Ryoji Isaoka (砂岡 良治, Isaoka Ryōji; born February 18, 1962) is a retired Japanese weightlifter who competed in the…Ryoji Isaoka (砂岡 良治, Isaoka Ryōji; born February 18, 1962) is a retired Japanese weightlifter who competed in the light-heavyweight category. He won a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics, which was combined with the world championships, and finished sixth at the 1988 Olympics. He also won two gold medals and one bronze medal at the 1982–1990 Asian Games.
Akihisa Nagashima (長島 昭久, Nagashima Akihisa) is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan as well as a visiting…Akihisa Nagashima (長島 昭久, Nagashima Akihisa) is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan as well as a visiting professor at Chuo University's Graduate School of Public Studies. He served as the Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense in the Kan Cabinet.
Toshihito Ito (伊藤俊人, Itō Toshihito) (February 16, 1962 – May 24, 2002) was a Japanese actor and member of the Tokyo…Toshihito Ito (伊藤俊人, Itō Toshihito) (February 16, 1962 – May 24, 2002) was a Japanese actor and member of the Tokyo Sunshine Boys theatrical troupe. He was born on February 16, 1962, in Niigata, Japan.
Hiroshi Daimon (大門 宏, Daimon Hiroshi; born 16 February 1962) is a Japanese former cyclist, who currently works as a…Hiroshi Daimon (大門 宏, Daimon Hiroshi; born 16 February 1962) is a Japanese former cyclist, who currently works as a directeur sportif for UCI Continental team EF Education–Nippo Development Team. He competed in the men's point race at the 1992 Summer Olympics. During his career, he rode for European teams before joining Nippo Hodō in 1991.
Tetsuo Shinohara (篠原 哲雄, Shinohara Tetsuo; born 9 February 1962 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese film director. His film…Tetsuo Shinohara (篠原 哲雄, Shinohara Tetsuo; born 9 February 1962 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese film director. His film First Love was the 3rd Best Film at the 22nd Yokohama Film Festival.
Makoto Yoshikawa (born February 6 1962) is a Japanese scientist, most notable for being project manager and later…Makoto Yoshikawa (born February 6 1962) is a Japanese scientist, most notable for being project manager and later mission manager of Hayabusa2, an asteroid sample-return mission operated by the Japanese space agency, JAXA, and in 2018 was recognized in Nature's 10, a list of "people who mattered" in science by the journal Nature. His research specializes in celestial mechanics, particularly in orbital analysis of small Solar System bodies such as asteroids and comets.
Kazuko Takemura (February 3, 1954 – December 13, 2011) was a Japanese scholar of English literature. Her areas of…Kazuko Takemura (February 3, 1954 – December 13, 2011) was a Japanese scholar of English literature. Her areas of expertise included Anglo-American literature, critical theory, film studies, and feminist thought. She was a former professor at Ochanomizu University. Takemura translated the works of Judith Butler and Trinh T. Minh-ha, among others, significantly contributing to the development of feminist theory and thought in Japan.
Hiroko Ōta (大田 弘子, Ōta Hiroko; born 2 February 1954 in Kagoshima, Kagoshima) is a Japanese politician, university…Hiroko Ōta (大田 弘子, Ōta Hiroko; born 2 February 1954 in Kagoshima, Kagoshima) is a Japanese politician, university president and a researcher of economics. Her academic specialties are national public finance and economic policy. She is a noted lecturer of public finance and is a senior professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo. Ōta served as the Japanese cabinet minister of economic policy, which is responsible for charging economic policy and public finance. Under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, she served as the chair for the Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform. In April 2014, Ōta was appointed to the position of chairwoman of the board by Mizuho Financial Group, Japan's second-largest financial services group. On 1 September 2022, following the return of the previous President, Akihiko Tanaka, to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), she was appointed as President of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.
Motohiko Izawa (井沢 元彦, Izawa Motohiko; born February 1, 1954, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture) is a Japanese writer of mystery…Motohiko Izawa (井沢 元彦, Izawa Motohiko; born February 1, 1954, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture) is a Japanese writer of mystery novels and historical fiction as well as a historical researcher. He was formerly a news reporter for TBS and since April 2012 has worked as a visiting professor at Shuchiin University.
Kizō Hisamoto (久元 喜造, Hisamoto Kizō) is a Japanese politician and the current mayor of Kobe, the capital city of Hyōgo…Kizō Hisamoto (久元 喜造, Hisamoto Kizō) is a Japanese politician and the current mayor of Kobe, the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture in Japan.
Reiko Aonuma (青沼 令子, Aonuma Reiko; born 28 January 1954) is a Japanese basketball player. She competed in the women's…Reiko Aonuma (青沼 令子, Aonuma Reiko; born 28 January 1954) is a Japanese basketball player. She competed in the women's tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Jōkō Ninomiya (二宮 城光, Ninomiya Jōkō; born January 27, 1954) is the founder and director of Enshin Karate. He presides…Jōkō Ninomiya (二宮 城光, Ninomiya Jōkō; born January 27, 1954) is the founder and director of Enshin Karate. He presides over the Enshin organization from the headquarters (honbu) in Denver, Colorado. His title as head of the Enshin organization is "Kanchō" (Grandmaster).
Kantaro Tomiyama (富山 幹太郎, Tomiyama Kantarō; born January 22, 1954) is the chairman of the giant Japanese toy…Kantaro Tomiyama (富山 幹太郎, Tomiyama Kantarō; born January 22, 1954) is the chairman of the giant Japanese toy, children's merchandise and entertainment company, Tomy Company, Ltd. (known as Takara Tomy in Japanese). Kantaro Tomiyama was born in 1954 in Tokyo, Japan and is the grandson of the founder of Tomy, Eiichiro Tomiyama. In 1982, Kantaro entered Tomy after graduation from University of Hull in Britain. He became president of Tomy in 1986.
Yuji Matsuo (松尾 雄治, Matsuo Yūji; born 20 January 1954) is a former Japanese rugby union player and a sports journalist.…Yuji Matsuo (松尾 雄治, Matsuo Yūji; born 20 January 1954) is a former Japanese rugby union player and a sports journalist. He played as a fly-half. Matsuo was one of the greatest Japanese rugby players of all times and played for Shin-Nittetsu Kamaishi. He left competition in 1985, after seven consecutive wins. He had 24 caps for Japan, from 1974 to 1984, scoring 3 tries, 5 conversions, 14 penalties and 3 drop goals, in an aggregate of 73 points. After finishing his player career he became a sports journalist for the Japanese television.
Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷 由実, Matsutōya Yumi; born January 19, 1954), nicknamed Yuming (ユーミン, Yūmin), is a Japanese singer…Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷 由実, Matsutōya Yumi; born January 19, 1954), nicknamed Yuming (ユーミン, Yūmin), is a Japanese singer, composer, lyricist and pianist. Matsutoya often writes both the lyrics and the music to her songs, and is renowned for her idiosyncratic voice and live performances. She is one of the most prominent figures in the history of Japanese popular music. Matsutoya's recording career has been commercially successful, with more than 42 million records sold. In 1990, her album The Gates of Heaven became the first album to be certified "2x million" by the RIAJ, and she has had twenty-one No. 1 albums listed on the Oricon charts. She is the only artist to have at least one number-one album every year on the Oricon charts for 18 consecutive years. After gaining several years of experience as a session musician, she debuted as a singer-songwriter in 1972. During her early career, she worked under her maiden name Yumi Arai (荒井 由実, Arai Yumi). In 1975, Arai became known as a composer for "Ichigo Hakusho wo Mou Ichido", a commercially successful song recorded by the folk duo BanBan. She also gained popularity as a vocalist in the same year through the success of "Ano Hi ni Kaeritai", which became her first number-one hit on Japan's Oricon Charts. "Haru-yo, Koi" is another of her famous songs. In The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture, it is written that "Yuming incorporated influences from progressive rock and European pop to produce a sophisticated, upper-middle-class female Japanese voice and sound in a contemporary musical and journalistic world dominated by discussions of folk music and social critique. This musical idiom is generally thought to have been first realised on [...] Cobalt Hour". The album The 14th Moon and the three albums that ranked in the top 10 of the Japanese charts in 1976 (Cobalt Hour, Yuming Brand, and Hikōki-gumo) "contained several songs which are considered to be early classics of the J-pop genre." After marrying her musical collaborator Masataka Matsutoya in 1976, Arai began recording under her married name and has continued to do so. Throughout the 1980s, Matsutoya's music was prominently featured in advertisements for Mitsubishi Motors in her native Japan and her image was used to promote their vehicles. In addition to multiple hit singles, she has obtained enormous commercial success on the Japanese Albums Chart, particularly during the late 1980s and the first half of the 1990s.
Yoshinori Tadokoro (田所 嘉徳, Tadokoro Yoshinori; born 19 January 1954) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Yoshinori Tadokoro (田所 嘉徳, Tadokoro Yoshinori; born 19 January 1954) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Shigeo Nakajima (中島 成雄, Nakajima Shigeo; born January 16, 1954) is a retired Japanese boxer who is a former WBC junior…Shigeo Nakajima (中島 成雄, Nakajima Shigeo; born January 16, 1954) is a retired Japanese boxer who is a former WBC junior flyweight champion. He is an alumnus of the Komazawa University. Nakajima began boxing at Yonekura Boxing Gym at the age of a high school student. He compiled an amateur record of 80–15 (48 KOs) before turning professional.
Tetsumi Takara (高良 鉄美, Takara Tetsumi; born January 15, 1954) is a Japanese politician currently serving as a member of…Tetsumi Takara (高良 鉄美, Takara Tetsumi; born January 15, 1954) is a Japanese politician currently serving as a member of the National Diet in the House of Councillors. He was elected on July 27, 2019, representing the Okinawa at-large district which encompasses the entirety of Okinawa Prefecture.
Masakazu Mori (Japanese: 森 正和), better known by his stage name Yukinojo Mori (森雪之丞, Mori Yukinojō), is a Japanese…Masakazu Mori (Japanese: 森 正和), better known by his stage name Yukinojo Mori (森雪之丞, Mori Yukinojō), is a Japanese lyricist, composer and poet who is affiliated with Amuse, Inc. He has written over 2,500 songs for numerous artists such as Kyosuke Himuro, Takuro Yoshida and Junichi Inagaki and theme songs for anime series including Dragon Ball Z and Kinnikuman.
Masanobu Fuchi (渕 正信, Fuchi Masanobu; born January 14, 1954) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to All Japan…Masanobu Fuchi (渕 正信, Fuchi Masanobu; born January 14, 1954) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he is also a director and the co-head booker. Fuchi has exclusively worked for All Japan since his debut in 1974, and holds the record for the longest World Junior Heavyweight Championship reign at 1,309 days. Fuchi became a freelancer in 2009, but officially re-signed with AJPW in 2013 as both a director and wrestler, making him the longest tenured member of the All Japan roster.
Junichi Ishida (石田 純一, Ishida Jun'ichi; born 14 January 1954 as Tarō Ishida (石田 太郎)) is a Japanese actor and television…Junichi Ishida (石田 純一, Ishida Jun'ichi; born 14 January 1954 as Tarō Ishida (石田 太郎)) is a Japanese actor and television personality from Tokyo. He is married to professional golfer Riko Higashio.
Kunio Mikuriya (御厨 邦雄, Mikuriya Kunio) was the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) from 2009 to…Kunio Mikuriya (御厨 邦雄, Mikuriya Kunio) was the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) from 2009 to 2023.
Satoshi Kirishima (Japanese: 桐島聡, romanized: Kirishima Satoshi, January 9, 1954 – January 29, 2024) was a Japanese…Satoshi Kirishima (Japanese: 桐島聡, romanized: Kirishima Satoshi, January 9, 1954 – January 29, 2024) was a Japanese anarchist, terrorist, and member of the East Asia Anti-Japan Armed Front. Kirishima had been hiding from the Japanese police since 1975. He revealed his identity in January 2024 in a hospital in Kanagawa, stating he wanted to spend the final days of his life using his real name. It was revealed he had been living under the pseudonym of 'Hiroshi Uchida' (Japanese: 内田洋, romanized: Uchida Hiroshi) in Fujisawa. He died three days later in Kamakura. Kirishima was considered one of Japan's most wanted criminals for a long time. His mugshot, which could be found at police stations across Japan, was well known for his grin and was often parodied.
Yasushi Tao (田尾 安志, Tao Yasushi; born January 8, 1954 in Mitoyo, Kagawa) is a Japanese retired Nippon Professional…Yasushi Tao (田尾 安志, Tao Yasushi; born January 8, 1954 in Mitoyo, Kagawa) is a Japanese retired Nippon Professional Baseball player. He was raised in Osaka. After playing, Tao managed the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. In his one year as manager, the Eagles finished in last in the PL and was the first PL team in 40 years to lose over 90 games in a single season.
Harumi Takahashi (高橋 はるみ, Takahashi Harumi; born 6 January 1954) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Harumi Takahashi (高橋 はるみ, Takahashi Harumi; born 6 January 1954) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and currently a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Yuji Horii (Japanese: 堀井 雄二, Hepburn: Horii Yūji; born January 6, 1954) is a Japanese author, video game designer…Yuji Horii (Japanese: 堀井 雄二, Hepburn: Horii Yūji; born January 6, 1954) is a Japanese author, video game designer, writer and director best known as the creator of the Dragon Quest franchise, supervising and writing the scenario for Chrono Trigger, and The Portopia Serial Murder Case, released in 1983 as one of the first visual novel adventure games. Horii is CEO of his own company, Armor Project, a company that has an exclusive production contract with Square Enix, a contract established with Enix before the company merged with Square, and is also one of the companies who co-own the Dragon Quest franchise alongside Square Enix. In 2025, Horii became the first video game creator to receive the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government for his contributions to the arts.
Kiyoshi Nakahata (中畑 清, Nakahata Kiyoshi; born January 6, 1954) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball…Kiyoshi Nakahata (中畑 清, Nakahata Kiyoshi; born January 6, 1954) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Yomiuri Giants (1976–1989). He managed the Yokohama DeNA BayStars for four seasons from 2011 to 2015.
Toshiko Miyamoto (宮本 敏子, Miyamoto Toshiko; born 4 January 1954) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed at the 1972 Summer…Toshiko Miyamoto (宮本 敏子, Miyamoto Toshiko; born 4 January 1954) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Akira Kudo (工藤 章, born 1 January 1954 in Iwate Prefecture) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1976…Akira Kudo (工藤 章, born 1 January 1954 in Iwate Prefecture) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Ryūichi Hiroki (廣木 隆一, Hiroki Ryūichi; born January 1, 1954) is a Japanese film director. He won critical acclaim for…Ryūichi Hiroki (廣木 隆一, Hiroki Ryūichi; born January 1, 1954) is a Japanese film director. He won critical acclaim for 800 Two Lap Runners. Film critic and researcher Alexander Jacoby has described Hiroki as "one of the modern Japanese cinema's most intelligent students of character".
Amanoyama Shizuo (born Shizuo Ogata; December 28, 1953 – September 17, 1997) was a sumo wrestler from Taku Saga, Japan.…Amanoyama Shizuo (born Shizuo Ogata; December 28, 1953 – September 17, 1997) was a sumo wrestler from Taku Saga, Japan. He was an amateur champion at Komazawa University and so was given makushita tsukedashi status upon entering professional sumo. He made his professional debut in March 1976, fighting under surname of Ogata, winning the third-division championship in September 1976, in an eight-way playoff, but following up with a losing record of six losses. In July 1977 he would win the third-division championship again, this time undefeated, and earning promotion to Jūryō. He then reached the top division in March 1978. In his top division debut he defeated ozeki Takanohana and scored 11 wins against 4 losses, winning the Fighting Spirit prize for the only time. He made his makuuchi debut in the same tournament as Kotowaka and as both were unusually tall, they were nicknamed "Jumbo Jet" and "Concorde". His highest rank was maegashira 1. Upon retirement from active competition, he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Tatsutayama. He died while an active oyakata in September 1997 at the age of 43. He had been suffering from diabetes and liver disease since his days as an active wrestler.
Tatsumi Fujinami (藤波 辰巳, Fujinami Tatsumi; ring name: 藤波 辰爾) (born December 28, 1953) is a Japanese professional…Tatsumi Fujinami (藤波 辰巳, Fujinami Tatsumi; ring name: 藤波 辰爾) (born December 28, 1953) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is best known for his long tenure with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was a six-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and four-time IWGP Tag Team Champion. He is also the owner and founder of the Dradition wrestling promotion. Known for his fluid catch wrestling submission style, Fujinami is nicknamed "The Dragon"; he is credited with inventing moves such as the dragon sleeper and the dragon suplex. Other championships held by Fujinami include the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Champion and World Wrestling Federation (WWF) International Heavyweight Champion. He is an inductee of the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, and WWE Hall of Fame. Bret Hart said of Fujinami: "I always wanted to be the great wrestler that Tatsumi Fujinami was."
Eiji Ueda (上田 栄治, Ueda Eiji; born December 22, 1953) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He managed the…Eiji Ueda (上田 栄治, Ueda Eiji; born December 22, 1953) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He managed the Japan women's national team.
Nami Asada (麻田奈美, Asada Nami; born 1953–54) is a gravure model who was active in Japan in the 1970s. She became a star…Nami Asada (麻田奈美, Asada Nami; born 1953–54) is a gravure model who was active in Japan in the 1970s. She became a star after a photograph known as the Apple Nude (りんごヌード, ringo nūdo), and was elevated to the status of an idol among young people of the time.
Teru Fukui (福井 照, Fukui Teru; born 14 December 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member…Teru Fukui (福井 照, Fukui Teru; born 14 December 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Masahito Moriyama (盛山 正仁, Moriyama Masahito) is a Japanese politician. He is a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic…Masahito Moriyama (盛山 正仁, Moriyama Masahito) is a Japanese politician. He is a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and a former member of the House of Representatives in the National Diet (national legislature). A native of Nishinomiya, Hyogo, and an alumnus of the University of Tokyo, he joined the Ministry of Transport in 1977. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2005 but lost his seat in the 2009 General Election, regaining it in 2012. During his time out of office, he matriculated as a postgraduate student and studied international law and business at Kobe University, which is located in his constituency. He earned a Master’s degree in Law in 2011, a PhD in International Law in 2013, and an additional PhD in Business Studies in 2014. In 2024, Moriyama won a no-confidence motion issued by the Constitutional Democratic Party after reports emerged that he received a letter of recommendation and campaign support from an organization linked to the Unification Church during the 2021 Japanese general election. On 10 April 2024, Moriyama was among the guests invited to the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden in honor of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House.
Hidanohana Shigeyoshi (born 13 December 1953 as Osamu Hirabayashi) is a former sumo wrestler from Asahi, Gifu, Japan.…Hidanohana Shigeyoshi (born 13 December 1953 as Osamu Hirabayashi) is a former sumo wrestler from Asahi, Gifu, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1969 and reached the top division in September 1980. His highest rank was maegashira 1. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Onoe. He left the Sumo Association in March 1994.
Osao Chosei Funahara (born December 10, 1953) is a musician and film director and producer. Born in Hyōgo Prefecture of…Osao Chosei Funahara (born December 10, 1953) is a musician and film director and producer. Born in Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan, Chosei Funahara was educated in both the United States and Japan. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Nihon University College of Art's Cinema department in Tokyo. While pursuing New York University's NYU Graduate School of Arts and Science (Cinema Studies), he performed as bassist and founding member of the cult punk rock group the Plasmatics.
Keiko Nagaoka (永岡 桂子, Nagaoka Keiko; born 8 December 1953) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of…Keiko Nagaoka (永岡 桂子, Nagaoka Keiko; born 8 December 1953) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Tokyo and graduate of Gakushuin University she was elected for the first time in 2005. Her husband was politician Yoji Nagaoka, who committed suicide on 1 August 2005.
Shigeru Mukai (向井 茂, Mukai Shigeru; born 1953) is a Japanese mathematician at Kyoto University specializing in…Shigeru Mukai (向井 茂, Mukai Shigeru; born 1953) is a Japanese mathematician at Kyoto University specializing in algebraic geometry.
Naka Bokunen (名嘉 睦稔; born 1953) is an artist from Okinawa, Japan, famous for his brightly coloured prints of Okinawan…Naka Bokunen (名嘉 睦稔; born 1953) is an artist from Okinawa, Japan, famous for his brightly coloured prints of Okinawan landscapes. Many of these prints are of, or inspired by, the island of Izena in the north of Okinawa, where he was born. Naka Bokunen has been involved in collaborations with, among others, the novelist Banana Yoshimoto and the biologist James Lovelock.
Masami Kurumada (車田 正美, Kurumada Masami; born December 6, 1953) is a Japanese manga artist and writer, known for…Masami Kurumada (車田 正美, Kurumada Masami; born December 6, 1953) is a Japanese manga artist and writer, known for specializing in fighting manga featuring bishōnen and magical boys. He is the founder of the manga studio Kurumada Productions or Kurumadapro for short. He achieved fame as the creator of popular manga, such as Ring ni Kakero, Fūma no Kojirō, Saint Seiya and B't X. The male characters in his works often display very masculine qualities and traits, and display courage through sacrifice, selflessness and true heroism. He has won the Best Success award with Saint Seiya and the Best Inspiration award with Ring ni Kakero.
