Yasuhito Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本康人, Hepburn: Yamamoto Yasuhito; born 1957) is a Japanese manga artist from Tokyo. He…Yasuhito Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本康人, Hepburn: Yamamoto Yasuhito; born 1957) is a Japanese manga artist from Tokyo. He made his debut in 1980 in Young Jump with a gag-comedy manga before turning to more serious dramas. He won the 1994 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga for Tetsujin Ganma.
Akira Ishii (born 6 May 1957 in Ibaraki Prefecture) is a Japanese former politician who served as a member of the House…Akira Ishii (born 6 May 1957 in Ibaraki Prefecture) is a Japanese former politician who served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan from 2016 until his resignation in 2025. He represented the National proportional representation block and was a member of the Japan Innovation Party. On 1 September 2025, Ishii resigned from the House of Councillors after allegations of defrauding the government and his subsequent expulsion from the Japan Innovation Party. He was indicted on charges of fraud on 30 September.
Sanae Mishima (三島 早苗, Mishima Sanae; born May 3, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan…Sanae Mishima (三島 早苗, Mishima Sanae; born May 3, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Kow Otani (大谷 幸, Ōtani Kō; born May 1, 1957) is a Japanese composer. He is best known for creating the soundtracks for…Kow Otani (大谷 幸, Ōtani Kō; born May 1, 1957) is a Japanese composer. He is best known for creating the soundtracks for the Heisei Gamera trilogy, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, and Shadow of the Colossus.
Hiroshi Ogawa (小川 宏, Ogawa Hiroshi; born May 1, 1957), better known as Rossy Ogawa (ロッシー小川, Rosshī Ogawa), is a…Hiroshi Ogawa (小川 宏, Ogawa Hiroshi; born May 1, 1957), better known as Rossy Ogawa (ロッシー小川, Rosshī Ogawa), is a Japanese businessman and professional wrestling promoter. He is the founder and the current head booker of Dream Star Fighting Marigold. He is one of the three founders and former executive producer of the Japanese professional wrestling promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom. Ogawa is often regarded as being instrumental in the modern popularization of women's pro wrestling in Japan.
Torahiko Tanaka (田中 寅彦, Tanaka Torahiko; born April 29, 1957) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who…Torahiko Tanaka (田中 寅彦, Tanaka Torahiko; born April 29, 1957) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 9-dan. He is also a former Kisei title holder and a former senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association.
Yuko Yaegashi-Ota (born 26 April 1957) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1976 Winter Olympics and the…Yuko Yaegashi-Ota (born 26 April 1957) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1976 Winter Olympics and the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Kotokaze Kōki (born 26 April 1957 as Koichi Nakayama) is a former sumo wrestler from Tsu, Mie, Japan. Beginning his…Kotokaze Kōki (born 26 April 1957 as Koichi Nakayama) is a former sumo wrestler from Tsu, Mie, Japan. Beginning his career in 1971, he reached the top makuuchi division in 1977 but after a serious injury in 1979 he fell greatly in rank before staging a comeback. His highest rank was ōzeki, which he reached in 1981. He won two tournament championships and was a runner-up in two others. He won six special prizes and six gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He retired in 1985 and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and the head coach of Oguruma stable.
Kenji Kawai (川井 憲次, Kawai Kenji; born April 23, 1957) is a Japanese music composer and arranger. Known as one of the…Kenji Kawai (川井 憲次, Kawai Kenji; born April 23, 1957) is a Japanese music composer and arranger. Known as one of the biggest names in the soundtrack world, he has worked on a wide range of mixed media productions, including anime, TV shows, films, video games and ice shows. Among his credits are Toei's: Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Forever, Tsui Hark's Seven Swords and Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon; Wilson Yip's Ip Man; Mamoru Oshii's films: The Red Spectacles, StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops, Ghost in the Shell, Mobile Police Patlabor and Assault Girls. He also worked on the OVA and TV anime adaptations of: Vampire Princess Miyu, The Sky Crawlers and Avalon; the anime adaptations of Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma ½ and Maison Ikkoku; the live-action adaptation of Gantz and Hideo Nakata's films: Ring, Ring 2, Chaos, Dark Water and Kaidan. His nephew, Hidehiro Kawai, is a bassist in Fox Capture Plan, an instrumental band.
Kotochitose Kosei (born 22 April 1957 as Minoru Yamamoto) is a former sumo wrestler from Chitose, Hokkaidō, Japan. In…Kotochitose Kosei (born 22 April 1957 as Minoru Yamamoto) is a former sumo wrestler from Chitose, Hokkaidō, Japan. In July 1971, he made his professional debut and he reached the top division in May 1981. His highest rank was maegashira 5. He retired from active competition in July 1986. He became a wakaimonogashira (assistant) at Sadogatake stable after his retirement.
Shunya Yoshimi (吉見 俊哉, Yoshimi Shun'ya; born April 22, 1957 in Japan) is a Japanese sociologist. He is a professor at…Shunya Yoshimi (吉見 俊哉, Yoshimi Shun'ya; born April 22, 1957 in Japan) is a Japanese sociologist. He is a professor at the Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, the University of Tokyo. He is one of the most influential cultural sociologists in Japan and best known for helping introduce cultural studies to Japan. His research topics include cultural studies, media studies and urban sociology. Yoshimi has authored several books on subjects such as cultural theory, urban culture, international exposition, media culture, information technology, the emperor system, and the Americanization of modern Japan and East Asia. Yoshimi's works in Japanese include Dramaturgy in the City: A Social History of Popular Entertainments in Modern Tokyo (Kobundo, 1987), The Politics of Exposition: Imperialism, Commercialism and Popular Entertainment (Chuokoronsha, 1992), Cultural Sociology in the Media Age (Shinyosha, 1994), Voice of Capitalism: The Social Construction of Telephone, Gramophone and Radio in Japan (Kodansha, 1995), Expo Syndrome: Postwar Politics and Cultural Struggle in Postwar Japan (Chikuma Shobo, 2005), and Pro-America, Anti-America: Political Unconsciousness in Postwar Japan (Iwanami Shoten, 2007). He was the dean of the Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, the University of Tokyo (2006-2008) and currently a vice president of the University of Tokyo.
Nobuteru Ishihara (石原 伸晃, Ishihara Nobuteru; born April 19, 1957) is a Japanese politician, who served as the…Nobuteru Ishihara (石原 伸晃, Ishihara Nobuteru; born April 19, 1957) is a Japanese politician, who served as the Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party from 2010 to 2012. Previously, he also served in the House of Representatives as representative from 1990 to 2021.
Ryosuke Yasunami (born April 19, 1957) is a Japanese jurist who has served as an associate Justice of the Supreme Court…Ryosuke Yasunami (born April 19, 1957) is a Japanese jurist who has served as an associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan since 2021.
Mitsuomi Koizumi (小泉光臣, koizumi mitsuomi) is the incumbent president of Japan Tobacco, a Nikkei 225 company. He…Mitsuomi Koizumi (小泉光臣, koizumi mitsuomi) is the incumbent president of Japan Tobacco, a Nikkei 225 company. He replaced Hiroshi Kimura as president in June 2012.
Masaru Uchiyama (内山 勝, Uchiyama Masaru; born April 14, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Masaru Uchiyama (内山 勝, Uchiyama Masaru; born April 14, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team. His brother Atsushi Uchiyama also played for Japan national team.
Haruhisa Hasegawa (長谷川 治久, Hasegawa Haruhisa; born April 14, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Haruhisa Hasegawa (長谷川 治久, Hasegawa Haruhisa; born April 14, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Toshiyuki Honda (本多 俊之, Honda Toshiyuki; born April 9, 1957) is a Japanese jazz musician and composer. Honda's father…Toshiyuki Honda (本多 俊之, Honda Toshiyuki; born April 9, 1957) is a Japanese jazz musician and composer. Honda's father was a jazz critic, whose name was also Toshiyuki Honda. As a jazz musician, he learned flute and saxophone, and worked in the late 1970s with George Otsuka and the Burning Waves ensemble. In the 1980s he worked with Chick Corea, Tatsuya Takahashi, and Kazumi Watanabe, as well as leading his own ensemble, Super Quartet. He was also a member of the ensemble Native Son. Starting in the late 1980s, Honda turned increasingly toward composing for film and television, as well as working in record producing. He composed the soundtrack for the Juzo Itami film A Taxing Woman in 1987, which raised his prominence as a film scorer. He went on to compose the score for all but one of the rest of Itami's films.
Mitsuru Matsumura (松村 充, Matsumura Mitsuru; born on April 9, 1957, in Yokohama) is a Japanese former competitive figure…Mitsuru Matsumura (松村 充, Matsumura Mitsuru; born on April 9, 1957, in Yokohama) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. He won the Japanese national title in the 1978–79 season and competed at two Winter Olympics, placing 11th in 1976 (Innsbruck) and 8th in 1980 (Lake Placid, New York). He also appeared at seven World Championships, achieving his best results, 6th, at the 1980 Worlds in Dortmund. After retiring from competition, he became a coach.
Akira Ōta (born 8 April 1957 in Akita) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics, in the…Akira Ōta (born 8 April 1957 in Akita) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics, in the 1988 Summer Olympics, and in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Hiroyuki Itagaki (Japanese: 板垣 博之, Hepburn: Itagaki Hiroyuki; born April 4, 1957), better known by the pen name Keisuke…Hiroyuki Itagaki (Japanese: 板垣 博之, Hepburn: Itagaki Hiroyuki; born April 4, 1957), better known by the pen name Keisuke Itagaki (板垣 恵介, Itagaki Keisuke), is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for his martial arts series Baki the Grappler (1991–1999) and its many sequels, which together have sold over 100 million copies, making it one of the best-selling manga series in history. Itagaki lives in Fuchū, Tokyo, and has been a Musashi Province Fuchū Ambassador since 2014. He is the father of fellow manga artist Paru Itagaki.
Nobuyoshi Kuwano (桑野 信義, Kuwano Nobuyoshi; born April 4, 1957 in Ōta, Tokyo) is a Japanese television performer, former…Nobuyoshi Kuwano (桑野 信義, Kuwano Nobuyoshi; born April 4, 1957 in Ōta, Tokyo) is a Japanese television performer, former member of Rats & Star. His nickname is "Kuwa-man" (桑マン). In Rats & Star, he took charge of the trumpet and vocals. After the group broke up, he shifted to a television comedian and co-starred with The Drifters' Ken Shimura and Masashi Tashiro. He took over as lead vocalist of Rats & Star during Masayuki Suzuki's solo concert tour. He appears in some Japanese television programs as a performer. He was disappointed by Masashi Tashiro's arrest. He also said to Tashiro in public, "It's disappointing. Please atone for your crimes and thoroughly cleanse your body and soul" following Tashiro's retirement from the entertainment world.
Kazumi Kotani (小谷一美, Kotani Kazumi; born April 3, 1957) better known by the ring name Daikokubō Benkei (大黒坊弁慶) is a…Kazumi Kotani (小谷一美, Kotani Kazumi; born April 3, 1957) better known by the ring name Daikokubō Benkei (大黒坊弁慶) is a former Japanese sumo wrestler and professional wrestler best known for his time in the Japanese promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW).
Kiyoshi Ejima (born April 2, 1957) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of…Kiyoshi Ejima (born April 2, 1957) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2013. He represents the Yamaguchi at-large district as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Kazuko Kori (郡 和子, Kōri Kazuko; born 31 March 1957) is a Japanese politician serving as the mayor of Sendai. She was…Kazuko Kori (郡 和子, Kōri Kazuko; born 31 March 1957) is a Japanese politician serving as the mayor of Sendai. She was formerly a member of the Democratic Party of Japan and served in the House of Representatives. A native of Sendai, Miyagi and graduate of Tohoku Gakuin University, she was elected for the first time in 2005 after working at a TV broadcaster.
Kenji Kobayashi (小林健二, Kobayashi Kenji; born March 31, 1957) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who…Kenji Kobayashi (小林健二, Kobayashi Kenji; born March 31, 1957) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 9-dan. He is also a former director of the Japanese Shogi Association.
Masao Akashi (明石昌夫, Akashi Masao; March 25, 1957 – May 19, 2025) was a Japanese music arranger in distributors Being…Masao Akashi (明石昌夫, Akashi Masao; March 25, 1957 – May 19, 2025) was a Japanese music arranger in distributors Being Inc., mainly in their label B-Gram Records. In 1988, he debuted as arranger in debut single Dakara Sono Te wo Hanashite by Japanese hard-rock band B'z. By 1998, his arrangement work had been involved with many Being artists including Manish, Wands and Zard. Although Akashi was no longer working for Being Inc., he sometimes provided producing jobs for various artists such as Naomi Tamura, Maria, Color Bottle and Sonoda Band. Akashi died on May 19, 2025, at the age of 68.
Park Yu-ha (Korean: 박유하; born March 25, 1957) is a professor at the College of Liberal Arts, Sejong University. Her…Park Yu-ha (Korean: 박유하; born March 25, 1957) is a professor at the College of Liberal Arts, Sejong University. Her research focuses on Japanese–Korean relations. Her 2013 book Comfort Women of the Empire criticized the Korean interpretation of comfort women as exclusively "sex slaves."
Izumi Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 泉美, Hepburn: Kobayashi Izumi; born 25 March 1957) is a Japanese musician, record…Izumi Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 泉美, Hepburn: Kobayashi Izumi; born 25 March 1957) is a Japanese musician, record producer, and business executive. Originally working for a funk band at a US military base, she formed the band ASOCA and won the EastWest '76 Best Keyboardist award, and she performed as a keyboardist for other musicians and bands. Working for CBS/Sony, she released several solo albums, either with the Mimie-Chan Super Band and its later iteration Izumi Kobayashi & Flying Mimi Band or solely with her own name. She also worked as a composer for Japanese media, including "Lum's Love Song" (the theme song for the Urusei Yatsura anime), and hosted TV Tokyo late-night show Rock in Japan. She later moved to London in 1985 and worked as a record producer and industry executive in Europe, serving as president of Cisco Records London.
Koji Okajima (岡島功治, Okajima Koji; born March 23, 1957) is a retired Japanese competitive pair skater and figure skating…Koji Okajima (岡島功治, Okajima Koji; born March 23, 1957) is a retired Japanese competitive pair skater and figure skating coach. With pair partner, Naoko Asano, he is the 1976–77 Japanese National bronze medalist and with pair partner, Mutsumi Takezaki, he is the 1978–79 Japanese National silver medalist.
Akira Asada (浅田 彰, Asada Akira; born March 23, 1957) is a Japanese postmodern critic and curator, whose interests…Akira Asada (浅田 彰, Asada Akira; born March 23, 1957) is a Japanese postmodern critic and curator, whose interests include contemporary arts, the history of social thought, and economic philosophy. He is currently the Dean of the Graduate School at the Kyoto University of Art and Design. Until March 2008, he served as an associate professor of economics at the Institute of Economic Research at Kyoto University (KIER). Asada is widely recognized as the author of the bestselling book, "構造と力─記号論を超えて (Structure and Power: Beyond Semiotics)", which was published in 1983. He holds a position as a member of the supervisory committee at NTT InterCommunication Center, and was a co-editor of the Japanese quarterly journal Hihyōkūkan (Critical Space) with Kojin Karatani until 2002. It has been noted that it was popular in late 1980s Japan to have words ending with "... phenomenon", an example being the use of the expression "Akira Asada phenomenon", which took the name of Asada as he was a central figure in the "new academism" that was a much-discussed topic at the time.
Masafumi Miyamoto (宮本 雅史, Miyamoto Masafumi, born 1957) is a Japanese investor and businessman who founded the video…Masafumi Miyamoto (宮本 雅史, Miyamoto Masafumi, born 1957) is a Japanese investor and businessman who founded the video game company Square. Miyamoto served as president of Square until 1991.
Kazuko Fujita (藤田 和子, Fujita Kazuko) (born 18 March 1957 in Niigata, Japan) is a Japanese shōjo manga artist. She made…Kazuko Fujita (藤田 和子, Fujita Kazuko) (born 18 March 1957 in Niigata, Japan) is a Japanese shōjo manga artist. She made her professional debut in 1977 in Bessatsu Shōjo Comic and she has written manga mainly for Flower Comics. She is best known for Makoto Call! about a girl who plays volleyball, for which she received the 1992 Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo. In 2007, her Four Steps to Romance (ろまんす五段活用, Romance Godan Katsuyou) was dramatized on CTV in Taiwan as Romantic Princess. Other series by her include Silver and Gold. Silver is a manga adaptation of a book by Penny Jordan, bearing the same title. Gold is based on Ann Major's novel, Secret Child.
Yoshihiko Takahashi (高橋 慶彦, born March 13, 1957) is a Japanese former professional baseball shortstop in Nippon…Yoshihiko Takahashi (高橋 慶彦, born March 13, 1957) is a Japanese former professional baseball shortstop in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp from 1976 to 1989, Lotte Orions in 1990 and the Hanshin Tigers from 1991 to 1992. He was the Japan Series MVP in 1979. He holds the NPB record for consecutive games with a hit at 33, between June and July 1979.
Yoshitaka Katori (鹿取 義隆, Katori Yoshitaka; born March 10, 1957 in Kami, Kōchi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional…Yoshitaka Katori (鹿取 義隆, Katori Yoshitaka; born March 10, 1957 in Kami, Kōchi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Mitsuko Horie (Japanese: 堀江 美都子, Hepburn: Horie Mitsuko; born March 8, 1957) is a Japanese actress, voice actress and…Mitsuko Horie (Japanese: 堀江 美都子, Hepburn: Horie Mitsuko; born March 8, 1957) is a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer from Yamato, Kanagawa. She is known as the "Queen of the Anison World" (アニソン界の女王, Anison-kai no Joō). Horie has voiced several characters throughout her career, such as Sailor Galaxia in Sailor Moon Sailor Stars and Remi in the Nippon Animation World Masterpiece Theater series Remi, Nobody's Girl. She is also part of the judging panel at the Animax Anison Grand Prix, with fellow singers Ichirou Mizuki, and Yumi Matsuzawa. As a voice actress, she is contracted to Aoni Production.
Yoshiyuki Matsuoka (松岡義之, Matsuoka Yoshiyuki; born on 6 March 1957, in Hyogo, Japan) is a retired judoka from Japan…Yoshiyuki Matsuoka (松岡義之, Matsuoka Yoshiyuki; born on 6 March 1957, in Hyogo, Japan) is a retired judoka from Japan, who represented Japan at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Matsuoka won the gold medal in the men's half-lightweight division (–65 kg), after having defeated South Korea's Hwang Jung-Oh in the final by Seoi Nage. He trained under 4 time world champion Shozo Fujii (1971–1979). As of 2007, Matsuoka coaches the Komatsu Limited judo club. Among his students are world champions & olympic medalists Ayumi Tanimoto, Miku Tashiro, and Tsukasa Yoshida.
Masayoshi Hamada (浜田 昌良, Hamada Masayoshi; born February 28, 1957 in Osaka) is a Japanese politician. He is a former…Masayoshi Hamada (浜田 昌良, Hamada Masayoshi; born February 28, 1957 in Osaka) is a Japanese politician. He is a former representative in Diet and is a member of the New Komeito Party. In 1980 he left Kyoto University's graduate school mid-term to work in the Biochemical-Industry Division of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). He retired from METI in 2003 and in 2004 was elected to the Diet's Upper House. In 2006, he became the Ministry of Foreign Affairs's Parliamentary Secretary in the Shinzō Abe cabinet. He earned his undergraduate degree from Kyoto University in 1979.
Fumiko Takeshita (Japanese:竹下文子; February 18, 1957 – March 10, 2026) was a Japanese children's literature writer and…Fumiko Takeshita (Japanese:竹下文子; February 18, 1957 – March 10, 2026) was a Japanese children's literature writer and picture book author.
Yuji Fujimoto (藤本 祐司, Fujimoto Yūji; born February 16, 1957) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan…Yuji Fujimoto (藤本 祐司, Fujimoto Yūji; born February 16, 1957) 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 Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, he graduated from Waseda University and received his master's degree from Michigan State University. In 2004, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time.
Tsuyoshi Yanagidate (柳舘 毅, Yanagidate Tsuyoshi; born 15 February 1957) is a Japanese former swimmer who competed in the…Tsuyoshi Yanagidate (柳舘 毅, Yanagidate Tsuyoshi; born 15 February 1957) is a Japanese former swimmer who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics. At the time of the Montreal Olympics, he was studying at Waseda University. He then got a job in Dentsu. He also served as the co-executive producer of the movie Real Onigokko (2008). He is currently the deputy director of Public Relations Bureau at the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Daisuke Ryu (Japanese: 隆大介, Korean: 장명남, Jang Myeong-nam, hanja: 張明男; 14 January 1957 – 11 April 2021) was a Japanese…Daisuke Ryu (Japanese: 隆大介, Korean: 장명남, Jang Myeong-nam, hanja: 張明男; 14 January 1957 – 11 April 2021) was a Japanese actor of Korean descent. He won the Japanese "best new actor" Blue Ribbon Award for his performance as the warlord Oda Nobunaga in Akira Kurosawa's Kagemusha. His other notable performances include Saburo Ichimonji in another Kurosawa epic, Ran, and the legendary yamabushi, Musashibo Benkei, in Sogo Ishii's critically acclaimed Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle. In 'The Ginger Tree' (based on the novel by Oswald Wynd), Daisuke Ryu played Count Kentaro Kurihama. On March 21, 2015, Ryu travelled to Taiwan, where he was to perform in the Martin Scorsese film Silence. Upon arrival at Taoyuan International Airport, he was stopped by immigration officials due to having an incomplete entry form. Ryu, who was intoxicated at the time, engaged in an altercation with one of the officers, who sustained a fractured leg. He was indicted and prohibited from leaving Taiwan, and subsequently fired from the production of Silence. In May, 2015, Ryu reconciled with the injured official and publicly apologized for his actions. In June, he was fined by Taiwanese courts for his part in the incident and allowed to return to Japan.
Chiharu Ogiwara (荻原 千春, Ogiwara Chiharu; 13 February 1957 – 20 June 2024) was a Japanese boxer. He competed in the…Chiharu Ogiwara (荻原 千春, Ogiwara Chiharu; 13 February 1957 – 20 June 2024) was a Japanese boxer. He competed in the men's light middleweight event at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Ogiwara died in Saitama Prefecture on 20 June 2024, at the age of 67.
Akihiro Yamada (山田 章博, Yamada Akihiro); born February 10, 1957, in Kōchi) is a Japanese illustrator and manga artist.…Akihiro Yamada (山田 章博, Yamada Akihiro); born February 10, 1957, in Kōchi) is a Japanese illustrator and manga artist. During his career, Yamada has branched out into making book covers, character design for video games, theatre costume and set design, concept design for live-action film, and more, though his passion continues to be working on manga. He is known for delicate images reminiscent of suiboku and depiction of fantasy subjects. His most popular work is perhaps with The Twelve Kingdoms franchise. He won the Seiun Award in 1996 in the Best Artist category. He currently lives in Kyoto.
Hiromu Kurokawa (黒川 弘務 Kurokawa Hiromu; born February 8, 1957) is a Japanese prosecutor who served as chief of the…Hiromu Kurokawa (黒川 弘務 Kurokawa Hiromu; born February 8, 1957) is a Japanese prosecutor who served as chief of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office from January 2019 to May 2020. The extension of his term of office by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in February 2020, followed by his resignation for misconduct in May 2020, sparked political controversy in Japan.
Osamu Kitajima (喜多嶋 修), also known by the pseudonym Justin Heathcliff, is a Japanese musician, producer, composer, and…Osamu Kitajima (喜多嶋 修), also known by the pseudonym Justin Heathcliff, is a Japanese musician, producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist who is known for new-age music, as well as folk, jazz fusion and electronic music.
Kōichirō Nishikawa (Japanese: 西川 公一郎, born 1949 - November 28, 2018) was a Japanese elementary particle physicist…Kōichirō Nishikawa (Japanese: 西川 公一郎, born 1949 - November 28, 2018) was a Japanese elementary particle physicist, known for contributions to neutrino physics. He was professor emeritus of the KEK high-energy physics laboratory and Kyōto University. Nishikawa graduated from Kyōto University in 1971 and completed his doctorate at Northwestern in 1980 working with David Buchholz. After working at the University of Chicago, State University of New York, and Tōkyō University, he combined positions at KEK and Kyōto University, eventually becoming director of the Institute for Particle and Nuclear physics at the KEK laboratory and deputy director of the J-PARC proton accelerator facility. Nishikawa's most notable achievements were as founder and leader of the K2K and T2K experiments. K2K, which ran from 1999 until 2005, used the Super Kamiokande detector in Kamioka to measure a controlled beam of neutrinos emitted by the KEK proton synchrotron. The K2K team verified with greater accuracy the neutrino oscillations observed in atmospheric neutrinos by the Super Kamiokande experiment. The T2K experiment, which began in 2010 as a successor to K2K, used neutrino beams from the J-PARC proton accelerator with the Super Kamiokande detector to observe neutrino oscillations with specific start and end flavors, thereby measuring the parameters of this flavor-switching behavior. In 2016, Nishikawa and the K2K and T2K groups received the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics together with other neutrino research collaborations. He was awarded the Nishina Memorial Prize in 2005, and the Bruno Pontecorvo Prize in 2016. He also received the 1998 Asahi Prize as part of the Super-Kamiokande experiment that discovered the mass of neutrinos.
