Kyouichi Tachikawa (立川 京一, Tachikawa Kyōichi; born 1966) is a Japanese historian specializing in international politics…Kyouichi Tachikawa (立川 京一, Tachikawa Kyōichi; born 1966) is a Japanese historian specializing in international politics military history, specifically French Indochina. He was born in the Tokyo. He is a graduate of the Sophia University foreign language department. As of 1999, he lectures part-time at Sophia University and at Caritas Junior College. Currently he is working as a researcher for the Japanese Ministry of Defense where he does research on military history.
Kazushige Touhara (Japanese: 東原 和成) is a Japanese biologist, neuroscientist, and a professor at the University of…Kazushige Touhara (Japanese: 東原 和成) is a Japanese biologist, neuroscientist, and a professor at the University of Tokyo, Japan. After training in the field of organic chemistry, insect endocrinology, and GPCR signaling, he began to establish his team to conducted research on chemoreception with support from Hiroshi Kataoka. In 2024, he serves as the head of the Union of Japanese Societies for Biological Science and is involved in initiatives such as advocating for the doubling of Japan's scientific research funding. Additionally, he has published several essays focused on improving education and scientific research in Japan.
Toru Takasuka (高須賀 宣, Takasuka Tōru; born 1966) is a Japanese software entrepreneur. Takasuka founded Cybozu, one of…Toru Takasuka (高須賀 宣, Takasuka Tōru; born 1966) is a Japanese software entrepreneur. Takasuka founded Cybozu, one of Japan's first web-based groupware products. In 1997, with a $200,000 loan and two partners, Takasuka left his position as Vice President of Matsushita Electric Works V-Internet Operations in Osaka, Japan for the small city of Matsuyama, where he began developing Cybozu. Japanese for "cyber-kid", Cybozu held an initial public offering (IPO) within three years. In April 2005, Takasuka resigned his position as President and CEO at Cybozu. In January 2006, he co-founded LUNARR, Inc. with his business partner, Hideshi Hamaguchi in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. He currently lives in both Portland, Oregon and Tokyo, Japan.
Kimitoshi Yamane (山根 公利, Yamane Kimitoshi; born 1966) is a Japanese mecha designer. He was born in Kawamoto, Shimane…Kimitoshi Yamane (山根 公利, Yamane Kimitoshi; born 1966) is a Japanese mecha designer. He was born in Kawamoto, Shimane Prefecture, and lives in Hamada, Shimane Prefecture. His representative works include Cowboy Bebop, Infinite Ryvius, The Vision of Escaflowne and the Gundam series. Yamane's designs are characterised by a sense of industrial product, designed with motifs from real vehicles and weapons, or from war and science fiction films. While Yamane has a deep knowledge of tanks and ships, he has little interest in robot in human form. In the Gundam series, he sometimes designs the main robot Gundam, but his work is basically focused on naval vessels, aircraft and vehicles. His hobbies include fishing, working on cars, and riding motorcycles. He owns several old cars and would like to try his hand at designing real cars if he gets the chance.
Kiyotaka Tsurisaki (釣崎 清隆, born 1966 in Toyama Prefecture) is a Japanese photographer who specializes in photographing…Kiyotaka Tsurisaki (釣崎 清隆, born 1966 in Toyama Prefecture) is a Japanese photographer who specializes in photographing dead bodies. After graduation from Keio University, he worked as an adult video director and became a dead body photographer in 1994. He has taken pictures in Thailand, Colombia, Russia, Palestine, India, Mexico, Ukraine, Japan, Brazil, Philippines, Israel, France and elsewhere.
Shinya Ohira (Japanese: 大平晋也, Hepburn: Ōhira Shin'ya; born December 12, 1966) is a Japanese animator, director and…Shinya Ohira (Japanese: 大平晋也, Hepburn: Ōhira Shin'ya; born December 12, 1966) is a Japanese animator, director and character designer. He is known for his animation style with constantly shifting linework, described as being both realistic and surreal. He is part of the animator circle Studio Break, along with animators like Atsushi Yano and Shinji Hashimoto. He has worked on several Studio Ghibli films, with Hayao Miyazaki even storyboarding certain scenes with Ohira in mind for the animation.
Tatsuya Kato (加藤 達也, Katō Tatsuya, born 1966) is a Japanese journalist who was a Seoul bureau chief of South Korea at…Tatsuya Kato (加藤 達也, Katō Tatsuya, born 1966) is a Japanese journalist who was a Seoul bureau chief of South Korea at Sankei Shimbun. He was indicted in October 2014 on charges of defamation for reporting the relationship of President Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil's husband, Chung Yoon-hoi, by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea after the MV Sewol sank. He was acquitted in December 2015 in what has been described as a small victory for freedom of the press in South Korea.
John Maeda (born 1966) is an American designer, visual artist, executive, strategic advisor, writer, and educator. He…John Maeda (born 1966) is an American designer, visual artist, executive, strategic advisor, writer, and educator. He serves as the vice president of design and artificial intelligence at Microsoft. Previously, Maeda served as chief technology officer of Everbridge from October 2020 through October 2022, and as president of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) from June 2008 until December 2013. Before that he was a research professor at the MIT Media Lab leading advancements in computational design, low-code/no-code, and creative commerce.
Akihiko Mori (森彰彦) born 1966, was a Japanese video game music composer who worked for Copya System Ltd., later becoming…Akihiko Mori (森彰彦) born 1966, was a Japanese video game music composer who worked for Copya System Ltd., later becoming a member of Mint Co., Ltd. where he worked with other composers. Mori died of stomach cancer on January 8, 1998.
Takashi Iwashige (いわしげ孝, Iwashige Takashi; 1954–2013) was a Japanese manga artist who wrote primarily martial-arts…Takashi Iwashige (いわしげ孝, Iwashige Takashi; 1954–2013) was a Japanese manga artist who wrote primarily martial-arts manga celebrating individuality. He is best known for the judo series Hanamaru Legend and its sequel, New Hanamaru Legend. He received the 1986 Shogakukan Manga Award for seinen/general manga for Bokkemon. Iwashige died at age 58 on 6 March 2013.
Norihito, Prince Takamado (高円宮憲仁親王, Takamado-no-miya Norihito Shinnō; 29 December 1954 – 21 November 2002) was a…Norihito, Prince Takamado (高円宮憲仁親王, Takamado-no-miya Norihito Shinnō; 29 December 1954 – 21 November 2002) was a Japanese member of the Imperial House of Japan and the third son of Takahito, Prince Mikasa and Yuriko, Princess Mikasa. He was a first cousin of Emperor Akihito, and was seventh in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne at the time of his death.
Jiro Kase (加瀬 次郎, Kase Jirō; born 27 December 1954) is a retired Japanese judoka. Kase is from Sumida, Tokyo and began…Jiro Kase (加瀬 次郎, Kase Jirō; born 27 December 1954) is a retired Japanese judoka. Kase is from Sumida, Tokyo and began judo at Kodokan at the age of a 4th grader. He belonged to Keiyo Gas Co., Ltd after graduation from Meiji University in 1977. In 1981, he won a silver medal at the World Championships held in Maastricht. He also participated All-Japan Championships 5 times from 1977 to 1985. As of 2010, Kase coaches judo at Keiyo Gas.
Kazunori Itō (伊藤 和典, Itō Kazunori; born December 24, 1954) is a Japanese anime screenwriter and artist who is well…Kazunori Itō (伊藤 和典, Itō Kazunori; born December 24, 1954) is a Japanese anime screenwriter and artist who is well known for his work in the .hack franchise and his writing for the 1995 Ghost in the Shell movie. Itō supervised the writing for the novel, .hack//Another Birth which was written by his student, Miu Kawasaki. He is a member of the artist group known as Headgear. Helen McCarthy in 500 Essential Anime Movies calls him "one of the best screenwriters in anime".
Yoichi Machishima (町島 洋一, Machishima Yōichi; born 23 December 1954) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the…Yoichi Machishima (町島 洋一, Machishima Yōichi; born 23 December 1954) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the individual and team pursuit events at the 1976 Summer Olympics and 1974 Asian Games. He was mostly known in Japan as a professional keirin cyclist.
Hideshi Matsuda (松田 秀士, Matsuda Hideshi; born 22 December 1954) is a Japanese car racer and TV reporter. He is the…Hideshi Matsuda (松田 秀士, Matsuda Hideshi; born 22 December 1954) is a Japanese car racer and TV reporter. He is the brother-in-law of Beat Takeshi.
Masayoshi Watanabe (渡邉 正義, Watanabe Masayoshi; born December 20, 1954) is a Japanese chemist and professor of Yokohama…Masayoshi Watanabe (渡邉 正義, Watanabe Masayoshi; born December 20, 1954) is a Japanese chemist and professor of Yokohama National University.
Hideo Ohno (Japanese: 大野 英男; Hideo Ōno; born 18 December 1954, Tokyo) is a Japanese physicist. He is the 22nd president…Hideo Ohno (Japanese: 大野 英男; Hideo Ōno; born 18 December 1954, Tokyo) is a Japanese physicist. He is the 22nd president of Tohoku University, succeeding Susumu Satomi in April 2018.
Norihiko Kitahara (北原 憲彦, Kitahara Norihiko; 11 December 1954 – 30 May 2026) was a Japanese basketball player. He…Norihiko Kitahara (北原 憲彦, Kitahara Norihiko; 11 December 1954 – 30 May 2026) was a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Kitahara died on 30 May 2026, at the age of 71.
Hiroshi Yamamoto (山本 博司, Yamamoto Hiroshi; born 1954) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a former…Hiroshi Yamamoto (山本 博司, Yamamoto Hiroshi; born 1954) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a former member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Yawatahama, Ehime and graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007 after working at IBM.
Ichiro Furutachi (古舘 伊知郎, Furutachi Ichirō; born December 7, 1954) is a Japanese announcer, tarento, television…Ichiro Furutachi (古舘 伊知郎, Furutachi Ichirō; born December 7, 1954) is a Japanese announcer, tarento, television presenter, and newscaster represented by Furutachi-Project. He was an announcer for TV Asahi. He graduated from Kita Kuritsu Takinogawa Daini (No. 2) Elementary School, Chiyoda Kuritsu Kanda Hitotsubashi Junior High School, Rikkyo Niiza Junior and Senior High School, and Rikkyo University, where he studied Economics with a focus on Business Administration. Controversy erupted when he stepped down as the anchor of TV Asahi's evening news broadcast, Hōdō Station, a removal reportedly due to political pressure in response to the show's critical tone.
Akiko Tamei (溜井 昭子, Tamei Akiko; born 5 December 1954), better known by her former stage name as Aki Mizusawa (水沢 アキ…Akiko Tamei (溜井 昭子, Tamei Akiko; born 5 December 1954), better known by her former stage name as Aki Mizusawa (水沢 アキ, Mizusawa Aki), is a Japanese actress, tarento, model, and singer.
Satoru Miyano (宮野 悟, Miyano Satoru; born December 5, 1954) is a professor and the director of the M&D Data Science…Satoru Miyano (宮野 悟, Miyano Satoru; born December 5, 1954) is a professor and the director of the M&D Data Science Center at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. He was awarded fellowship of the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) in 2013 for outstanding contributions to the fields of computational biology and bioinformatics.
Yasutaka Okayama (岡山恭崇, Okayama Yasutaka; born November 29, 1954) is a Japanese former professional basketball player…Yasutaka Okayama (岡山恭崇, Okayama Yasutaka; born November 29, 1954) is a Japanese former professional basketball player and coach. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors as the 171st pick of the eighth round of the 1981 NBA draft, although he did not sign with them. At 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m), he is the tallest player to be drafted in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. Okayama was the only player from Japan drafted into the NBA until Rui Hachimura was selected in the 2019 NBA draft. Okayama practiced judo at junior high and high school, and obtained a second degree black belt. He started playing basketball at Osaka University of Commerce when he was eighteen. In 1975, when his height was about 2.08 metres (6 ft 10 in), he was recruited by the University of Portland; he spent two years there, but a medical check revealed gigantism and he never played for the varsity team. After graduation, he joined the Sumitomo Metal Sparks basketball club. He represented Japan between 1979 and 1986 before retiring in 1996. After being selected in the 1981 NBA draft, Okayama opted to stay in Japan. As of 2005, he worked for Sumitomo Metal Industries and was active as a basketball coach. Okayama wrote a book for young basketball players in 1989.
Katsutoshi Kawano (河野 克俊, Kawano Katsutoshi; born 28 November 1954) is a retired Japanese admiral who served as the 5th…Katsutoshi Kawano (河野 克俊, Kawano Katsutoshi; born 28 November 1954) is a retired Japanese admiral who served as the 5th Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces from 2014 to 2019 — the longest tenure of anyone who has held that specific post since its creation. Prior to his appointment, he was Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), Japan's maritime military service.
Hideshi Ishikawa (石川 日出志, Ishikawa Hideshi; born 1954) is a Japanese archaeologist. Since 1978 he has been on the…Hideshi Ishikawa (石川 日出志, Ishikawa Hideshi; born 1954) is a Japanese archaeologist. Since 1978 he has been on the faculty of Meiji University, in the Archaeology Department. He is considered an expert in the Yayoi period and the Bronze-Iron Age history and culture of the Korean peninsula, and Jōmon culture and pottery. He has published several books and papers, including books about ruins of the Yayoi era (2008) and on agrarian society in ancient Japanese history (2010).
Mitsuru Miura (三浦 みつる, Miura Mitsuru; born 25 November 1954) is a Japanese manga artist from Yokohama. He is best known…Mitsuru Miura (三浦 みつる, Miura Mitsuru; born 25 November 1954) is a Japanese manga artist from Yokohama. He is best known for the series The Kabocha Wine, which was adapted as an anime television series, and for which he received the 1983 Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen.
Shigekazu Mori (森 繁和, born November 18, 1954, in Chosei, Chiba Prefecture) is a former Japanese professional baseball…Shigekazu Mori (森 繁和, born November 18, 1954, in Chosei, Chiba Prefecture) is a former Japanese professional baseball pitcher who played for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He has held coaching positions at 4 different teams most notably including a 10 years stint at the Seibu Lions and 10 years at current employers, the Chunichi Dragons. On 9 August 2016 it was announced that Mori would become the interim manager of the Dragons following the dismissal of Motonobu Tanishige. On 29 September 2016, following the end of the 2016 NPB season where the Dragons finished last in the Central League, Mori was announced as permanent full-time manager for the 2017 season.
Kiyoko Nomura (17 November 1954 – 17 February 2016) was a Japanese former professional tennis player. Nomura, a…Kiyoko Nomura (17 November 1954 – 17 February 2016) was a Japanese former professional tennis player. Nomura, a multiple medalist at the 1978 Asian Games, represented the Japan Federation Cup team from 1978 to 1981. She was the singles winner at the All Japan Championships in 1979 and 1981, as well as a five-time national champion in doubles. While competing on the international tour she featured in the main draw of the Australian Open.
Mari Matsunaga (born 13 November 1954) is a Japanese editor, author, and businesswoman. She is also the representative…Mari Matsunaga (born 13 November 1954) is a Japanese editor, author, and businesswoman. She is also the representative of the Matsunaga Mari Office. After working at Japan Recruit Center Co., Ltd. and Recruit Co., Ltd., she served as head of the planning office in the Gateway Business Division at NTT Mobile Communications Network Corporation.
Sir Kazuo Ishiguro (Japanese: 石黒 一雄, Hepburn: Ishiguro Kazuo; ; born 8 November 1954) is a Japanese-British novelist…Sir Kazuo Ishiguro (Japanese: 石黒 一雄, Hepburn: Ishiguro Kazuo; ; born 8 November 1954) is a Japanese-British novelist, screenwriter, musician, and short-story writer. He is one of the most critically acclaimed contemporary fiction authors writing in English, having been awarded several major literary prizes, including the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature. In its citation, the Swedish Academy described Ishiguro as a writer "who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world". Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan, and moved to Britain in 1960 with his parents when he was five. His first two novels, A Pale View of Hills and An Artist of the Floating World, were noted for their explorations of Japanese identity and their mournful tone. He has since explored themes more typically associated with science fiction and historical fiction, while continuing a focus on the outsider's perspective, the search for an unattainable truth, and the sense of recent history as a spider's web in which humans vainly struggle. He has been nominated for the Booker Prize four times, winning in 1989 for The Remains of the Day, which was adapted into a film of the same name in 1993. Salman Rushdie praised the novel as Ishiguro's masterpiece, in which he "turned away from the Japanese settings of his first two novels and revealed that his sensibility was not rooted in any one place, but capable of travel and metamorphosis". Time named Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go as the best novel of 2005 and one of the 100 best English-language novels published between 1923 and 2005. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the 2022 film Living.
Minoru Yanagida (柳田 稔, Yanagida Minoru; born 6 November 1954) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party…Minoru Yanagida (柳田 稔, Yanagida Minoru; born 6 November 1954) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party For the People who served as member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kagoshima, Kagoshima and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1998 after serving in the House of Representatives for two terms since 1990.
Tochiakagi Takanori (born Masao Kanaya; October 31, 1954 – August 18, 1997) was a sumo wrestler from Numata, Gunma…Tochiakagi Takanori (born Masao Kanaya; October 31, 1954 – August 18, 1997) was a sumo wrestler from Numata, Gunma, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 1973, and reached the top division in May 1977. His highest rank was sekiwake, which he first reached in May 1979. Unusually he kept the rank for the following tournament even though he had a majority of losses (7–8), because there were few wrestlers below him with good enough records to replace him. This was the first such occurrence since the establishment of the six tournaments per year system in 1958. He beat three yokozuna, Wajima, Wakanohana and Mienoumi, in one tournament in November 1979, and was to win eight kinboshi in total during his top division career. He won four Outstanding Performance and four Fighting Spirit prizes. He was one of the few wrestlers to employ the rare foot sweep technique of susoharai. In 1980 he was tipped alongside Kotokaze and Asashio as a possible ozeki candidate, but never achieved his potential due to an apparent aversion to hard training, and a smoking habit. He missed the November 1980 tournament because of a leg injury and thereafter had chronic problems with both his ankles. In addition he had a poor diet and suffered from diabetes towards the end of his career. He fought in the unsalaried makushita division for 27 tournaments after being demoted from the jūryō division in 1985, longer than any other former sekiwake. He decided to retire when his stable master, former yokozuna Tochinishiki died in January 1990, although his name remained on the banzuke for the following tournament in the sandanme division, making him the first former sanyaku wrestler to fall this low since Ōyutaka in November 1985. He left the sumo world upon retirement. He died of a heart attack in 1997.
Hisao Sekiguchi (関口 久雄, Sekiguchi Hisao; born October 29, 1954) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Hisao Sekiguchi (関口 久雄, Sekiguchi Hisao; born October 29, 1954) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Junzo Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本 順三, Hepburn: Yamamoto Junzō; born October 27, 1954) is a Japanese politician of the…Junzo Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本 順三, Hepburn: Yamamoto Junzō; born October 27, 1954) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A graduate of Waseda University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 after serving in the assembly of Ehime Prefecture for six terms since 1983. In October 2015 Yamamoto was appointed state minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism, state minister of the Cabinet Office of Japan and state minister for reconstruction, he was active in these posts until August 2016.
Akira Isogai (磯貝 明, Isogai Akira; born October 19, 1954) is a Japanese academician, wood scientist and senior…Akira Isogai (磯貝 明, Isogai Akira; born October 19, 1954) is a Japanese academician, wood scientist and senior biomaterials researcher, who is an elected fellow (FIAWS) of the International Academy of Wood Science and also an elected fellow of the Japan Academy. He has been a chaired professor at the University of Tokyo, making several contributions to sustainable material science through his research work on plant cellulose and bio-nanofibers.
Kiyoshi Arakaki (新垣 清, Arakaki Kiyoshi; October 17, 1954) is a karate practitioner, historian, novelist, and the…Kiyoshi Arakaki (新垣 清, Arakaki Kiyoshi; October 17, 1954) is a karate practitioner, historian, novelist, and the founder of Okinawa Karate-Do Muso-Kai.
Yoshie Taira (平 淑恵, Taira Yoshie) (born October 12, 1954, in Obihiro, Hokkaido) is a Japanese actress. She graduated…Yoshie Taira (平 淑恵, Taira Yoshie) (born October 12, 1954, in Obihiro, Hokkaido) is a Japanese actress. She graduated from St. Margaret's Junior College in Suginami, Tokyo. From 1985 to 1999, she was a costar in the TBS prime-time television series Ōoka Echizen in the role of Yukie, the wife of Ōoka Tadasuke. She has also appeared in many other jidaigeki, including Gokenin Zankurō, Mito Kōmon, and Abarenbō Shōgun. Stage roles have included Akai Tsuki, Nemuri Hime, Koi Yamabiko, Benkei, Shishi o Kau – Rikyū to Hideyoshi, Zenigata Heiji, Kawaite Sōrō and many others. As a voice actress, she dubbed the mother in Doogie Howser, M.D., Amy Hasting in an episode of The New Perry Mason, and Abigail Bartlet in The West Wing. Taira has also appeared in films, and in television commercials for Yōmeishu and Kao. She is married to filmmaker Rintaro Mayuzumi (m. 1989), the son of composer Toshiro Mayuzumi and actress Yōko Katsuragi.
Atsuko Takahata (高畑 淳子, Takahata Atsuko; born October 11, 1954) is a Japanese actress, voice actress, and tarento from…Atsuko Takahata (高畑 淳子, Takahata Atsuko; born October 11, 1954) is a Japanese actress, voice actress, and tarento from Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. She is married to actor Ryosuke Otani. They have a son, Yuta Takahata.
Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi (山口 壯, Yamaguchi Tsuyoshi; born 3 October 1954) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi (山口 壯, Yamaguchi Tsuyoshi; born 3 October 1954) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and a member of the House of Representatives. He also served as Minister of the Environment from October 2021 to August 2022.
Toshi Yoshida is a Japanese volleyball coach. He was the head coach of the United States women's national team from…Toshi Yoshida is a Japanese volleyball coach. He was the head coach of the United States women's national team from 2001 to 2004.
Tadashi Inuzuka (犬塚 直史, Inuzuka Tadashi; born September 28, 1954) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…Tadashi Inuzuka (犬塚 直史, Inuzuka Tadashi; born September 28, 1954) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a former Senator in the House of Councillors of the Diet (national legislature). A native of Tokyo, he graduated from Rikkyo University and received a master's degree from the University of Dallas in the United States. He was elected for the first time in 2004 from his Nagasaki constituency.
Masahiro Tanaka (田中 昌宏, Tanaka Masahiro; born September 28, 1954) is a former Japanese baseball first baseman and…Masahiro Tanaka (田中 昌宏, Tanaka Masahiro; born September 28, 1954) is a former Japanese baseball first baseman and outfielder.