977) is a former Japanese football referee. He has officiated matches in…Ryuji Sato (佐藤 隆治, Satō Ryūji; born 16 April 1977) is a former Japanese football referee. He has officiated matches in the J1 League, AFC Champions League and FIFA World Cup qualifiers and is currently a director of referees in the J.League.
Haruki Muramatsu (村松 治樹, Muramatsu Haruki; born 15 April 1977) is a Japanese darts player who competes in both…Haruki Muramatsu (村松 治樹, Muramatsu Haruki; born 15 April 1977) is a Japanese darts player who competes in both Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and World Darts Federation (WDF) events. He won the 2023 PDC Asian Championship.
Yoko Toyonaga (豊永 陽子, Toyonaga Yōko; born 15 April 1977) is a Japanese shot putter. She finished eighth at the 1999…Yoko Toyonaga (豊永 陽子, Toyonaga Yōko; born 15 April 1977) is a Japanese shot putter. She finished eighth at the 1999 World Indoor Championships and fourth at the 2005 Asian Championships. She also competed at the World Championships in 2005 and 2007 without reaching the finals. Her personal best throw is 17.57 metres, achieved in June 2004 in Tottori.
