Yūrei Yanagi (柳 憂怜 or 柳ユーレイ, Yanagi Yūrei; born 8 April 1963) is a Japanese actor and tarento. He was born in Fuchū…
Yūrei Yanagi (柳 憂怜 or 柳ユーレイ, Yanagi Yūrei; born 8 April 1963) is a Japanese actor and tarento. He was born in Fuchū, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Yanagi was originally a member of Takeshi Kitano's gundan. In 1990 he continued to work with Takeshi for the film Boiling Point. Afterwards, he appeared in over eight more films before meeting up with Takeshi again for the 1997 film Hana-bi. His most recent roles have been in horror films such as Ring, Ju-on and Ju-on 2. He is married to actress, novelist, and essayist Atsuko Kawada. He is also credited as Masahiko Ono or Yuurei Yanagi.
Famous People of the One White Water Star
One White Water Star: 1,851 people
Tsuyoshi Sekito (関戸 剛, Sekito Tsuyoshi; born April 3, 1963) is a Japanese video game composer, arranger, and musician…
Tsuyoshi Sekito (関戸 剛, Sekito Tsuyoshi; born April 3, 1963) is a Japanese video game composer, arranger, and musician who has been employed at Square Enix since 1995. As a composer, he is best known for scoring Brave Fencer Musashi (1998), Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005) and The Last Remnant (2008). He also plays the guitar in the rock bands The Black Mages and The Star Onions; both groups arrange and perform compositions from the Final Fantasy series.
Akimitsu Itoh (伊東 昭光, Itoh Akimitsu; born April 2, 1963) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Xi Zhenfeng (Chinese: 席振峰; pinyin: Xí Zhènfēng; born April 2, 1963, in Henan) is a Chinese organic chemist. Xi received…
Xi Zhenfeng (Chinese: 席振峰; pinyin: Xí Zhènfēng; born April 2, 1963, in Henan) is a Chinese organic chemist. Xi received his B.S. degree from Xiamen University in 1983, and his M.S. degree from Nanjing University, Zhengzhou University and Henan Institute of Chemistry in 1989. He joined Professor Tamotsu Takahashi's group at the Institute for Molecular Sciences, Japan, as a Ph.D. course student in 1993 and obtained a Ph.D. degree in 1996. He took an assistant professor position at Hokkaido University, Japan, in 1997, after he worked as a postdoctoral research fellow with Professor Takahashi at Catalyst Research Centre, Hokkaido University. In 1998, he joined the Department of Chemistry, Peking University, China, as an associate professor and was promoted to professor in 1999. He is a Chang Jiang Scholar Distinguished Professor (since 2001) of Peking University. In 2015, he became the academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research interests are focused on organometallic chemistry and organic synthesis, including development of synthetic methodologies based on selective cleavage of C–H, C–C and C–X bonds mediated by organometallic compounds, development of organometallic reagents, study on mechanisms of reactions involving reactive organometallic intermediates, and synthesis of functional structures. He is now serving as editor or consultant for several international academic journals, including: Applied Organometallic Chemistry (John-Wiley), Associate Editor (since 2008). Tetrahedron and Tetrahedron Letters (Elsevier), Board of Consulting Editors (since 2008). Synlett and Synthesis (Thieme), Advisory Board (since 2009). Asian Journal of Organic Chemistry (John-Wiley), Editorial Board (since 2012). Organic Letters (ACS), Associate Editor (since 2013). He has been visiting professors for several universities/institutes in the worlds, including: Hokkaido University, Japan, 2006 University of Rennes 1, France, 2007 RIKEN, Japan, 2010
Naoko Nozawa (野沢 直子, Nozawa Naoko) born 29 March 1963, in Tokyo, is a Japanese comedian and musician. Her married name…
Naoko Nozawa (野沢 直子, Nozawa Naoko) born 29 March 1963, in Tokyo, is a Japanese comedian and musician. Her married name (and as a permanent resident, her legal name in the United States) is Naoko Auclair (ナオコ・オークライヤー, Naoko Ōkuraiyā). Nozawa is represented with Yoshimoto Creative Agency. Her grandfather was author Naojiro Kuga, her uncle was voice actor and theatre director Nachi Nozawa, and her cousin is actor So Nozawa. After relocating to the United States in 1991, Nozawa occasionally returns to Japan on a yearly basis to appear in Japanese media, in order to remain contracted with the Yoshimoto Kogyo agency. As such, Nozawa has taken part of special units (such as the comedian-based idol group Yoshimotozaka46) and appeared on television shows (Waratte Iitomo! and Bokura no Jidai). Nozawa refers to herself as a "migrant comedian".
Natsuhiko Kyogoku (京極 夏彦, Kyōgoku Natsuhiko; born March 26, 1963) is a Japanese mystery writer, who is a member of…
Natsuhiko Kyogoku (京極 夏彦, Kyōgoku Natsuhiko; born March 26, 1963) is a Japanese mystery writer, who is a member of Ōsawa Office. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of Japan and the Honkaku Mystery Writers Club of Japan. Three of his novels have been turned into feature films; Mōryō no Hako, which won the 1996 Mystery Writers of Japan Award, was also made into an anime television series, as was Kosetsu Hyaku Monogatari, and his book Loups=Garous was adapted into an anime feature film. Vertical have published his debut novel as The Summer of the Ubume.
Ayumi Yasutomi (安冨 歩, Yasutomi Ayumi; born March 22, 1963) is a Japanese economist and politician. She is a professor…
Ayumi Yasutomi (安冨 歩, Yasutomi Ayumi; born March 22, 1963) is a Japanese economist and politician. She is a professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies on Asia at the University of Tokyo. Yasutomi came out as a transgender woman in 2014.
Kimihiro Hamaya (浜谷 公宏, Hamaya Kimihiro; born 21 March 1963) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed at the 1984 Winter…
Kimihiro Hamaya (浜谷 公宏, Hamaya Kimihiro; born 21 March 1963) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed at the 1984 Winter Olympics and the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Yuzo Takada (高田裕三, Takada Yūzō; born March 21, 1963 in Edogawa, Tokyo) is the pseudonym of Yūji Takada (高田裕次, Takada…
Yuzo Takada (高田裕三, Takada Yūzō; born March 21, 1963 in Edogawa, Tokyo) is the pseudonym of Yūji Takada (高田裕次, Takada Yūji), a popular Japanese manga artist. He worked as an assistant for manga artist Fujihiko Hosono before starting his career as an original author. His first work appeared in November 1983 in Young Magazine, and his first series Tokonatsu Bank started in that publication in January 1984 and ran until February 1985. Takada is better known for his supernatural manga 3×3 Eyes and Blue Seed, and for the comedy-action manga All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku. The anime versions of these series all star voice-actress Megumi Hayashibara. In 1993, he won the Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen for 3×3 Eyes. Takada has also worked on character design and illustration for video games, including Enix's Just Breed.
Hiroshi Watari (渡 洋史, Watari Hiroshi; born March 20, 1963, in Niigata Prefecture) is a Japanese singer, voice actor…
Hiroshi Watari (渡 洋史, Watari Hiroshi; born March 20, 1963, in Niigata Prefecture) is a Japanese singer, voice actor, and actor. His birth name is Hiroshi Watanabe. His wife was the late voice actress Emi Shinohara, best known as Sailor Jupiter from Sailor Moon. In the past, Watari was signed to 81 Produce, Stunt Japan (スタントジャパン), and Ayers Rock; he is currently signed with Rough. He is best known for his roles of Den Iga in the 1983 Metal Heroes Series Space Sheriff Sharivan and Yousuke Jou in Jikuu Senshi Spielban, making him the only actor to play two different Heroes in two Metal Hero Series.
Manabu Suzuki (Shinjitai: 鈴木 学, Suzuki Manabu; born Tokyo, Japan, March 20, 1963) is a former racing driver…
Manabu Suzuki (Shinjitai: 鈴木 学, Suzuki Manabu; born Tokyo, Japan, March 20, 1963) is a former racing driver, journalist, sport announcer and radio and TV presenter for the automotive industry. He is a Japanese citizen and is nicknamed Mana-P (マナP in katakana). Suzuki competed in the Formula Toyota and Saurus Cup until the mid nineties. When he left circuit racing behind, he became well known for working with Option as a writer and presenter for the magazine's offshoot video magazine, Video Option and Drift Tengoku. Suzuki was best known as one of the three original key judges (the other being Keiichi Tsuchiya and Manabu Orido, which Orido left at the end of the 2004 season to compete for 2005, while Tsuchiya left D1 with Daijro Inada due to irresponsible management) in the D1 Grand Prix series. He adds many comic expressions during commentary to keep the crowds entertained during the races. He also hosts various issues of the Option DVD where he is discussing cars. He often exclaims "giri giri", which means "little little" in Japanese. This phrase is used to express an instance where the "drift" is extremely close or a driver is almost in a position where he/she is going to crash. Suzuki is also involved in car designs, appearing on a segment in Drift Tengoku on DIY graphics and even working on the paint scheme and decals for Orido's 2005 RS*R Toyota Supra JZA80 and Yasuyuki Kazama's 2006 DG-5 Nissan Silvia S15.
Katsuya Matsumura (松村克弥, Matsumura Katsuya) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter known for his violent…
Katsuya Matsumura (松村克弥, Matsumura Katsuya) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter known for his violent thriller-horror film series All Night Long.
Yasunori Kumada (born 18 March 1963) is a Japanese former volleyball player. Kumada competed in the men's tournament at…
Yasunori Kumada (born 18 March 1963) is a Japanese former volleyball player. Kumada competed in the men's tournament at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, where he finished in tenth place. He competed at the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow and won a bronze medal.
Hiroto Kōmoto (甲本 ヒロト, Kōmoto Hiroto; born 17 March 1963) is a Japanese rock singer who has fronted bands such as The…
Hiroto Kōmoto (甲本 ヒロト, Kōmoto Hiroto; born 17 March 1963) is a Japanese rock singer who has fronted bands such as The Blue Hearts, The High-Lows and The Cro-Magnons.
Eiji Aonuma (Japanese: 青沼 英二, Hepburn: Aonuma Eiji; born March 16, 1963) is a Japanese video game designer, director…
Eiji Aonuma (Japanese: 青沼 英二, Hepburn: Aonuma Eiji; born March 16, 1963) is a Japanese video game designer, director, and producer at Nintendo. He is a senior officer within their Nintendo EPD division. He serves as the producer of the Legend of Zelda franchise and has worked on the title since 1998.
Tomoo Kudaka (久高 友雄, Kudaka Tomoo; March 14, 1963 – September 22, 1999) was a Japanese football player.
Mahiro Maeda (前田 真宏 Maeda Mahiro; born March 14, 1963) is a Japanese anime director, character designer, and animator.…
Mahiro Maeda (前田 真宏 Maeda Mahiro; born March 14, 1963) is a Japanese anime director, character designer, and animator. Helen McCarthy in 500 Essential Anime Movies called him "one of the most imaginative visualists in anime". He also worked on Concept Art and Design for Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), which won six Academy Awards. He has been one of the top contributors at the anime studio GONZO for many years, having directed Blue Submarine No. 6, Final Fantasy: Unlimited and Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. His design work ranges from 2 of the "Angels" in Neon Genesis Evangelion to production and mechanical design for such series as Magic User's Club (魔法使いTai!, Mahō Tsukai Tai!), The Vision of Escaflowne and Last Exile. He was also one of the designers for Gate Keepers 21. His earlier years were spent mostly at the famed Studio Ghibli, where he helped animate classics such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, and Porco Rosso. Maeda is one of the select Japanese directors to actively collaborate with the international film media on various projects. He provided key animation for the animation sequence in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 1. His directorial work has also been featured in such exclusive package films as The Animatrix (segment: "The Second Renaissance Parts I and II"), Genius Party Beyond (segment: "Gala"), and Ani*Kuri15 (segment: "Princess Onmitsu"). He has also visited the American Anime Expo convention in 2000 and 2003.
Miwako Okamura (岡村 美和子, Okamura Miwako; born March 10, 1963, in Tokyo) is a Japanese actress. She was married to…
Miwako Okamura (岡村 美和子, Okamura Miwako; born March 10, 1963, in Tokyo) is a Japanese actress. She was married to Shunichi Okamura in December 2005. She won the award for Best Supporting Actress at the 17th Hochi Film Awards for The Oil-Hell Murder and Netorare Sosuke in 1992. In 1994, Okamura, then known under her maiden name Miwako Fujitani, released her first single containing the duet song "Ai ga Umareta Hi" (愛が生まれた日; "The Day Love Was Born"), an insert song from the TV drama Sonouchi Kekkon Suru Kimi e (そのうち結婚する君へ) starring herself that she sang with Yoshiaki Ohuchi (大内義昭). The single sold over 2 million copies.
Michitaka Kikuchi (菊池 通隆, Kikuchi Michitaka; born March 9, 1963), best known by the pen name Kia Asamiya (麻宮 騎亜…
Michitaka Kikuchi (菊池 通隆, Kikuchi Michitaka; born March 9, 1963), best known by the pen name Kia Asamiya (麻宮 騎亜, Asamiya Kia), is a Japanese manga artist whose work spans multiple genres and appeals to diverse audiences.
Reona Hirota (広田レオナ, Hirota Reona) is a Japanese actress. She won the Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 13th…
Reona Hirota (広田レオナ, Hirota Reona) is a Japanese actress. She won the Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 13th Yokohama Film Festival for Ōte and Yumeji. In 1994, she married the actor Mitsuru Fukikoshi. They divorced in 2005 after having one child.
Kiyoshi Shigematsu (重松 清, Shigematsu Kiyoshi; born 6 March 1963) is a contemporary Japanese writer. He is one of the…
Kiyoshi Shigematsu (重松 清, Shigematsu Kiyoshi; born 6 March 1963) is a contemporary Japanese writer. He is one of the best-selling authors in Japan, and the major theme of his novels is about family. His most notable works include Naifu (ナイフ) (1997), Eiji (エイジ) (1999) and Bitamin F (ビタミンF) (2000). Shigematsu's works in other genre including journals, editorials and critics are highly commended. He also worked in novelising screenplays.
Akio Ishikawa (石川 陽生, Ishikawa Akio; March 5, 1963) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the…
Akio Ishikawa (石川 陽生, Ishikawa Akio; March 5, 1963) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 7-dan.
Shinji Nojima (野島 伸司, Nojima Shinji; born March 4, 1963) is a Japanese screenwriter.
Takashi Hibiki is a Japanese scientist who is a professor emeritus of nuclear engineering at Purdue University and a…
Takashi Hibiki is a Japanese scientist who is a professor emeritus of nuclear engineering at Purdue University and a chair professor of thermal-fluid engineering at City University of Hong Kong. Early life and education Hibiki was born in 1963 at Kyoto in Japan. Hibiki graduated from Osaka University in 1985. He obtained his Ph.D. from Department of Chemical Engineering, Osaka University in 1990 under the supervision of Professor Takashi Katayama.
Mayo Kawasaki (川﨑麻世, Kawasaki Mayo; born 1 March 1963, in Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese actor and singer. He…
Mayo Kawasaki (川﨑麻世, Kawasaki Mayo; born 1 March 1963, in Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese actor and singer. He grew up in Hirakata, Osaka. His father is former actor Jo Azumi. His wife is Carolyn Kawasaki.
Izumi Yokokawa (横川 泉, Yokokawa Izumi; born February 25, 1963) is a former Japanese football player.
Hiroaki Suga (菅 裕明, born February 21, 1963) is a Japanese biochemist and businessman. He is best known for his work on…
Hiroaki Suga (菅 裕明, born February 21, 1963) is a Japanese biochemist and businessman. He is best known for his work on artificial ribozymes (flexizymes) and their application in mRNA display (RaPID, random nonstandard peptide integrated discovery). Suga was awarded the 2023 Wolf Prize in Chemistry, jointly with Chuan He and Jeffery W. Kelly, "for pioneering discoveries that illuminate the functions and pathological dysfunctions of RNA and proteins and for creating strategies to harness the capabilities of these biopolymers in new ways to ameliorate human diseases."
Emi Matsui (松井 江美, Matsui Emi) (born 20 February 1963) is a former female track and field athlete who competed at two…
Emi Matsui (松井 江美, Matsui Emi) (born 20 February 1963) is a former female track and field athlete who competed at two Olympic Games.
Sega AM Research & Development No. 1 is a development department within Japanese video game company Sega Corporation…
Sega AM Research & Development No. 1 is a development department within Japanese video game company Sega Corporation that also previously existed as Wow Entertainment and Sega Wow Inc. AM1 spent most of its early existence under the leadership of Rikiya Nakagawa and developed a number of arcade games for Sega. In 2000, Sega split its development studios into nine semi-autonomous companies, with AM1 becoming Wow Entertainment. Wow developed games for the Dreamcast and later other consoles as well as arcade games. In 2003, as part of studio consolidations within Sega, Wow was merged with Overworks Ltd. (originally titled Sega CS Research & Development No. 2 and later AM7) and renamed to Sega Wow. Nakagawa resigned a few weeks later after Sammy Corporation acquired a significant amount of shares in Sega. Sega Wow was re-integrated back into the company the next year. Since then, the AM1 division has continued within Sega.
Akira Shima (島 朗, Shima Akira; February 19, 1963) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan. He was the…
Akira Shima (島 朗, Shima Akira; February 19, 1963) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan. He was the first Ryūō title holder and is also a former managing director of the Japan Shogi Association.
Yoshitaka Saitō (born February 18, 1963, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a…
Yoshitaka Saitō (born February 18, 1963, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2010. He represents the Aichi at-large district and is a member of the Democratic Party of Japan.
Yuzuru Inoue (井上 謙, Inoue Yuzuru; born 15 February 1963) is a Japanese former volleyball player. Inoue competed in the…
Yuzuru Inoue (井上 謙, Inoue Yuzuru; born 15 February 1963) is a Japanese former volleyball player. Inoue competed in the men's tournament at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, where he finished in tenth place. He also competed at the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow and won a bronze medal.
Kawachiya Kikusuimaru (河内家 菊水丸) (born 14 February 1963) is a Japanese musician and singer. He is a singer of Kawachi…
Kawachiya Kikusuimaru (河内家 菊水丸) (born 14 February 1963) is a Japanese musician and singer. He is a singer of Kawachi ondo folk music from Yao, Osaka.
Kōzō Arimori (有森 浩三, Arimori Kōzō; February 13, 1963) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the…
Kōzō Arimori (有森 浩三, Arimori Kōzō; February 13, 1963) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 8-dan.
Yasufumi Tanahashi (棚橋 泰文, Tanahashi Yasufumi; born 11 February 1963), is a Japanese politician who served as the…
Yasufumi Tanahashi (棚橋 泰文, Tanahashi Yasufumi; born 11 February 1963), is a Japanese politician who served as the Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission.
Yoshifumi Nagao (永尾 嘉章, Nagao Yoshifumi) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T54 sprint…
Yoshifumi Nagao (永尾 嘉章, Nagao Yoshifumi) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T54 sprint events. Yoshifumi has competed in every Summer Paralympics between 1988 and 2008, normally in the 100m,200m and 400m but in other distances including the 1992 marathon. His first and so far only medal came as part of the Japanese 4 × 400 m bronze medal-winning team in 2004.
Hideki Matsunaga (松永 英機, Matsunaga Hideki; born February 8, 1963) is a former Japanese football player and manager.
Nurdin Abdullah (born 7 February 1963) is an Indonesian politician and academic who was the 8th governor of South…
Nurdin Abdullah (born 7 February 1963) is an Indonesian politician and academic who was the 8th governor of South Sulawesi and regent of Bantaeng Regency between 2008 and 2018. He was arrested for corruption in 2021, and sentenced to five years' imprisonment, though he was released in August 2023. Born in Parepare, he studied agricultural science in Japan's Kyushu University and returned home, running his own business and teaching before becoming the regent of Bantaeng for two terms. His time as regent saw significant economic growth within the regency, in addition to improvements in health. In the last year of his second term, he participated in the province's gubernatorial election and won.
Masahiro Miyazaki (宮崎 正裕 - Miyazaki Masahiro, born 1963) is a Japanese Kendo practitioner who works for Kanagawa…
Masahiro Miyazaki (宮崎 正裕 - Miyazaki Masahiro, born 1963) is a Japanese Kendo practitioner who works for Kanagawa Prefectural Police in Japan. He participated in the All Japan Kendo Championship 12 times from 1990 to 2001 and won 6 times, more than any other competitor in the championship's history, including 2 successive victories (1998 and 1999). Because of his outstanding achievements in Kendo, he is called “the Master Swordsman of the Heisei era" and “an Iron Man of Kendo.” Miyazaki was born in 1963 in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo. He has a younger brother named Fumihiro who, like him, was a member of the Japanese National Team and is also an All-Japan Kendo Champion (1997). In 1969, Miyazaki entered Shinotani Elementary School in Yokohama City. When he was 7, he began to practice Kendo at Genbukan Sakagami Dojo. In 1981, after he graduated from Toukai Dai Huzoku Sagami High School, which had a strong Kendo Club, he started working for the Kanagawa Prefectural Police. Due to his accomplishments, Kanagawa Prefectural Police Kendo Club nominated Miyazaki as Sword Master of the Kendo Club in 2012. Miyazaki distinguished himself from other Kendo practitioners with his aggression and speed. The average time that Miyazaki spent defeating the opponent was shorter than that of other Kendo practitioners who participated in the All Japan Kendo Championship. According to a study of Tsukuba University, Miyazaki's calf muscles are about twice as strong as regular Japanese adult men, and that makes Miyazaki's movement faster. Moreover, his interval between getting ready and striking is short: Miyazaki spends about 5.5 seconds and the other competitors spend about 7.5 seconds. Therefore, Miyazaki's matches rarely go into overtime. The short matches help him maintain his stamina. Miyazaki passed the Kendo 8th Dan Exam in 2009. After a year, he won the All-Japan 8th Dan Tournament on his first appearance. Since Miyazaki became a sword master in 2012, he trains many Kendo practitioners to become successful. He won the All-Japan 8th Dan Tournament a second time in 2016.
Masahiro Yasuhara (安原 昌弘, Yasuhara Masahiro; born 4 February 1963) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the…
Masahiro Yasuhara (安原 昌弘, Yasuhara Masahiro; born 4 February 1963) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the men's points race event at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He is currently the manager of the UCI Continental team Matrix Powertag.
Setsuko Karasuma (烏丸 せつこ, Karasuma Setsuko) is an actress and model born on 3 February 1955 in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture…
Setsuko Karasuma (烏丸 せつこ, Karasuma Setsuko) is an actress and model born on 3 February 1955 in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. She attended Chukyo University, but left before finishing. She is employed by the From First Production talent agency. Karasuma made her debut as a Clarion Girl in 1980, moving quickly into the gravure idol scene. Her debut as a film actress came as she got the lead role in the 1980 adaptation of the Hiroyuki Itsuki novel Four Seasons・Natsuko (四季・奈津子, Shiki・Natsuko).
Toshiyuki "Toshi" Watanabe (渡辺 俊幸 Watanabe Toshiyuki; born February 3, 1955) is a Japanese musician and composer, known…
Toshiyuki "Toshi" Watanabe (渡辺 俊幸 Watanabe Toshiyuki; born February 3, 1955) is a Japanese musician and composer, known for writing film scores.
Sega Corporation is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It…
Sega Corporation is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It produces several multi-million-selling game franchises for arcades and consoles including Sonic the Hedgehog, Angry Birds, Football Manager, Phantasy Star, Puyo Puyo, Super Monkey Ball, Bayonetta, Total War, Virtua Fighter, Megami Tensei, Sakura Wars, Persona, and Yakuza. From 1983 until 2001, Sega also developed its own consoles. Sega was founded by Martin Bromley and Richard Stewart as Nihon Goraku Bussan on June 3, 1960. Shortly after, it acquired the assets of its predecessor, Service Games of Japan. In 1965, it became known as Sega Enterprises, Ltd., after acquiring Rosen Enterprises, an importer of coin-operated games. Sega developed its first coin-operated game, Periscope, in 1966. Sega was sold to Gulf and Western Industries in 1969. Following a downturn in the arcade business in the early 1980s, Sega began to develop video game consoles, starting with the SG-1000 and Master System, but struggled against competitors such as the Nintendo Entertainment System. In 1984, Sega executives David Rosen and Hayao Nakayama led a management buyout, with backing from CSK Corporation. In 1988, Sega released the Mega Drive (the "Genesis" in North America). The Mega Drive struggled against competition in Japan, but the Genesis found success overseas after the release of Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991 and briefly outsold its main competitor, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, in the US. In 2001, after several commercial failures such as the 32X, Saturn, and Dreamcast, Sega stopped manufacturing consoles to become a third-party developer and publisher, and was acquired by Sammy Corporation in 2004. Sega Holdings Co., Ltd. was established in 2015; Sega Corporation was renamed to Sega Games Co., Ltd., and its arcade division was split into Sega Interactive. In 2020, Sega Games and Sega Interactive merged to become Sega Corporation. Sega's international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California, and London. Its development studios include its internal research and development divisions (which utilize the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sonic Team brands for several core franchise entries), Sega Sapporo Studio which mainly provides support for the Tokyo-based development teams as well as handling partial game development, and Atlus (including its R&D divisions) and five development studios in the UK and Europe: Creative Assembly, Sports Interactive, Sega Hardlight, Two Point Studios, and Rovio Entertainment (including Ruby Games). Sega is one of the world's most prolific arcade game producers and its mascot, Sonic, is internationally recognized. Sega is recognized for its video game consoles, creativity and innovations. In more recent years, it has been criticized for its business decisions and the quality of its creative output. Being the entertainment contents division of Sega Sammy Holdings, forming one half of the Sega Sammy Group, Sega also owns a toy and amusement machine company, Sega Fave, which comprises its arcade development and manufacturing divisions and two animation studios: TMS Entertainment, which animates, produces, and distributes anime, and Marza Animation Planet, which specializes in CG animation.
Tōru Iwatani (岩谷 徹, Iwatani Tōru; born January 25, 1955) is a Japanese video game designer who spent much of his career…
Tōru Iwatani (岩谷 徹, Iwatani Tōru; born January 25, 1955) is a Japanese video game designer who spent much of his career working for Namco. He is best known and commemorated for being the creator of the arcade game Pac-Man (1980). In 2009, he was chosen by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time.
Hiromi Ōta (太田 裕美 Ōta Hiromi, born on January 20, 1955, in Kasukabe, Saitama Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese…
Hiromi Ōta (太田 裕美 Ōta Hiromi, born on January 20, 1955, in Kasukabe, Saitama Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese female singer. She is a popular singer who is considered an idol in Japan during the 1970s, and is thought to be representative of that era. She also collaborated with the composer-musician Ayuo and the Japanese koto player Kazue Sawai singing a unique blend of New Age, Classical and traditional Eastern music. Her collaborations with Ayuo were also released in the US on the CD "Red Moon" on Tzadik label. She debuted in 1974. In 1975, she released Momen no handkerchief (木綿のハンカチーフ, Cotton handkerchief)(ja), which became her trademark song. She got married in 1985. Her real name became Hiromi Fukuoka.(福岡弘美) Recently, she often holds joint concerts with Shozo Ise and Masumi Ōno.
Kazuro Morita (森田 和郎, Morita Kazurō) (1955 – July 27, 2012) was a Japanese video game designer known for his work on…
Kazuro Morita (森田 和郎, Morita Kazurō) (1955 – July 27, 2012) was a Japanese video game designer known for his work on the Morita's Shogi video game series. Becoming interested in computer programming during high school, he entered magazine competitions during his university years, creating video game versions of board games. He won a competition organised by Enix in 1982 with the video game Morita's Battlefield, which was published the following year to great commercial success. Following this success he established Random House, developing his Shogi series and several other game projects, several published by Enix. From 1999, he remained as a programmer for Yuki Entertainment (later Examu) following their acquisition of Random House's properties. He continued acting as a company manager while contributing to the programming of titles including Samurai Shodown V and VI. Among those whom he was survived by are his wife Sakicho, and his brother politician Takashi Morita.
Mami Koyama (小山 茉美, Koyama Mami; born January 17, 1955) is a Japanese actress, voice actress and narrator affiliated…
Mami Koyama (小山 茉美, Koyama Mami; born January 17, 1955) is a Japanese actress, voice actress and narrator affiliated with Aoni Production. Her best-known voice roles include Ophiuchus Shaina in Saint Seiya, Arale Norimaki in Dr. Slump, Minky Momo in Magical Princess Minky Momo, Lunch in Dragon Ball, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki in Naruto: Shippuden, Korosuke in Kiteretsu Daihyakka, Ryoko Mendo in Urusei Yatsura, and Charlotte Linlin (Big Mom) in One Piece, Vermouth in Detective Conan. Some of her notable roles in the 1990s and 2000s anime include Balalaika in Black Lagoon, Talia Gladys in Gundam Seed Destiny, Eva Heinemann in Monster, and Yōko Itoigawa in Hyōka. In feature films, she voiced Kei in Akira, and the adult Chiyoko Fujiwara in Millennium Actress.
Tomoko Kami (紙 智子, Kami Tomoko), also known as Tomoko Uchiyama (born January 13, 1955), is a Japanese politician and…
Tomoko Kami (紙 智子, Kami Tomoko), also known as Tomoko Uchiyama (born January 13, 1955), is a Japanese politician and former member of the House of Councillors for the Japanese Communist Party. She first assumed office in the House of Councillors in 2001 and has been elected four times. A member of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee, Kami is an advocate of policies that support family farming.
Mikio Igarashi (いがらしみきお or 五十嵐 三喜夫, Igarashi Mikio) is a Japanese manga artist born 13 January 1955 in the town of…
Mikio Igarashi (いがらしみきお or 五十嵐 三喜夫, Igarashi Mikio) is a Japanese manga artist born 13 January 1955 in the town of Nakaniida (now Kami), Kami District, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, though he lives in the city of Sendai. He is best known for his manga series Bonobono and Ninpen Manmaru. In 1988, he won the Kodansha Manga Award for general manga for Bonobono and the Shogakukan Manga Award for children's manga for Ninpen Manmaru.
Ran Itō (伊藤 蘭, Itō Ran; born 13 January 1955) is a Japanese actress and previous member of the 1970s idol group…
Ran Itō (伊藤 蘭, Itō Ran; born 13 January 1955) is a Japanese actress and previous member of the 1970s idol group Candies. As the leading member of Candies, Itō was in charge of the solo of most of the trio's hit songs. Itō was born in Kichijōji, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan. She is married to actor Yutaka Mizutani. Itō won the award for best supporting actress at the 2nd Yokohama Film Festival for Disciples of Hippocrates. In 2019, Itō released her first solo album, My Bouquet. On 15 February 2020, she kicked off her first concert tour, My Bouquet & My Dear Candies!, which featured several Candies songs in the set list.