Daisuke Ikeda (池田 大輔, Ikeda Daisuke; born February 13, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is currently…Daisuke Ikeda (池田 大輔, Ikeda Daisuke; born February 13, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is currently wrestling in the Independent circuit in Japan. Since debuting in 1993, Ikeda has worked for a number of promotions in Japan, including Battlarts, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling (FMW).
Gen Sekiguchi (関口現, born February 10, 1968, in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese television advertisement director.…Gen Sekiguchi (関口現, born February 10, 1968, in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese television advertisement director. Outside of TV commercials, he directed the short films Bus Panic!!! (2001) and Worst Contact (2000) and the feature film Survive Style 5+ (2004), starring Tadanobu Asano, Reika Hashimoto, Jai West and Vinnie Jones. He also directed and wrote the segment 'Sebiro Yashiki' ("The House of Abandoned Businessmen") in the compilation film Quirky Guys and Gals, and music videos for the bands Supercar, Polysics, and Smap.
Satoshi Takahashi (Takahashi Satoshi; born 9 February 1968) is a Japanese instructor of Shotokan karate. He is…Satoshi Takahashi (Takahashi Satoshi; born 9 February 1968) is a Japanese instructor of Shotokan karate. He is currently an instructor of the Japan Karate Association.
Kuranosuke Sasaki (佐々木 蔵之介, Sasaki Kuranosuke; born February 4, 1968; real name Hideaki Sasaki 佐々木秀明, Sasaki Hideaki)…Kuranosuke Sasaki (佐々木 蔵之介, Sasaki Kuranosuke; born February 4, 1968; real name Hideaki Sasaki 佐々木秀明, Sasaki Hideaki) is a Japanese actor, known primarily for his roles in Japanese television drama.
Yasunobu Nakamura (中村 泰信 Nakamura Yasunobu) is a Japanese physicist. He is a professor at the University of Tokyo's…Yasunobu Nakamura (中村 泰信 Nakamura Yasunobu) is a Japanese physicist. He is a professor at the University of Tokyo's Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) and the Principal Investigator of the Superconducting Quantum Electronics Research Group (SQERG) at the Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) within RIKEN. He has contributed primarily to the area of quantum information science, particularly in superconducting quantum computing and hybrid quantum systems.
Kotaro Oshio (押尾 コータロー, Oshio Kōtarō; real name: 押尾 光太郎) is an acoustic guitarist from Japan. Born in Suita, Osaka, on…Kotaro Oshio (押尾 コータロー, Oshio Kōtarō; real name: 押尾 光太郎) is an acoustic guitarist from Japan. Born in Suita, Osaka, on February 1, 1968, he is best known for his work on the steel string guitar. Oshio is a part of Sony Music Japan's SME Records division. Oshio was voted the second greatest Japanese guitarist in a 2019 poll held by goo.
Noriko Matsumoto (Japanese: 松本 典子, Hepburn: Matsumoto Noriko; born 30 January 1968) is a Japanese singer and television…Noriko Matsumoto (Japanese: 松本 典子, Hepburn: Matsumoto Noriko; born 30 January 1968) is a Japanese singer and television personality. After winning the Grand Prize at the 1984 Miss Seventeen Contest, she debuted as an idol singer with her song "Shunshoku no Airmail" and had four more singles chart in the Oricon Singles Chart Top 30 and a Japan Record Awards New Artist Award, and she was a regular cast member at the variety show Shimura Ken no Daijobu dā . She went on a career break after her 1992 marriage to baseball player Kenji Tomashino, before making a comeback in the early-2010s.
Kosaku Akimoto (秋元 宏作, Akimoto Kōsaku; born January 29, 1968) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball catcher. He…Kosaku Akimoto (秋元 宏作, Akimoto Kōsaku; born January 29, 1968) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball catcher. He used to play for the Yokohama BayStars.
Shinobu Aoki (青木忍, Aoki Shinobu), (born 26 January 1968 in Saitama) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played…Shinobu Aoki (青木忍, Aoki Shinobu), (born 26 January 1968 in Saitama) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as fly-half and former coach.
Masumi Miyazaki (宮崎 萬純, Miyazaki Masumi) (born January 26, 1968, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan), is an actress and…Masumi Miyazaki (宮崎 萬純, Miyazaki Masumi) (born January 26, 1968, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan), is an actress and model. She graduated from the private Horikoshi High School, and made her film debut in the 1983 release Aiko 16-sai, and was selected as the 11th Clarion Girl in 1985. Miyazaki has appeared nude in multiple films, including XX Utsukushiki Kyōki (XX美しき凶器) and Yaneura no Sanposha (屋根裏の散歩者). She has also released nude photo books and appeared in the Japanese edition of Playboy. In 1996, Miyazaki married and ceased work on her entertainment career. She now lives in the United States where she is a housewife and a lecturer. She resumed work as an entertainer in 2005. In November of that same year, Miyazaki announced that she had breast cancer.
Toshiaki Takemoto (嶽本 稔明, Takemoto Toshiaki), known professionally as Novala Takemoto (嶽本 野ばら, Takemoto Nobara), is a…Toshiaki Takemoto (嶽本 稔明, Takemoto Toshiaki), known professionally as Novala Takemoto (嶽本 野ばら, Takemoto Nobara), is a Japanese author, and fashion designer.
Takeshi Koike (小池健, Koike Takeshi) (born January 26, 1968) is a Japanese animator, illustrator and film director.…Takeshi Koike (小池健, Koike Takeshi) (born January 26, 1968) is a Japanese animator, illustrator and film director. Something of a protégé of Yoshiaki Kawajiri, he was also influenced by Yoshinori Kanada, Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, and Katsuhito Ishii. He went straight from a high school education to beginning his career at Madhouse as an in-betweener on works directed by Kawajiri after being interviewed by him. His first professional work as director is the title sequence of the 2000 film Party 7; while his first feature film is Redline, which premiered in 2009 and was released in 2010. He served as character designer and animation director for 2012's Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, and directed film continuations of it starting with Lupin the IIIrd: Jigen's Gravestone in 2014. Work outside of animation includes the artwork for the 2004 Dreams Come True single "Yasashii Kiss o Shite".
Aya Kamikawa (上川 あや, Kamikawa Aya; born January 25, 1968) is a Tokyo municipal official. With her election in April…Aya Kamikawa (上川 あや, Kamikawa Aya; born January 25, 1968) is a Tokyo municipal official. With her election in April 2003, she became the first openly transgender person to seek or win elected office in Japan.
Wataru Murata (村田亙, Murata Wataru) (born 25 January 1968 in Jōnan) is a former Japanese rugby player and coach. He…Wataru Murata (村田亙, Murata Wataru) (born 25 January 1968 in Jōnan) is a former Japanese rugby player and coach. He played as scrum-half. He currently coaches Senshu University Rugby Football Club.
Taro Hakase (葉加瀬 太郎, Hakase Tarō; born January 23, 1968 in Suita, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese musician who specialises…Taro Hakase (葉加瀬 太郎, Hakase Tarō; born January 23, 1968 in Suita, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese musician who specialises as a violinist and composer.
Taku Iwasaki (岩崎 琢, Iwasaki Taku; born 21 January 1968) is a Japanese composer and arranger. His hometown is Tokyo…Taku Iwasaki (岩崎 琢, Iwasaki Taku; born 21 January 1968) is a Japanese composer and arranger. His hometown is Tokyo, Japan. He is a graduate of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.
Ikuko Kawai (Japanese: 川井郁子, Hepburn: Kawai Ikuko; born January 19, 1968, Takamatsu) is a classically trained Japanese…Ikuko Kawai (Japanese: 川井郁子, Hepburn: Kawai Ikuko; born January 19, 1968, Takamatsu) is a classically trained Japanese violinist and composer.
Kenichi Obinata (born 17 January 1968) is a Japanese rower. He competed in the men's lightweight double sculls event at…Kenichi Obinata (born 17 January 1968) is a Japanese rower. He competed in the men's lightweight double sculls event at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Hideaki Sena, Ph.D. (瀬名 秀明, Sena Hideaki; born January 17, 1968 in Shizuoka City) is a Japanese pharmacologist and…Hideaki Sena, Ph.D. (瀬名 秀明, Sena Hideaki; born January 17, 1968 in Shizuoka City) is a Japanese pharmacologist and novelist. Sena was a graduate student at Tohoku University when he wrote his prizewinning debut novel, Parasite Eve.
Miwa Watabiki (綿引 美和, Watabiki Miwa; born January 13, 1968), better known by her stage name Chara (ちゃら), is a Japanese…Miwa Watabiki (綿引 美和, Watabiki Miwa; born January 13, 1968), better known by her stage name Chara (ちゃら), is a Japanese singer, actress and video jockey. She debuted in 1991 with the single Heaven. She is known for her song "Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai no Uta)", the theme song for the 1996 Shunji Iwai film Swallowtail Butterfly in which she starred, her 1997 hit single "Yasashii Kimochi", and her collaboration with Judy and Mary vocalist Yuki, "Ai no Hi Mittsu Orange". Chara later formed a band with Yuki, called Mean Machine.
Takae Itō (born January 13, 1968, in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of…Takae Itō (born January 13, 1968, in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2016. She represents the Hyogo at-large district and is a member of the Komeito party.
Junichi Masuda (増田 順一, Masuda Jun'ichi; born January 12, 1968) is a Japanese video game composer, director, designer…Junichi Masuda (増田 順一, Masuda Jun'ichi; born January 12, 1968) is a Japanese video game composer, director, designer, producer, singer, programmer and trombonist, best known for his work in the Pokémon franchise. He was a member of Game Freak where he was an employee and executive at the company since 1989 after Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori founded it, starting as a music composer. In 2022, Masuda was appointed to be Chief Creative Fellow at The Pokémon Company. With the development of new Pokémon games, Masuda took new roles in future projects. He began to produce and direct games, starting with Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, and became responsible for approving new character models. His style seeks to keep games accessible while still adding increasing levels of complexity. His work sticks to older mainstays of the series, including a focus on handheld game consoles and 2D graphics. His music draws inspiration from the work of celebrated modern composers like Dmitri Shostakovich, though he used the Super Mario series as a model of good video game composition.
Toru Shioya (born January 9, 1968) is a former professional basketball Head coach for the Hitachi High-Technologies…Toru Shioya (born January 9, 1968) is a former professional basketball Head coach for the Hitachi High-Technologies Cougars of Women's Japan Basketball League .
Sachiko Fujita (Japanese: 藤田 幸子; born 9 January 1968) is a Japanese former volleyball and beach volleyball player who…Sachiko Fujita (Japanese: 藤田 幸子; born 9 January 1968) is a Japanese former volleyball and beach volleyball player who competed in the 1988 and in the 1996 Summer Olympics. In 1988, she finished third with the Japanese team in the Olympic tournament in Seoul. Eight years later, she finished fifth with her partner Yukiko Takahashi in the beach volleyball tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Keiko Aoki (青木 恵子, Aoki Keiko; née Nakano (中野), born 8 January 1968) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and…Keiko Aoki (青木 恵子, Aoki Keiko; née Nakano (中野), born 8 January 1968) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and professional golfer better known as Bull Nakano (ブル中野, Burunakano). She began competing in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) as a teenager under the ring name Bull Nakano. As a wrestler she was a villain, who often teamed with her mentor Dump Matsumoto. In Japan, she held several of AJW's singles and tag team championships. After being phased out by the company in the early 1990s, she traveled to North America, where she first competed in Mexico's Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), becoming its first World Women's Champion. In 1994, she made her way to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where she had feuded with Alundra Blayze over the WWF Women's Championship. After holding the title once, she also competed in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). In 1998, Nakano began competing as a professional golfer, and in 2006, she joined a tour with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). She was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2001 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2024.
Sakura Uchikoshi (born Sakura Muraki on January 6, 1968, in Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as…Sakura Uchikoshi (born Sakura Muraki on January 6, 1968, in Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2019. She represents the Niigata at-large district and is a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. She is a member of the following committees (as of 2021): Committee on Health, Welfare and Labour Committee on Budget Special Committee on North Korean Abduction Issue and Related Matters Commission on the Constitution
Shunpei Mizuno (水野俊平, Mizuno Shunpei; born 1968) is a Japanese academic who primarily writes on Korean culture. He has…Shunpei Mizuno (水野俊平, Mizuno Shunpei; born 1968) is a Japanese academic who primarily writes on Korean culture. He has also published instructional books for Korean learners of Japanese. He used to write under the pen name Shunsui Nohira (野平俊水, Nohira Shunsui).
Noboru Asahi (Japanese: 朝日 昇, Asahi Noboru; born January 5, 1968) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist, a…Noboru Asahi (Japanese: 朝日 昇, Asahi Noboru; born January 5, 1968) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist, a designer, and an owner of MMA gym. He was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan on January 5, 1968, as Shin'ichi Asahi (Japanese: 朝日 愼一, Asahi Shin'ichi).
Goichi Suda (須田 剛一, Suda Gōichi; born January 2, 1968), known by his alias Suda51, is a Japanese video game designer…Goichi Suda (須田 剛一, Suda Gōichi; born January 2, 1968), known by his alias Suda51, is a Japanese video game designer and writer. Affiliated with Human Entertainment from 1994 to 1998, he founded Grasshopper Manufacture in 1998 with a number of other Human Entertainment staff to produce their own titles. His best-known work has come from Grasshopper Manufacture, including The Silver Case (1999), Killer7 (2005), the No More Heroes series, and Lollipop Chainsaw (2012). Suda is from Nagano Prefecture, moving to Tokyo at the age of 18 and eventually being hired by Human Entertainment after having a number of other jobs including as an undertaker. His first projects were in the Fire Pro Wrestling and Twilight Syndrome series. At Grasshopper Manufacture, he worked on their debut title The Silver Case as writer and director. The Silver Case helped establish both Suda and his company in Japan, but Suda and Grasshopper gained international attention with the release of Killer7, Suda's first title to be released outside Japan. He has contributed to most of the company's projects, taking on a more managerial role following No More Heroes in 2007. Suda's work is characterized by a focus on themes of crime, and the clash of people with different ideals. While his early works adopted a serious tone, his later projects incorporated elements of humor. Sexual elements have also made appearances in his work to the point where he became worried they would become too heavily associated with him. Aspects of his work have been influenced by film and literature, with one of his favorite authors being Franz Kafka. He frequently incorporates references to pop culture in his games.
Yōsuke Eguchi (江口 洋介, Eguchi Yōsuke; born December 31, 1967) is a Japanese actor and singer. Since 1986, he has…Yōsuke Eguchi (江口 洋介, Eguchi Yōsuke; born December 31, 1967) is a Japanese actor and singer. Since 1986, he has appeared in a number of television series and movies.
Hideki Nagano (born 1968) is a Japanese classical pianist. He has been a member of the Ensemble intercontemporain since…Hideki Nagano (born 1968) is a Japanese classical pianist. He has been a member of the Ensemble intercontemporain since 1995 and lives in France.
Kosuke Takahashi (高橋 浩祐, Takahashi Kōsuke; born October 13, 1968 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa) is a Japanese journalist. He…Kosuke Takahashi (高橋 浩祐, Takahashi Kōsuke; born October 13, 1968 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa) is a Japanese journalist. He contributes to IHS Jane's Defence, NK News, and Toyo Keizai Online among other media by writing in both English and Japanese. He is also currently a regular TV commentator of Tokyo MX's Morning Cross program. Takahashi worked as the senior online news editor at Thomson Reuters in Tokyo from April 2016 to January 2017, where he focuses on expanding its online news coverage across multiple digital channels. He was appointed editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Japan in September 2014 where he was in charge of overseeing all of the day-to-day editorial content and operations of the Huffington Post Japan. Previously, he has worked as Tokyo correspondent for IHS Jane's Defence Weekly from January 2009 to early September 2014, specializing in Japan's defense and politics as well as East Asian affairs such as on Sino-Japanese relations and Korean Peninsula issues. He also has worked for the Asahi Shimbun, Bloomberg News, Dow Jones Japan and The Wall Street Journal Japan as staff writer/editor, and Nikkei CNBC Japan as regular TV commentator. He used the pen name Kosuke Goto (後藤 浩祐, Goto Kosuke) at Bloomberg. His work has appeared in the International Herald Tribune, The Guardian, The Straits Times, Institutional Investor magazine, Asia Times Online, The Diplomat, NK News and Japan's Tokyo Keizai magazine, among other publications. His comments on international affairs have appeared in worldwide articles such as those of the Christian Science Monitor, the Australian, Italy's daily newspaper Il Foglio, the Taipei Times, the Ukrainian Week, China's Xinhua News Agency and South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo. The news media Takahashi has worked for: Tokyo Correspondent for The Diplomat, May 2023– Present Tokyo Correspondent for Janes Defence Weekly, January 2017– April 2023 Senior Online News Editor of Thomson Reuters, April 1, 2016– January 2017 Editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Japan, September 8, 2014– March 14, 2016 Tokyo Correspondent for IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, January 2009– September 7, 2014 Editor at Wall Street Journal Japan, Oct 2012 - Dec 2013 Senior Writer at Asia Times Online, May 2004– Sept 2012 TV Commentator at Nikkei CNBC Japan, March 2009– March 2012 (under his pen name Kosuke Goto) Freelancer for Institutional Investor Magazine, January 2009–December 2010 Staff Writer at Bloomberg News, July 2005 - Sept 2008 (under his pen name Kosuke Goto) Staff Writer at RIM Intelligence Co, Feb 2004 - May 2005 Intern at the Tokyo bureau of The New York Times, May- July, 2002 Copy Editor at Dow Jones Japan, 2000–2001 Staff Writer at The Asahi Shimbun, 1993–1999 Takahashi graduated from Keio University with a B.A. in economics in 1993. After working for The Asahi Shimbun and Dow Jones, he studied at Columbia University's Journalism School and School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and graduated with Master of Science in Journalism in 2003 and Master of International Affairs in 2004. Prior to joining the Asahi as a reporter in 1993, he worked for Baltimore Economic Development Corporation as an exchange trainee to a sister city program of Kawasaki City, and researched trade issues between the United States and Japan. He was awarded an Honorary citizenship of Baltimore for his work in 1988.
Kyoko Uchiyama (内山 京子, Uchiyama Kyōko; born 16 November 1968) is a Japanese table tennis player. She competed in the…Kyoko Uchiyama (内山 京子, Uchiyama Kyōko; born 16 November 1968) is a Japanese table tennis player. She competed in the women's singles event at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Reversi is an abstract strategy board game for two players, played on an 8×8 uncheckered board. It was invented in…Reversi is an abstract strategy board game for two players, played on an 8×8 uncheckered board. It was invented in 1883. Othello, a variant with a fixed initial setup of the board, was patented in 1971. Two players compete, using 64 identical game pieces ("disks") that are light on one side and dark on the other. Each player chooses one color to use throughout the game. Players take turns placing one disk on an empty square, with their assigned color facing up. After a play is made, any disks of the opponent's color that lie in a straight line bounded by the one just played and another one in the current player's color are turned over. When all playable empty squares are filled, the player with more disks showing in their own color wins the game.
Naoko Matsumoto is a Professor in the Department of Archaeology at Okayama University. Her research covers the areas of…Naoko Matsumoto is a Professor in the Department of Archaeology at Okayama University. Her research covers the areas of cognitive archaeology, gender archaeology and the Jomon period.
Ryuji Masuda (増田 龍治, Masuda Ryūji; born 1968) is a Japanese CGI animation director. His works include Popee the…Ryuji Masuda (増田 龍治, Masuda Ryūji; born 1968) is a Japanese CGI animation director. His works include Popee the Performer, Mr. Stain on Junk Alley and Funny Pets. He has been known to be active in both his native Kumamoto and Okinawa.
Yoshimasa Ishibashi (石橋義正, Ishibashi Yoshimasa; born 1968) is a Japanese video, experimental film and performance…Yoshimasa Ishibashi (石橋義正, Ishibashi Yoshimasa; born 1968) is a Japanese video, experimental film and performance artist based in Kyoto, Japan and the leader of the Kyupi Kyupi artist collective, founded in 1996. He has directed work for both art museums, including Kyupi Kyupi performances at the Palais de Tokyo and Tate Modern in 2003, and commercial television and film, his most famous creation being the Fuccons, a family of mannequins who first appeared in Vermilion Pleasure Night in 2000 and since in their own program Oh! Mikey and its spin-offs.
Yūji Tajiri (田尻裕司, Tajiri Yūji) is a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is one of the group of pink…Yūji Tajiri (田尻裕司, Tajiri Yūji) is a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is one of the group of pink film directors collectively known as the "Seven Lucky Gods of Pink" (ピンク七福神, shichifukujin), a group which also includes Toshiya Ueno, Mitsuru Meike, Shinji Imaoka, Yoshitaka Kamata, Toshirō Enomoto and Rei Sakamoto.
Susumu Sakurai (born 1968) is a Japanese scientist and science navigator. He was born in Yamagata Prefecture. He is the…Susumu Sakurai (born 1968) is a Japanese scientist and science navigator. He was born in Yamagata Prefecture. He is the president of sakurAi Science Factory Inc.
Kōji Kiriyama (桐山 光侍, Kiriyama Kōji) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for the Ninku series which was serialized…Kōji Kiriyama (桐山 光侍, Kiriyama Kōji) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for the Ninku series which was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump manga magazine between 1993 and 1995, and was adapted into an anime series and film. A second manga titled Ninku Second Stage: Stories of Etonins (忍空 -SECOND STAGE 干支忍編-) ran from 2005 to 2011 in the seinen magazine Ultra Jump. His works inspired artists such as Masashi Kishimoto of Naruto fame, who used to copy Kiriyama's drawings in his studying to become a manga artist.
Norihiro Yagi (八木 教広, Yagi Norihiro; born 1968) is a Japanese manga writer and artist from Okinawa Prefecture. He…Norihiro Yagi (八木 教広, Yagi Norihiro; born 1968) is a Japanese manga writer and artist from Okinawa Prefecture. He started making manga in 1990.
Hiroshi Sambuichi is a Hiroshima-based Japanese architect. He has been recognized and awarded for his buildings that…Hiroshi Sambuichi is a Hiroshima-based Japanese architect. He has been recognized and awarded for his buildings that combine aesthetic appeal with environmental sustainability in regards to their material composition and functional operation. His projects span various prefectures of Japan, as well as other parts of the world, like Denmark. In 2017, the editorial team of Designwanted called Sambuichi's firm, Hiroshi Sambuichi Architects, one of ten top architecture firms in the world to know, citing his "unique design philosophy" of making architecture harmonize with nature.
Kōyū Amano (天野 高雄, 1968 - present) is a Japanese Buddhist monk of Kōyasan Shingon-shū. He currently serves as abbot at…Kōyū Amano (天野 高雄, 1968 - present) is a Japanese Buddhist monk of Kōyasan Shingon-shū. He currently serves as abbot at Kōzō-ji (高蔵寺) in Okayama Prefecture and has been active as a missionary, artist, sculptor and radio personality.