Tomoyuki Kubota (久保田 智之; born January 30, 1981) is a Japanese pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon…Tomoyuki Kubota (久保田 智之; born January 30, 1981) is a Japanese pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He was selected as a member in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Chieko Higuchi (樋口 智恵子, Higuchi Chieko; born January 30, 1981) is a Japanese actress and voice actress from Mitaka…Chieko Higuchi (樋口 智恵子, Higuchi Chieko; born January 30, 1981) is a Japanese actress and voice actress from Mitaka, Tokyo. She is in the two-person group "Whoops!!" with Maaya Sakamoto.
Kaori Chiba-Fujio (Japanese: 千葉 香織; born January 29, 1981, in Minami-Alps, Yamanashi) is a field hockey player from…Kaori Chiba-Fujio (Japanese: 千葉 香織; born January 29, 1981, in Minami-Alps, Yamanashi) is a field hockey player from Japan. She has represented her native country at three Summer Olympics (2004, 2008 and 2012). Chiba was the top scorer at the 2006 Women's Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Rome, Italy, alongside Tomomi Komori (Japan), Rhona Simpson (Scotland) and Maryna Vynohradova (Ukraine), each scoring six goals.
Gen Hoshino (星野 源, Hoshino Gen; born January 28, 1981) (Japanese pronunciation: [hoɕino ɡeɴ]) is a Japanese…Gen Hoshino (星野 源, Hoshino Gen; born January 28, 1981) (Japanese pronunciation: [hoɕino ɡeɴ]) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and writer.
Erikson Noguchipinto (ノグチピント・エリキソン, Noguchipinto Erikson; born Erikson Frank Noguchi Pinto; January 27, 1981) is a…Erikson Noguchipinto (ノグチピント・エリキソン, Noguchipinto Erikson; born Erikson Frank Noguchi Pinto; January 27, 1981) is a former football player. He moved to Japan at age 10 and obtained his Japanese citizenship in 2003. Although he is Brazilian Japanese and thus entitled to have his maternal surname Noguchi as his legal Japanese surname, he chose a combination of his paternal and maternal surnames as his legal Japanese surname.
Yoshihiro Sato (佐藤 嘉洋, Satō Yoshihiro; born January 25, 1981) is a Japanese kickboxer competing in K-1 at middleweight…Yoshihiro Sato (佐藤 嘉洋, Satō Yoshihiro; born January 25, 1981) is a Japanese kickboxer competing in K-1 at middleweight (−70 kg). He is the former world champion of Muay Thai in WKA and WPKC, and he won the Japanese national tournament of K-1 twice in 2006 and 2007. His official nickname is "Mugen Sniper" which means Infinite Sniper.
Shiori Kamimachi (上町 史織, Kamimachi Shiori; born 1981) is a Japanese team handball player. She plays on the Japanese…Shiori Kamimachi (上町 史織, Kamimachi Shiori; born 1981) is a Japanese team handball player. She plays on the Japanese national team, and participated at the 2011 World Women's Handball Championship in Brazil.
Kazuhiro Murakami (村上 和弘, Murakami Kazuhiro; born January 20, 1981) is a former Japanese football player He is the…Kazuhiro Murakami (村上 和弘, Murakami Kazuhiro; born January 20, 1981) is a former Japanese football player He is the current assistant manager of Vegalta Sendai.
Sayaka Sasaki (born 18 January 1981) is a Japanese politician who was a member of the House of Councillors of Japan…Sayaka Sasaki (born 18 January 1981) is a Japanese politician who was a member of the House of Councillors of Japan from 2013 to 2025.
Naoyuki Daigo (醍醐 直幸, Daigo Naoyuki; born 18 January 1981 in Tokyo) is a retired male high jumper from Japan. His…Naoyuki Daigo (醍醐 直幸, Daigo Naoyuki; born 18 January 1981 in Tokyo) is a retired male high jumper from Japan. His personal best jump is 2.33 metres, achieved in July 2006 in Kobe. This was the Japanese record until February 2019, when Naoto Tobe broke it by two centimetres.
Kazunari Sanematsu (實松 一成, Sanematsu Kazunari; born January 18, 1981) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player…Kazunari Sanematsu (實松 一成, Sanematsu Kazunari; born January 18, 1981) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan's Pacific League. Before playing for the Fighters he was a member of the Yomiuri Giants.
Kensuke Miyazaki (宮崎 謙介, Miyazaki Kensuke; born 17 January 1981) is a Japanese politician. He served as a member of the…Kensuke Miyazaki (宮崎 謙介, Miyazaki Kensuke; born 17 January 1981) is a Japanese politician. He served as a member of the House of Representatives for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) between 2012 and 2016.
Yūya Oikawa (及川 佑, Oikawa Yūya) (born 16 January 1981) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the 500 meter speed…Yūya Oikawa (及川 佑, Oikawa Yūya) (born 16 January 1981) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the 500 meter speed skating events in the 2006, 2010, and 2014 Winter Olympics.
Chiharu Niiyama (新山千春, Nīyama Chiharu; born January 14, 1981) is a Japanese actress, tarento, and former gravure idol.…Chiharu Niiyama (新山千春, Nīyama Chiharu; born January 14, 1981) is a Japanese actress, tarento, and former gravure idol. She is affiliated with Horipro.
Yujiro Takahashi (高橋 裕二郎, Takahashi Yūjirō; born January 13, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to…Yujiro Takahashi (高橋 裕二郎, Takahashi Yūjirō; born January 13, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of House of Torture. Takahashi entered New Japan in November 2003 with an extensive amateur background, advancing through the dojo and debuting on July 26, 2004, under his full name. He later shortened his name to Yujiro (裕次郎, Yūjirō). From 2007 to 2008, he was a member of the stable Samurai Gym with El Samurai and Ryusuke Taguchi, which ended when Samurai left the company. In 2010, he joined Chaos, where he was a one-time IWGP Tag Team and Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with Tetsuya Naito, with whom he teamed as No Limit. In 2014, Takahashi defected to Bullet Club, becoming the first non-gaijin member to join the stable. As a member of Bullet Club and House of Torture, he is a one-time NEVER Openweight Champion and a four-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion. During his time in Chaos, he had a "ladies' man" gimmick, which was carried on in Bullet Club. He is referred to as the "Tokyo Pimp" and is often accompanied to the ring by go-go dancer, the "Tokyo Latina" Pieter.
Ryotaro Doi (土居 龍太郎, Doi Ryōtarō) (born January 11, 1981) is a former professional baseball player in Japan. Doi for a…Ryotaro Doi (土居 龍太郎, Doi Ryōtarō) (born January 11, 1981) is a former professional baseball player in Japan. Doi for a period played for the Yokohama BayStars. Doi played as a pitcher.
Shoko Mikami (三上 尚子, Mikami Shōko; born January 8, 1981) is a former Japanese football player and manager. She played…Shoko Mikami (三上 尚子, Mikami Shōko; born January 8, 1981) is a former Japanese football player and manager. She played for Japan national team.
Yoshihiko Matsumoto (松本 慶彦, Matsumoto Yoshihiko; born 7 January 1981) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in…Yoshihiko Matsumoto (松本 慶彦, Matsumoto Yoshihiko; born 7 January 1981) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Riki Fukuda (Japanese: 福田 力, Fukuda Riki; born January 6, 1981), is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing…Riki Fukuda (Japanese: 福田 力, Fukuda Riki; born January 6, 1981), is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2004, he has formerly competed for the UFC, EliteXC, DEEP, DREAM, K-1 (MMA), Shooto, and Pancrase. Currently, he runs an izakaya-style restaurant in Leiden, The Netherlands.
Aki Shibata (芝田安希 Shibata Aki, born January 6, 1981) was a Japanese volleyball player who played for Toray Arrows. She…Aki Shibata (芝田安希 Shibata Aki, born January 6, 1981) was a Japanese volleyball player who played for Toray Arrows. She served as captain of the team between 2008 and 2010. Toray announced that she retired in June 2010.
Takamasa Oe (大江 崇允, Ōe Takamasa; born 6 January 1981) is a Japanese screenwriter. He was co-nominated with Ryusuke…Takamasa Oe (大江 崇允, Ōe Takamasa; born 6 January 1981) is a Japanese screenwriter. He was co-nominated with Ryusuke Hamaguchi for an Academy Award in the category Best Adapted Screenplay for the film Drive My Car.
Rinko Kikuchi () (菊地 凛子, Kikuchi Rinko; born Yuriko Kikuchi (菊地 百合子, Kikuchi Yuriko), January 6, 1981) is a Japanese…Rinko Kikuchi () (菊地 凛子, Kikuchi Rinko; born Yuriko Kikuchi (菊地 百合子, Kikuchi Yuriko), January 6, 1981) is a Japanese actress. She was the first Japanese actress to be nominated for an Academy Award in 50 years, for her work in Babel (2006). Kikuchi's other notable films include Norwegian Wood (2010), which screened in competition at the 67th Venice Film Festival and Guillermo del Toro's science fiction action film Pacific Rim (2013). For her role in the drama film Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter (2014), Kikuchi received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead. She played a supporting role in the HBO Max crime drama series Tokyo Vice.
Hitomi Obara née Sakamoto (小原 日登美, Obara Hitomi; 4 January 1981 – 18 July 2025) was a Japanese female wrestler from…Hitomi Obara née Sakamoto (小原 日登美, Obara Hitomi; 4 January 1981 – 18 July 2025) was a Japanese female wrestler from Hachinohe, Aomori. She was Captain in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. On 8 August 2012, Obara won the women's 48kg freestyle wrestling gold in her first Olympic Games at London's Excel Arena. She had retired from competitive wrestling after winning the gold medal at the London Olympics. Hitomi Obara died on 18 July 2025, at the age of 44. She had previously been diagnosed with depression and an eating disorder.
Kenji Ishijima (石島健至, Ishijima Kenji; born January 3, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known under the…Kenji Ishijima (石島健至, Ishijima Kenji; born January 3, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known under the ring name Guts Ishijima (ガッツ石島, Gattsu Ishijima). He is currently working as a freelancer and is best known for having founded the Japanese promotions Guts World Pro-Wrestling and Total Triumph Team Pro-Wrestling (TTT).
Yoshihiro Horigome (堀籠 佳宏, Horigome Yoshihiro; born 2 January 1981) is a retired Japanese sprinter who specializes in…Yoshihiro Horigome (堀籠 佳宏, Horigome Yoshihiro; born 2 January 1981) is a retired Japanese sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres. His personal best time is 45.77 seconds, achieved in September 2006 in Yokohama.
Shirow Shiratori (白鳥士郎 Shiratori Shirō, born 1981 is a Japanese light novelist. He is most known for his series No-Rin…Shirow Shiratori (白鳥士郎 Shiratori Shirō, born 1981 is a Japanese light novelist. He is most known for his series No-Rin and The Ryuo's Work Is Never Done!. He is from Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture.
Eisuke Tachikawa (Japanese: 太刀川 英輔, romanized: Tachikawa Eisuke; born 1981) is a Japanese designer, design strategist…Eisuke Tachikawa (Japanese: 太刀川 英輔, romanized: Tachikawa Eisuke; born 1981) is a Japanese designer, design strategist and educator. He is the founder of the design firm NOSIGNER, a board member of the World Design Organization (WDO), and a project professor at the Graduate School of System Design and Management at Keio University. Tachikawa served as president of the Japan Industrial Design Association (JIDA) from 2021 to 2025, becoming the youngest president in the organization's history. He was elected to the WDO Board of Directors in 2023 and re-elected for the 2025–2027 term. In 2024, he became the inaugural recipient of the DFA Designer of the Year award.
Yoshihiro Inoue (井上嘉浩, Inoue Yoshihiro; December 28, 1969 – July 6, 2018) was a Japanese terrorist and high ranking…Yoshihiro Inoue (井上嘉浩, Inoue Yoshihiro; December 28, 1969 – July 6, 2018) was a Japanese terrorist and high ranking member of the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo who was executed in Japan on July 6, 2018. He was responsible for coordinating the Tokyo subway sarin attack in 1995 which killed 14 people. His holy name was Aananda and his stage in the cult was Master Shogo.
Takeshi Senoo (妹尾 武) (born December 26, 1969) is a Japanese composer. He has worked on several different anime shows…Takeshi Senoo (妹尾 武) (born December 26, 1969) is a Japanese composer. He has worked on several different anime shows, including the Aria series, Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha, and the Himawari! series. Along with Shigeharu Sasago he was music director of the Aria soundtracks, which he composed with Choro Club. He also co-composed the music for the live action series Ariadne no Dangan and produced the soundtrack for the film Sweet Little Lies.
Mariko Shiga (志賀 真理子, Shiga Mariko; December 24, 1969 – November 23, 1989) was a Japanese idol star and voice actress…Mariko Shiga (志賀 真理子, Shiga Mariko; December 24, 1969 – November 23, 1989) was a Japanese idol star and voice actress born in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. She is mostly known for her lead role as the voice of Yumi Hanazono, the main character of the 1980s anime Pastel Yumi, the Magic Idol. Shiga attended and graduated from Funabashi Municipal High School, before enrolling overseas in the University of California, Riverside in 1989. While on a trip to Arizona in November of that same year, Shiga was killed in a car accident near Flagstaff, when she was thrown from the vehicle due to the car rolling, as it swerved to avoid hitting a deer that jumped out in front of the car she was riding in. She died thirty-one days before her 20th birthday.
Miyuki Matsushita (松下 美由紀, Matsushita Miyuki; born December 24, 1969) is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Arts…Miyuki Matsushita (松下 美由紀, Matsushita Miyuki; born December 24, 1969) is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Arts Vision. She was born in Saitama Prefecture.
Asanosho Hajime (born 23 December 1969 as Hajime Ozawa, later Hajime Ozuka) is a former sumo wrestler from Odawara…Asanosho Hajime (born 23 December 1969 as Hajime Ozawa, later Hajime Ozuka) is a former sumo wrestler from Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1992, and reached the top division in March 1995. His highest rank was maegashira 2. He defeated yokozuna Akebono in their first meeting in March 1997 to earn his only kinboshi. A back injury sent him down to the sandanme division, and he decided to retire in January 2002, after suffering a detached retina. He became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, but left in January 2008.
Kenji Ogiwara (荻原 健司, Ogiwara Kenji; born 20 December 1969) is a Japanese politician and former Nordic combined skier…Kenji Ogiwara (荻原 健司, Ogiwara Kenji; born 20 December 1969) is a Japanese politician and former Nordic combined skier who won several medals at the Winter Olympics, the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, and the Holmenkollen ski festival. He won gold medals in the Nordic combined team events at the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. Ogiwara won two gold medals each in the 15 km individual (1993, 1997) and the team (3 x 10 km: 1993, 4 x 5 km: 1995) events and one bronze in the 7.5 km sprint (1999) at the Nordic skiing world championships. In 1995, Ogiwara won the Nordic combined event at the Holmenkollen ski festival. Ogiwara received the Holmenkollen medal in 1995, becoming the first non-European and first Asian to ever receive the honor. At the 1998 Winter Olympics, he took the Athlete's Oath. Ogiwara's twin brother Tsugiharu competed with him at the 1995 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Thunder Bay, Ontario, sharing a gold with him in the 4 x 5 km team event. Ogiwara has also stood as candidate for Liberal Democratic Party. He ran for the Mayor of Nagano election, which was executed on October 31, 2021, won 98,711 votes, and was appointed Mayor of Nagano on November 11, 2021.
Tsugiharu Ogiwara (荻原 次晴, Ogiwara Tsugiharu) (born 20 December 1969) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed…Tsugiharu Ogiwara (荻原 次晴, Ogiwara Tsugiharu) (born 20 December 1969) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed from 1994 to 1998. He won the 4 x 5 km team event at the 1995 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Ogiwara's best individual finish at the Winter Olympics was 6th at Nagano in 1998. He had two individual career victories (1993: 15 km individual, 1998: 7.5 km sprint). He is the twin brother of Kenji Ogiwara, a fellow Japanese Nordic combined athlete.
Chisa Yokoyama (横山 智佐, Yokoyama Chisa; born December 20, 1969) is a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer from…Chisa Yokoyama (横山 智佐, Yokoyama Chisa; born December 20, 1969) is a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer from Tokyo, Japan. She was affiliated with Arts Vision but has since founded her own voice company called Banbina. When she was a high school student, she was an assistant of Jump Broadcasting Station of Weekly Shōnen Jump (1988–1996). Some of her major roles are Sasami Masaki Jurai (Tenchi Muyo!), Ryoko Subaru (Martian Successor Nadesico), Lucrezia Noin (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing) and Sakura Shinguji (Sakura Wars). She married musician Chaka from the band Tripolysm and their first child was born in September 2015.
Tadaharu Ogawa (小川 忠晴, Ogawa Tadaharu) is the head coach of the Niigata Albirex BB Rabbits in the Women's Japan…Tadaharu Ogawa (小川 忠晴, Ogawa Tadaharu) is the head coach of the Niigata Albirex BB Rabbits in the Women's Japan Basketball League.
Akira Iida (Shinjitai: 飯田 章, Iida Akira; born 18 December 1969 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa) is a Japanese racing driver…Akira Iida (Shinjitai: 飯田 章, Iida Akira; born 18 December 1969 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa) is a Japanese racing driver currently competing in the Super GT series. He won the 2002 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship GT500 title with Esso Toyota Team LeMans, co-driving with Juichi Wakisaka. He also won the 2013 Asian Le Mans Series GTE class title for Team Taisan Ken Endless. Iida was also a presenter on the Japanese performance-car program Best Motoring.
Honoo Hamaguchi (浜口 炎, Hamaguchi Honō) (born in December 1971) is a Japanese basketball coach. He originates from…Honoo Hamaguchi (浜口 炎, Hamaguchi Honō) (born in December 1971) is a Japanese basketball coach. He originates from Oshima Island. As of 2011 Hamaguchi had been a part of the Japanese basketball league longer than most of the other coaches of Japanese basketball teams had been a part. Ed Odeven of The Japan Times said that Hamaguchi works for success but does not seek attention despite being in a social media era. For six seasons of the existence of the Sendai 89ers, Hamaguchi served as the coach. He began as the coach of the Sendai 89ers after the team entered the bj-league in 2005. In 2011 Hamaguchi's coaching of the Sendai 89ers ended after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami occurred. He is now the coach of the Kyoto Hannaryz. Ed Odeven said that Hamaguchi has "quirks" and sometimes an "overbearing coaching style." In regards to Marcus Cousin playing for the Kyoto team, in 2012 a former Hannaryz player asked "He should obviously dominate, but it is all about how his personality will deal with Honoo. Will Honoo let him be himself, or will Honoo try to control every little detail?"
Kiyoshi Tamura (田村潔司, Tamura Kiyoshi; born December 17, 1969 in Okayama, Okayama) is a Japanese retired professional…Kiyoshi Tamura (田村潔司, Tamura Kiyoshi; born December 17, 1969 in Okayama, Okayama) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Once a student of legendary professional wrestlers Billy Robinson, Lou Thesz and Akira Maeda, Tamura was known for his skills in catch wrestling and is considered to be one of the greatest shoot wrestlers of all time. Competing exclusively in shoot style wrestling, Tamura began his career with UWF Newborn and later joined its successor group UWF International before transitioning to mixed martial arts. A professional MMA fighter from 1995 until 2008, he competed for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, RINGS, DEEP, DREAM, and fought at K-1's 2007 and 2008 Dynamite!! events. He is a two-time RINGS Openweight Champion and holds notable wins over Renzo Gracie, former UFC Welterweight Champion Pat Miletich, former UFC Middleweight Champion Dave Menne, former Pancrase Super Heavyweight Champion Tsuyoshi Kosaka, former Pancrase Openweight Champion Masakatsu Funaki, Olympic judo gold medallist Makoto Takimoto, three-time sambo champion Volk Han, and Kazushi Sakuraba. Tamura currently serves as an executive director for LIDET Entertainment's professional wrestling promotion GLEAT.
Kiyoshi Adachi (born December 14, 1969, in Ōita Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of…Kiyoshi Adachi (born December 14, 1969, in Ōita Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan from 2019 until his resignation in 2023 to run for Governor of Ōita Prefecture. He represented the Ōita at-large district as an independent. He was a member of the Committee on Financial Affairs.
Kiyoshi Igarashi (五十嵐 清, Igarashi Kiyoshi; born 14 December 1969) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Kiyoshi Igarashi (五十嵐 清, Igarashi Kiyoshi; born 14 December 1969) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Yasuhiro Ando (安藤 康洋, Andō Yasuhiro; born 13 December 1969) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the team…Yasuhiro Ando (安藤 康洋, Andō Yasuhiro; born 13 December 1969) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the team pursuit at the 1992 Summer Olympics.