Kenji Kosaka (小阪 憲司, Kosaka Kenji; 1939 – March 16, 2023) was a Japanese psychiatrist, known for his pioneer research…Kenji Kosaka (小阪 憲司, Kosaka Kenji; 1939 – March 16, 2023) was a Japanese psychiatrist, known for his pioneer research on Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), which he first described.
Satoko Kizaki (木崎 さと子, Kizaki Satoko; born November 6, 1939) is a Japanese novelist. She is best known for The Phoenix…Satoko Kizaki (木崎 さと子, Kizaki Satoko; born November 6, 1939) is a Japanese novelist. She is best known for The Phoenix Tree (Aogiri), which won the 1985 Akutagawa Prize.
Keisuke Kihara (木原 敬介, Kihara Keisuke; born 5 November 1939 in Toyonaka) is a former mayor of Sakai in Japan. He was…Keisuke Kihara (木原 敬介, Kihara Keisuke; born 5 November 1939 in Toyonaka) is a former mayor of Sakai in Japan. He was first elected in 2001.
Haruo Yoshimuta (吉無田 春男, Yoshimuta Haruo; 5 November 1939 – 5 March 2025) was a Japanese swimmer who competed in the…Haruo Yoshimuta (吉無田 春男, Yoshimuta Haruo; 5 November 1939 – 5 March 2025) was a Japanese swimmer who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics in the 200 Metres Butterfly, and in the 1964 Summer Olympics in the 400 Metres Freestyle. Haruo died from heart failure in Kitakyushu, on 5 March 2025, at the age of 85.
Shu Kamo (加茂 周, Kamo Shu; born October 29, 1939) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He managed the Japan…Shu Kamo (加茂 周, Kamo Shu; born October 29, 1939) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He managed the Japan national team.
Takao Yaguchi (矢口高雄, Yaguchi Takao; 28 October 1939 – 20 November 2020), real name Takao Takahashi (髙橋 髙雄, Takahashi…Takao Yaguchi (矢口高雄, Yaguchi Takao; 28 October 1939 – 20 November 2020), real name Takao Takahashi (髙橋 髙雄, Takahashi Takao), was a Japanese manga artist. He specialized in manga with ecological messages. His most famous manga was Fisherman Sanpei, which won the Kodansha Children's Manga Award in 1974.
Susumu Kurobe (黒部 進, Kurobe Susumu) (born Takashi Yoshimoto (吉本 隆志, Yoshimoto Takashi); 22 October 1939) is a…Susumu Kurobe (黒部 進, Kurobe Susumu) (born Takashi Yoshimoto (吉本 隆志, Yoshimoto Takashi); 22 October 1939) is a television, film and stage actor from Kurobe, Toyama, Japan, widely known for his portrayal of Shin Hayata, the first Ultraman in the titular television series, a role he has played since 1966 and many other times during the franchise. In 2005, he played chief Kenzo Tomioka in Ultraman Max. He made his film debut with Akatsukino Gasho in 1963. After appearing in Ultraman, he turned into a villain actor and appeared in many jidaigeki dramas. His daughter, Takami Yoshimoto, is also an actress, who portrayed Rena Yanase in Ultraman Tiga (1996).
Masabumi Kikuchi (菊地 雅章, Kikuchi Masabumi; 19 October 1939 – 6 July 2015) was a Japanese jazz pianist and composer…Masabumi Kikuchi (菊地 雅章, Kikuchi Masabumi; 19 October 1939 – 6 July 2015) was a Japanese jazz pianist and composer known for his unique playing style. He worked with many diverse musicians, including Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Gary Peacock and Paul Motian, and collaborated with Gil Evans and Tōru Takemitsu.
Fumio Ito (伊藤 史朗, Itō Fumio; 10 October 1939 – 10 March 1991) was a Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road…Fumio Ito (伊藤 史朗, Itō Fumio; 10 October 1939 – 10 March 1991) was a Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Ito began his Grand Prix career in 1960, although he was a Factory Yamaha rider as far back as 1957 where the Yamaha YD-A & YD-B 250cc machines were so devastating in the Asama highlands race, where Yamaha took the first three places with Matsuko on a YD-A taking the honors. Ito himself could have easily won the race and had set the fastest lap, but his YD-A motorcycle seized and cost him the race. The machines were later modified for the 1958 Catalina GP in States with smaller fuel tanks taken from the YA 125 machines, high pipes and high footpegs. Ito was the Star rider of the team and the only Japanese rider alongside four local American riders. Ito finished sixth, even after an unscheduled pit stop for a fouled plug. He enjoyed his best season in 1963 when he won the 250cc Belgian Grand Prix and finished the season in third place in the 250cc world championship, behind Jim Redman and Tarquinio Provini.
Yoshisada Sakaguchi (坂口 芳貞, Sakaguchi Yoshisada; 2 October 1939 – 13 February 2020) was a Japanese actor and voice…Yoshisada Sakaguchi (坂口 芳貞, Sakaguchi Yoshisada; 2 October 1939 – 13 February 2020) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tokyo. He was a professor at J. F. Oberlin University, and was affiliated with Bungakuza. He was best known for dubbing over Morgan Freeman and Chief Inspector Japp (in the television series Agatha Christie's Poirot).
Shōji Kojima (小島章司, born October 1, 1939, in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese flamenco dancer. Along with…Shōji Kojima (小島章司, born October 1, 1939, in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese flamenco dancer. Along with Yoko Komatsubara, Kojima is credited as being instrumental in popularising flamenco in Japan. Kojima studied vocal music, piano, classical ballet, and modern ballet at the Musashino Academia Musicae. Originally hoping to become an opera singer, Kojima studied ballet in order to improve his movement. In 1959-1960, Kojima and other future stars of Japanese flamenco witnessed the performance of Pilar López Júlvez and Antonio Gades as they toured Japan. Kojima decided to travel to Spain, now determined to become a flamenco dancer, travelling there by Transsiberian Railway in 1966. He began training at "Amor de Dios", a legendary flamenco studio. Registered in 1967 as a member of the National Ballet of Spain, he took part in a tour to the Soviet Union on a Hispano-Soviet cultural mission. In 1968 he was noticed by the singer Rafael Farina and debuted as a first dancer in Farina's company long-running performance. His appearance on a Televisión Española program "Estudio Abierto" in 1970 made him famous in Spain nationwide. During his decade-long stay in Spain he performed on the best tablaos of the country such as "Los Gallos" (Seville), "La Taberna Gitana" (Malaga) to name a few, and he marked a starting of "El Embrujo" (Seville) with Isabel Pantoja. In 1973 he performed in the welcoming ceremony for the Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito and the Crown Princess Michiko held by the Royal Family of Spain at Alcázar of Seville. After returning to Japan in 1976, he continued to be active in flamenco, performing a new work every year. In 1980, he set up his own studio in Tokyo in 1980. The Catalan guitarist Chicuelo has been the musical director of all his performances since 1993. In 2007 and 2009 he invited Javier Latorre as director-choreographer for the pieces Poetas en Guerra and La Celestina, respectively. On February 27 his company, Ballet Shoji Kojima Flamenco, was invited to perform in the 15th Festival de Jerez with La Celestina en el Teatro Villamarta of the City of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
Noriko Kamakura (鎌倉 矩子; September 29, 1939 – June 16, 2023):22 was a practitioner, researcher, and academic leader in…Noriko Kamakura (鎌倉 矩子; September 29, 1939 – June 16, 2023):22 was a practitioner, researcher, and academic leader in occupational therapy. She was in the initial generation of people who became occupational therapists in Japan. She greatly influenced how occupational therapy developed in that country, contributing especially in clinical approaches to persons with central nervous disorders of executive functions. In addition, she explored function of the hand in enough detail to develop a system of taxonomies that can account for the vast majority of postures and movements of the hand.
Kunihiko Nakamura (中村 邦彦, Nakamura Kunihiko; 24 September 1939 – 9 September 2021) was a Japanese basketball player. He…Kunihiko Nakamura (中村 邦彦, Nakamura Kunihiko; 24 September 1939 – 9 September 2021) was a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Junko Tabei (Japanese: 田部井 淳子, Hepburn: Tabei Junko; née Ishibashi; 22 September 1939 – 20 October 2016) was a Japanese…Junko Tabei (Japanese: 田部井 淳子, Hepburn: Tabei Junko; née Ishibashi; 22 September 1939 – 20 October 2016) was a Japanese mountaineer, author and teacher. She was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest and ascend the Seven Summits, climbing the highest peak on every continent. Tabei wrote seven books, organized environmental projects to clean up trash left behind by climbers on Everest, and led annual climbs up Mount Fuji for youth affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. An astronomer named asteroid 6897 Tabei after her and in 2019, a mountain range on Pluto was named Tabei Montes in her honor.
Hiroshi Ishii (石井 宏, Ishii Hiroshi) (born 21 September 1939) is a Japanese swimmer and Olympic medalist. He…Hiroshi Ishii (石井 宏, Ishii Hiroshi) (born 21 September 1939) is a Japanese swimmer and Olympic medalist. He participated at the 1960 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay.
Kinuko Tanida (谷田 絹子, Tanida Kinuko; 18 September 1939 – 4 December 2020) was a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic…Kinuko Tanida (谷田 絹子, Tanida Kinuko; 18 September 1939 – 4 December 2020) was a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. She was a member of the Japanese winning team, Oriental Witches, at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Shunji Murai (born 19 September 1939) is a Japanese rower. He competed in the men's coxed four event at the 1960 Summer…Shunji Murai (born 19 September 1939) is a Japanese rower. He competed in the men's coxed four event at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Toku Nishio (西尾 徳, Nishio Toku; September 12, 1939 – July 19, 2005) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from Gifu…Toku Nishio (西尾 徳, Nishio Toku; September 12, 1939 – July 19, 2005) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from Gifu Prefecture, Japan. He was represented by Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society. He was most known for the roles of Kanichi Nishi (Ashita no Joe), Musashi Tomoe (Getter Robo), and Mr. Popo (Dragon Ball).
Katsuo Ohno (Japanese: 大野克夫, Hepburn: Katsuo Ōno; born September 12, 1939 in Kyoto) is a Japanese musician and composer…Katsuo Ohno (Japanese: 大野克夫, Hepburn: Katsuo Ōno; born September 12, 1939 in Kyoto) is a Japanese musician and composer who has scored multiple films and anime. His most notable works are theme music of detective drama Taiyō ni Hoero! and anime series Detective Conan. As keyboardist, Ohno was a member of the group sounds band The Spiders from 1961 to 1970, and the rock supergroup Pyg from 1971 to 1972, which led to him becoming a member of the Takayuki Inoue Band and a backing instrumentalist for Kenji Sawada from 1972 to 1979.
Nobuyuki Oishi (大石 信幸, Oishi Nobuyuki; born September 12, 1939) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Nobuyuki Oishi (大石 信幸, Oishi Nobuyuki; born September 12, 1939) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Kōji Tanami (田波耕治, Tanami Kōji; born September 10, 1939, Tokyo) is the Governor of the Japan Bank for International…Kōji Tanami (田波耕治, Tanami Kōji; born September 10, 1939, Tokyo) is the Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. He is a candidate to become the Governor of the Bank of Japan.
Susumu Tonegawa (利根川 進, Tonegawa Susumu; September 5, 1939 – July 11, 2026) was a Japanese scientist who was the sole…Susumu Tonegawa (利根川 進, Tonegawa Susumu; September 5, 1939 – July 11, 2026) was a Japanese scientist who was the sole recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1987 for his discovery of V(D)J recombination, the genetic mechanism which produces antibody diversity. Although he won the Nobel Prize for his work in immunology, Tonegawa was a molecular biologist by training and, following his Nobel Prize win, changed fields to neuroscience, examining the molecular, cellular and neuronal basis of memory formation and retrieval.
Hidehiko Koga (born September 15, 1939) is a former professional baseball player. He played in Nippon Professional…Hidehiko Koga (born September 15, 1939) is a former professional baseball player. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball and in the American minor leagues, while later becoming a minor league manager in the United States and a front office worker and coach in Japan.
Kairyūyama Teruhisa (born Kannojo Aoki; August 28, 1939 - September 10, 1986) was a sumo wrestler from Shōwa, Akita…Kairyūyama Teruhisa (born Kannojo Aoki; August 28, 1939 - September 10, 1986) was a sumo wrestler from Shōwa, Akita, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1956 and reached the top division in July 1960. His highest rank was sekiwake. He won eight gold stars against grand champion yokozuna in the course of his career. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Kiriyama. He left the Sumo Association in December 1980.
Hatsuhiko Mizuki (born 12 August 1939) is a Japanese rower. He competed in the men's coxed four event at the 1960…Hatsuhiko Mizuki (born 12 August 1939) is a Japanese rower. He competed in the men's coxed four event at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Tatau Nishinaga (西永 頌, Nishinaga Tatau; born August 19, 1939) is the fifth president of Toyohashi University of…Tatau Nishinaga (西永 頌, Nishinaga Tatau; born August 19, 1939) is the fifth president of Toyohashi University of Technology.
Hirokazu Nakaima (仲井眞 弘多, Nakaima Hirokazu; born 19 August 1939) is a Japanese bureaucrat, business leader, and…Hirokazu Nakaima (仲井眞 弘多, Nakaima Hirokazu; born 19 August 1939) is a Japanese bureaucrat, business leader, and politician. He was governor of Okinawa Prefecture from 2006 to 2014.
Katsura Shijaku II (2代目 桂 枝雀, Nidaime Katsura Shijaku; August 13, 1939 – April 19, 1999) was a Japanese rakugo…Katsura Shijaku II (2代目 桂 枝雀, Nidaime Katsura Shijaku; August 13, 1939 – April 19, 1999) was a Japanese rakugo performer of the late 20th century, who often performed in English. He was born Tōru Maeda (前田 達, Maeda Tōru) in Kobe, the son of a brick-maker. In 1960, he entered the tutelage of the rakugo performer Katsura Beichō III (桂米朝), and upon completion of his study, was given the stage name Katsura Koyone X (桂小米). He changed his stage name to Shijaku Katsura (Shijaku Katsura II) in 1974. Katsura studied English in the early 1980s, and gave his first English-language rakugo performance in 1983. For the rest of his career, he often performed rakugo in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere, making an otherwise inaccessible form of comedy accessible for non-Japanese speakers. He also assisted in launching the career of Bill Crowley, the non-Japanese professional rakugo performer. Katsura died of heart failure on April 19, 1999, after a suicide attempt at his home in Suita, Osaka. He was discovered by his wife Eyo and his brother, the magician Takeshi Maeda.
Toshifumi Nakamura (Japanese: 中村寿文 Nakamura Toshifumi; 4 August 1939 – 1 December 2024) was a Japanese politician. A…Toshifumi Nakamura (Japanese: 中村寿文 Nakamura Toshifumi; 4 August 1939 – 1 December 2024) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party and later the Democratic Party, he served as mayor of Hachinohe from 2001 to 2005. He was a member of the Aomori Prefectural Assembly from 1983 to 2001 and again from 2007 to 2015. Nakamura died on 1 December 2024, at the age of 85.
Takeo Hiranuma (平沼 赳夫, Hiranuma Takeo; born 3 August 1939) is a former Japanese politician who served as a member of…Takeo Hiranuma (平沼 赳夫, Hiranuma Takeo; born 3 August 1939) is a former Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives. He is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and is former chairperson of the Party for Future Generations.
Mayumi Shimizu (清水 眞弓, Shimizu Mayumi; July 26, 1939 – September 21, 2011), known by her pen name Jun Henmi (辺見 じゅん…Mayumi Shimizu (清水 眞弓, Shimizu Mayumi; July 26, 1939 – September 21, 2011), known by her pen name Jun Henmi (辺見 じゅん, Henmi Jun), was a Japanese writer and poet. She was known for her works of fiction and nonfiction about people affected by World War II.
Shohei Kasahara (笠原 章平, Kasahara Shōhei; born 21 July 1939) is a Japanese former hammer thrower who competed in the…Shohei Kasahara (笠原 章平, Kasahara Shōhei; born 21 July 1939) is a Japanese former hammer thrower who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Tamao Nakamura (中村 玉緒, Nakamura Tamao; July 12, 1939 – June 9, 2026) was a Japanese actress. Her father was kabuki…Tamao Nakamura (中村 玉緒, Nakamura Tamao; July 12, 1939 – June 9, 2026) was a Japanese actress. Her father was kabuki actor Nakamura Ganjirō II.
Mamoru Morimoto (森本 葵, Morimoto Mamoru; 11 July 1939 – 28 February 2021) was a Japanese middle distance runner who…Mamoru Morimoto (森本 葵, Morimoto Mamoru; 11 July 1939 – 28 February 2021) was a Japanese middle distance runner who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics. His daughter Tsuru Morimoto is a former footballer who played for the Japanese national team.
Masatoshi Kurata (倉田 雅年, Kurata Masatoshi; 10 July 1939 – 21 November 2016) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal…Masatoshi Kurata (倉田 雅年, Kurata Masatoshi; 10 July 1939 – 21 November 2016) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Shimizu, Shizuoka, and a graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected for the first time in 2000 after an unsuccessful run in 1996. He died of cancer in 2016.
Rie Yoshiyuki (吉行理恵, Yoshiyuki Rie; 8 July 1939 – 4 May 2006) was a Japanese writer of short stories, novels and…Rie Yoshiyuki (吉行理恵, Yoshiyuki Rie; 8 July 1939 – 4 May 2006) was a Japanese writer of short stories, novels and poetry. She was awarded the Noma Children's Literature Newcomer Award, the Akutagawa Prize, and the Women's Literature Prize.
Kunio Nakamura (中村 邦夫, Nakamura Kunio; 5 July 1939 – 28 November 2022) was a Japanese businessman. He served as the…Kunio Nakamura (中村 邦夫, Nakamura Kunio; 5 July 1939 – 28 November 2022) was a Japanese businessman. He served as the president of Panasonic from 2000 to 2005 and assumed the position of chairman on 28 June 2006. Even though he is widely regarded as having reformed the company, he created a crisis in the mid-2000s for focusing on plasma display panels (PDPs) instead of medium liquid crystal TVs (LCDs). At the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Panasonic introduced their 152" 2160p 3D plasma. In 2010 Panasonic shipped 19.1 million plasma TV panels. In 2010, shipments of plasma TVs reached 18.2 million units worldwide. Since then shipments have declined substantially; the decline has been attributed to competition from liquid crystal (LCD) televisions, whose prices have fallen more rapidly than those of the plasma TVs. In late 2013, Panasonic announced that they would stop producing plasma TVs in March 2014 onwards. In 2014, LG and Samsung discontinued plasma TV production as well, effectively killing the technology, probably because of falling demand. Nakamura died from pneumonia on 28 November 2022, at the age of 83.
Keigo Shimizu (清水 啓吾, Shimizu Keigo) (born 2 July 1939) is a Japanese swimmer and Olympic medallist. He participated at…Keigo Shimizu (清水 啓吾, Shimizu Keigo) (born 2 July 1939) is a Japanese swimmer and Olympic medallist. He participated at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, winning a bronze medal in 4 x 100 metre medley relay.
Nobuko Okashita (岡下 信子, Okashita Nobuko; born 28 June 1939) is a retired Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Nobuko Okashita (岡下 信子, Okashita Nobuko; born 28 June 1939) is a retired Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kagawa Prefecture and graduate of Gakushuin Women's Junior College, she was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000. She lost her seat in 2003 but was re-elected two years later.
Masashi Onda (born 27 June 1939) is a Japanese field hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1968…Masashi Onda (born 27 June 1939) is a Japanese field hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Eisaku Satō (佐藤 栄佐久, Satō Eisaku; 24 June 1939 – 19 March 2025) was a Japanese politician who served as the governor of…Eisaku Satō (佐藤 栄佐久, Satō Eisaku; 24 June 1939 – 19 March 2025) was a Japanese politician who served as the governor of Fukushima Prefecture of Japan from 1988 to 2006.
Tadashi Suzuki (鈴木 忠志; born June 20, 1939) is a Japanese avant-garde theatre director, writer, and philosopher. He is…Tadashi Suzuki (鈴木 忠志; born June 20, 1939) is a Japanese avant-garde theatre director, writer, and philosopher. He is the founder and director of the Suzuki Company of Toga (SCOT), and organizer of Japan’s first international theatre festival (Toga Festival). With American director Anne Bogart, he co-founded the Saratoga International Theatre Institute (SITI) in Saratoga Springs, New York. He is the creator of the "Suzuki method" of actor training, which emphasizes stylized body work and physicality drawing from dance and elements of traditional Japanese theater. Suzuki was the general artistic director of Shizuoka Performing Arts Center (SPAC) (1995–2007), an international committee member of the Theatre Olympics; a founding member of the BeSeTo Festival (演劇祭), jointly organized by leading theatre artists from Japan, China and Korea; and, chairman of the Board of Directors for the Japan Performing Arts Foundation, a nationwide network of theatre professionals in Japan.
Koichi Kato (加藤 紘一, Katō Kōichi; 17 June 1939 – 9 September 2016) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Koichi Kato (加藤 紘一, Katō Kōichi; 17 June 1939 – 9 September 2016) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who held a seat in the House of Representatives in the National Diet for 13 terms between 1972 and 2012. Kato was elected to several districts in Yamagata Prefecture and served as the Director-General of the Japan Defense Agency from 1984 to 1986 and Chief Cabinet Secretary from 1991 to 1992. Kato was a leading member of the Kōchikai faction of the LDP aligned with Prime Ministers Masayoshi Ōhira, Zenkō Suzuki, and Kiichi Miyazawa. Kato lost his seat at the December 2012 general election, and his daughter Ayuko Kato was elected to the seat at the 2014 general election.
Kyō Noguchi (June 14, 1939 – January 1, 2009) was a Japanese former professional boxer who was best known for winning…Kyō Noguchi (June 14, 1939 – January 1, 2009) was a Japanese former professional boxer who was best known for winning the Japanese flyweight title and fighting for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title.
Hiroyuki Matsunami (松波弘之 born June 5, 1939) is a Japanese engineer, researcher and educator. He was awarded the IEEE…Hiroyuki Matsunami (松波弘之 born June 5, 1939) is a Japanese engineer, researcher and educator. He was awarded the IEEE Edison Medal in 2023 for his pioneering contributions to the development of the material silicon carbide and its applications in electronic power devices. Currently, he holds the position of professor emeritus at Kyoto University and serves as a specially appointed professor at Kyoto University of Advanced Science.
