Wakako Abe (阿部 和香子, Abe Wakako; born 4 April 1966) is a Japanese former cyclist. She competed in the women's road race…Wakako Abe (阿部 和香子, Abe Wakako; born 4 April 1966) is a Japanese former cyclist. She competed in the women's road race event at the 1984 Summer Olympics and 1990 Asian Games.
Tadanori Koshino (越野 忠則, Koshino Tadanori; born 3 April 1966 in Shiranuka, Hokkaidō, Japan) is a retired judoka who…Tadanori Koshino (越野 忠則, Koshino Tadanori; born 3 April 1966 in Shiranuka, Hokkaidō, Japan) is a retired judoka who competed in the –60 kg division.
Yoshiko Tominaga (富永 美子, Tominaga Yoshiko; born April 3, 1966), better known by her stage name Miina Tominaga (冨永 みーな…Yoshiko Tominaga (富永 美子, Tominaga Yoshiko; born April 3, 1966), better known by her stage name Miina Tominaga (冨永 みーな, Tominaga Mīna), is a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer from Nishi-ku, Hiroshima. She is currently affiliated with Haikyō. Tominaga is best known for her roles in Sazae-san as Katsuo Isono, Persia, the Magic Fairy as Persia Hayami, Let's Go! Anpanman as Rollpanna and Dokin-chan, Patlabor as Noa Izumi, Maison Ikkoku as Kozue Nanao, Rurouni Kenshin as Myōjin Yahiko, Jigoku Sensei Nūbē as Miki Hosokawa, DNA² as Karin Aoi and Bikkuriman 2000 as Takeru.
Mitsuhiro Matsunaga (松永 光広, Matsunaga Mitsuhiro; born March 24, 1966) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best…Mitsuhiro Matsunaga (松永 光広, Matsunaga Mitsuhiro; born March 24, 1966) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for his deathmatch wrestling style, having competed in memorable deathmatches in Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) and Wrestling International New Generations (W*ING). He is renowned for participating in the first-ever deathmatch in Japanese wrestling history on December 10, 1989 and is also credited for participating in a Piranha Deathmatch against Kendo Nagasaki on August 19, 1996, which has been considered to be the most popular and greatest deathmatch in Japanese wrestling history by wrestling journalists and many sports websites and Matsunaga has received critical acclaim for his performance. Matsunaga began his career in FMW where he specialized in the deathmatch wrestling style and adopted it as his own trademark style. He competed in many infamous deathmatches in W*ING and high-profile feuds with Mr. Pogo, Freddy Krueger and Leatherface in many successful deathmatches earned him the moniker of "Mr. Danger". After working as W*ING's ace from 1992-1993, Matsunaga left the company and returned to FMW where he headlined the successful 1993 Year End Spectacular event against Atsushi Onita. After an alliance with Onita, Matsunaga formed the W*ING Alliance to feud with FMW and avenge the demise of W*ING from FMW. Initially considered to be Onita's successor as FMW's ace, Matsunaga was demoted from his role and failed to gain prominence in FMW and ultimately quit the company in 1996. He then joined BJW and helped the promotion revolutionize in deathmatch wrestling and became a two-time Deathmatch Heavyweight Champion in the company before quitting in 2001.
Mayumi Ōhashi (大橋真弓, Ōhashi Mayumi; born March 24, 1966), better known by her pen name Kei Kusunoki (楠 桂, Kusunoki…Mayumi Ōhashi (大橋真弓, Ōhashi Mayumi; born March 24, 1966), better known by her pen name Kei Kusunoki (楠 桂, Kusunoki Kei), is a Japanese manga artist known for her horror and comedy manga series. Her notable works include Yagami-kun's Family Affairs, Ogre Slayer, and Girls Saurus.
Kenji Kamiyama (神山 健治, Kamiyama Kenji; born on March 20, 1966) is a Japanese director and writer, best known for Ghost…Kenji Kamiyama (神山 健治, Kamiyama Kenji; born on March 20, 1966) is a Japanese director and writer, best known for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.
Jiro Kamiharako (上原子 次郎, Kamiharako Jirō; born March 19, 1966) is a Japanese former ski jumper. In the World Cup his…Jiro Kamiharako (上原子 次郎, Kamiharako Jirō; born March 19, 1966) is a Japanese former ski jumper. In the World Cup his highest place was number 16 from December 1991 in Sapporo. He participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, where he finished 28th in the normal hill, 25th in the large hill and 4th in the team event.
Katsufumi Miyamoto (宮本勝文, Miyamoto Katsufumi) (born March 19, 1966, in Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese former rugby…Katsufumi Miyamoto (宮本勝文, Miyamoto Katsufumi) (born March 19, 1966, in Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese former rugby union player and coach. He played as flanker.
Michiyo Ishikake (Japanese: 石掛 美知代; born 17 March 1966) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1992…Michiyo Ishikake (Japanese: 石掛 美知代; born 17 March 1966) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. In 1992, Ishikake finished fifth with the Japanese team in the Olympic tournament.
Hiroshi Nagashima (長島 浩, Nagashima Hiroshi) (born March 15, 1966, in Kanagawa) is a retired boxer from Japan, who…Hiroshi Nagashima (長島 浩, Nagashima Hiroshi) (born March 15, 1966, in Kanagawa) is a retired boxer from Japan, who competed for his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Nagashima competed in the Men's Light-Middleweight (– 71 kg) division. He was defeated in the first round by Maselino Masoe of American Samoa after the referee stopped the contest due to injury.
Akira Nogami (野上 彰, Nogami Akira; born March 13, 1966) is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor, currently working…Akira Nogami (野上 彰, Nogami Akira; born March 13, 1966) is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor, currently working as Akira (occasionally stylised in all-capitals). He has also worked as a trainer.
Koji Imada (今田 耕司, Imada Kōji; born March 13, 1966 in Osaka city) is a Japanese musician, comedian, tarento and TV…Koji Imada (今田 耕司, Imada Kōji; born March 13, 1966 in Osaka city) is a Japanese musician, comedian, tarento and TV presenter. His talent agency is Yoshimoto Kogyo. In the mid-1990s, Imada paired with the acclaimed Japanese record producer Towa Tei under the stage name Koji 1200. He released two albums and multiple hit singles, including Now Romantic and Blow Ya Mind. Imada is currently one of the most prominent figures in the Japanese television industry as an active TV presenter and comedian. Although they were not an official comedy duo, Imada along with Koji Higashino were known as the W Koji as they shared the same name and were both graduates of the Yoshimoto NSC Osaka Comedy School as the 4th generation. Among the shows he's presented for was Amazon Prime's Caligula.
Masami Okui (奥井 雅美, Okui Masami; born March 13, 1966) is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Itami, Hyōgo. She began…Masami Okui (奥井 雅美, Okui Masami; born March 13, 1966) is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Itami, Hyōgo. She began her professional musical career at age 21 as a concert backup singer. From almost the very beginning of her career, Masami has sung themes for anime television and movies. She is especially well known for her songs from Revolutionary Girl Utena, Tales of Eternia The Animation, Slayers, Sorcerer Hunters, Di Gi Charat, Magical DoReMi, Magic User's Club, Jungle de Ikou!, Akihabara Dennou Gumi, Ray the Animation, He Is My Master and Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters. She has performed material for more than 50 singles and 20 albums to date (including her work with JAM Project and Chihiro Yonekura). Okui hosts @Tunes, an anime music news program, on the Japanese anime television network Animax.
Yukishige Okubo (大久保 潔重, Ōkubo Yukishige; born March 12, 1966) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…Yukishige Okubo (大久保 潔重, Ōkubo Yukishige; born March 12, 1966) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Isahaya, Nagasaki and graduate of Nagasaki University, he had served in the assembly of Nagasaki Prefecture since 2003. After running unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in 2005, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007.
Junko Ishida (石田 順子, Ishida Junko; born March 11, 1966) is a former Japanese football player. She played for the Japan…Junko Ishida (石田 順子, Ishida Junko; born March 11, 1966) is a former Japanese football player. She played for the Japan national team.
Kenichi Ōkuma (Japanese: 大熊謙一, Hepburn: Ōkuma Kenichi; 7 March 1966 – 22 July 2022), also known as Kenichi Okuma…Kenichi Ōkuma (Japanese: 大熊謙一, Hepburn: Ōkuma Kenichi; 7 March 1966 – 22 July 2022), also known as Kenichi Okuma, Kenichi Ohkuma, Kenichi Ookuma, or Ken-ichi Ookuma, was a Japanese video game music composer, sound designer and musician. On July 22nd 2022, he died of esophageal cancer.
Atsushi Sakurai (Japanese: 櫻井 敦司, Hepburn: Sakurai Atsushi; March 7, 1966 – October 19, 2023) was a Japanese musician.…Atsushi Sakurai (Japanese: 櫻井 敦司, Hepburn: Sakurai Atsushi; March 7, 1966 – October 19, 2023) was a Japanese musician. He was the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band Buck-Tick from 1985 until his death in 2023. Initially joining as their drummer in 1983, Sakurai fronted the band for 38 years and 23 studio albums, nearly all of which reached the top ten on Japan's Oricon chart. Sakurai and Buck-Tick are commonly credited as among the founders of the visual kei movement. Sakurai released the solo album Ai no Wakusei in 2004, and was a member of Schwein alongside his Buck-Tick bandmate Hisashi Imai, Sascha Konietzko and Raymond Watts. In 2015, he debuted a solo project called The Mortal. After falling ill during a Buck-Tick concert, Sakurai died from a brainstem hemorrhage in a Yokohama hospital on October 19, 2023.
Megumi Itō (伊東 恵, Itō Megumi; born 6 March 1966) is a former Japanese competitor in synchronised swimming. She competed…Megumi Itō (伊東 恵, Itō Megumi; born 6 March 1966) is a former Japanese competitor in synchronised swimming. She competed for Japan in the women's solo competition at the 1988 Summer Olympics. She won two bronze medals at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships.
Kiyomi Takahashi (高橋 清美, Takahashi Kiyomi; born 3 March 1966) is a Japanese former swimmer who competed in the 1984…Kiyomi Takahashi (高橋 清美, Takahashi Kiyomi; born 3 March 1966) is a Japanese former swimmer who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics and in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Kenji Suda (須田 健仁, Suda Kenji) (born 26 February 1966) is a Japanese former ski jumper. In the World Cup, he finished…Kenji Suda (須田 健仁, Suda Kenji) (born 26 February 1966) is a Japanese former ski jumper. In the World Cup, he finished twelve times among the top 10, his best result being a second place from Örnsköldsvik in March 1994. He participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, where he finished 39th in the normal hill, 17th in the large hill and 4th in the team event.
Norihiro Akimura (秋村 謙宏, Akimura Norihiro; born February 26, 1966 in Yamaguchi, Japan) is a retired Japanese Nippon…Norihiro Akimura (秋村 謙宏, Akimura Norihiro; born February 26, 1966 in Yamaguchi, Japan) is a retired Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Zen Kajihara (梶原 善, Kajihara Zen; born 25 February 1966 in Okayama), is a Japanese theatre actor. Originally a member…Zen Kajihara (梶原 善, Kajihara Zen; born 25 February 1966 in Okayama), is a Japanese theatre actor. Originally a member of the Tokyo Sunshine Boys theatrical troupe, he now works mainly with the Gekidan Shinkansen troupe. He is known for being very short in stature, but very noisy and wild on stage, specializing in comedy. He had a problem reading kanji (Chinese characters) and insists that his roles have long, complicated, difficult-to-remember names.
Kasugafuji Akihiro (February 20, 1966 – March 9, 2017), born as Shoki Iwanaga, was a Japanese sumo wrestler and coach…Kasugafuji Akihiro (February 20, 1966 – March 9, 2017), born as Shoki Iwanaga, was a Japanese sumo wrestler and coach from Oshika, Miyagi. He was an active wrestler in professional sumo from 1981 until 1996, reaching a highest rank of maegashira 1. After his retirement he re-established the Kasugayama stable in 1997 and trained his own wrestlers. He left the Japan Sumo Association in 2012 after an expenses scandal, and was involved with a legal dispute in 2013 with his successor as head of Kasugayama stable which was not resolved until shortly before his death in 2017.
Satoko Okudera (奥寺 佐渡子, Okudera Satoko; born 1966) is a Japanese screenwriter. She is known for her screenplays in both…Satoko Okudera (奥寺 佐渡子, Okudera Satoko; born 1966) is a Japanese screenwriter. She is known for her screenplays in both live-action and anime media. Her 1995 screenplay for School Ghost Stories was nominated for the Japan Academy Film Prize. She is best known for her collaborations with anime director Mamoru Hosoda.
Daishin Nakamura (中村大伸, Nakamura Daishin; born February 11, 1966 in Tokyo) is a Japanese baseball outfielder who won a…Daishin Nakamura (中村大伸, Nakamura Daishin; born February 11, 1966 in Tokyo) is a Japanese baseball outfielder who won a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Satoshi Urushihara (うるし原 智志) (pen name) or Urushihara Satoshi (漆原 智志; (real name) born February 9, 1966), the "Master…Satoshi Urushihara (うるし原 智志) (pen name) or Urushihara Satoshi (漆原 智志; (real name) born February 9, 1966), the "Master of Breasts", is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator known for his distinctive style of beautiful characters. His work is the basis for anime such as Plastic Little and Legend of Lemnear, and appears in the Langrisser and Growlanser series of tactical role-playing video games.
Ryue Nishizawa (西沢 立衛, Nishizawa Ryūe; born 1966 in Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese architect based in Tokyo. A…Ryue Nishizawa (西沢 立衛, Nishizawa Ryūe; born 1966 in Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese architect based in Tokyo. A graduate of Yokohama National University, he established his own firm, Office of Ryue Nishizawa, in 1997. In 1995, he co-founded the firm SANAA (Sejima and Nishizawa and Associates) with architect Kazuyo Sejima. In 2010, he became the youngest recipient ever of the Pritzker Prize, together with Sejima.
Shōu Tajima (田島 昭宇, Tajima Shōu; born February 7, 1966 in Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a manga illustrator and anime…Shōu Tajima (田島 昭宇, Tajima Shōu; born February 7, 1966 in Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a manga illustrator and anime character designer. He has done character designs for the anime Kai Doh Maru, Otogi Zoshi, the survival horror video game Galerians: Ash, and the CGI OVA Galerians: Rion, as well as Kill Bill Chapter 3: The Origin of O-Ren. He also provided character designs and artwork for the Final Fantasy VII novel The Kids Are Alright: A Turks Side Story, some of which later appeared in the video game Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Kenji Ohtsuki (大槻 ケンヂ, 大槻 賢二, Ōtsuki Kenji; born February 6, 1966 in Nakano, Tokyo) is a Japanese rock musician and…Kenji Ohtsuki (大槻 ケンヂ, 大槻 賢二, Ōtsuki Kenji; born February 6, 1966 in Nakano, Tokyo) is a Japanese rock musician and Seiun Award-winning writer. His musical career began in the late 1970s. He is the vocalist of Kinniku Shōjo Tai, Tokusatsu, Underground Searchlie and Karate Bakabon. The lyrics of a Kinniku Shōjo Tai's song "Doko e demo Ikeru Kitte" affected the character design of Rei Ayanami, from the popular anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. He's also performed the theme songs to several anime, including Welcome to the N.H.K., Hellsing and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei.
Akihiko Yamashita (山下 明彦, Yamashita Akihiko; born February 6, 1966, in Okayama Prefecture, Chūgoku, Japan) is a Studio…Akihiko Yamashita (山下 明彦, Yamashita Akihiko; born February 6, 1966, in Okayama Prefecture, Chūgoku, Japan) is a Studio Ghibli animator who is famous for Howl's Moving Castle and Giant Robo (OVA).
Maiko Kawakami (川上 麻衣子, Kawakami Maiko; born February 5, 1966) is a Japanese actress who has starred in numerous movies…Maiko Kawakami (川上 麻衣子, Kawakami Maiko; born February 5, 1966) is a Japanese actress who has starred in numerous movies and TV serials. She is a graduate of Keio University through distance education.
Yūko Tsuno (Japanese 津野 裕子; Kana, つの ゆうこ; born February 5, 1966) is a Japanese manga artist and doujinshi writer. Her…Yūko Tsuno (Japanese 津野 裕子; Kana, つの ゆうこ; born February 5, 1966) is a Japanese manga artist and doujinshi writer. Her comics, all very short, self-contained works ranging from five to twenty pages, are surreal and dramatic. Yūko Tsuno was born February 5, 1966, Takaoka, Toyama, Japan. Tsuno published her first work in 1986 in the May issue of the avant-garde manga magazine, Garo with the six-page short story Reizōko (冷蔵庫). This comic is about a person whose deceased sister is locked in a refrigerator. Shortly after her debut came out, she received offers from mainstream magazines but turned them down, sticking with underground comix. Tsuno creates manga with the attitude of drawing it for herself and not for an audience. By the time Garo was discontinued in 2002, Tsuno had published around 70 other short stories. Seirindō, Garo's publisher, published some of them in three anthologies: Delicious (デリシャス, Derishasu, 1988), Amemiya Seppyō (雨宮雪氷, 1994), and Rinpun Kusuri (鱗粉薬, 2000). In 2000, Tsuno's short story "Swing Shell" (スイングシェル, Suingu Sheru) was published in the English-language anthology Secret Comics Japan, which was intended to provide an overview of the alternative comics scene. After the end of Garo, there were no further releases for a few years. Finally, in 2008, a manga was created for the magazine AX. Tsuno resides in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, and works in a graphic design studio.
Shuji Ono (小野秀二, Ono Shuji; born January 31, 1958) is the former head coach for Toyota Alvark, Hitachi SunRockers and…Shuji Ono (小野秀二, Ono Shuji; born January 31, 1958) is the former head coach for Toyota Alvark, Hitachi SunRockers and Earthfriends Tokyo Z in Japan.
Sayuri Ishikawa (石川 さゆり, Ishikawa Sayuri; born January 30, 1958) is a Japanese enka singer who made her professional…Sayuri Ishikawa (石川 さゆり, Ishikawa Sayuri; born January 30, 1958) is a Japanese enka singer who made her professional debut in 1973. With a career nearing five decades, she is one of the most-recognized and successful enka singers in history. Ishikawa is a popular contestant on the annual NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen broadcast. Up till 2017, she has been invited to perform 40 times since 1977, the year she released her biggest hit, "Tsugaru Kaikyo-Fuyugeshiki". To date, she holds the record for the most appearances in the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen for a female artist. She has released over 100 albums (including compilation albums) and more than 120 singles, of which a few were not enka, but rock and jazz music instead. Another of her biggest hits, "Amagi-goe", which was released in 1986, won her many awards, and many believe that it was this song that made her an icon as an A-list enka singer. Ishikawa appears in the Wim Wenders film "Perfect Days", which won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
Kōzō Shibasaki (柴崎 幸三, Shibasaki Kōzō; born January 30, 1958) is a Japanese cinematographer. A member of the Japanese…Kōzō Shibasaki (柴崎 幸三, Shibasaki Kōzō; born January 30, 1958) is a Japanese cinematographer. A member of the Japanese Society of Cinematographers, he is the recipient of four Japanese Academy Awards, three of which were for films directed by acclaimed filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki.
Satoko Inoue (井上 郷子, Inoue Satoko; born January 29, 1958) is a Japanese musician. Inoue is a concert pianist whose…Satoko Inoue (井上 郷子, Inoue Satoko; born January 29, 1958) is a Japanese musician. Inoue is a concert pianist whose performance repertoire is mainly contemporary music. Inoue is also associate professor at the Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo.
Admiral Yutaka Murakawa (村川豊, Murakawa Yutaka; born 29 January 1958) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as…Admiral Yutaka Murakawa (村川豊, Murakawa Yutaka; born 29 January 1958) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as the 33rd chief of staff of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) from 2016 to 2019.
Masatsugu Asakawa (浅川 雅嗣, Asakawa Masatsugu; born 25 January 1958), a Japanese civil servant, was the president of the…Masatsugu Asakawa (浅川 雅嗣, Asakawa Masatsugu; born 25 January 1958), a Japanese civil servant, was the president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Asakawa, who took office on 17 January 2020, was the 10th president of ADB. He was formerly special adviser to Shinzo Abe, prime minister of Japan, and to Taro Aso, the deputy prime minister of Japan and minister of finance. He was also formerly the vice minister for international affairs in the Ministry of Finance in Japan.
Takuya Hirai is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a member of the House of Representatives…Takuya Hirai is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Takamatsu, Kagawa and graduate of Sophia University he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000 as a member of the New Frontier Party after running unsuccessfully as an independent in 1996. He later joined LDP. On 1 September 2021, he became the Digital Minister, who has jurisdiction over the Digital Agency. Prior to entering politics, he was the president of Nishinippon Broadcasting, which is owned by him and his family.
Ichita Yamamoto (山本 一太, Yamamoto Ichita; born 24 January 1958 in Kusatsu, Gunma) is a Japanese politician who has been…Ichita Yamamoto (山本 一太, Yamamoto Ichita; born 24 January 1958 in Kusatsu, Gunma) is a Japanese politician who has been the governor of Gunma Prefecture since July 2019. He was a neoconservative member of the House of Councillors in Japan. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he served as the Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs from 2012 to 2019 on the second Abe cabinet.
Minoru Terada (寺田 稔, Terada Minoru; born 24 January 1958) is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister for…Minoru Terada (寺田 稔, Terada Minoru; born 24 January 1958) is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from August until November 2022. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he also serves in the House of Representatives and was Special Advisor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida from December 2021 to August 2022.
Koji Sotomura (外村 康二, Sotomura Kōji; born 23 January 1958) is a Japanese former gymnast who won two bronze medals at…Koji Sotomura (外村 康二, Sotomura Kōji; born 23 January 1958) is a Japanese former gymnast who won two bronze medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics. His son Tetsuya Sotomura is a trampolinist and represents Japan at international competitions.
Kazushi Kanoda (Japanese: 鹿野田 一司, born 22 January 1958) is a Japanese physicist and Professor Emeritus of the…Kazushi Kanoda (Japanese: 鹿野田 一司, born 22 January 1958) is a Japanese physicist and Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, specializing in the nuclear magnetic resonance measurement of organic conductors.
Yasunori Ogura (Ogura Yasunori; 21 January 1958) is a Japanese master of Shotokan karate. He has won the JKA All-Japan…Yasunori Ogura (Ogura Yasunori; 21 January 1958) is a Japanese master of Shotokan karate. He has won the JKA All-Japan championships for kumite. He is currently the Acting Executive Director of the Japan Karate Association.