Ryota Aikawa (相川 良太, Aikawa Ryōta; born January 18, 1977 in Fukuoka City, Japan) is a professional Nippon Professional…Ryota Aikawa (相川 良太, Aikawa Ryōta; born January 18, 1977 in Fukuoka City, Japan) is a professional Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Orix Buffaloes.
Masahiro Matsuoka (松岡 昌宏, Matsuoka Masahiro; born January 11, 1977) is a Japanese drummer, actor and YouTuber. Former…Masahiro Matsuoka (松岡 昌宏, Matsuoka Masahiro; born January 11, 1977) is a Japanese drummer, actor and YouTuber. Former member of Tokio, a musical group under Starto Entertainment, formerly of Johnny & Associates. His nicknames are Mabo and Maa-kun. He starred as Shinichi Ozaki in Godzilla: Final Wars, and comedy series Yasuko to Kenji.
Tsutomu Ishizuki (石月努, born in Ichinomiya on January 8, 1977) is a Japanese singer, musician and designer, best known…Tsutomu Ishizuki (石月努, born in Ichinomiya on January 8, 1977) is a Japanese singer, musician and designer, best known as the lead singer and songwriter of rock band Fanatic Crisis from 1992 to 2005. Two years later, he started working as a designer. In 2012, he returned to music by starting a solo career and in 2019, Ishizuki and the two guitarists from Fanatic Crisis formed the sub-unit Fantastic Circus.
Katsuya Toida (戸井田 カツヤ, Toida Katsuya; born January 6, 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He competed in the…Katsuya Toida (戸井田 カツヤ, Toida Katsuya; born January 6, 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He competed in the Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions. His real name is Katsuya Toida (戸井田 克也, Toida Katsuya). He is known for his judo and shoot wrestling expertise.
Miyuki Fukumoto (née Aoyama; born 4 January 1977) is a female high jumper from Japan. Her personal best jump is 1.92…Miyuki Fukumoto (née Aoyama; born 4 January 1977) is a female high jumper from Japan. Her personal best jump is 1.92 metres, achieved in July 2004 in Osaka. She won the silver medal at the 2003 Asian Championships, and finished fifth at the 2006 Asian Games. She was the Japanese national high jump champion in 2006. She competed at the 2007 World Championships without reaching the final.
Noriko Hijikata (土方 典子, Hijikata Noriko; born January 3, 1977), better known by her stagename Maju Ozawa (小沢 真珠) is a…Noriko Hijikata (土方 典子, Hijikata Noriko; born January 3, 1977), better known by her stagename Maju Ozawa (小沢 真珠) is a Japanese actress.
Mayumi Iizuka (飯塚 雅弓, Iizuka Mayumi; born January 3, 1977) is a Japanese actress, voice actress, singer and disc jockey…Mayumi Iizuka (飯塚 雅弓, Iizuka Mayumi; born January 3, 1977) is a Japanese actress, voice actress, singer and disc jockey who was born in Tokyo. She is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment and her label is Lantis. She is an instructor at the Stay Luck training school Follow-Up. For her singing activities, she uses the alias Hoshi Mai (星 舞). Her well-known roles as a voice actress include Kasumi (Misty) in the Pokémon series, Tron Bonne in the Mega Man Legends series and Claiomh Everlasting in the Sorcerous Stabber Orphen series.
Eiichiro Washio (鷲尾 英一郎, Washio Eiichirō; born 3 January 1977) is a Japanese politician who serves as a member of the…Eiichiro Washio (鷲尾 英一郎, Washio Eiichirō; born 3 January 1977) is a Japanese politician who serves as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Niigata, Niigata and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he worked at Ernst & Young ShinNihon from 2001 to 2005. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2005.
Shinsei Ryū (Japanese: 笠真生, Ryū Shinsei; 1977) is a Japanese theoretical physicist who works in theoretical solid-state…Shinsei Ryū (Japanese: 笠真生, Ryū Shinsei; 1977) is a Japanese theoretical physicist who works in theoretical solid-state physics. He is currently a professor at Princeton University.
Q Hayashida (林田 球, Hayashida Kyū; born 1977) is the pen name of a Japanese manga artist. She is best known for her…Q Hayashida (林田 球, Hayashida Kyū; born 1977) is the pen name of a Japanese manga artist. She is best known for her series Dorohedoro, which was formerly serialized in Monthly Ikki, but moved to Hibana after Ikki ceased publication, and later moved to Monthly Shōnen Sunday after Hibana ceased publication. It was formerly serialized in English on Viz Media's SigIKKI site. Throughout her artwork, Hayashida uses a variety of artistic tools and media, including paint and textiles. She is known for her attention to detail and technical skill, as well as balancing horror and comedy in her stories.
Gakuto Coda (甲田 学人, Kōda Gakuto; born 1977) is a Japanese light novelist. His works can be found under both spellings…Gakuto Coda (甲田 学人, Kōda Gakuto; born 1977) is a Japanese light novelist. His works can be found under both spellings of his name, his works in English translation under 'Coda' and his works in Japanese under 'Kouda'. His series Missing has been adapted into a manga, and Tokyopop released two in the series, 2007 to 2008, before it went bankrupt. He is known for basing his horror novels on research into psychology and folklore.
Satoshi Yagisawa (八木沢 里志, born 1977) is a Japanese author. He is best known for his debut novel, Days at the Morisaki…Satoshi Yagisawa (八木沢 里志, born 1977) is a Japanese author. He is best known for his debut novel, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, which became an international bestseller and was adapted into a film.
Togmidyn Dorjkhand (born 1977) is a Mongolian politician, serving as the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia, member of…Togmidyn Dorjkhand (born 1977) is a Mongolian politician, serving as the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia, member of the parliament (MP) and chairman of the HUN Party. He has been serving in the parliament since 2020; originally elected from the Right Person Electorate Coalition.
Yu Aida (Japanese: 相田 裕, Hepburn: Aida Yū; born November 8, 1977) is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator, best…Yu Aida (Japanese: 相田 裕, Hepburn: Aida Yū; born November 8, 1977) is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator, best known as the creator of Gunslinger Girl. Aida has also done the character designs for the eroge visual novel Bittersweet Fools.
Shinji Fukuda (福田真嗣, Fukuda Shinji) is the Project Professor at the Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio…Shinji Fukuda (福田真嗣, Fukuda Shinji) is the Project Professor at the Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, in Tsuruoka, Japan. He is a leading researcher in the field of gut microbiome analysis and evaluation. Known for his efforts to raise awareness about the importance of gut health, he often refers to feces as "brown gems".
Yoshiaki Nishimura (西村 義明, Nishimura Yoshiaki; born September 25, 1977 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese lead film…Yoshiaki Nishimura (西村 義明, Nishimura Yoshiaki; born September 25, 1977 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese lead film producer formerly of Studio Ghibli and founder of Studio Ponoc. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2014 for The Tale of Princess Kaguya and received a consecutive nomination in 2015 for When Marnie Was There in the same category.
Makoto Suwa (Japanese: 諏訪 理, Hepburn: Suwa Makoto; born 1977 in Tokyo) is a Japanese climate scientist and astronaut…Makoto Suwa (Japanese: 諏訪 理, Hepburn: Suwa Makoto; born 1977 in Tokyo) is a Japanese climate scientist and astronaut with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Makoto Shimizu (清水誠, Shimizu Makoto) (born 1977 in Tokyo, Japan), professionally known as Makoto (マコト, Makoto), is a…Makoto Shimizu (清水誠, Shimizu Makoto) (born 1977 in Tokyo, Japan), professionally known as Makoto (マコト, Makoto), is a Japanese drum and bass musician, producer and DJ. Among other distinctive elements of Makoto's musical style, a heavy influence of 1970s-era soul, funk and jazz fusion can be heard throughout the vast majority of his repertoire.
Kazuo Echigo (越後 和男, Echigo Kazuo; born December 28, 1965) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He also…Kazuo Echigo (越後 和男, Echigo Kazuo; born December 28, 1965) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He also played for the Japanese National Team.
Fumiya Satō (さとう ふみや, Satō Fumiya; born Fumiko Satō (佐藤文子, Satō Fumiko), 22 December 1965 in Omiya, Saitama, Japan) is…Fumiya Satō (さとう ふみや, Satō Fumiya; born Fumiko Satō (佐藤文子, Satō Fumiko), 22 December 1965 in Omiya, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist. She is best known for the manga series The Kindaichi Case Files and Detective School Q. In 1995, she received the Kodansha Manga Award for her work on The Kindaichi Case Files.
Masahiro Motoki (本木 雅弘 Motoki Masahiro, born December 21, 1965) is a Japanese actor. He portrayed protagonist Daigo…Masahiro Motoki (本木 雅弘 Motoki Masahiro, born December 21, 1965) is a Japanese actor. He portrayed protagonist Daigo Kobayashi in Departures, which won the 81st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. His performance earned him the Award for Best Actor at the 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards, at the 3rd Asian Film Awards and at the 32nd Japan Academy Prize.
Takamasa Sakurai (櫻井 孝昌, Sakurai Takamasa; December 19, 1965 – December 4, 2015) was a Japanese pop culture and anime…Takamasa Sakurai (櫻井 孝昌, Sakurai Takamasa; December 19, 1965 – December 4, 2015) was a Japanese pop culture and anime expert. Sakurai was a strong proponent for the promotion of Japanese popular culture internationally as a means of cultural exchange and cultural diplomacy. His projects promoted Japanese anime, fashion and music to a global audience. In 2009, Sakurai co-founded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs's "Kawaii Ambassador" program. He also authored several books on the country's aesthetics and pop culture, including "Sekai Kawaii Kakumei" ("World Cuteness Revolution") and Anime Bunka Gaiko (Anime Cultural Diplomacy). On December 4, 2015, Sakurai was killed when he fell onto the tracks at the Nishi-Nippori Station of the Keihin-Tōhoku Line in Arakawa, Tokyo, around 12:30 a.m. Sakurai, who was 49-years old, may have been intoxicated at the time of the accident. He had lived in the nearby Higashi-Nippon neighborhood of Tokyo.
Shoichi Arai (荒井 昌一 Arai Shōichi) (December 19, 1965 – May 16, 2002) was a Japanese professional wrestling promoter.…Shoichi Arai (荒井 昌一 Arai Shōichi) (December 19, 1965 – May 16, 2002) was a Japanese professional wrestling promoter. Arai ran Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling from 1995 until its closure in 2002.
Nobuko Fujimura (Japanese: 藤村 信子; born 18 December 1965) is a Japanese female former long-distance runner who competed…Nobuko Fujimura (Japanese: 藤村 信子; born 18 December 1965) is a Japanese female former long-distance runner who competed in the marathon. She won the Hokkaido Marathon in 1993 and the Tokyo Women's Marathon in 1996. She represented her country at the World Championships in Athletics (1997), IAAF World Cross Country Championships (1994), and was a bronze medallist at the 1994 Asian Games.
Takahiro Ikeyama (池山 隆寛, Ikeyama Takahiro; born December 17, 1965 in Amagasaki, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese former…Takahiro Ikeyama (池山 隆寛, Ikeyama Takahiro; born December 17, 1965 in Amagasaki, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder who currently serves as the manager for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). A slugging shortstop, Ikeyama played in NPB for the Swallows from 1984 to 2002.
Roppyaku Tsurumi (鶴見 六百, Tsurumi Roppyaku; born 17 December 1965) is a Japanese game producer and designer, known for…Roppyaku Tsurumi (鶴見 六百, Tsurumi Roppyaku; born 17 December 1965) is a Japanese game producer and designer, known for the Japanese localization of the original Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter series. He works for Sony Computer Entertainment. In Japanese Roppyaku literally means "six hundred." One of his earliest works in his career is producing and designing the arcade version of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker.
Tetsuya Tanaka (田中哲也, Tanaka Tetsuya, born 16 December 1965) is a Japanese racing driver. Since 1996, he has competed…Tetsuya Tanaka (田中哲也, Tanaka Tetsuya, born 16 December 1965) is a Japanese racing driver. Since 1996, he has competed in the Japanese Grand Touring Championship for a variety of teams, and has won the Tokachi 24 Hours five times.
Masae Ido (井戸 正枝, Ido Masae; born Masae Ogata; 13 December 1965) is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House…Masae Ido (井戸 正枝, Ido Masae; born Masae Ogata; 13 December 1965) is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Representatives. She is a member of the Democratic Party For the People. She is a former member of the Hyōgo Prefectural Assembly.
Kei Shibata (柴田 峡, Shibata Kei; born 8 December 1965) is a Japanese former footballer and current manager Japan…Kei Shibata (柴田 峡, Shibata Kei; born 8 December 1965) is a Japanese former footballer and current manager Japan Football League club of ReinMeer Aomori
Motohisa Furukawa (古川 元久, Furukawa Motohisa; born 6 December 1965) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party for…Motohisa Furukawa (古川 元久, Furukawa Motohisa; born 6 December 1965) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party for the People and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Nagoya, Aichi and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he joined the Ministry of Finance in 1988, attending Columbia University in the United States as a ministry official. Leaving the ministry in 1994, he took part in the formation of the Democratic Party of Japan in 1996 and was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in the same year; he is currently serving his fourth term in this House. In September 2011 he was appointed as State Minister of National Strategy, Economic and Fiscal Policy in the cabinet of newly appointed prime minister Yoshihiko Noda. Furukawa is a member of the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders and is founder of its Table For Two initiative. On December 4, 2024, Furukawa became acting leader of the Democratic Party for the People following the suspension of Yuichiro Tamaki until March 3, 2025 amid controversy over the latter's extramarital affair.
Masahiko Shibayama (柴山 昌彦, Shibayama Masahiko; born 5 December 1965) is a Japanese politician. He is a member of the…Masahiko Shibayama (柴山 昌彦, Shibayama Masahiko; born 5 December 1965) is a Japanese politician. He is a member of the House of Representatives belonging to the Liberal Democratic Party (6th term), Deputy Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party and Chairman of the Federation of Saitama Prefecture Liberal Democratic Party. He served as Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology from October 2018 to September 2019.
Tsuyoshi Yoda (与田 剛, Yoda Tsuyoshi; born December 4, 1965 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan) is a Japanese professional…Tsuyoshi Yoda (与田 剛, Yoda Tsuyoshi; born December 4, 1965 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball player and manager. He managed of the Chunichi Dragons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) between 2019 and 2021. Although born in Fukuoka prefecture, Yoda grew up in Kimitsu, Chiba Prefecture. His wife is Tokyo Broadcasting System Television announcer, Hiroko Kiba.
Toru H. Okabe (born December 4, 1965) is a Japanese scientist specializing in materials science, environmental science…Toru H. Okabe (born December 4, 1965) is a Japanese scientist specializing in materials science, environmental science, resource circulation engineering, and rare metals process engineering, particularly for electronic waste. His most recent work involves the advancement of new processing technology to recycle rare metals like niobium, titanium, yttrium, rhenium, neodymium, other lanthanides and precious metals. He is also involved in sustainable urban mining.
Arata Furuta (古田 新太, Furuta Arata; born Furuta Takefumi, December 3, 1965) is a Japanese theatre and film character…Arata Furuta (古田 新太, Furuta Arata; born Furuta Takefumi, December 3, 1965) is a Japanese theatre and film character actor.
Noriyo Tateno (立野 記代, Tateno Noriyo) (born December 1, 1965) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler who is best…Noriyo Tateno (立野 記代, Tateno Noriyo) (born December 1, 1965) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler who is best known as one half of the tag team Jumping Bomb Angels with Itsuki Yamazaki. She worked in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, WWF and has been working in Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling since 1992, until her retirement in 2010.
Fumihito, Crown Prince Akishino (秋篠宮皇嗣文仁親王, Akishino-no-miya Kōshi Fumihito Shinnō; born 30 November 1965, Japanese…Fumihito, Crown Prince Akishino (秋篠宮皇嗣文仁親王, Akishino-no-miya Kōshi Fumihito Shinnō; born 30 November 1965, Japanese: [ɸɯ̟mʲiꜜçi̥to̞]) is the heir presumptive to the Japanese throne. He is the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito, and the younger son of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko. Since his marriage in June 1990, he has had the title Prince Akishino (秋篠宮, Akishino-no-miya) and has headed the Akishino branch of the Imperial House of Japan. Fumihito has a bachelor's degree in political science from Gakushuin University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in ornithology from the Graduate University for Advanced Studies. In 1990, he married Kiko Kawashima, with whom he has three children: Mako, Kako, and Hisahito. In November 2020, Fumihito was officially declared the heir presumptive to the throne, during the Ceremony for Proclamation of Crown Prince (Rikkōshi-Senmei-no-gi) in Tokyo. Preceding his investiture as Crown Prince, the ongoing Japanese imperial succession debate had resulted in some politicians holding a favorable view on rescinding agnatic primogeniture, which was implemented in 1889. However, once Fumihito and Kiko had their son Hisahito in September 2006, he became next in the line of succession following his father. Fumihito's niece and Emperor Naruhito's only child, Princess Aiko, remains at present legally ineligible to inherit the throne, while debate about the possibility of having future empresses regnant continues. As active working members of the imperial family, Fumihito and his wife Kiko's schedule includes attending summits, and organisational and global event meetings. The couple have particularly represented the Japanese imperial house in ceremonies involving heads of state and VIPs abroad.
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.
Yutaka Ozaki (尾崎 豊, Ozaki Yutaka; November 29, 1965 – April 25, 1992) was a Japanese singer-songwriter. His hit debut…Yutaka Ozaki (尾崎 豊, Ozaki Yutaka; November 29, 1965 – April 25, 1992) was a Japanese singer-songwriter. His hit debut single "Jūgo no Yoru" and debut album Jūnanasai no Chizu were released in 1983. He died in 1992 at the age of 26.
Rumi Kazama (風間 ルミ, Kazama Rumi; November 28, 1965 – September 21, 2021) was a Japanese professional wrestler and…Rumi Kazama (風間 ルミ, Kazama Rumi; November 28, 1965 – September 21, 2021) was a Japanese professional wrestler and promoter. Along with Shinobu Kandori, she co-founded the promotion Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling.
Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a…Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, film director, and fashion designer. He is best known as the leader of the visual kei rock bands X Japan and the Last Rockstars, for which he is the drummer, pianist, and main songwriter. He has been described by Billboard as a "musical innovator" and named "one of the most influential composers in Japanese history" by Consequence. Time labeled Yoshiki as "an absolute force" and "one of Japan's most celebrated musicians". Yoshiki's solo career includes several classical studio albums and collaborations with artists such as George Martin, Bono, will.i.am, St. Vincent, the Chainsmokers, Skrillex, Ellie Goulding, Stan Lee, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Gene Simmons and Kiss, Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Brightman, Jonas Brothers, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Diana Ross, and Josh Groban. In 1999, at the request of the Japanese Imperial family, he composed and performed a classical song at a celebration in honor of the tenth anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement. Yoshiki also composed the theme for the 69th Golden Globe Awards as well as for several anime and film soundtracks including Attack on Titan and Saw IV. In 2023, he made his directorial debut with the feature documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Yoshiki the best drummer and the best keyboardist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election". In 2023, he was selected as the first Japanese artist to be honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in nearly 100 years. In 2024, Variety selected Yoshiki as the International Achievement in Music honoree. Time named Yoshiki one of the most influential people of 2025 in their Time 100 list.
Wataru Hidenoumi (秀ノ海 渡累, Hidenoumi Wataru), born November 20, 1965, and known by his shikona Hidenoumi (秀ノ海) is a…Wataru Hidenoumi (秀ノ海 渡累, Hidenoumi Wataru), born November 20, 1965, and known by his shikona Hidenoumi (秀ノ海) is a Japanese retired sumo wrestler from the city of Kaizuka in Osaka Prefecture. His sumo stable was Mihogaseki. His real name is Wataru Maeda (前田渡). His height is 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) and his peak weight was 229 kg (505 lb). His highest rank was jūryō 9.
Hidekazu Mitsuyama (光山 英和, Mitsuyama Hidekazu; born November 20, 1965) is a Japanese former professional baseball…Hidekazu Mitsuyama (光山 英和, Mitsuyama Hidekazu; born November 20, 1965) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher who played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 1986 to 1999, and again from 2001 to 2002. He is currently a battery coach for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Hidenori Matsubara (松原 秀典, Matsubara Hidenori; born in November 15, 1965) is a Japanese anime character designer and…Hidenori Matsubara (松原 秀典, Matsubara Hidenori; born in November 15, 1965) is a Japanese anime character designer and director.
