Shōrinjiryū Kenkōkan Karate (少林寺流拳行館唐手) is a style of karate founded by Kōri Hisataka (Seiki Kudaka in Okinawan)…
Shōrinjiryū Kenkōkan Karate (少林寺流拳行館唐手) is a style of karate founded by Kōri Hisataka (Seiki Kudaka in Okinawan) (1907–1988) shortly after World War II in Japan. It consists of the primary arts of Shōrinjiryū Kenkōkan Okinawan karate and Okinawan Kobudo, as taught to the founder by masters including Chotoku Kyan and Sanda Kanagusuku, as well as Judo, which Kori Hisataka studied at the Kodokan, obtaining the rank of 4th Dan after only 1 years training. Other component arts include Aikijutsu and Chinese Bajiquan, which the founder studied on his extensive tours of Japan, China and Asia. The style is responsible for a number of innovations to karate training including: Use of the heel when kicking Whole body is put into action when executing a technique, using a follow through motion Use of the vertical fist (tate ken) Practice of yakusoku kumite Use of protective equipment to allow the karatedo student to test their techniques without having to hold back their power Practice of weapons (buki ho) In some aspects, Shorinjiryu Karate has a strong resemblance to Japanese Koryu Budo, in that it has a great emphasis on pre-arranged two-person drills (yakusoku kumite). One person kata is an important practice, and the main kata taught in the style in its early days were versions of Naihanchin, Nijushiho, Sanchin, Chinto and Kusanku, as well as a Bō (6 ft staff) kata (Shishiryu no Bo), a Jo (4 ft staff) kata and a Sai (iron truncheon) kata (Nijushiho no Sai). Other kata were introduced later, mainly by the son of the founder, Masayuki Hisataka. Following Kori Hisataka's retirement in 1974, his son Masayuki Hisataka took over as head of the organization. He has expanded the reach of the style worldwide and trained karateka all over the world.
Famous People Born in 1940s
1940s: 1,885 people
Konami Group Corporation (Japanese: コナミグループ株式会社, Hepburn: Konami Gurūpu kabushiki-gaisha), commonly known as Konami…
Konami Group Corporation (Japanese: コナミグループ株式会社, Hepburn: Konami Gurūpu kabushiki-gaisha), commonly known as Konami (コナミ; stylized in all caps), is a Japanese multinational entertainment company, video game developer and publisher headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo. The company also produces and distributes trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, pachinko machines, slot machines, and arcade cabinets; It has casinos around the world, and operates health and physical fitness clubs across Japan. The company founded in 1969 as a jukebox rental and repair business in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan, founded by Kagemasa Kōzuki, who remains the company's chairman. On top of its flagship development subsidiary, Konami also owns Bemani, known for Dance Dance Revolution and Beatmania, as well as the assets of former game developer Hudson Soft, known for Bomberman, Adventure Island, Bonk, Bloody Roar, and Star Soldier. Konami is the sixteenth-largest game company in the world by revenue. The company also publishes the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game, one of the best-selling TCGs in history. Konami's video game franchises include Metal Gear, Silent Hill, Power Pros, Bomberman, Castlevania, Contra, Frogger, Tokimeki Memorial, Gradius, Parodius, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Suikoden, and eFootball (including its predecessors International Superstar Soccer and Pro Evolution Soccer).
Kōki Ishii (石井 紘基, Ishii Kōki) (6 November 1940 – 25 October 2002) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…
Kōki Ishii (石井 紘基, Ishii Kōki) (6 November 1940 – 25 October 2002) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) born in Setagaya, Tokyo. A lifelong reformist, he was murdered under suspicious circumstances.
Masaaki Kimura (木村 政昭, Kimura Masaaki; born 6 November 1940) is a Japanese geologist and a professor emeritus from the…
Masaaki Kimura (木村 政昭, Kimura Masaaki; born 6 November 1940) is a Japanese geologist and a professor emeritus from the Faculty of Science of the University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
Yuki Hide (ヒデ 夕樹, Hide Yūki; real name: Hideyuki Hirano (平野 英之, Hirano Hideyuki), November 5, 1940 – December 8, 1998)…
Yuki Hide (ヒデ 夕樹, Hide Yūki; real name: Hideyuki Hirano (平野 英之, Hirano Hideyuki), November 5, 1940 – December 8, 1998) often credited as Hideyuki or Yuuki Hide, was a Japanese singer best known for singing theme songs to various anime and tokusatsu shows. He died from heart failure on December 8, 1998. His biography, Hide Yuki and the Golden Age of TV Cartoon Theme Songs (ヒデ夕樹とテレビまんが主題歌の黄金期), written by Hikaru Kenmochi, was published in 2021.
Yoko Mori (森瑤子) (November 4, 1940 – July 6, 1993) was a Japanese novelist, essayist, and translator who was known for…
Yoko Mori (森瑤子) (November 4, 1940 – July 6, 1993) was a Japanese novelist, essayist, and translator who was known for writing popular romantic fiction. Her real name was Masayo Brackin (née Ito).
Akio Mimura (三村明夫, Mimura Akio; born 2 November 1940) AC is a prominent Japanese businessman notable for his positions…
Akio Mimura (三村明夫, Mimura Akio; born 2 November 1940) AC is a prominent Japanese businessman notable for his positions at the head of Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corporation, and as Chairman of the Japan-Australia Business Cooperation Committee, for which the Australian government awarded him their highest civilian award for a foreigner, Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia. Mimura is 19th Chairman of Japan Chamber of Commerce of Industry(JCCI) since 2013, which is the largest small and medium business association with 1,250,000 corporate members in Japan.
Hidetoshi Nagasawa (長澤 英俊, Nagasawa Hidetoshi; 30 October 1940 – 24 March 2018) was a Japanese sculptor and architect…
Hidetoshi Nagasawa (長澤 英俊, Nagasawa Hidetoshi; 30 October 1940 – 24 March 2018) was a Japanese sculptor and architect, who lived and worked in Italy from 1967 until his death in 2018. Nagasawa was born in Tonei, Manchuria. He graduated in architecture in Tokyo in 1963. In 1966 he embarked on a long bicycle trip across Asia and Europe, eventually reaching Milan where he decided to permanently settle in 1968. In 1979 he founded the Casa degli Artisti in Milan together with Luciano Fabro and Jole De Sanna. Nagasawa's sculptures were made of materials such as paper, wood, stone and metal, and incorporated Eastern and Western cultural and religious elements. In the 1980s, he started creating his first environments, exploring the relationship between sculpture and architecture. Nagasawa was a lecturer at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan. He participated to the Venice Biennale in 1972, 1976, 1982 and 1988. He was invited to Documenta 9 in Kassel in 1992 and in 2006 he participated in the XII Biennale of Sculpture in Carrara. He has also held solo shows at the Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea in Milan (1988), the Galleria Comunale in Bologna (1993), and the Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró in Mallorca (1996).
Kazuko Yagyū (柳生 加津子, Yagyū Kazuko; née Nikaido, October 27, 1938 – July 3, 2026), known professionally as Yukiko…
Kazuko Yagyū (柳生 加津子, Yagyū Kazuko; née Nikaido, October 27, 1938 – July 3, 2026), known professionally as Yukiko Nikaido (二階堂 有希子, Nikaidō Yukiko), was a Japanese actress. She also served as the first president of the Yatsugatake Club, with her second son Sōsuke Yagyū succeeding her. Nikaido was married to Japanese actor Hiroshi Yagyū from 1964 until his death in 2022 and her first son was Japanese horticulturist Shingo Yagyū, who died in 2015. She is best known for voicing Fujiko Mine in the first Lupin III anime series Lupin the 3rd Part I.
Hiroshi Yoshimura (吉村 弘, Yoshimura Hiroshi; 22 October 1940 – 23 October 2003) was a Japanese musician and composer. He…
Hiroshi Yoshimura (吉村 弘, Yoshimura Hiroshi; 22 October 1940 – 23 October 2003) was a Japanese musician and composer. He is considered a pioneer of ambient music in Japan. His music lies mostly in the minimalist genre of kankyō ongaku, or environment music—soft electronic melodies infused with the sounds of nature: babbling brooks, steady rain, and morning birds. However, not all Yoshimura's work included nature sounds. Green (1986) only had them in the United States release, as they were excluded in the Japanese version.
Osamu Watanabe (渡辺 長武, Watanabe Osamu; October 21, 1940 – October 1, 2022) was a Japanese freestyle wrestler. In 1962…
Osamu Watanabe (渡辺 長武, Watanabe Osamu; October 21, 1940 – October 1, 2022) was a Japanese freestyle wrestler. In 1962 (Toledo, Ohio), he debuted internationally and was the reigning world champion, when he capped off his career with a gold medal for Japan in freestyle wrestling at the 1964 Olympics, retiring from competition shortly afterwards as the only undefeated Olympic champion to date at 189–0. He is considered one of the best wrestlers in Olympic history. In the early 2000s Watanabe resumed competing internationally in the masters category. He died of a heart attack on October 1, 2022.
Kiyoshi Tanabe (田辺 清, born October 10, 1940) is a retired Japanese boxer who won a bronze medal at the 1960 Olympics.
Takuji Hayata (早田 卓次, Hayata Takuji; born October 10, 1940) is a retired Japanese gymnast. At the 1964 Summer Olympics…
Takuji Hayata (早田 卓次, Hayata Takuji; born October 10, 1940) is a retired Japanese gymnast. At the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, he won gold medals in the rings and team all-around events. Individually he finished eighth all around. At the 1970 World Championship he won a bronze medal at the horizontal bar, as well as a team gold. Later he became a coach and lead the Japanese team at the 1976 Summer Olympics and the 1978 World Championships. He also became a physical education professor at Nippon University, and was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2004.
Ikuko Ishii (石井 郁子, Ishii Ikuko; born 10 October 1940) is a Japanese politician and member for the House of…
Ikuko Ishii (石井 郁子, Ishii Ikuko; born 10 October 1940) is a Japanese politician and member for the House of Representatives for the Japanese Communist Party. She was born in Hokkaido and studied there.
Azumanishiki Eizaburo (born Eizaburo Hoshino; October 2, 1940 - November 9, 1994) was a sumo wrestler from Shinjuku…
Azumanishiki Eizaburo (born Eizaburo Hoshino; October 2, 1940 - November 9, 1994) was a sumo wrestler from Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. He made his professional debut in September May 1956, and reached the top division in September 1962. His highest rank was maegashira 15. He left the sumo world upon retirement in September 1967.
Hidehisa Otsuji (尾辻 秀久, Otsuji Hidehisa; born 2 October 1940) is a Japanese politician who served as the President of…
Hidehisa Otsuji (尾辻 秀久, Otsuji Hidehisa; born 2 October 1940) is a Japanese politician who served as the President of the House of Councillors from 2022 to 2024. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he has been a member of the House of Councillors since 1989, serving as Vice President of the House of Councillors from 2010 to 2012 and as Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare from 2004 to 2005.
Shūsei Tanaka (田中秀征, Tanaka Shũsei; born 30 September 1940) is a retired Japanese politician. He was first elected to…
Shūsei Tanaka (田中秀征, Tanaka Shũsei; born 30 September 1940) is a retired Japanese politician. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in the 1972 general election and represented the Nagano Prefecture first district. Following a revamp of the electoral system, he lost his seat to Kenji Kosaka in the 1996 general election.
Toshihide Ibaraki (Japanese: 茨木 俊秀, born 1940) is a Japanese computer scientist and operations researcher known for his…
Toshihide Ibaraki (Japanese: 茨木 俊秀, born 1940) is a Japanese computer scientist and operations researcher known for his research on graph algorithms, databases, resource allocation, fractional programming, and metaheuristics. He is a professor emeritus and former dean of informatics at Kyoto University, and the former president of The Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics.
Michiko Suganuma (Japanese: 菅沼 三千子, Hepburn: Suganuma Michiko; born 1940) is a leading Japanese Kamakura-bori artist…
Michiko Suganuma (Japanese: 菅沼 三千子, Hepburn: Suganuma Michiko; born 1940) is a leading Japanese Kamakura-bori artist using a technique she calls Wagae-nuri. She is the only Japanese female to have presented her collection at exhibitions of National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. Her works are held in the collection of the gallery.
Tarō Asō (麻生 太郎, Asō Tarō; born 20 September 1940) is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from…
Tarō Asō (麻生 太郎, Asō Tarō; born 20 September 1940) is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2008 to 2009. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he also served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance from 2012 to 2021. He was the longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in Japanese history, having previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007 and as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from 2003 to 2005. He leads the Shikōkai faction within the LDP. Asō was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1979. He served in numerous ministerial roles before becoming Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2008, having also held that role temporarily in 2007. He was later elected LDP President in September 2008, becoming prime minister the same month. He led the LDP to the worst election result in its history a year later, marking only the second time in post-war Japan that a governing party had lost re-election, and resigned as the President of the party immediately afterwards. After the LDP returned to government following the 2012 election under Shinzo Abe, Asō was appointed to the Cabinet as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, retaining those roles when Yoshihide Suga replaced Abe in 2020. After leaving cabinet, he's served as vice president of the LDP under Fumio Kishida and as senior advisor to the LDP under Shigeru Ishiba. He is a noted power broker inside the party, leading the Shikōkai. Asō has been attached to a number of controversies in his career. He conceded in 2008 that his family had benefitted from forced labor during World War II, although he has refused to apologize for it. Asō also had a reputation for political gaffes and controversial remarks.
Japan was the host nation for the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. 328 competitors, 270 men and 58 women, took part in…
Japan was the host nation for the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. 328 competitors, 270 men and 58 women, took part in 155 events in 21 sports.
Yoshihiro Ohira (born 9 September 1940) is a Japanese alpine skier. He competed in two events at the 1964 Winter…
Yoshihiro Ohira (born 9 September 1940) is a Japanese alpine skier. He competed in two events at the 1964 Winter Olympics.
Yoshiki Kuramoto (蔵本 由紀, Kuramoto Yoshiki) (born 1940) is a Japanese physicist in the Nonlinear Dynamics group at Kyoto…
Yoshiki Kuramoto (蔵本 由紀, Kuramoto Yoshiki) (born 1940) is a Japanese physicist in the Nonlinear Dynamics group at Kyoto University who formulated the Kuramoto model and is also known for the Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation. He is also the discoverer of so-called chimera states in networks of coupled oscillators. Kuramoto specializes in nonlinear dynamics (also known as nonlinear science) and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. Notably, he has worked on the network dynamics created by limit cycle oscillators. Among his accomplishments is the derivation of the Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation, which describes the phase instability of oscillating fields. This is regarded as the first example of spatiotemporal chaos. Another achievement is his proposal of a solvable model for oscillator populations, now known as the Kuramoto model. Other achievements include deriving the complex Ginzburg–Landau equation in reaction-diffusion systems and studying the entrainment phenomenon in coupled oscillator systems.
Toshio Yamaguchi (山口 敏夫, Yamaguchi Toshio; born 29 August 1940) is a Japanese politician who served as Minister of…
Toshio Yamaguchi (山口 敏夫, Yamaguchi Toshio; born 29 August 1940) is a Japanese politician who served as Minister of Labour and as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet of Japan. Yamaguchi was first elected to the House of Representatives in the 1967 general election and served ten consecutive terms in the Diet, holding his seat until the 1996 general election. He served as labour minister from 1984 to 1985 in the cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone. During his time in the Diet, he frequently appeared in the media and was dubbed the "Ushiwakamaru of politics." In 1994, Yamaguchi persuaded the heads of Tokyo Kyowa Credit Association and Anzen Credit Bank to arrange illegal loans for companies controlled by Yamaguchi and his family. He was arrested in December 1995 and held in prison for a year pending trial. In 1996, he was found guilty of breach of trust, embezzlement, fraud and perjury, and sentenced to four years in prison. He appealed the verdict to the Tokyo High Court, and told reporters in 2002 that he was considering a return to office in 2004; his appeal was rejected in February 2003. He was taken to prison in March 2007 to serve the remaining 3.5 years of his term. Following his release, in 2015, Yamaguchi distributed pamphlets to members of the Diet calling for former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to resign as head of the 2020 Summer Olympics organizing committee, causing a stir in the political world as Yamaguchi and Mori had been acquaintances since Mori was still a student. At the age of 75, Yamaguchi entered the 2016 Tokyo gubernatorial election as a candidate of the People's Sovereignty Party (国民主権の会, Kokumin Shuken no Kai). He placed eleventh out of twenty-one candidates.
Takashi Masuda (増田 貴史, Masuda Takashi; born 5 August 1940) is a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's…
Takashi Masuda (増田 貴史, Masuda Takashi; born 5 August 1940) is a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics and the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Gisaburō Sugii (杉井ギサブロー or 杉井儀三郎, Sugii Gisaburō; born August 20, 1940) is a Japanese anime director and Nihonga…
Gisaburō Sugii (杉井ギサブロー or 杉井儀三郎, Sugii Gisaburō; born August 20, 1940) is a Japanese anime director and Nihonga artist. He is best known for his work as director of the Touch series, the movie adaptation of the Arashi no Yoru ni children's book series, and the movie Night on the Galactic Railroad. He is a member of the Directors Guild of Japan and the Japanese Animation Creators Association.
Morshed Khan (born 8 August 1940) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the minister of foreign affairs of…
Morshed Khan (born 8 August 1940) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the minister of foreign affairs of Bangladesh from 2001 until 2006. He served as a Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Chittagong-10 constituency in the 6th, 7th and 8th parliaments.He is the founder chairman of one of the leading private bank - AB Bank Limited and Pacific Motors limited. Khan was imprisoned in May 2009 in connection with a graft case in which he was sentenced to 13 years.
Motoharu Kurosawa (黒澤元治, Kurosawa Motoharu; born 6 August 1940), nicknamed "Gan-san", is a retired professional…
Motoharu Kurosawa (黒澤元治, Kurosawa Motoharu; born 6 August 1940), nicknamed "Gan-san", is a retired professional Japanese racing driver. He is the patriarch of a racing family; his three sons, Takuya, Haruki, and Tsubasa, are all racing drivers.
Fumitada Itakura (板倉 文忠, Itakura Fumitada; born 6 August 1940) is a Japanese scientist. He did pioneering work in…
Fumitada Itakura (板倉 文忠, Itakura Fumitada; born 6 August 1940) is a Japanese scientist. He did pioneering work in statistical signal processing, and its application to speech analysis, synthesis and coding, including the development of the linear predictive coding (LPC) and line spectral pairs (LSP) methods.
Atsuko Shimoda (下田 敦子, Shimoda Atsuko; born August 5, 1940) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan…
Atsuko Shimoda (下田 敦子, Shimoda Atsuko; born August 5, 1940) 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 Hirosaki, Aomori and graduate of Akita Junior College (now Akita Eiyo Junior College), she was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 after serving in the city assembly of Hirosaki for three terms.
Makoto Koga (古賀 誠, Koga Makoto; born 5 August 1940) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…
Makoto Koga (古賀 誠, Koga Makoto; born 5 August 1940) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) and formerly Minister of Transport. A native of Setaka, Fukuoka and graduate of Nihon University, he was elected for the first time in 1980 after an unsuccessful run in 1979. The character Tetsuya Gamon in the manga Akumetsu is based on him.
Norio Kudo (工藤 紀夫, Kudō Norio; born August 2, 1940) is a professional Go player.
Tsuneharu Sugiyama (杉山 恒治, Sugiyama Tsuneharu; 23 July 1940 – 22 November 2002) was a Japanese amateur and professional…
Tsuneharu Sugiyama (杉山 恒治, Sugiyama Tsuneharu; 23 July 1940 – 22 November 2002) was a Japanese amateur and professional wrestler. He competed in the men's Greco-Roman heavyweight at the 1964 Summer Olympics. After his competitive career, he worked in International Wrestling Enterprise, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling under the ring name of Thunder Sugiyama, later becoming an actor and tarento until his death.
Hanako, Princess Hitachi (正仁親王妃華子, Masahito Shinnōhi Hanako) (born Hanako Tsugaru (津軽華子, Tsugaru Hanako); 19 July…
Hanako, Princess Hitachi (正仁親王妃華子, Masahito Shinnōhi Hanako) (born Hanako Tsugaru (津軽華子, Tsugaru Hanako); 19 July 1940), is a member of the Japanese imperial family as the wife of Masahito, Prince Hitachi, who is the younger son of Emperor Shōwa and the only brother of Emperor Emeritus Akihito. By marriage, she is the aunt of Emperor Naruhito.
Masaaki Kaneko (金子正明, Kaneko Masaaki; born July 8, 1940) is a retired Japanese featherweight freestyle wrestler.…
Masaaki Kaneko (金子正明, Kaneko Masaaki; born July 8, 1940) is a retired Japanese featherweight freestyle wrestler. Between 1966 and 1968 he won all major titles, including gold medals at two world championships, and at the 1966 Asian and 1968 Olympic Games. He was inducted in the Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007.
Reiko Kusamura (草村礼子) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 18th Yokohama Film…
Reiko Kusamura (草村礼子) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 18th Yokohama Film Festival for Shall We Dance?
Nobuko Asai (浅井 暢子, Asai Nobuko; born 2 July 1940), better known by her stage name Ruriko Asaoka (浅丘 ルリ子, Asaoka…
Nobuko Asai (浅井 暢子, Asai Nobuko; born 2 July 1940), better known by her stage name Ruriko Asaoka (浅丘 ルリ子, Asaoka Ruriko), is a Japanese actress. She gained a popularity and appeared in over 121 films, as well as mainly worked on stage in addition to an occasional television appearance.
Kei Yamamoto (山本 圭, Yamamoto Kei) (July 1, 1940 – March 31, 2022) was a Japanese actor.
Fukunohana Koichi (born 1 July 1940 as Koichi Fukushima) is a former sumo wrestler from Kōshi, Kumamoto, Japan. He made…
Fukunohana Koichi (born 1 July 1940 as Koichi Fukushima) is a former sumo wrestler from Kōshi, Kumamoto, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 1958 and reached the top division in September 1965. His highest rank was sekiwake. He retired in November 1975. He had been scheduled to fight Kashiwado in July 1969 and Taihō in May 1971, but on both occasions received a fusensho or win by default because the yokozuna both announced their retirements. Fukunohana had never beaten Taihō in the ring, losing to him ten straight times. He made his only appearance at sekiwake in January 1971, by which time he was already over 30, unusually old for a sekiwake debut at that time. He was three times a tournament runner-up, earned seven special prizes for Fighting Spirit and five gold stars for defeating yokozuna. In January 1970 he knocked out ōzeki Kitanofuji with a harite or strike with the open hand, a legitimate sumo move, and acquired the nickname "flower of the hook," a play on his shikona Fukunohana. He became a mentor to Mienoumi, who was a fellow member of Dewanoumi stable, and said that he would not retire until Mienoumi reached the rank of ōzeki. After six straight make-koshi or losing scores in the top division, he announced his retirement after the November 1975 tournament, when Mienoumi's promotion to ōzeki was confirmed. He became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Sekinoto, working as a coach at Dewanoumi stable. His wife was the daughter of a previous owner of the Sekinoto elder name, former komusubi Wakashima. He became a special executive in 2000. He left the Sumo Association in 2005 upon turning 65 years of age. From 2009 until 2011 a junior wrestler at Dewanoumi stable, whose real name was Fukumoto, was given permission to use the Fukunohana shikona.
Matsumaeyama Takeshi (born 29 June 1940 as Sadao Watanabe) is a former sumo wrestler from Matsumae, Hokkaidō, Japan. He…
Matsumaeyama Takeshi (born 29 June 1940 as Sadao Watanabe) is a former sumo wrestler from Matsumae, Hokkaidō, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 1958 and reached the top division in July 1964. His shikona ring name came from his birthplace of Matsumae. His highest rank was maegashira 9. He was forced to miss six tournaments after being diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and fell to the sandanme division. However he managed to return to the sekitori level and won the jūryō division championship in March 1967 with a 12–3 record. This was his first tournament fighting for the newly formed Kokonoe stable. Upon retirement from active competition at the age of 27 he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Onoe. He left the Sumo Association in November 1968 and opened a chankonabe restaurant in Kabukichō, Tokyo.
Kainoyama Isamu (born Isamu Irii; June 28, 1940 – July 5, 1997) was a sumo wrestler from Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki, Japan. He…
Kainoyama Isamu (born Isamu Irii; June 28, 1940 – July 5, 1997) was a sumo wrestler from Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1955, and reached the top division in January 1961. His highest rank was sekiwake. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Onogawa. He left the Sumo Association in September 1971.
Jerry Fujio (ジェリー藤尾, Jerī Fujio); 26 June 1940 – 14 August 2021) was a Japanese singer, actor and tarento. Born to a…
Jerry Fujio (ジェリー藤尾, Jerī Fujio); 26 June 1940 – 14 August 2021) was a Japanese singer, actor and tarento. Born to a British mother and Japanese father in Shanghai, in Japanese-occupied China, his real name was Shigeki Fujio (藤尾 薫紀, Fujio Shigeki). Fujio was represented with Office Kiko. He was known for one of his songs "Tōku e Ikitai". Fujio dropped out from Senshi University Keio High School. His daughters were former actresses Miki Fujio and Aki Fujio. Fujio's ex-wife was singer and tarento Tomoko Watanabe. He died in Yokohama of acute pneumonia.
Shozo Tsugitani (継谷 昌三, Tsugitani Shōzō; June 25, 1940 – June 2, 1978) was a Japanese football player.
Morio Shigematsu (重松 森雄, Shigematsu Morio; born 21 June 1940) is a former Japanese long-distance runner who competed in…
Morio Shigematsu (重松 森雄, Shigematsu Morio; born 21 June 1940) is a former Japanese long-distance runner who competed in marathons. On June 12, 1965, Shigematsu set a world's best in the marathon with a time of 2:12:00 at the Polytechnic Marathon. Less than two months earlier, he had set a course record at the 1965 Boston Marathon (2:16:33). In his career, in 22 marathons started, he recorded 6 victories, placed second 3 times and third once. Shigematsu ran seven marathons under 2:20.
Hanahikari Setsuo (born 21 June 1940 as Setsuo Endo) is a former sumo wrestler from Matsuo, Iwate, Japan. He made his…
Hanahikari Setsuo (born 21 June 1940 as Setsuo Endo) is a former sumo wrestler from Matsuo, Iwate, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1958 and reached the top division in November 1965. His highest rank was maegashira 3. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Ōtake. He left the Sumo Association in May 1975.
Kozō Andō (安藤 宏三, Andō Kozō; 1940–2003) was a teacher of kendo. Andō was born in Ōgaki, Gifu on June 20, 1940, and…
Kozō Andō (安藤 宏三, Andō Kozō; 1940–2003) was a teacher of kendo. Andō was born in Ōgaki, Gifu on June 20, 1940, and began practising kendo at the age of 13 as a student when living in Yokkaichi. He eventually became captain of his university's team and advanced to 7th dan at age 27. Throughout his life, he remained shihan (senior teacher) at his university. He was also involved in kendo as a member of several bodies of the All-Japanese Kendo Federation (ZNKR) and the All-Japanese Student Kendo Federation (ZNGKR). Andō authored several publications on kendo, one of which is still recognized as a standard textbook for German-language practitioners of the sport. He acted as a national trainer in Germany for years and committed himself to the development of kendo there and in several other European countries such as the Baltic states. He was recognized as a shihan of a Hamburg-based dojo which is holding annual seminars to his remembrance. In 2003, Andō suffered a stroke during a flight back to Japan and died on October 8.
Sukeshiro Terata (寺田 典城, Terata Sukeshiro; born June 19, 1940) is a retired Japanese politician who served as the…
Sukeshiro Terata (寺田 典城, Terata Sukeshiro; born June 19, 1940) is a retired Japanese politician who served as the governor of Akita Prefecture from 1997 to 2009.
Naoki Tanaka (田中 直紀, Tanaka Naoki; born 19 June 1940 as Naoki Suzuki) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic…
Naoki Tanaka (田中 直紀, Tanaka Naoki; born 19 June 1940 as Naoki Suzuki) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, who served as a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature), from Niigata Prefectural electorate. He is a native of Kanazawa, Ishikawa and a graduate of Keio University. When he married Makiko Tanaka he changed his family name to hers. In 1983, he entered the House of Representatives as a Liberal Democratic Party candidate, beginning his political career. He later served three terms in the House of Councillors.
Isao Harimoto (張本 勲, Harimoto Isao; June 19, 1940 – September 9, 2026) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…
Isao Harimoto (張本 勲, Harimoto Isao; June 19, 1940 – September 9, 2026) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. Over his 23-season playing career in Nippon Professional Baseball, Harimoto played for the Toei Flyers/Nittaku Home Flyers/Nippon-Ham Fighters, the Yomiuri Giants and the Lotte Orions. He is the holder of the record for most hits in the Japanese professional leagues. An ethnic Korean, his birth name was Jang Hun (Korean: 장훈; Hanja: 張勳). Harimoto spent his life as a resident of Japan and adopted a Japanese name, but remained a Korean citizen, thus making him a Zainichi Korean for many years. An accident from youth forced Harimoto into becoming a left-hander, and when he became interested in baseball, he dedicated himself to adjust to playing the field and batting that resulted in him making the majors in 1959. As a rookie, he batted .275 in 125 games with 115 hits on his way to being named the Pacific League Rookie of the Year. His career furthered the following season, where he earned his first All-Star selection and Best Nine Award. In the entire decade of the 1960s, he was named among the Best Nine in every season. He won the batting title in 1961, batting .336 while collecting 159 hits and 24 home runs. He had the first of his four 30-HR seasons in 1962, which saw the Flyers win their first ever Pacific League pennant along him winning the league MVP Award. The Flyers won their first Japan Series that year in seven games for what ended up being Harimoto's first and only championship. Harimoto would continue to rack up All-Star selections and batting championships for the team, which included seven total batting championships from 1961 to 1974 before he was traded in 1975 to the Yomiuri Giants. He was named to the Best Nine two further times with the Giants, with his 16th and final one occurring in 1977 at the age of 37. He departed the team for the Lotte Orions in 1980 on the precipice of Japanese history. That season, he became the first player in Japanese baseball history with 3,000 career hits, doing so in May. He later hit his 500th career home run that year to become the first Japanese player with 500 home runs and 300 stolen bases. One of the most well-rounded hitters in NPB history, in 23 seasons of play, he had sixteen 20-HR seasons along with five seasons of at least 20 stolen bases while batting .300 in sixteen different seasons. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990 and during his post-playing career worked as a television baseball analyst.
Yukio Horigome (堀籠 幸男, Horigome Yukio; born June 16, 1940) was a member of the Supreme Court of Japan. He died from…
Yukio Horigome (堀籠 幸男, Horigome Yukio; born June 16, 1940) was a member of the Supreme Court of Japan. He died from pneumonia on March 6, 2025.