Takashi Kurosu (黒須 隆, Kurosu Takashi; born September 18, 1968 in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese baseball catcher who…Takashi Kurosu (黒須 隆, Kurosu Takashi; born September 18, 1968 in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese baseball catcher who won a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Kyokugōzan Kazuyasu (born 18 September 1968 as Taizan Kimura) is a former sumo wrestler from Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan. He…Kyokugōzan Kazuyasu (born 18 September 1968 as Taizan Kimura) is a former sumo wrestler from Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1984, and reached the top division in November 1989. His highest rank was maegashira 9. He left the sumo world upon retirement in September 1996.
Seiyō Uchino (内野 聖陽, Uchino Seiyō; born September 16, 1968, in Kōhoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a…Seiyō Uchino (内野 聖陽, Uchino Seiyō; born September 16, 1968, in Kōhoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor who is represented by Stardust Promotion. Before taking his current stage name Seiyō Uchino in July 2013, he was known by his birth name Masaaki Uchino (same spelling in Japanese).
Norihiro Nakayama (中山 展宏, Nakayama Norihiro; born 16 September 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Norihiro Nakayama (中山 展宏, Nakayama Norihiro; born 16 September 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Masao Kida (木田 優夫, Kida Masao; born September 12, 1968) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played…Masao Kida (木田 優夫, Kida Masao; born September 12, 1968) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999–2000, and 2003–2005. He is currently the manager for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters farm team in Nippon Professional Baseball's Eastern League.
Daishiro Yamagiwa (山際 大志郎, Yamagiwa Daishirō; born 12 September 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal…Daishiro Yamagiwa (山際 大志郎, Yamagiwa Daishirō; born 12 September 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, serving as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He served as Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization under the cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida from October 2021 to October 2022.
Toshihide Narimoto (成本 年秀, Narimoto Toshihide; born September 11, 1968, in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese…Toshihide Narimoto (成本 年秀, Narimoto Toshihide; born September 11, 1968, in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Asahiyutaka Katsuteru (born 10 September 1968) is a former sumo wrestler from Kasugai, Aichi, Japan. His highest rank…Asahiyutaka Katsuteru (born 10 September 1968) is a former sumo wrestler from Kasugai, Aichi, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. He is now the head coach of Tatsunami stable.
Michiko Hattori (Japanese: 服部道子, born 8 September 1968) is a Japanese professional golfer and former Player of the Year…Michiko Hattori (Japanese: 服部道子, born 8 September 1968) is a Japanese professional golfer and former Player of the Year on the LPGA of Japan Tour. Before turning professional, she became the first Japanese born champion of the U.S. Women's Amateur.
Shinichi Kondō (近藤 真市, Kondō Shin'ichi; born September 8, 1968 in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture) is a former Japanese…Shinichi Kondō (近藤 真市, Kondō Shin'ichi; born September 8, 1968 in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture) is a former Japanese professional baseball pitcher who played for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He has been a pitching coach for the Dragons since 2003. Kondō had a shortened career due to a consistent arm injury that forced him into early retirement. On 8 August 1987, Kondō became the first player in Japanese baseball history to throw a no-hitter on debut in a 6-0 victory over the Yomiuri Giants. He is the father of former Dragons outfielder, Hiroki Kondō.
Takashi Nagayasu (長安 豊, Nagayasu Takashi; born 5 September 1968) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic…Takashi Nagayasu (長安 豊, Nagayasu Takashi; born 5 September 1968) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, who served as a member of House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Izumisano, Osaka and graduate of the University of Tokyo he was elected for the first time in 2003 and served until 2012.
Koji Tokunaga (徳永 耕治, Tokunaga Koji; born September 3, 1968, in Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese baseball player. He…Koji Tokunaga (徳永 耕治, Tokunaga Koji; born September 3, 1968, in Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese baseball player. He won a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Harumi Hiroyama (Japanese: 弘山晴美; born 2 September 1968 in Naruto, Tokushima) is a Japanese long-distance runner. In her…Harumi Hiroyama (Japanese: 弘山晴美; born 2 September 1968 in Naruto, Tokushima) is a Japanese long-distance runner. In her early career she specialized in the 1500 and 3000 metres, but gradually she shifted to the 5000 metres, 10,000 metres and the marathon race. She won her first marathon in 2006 at the age of 37 when she beat Yoko Shibui to the finish to win the Nagoya International Women's Marathon.
Kouchi Yamashita (山下広一, Yamashita Kouchi) is a drifting driver who in 2008 made the switch from D1 Grand Prix into the…Kouchi Yamashita (山下広一, Yamashita Kouchi) is a drifting driver who in 2008 made the switch from D1 Grand Prix into the US Formula D series before moving back to Japan in 2010 to compete in the Formula Drift series there. He drove a Mazda RX-8 which was tuned with a 20B three-rotor engine producing a power of 429HP. He has achieved one victory from the D1GP series, came second place in Formula Drift Japan 2019 and won the series in 2020 for Team Weld driving a Toyota JZX100. Previously he was known for driving the Toyota AE86 and is one of the founding members of the legendary Japanese drift team Running Free.
Hideo Nomo (野茂 英雄, Nomo Hideo; born August 31, 1968) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher who played in Nippon…Hideo Nomo (野茂 英雄, Nomo Hideo; born August 31, 1968) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher who played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and Major League Baseball (MLB). He achieved early success in his native country, where he played with the Kintetsu Buffaloes from 1990 to 1994. He then exploited a loophole to free himself from his contract, and became the first Japanese major leaguer to permanently relocate to MLB in the United States, debuting with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995. Nomo became just the second Japanese player in American professional baseball after Masanori Murakami who played in MLB three decades earlier, and Nomo's star status is often credited with opening the door for Japanese players in MLB. Nomo pitched over a span of 13 seasons in the American major leagues with eight different teams, before retiring in 2008. In 1995, he won the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award and was named an MLB All-Star. He twice led MLB in strikeouts and also threw two no-hitters, including the only no-hitter in Coors Field history, a ballpark notoriously hard to pitch in due to elevation from sea level affecting pitched and batted balls. He was the only Japanese pitcher in MLB to throw a no-hitter until the Seattle Mariners' Hisashi Iwakuma did so on August 12, 2015, against the Baltimore Orioles. Nomo was well known for his distinctive "tornado" pitching windup and delivery. In 2014, Nomo was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Naoki Furukawa (古川 直季, Furukawa Naoki; born 31 August 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Naoki Furukawa (古川 直季, Furukawa Naoki; born 31 August 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Yoko Sakaue (坂上 洋子, Sakaue Yōko; born 29 August 1968 in Nagasaki) is a female retired judoka from Japan. She claimed a…Yoko Sakaue (坂上 洋子, Sakaue Yōko; born 29 August 1968 in Nagasaki) is a female retired judoka from Japan. She claimed a bronze medal in the Women's Heavyweight (+72 kg) division at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. In the bronze medal match she defeated Poland's Beata Maksymowa.
Shoichi "Sho" Funaki (船木 勝一, Funaki Shōichi) (born August 24, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestling manager, color…Shoichi "Sho" Funaki (船木 勝一, Funaki Shōichi) (born August 24, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestling manager, color commentator and retired professional wrestler signed to WWE, where he works as a Japanese-language play-by-play commentator and an occasional interpreter for Japanese talents in the company. During his time as an in-ring performer, he became a one-time Cruiserweight Champion and a one-time Hardcore Champion.
Hiroshi Kitadani (きただに ひろし, Kitadani Hiroshi; born August 24, 1968) is a Japanese singer, who primarily performs theme…Hiroshi Kitadani (きただに ひろし, Kitadani Hiroshi; born August 24, 1968) is a Japanese singer, who primarily performs theme songs and other songs in anime. He also works behind the scenes of many songs. He currently works with JAM Project. He is most known for singing the first, fifteenth, nineteenth (with Kishidan), twenty-second and twenty-sixth opening themes of the popular anime series One Piece.
Chisako Takashima (高嶋 ちさ子, Takashima Chisako; born August 24, 1968) is a Japanese tarento and violinist. She was born…Chisako Takashima (高嶋 ちさ子, Takashima Chisako; born August 24, 1968) is a Japanese tarento and violinist. She was born in Tokyo.
Hajime Moriyasu (森保 一, Moriyasu Hajime; born 23 August 1968) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He is…Hajime Moriyasu (森保 一, Moriyasu Hajime; born 23 August 1968) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He is the current manager of Japan national football team. He made more than 250 appearances in 14 years with Sanfrecce Hiroshima, including a year on loan to Kyoto Purple Sanga, before spending his final season as a professional with Vegalta Sendai. He was capped 35 times for the Japan national team. His brother Hiroshi and his sons Shohei and Keigo have also been footballers. Moriyasu has been coach of the Japanese national team since 2018, leading the team to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Final before losing to Qatar. He then achieved a round of 16 appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and a quarter-final loss in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
Daishi Nobuyuki (born 23 August 1968 as Nobuyuki Takano) is a former sumo wrestler from Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan. He…Daishi Nobuyuki (born 23 August 1968 as Nobuyuki Takano) is a former sumo wrestler from Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1984, and reached the top division in July 1994. His highest rank was maegashira 3. He retired in March 2002 and remained in the Sumo Association as jun-toshiyori before leaving in June 2003. He is now a professional singer.
Rikizo Matsuhashi (松橋 力蔵, Matsuhashi Rikizo; born August 22, 1968) is a Japanese football manager and former football…Rikizo Matsuhashi (松橋 力蔵, Matsuhashi Rikizo; born August 22, 1968) is a Japanese football manager and former football player who is the currently head coach of J1 League side FC Tokyo.
Shinichi Iwasaki (岩崎 伸一, Iwasaki Shin'ichi; born 21 August 1968) is a Japanese ice hockey player. He competed in the…Shinichi Iwasaki (岩崎 伸一, Iwasaki Shin'ichi; born 21 August 1968) is a Japanese ice hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Kotaro Nagasaki (長崎 幸太郎, Nagasaki Kōtarō; born 18 August 1968) is a Japanese politician who has served as the governor…Kotaro Nagasaki (長崎 幸太郎, Nagasaki Kōtarō; born 18 August 1968) is a Japanese politician who has served as the governor of Yamanashi Prefecture since 2019. He formerly served as a member of the House of Representatives in the National Diet as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Tokyo and graduate of the University of Tokyo he joined the Ministry of Finance in 1991. He graduated from Cornell Law School in the United States while still in the ministry. In 2005 he left the ministry and was elected to the Diet for the first time. In 2019 he was elected governor of Yamanashi Prefecture with 49.7% of the vote in a single round.
Tomoyuki Uchiyama (born August 15, 1968) is a former pitcher who played for the Seibu Lions and Fukuoka Daiei Hawks of…Tomoyuki Uchiyama (born August 15, 1968) is a former pitcher who played for the Seibu Lions and Fukuoka Daiei Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball from 1992 to 1997. Born in Minokamo-gun, Gifu Japan, Uchiyama attended Minokamo High School and then Osaka Keio University prior to playing in NPB. With Seibu in 1992, he was 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 11 relief appearances and in 1993, also with the Lions, he went 3-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 31 games (six starts), allowing only 62 hits in 83 2/3 innings pitched. From 1994 to 1997, he played for the Hawks. In 1994, he went 6-11 with three complete games a 5.22 ERA in 24 games (22 starts), walking 31 batters in 112 frames. In 1995, he was 2-3 with a 4.83 ERA in 14 games (11 starts) and in 1996, he went 3-2 with a 4.33 mark in 28 games (six starts). To finish his NPB career, he was 1-0 with a 4.71 ERA in 17 relief appearances in 1997. Overall, Uchiyama was 15-21 with a 4.32 ERA in 125 games (45 starts) over six seasons in NPB. In 373 innings, he allowed 389 hits, walked 128 batters and had 221 strikeouts. For the 1998 campaign, he pitched for the Reading Phillies in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. In 43 games (five starts), he was 5-6 with a 3.94 ERA. In 118 2/3 innings, he allowed 129 hits and 49 walks while striking out 96 batters.
Kumiko Takeda (武田 久美子, Takeda Kumiko; born August 12, 1968) is a Japanese gravure model and actress. In the 1980s and…Kumiko Takeda (武田 久美子, Takeda Kumiko; born August 12, 1968) is a Japanese gravure model and actress. In the 1980s and 1990s she gained significant popularity with her topless and nude picture books, during which time she also performed in movies where she would do body revealing and sex scenes.
Yoshimi Kobayashi (小林 良美, Kobayashi Yoshimi) (born August 11, 1968) is a Japanese softball player who played for three…Yoshimi Kobayashi (小林 良美, Kobayashi Yoshimi) (born August 11, 1968) is a Japanese softball player who played for three different positions in the 2000 Summer Olympics: The pinch hitter, left field and right field. She won the silver medal for team Japan.
Kenichi Kurosawa (黒沢 健一, Kurosawa Ken'ichi; 11 August 1968 – 5 December 2016) was a Japanese musician and record…Kenichi Kurosawa (黒沢 健一, Kurosawa Ken'ichi; 11 August 1968 – 5 December 2016) was a Japanese musician and record producer from Hitachi, Ibaraki. His younger brother is Hideki Kurosawa, who is also a musician.
Tsuyoshi Kitazawa (北澤 豪, Kitazawa Tsuyoshi; born 10 August 1968) is a Japanese former football player who played for…Tsuyoshi Kitazawa (北澤 豪, Kitazawa Tsuyoshi; born 10 August 1968) is a Japanese former football player who played for the Japan national team. He currently works on television as a football commentator.
Sayuri Iwai (Japanese: 岩井小百合, Hepburn: Iwai Sayuri; born 10 August 1968) is a retired Japanese actress and idol who had…Sayuri Iwai (Japanese: 岩井小百合, Hepburn: Iwai Sayuri; born 10 August 1968) is a retired Japanese actress and idol who had success in the 1980s. In 1983, she became the youngest female solo artist to have performed at the Nippon Budokan, aged fifteen years old, a record she still holds as of 2026.
Tokimitsu Ishizawa (Japanese: 石澤 常光Ishizawa Tokimitsu, born August 5, 1968), better known by his ring name Kendo Kashin…Tokimitsu Ishizawa (Japanese: 石澤 常光Ishizawa Tokimitsu, born August 5, 1968), better known by his ring name Kendo Kashin (ケンドー・カシン, Kendō Kashin), is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was a two time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, a one time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, and the winner of the 1999 Best of the Super Juniors. He is also known for his forays into mixed martial arts, most notably for Pride Fighting Championship (Pride), where he defeated Gracie Jiu Jitsu fighter Ryan Gracie at PRIDE 15. He currently wrestles for Pro Wrestling Noah.
Junji Hasegawa (長谷川 淳二, Hasegawa Junji; born 5 August 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Junji Hasegawa (長谷川 淳二, Hasegawa Junji; born 5 August 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Isao Yukisada (行定 勲, Yukisada Isao; born August 3, 1968) is a Japanese film director from Kumamoto. He served as…Isao Yukisada (行定 勲, Yukisada Isao; born August 3, 1968) is a Japanese film director from Kumamoto. He served as assistant director on Shunji Iwai's Love Letter, April Story, and Swallowtail Butterfly.
Shigetoshi Hasegawa (長谷川 滋利, Hasegawa Shigetoshi; born August 1, 1968) is a retired relief pitcher in Major League…Shigetoshi Hasegawa (長谷川 滋利, Hasegawa Shigetoshi; born August 1, 1968) is a retired relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He achieved the most recognition when he played for the Seattle Mariners from 2002 through 2005. Previously, Hasegawa played with the Anaheim Angels (1997–2001), and before that spent six years with the Orix BlueWave. He bats and throws right-handed.
Yoshihiko Umakoshi (Japanese: 馬越 嘉彦, Hepburn: Umakoshi Yoshihiko; born July 30, 1968) is a Japanese animator and…Yoshihiko Umakoshi (Japanese: 馬越 嘉彦, Hepburn: Umakoshi Yoshihiko; born July 30, 1968) is a Japanese animator and character designer. In 1994, he was put in charge of character designs for the first time with Marmalade Boy. Since then, he has done character designs for many series, such as HeartCatch PreCure!, Ojamajo Doremi, and My Hero Academia.
Hiroko Nagasaki (長崎 宏子, Nagasaki Hiroko; born 27 July 1968) is a Japanese former swimmer who competed in the 1984…Hiroko Nagasaki (長崎 宏子, Nagasaki Hiroko; born 27 July 1968) is a Japanese former swimmer who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics and in the 1988 Summer Olympics. She won the 100m breaststroke event at New Delhi Asiad in 1982. Nagasaki was named to the Japanese national swimming team at the age of twelve, making her the team's first ever primary school student. However she did not participate in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow as Japan joined the boycott of the games in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. After the 1984 Summer Olympics, she dropped out of Akita Kita High School to study abroad, first at the University of California, Berkeley, and later at Brigham Young University. Along with Kim Chen and Atlee Mahorn, she was one of three UC Berkeley students who competed for non-US teams at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Nagasaki retired from swimming after the 1988 games and worked for the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC). In 1995, she married Ryōichi Kasuga, her former boss at the JOC. The couple went on to have three daughters. She was one of the torchbearers in the Akita leg of the 2020 Summer Olympics torch relay.
Akihiro Hino (日野 晃博, Hino Akihiro; born July 20, 1968) is a Japanese video game designer, producer, scriptwriter, and…Akihiro Hino (日野 晃博, Hino Akihiro; born July 20, 1968) is a Japanese video game designer, producer, scriptwriter, and businessman. He is the founder, president, and chief executive officer of Level-5. Hino has held multiple roles in game development, including programming, scenario writing, directing, and executive production.
Aya Sugimoto (杉本 彩, Sugimoto Aya; born July 19, 1968) is a Japanese TV personality, actress, dancer, author, gravure…Aya Sugimoto (杉本 彩, Sugimoto Aya; born July 19, 1968) is a Japanese TV personality, actress, dancer, author, gravure idol and singer born in Kyoto. She also had a J-pop career in the late 1980s to the early 1990s.
Yukinori Miyabe (宮部 行範, Miyabe Yukinori; 18 July 1968 – 7 March 2017) was a Japanese speed skater who competed in the…Yukinori Miyabe (宮部 行範, Miyabe Yukinori; 18 July 1968 – 7 March 2017) was a Japanese speed skater who competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics and the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Tatsuji Nishimura (西村 龍次, Nishimura Tatsuji; born July 18, 1968, in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Tatsuji Nishimura (西村 龍次, Nishimura Tatsuji; born July 18, 1968, in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Hideyuki Kurata (倉田 英之, Kurata Hideyuki; born July 9, 1968 in Ibara, Okayama Prefecture) is a Japanese anime…Hideyuki Kurata (倉田 英之, Kurata Hideyuki; born July 9, 1968 in Ibara, Okayama Prefecture) is a Japanese anime screenwriter, light novelist, and manga artist, noted for authoring the series composition of such works as Read or Die, Now and Then, Here and There, Kamichu!, and Gun Sword. He has been a member of Yōsuke Kuroda's creative group Studio Orphee since 2003, and has collaborated with Kuroda on many series, including Hellsing Ultimate, Drifters, and Goblin Slayer.