Yasuhiko Moriwaki (森脇 保彦, Moriwaki Yasuhiko; born 7 May 1952) is a retired Japanese judoka. Moriwaki is from Kake…
Yasuhiko Moriwaki (森脇 保彦, Moriwaki Yasuhiko; born 7 May 1952) is a retired Japanese judoka. Moriwaki is from Kake, Hiroshima and began judo at the junior high school days. When he was a member of judo club at Sotoku high-school (崇徳高校, Sōtoku Kōkō), alongside Takao Kawaguchi and Yoshiharu Minami. In 1974, When Moriwaki was a student of Kokushikan University, he won a gold medal at the World University Championships held in Brussels. He took office as the coach of Kokushikan University after graduation from there. In 1979, Moriwaki won a bronze medal of World Championships held in Paris. He was also expected to get medal of Olympic Games in 1980 but he couldn't because the 1980 Summer Olympic Games was boycotted by the Japanese Government. Moriwaki won a gold medal at the World Championships in 1981 at the age of 29. As of 2010, he coaches at Kokushikan Women's Judo Club.
Famous People of the Three Jade Wood Star
Three Jade Wood Star: 1,965 people
Chiaki Mukai (向井 千秋, Mukai Chiaki; born May 6, 1952) is a Japanese physician and JAXA astronaut. She was the first…
Chiaki Mukai (向井 千秋, Mukai Chiaki; born May 6, 1952) is a Japanese physician and JAXA astronaut. She was the first Japanese woman in space, the first Japanese citizen to have two spaceflights, and the first Asian woman in space. Both were Space Shuttle missions; her first was STS-65 aboard Space Shuttle Columbia in July 1994, which was a Spacelab mission. Her second spaceflight was STS-95 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 1998. In total she has spent 23 days in space. Mukai was selected to be an astronaut by Japanese national space agency NASDA (now called JAXA) in 1985. Prior to this, she was an assistant professor in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Keio University, the oldest university in Japan. In 2015, she became Vice President of the Tokyo University of Science. In addition, she became JAXA Technical Counselor.
Katsumi Oda (小田 勝美, Oda Katsumi; born 6 May 1952) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in the men's tournament…
Katsumi Oda (小田 勝美, Oda Katsumi; born 6 May 1952) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada.
Yataro Tsuda (津田 弥太郎, Tsuda Yatarō; May 5, 1952 – April 6, 2026) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…
Yataro Tsuda (津田 弥太郎, Tsuda Yatarō; May 5, 1952 – April 6, 2026) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, who was a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Takayama, Gifu, he was elected for the first time in 2004. Tsuda died on April 6, 2026, at the age of 73.
Kuniko Inoguchi (猪口 邦子, Inoguchi Kuniko; born 3 May 1952) is a Japanese political scientist and politician. She served…
Kuniko Inoguchi (猪口 邦子, Inoguchi Kuniko; born 3 May 1952) is a Japanese political scientist and politician. She served as Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs from 2005 to 2006, and is currently a member of the House of Councillors representing Chiba Prefecture for the Liberal Democratic Party.
Teruko Miyamoto (宮本 輝子, Miyamoto Teruko; born 31 May 1952) is a Japanese basketball player. She competed in the women's…
Teruko Miyamoto (宮本 輝子, Miyamoto Teruko; born 31 May 1952) is a Japanese basketball player. She competed in the women's tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Keiji Haino (灰野 敬二 Haino Keiji; born May 3, 1952) is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter whose work has included…
Keiji Haino (灰野 敬二 Haino Keiji; born May 3, 1952) is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter whose work has included rock, free improvisation, noise music, percussion, psychedelic music, minimalism and drone music. He has been active since the 1970s and continues to record regularly and in new styles.
Junko Saito (斉藤 淳子, Saitō Jun'ko) (née Nakajima (中島 淳子, Nakajima Jun'ko; born 2 May 1952), more commonly known by her…
Junko Saito (斉藤 淳子, Saitō Jun'ko) (née Nakajima (中島 淳子, Nakajima Jun'ko; born 2 May 1952), more commonly known by her stage name Mari Natsuki (夏木 マリ, Natsuki Mari), is a Japanese singer, dancer, actress and philanthropist, who describes herself as a "person who plays." Born in Tokyo, she started work as a singer from a young age. In 2007, Natsuki announced her engagement to percussionist Nobu Saitō (斉藤ノヴ), with their marriage taking place in Spring 2008. Natsuki has participated in musical theatre, including Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof and that of Yukio Ninagawa. She provided the voice of Yubaba in Spirited Away, played the young witch's mother in the Japanese TV remake of Bewitched and has twice been nominated for a Japanese Academy Award. Natsuki played the character Big Mama in the Japanese version of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and has also acted in television dramas, such as the 2005 series Nobuta o Produce, playing the Vice Principal, Katharine. In 2024, Natsuki reprised her famous roles of Yubaba/Zeniba for the stage production of Spirited Away, performing in Japan and London. In 2026, she performed the role in Seoul, Korea.
Norio Kobayashi (小林 のりお, Kobayashi Norio; born 1952) is a Japanese photographer.
Mikio Murai (Japanese: 村井 幹生, 28 April 1952 – 16 April 2022), professionally known as Mio Murao (Japanese: 村生ミオ) was a…
Mikio Murai (Japanese: 村井 幹生, 28 April 1952 – 16 April 2022), professionally known as Mio Murao (Japanese: 村生ミオ) was a Japanese manga artist and writer, active for about 50 years.
Hiromasa Arai (新井 宏昌, Arai Hiromasa; born April 26, 1952) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder.
Eigo Kawashima (河島英五, Kawashima Eigo; 23 April 1952 – 16 April 2001) was a Japanese singer-songwriter.
Shinichi Nishimiya (西宮 伸一, Nishimiya Shinichi; 1952 – 16 September 2012) was a Japanese diplomat. Nishimiya was…
Shinichi Nishimiya (西宮 伸一, Nishimiya Shinichi; 1952 – 16 September 2012) was a Japanese diplomat. Nishimiya was appointed as Ambassador of Japan to the People's Republic of China in 2012. However, he died unexpectedly before traveling to China to present his credentials. Nishimiya studied in the United Kingdom. He was considered one of the leading experts on United States within the Japanese Foreign Ministry. He was well known in U.S. diplomatic and political circles, and was a contributor to programs at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. He served at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing in 2005. In 2007, Nishimiya became the head of the Foreign Ministry's North American Affairs Bureau. He then served as the Japanese Consul-General in New York City before being named a deputy minister in 2010. Shinichi Nishimiya was appointed as Japan's Ambassador to China in 2012. He was designated to replace outgoing Ambassador Uichiro Niwa, a former chairman of Itochu. Nishimiya's appointment came at a critical time in relations between China and Japan due to an escalation in tensions over the Senkaku Islands dispute and the ongoing 2012 China anti-Japanese demonstrations. Ambassador Nishimiya collapsed outside of his home shortly after his appointment. He died unexpectedly at a hospital in Tokyo on September 16, 2012, at the age of 60. Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba held a press conference to acknowledge the loss of Nishimiya. Gemba noted that it will take time to find a capable replacement for Ambassador to China, especially during the ongoing Senkaku Islands dispute. His widow Sachiko has served as chief lady-in-waiting to the Empress since 2019.
Haruhiko Kataoka (片岡晴彦, Haruhiko Kataoka; born April 1952) was the 32nd Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense…
Haruhiko Kataoka (片岡晴彦, Haruhiko Kataoka; born April 1952) was the 32nd Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the de facto air force of Japan.
Fumio Hayashi (林 文夫, Hayashi Fumio; born 18 April 1952) is a Japanese economist. He is a professor at the National…
Fumio Hayashi (林 文夫, Hayashi Fumio; born 18 April 1952) is a Japanese economist. He is a professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo. Hayashi received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tokyo and his PhD from Harvard University in 1980. He has taught at Northwestern University, the University of Tokyo, the University of Tsukuba, Osaka University, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Hitotsubashi University, and the University of Chicago. Hayashi is the author of a standard graduate-level textbook on econometrics (Hayashi 2000). He was a Fellow of the Econometric Society since 1988. He was awarded the inaugural Nakahara Prize in 1995. He was elected as foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2005 and the American Economic Association in 2020.
Yoshikazu Nagai (永井 良和, Nagai Yoshikazu; born April 16, 1952) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…
Yoshikazu Nagai (永井 良和, Nagai Yoshikazu; born April 16, 1952) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team. His son Shunta Nagai is also a former footballer.
Gania Nishimura (西村我尼吾, Nishimura Gania; born April 16, 1952 in Osaka Prefecture, real name Hidetoshi Nishimura) is a…
Gania Nishimura (西村我尼吾, Nishimura Gania; born April 16, 1952 in Osaka Prefecture, real name Hidetoshi Nishimura) is a Japanese poet and an international civil servant.
Yamaguchi Hisashi (born Hisashi Yamaguchi; April 16, 1952 – October 19, 2010) was a sumo wrestler from Nakatsu Ōita…
Yamaguchi Hisashi (born Hisashi Yamaguchi; April 16, 1952 – October 19, 2010) was a sumo wrestler from Nakatsu Ōita, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 1971, won the championship in his only sixth-division tournament, and another in March 1977 winning undefeated in third division. He reached the top division in May 1978, but struggled initially. After winning the second division in November, securing a second re-promotion, he reached his highest rank of maegashira 4 in March 1979. Upon initial promotion he had changed his shikona from his real name to Taniarashi Hisashi. He would drop back to the unsalaried ranks in 1980 Winning out in a rare nine-way playoff, he secured the third-division championship in March 1982, but retired soon after in November 1982. His son is Shun Yamaguchi, a former baseball player.
Atsushi Watanabe (渡部 篤, Watanabe Atsushi; born 12 April 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…
Atsushi Watanabe (渡部 篤, Watanabe Atsushi; born 12 April 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima and graduate of Komazawa University, he was elected to the first of his two terms in the city assembly of Aizuwakamatsu in 1982, to the first of his four terms in the assembly of Fukushima Prefecture and to the first of his terms in the House of Representatives in 2005.
Masashi Sada (さだ まさし, Sada Masashi; born 10 April 1952) is a Japanese singer, lyricist, and composer. Sada formed the…
Masashi Sada (さだ まさし, Sada Masashi; born 10 April 1952) is a Japanese singer, lyricist, and composer. Sada formed the folk duo Grape with Masami Yoshida in 1972, and they made their debut as recording artists a year afterward. The pair rose to fame owing to the hit song "Shourou Nagashi" (精霊流し) composed by Sada, which peaked at the number-two position on the Japanese Oricon chart in 1974. They broke up in 1976, after producing some hit singles including "En-kiri Dera" (縁切寺) and "Muen Zaka" (無縁坂). Sada released his first solo album entitled Kikyorai shortly after Grape's dissolution. Following the commercial success of the number-one hit single "Amayadori" (雨やどり, Shelter from the rain) in 1977, he enjoyed a recording career as one of the most popular Japanese male artists during the late 1970s and the first half of the 1980s. Throughout his career as a musician, Sada released over 35 solo albums and 70 singles, and multiple live albums or compilations. Since the release of Shourou Nagashi, published in 2001, Sada has also worked as a novelist.
Ramo Nakajima (中島らも, Nakajima Ramo; April 3, 1952 – July 26, 2004) was a Japanese cult novelist, essayist, and…
Ramo Nakajima (中島らも, Nakajima Ramo; April 3, 1952 – July 26, 2004) was a Japanese cult novelist, essayist, and copywriter. He also appeared frequently on Japanese TV as an actor. He was born in Amagasaki City, Hyōgo Prefecture. He received eighth place in his entrance exam to the prestigious Nada High School, and continued to the Osaka University of Arts, where he graduated from the school of broadcasting. He then worked for a publishing company for five years, where he became famous for his catchy advertisements and commercials. He was given his own advice column in Asahi Shimbun, called the "Lighthearted Worry Column", which highlighted his strange and unique sense of humor and made him a household name. He began to work as a freelance copywriter in 1987, and in his free time, wrote the novels that would give him his cult following in Japan, as well as a variety of rakugo, essays, scripts and short stories. His best-known works include the novels Tonight, from Every Bar in Town (13th Eiji Yoshikawa New Author Prize), The Pigs of Gadara (Mystery Writers of Japan Award), and The Night of Human Models (Naoki Prize). After his success in novels, he then expanded into theater, producing Laugh-to-Death Lilliput Army, as well as creating his own rock band, PISS, of which he was the lead singer and guitar player. After the band dissolved, he then formed Ramo and the Mother's Boys, where he played rhythm guitar and sang. Nakajima was known for his wild lifestyle and his constant use of drugs and alcohol. His appearances on television in the late 1990s and early 2000s were always an audience draw because of his slurred speech—probably from years of alcohol and drug abuse—and humorous personality. He was arrested and convicted of marijuana possession in 2003; he was sentenced to five years incarceration. He was put into a mental hospital for a brief period, and then served his 10-month sentence, with a suspended sentence of five years. He then released an essay about his trials in prison called "The Prison Diet". After his release, he plunged back into alcoholism. On July 15, 2004, after drinking late at a bar, he fell down a staircase and suffered serious head injuries. He never recovered, dying on July 26, 2004.
Yoichiro Kawaguchi (河口 洋一郎, Kawaguchi Yoichirō; born 1952 in Tanegashima, Kagoshima) is a Japanese computer graphics…
Yoichiro Kawaguchi (河口 洋一郎, Kawaguchi Yoichirō; born 1952 in Tanegashima, Kagoshima) is a Japanese computer graphics artist and professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo.
Toyohiko Hozumi (穂積 豊彦, Hozumi Toyohiko; born 26 March 1952) is a Japanese former handball player who competed in the…
Toyohiko Hozumi (穂積 豊彦, Hozumi Toyohiko; born 26 March 1952) is a Japanese former handball player who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Pai Pai Miyuki (パイパイ 美ゆき; born 23 March 1952, in Tokyo) is a Japanese actress and singer. Until 1970, she used the…
Pai Pai Miyuki (パイパイ 美ゆき; born 23 March 1952, in Tokyo) is a Japanese actress and singer. Until 1970, she used the stage name Miyuki Kojima (児島 みゆき, Kojima Miyuki). She is represented with Kagawa Office. She graduated from Musashino-shi Daiichi Elementary School, Musashino Municipal First Junior High School, and Nakano Fumizono High School (now Otsuma Nakano High School).
Yoshimi Watanabe (渡辺 喜美, Watanabe Yoshimi; born 17 March 1952) is a former Japanese politician. He was formerly a…
Yoshimi Watanabe (渡辺 喜美, Watanabe Yoshimi; born 17 March 1952) is a former Japanese politician. He was formerly a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and later the founder of Your Party, after which he became a member of Nippon Ishin no Kai until 2019 when he then became an independent politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2014, and returned to the Diet (national legislature) in 2016 as a member of the House of Councillors.
Yasuhiko Okudera (奥寺 康彦, Okudera Yasuhiko; born 12 March 1952) is a Japanese former football player and manager. A…
Yasuhiko Okudera (奥寺 康彦, Okudera Yasuhiko; born 12 March 1952) is a Japanese former football player and manager. A midfielder, Okudera was the first Japanese footballer to play professionally in Europe, as well as being the first Asian football player to score in the European Cup, while playing for 1. FC Köln in the 1979 semi-final match against Nottingham Forest and made 32 appearances – scoring nine goals – with the Japan national team.
Noriko Matsuda (松田紀子, Matsuda Noriko) (born 5 March 1952) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. She was…
Noriko Matsuda (松田紀子, Matsuda Noriko) (born 5 March 1952) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. She was a member of the Japanese winning team at the 1976 Olympic games.
Daisuke Yamashita (山下 大輔, Yamashita Daisuke; born March 5, 1952) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player.
Kazuki Ōmori (大森 一樹, Ōmori Kazuki; 3 March 1952 – 12 November 2022) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter.
Masaaki Sugiyama (杉山正明, Sugiyama Masaaki) (1952-2019) was a Japanese historian and author. Sugiyama was born March 1…
Masaaki Sugiyama (杉山正明, Sugiyama Masaaki) (1952-2019) was a Japanese historian and author. Sugiyama was born March 1, 1952, in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from the Faculty of Letters of Kyoto University in 1974. In 1992, he became an associate professor at the Faculty of Letters at Kyoto University, and in 1995, a professor, and later a professor at the Graduate School of Letters. He received the Japan Academy Prize in 2007. Sugiyama died on December 24, 2019.
Kazuo Oga (男鹿 和雄, Oga Kazuo; born 29 February 1952, in Akita Prefecture, Japan) is an art director and background…
Kazuo Oga (男鹿 和雄, Oga Kazuo; born 29 February 1952, in Akita Prefecture, Japan) is an art director and background artist for many Madhouse Studio and Studio Ghibli anime films. Oga has worked with many respected directors, such as Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Osamu Dezaki. He has also published two compilations of his art and directed a short animated film.
Shōgo Tomiyama (富山 省吾, Tomiyama Shōgo) is a Japanese former film producer. He is best known for his long tenure at…
Shōgo Tomiyama (富山 省吾, Tomiyama Shōgo) is a Japanese former film producer. He is best known for his long tenure at Toho, where oversaw the production of the Godzilla film series during its Heisei and Millennium eras.
Kijuro Yahagi (矢萩 喜從郎; born 1952) is a Japanese artist, designer, architect and photographer.
Issey Ogata (イッセー尾形, Issei Ogata; born February 22, 1952) is a Japanese actor and comedian. He was interested in plays…
Issey Ogata (イッセー尾形, Issei Ogata; born February 22, 1952) is a Japanese actor and comedian. He was interested in plays since childhood. After he graduated from Toyotama High School in Japan, he joined a theatrical company and appeared on the stage. Later, he jumped at the opportunity to be an entertainer when he took the gold medal at the audition called "Birth of Comedians". Then, he started garnering roles on Japanese TV. Shows he appeared on include Fuji TV's Evil Grandmother and NHK's RinRinto. He performs in Life Never Stops by himself at GyanGyan Theater in Shibuya. Furthermore, he has had starring roles in major art-house films, including Ota in Edward Yang's Yi Yi, the title character in Jun Ichikawa's Tony Takitani (an adaptation of the Haruki Murakami short story), the role of Japanese Emperor Hirohito in Aleksandr Sokurov's The Sun, and Inoue Masashige in Martin Scorsese's Silence.
Juichi Yamagiwa (Japanese: 山極 寿一) (born on February 21, 1952) is a Japanese anthropologist and the former president of…
Juichi Yamagiwa (Japanese: 山極 寿一) (born on February 21, 1952) is a Japanese anthropologist and the former president of Kyoto University.
Ryū Murakami (村上 龍, Murakami Ryū; born February 19, 1952) is a Japanese novelist, essayist and filmmaker. His novels…
Ryū Murakami (村上 龍, Murakami Ryū; born February 19, 1952) is a Japanese novelist, essayist and filmmaker. His novels explore human nature through themes of disillusion, drug use, surrealism, murder and war, set against the dark backdrop of Japan. His best known novels are Almost Transparent Blue, Audition, Coin Locker Babies, and In the Miso Soup.
Kazuo Manabe (真部 一男, Manabe Kazuo; February 16, 1952 – November 24, 2007) was a Japanese professional shogi player…
Kazuo Manabe (真部 一男, Manabe Kazuo; February 16, 1952 – November 24, 2007) was a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan.
Yasuyuki Sakai is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Councillors of Japan.
Isao Kiso (木曽 功, Isao Kiso; born 11 February 1952) is a Special Advisor to the Cabinet and a former official of the…
Isao Kiso (木曽 功, Isao Kiso; born 11 February 1952) is a Special Advisor to the Cabinet and a former official of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan. He has held positions as the Director of Cultural Properties Department at the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Head of Minister's Secretariat International Affairs Division at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan, Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.
Shinako Tsuchiya (土屋 品子, Tsuchiya Shinako; born 2 February 1952) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of…
Shinako Tsuchiya (土屋 品子, Tsuchiya Shinako; born 2 February 1952) 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 Kasukabe, Saitama and graduate of University of the Sacred Heart she was elected for the first time in 1996. Her father is Yoshihiko Tsuchiya, former governor of Saitama Prefecture.
Jaw-Shen Tsai (Chinese: 蔡兆申; born February 8, 1952) is a Taiwan-born American physicist specializing in low-temperature…
Jaw-Shen Tsai (Chinese: 蔡兆申; born February 8, 1952) is a Taiwan-born American physicist specializing in low-temperature solid-state physics. He is known for pioneering research on superconducting qubits and their quantum control. In 1999, he, Yasunobu Nakamura, and their colleagues achieved the first demonstration of qubit operation in a superconducting circuit. He has conducted research at NEC and RIKEN, and was appointed a professor at the Tokyo University of Science in 2015 and a chair professor at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in 2025.
Tsugutoshi Gotō (後藤 次利, Gotō Tsugutoshi), born February 5, 1952, is a Japanese songwriter, bassist and music producer.…
Tsugutoshi Gotō (後藤 次利, Gotō Tsugutoshi), born February 5, 1952, is a Japanese songwriter, bassist and music producer. Gotō broke into the Japanese music industry playing bass on tour for artists like Sadistic Mika Band, Bread & Butter and Shiro Kishibe. He went on to write and produce songs for other artists including Kenji Sawada, Miyuki Nakajima, Shizuka Kudō, and various idol singers. In 1980, Gotō won Song of the Year at the Japan Record Award for his work on Kenji Sawada's song "Tokio". In 1983, Gotō married former idol singer and actress Midori Kinouchi. The pair divorced four years later. In 1987, he contributed the soundtrack for the Famicom/NES version of the video game Ultima III: Exodus. In 1994, he married former Onyanko Club member Sonoko Kawai. Gotō also joined several musical units like Draw4 in 1990, gym in 2003, Non-Chords in 2004 and WAIP in 2006.
Tetsuo Saito (斉藤 鉄夫, Saitō Tetsuo; born 5 February 1952) is a Japanese politician who served as chief representative of…
Tetsuo Saito (斉藤 鉄夫, Saitō Tetsuo; born 5 February 1952) is a Japanese politician who served as chief representative of the Komeito from 2024 to 2026. He served as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism from 2021 to 2024 and Minister of the Environment from 2008 to 2009. Born in Shimane Prefecture, he was educated at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and worked as an engineer before entering politics. He was elected to serve as chief representative of the Komeito to succeed Keiichi Ishii, who was defeated in the 2024 election.
Toshio Kurosawa (黒沢 年男, Kurosawa Toshio; born February 4, 1944) is a Japanese actor and singer from Yokohama, Kanagawa…
Toshio Kurosawa (黒沢 年男, Kurosawa Toshio; born February 4, 1944) is a Japanese actor and singer from Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Kuroswa joined Toho film studio as an actor and made his film debut with Hibari Chiemi Izumi Sanninyoreba in 1964. His first starring role was in the 1966 film Hikinige. In 1971, Kurosawa left Toho and became a freelance actor. His song Tokiniwa Shōfu no Yōni became a big hit in 1978.
David Toshio Tsumura (津村 俊夫, Tsumura Toshio; born February 4, 1944) is a linguist, Old Testament scholar, dean of…
David Toshio Tsumura (津村 俊夫, Tsumura Toshio; born February 4, 1944) is a linguist, Old Testament scholar, dean of faculty, and professor of Old Testament professor at Japan Bible Seminary. His degrees are: a M.Div., an M.A., and a Ph.D. He is a chairman of the Tokyo Museum of Biblical Archaeology, editor of Exegetica: Studies in Biblical Exegesis, chairman of the New Japanese Bible（新改訳）Publishing Association, and author of the volume on 1 Samuel in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament series. He is well known as an Ugarit scholar.
Shiro Yadama (矢玉四郎, Yadama Shirō; February 3, 1944 – July 14, 2024) was a Japanese author. His most famous work, Hare…
Shiro Yadama (矢玉四郎, Yadama Shirō; February 3, 1944 – July 14, 2024) was a Japanese author. His most famous work, Hare Tokidoki Buta, known in English as Fair, then Partly Piggy, was later written as an anime series (titled Tokyo Pig in English) by Shinichi Watanabe. Yadama died on July 14, 2024, at the age of 80.
Hidenao Nakagawa (中川 秀直, Nakagawa Hidenao; born 2 February 1944) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal…
Hidenao Nakagawa (中川 秀直, Nakagawa Hidenao; born 2 February 1944) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives of the Diet (parliament).
Tetsuo Owada (小和田 哲男, Owada Tetsuo; born February 1, 1944) is a Japanese historian and emeritus professor of Shizuoka…
Tetsuo Owada (小和田 哲男, Owada Tetsuo; born February 1, 1944) is a Japanese historian and emeritus professor of Shizuoka University. Owada graduated from Waseda University. His work focuses on the studies of history and castles in the Sengoku period of Japan. He is especially famous for his research into the Imagawa clan and Later Hōjō clan. He often works as a historical consultant for the Taiga drama series and makes television appearances on NHK.
Katsutoshi Nekoda (猫田 勝敏, Nekoda Katsutoshi; born 1 February 1944, in Hiroshima – died 4 September 1983) was a Japanese…
Katsutoshi Nekoda (猫田 勝敏, Nekoda Katsutoshi; born 1 February 1944, in Hiroshima – died 4 September 1983) was a Japanese volleyball player and four-time Olympian. Nekoda was a member of the Japanese men's national volleyball team as a setter. Nekoda led the Japan national volleyball team to a bronze medal in the 1964 Summer Olympics, a silver medal in the 1968 Summer Olympics, and a gold medal in the 1972 Summer Olympics. He was the flagbearer of Japan at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Nekoda invented the ceiling serve, a serve where the ball is hit up towards the ceiling with all the lights to make it difficult to judge the landing. He retired in 1980, and died of stomach cancer in 1983. In 2023, Nekoda was posthumously inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.
Koji Masuda (益田 弘二, Masuda Kōji; born 1 February 1944) is a Japanese boxer. He competed in the men's light middleweight…
Koji Masuda (益田 弘二, Masuda Kōji; born 1 February 1944) is a Japanese boxer. He competed in the men's light middleweight event at the 1964 Summer Olympics. At the 1964 Summer Olympics, he defeated Jannie Gibson of Rhodesia in the Round of 32 before losing to Joseph Gonzales of France in the Round of 16.