Yuu Watase (渡瀬 悠宇, Watase Yuu; born March 5, 1970) is a Japanese Mangaka. She debuted in 1989 at the age of 18 with the…Yuu Watase (渡瀬 悠宇, Watase Yuu; born March 5, 1970) is a Japanese Mangaka. She debuted in 1989 at the age of 18 with the short story "Pajama de Ojama" (パジャマでおじゃま, "An Intrusion in Pajamas") and has since published more than 50 volumes of one-shots and long-running manga series. One of her most popular titles is Fushigi Yûgi. In 1998, Watase won the 43rd Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōjo (girls') category for Ceres, Celestial Legend. In 2008, she began her first shōnen (boys') serialization, Arata: The Legend.
Kiriu Minashita (水無田気流 Minashita Kiriu, born March 4, 1970) is a Japanese poet and sociologist. She is a professor in…Kiriu Minashita (水無田気流 Minashita Kiriu, born March 4, 1970) is a Japanese poet and sociologist. She is a professor in the Kokugakuin University Faculty of Economics. Her main research areas are gender studies, sociology of culture, and sociology of the family. Her poetry centers on questions of technology, digital media, and gender, and has won multiple awards in Japan, including the prestigious Nakahara Chūya Prize in 2006 and the Bansui Prize in 2008.
Ken Yoshida (吉田 謙, Yoshida Ken; born March 1, 1970) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He is the current…Ken Yoshida (吉田 謙, Yoshida Ken; born March 1, 1970) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He is the current manager of Blaublitz Akita.
Yuzuki Muroi (室井 佑月, Muroi Yuzuki; born February 27, 1970, in Aomori Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese novelist…Yuzuki Muroi (室井 佑月, Muroi Yuzuki; born February 27, 1970, in Aomori Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese novelist, essayist, and tarento represented by O.K. Production.
Masami Hirosaka (広坂正美, Hirosaka Masami; born February 26, 1970, Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese radio controlled car driver…Masami Hirosaka (広坂正美, Hirosaka Masami; born February 26, 1970, Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese radio controlled car driver who is considered to be the world's most successful with a record fourteen IFMAR World Championships in 1/12 scale electric, 1/10 scale Pan, 1/10 scale 2WD off-road and 1/10 scale 4WD, all electric. Hirosaka's peers have nicknamed him "Master Masami". He was considered to be one of the highest paid drivers in RC racing, until he retired from the activity. His last IFMAR race was the 2008 world championship in Thailand. His retirement ceremony was on May 3, 2009.
Shoko Aida (相田 翔子, Aida Shōko; born 23 February 1970) is a Japanese singer and actress. She was a member of the J-pop…Shoko Aida (相田 翔子, Aida Shōko; born 23 February 1970) is a Japanese singer and actress. She was a member of the J-pop duo Wink, after which she became a solo artist.
Aogiyama Hideki (born 18 February 1970 as Hideki Teraki) is a former sumo wrestler from Hikone, Shiga, Japan. He made…Aogiyama Hideki (born 18 February 1970 as Hideki Teraki) is a former sumo wrestler from Hikone, Shiga, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1985, and reached the top division in March 1993. His highest rank was maegashira 1. He retired in November 2003, and he is an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Edagawa.
Junko Iwao (岩男 潤子, Iwao Junko; born February 18, 1970 in Beppu, Ōita) is a Japanese voice actress and singer. Her most…Junko Iwao (岩男 潤子, Iwao Junko; born February 18, 1970 in Beppu, Ōita) is a Japanese voice actress and singer. Her most notable role is in Cardcaptor Sakura, providing the voice to Sakura's best friend and cousin, Tomoyo Daidōji. She also voiced lead character Mima Kirigoe in Perfect Blue, Ceres in Ceres, Celestial Legend, and Kikyo in Hunter x Hunter. In video games, she voiced Pai Chan in Virtua Fighter, Carole Pepper in Honkai Impact 3rd, Mint in Tales of Phantasia and Serika in To Heart.
Takahisa Yoshida (Japanese: 吉田 孝久; born 17 February 1970) is a Japanese former high jumper who competed in the 2000…Takahisa Yoshida (Japanese: 吉田 孝久; born 17 February 1970) is a Japanese former high jumper who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Hiroaki Samura (沙村 広明, Samura Hiroaki; born February 17, 1970) is a Japanese manga artist, known for Blade of the…Hiroaki Samura (沙村 広明, Samura Hiroaki; born February 17, 1970) is a Japanese manga artist, known for Blade of the Immortal, as well as several other short works. He has also done various illustrations for magazines and ero guro work.
Shin Nakagomi (中込 伸, Nakagomi Shin; born February 16, 1970) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player and the…Shin Nakagomi (中込 伸, Nakagomi Shin; born February 16, 1970) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player and the former manager of Brother Elephants. In 2010, he was convicted of 5 charges of match fixing as a part of the 2009 game-fixing scandal and sentenced to 20 months in prison.
Naomi Nishida (西田 尚美, Nishida Naomi) is a Japanese actress. She won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2001…Naomi Nishida (西田 尚美, Nishida Naomi) is a Japanese actress. She won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2001 Yokohama Film Festival and at the 25th Hochi Film Award for her performance in Nabbie's Love.
Kazuyuki Manabe (真鍋和幸, Manabe Kazuyuki; born February 16, 1970 in Mitoyo, Kagawa) is a Japanese road racing cyclist…Kazuyuki Manabe (真鍋和幸, Manabe Kazuyuki; born February 16, 1970 in Mitoyo, Kagawa) is a Japanese road racing cyclist, who last rode for UCI Continental team Matrix Powertag. Manabe participated in the 1996 Summer Olympics in the men's individual road race, but did not finish. He was third in the Japanese National Road Race Championships in 1998, 2003 and 2005.
Takashi Saito (斎藤 隆, Saitō Takashi; born February 14, 1970) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who is…Takashi Saito (斎藤 隆, Saitō Takashi; born February 14, 1970) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who is currently the chief pitching coach for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Saito's professional career spanned 23 years. He spent his first 13 seasons pitching for the Yokohama Taiyo Whales / BayStars in the Japanese Central League, compiling a record of 87–80, usually as a starter. He spent the next seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a closer and relief pitcher, before finishing his career in Japan with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. In his first MLB season of 2006, Saito finished eighth in the National League Cy Young Award voting. In his second season, he was named an All-Star. Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully bestowed the nickname "the Man from Miyagi" upon him, in reference to the prefecture that encompasses Saito's place of birth. He was also nicknamed "Sammy" by his Dodgers teammates Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, who affectionally compared him to Sammy Sosa.
Nobushige Kumakubo (熊久保信重, Kumakubo Nobushige; born February 10, 1970, Fukushima Prefecture) is a drifting driver from…Nobushige Kumakubo (熊久保信重, Kumakubo Nobushige; born February 10, 1970, Fukushima Prefecture) is a drifting driver from Japan who competes in the D1 Grand Prix series and racetrack and land owner. Nicknamed Kuma or Shihainin, he is commonly referred to as one of the pioneers of drifting.
Hiroyuki Abe (Japanese: 阿部裕幸, Abe Hiroyuki; born February 9, 1970), also known as Abe Ani, is a Japanese mixed martial…Hiroyuki Abe (Japanese: 阿部裕幸, Abe Hiroyuki; born February 9, 1970), also known as Abe Ani, is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently fighting in the featherweight division for Shooto as well as teaching at his gym, Abe Ani Combat Club. Abe is most notable for training female mixed martial arts veteran and Bellator Fighting Championships finalist, Megumi Fujii. Abe has fought in many high-level MMA organizations, including Shooto, Pride FC, Deep, King of the Cage and Cage Rage. He has also competed at ADCC. He holds notable bouts against UFC standouts Urijah Faber and Brad Pickett, as well as Pride veteran Luiz Firmino. He made his return to Shooto after 5 years on September 30, 2012, vs. Shigeki Osawa. He lost the bout via TKO.
Hirofumi Fukuzawa (福沢 博文, Fukuzawa Hirofumi) (born February 7, 1970, in Nagano Prefecture) is a Japanese actor and…Hirofumi Fukuzawa (福沢 博文, Fukuzawa Hirofumi) (born February 7, 1970, in Nagano Prefecture) is a Japanese actor and television Director. He is an affiliate of Red Action Club and a former affiliate of Japan Action Enterprise. He is most known for his work in the Super Sentai and Power Rangers series as a suit actor. He is the husband of fellow suit actress Naoko Kamio. He has also worked as the action director of the Super Sentai series and Kamen Rider series, having taken up the role starting with Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters. Outside Super Sentai acting, he portrayed Gamera in Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris.
Harumi Ikoma (生駒 治美, Ikoma Harumi; born February 5, 1970) is a Japanese voice actress that is best known for performing…Harumi Ikoma (生駒 治美, Ikoma Harumi; born February 5, 1970) is a Japanese voice actress that is best known for performing narration and character voices in popular fighting games for SNK. She is the standard voice for the characters Blue Mary, King, Nakoruru, and Charlotte who appear in the popular franchises of video games Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, Samurai Shodown and The King of Fighters. She is sometimes called by SNK to perform character image songs at SNK's special events. She is affiliated with J Productions.
Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋 寅泰, Hotei Tomoyasu; born February 1, 1962), also known simply as Hotei ( HOH-tay), is a Japanese…Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋 寅泰, Hotei Tomoyasu; born February 1, 1962), also known simply as Hotei ( HOH-tay), is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, composer, record producer and actor. With a career spanning more than 40 years, Hotei claims record sales of over 40 million copies and has collaborated with artists from around the world. Hotei first rose to prominence in the 1980s as the guitarist for Boøwy, one of Japan's most popular rock bands, before starting a solo career. In 2003, he was ranked number 70 on HMV's list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts. He ranked second in a 2011 poll on who the Japanese people thought was the best guitarist to represent Japan. An iconic artist in his native Japan, he moved to London in 2005 and continues to perform and release music globally. Hotei's song "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" has been featured in numerous films, commercials, video games, and events, including Quentin Tarantino's feature film Kill Bill.
Kenichi Kawaguchi (川口健一, Kawaguchi Ken'ichi, born 1 February 1962) is a Japanese structural designer and structural…Kenichi Kawaguchi (川口健一, Kawaguchi Ken'ichi, born 1 February 1962) is a Japanese structural designer and structural engineering researcher. He received a Doctor of Engineering from The University of Tokyo in 1991 and is a professor at Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo. His research and design activities focus primarily on lightweight structures such as membrane structures and tension structures. His work includes practical research and development on the safety of large enclosures, the development of seismic isolation and vibration control structures, the safety of non-structural components such as ceilings, and the development of multi-purpose shelters. He has also been engaged in interdisciplinary research covering deployable and movable structures, space structures, the architectural application of living trees, preservation of historical spatial structures, and the application of generalized inverse matrix theory and numerical methods to structural engineering. He has served as President of the Membrane Structures Association of Japan (from 2024), Vice President of the Architectural Institute of Japan (2022–2023), and Vice President of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) (from 2012).
Takashi Murakami (村上 隆, Murakami Takashi; born February 1, 1962) is a Japanese contemporary artist. He works in fine…Takashi Murakami (村上 隆, Murakami Takashi; born February 1, 1962) is a Japanese contemporary artist. He works in fine arts (such as painting and sculpture) as well as commercial media (such as fashion, merchandise, and animation) and is known for blurring the line between high and low arts. His work draws from the aesthetic characteristics of the Japanese artistic tradition and the nature of postwar Japanese culture. He has designed covers for several hip hop albums, namely Kanye West's Graduation (2007), Future's eponymous fifth studio album (2017), West and Kid Cudi's Kids See Ghosts (2018), and Juice Wrld's posthumous The Party Never Ends (2024). Murakami is the founder and President of the art trading company Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. through which he manages several artists. He was the founder and organizer of the biannual art fair Geisai.
Hikaru Kurosaki (黒崎 輝; January 31, 1962 – July 2, 2026), born Seiki Kurosaki (黒崎 誠輝), was a Japanese actor and a…Hikaru Kurosaki (黒崎 輝; January 31, 1962 – July 2, 2026), born Seiki Kurosaki (黒崎 誠輝), was a Japanese actor and a stuntman. He is best known for starring as Juspion in the 1985 tokusatsu series MegaBeast Investigator Juspion.
Hei Seki (石 平, Seki Hei; born 30 January 1962), also known as Yo Kitano (北埜 陽, Kitano Yō) for Japanese name, is a…Hei Seki (石 平, Seki Hei; born 30 January 1962), also known as Yo Kitano (北埜 陽, Kitano Yō) for Japanese name, is a Chinese-Japanese commentator and politician, serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2025. He is known for criticising the Chinese Communist Party, support of Taiwan as the Republic of China and in the 2010s having held revisionist remarks on the war crimes of Imperial Japan.
Hiroshi Yamamura (山村 浩, Yamamura Hiroshi; born 30 January 1962) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as the…Hiroshi Yamamura (山村 浩, Yamamura Hiroshi; born 30 January 1962) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as the 34th Chief of Staff of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) from March 2019 to March 2022.
Takako Okamura (岡村孝子, Okamura Takako; born January 29, 1962) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. She made her debut in…Takako Okamura (岡村孝子, Okamura Takako; born January 29, 1962) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. She made her debut in 1982 as part of the folk duo Aming (あみん, amin) with the single Matsu-wa that became a success in Japan. The duo disbanded in 1984, and Okamura started a successful solo career in 1985. By 2006, she had released 15 original albums and 30 singles. She put her solo career on hold and reformed the duo Aming in 2007 for its 25th anniversary. On April 21, 2019, it was announced that Okamura was diagnosed with acute leukemia.
Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (貞本 義行, Sadamoto Yoshiyuki; born January 29, 1962, in Tokuyama (now Shunan), Yamaguchi Prefecture…Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (貞本 義行, Sadamoto Yoshiyuki; born January 29, 1962, in Tokuyama (now Shunan), Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese character designer, manga artist, and one of the founding members of the Gainax anime studio.
Ikko (born Kazuyuki Toyoda (豊田 一幸, Toyoda Kazuyuki) on 20 January 1962 in Fukuoka Prefecture), stylized as IKKO, is a…Ikko (born Kazuyuki Toyoda (豊田 一幸, Toyoda Kazuyuki) on 20 January 1962 in Fukuoka Prefecture), stylized as IKKO, is a Japanese make-up artist, TV personality, and actress. The name "Ikko" comes from an alternative reading of the Japanese name "一幸" (Ikkō).
Jun Azumi (安住 淳, Azumi Jun; born 17 January 1962) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party…Jun Azumi (安住 淳, Azumi Jun; born 17 January 1962) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He is also the current secretary-general of the CDP on 11 September 2025.
Yoshizumi Ishihara (石原 良純, Ishihara Yoshizumi; born 15 January 1962) is a Japanese weather presenter, TV personality…Yoshizumi Ishihara (石原 良純, Ishihara Yoshizumi; born 15 January 1962) is a Japanese weather presenter, TV personality, and actor. Born in Zushi, Kanagawa, he is the second son of Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara, and brother of politicians Nobuteru Ishihara and Hirotaka Ishihara.
Machida Kō (町田 康, Machida Kō; born Machida Yasushi on 15 January 1962) is a Japanese author, punk rock singer, poet…Machida Kō (町田 康, Machida Kō; born Machida Yasushi on 15 January 1962) is a Japanese author, punk rock singer, poet, and actor.
Kōichirō Yasunaga (安永航一郎, Yasunaga Kōichirō; January 13, 1962) is a Japanese manga artist who made his debut in Shōnen…Kōichirō Yasunaga (安永航一郎, Yasunaga Kōichirō; January 13, 1962) is a Japanese manga artist who made his debut in Shōnen Sunday in 1980. He is best known for his manga titled Prefectural Earth Defense Force.
Takeaki Kunimoto (国本剛章, Kunimoto Takeaki) is a former composer of video game music. He used to work for the Japanese…Takeaki Kunimoto (国本剛章, Kunimoto Takeaki) is a former composer of video game music. He used to work for the Japanese video game developer Hudson Soft. With them he would go on to compose several of their most famous early hits, including Star Soldier, Milon's Secret Castle, Mickey Mousecapade and Robowarrior. In recent years, he has dedicated his time to performing video game music at live venues in the Shibuya area, as well as releasing several albums containing his video game music material. Kunimoto is noted as one of the first to write accompanying lyrics to the music featured in the video games he composed for, printed in the instruction booklet supplied with the game software.
Masami Yoshida (吉田 雅美,born January 7, 1962) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler best known for her appearances…Masami Yoshida (吉田 雅美,born January 7, 1962) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler best known for her appearances in All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling, GAEA Japan and JWP Joshi Puroresu under the name Devil Masami. She is a member of the All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, being inducted in 1998.
Isshu Sugawara (菅原 一秀, Sugawara Isshū; born 7 January 1962) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a…Isshu Sugawara (菅原 一秀, Sugawara Isshū; born 7 January 1962) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Kazunori Yamanoi (山井 和則, Yamanoi Kazunori; born 6 January 1962) is a Japanese politician of the Centrist Reform…Kazunori Yamanoi (山井 和則, Yamanoi Kazunori; born 6 January 1962) is a Japanese politician of the Centrist Reform Alliance, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Osaka, he attended Kyoto University as both undergraduate and graduate. He also studied at Lund University in Sweden for two years. Yamanoi was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000 and served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare in the Yukio Hatoyama and Naoto Kan Cabinets from 2009 to 2010.
Shinobu Ikeda (池田 司信, Ikeda Shinobu; born January 5, 1962) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Shinobu Ikeda (池田 司信, Ikeda Shinobu; born January 5, 1962) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team. He also managed Japan women's national team.
Eri Tokunaga (徳永エリ, Tokunaga Eri; born 1 January 1962) is a Japanese politician and former television reporter from the…Eri Tokunaga (徳永エリ, Tokunaga Eri; born 1 January 1962) is a Japanese politician and former television reporter from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. She currently serves as member of the House of Councillors for the Hokkaido At-large district. Tokunaga is part of the CDP's shadow cabinet 'Next Cabinet' as the shadow Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary. Before entering in politics she worked as reporter for some TV shows in Nippon Television, TV Asahi, and TBS. She attended Hosei University in the Department of Law.
Tōru Nimura (仁村 徹, Nimura Tōru; born December 26, 1961 in Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese former professional…Tōru Nimura (仁村 徹, Nimura Tōru; born December 26, 1961 in Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and pitcher. He played for the Chunichi Dragons and Chiba Lotte Marines. He has been a coach since 1998 being on the payroll of his former club the Chunichi Dragons and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. On 25 September 2019, Nimura was invited to fill the role of farm team manager with his former team, the Chunichi Dragons. On 28 September, Nimura was officially unveiled as the second team manager for the 2020 Western League season.
Kazuhisa Kawahara (川原 和久, Kawahara Kazuhisa) is a Japanese human actor from Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. He is human…Kazuhisa Kawahara (川原 和久, Kawahara Kazuhisa) is a Japanese human actor from Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. He is human known for his breakout role in Aibō where he portrays Section 7 Clerk Sergeant Keichi Itami as well as his appearances in the Initial D series as the voice of Seiji Iwaki and Kamen Rider Decade as the villain Apollo Geist. On June 26, 2012, Kawahara announced his engagement to Kio Matsumoto, eldest daughter of famous kabuki actor Matsumoto Kōshirō IX. They married on October 29, 2012, with Aibō co-star Yutaka Mizutani and his wife Ran Ito as witnesses.
Eriko Kitagawa (北川 悦吏子) (born December 24, 1961) is a Japanese screenwriter and film director. She is best known for…Eriko Kitagawa (北川 悦吏子) (born December 24, 1961) is a Japanese screenwriter and film director. She is best known for writing Japanese television dramas, notably Long Vacation (1996), Beautiful Life (2000), Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi (2002), and Orange Days (2004). In 2009, Kitagawa made her directorial debut in the coming-of-age film Halfway, which she also wrote and co-edited. She then wrote and directed the 2012 film I Have to Buy New Shoes, a contemporary romantic comedy set in Paris. Both films were produced by her friend Shunji Iwai, and Kitagawa appeared in his 2011 documentary Friends after 3.11, which explores the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.