Hiroyuki Fujikake (born 1949), also known by his pen name Hiro Fujikake, is a Japanese composer, conductor and…Hiroyuki Fujikake (born 1949), also known by his pen name Hiro Fujikake, is a Japanese composer, conductor and synthesizer player.
Masayoshi Esashi (江刺 正喜, Esashi Masayoshi; born January 30, 1949 Sendai, Miyagi) is an engineer. He is a global…Masayoshi Esashi (江刺 正喜, Esashi Masayoshi; born January 30, 1949 Sendai, Miyagi) is an engineer. He is a global authority of Microelectromechanical systems and serves as the professor of the Tohoku University graduate school engineering graduate course.
Jiro Dan (団 時朗, Dan Jirō; January 30, 1949 – March 22, 2023) was a Japanese actor, singer, and model best known for his…Jiro Dan (団 時朗, Dan Jirō; January 30, 1949 – March 22, 2023) was a Japanese actor, singer, and model best known for his role as Hideki Go/Ultraman Jack in The Return of Ultraman, making guest appearances in subsequent Ultraman productions as well. His real name was Hideo Murata (村田 秀雄). He was born in Kyoto and graduated from Heian High School.
Masachika Ichimura (市村 正親, Ichimura Masachika; born January 28, 1949) is a Japanese actor. He was born in Kawagoe…Masachika Ichimura (市村 正親, Ichimura Masachika; born January 28, 1949) is a Japanese actor. He was born in Kawagoe, Saitama and studied at the Theater Art College in Tokyo after graduating high school. He has also done voice acting work, with some of his roles being Mewtwo from the Pokémon franchise and Jack Skellington in the Japanese dub of The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Shigeharu Mukai (向井 滋春, Mukai Shigeharu; born January 21, 1949 in Nagoya) is a Japanese jazz trombonist. Mukai attended…Shigeharu Mukai (向井 滋春, Mukai Shigeharu; born January 21, 1949 in Nagoya) is a Japanese jazz trombonist. Mukai attended Doshisha University but left before obtaining his degree to become a professional musician. Early in his career he worked with Yoshio Otomo, Ryo Kawasaki, and Hiroshi Fukumura, then led his own ensemble, including a performance at the Shinjuku Jazz Festival. He went on to work with Terumasa Hino, Akira Sakata, Kazumi Watanabe, and Yosuke Yamashita, as well as the ensemble Spik and Span and international musicians like João Bosco, Billy Hart, and Elvin Jones. In the 1970s, while living in Musashino, Tokyo, Mukai performed at Peter Cat, the jazz café that novelist Haruki Murakami opened and ran. In the 1990s and 2000s he taught jazz at Senzoku Gakuen school of music.
Kazunori Tanaka (田中 和徳, Tanaka Kazunori; born 21 January 1949) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of…Kazunori Tanaka (田中 和徳, Tanaka Kazunori; born 21 January 1949) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and Minister of Reconstruction. A native of Toyoura District, Yamaguchi and graduate of Hosei University he was elected for the first time in 1996 after serving in local assemblies. Tanaka was general director of the Liberal Democratic Party International bureau in 2015.
Yoshiharu Sekino (関野 吉晴, Sekino Yoshiharu; born 20 January 1949, Tokyo) is a Japanese surgeon, explorer, travel writer…Yoshiharu Sekino (関野 吉晴, Sekino Yoshiharu; born 20 January 1949, Tokyo) is a Japanese surgeon, explorer, travel writer, photographer and anthropologist.
Yukiko Sakamoto (坂本 由紀子, Sakamoto Yukiko; born 20 January 1949) is a Japanese politician and bureaucrat from Mishima…Yukiko Sakamoto (坂本 由紀子, Sakamoto Yukiko; born 20 January 1949) is a Japanese politician and bureaucrat from Mishima, Shizuoka. She was the first woman to be appointed vice-governor of Shizuoka Prefecture in 1996 and served one term in the House of Councillors in the National Diet from 2004 until 2009.
Haruki Ihara (伊原 春樹, Ihara Haruki; born January 18, 1949) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played…Haruki Ihara (伊原 春樹, Ihara Haruki; born January 18, 1949) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Nishitetsu Lions, and continued his entire career with them. From 2002 to 2003, he was the manager of the Seibu Lions, as well as the Orix BlueWave in 2004. His daughter, Natsuna Ihara, is a model and actress.
Ichirō Kamoshita (鴨下 一郎, Kamoshita Ichirō; born 16 January 1949) is a Japanese politician and doctor, who served as…Ichirō Kamoshita (鴨下 一郎, Kamoshita Ichirō; born 16 January 1949) is a Japanese politician and doctor, who served as Minister of the Environment in Yasuo Fukuda's cabinet. Born in Adachi, Tokyo, he graduated from Nihon University, earning a medical degree. In 1993, he was elected for the first time as a member of the Japan New Party. In December 1997, he joined the Liberal Democratic Party. He represented Tokyo's 13th district in the House of Representatives.
Rumi Tama (珠瑠美, Tama Rumi) (also, 珠るみ, 珠ルミ) aka Rumi Kimata (木俣瑠美, Kimata Rumi) is a Japanese film director, actress…Rumi Tama (珠瑠美, Tama Rumi) (also, 珠るみ, 珠ルミ) aka Rumi Kimata (木俣瑠美, Kimata Rumi) is a Japanese film director, actress, and screenwriter, known for her work in the pink film genre. After making her acting debut in 1965, she appeared in independent pink films throughout the rest of the decade, often for director Akitaka Kimata, whom she would later marry, and his son Seiji Izumi. Tama took a brief retirement in the early 1970s, then began appearing in films in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno series in 1975. She began directing in 1981, helming at least 80 films as of 2002.
Hiroo Unoura (鵜浦 博夫, Unoura Hiroo; born 13 January 1949) is a Japanese businessman, former president and chief…Hiroo Unoura (鵜浦 博夫, Unoura Hiroo; born 13 January 1949) is a Japanese businessman, former president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), the third largest telecommunications company in the world in terms of revenue. Hiroo Unoura was born on 13 January 1949. In 1973, he obtained a BA degree in Law from the University of Tokyo. Unoura joined NTT in April 1973, and has held various senior positions at NTT. He became president and CEO in June 2012. In June 2018, he was succeeded as CEO by Jun Sawada.
Kentarō Haneda (羽田 健太郎, Haneda Kentarō; January 12, 1949 – June 2, 2007) was a Japanese pianist, composer and arranger.…Kentarō Haneda (羽田 健太郎, Haneda Kentarō; January 12, 1949 – June 2, 2007) was a Japanese pianist, composer and arranger. He composed for popular anime series, movies and video games. His popular name was Haneken.
Haruki Murakami (村上 春樹, Murakami Haruki; born January 12 1949) is a Japanese writer. His novels, essays, and short…Haruki Murakami (村上 春樹, Murakami Haruki; born January 12 1949) is a Japanese writer. His novels, essays, and short stories have been best-sellers in Japan and internationally, with his work translated into 50 languages and having sold millions of copies outside Japan. He received numerous awards for his work, including the Gunzo Prize for New Writers, the World Fantasy Award, the Tanizaki Prize, Yomiuri Prize for Literature, the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the Noma Literary Prize, the Franz Kafka Prize, the Kiriyama Prize for Fiction, the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fiction, the Jerusalem Prize, and the Princess of Asturias Awards. Growing up in Ashiya, near Kobe, before moving to Tokyo to attend Waseda University, he published his first novel Hear the Wind Sing (1979) after owning a small jazz bar for seven years. His notable works include the novels Norwegian Wood (1987), The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1994–95), Kafka on the Shore (2002) and 1Q84 (2009–10); the last was ranked as the best work of Japan's Heisei era (1989–2019) by the national newspaper Asahi Shimbun's survey of literary experts. His work spans genres including science fiction, fantasy, and crime fiction, and has become known for his use of magical realist elements. His official website cites Raymond Chandler, Kurt Vonnegut, and Richard Brautigan as key inspirations to his work, while Murakami himself has named Kazuo Ishiguro, Cormac McCarthy, and Dag Solstad as his favorite contemporary writers. Murakami has also published five short story collections, including First Person Singular (2020), and non-fiction works including Underground (1997), an oral history of the Tokyo subway sarin attack, and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (2007), a memoir about his experience as a long-distance runner. His fiction has polarized literary critics and the reading public. He has sometimes been characterized by Japan's literary establishment as un-Japanese, leading to Murakami's recalling that he was a "black sheep in the Japanese literary world". Meanwhile, Murakami has been described by Gary Fisketjon, the editor of Murakami's collection The Elephant Vanishes (1993), as a "truly extraordinary writer", while Steven Poole of The Guardian praised Murakami as "among the world's greatest living novelists" for his oeuvre.
Yoetsu Suzuki (鈴木 陽悦, Suzuki Yōetsu; born January 10, 1949) is a former Japanese politician who served as a member of…Yoetsu Suzuki (鈴木 陽悦, Suzuki Yōetsu; born January 10, 1949) is a former Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Akita, Akita and graduate of Chuo University, he was elected to the House of Councillors since 2004 after working at Akita Television.
Kozo Kinomoto (木之本 興三, Kinomoto Kōzō; 8 January 1949 – 15 January 2017) was a Japanese footballer who played as a…Kozo Kinomoto (木之本 興三, Kinomoto Kōzō; 8 January 1949 – 15 January 2017) was a Japanese footballer who played as a midfielder for Furukawa Electric from 1972 to 1975 before being forced to retire due to kidney problem. After his playing career he became a sports executive and served as director in the Japan Football League until 2003. In his later years Kinomoto lost both of his legs due to health issues and died on 15 January 2017 at the age of 68.
Jirō Yabuki (矢吹二朗, Yabuki Jirō; born Mitsuho Maeda, 6 January 1949) also known as Jirō Chiba is a retired Japanese…Jirō Yabuki (矢吹二朗, Yabuki Jirō; born Mitsuho Maeda, 6 January 1949) also known as Jirō Chiba is a retired Japanese actor. His older brother was Sonny Chiba. He is known for playing the role of Kazuya Taki in the tokusatsu superhero series Kamen Rider. He started his acting career at the Bungakuza theatre company in 1967. In 1970, he joined Sonny Chiba's production company and often co-starred with Sonny in many films. His first starring role in the film was in Gekitotsu! Aikidō. In 1976, he changed his stage name from Jirō Chiba to Jirō Yabuki. He announced his retirement as an actor in 1982.
Tomoyuki Nishita (西田 友是, Nishita Tomoyuki; born 1949 in Hiroshima, Japan) is a professor at the University of Tokyo.…Tomoyuki Nishita (西田 友是, Nishita Tomoyuki; born 1949 in Hiroshima, Japan) is a professor at the University of Tokyo. Dr. Nishita received a research award for computer graphics from the Information Processing Society of Japan in 1987, and also received the Steven Anson Coons Award from the ACM SIGGRAPH in 2005. He is one of the pioneers of the method of radiosity (also soft shadows). His research on computer graphics includes lighting simulation, rendering, shading, natural phenomena, curved surface, non-photorealistic rendering (NPR), morphing, interactive rendering, and WebGraphics. Nishita received his BE, ME and Ph.D in engineering in 1971, 1973, and 1985, respectively, from Hiroshima University. He worked at Fukuyama University from 1979 to 1998. He was an associate researcher in the Engineering Computer Graphics Laboratory at Brigham Young University from 1988 to 1989. He has lectured at the University of Tokyo since 1994, and has been a professor in the Department of Complexity Science and Engineering at the university since 1998. He has written 23 SIGGRAPH papers and 18 EUROGRAPHICS papers. He was a member of the editorial board of the IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics. He was a president of the IIEEJ (Institute of Image and Electronics Engineers of Japan).
Masanori Nishio (西尾 正範, Nishio Masanori; 3 January 1949 – 28 May 2022) was a Japanese politician. Nishio was born in…Masanori Nishio (西尾 正範, Nishio Masanori; 3 January 1949 – 28 May 2022) was a Japanese politician. Nishio was born in Ōno, Hokkaidō, now part of the city of Hokuto. After graduating Kyoto University, he became a public servant in 1973. He was appointed deputy mayor of Hakodate by its then-mayor Hiroshi Inoue (politician) in July 2003, but resigned himself in December 2006 due to a rift with the mayor over the construction of a retirement home. He beat Inoue in the mayoral election held on 22 April 2007, and took office on 27 April.
Keiko Erikawa is a Japanese businesswoman and video game designer. She co-founded Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd., a…Keiko Erikawa is a Japanese businesswoman and video game designer. She co-founded Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd., a Japanese game development company, with her husband Yoichi Erikawa in 1978.
Toshio Ukishima (浮島 敏男, Ukishima Toshio; born 1 January 1949) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Toshio Ukishima (浮島 敏男, Ukishima Toshio; born 1 January 1949) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Tokyo and a high school graduate, he was elected for the first time in 2005 after working at a manufacturer of soft drinks.
Masaharu Kono (Japanese: 河野雅治 b. 1948) is a former Japanese career diplomat. He served as the ambassador of Japan to…Masaharu Kono (Japanese: 河野雅治 b. 1948) is a former Japanese career diplomat. He served as the ambassador of Japan to Russia, Italy, Albania, Malta, and San Marino. He presented his credentials to Russian president Dmitry Medvedev on 29 May 2009. In March 2011, was relieved of his position as ambassador to Russia.
Masatoshi Muto (武藤 正敏, Mutō Masatoshi; born December 18, 1948) is a Japanese diplomatic analyst and former diplomat who…Masatoshi Muto (武藤 正敏, Mutō Masatoshi; born December 18, 1948) is a Japanese diplomatic analyst and former diplomat who served as the Japanese ambassador to South Korea from 2010 to 2012. He also served as the Japanese ambassador to Kuwait in the late 2000s and was the Japanese consul-general in Hawaii in the early 2000s. Starting in 2015, he is also an author.
Tomoo Nishikawa (西川 知雄, Nishikawa Tomoo) is a Japanese attorney and former politician, having previously served for one…Tomoo Nishikawa (西川 知雄, Nishikawa Tomoo) is a Japanese attorney and former politician, having previously served for one term in the House of Representatives.
Toshinori Kondo (近藤 等則, Kondō Toshinori; 15 December 1948 – 17 October 2020) was a Japanese trumpeter known for working…Toshinori Kondo (近藤 等則, Kondō Toshinori; 15 December 1948 – 17 October 2020) was a Japanese trumpeter known for working avant-garde jazz and jazz fusion.
Norio Hirate (平手 則男, Hirate Norio; born 8 December 1948) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed at the 1972 Winter…Norio Hirate (平手 則男, Hirate Norio; born 8 December 1948) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed at the 1972 Winter Olympics and the 1976 Winter Olympics.
Yoko Morishita (森下洋子 Morishita Yoko, born in Hiroshima December 7, 1948) is a Japanese ballerina for Matsuyama Ballet…Yoko Morishita (森下洋子 Morishita Yoko, born in Hiroshima December 7, 1948) is a Japanese ballerina for Matsuyama Ballet Company.
Yoshihide Suga (菅 義偉, Suga Yoshihide; born 6 December 1948) is a Japanese former politician who served as Prime…Yoshihide Suga (菅 義偉, Suga Yoshihide; born 6 December 1948) is a Japanese former politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2020 to 2021. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he was the party's president from 2020 to 2021 and also represented Kanagawa 2nd in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2026. Before his premiership, he was the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from 2006 to 2007, and the longest serving Chief Cabinet Secretary during the second administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from 2012 to 2020. Born to a family of strawberry farmers in rural Akita Prefecture, Suga moved to Tokyo after graduating from high school, where he enrolled in Hosei University. Shortly after graduating, Suga became an aide to Representative Hikosaburo Okonogi in 1975, before entering politics himself when he was elected to the Yokohama Municipal Assembly in 1987. In the 1996 election, Suga was elected to the House of Representatives, representing Kanagawa's 2nd district as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). During his time in the Diet, Suga became a close ally of Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe. When Abe first became prime minister in 2006, he appointed Suga to the Cabinet as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. Suga left the Cabinet a year later, but after the LDP won the 2012 election, Suga was appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary, a role he would hold throughout Abe's second term as prime minister. This made him the longest-serving Chief Cabinet Secretary in Japanese history. In September 2020, after Abe announced that he would resign due to health concerns, Suga was elected to succeed him in the LDP presidential election and was subsequently elected prime minister by the Diet and appointed by Emperor Naruhito. Suga's premiership focused primarily on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including overseeing the rollout of vaccines in the country. Suga's time in office also saw the holding of the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo and the announcement of a plan for Japan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. While Suga began his time in office relatively popular, his approval ratings fell due to public dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the pandemic and the Olympic Games. Facing hesitancy from his party amid preparation for the upcoming 2021 general election, Suga announced on 3 September 2021 that he would not seek reelection in the 2021 LDP presidential election, effectively resigning as party president and prime minister. His tenure officially ended on 4 October 2021 after he was succeeded by Fumio Kishida. From 2024 to 2025, he served as the LDP's vice president. Suga retired from public office in February 2026 following that month's lower house election.
Saburo Shinoda (篠田三郎, Shinoda Saburō; born December 5, 1948, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actor who has played roles…Saburo Shinoda (篠田三郎, Shinoda Saburō; born December 5, 1948, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actor who has played roles in films and television dramas. He signed with Daiei film and made his film debut with Gan in 1966. He is famous for playing the role of Kotaro Higashi in Ultraman Taro. He is the only original Ultraman actor to have not reprised his role in any other Ultraman film or television series.
Shigeko Kawanishi (川西 繁子, Kawanishi Shigeko; born 5 December 1948) is a Japanese former swimmer. She competed at the…Shigeko Kawanishi (川西 繁子, Kawanishi Shigeko; born 5 December 1948) is a Japanese former swimmer. She competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics and the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Chiaki Kawamata (川又千秋, Kawamata Chiaki; born December 4, 1948 in Otaru, Hokkaidō, Japan) is a Japanese science fiction…Chiaki Kawamata (川又千秋, Kawamata Chiaki; born December 4, 1948 in Otaru, Hokkaidō, Japan) is a Japanese science fiction writer and critic. He has won both the Seiun Award and the Nihon SF Taisho Award. Kawamata is also noted for writing the story of the manga Emblem of Roto.
Fumihiro Himori (日森 文尋 Himori Fumihiro; December 3, 1948 – June 9, 2022) was a Japanese politician and member of the…Fumihiro Himori (日森 文尋 Himori Fumihiro; December 3, 1948 – June 9, 2022) was a Japanese politician and member of the House of Representatives for the Social Democratic Party.
Yōichi Masuzoe (舛添 要一, Masuzoe Yōichi; born 29 November 1948) is a Japanese politician who was elected to the position…Yōichi Masuzoe (舛添 要一, Masuzoe Yōichi; born 29 November 1948) is a Japanese politician who was elected to the position of governor of Tokyo in 2014 and resigned in June 2016 due to the misuse of public funds. He was previously a member of the Japanese House of Councillors and served as the Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Before entering politics, he became well known in Japan as a television commentator on political issues.
Keiko Nishikawa (Japanese: 西川惠子, born 27 November 1948) is a Japanese physical chemist known for her studies of…Keiko Nishikawa (Japanese: 西川惠子, born 27 November 1948) is a Japanese physical chemist known for her studies of supercritical fluids. She is an emeritus professor at Chiba University and research fellow at the Toyota Physical and Chemical Research Institute.
Jun Ichikawa (市川 準, Ichikawa Jun; 25 November 1948 – 19 September 2008) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter.…Jun Ichikawa (市川 準, Ichikawa Jun; 25 November 1948 – 19 September 2008) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He was first a director of television commercials before adding filmmaking to his creative activities. His most famous film outside Japan is Tony Takitani, an adaptation of a short story by Haruki Murakami. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage after suddenly collapsing at a restaurant, shortly before his latest film, Buy a Suit, was to premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Yoshitaka Itō (born 24 November 1948) is a Japanese politician, who has served as a member of the House of…Yoshitaka Itō (born 24 November 1948) is a Japanese politician, who has served as a member of the House of Representatives from Hokkaido since 2009. He is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Hirotoshi Watanabe (Japanese: 王貞治, Watanabe Hirotoshi, 20 November 1948 – 2016) was a Japanese professional baseball…Hirotoshi Watanabe (Japanese: 王貞治, Watanabe Hirotoshi, 20 November 1948 – 2016) was a Japanese professional baseball player and coach. He had a brief playing career as a relief pitcher with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball, and later worked to promote baseball internationally. Watanabe signed with the Nishitetsu Lions in 1970 after graduating from Nihon University, where he studied to become a teacher. He was traded to the Hanshin Tigers for cash during the 1972 offseason. He appeared in six games for the Tigers over the 1974 and 1975 seasons, allowing three runs in nine innings pitched. After retiring, he worked for a sporting goods manufacturer. Watanabe got his start coaching internationally in 1999, sent to Ghana at the behest of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. He was tapped by the Asian Baseball Federation to manage the Pakistan national baseball team at the 2003 Asian Baseball Championship; at the helm of Pakistan, he won a historic victory against Indonesia. At the time, he was among the first foreigners to coach the Pakistan national team. He has also served as the manager of the Thailand national baseball team, including at the 2011 SEA Games and at the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualifiers. Watanabe died in late 2016.
Kenjiro Shinozuka (篠塚 建次郎, Shinozuka Kenjirō; November 20, 1948 – March 18, 2024) was a Japanese rally driver. After…Kenjiro Shinozuka (篠塚 建次郎, Shinozuka Kenjirō; November 20, 1948 – March 18, 2024) was a Japanese rally driver. After his debut in 1967, his greatest successes were as a works driver for Mitsubishi Motors. Behind the wheel of a Galant VR-4 he won the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in 1988 and scored consecutive victories in the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire Bandama in 1991 and 1992, when it was a round of the World Rally Championship, making him the first Asian and Japanese competitor to win a WRC event. He was also of note for his success in the Dakar Rally, where he became the first Japanese winner of the world's most famous endurance rally in 1997 driving a Mitsubishi Pajero. Shinozuka resigned from Mitsubishi in 2002, but continued to compete. He drove a Nissan pickup in the 2003 Dakar, but after hitting a sand dune he rolled his vehicle several times, enduring severe facial injuries and being placed in a coma. His co-driver Thierry Delli-Zotti suffered fractures to both his legs, although unlike Shinuzoka his injuries were not life-threatening. Shinuzoka announced before the 2006 event that it would be his final appearance as a competitor, saying "[m]y decision has been taken: it’s my last Dakar. But I still hope to enjoy myself one last time behind the steering wheel. To win? No, that’s not my goal. After that, I don’t yet know what I’ll do but I do know that we need new talents in Japan. Just look at our drivers, they're all sixty or over, like Asaga san or Sugawara san… So I might help out in finding new promising competitors for the future." However, despite this, he returned for the 2007 Dakar, again driving a Nissan, and finished in 59th place out of the 109 cars that finished the race. Kenjiro Shinozuka died of pancreatic cancer at a hospital in Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture, on March 18, 2024. He was 75.
Masatsugu Nagato (born 18 November 1948) is a Japanese businessman who was the president and CEO of Japan Post Holdings…Masatsugu Nagato (born 18 November 1948) is a Japanese businessman who was the president and CEO of Japan Post Holdings from 2016 to 2020, having previously been president and CEO of Japan Post Bank.
Kongō Masahiro (18 November 1948 - 12 August 2014) was a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank…Kongō Masahiro (18 November 1948 - 12 August 2014) was a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake and he won a top division tournament championship in 1975. He was a sumo coach and head of the Nishonoseki stable from 1976 until 2013.
Kyoichi Nagaya (born 17 November 1948) is a Japanese field hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the…Kyoichi Nagaya (born 17 November 1948) is a Japanese field hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Masuiyama Daishirō (16 November 1948 – 15 June 2025) was a Japanese sumo wrestler and coach from Hyōgo. In 1980, he…Masuiyama Daishirō (16 November 1948 – 15 June 2025) was a Japanese sumo wrestler and coach from Hyōgo. In 1980, he became the oldest wrestler to be promoted to the rank of ōzeki in the modern era (since 1958). After retiring from active competition in 1981 he became a sumo coach and an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Mihogaseki and produced several top-division wrestlers as head of Mihogaseki stable. In 2013, he stepping down from the stable at age 65. He was also an enka musician.
Hiroe Niinuma (新沼 博江, Niinuma Hiroe; née Yuki) (15 November 1948 – 7 September 2011 in Tokyo) was a Japanese badminton…Hiroe Niinuma (新沼 博江, Niinuma Hiroe; née Yuki) (15 November 1948 – 7 September 2011 in Tokyo) was a Japanese badminton player. She won numerous major international titles from the late 1960s to the late 1970s. She is recognized as one of Japan's most successful badminton players, having won the women's singles title at the All England Open four times. In 2002, she became the first Japanese player to be inducted into the Badminton Hall of Fame.
Kunio Hiramatsu (平松 邦夫, Hiramatsu Kunio; born 15 November 1948) is a Japanese politician who served as the mayor of…Kunio Hiramatsu (平松 邦夫, Hiramatsu Kunio; born 15 November 1948) is a Japanese politician who served as the mayor of Osaka in Japan. He was elected in 2007 with centre-left support from the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), People's New Party and the Social Democratic Party, defeating the centre-right supported incumbent Jun'ichi Seki by 50,000 votes. Hiramatsu unsuccessfully ran for re-election in Osaka's mayoral election on 27 November 2011, when his challenger was the former Osaka Governor Tōru Hashimoto. Despite support from both major Japanese national parties (the DPJ and the Liberal Democratic Party), and the Japanese Communist Party retracting their candidate to support his re-election bid, Hiramatsu lost to Hashimoto by a margin of well over 200,000 votes.
Aobajō Yukio (Japanese: 青葉城 幸雄; born 14 November 1948 as Yukio Shōji (庄司 幸雄)) is a Japanese former professional sumo…Aobajō Yukio (Japanese: 青葉城 幸雄; born 14 November 1948 as Yukio Shōji (庄司 幸雄)) is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. He did not miss a single bout in his 22-year professional career, and held the record for the most consecutive matches fought, at 1,630, until September 10, 2024, when Tamawashi Ichirō broke the record. After his retirement from active competition, he served as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and worked as a coach.
Masuda Mizuko (増田 みず子, Masuda Mizuko; born 13 November 1948, in Tokyo) is a Japanese writer. Masuda attended the Tokyo…Masuda Mizuko (増田 みず子, Masuda Mizuko; born 13 November 1948, in Tokyo) is a Japanese writer. Masuda attended the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, where she obtained a diploma in plant immunology in 1973. She taught at the Department of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine at Nihon University until 1980. Masuda's first story "Shigo No Kankei" was nominated for the new writer's prize in Shincho magazine. In 1983, she was nominated six times for the Akutagawa Prize. She also won the Noma Award for "Jiyū jikan" (1985), the Kyōka Izumi Prize for "Shinguru Seru" (1986) and the Sei Itō Prize for "Tsukuyomi" (2001).
