Iwao Taka (高 巌, Taka Iwao) is a professor of business administration and noted scholar of business ethics in Japan. He…Iwao Taka (高 巌, Taka Iwao) is a professor of business administration and noted scholar of business ethics in Japan. He was born in 1956 in Ōita Prefecture, Japan. Taka graduated the College of Foreign Language, Reitaku University and completed a Ph.D. in 1985 at the Graduate School of Commerce, Waseda University. He taught at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1994, and is now a professor at Reitaku University and guest professor at the Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University. He is also a member of the Business Ethics and Compliance Research Center at Reitaku. Taka, who frequently publishes with Nikkei Business Publications, has written books on business ethics, specifically on corporate social responsibility and regulatory compliance.
Arimasa Osawa (大沢在昌, Ōsawa Arimasa; born 8 March 1956) is a Japanese writer of hardboiled fiction and thrillers. He…Arimasa Osawa (大沢在昌, Ōsawa Arimasa; born 8 March 1956) is a Japanese writer of hardboiled fiction and thrillers. He served as the 12th President of the Mystery Writers of Japan from 2005 to 2009.
Tadatomo Yoshida (吉田 忠智, Yoshida Tadatomo; born 7 March 1956 in Usuki, Ōita Prefecture) is a Japanese politician…Tadatomo Yoshida (吉田 忠智, Yoshida Tadatomo; born 7 March 1956 in Usuki, Ōita Prefecture) is a Japanese politician currently serving as a member of the House of Councillors for Ōita at-large district; he previously represented the National PR block, having been elected on two separate occasions in 2010 and in 2019. He previously served as a member of the Ōita Prefectural Assembly from 2000 to 2010.
Takehiko Nakao (中尾 武彦, Nakao Takehiko; born 5 March 1956) is a Japanese former civil servant who served as the ninth…Takehiko Nakao (中尾 武彦, Nakao Takehiko; born 5 March 1956) is a Japanese former civil servant who served as the ninth president of the Asian Development Bank between 2013 and early 2020. He is Adviser, Sumitomo Corporation and Chairman, Center for International Economy and Strategy. He is also a board member (external) of the Daiichi Life Insurance Ltd. He teaches international economic policies and development economics as visiting professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at Tokyo University and National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (Tokyo).
Tadayuki Takahashi (高橋 忠之, Takahashi Tadayuki; born March 1, 1956 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese figure skating coach…Tadayuki Takahashi (高橋 忠之, Takahashi Tadayuki; born March 1, 1956 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese figure skating coach and former ice dancer. He competed with Noriko Sato from 1979. They placed 17th in the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. They were the first ice dancers from Japan to compete in olympics, also the first ice dancers from Japan to win an international competition (1984 Prague Skate). He was seven-time Japanese national champions from 1979 to 1985. Currently he coaches in KOSÉ Shin-Yokohama Skate Center.
Brother Tom (ブラザー・トム, Burazā Tomu) (born February 23, 1956) is a Japanese singer and tarento. His birth name and former…Brother Tom (ブラザー・トム, Burazā Tomu) (born February 23, 1956) is a Japanese singer and tarento. His birth name and former stage name is Tomu Koyanagi (小栁 富, Koyanagi Tomu), though he also goes by the English-language name of Thomas Akiona Akima Junior (トーマス・アキオナ・アキマ・ジュニア, Tōmasu Akiona Akima Junia). He is the father of two actor sons, Shin and Yu Koyanagi.
Naoki Hyakuta (百田 尚樹, Hyakuta Naoki; born February 23, 1956) is a Japanese novelist, television producer, and…Naoki Hyakuta (百田 尚樹, Hyakuta Naoki; born February 23, 1956) is a Japanese novelist, television producer, and politician. He is the co-founder and leader of the Conservative Party of Japan. He has been a member of the House of Councillors since 2025, after being elected in that year's election. Hyakuta is particularly known for his 2006 novel The Eternal Zero, which was adapted into an eponymous 2013 film. Other books of his, several of which have also been adapted into films, include Bokkusu and Monsuta. From 2013 to 2015, he served as a governor of the public broadcaster NHK. Hyakuta is known for his far-right political views, including his denial of Japanese war crimes before and during World War II, particularly the Nanjing Massacre. According to South Korean media, he also made hateful remarks against Koreans including, "Koreans are scum" and "I want to pick up a sword and go to war with South Korea".
Goro Noguchi (野口 五郎, Noguchi Gorō; born 23 February 1956 in Mino, Gifu) is a Japanese singer and actor. His real name…Goro Noguchi (野口 五郎, Noguchi Gorō; born 23 February 1956 in Mino, Gifu) is a Japanese singer and actor. His real name is Yasushi Sato (佐藤 靖, Satō Yasushi). He debuted as a singer in 1971 and earned a spot on the Kohaku Utagassen in 1972 with his second single, "Aoi Ringo". He got his first number-one hit with "Amai Seikatsu" in 1974, and his second one with his next single, "Shitetsu Ensen" in 1975.
Kuniko Ozaki (尾崎久仁子, Ozaki Kuniko), (born 1956) is a Japanese lawyer who served as judge of the International Criminal…Kuniko Ozaki (尾崎久仁子, Ozaki Kuniko), (born 1956) is a Japanese lawyer who served as judge of the International Criminal Court and the Presiding Judge of Trial Chamber V, constituted to try the cases against four Kenyan nationals. Specially-appointed professor of International Human Right Law at Chuo University Faculty of Law (2021-).
Osamu Ashitomi (安次富 修, Ashitomi Osamu; born 20 February 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Osamu Ashitomi (安次富 修, Ashitomi Osamu; born 20 February 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Futenma, Okinawa and graduate of Asia University, he served in the city assembly of Ginowan, Okinawa for three terms. He was elected to the first of his four term in the assembly of Okinawa Prefecture in 1996 and then to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2005. In the meantime, he ran unsuccessfully for the mayor of Ginowan in 2003.
Koharu Kisaragi (Japanese: 如月小春; February 19, 1956 – December 19, 2000) was a Japanese playwright, director, and…Koharu Kisaragi (Japanese: 如月小春; February 19, 1956 – December 19, 2000) was a Japanese playwright, director, and essayist. The founder of the theater company NOISE, she worked as a playwright and director starting in the late 1970s, becoming, alongside Hideki Noda and Eri Watanabe, one of the leaders of the Third Generation of Japanese small theater. She had a lasting influence on contemporary Japanese women's theater. Kisaragi was also a prolific essayist and appeared on television as a host and commentator. She served as the founding chair of the Asian Women's Theater Conference, as a member of UNESCO's Japanese National Commission, and as an instructor at Rikkyo University.
Susumu Katsumata (勝俣 進, Katsumata Susumu; born February 17, 1956) is a former Japanese football player and manager and…Susumu Katsumata (勝俣 進, Katsumata Susumu; born February 17, 1956) is a former Japanese football player and manager and politician.
Takayoshi Nakao (中尾 孝義, Nakao Takayoshi, born February 16, 1956) is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He…Takayoshi Nakao (中尾 孝義, Nakao Takayoshi, born February 16, 1956) is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He was a catcher. In 1982, he was the MVP of the Central League. His career lasted 13 seasons, from 1981 to 1993.
Hitoshi Ogawa (小河等, Ogawa Hitoshi; February 15, 1956 – May 24, 1992) was a Japanese racing car driver. He is the father…Hitoshi Ogawa (小河等, Ogawa Hitoshi; February 15, 1956 – May 24, 1992) was a Japanese racing car driver. He is the father of Ryo Ogawa, the 2015 Japanese Formula 3 champion.
Kazuhiko "Kay" Nishi (西 和彦, Nishi Kazuhiko; born February 10, 1956 in Kobe, Japan) is a Japanese businessman and…Kazuhiko "Kay" Nishi (西 和彦, Nishi Kazuhiko; born February 10, 1956 in Kobe, Japan) is a Japanese businessman and personal computer pioneer.
Yukio Odagiri (小田桐 幸雄, Odagiri Yukio; born 10 February 1956) is a Japanese boxer. He competed in the men's…Yukio Odagiri (小田桐 幸雄, Odagiri Yukio; born 10 February 1956) is a Japanese boxer. He competed in the men's featherweight event at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Nanae Nagata (永田 七恵, Nagata Nanae), born as Nanae Sasaki (佐々木 七恵, Sasaki Nanae), (February 8, 1956 – June 27, 2009) was…Nanae Nagata (永田 七恵, Nagata Nanae), born as Nanae Sasaki (佐々木 七恵, Sasaki Nanae), (February 8, 1956 – June 27, 2009) was a Japanese long-distance runner. She was a high school teacher in Ōfunato, Iwate when she set a Japanese record of 2:40:56 at the Boston Marathon in 1981. She quit running as an amateur and began her professional career with the S & B Foods Inc. Athletic Club, which included among its members her coach, Kiyoshi Nakamura, and Toshihiko Seko, then one of the top marathon runners in the world. She set a new Japanese record of 2:35:00 at the Christchurch Marathon in June 1982. She won the Tokyo International Women's Marathon in 1983, and she represented Japan at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, finishing the race in 19th place, at 2:37:04. She retired from competition after setting her personal best time of 2:33:57 at the Nagoya Marathon in March 1995, and she then served as a coach at the S & B Athletic Club for a while. On June 29, 2009, Japanese news media reported that she died on June 27 at the age of 53 due to colorectal cancer.
Hikaru Okuizumi (奥泉 光, Okuizumi Hikaru), born Yasuhiro Okuizumi (奥泉康弘) 6 February 1956, is a Japanese novelist. His…Hikaru Okuizumi (奥泉 光, Okuizumi Hikaru), born Yasuhiro Okuizumi (奥泉康弘) 6 February 1956, is a Japanese novelist. His real name is Yasuhiro Okuizumi.
Mayumi Morita (森田 真裕美, Morita Mayumi; née Tada (多田), born February 5, 1956), better known as Mao Daichi (大地 真央, Daichi…Mayumi Morita (森田 真裕美, Morita Mayumi; née Tada (多田), born February 5, 1956), better known as Mao Daichi (大地 真央, Daichi Mao), is a Japanese actress and former Top Star otokoyaku (an actress who plays male roles) of the Japanese Takarazuka Revue's Moon Troupe. Her nicknames are Mao (真央) and Mami (マミ).
Mienoumi Tsuyoshi (Japanese: 三重ノ海 剛司, Hepburn: Mienoumi Tsuyoshi; born February 4, 1948 as Gorō Ishiyama (石山五郎…Mienoumi Tsuyoshi (Japanese: 三重ノ海 剛司, Hepburn: Mienoumi Tsuyoshi; born February 4, 1948 as Gorō Ishiyama (石山五郎, Ishiyama Gorō)) is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Matsusaka, Mie. He was the 57th yokozuna of the sport. After retiring he founded the Musashigawa stable and was a chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. He was the first rikishi in history who was demoted from the rank of Ozeki but still managed the promotion to Yokozuna.
Jinsuke Kageyama (影山 任佐, Kageyama Jinsuke; born 3 February 1948) is a Japanese psychiatrist. His specialties are…Jinsuke Kageyama (影山 任佐, Kageyama Jinsuke; born 3 February 1948) is a Japanese psychiatrist. His specialties are criminal psychopathology, psychiatric history, clinical psychiatry and mental health studies. He is Professor Emeritus at Tokyo Institute of Technology and a winner of the Prize of the Japanese Association of Criminology (2002).
Muneo Suzuki (鈴木 宗男 Suzuki Muneo, born 31 January 1948), commonly known simply as "Muneo" due to his common last name…Muneo Suzuki (鈴木 宗男 Suzuki Muneo, born 31 January 1948), commonly known simply as "Muneo" due to his common last name, is a Japanese politician from Ashoro, Hokkaido, currently serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2019, representing the National PR block.
Akira Yoshino (吉野 彰, Yoshino Akira; born 30 January 1948) is a Japanese chemist. He is a fellow of Asahi Kasei…Akira Yoshino (吉野 彰, Yoshino Akira; born 30 January 1948) is a Japanese chemist. He is a fellow of Asahi Kasei Corporation and a professor at Meijo University in Nagoya. He created the first safe, production-viable lithium-ion battery, which became used widely in cellular phones and notebook computers. Yoshino was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 alongside M. Stanley Whittingham and John B. Goodenough.
Mamoru "Mark" Mohri, (Japanese: 毛利 衛, romanized: Mōri Mamoru; born 29 January 1948) is a Japanese scientist, a former…Mamoru "Mark" Mohri, (Japanese: 毛利 衛, romanized: Mōri Mamoru; born 29 January 1948) is a Japanese scientist, a former NASDA astronaut, and a veteran of two NASA Space Shuttle missions. He is the first Japanese astronaut who was part of an official Japanese space program. The first Japanese person in space, Toyohiro Akiyama, was a journalist who was trained in the Soviet Union.
Kōji Makaino (馬飼野 康二, Makaino Kōji; born 26 January 1948) is a Japanese pop music composer, arranger, and musician. He…Kōji Makaino (馬飼野 康二, Makaino Kōji; born 26 January 1948) is a Japanese pop music composer, arranger, and musician. He is the elder brother of composer Shunichi Makaino.
Mitsuo Shindō (信藤 三雄, Shindō Mitsuo; 1948 – 10 February 2023) was a Japanese art director, photographer, film director…Mitsuo Shindō (信藤 三雄, Shindō Mitsuo; 1948 – 10 February 2023) was a Japanese art director, photographer, film director and producer, music video director and calligraphist. Shindō designed over 1000 albums and single cover art for artists including Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Yumi Matsutoya, Pizzicato Five, Mr. Children, Misia, Hikaru Utada and Glay. He was also a frequent collaborator with Mr. Children and Misia, for whom he has directed several music videos. In 2010, Shindō became a board member of Mudef, a foundation established by Misia and Rhythmedia CEO Hiroto Tanigawa. Shindō died from stomach cancer on 10 February 2023, at the age of 75.
Yoshio Hachiro (鉢呂 吉雄, Hachiro Yoshio; born 25 January 1948) is a former Japanese politician of the Constitutional…Yoshio Hachiro (鉢呂 吉雄, Hachiro Yoshio; born 25 January 1948) is a former Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party who served as a member of the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Haruhiko Jō (壤晴彦, Jō Haruhiko; born January 25, 1948) is a Japanese actor, theatre director, and voice actor, currently…Haruhiko Jō (壤晴彦, Jō Haruhiko; born January 25, 1948) is a Japanese actor, theatre director, and voice actor, currently affiliated with Engekikurabu Za.
Machiko Satonaka (里中 満智子, Satonaka Machiko; born 24 January 1948) is a Japanese manga artist. She made her professional…Machiko Satonaka (里中 満智子, Satonaka Machiko; born 24 January 1948) is a Japanese manga artist. She made her professional debut in 1964 during her second year of high school with the one-shot Pia no Shōzō ("Portrait of Pia"). She has since created nearly 500 manga in a variety of genres. Two of her most notable works are Ashita Kagayaku ("Tomorrow Will Shine"), which won the 1974 Kodansha Publishing Culture Award, and Karyūdo no Seiza ("Constellation of the Hunter"), which won the 1982 Kodansha Manga Award. In addition to creating manga, Satonaka teaches at the Osaka University of Arts as the head of the Character Creative Arts Department and serves on the board of various manga-related organizations in Japan.
Mitoji Yabunaka (薮中 三十二, Yabunaka Mitoji; born 23 January 1948) is a Japanese former diplomat who served as Vice…Mitoji Yabunaka (薮中 三十二, Yabunaka Mitoji; born 23 January 1948) is a Japanese former diplomat who served as Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2010. Prior to that position, Yabunaka served as Ministry of Foreign Affair's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director-General. He has been a diplomat for nearly forty years. Yabunaka has represented Japan on a number of occasions and has negotiated trade deals with the United States, Australia and Indonesia. He has had contact with a number of United States diplomats, including hosting current United States Ambassador to Japan John Roos shortly following Roos' appointment. During the first, second and third rounds of the Six-party talks, Yabunaka represented Japan as chief delegate. The Japanese government also sent Yabanuka as a delegate to China to discuss issues of natural gas reserves under the East China Sea. He handled Myanmar relations during the Kenji Nagai shooting incident, demanding an investigation and challenging governmental claims. Yabunaka replaced Toshiyuki Takano as Director General of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau in 2002. In 2008 Yabunaka held talks with South Korean Ambassador Kwon Chul Hyun over disputed islets in the Sea of Japan.
Minoru Kanehisa (金久 實) (born January 23, 1948) is a Japanese bioinformatician. He is a project professor at Kyoto…Minoru Kanehisa (金久 實) (born January 23, 1948) is a Japanese bioinformatician. He is a project professor at Kyoto University, technical director of Pathway Solutions Inc and president of NPO Bioinformatics Japan. He is one of Japan's most recognized and respected bioinformatics experts and is known for developing the KEGG bioinformatics database. In 2018 he was listed on a list of Clarivate Citation Laureates for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for "contributions to bioinformatics, specifically for his development of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG)".
Mieko Kamimoto (神本 美恵子, Kamimoto Mieko; born 22 January 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic…Mieko Kamimoto (神本 美恵子, Kamimoto Mieko; born 22 January 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party and a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Asakura District, Fukuoka and graduate of Fukuoka University of Education, she was elected for the first time in 2001.
Masayuki Kikuchi (菊地 正幸; January 19, 1948 – October 18, 2003) was a Japanese seismologist. He was famous for real-time…Masayuki Kikuchi (菊地 正幸; January 19, 1948 – October 18, 2003) was a Japanese seismologist. He was famous for real-time seismology.
Ryoko Moriyama (森山 良子, Moriyama Ryōko) (born January 18, 1948) is a Japanese folk singer and actress. Her father is…Ryoko Moriyama (森山 良子, Moriyama Ryōko) (born January 18, 1948) is a Japanese folk singer and actress. Her father is Hisashi Moriyama, a pioneer of Japanese jazz. Her son Naotarō Moriyama is a singer. Her first cousin Hiroshi Kamayatsu is also a musician. She is known as the Japanese Joan Baez, or the Queen of college folk. Her songs tend not to become best sellers but her most famous song is "Satokibi Batake". This song is about a tragedy during the Battle of Okinawa. The song's full version is 10 minutes. When this song was first released, it was thought to be too long to air on the radio, but now the song is popular in Japan. Every summer, NHK air a shorter version as a symbol of the 'No War Campaign'. In the song, an imitative word 'Zawawa' is repeated 66 times, because of this, it is often called 'Zawawa'. Moriyama often called "Satokibi Batake" 'Zawawa' as a joke. Her 1969 recording of "Kinjirareta koi" ("Unpermitted Love") sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. A more recent hit song is "Nada Sōsō," a poem set to music by Begin, and sung by Rimi Natsukawa. Some of her songs, such as "Kono hiroi nohara ippai" and "Dona dona", now appear in school textbooks. She sang a theme song at Nagano Olympics opening ceremony in 1998. Inspired by "Satokibi Batake", a TV drama called Satokibi Batake no uta (Song of the Sugarcane field) was made. Akashiya Sanma takes the lead role as a soldier who refused to kill. Nada Sōsō' also features in a TV program. Nada Sōsō means teardrops in Okinawan. The song describes the experience of being unable to meet the person you love most. The song may refer to the death of Moriyama's brother.
Toshiki Tajima (Japanese: 田島俊樹, Hepburn: Tajima Toshiki; born January 18, 1948) is a Japanese theoretical plasma…Toshiki Tajima (Japanese: 田島俊樹, Hepburn: Tajima Toshiki; born January 18, 1948) is a Japanese theoretical plasma physicist known for pioneering the laser wakefield acceleration technique with John M. Dawson in 1979. The technique is used to accelerate particles in a plasma and was experimentally realized in 1994, for which Tajima received several awards such as the Nishina Memorial Prize (2006), the Enrico Fermi Prize (2015), the Robert R. Wilson Prize (2019), the Hannes Alfvén Prize (2019) and the Charles Hard Townes Award (2020). Tajima is currently a professor of the University of California, Irvine, and is the Chief Science Officer of TAE Technologies. His works involve plasma physics, laser physics, nuclear fusion, plasma astrophysics, accelerator physics and medical applications of physics.
Tetsuo Suda (須田 哲夫, Suda Tetsuo; born 16 January 1948) is a Japanese TV presenter and news anchor. He was born in…Tetsuo Suda (須田 哲夫, Suda Tetsuo; born 16 January 1948) is a Japanese TV presenter and news anchor. He was born in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Suda graduated from Keio University, and joined Fuji TV in 1971. Since April 2000, he has worked on Fuji Television's Super News evening news programme alongside Yūko Andō.
Musashi Kanbe (かんべむさし; born January 16, 1948, in Ishikawa Prefecture) is a Seiun Award winning author for the novel…Musashi Kanbe (かんべむさし; born January 16, 1948, in Ishikawa Prefecture) is a Seiun Award winning author for the novel Saikoro Tokkōtai. Kanbe was also chair of honor at Daicon III in 1981.
Tsuneo Horiuchi (堀内 恒夫, Horiuchi Tsuneo; born January 16, 1948) is a former professional baseball player in Japan's…Tsuneo Horiuchi (堀内 恒夫, Horiuchi Tsuneo; born January 16, 1948) is a former professional baseball player in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and a politician. A right-handed pitcher, in 2008 he was voted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Shinji Sōmai (相米 慎二, Sōmai Shinji; 13 January 1948 – 9 September 2001) was a Japanese film director. He directed 13…Shinji Sōmai (相米 慎二, Sōmai Shinji; 13 January 1948 – 9 September 2001) was a Japanese film director. He directed 13 films between 1980 and 2000 and was noted for his work within seishun-eiga, which include films such as the successful Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (1981) and critically acclaimed Typhoon Club (1985).
Hiroshi Wajima (Japanese: 輪島大士, Hepburn: Wajima Hiroshi; 11 January 1948 – 8 October 2018) was a Japanese sumo and…Hiroshi Wajima (Japanese: 輪島大士, Hepburn: Wajima Hiroshi; 11 January 1948 – 8 October 2018) was a Japanese sumo and professional wrestler. Born in Nanao, Ishikawa, he was the sport's 54th yokozuna and is the first wrestler with a collegiate background to reach its highest rank. Entering professional sumo in January 1970, he won a total of 14 tournament championships or yūshō during his career before retiring in March 1981. He was nicknamed "Golden Left" (黄金の左, Ōgon no Hidari) in reference to his trademark gold mawashi and his preferred technique of a left-handed underarm throw. He was later head coach of Hanakago stable, but after several controversies, Wajima was forced to leave the sumo world and turned to professional wrestling, retiring in 1988.
Mikihiko Renjō (連城 三紀彦, Renjō Mikihiko; real name: Jingo Katō; January 11, 1948 – October 19, 2013) was a Japanese…Mikihiko Renjō (連城 三紀彦, Renjō Mikihiko; real name: Jingo Katō; January 11, 1948 – October 19, 2013) was a Japanese writer, winner of the Naoki Prize. He was also an ordained priest within the Ōtani-ha branch of Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism.
Itsurō Terada (寺田 逸郎, Terada Itsurō; born 9 January 1948) is a Japanese lawyer who served as Chief Justice of the…Itsurō Terada (寺田 逸郎, Terada Itsurō; born 9 January 1948) is a Japanese lawyer who served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan from 2014 to 2018.
Yasuo Saitō (齋藤 泰雄, Saitō Yasuo; born 5 January 1948 in Okayama Prefecture) is the Ambassador Extraordinary and…Yasuo Saitō (齋藤 泰雄, Saitō Yasuo; born 5 January 1948 in Okayama Prefecture) is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to France and a former ambassador of Japan to Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Ōshio Kenji (born Kenji Hatano; 4 January 1948 – 25 May 2024) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Kitakyushu. His highest…Ōshio Kenji (born Kenji Hatano; 4 January 1948 – 25 May 2024) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Kitakyushu. His highest rank was komusubi. His career lasted twenty-six years, from 1962 until 1988, and he holds the record for the most bouts contested in professional sumo. After his retirement at the age of 40 he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and set up Shikihide stable in 1992. He left the Sumo Association upon turning 65 in 2013. He died in 2024.
Kohzoh Imai (今井浩三, Kohzoh Imai; born January 1, 1948) is a Japanese physician and oncologist specializing in molecular…Kohzoh Imai (今井浩三, Kohzoh Imai; born January 1, 1948) is a Japanese physician and oncologist specializing in molecular diagnosis and novel medical treatment of cancer. He is well known for the discovery of a Melanoma-related antigen (Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan-4, or CSPG4) by producing a monoclonal antibody. In addition, he produced monoclonal antibodies against CEA or ICAM-1 and discovered their use in diagnosis and pathological analysis. He is a former professor and president of Sapporo Medical University. He was a Council Member of the Science Council of Japan. Imai is currently a professor at the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Tokyo and the director of Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute. In 2013, he received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon.
Tadatsugu Taniguchi (谷口 維紹, Taniguchi Tadatsugu; born January 1, 1948 in Wakayama Prefecture) is a Japanese…Tadatsugu Taniguchi (谷口 維紹, Taniguchi Tadatsugu; born January 1, 1948 in Wakayama Prefecture) is a Japanese immunologist known for his pioneer research on Interferons and Interferon regulatory factors.
Kunio Okawara (大河原 邦男, Ōkawara Kunio; born December 26, 1947) is a mecha designer in the Japanese anime industry. He…Kunio Okawara (大河原 邦男, Ōkawara Kunio; born December 26, 1947) is a mecha designer in the Japanese anime industry. He was born and currently lives in Inagi, Tokyo, where he works out of a studio in his home. He was one of the pioneering mecha designers in Japan and established the profession of 'mecha design' in the anime industry. His representative works include Gundam series from the Real Robot shows, the Brave series from the Super Robot shows and Time Bokan series from the comedy anime. In 2011, he received the Distinguished Service Award of the Japan Media Arts Festival for his achievements over the years.