Kaoru Ikeya (池谷薫, Ikeya Kaoru) (born 14 October 1958) is a Japanese documentary film director. He directed the…Kaoru Ikeya (池谷薫, Ikeya Kaoru) (born 14 October 1958) is a Japanese documentary film director. He directed the documentary The Ants (2006). His work addresses the topics of war and Japanese military history. His film Runta (2015) deals with the political situation in Tibet. while Senzo Ni Naru (2013), about the aftermath of March, 11 2011 earthquake, was screened at the Berlin Festival.
Yoshiteru Otani (大谷 芳照, Ōtani Yoshiteru; born 1958) is a Japanese artist best known for his Peanuts-inspired work.…Yoshiteru Otani (大谷 芳照, Ōtani Yoshiteru; born 1958) is a Japanese artist best known for his Peanuts-inspired work. Otani is the creator of much of the artwork found in the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center. An exhibit of Otani's Peanuts-themed charcoal ink paintings, Peanuts: Found in Translation, was presented at the Schulz Museum from November 12, 2004, to April 11, 2005.
Ikurō Fujiwara (藤原いくろう, Fujiwara Ikurou; born 28 July 1958 in Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama, Japan) is a Japanese…Ikurō Fujiwara (藤原いくろう, Fujiwara Ikurou; born 28 July 1958 in Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama, Japan) is a Japanese pianist, composer, conductor and musical producer signed under Being Inc. He is Pops Executive Producer in the Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo orchestra.
Naoya Hatakeyama (畠山 直哉, Hatakeyama Naoya; born 1958) is a Japanese photographer. His work explores human intervention…Naoya Hatakeyama (畠山 直哉, Hatakeyama Naoya; born 1958) is a Japanese photographer. His work explores human intervention with the landscape and natural materials, including the life of cities and the built environment.
Kenya Hara (原 研哉, Hara Ken'ya; born 1958) is a Japanese graphic designer, curator and writer from Okayama prefecture…Kenya Hara (原 研哉, Hara Ken'ya; born 1958) is a Japanese graphic designer, curator and writer from Okayama prefecture, Japan. He is a graduate of the Musashino Art University. Hara joined Nippon Design Center after graduating from master's program at Musashino Art University in 1983. He is employed by the Musashino Art University as a professor and taught Communication Design and Design Theory in Science on the Design Faculty since April 2003. Hara is one of the leading designers in Japan and his books Designing Design and White are recognized as important in the fields of design theory and aesthetics. Hara has been the art director of Muji since 2001 and designed the opening and closing ceremony programs of the 1998 Winter Olympics. In 2008, Hara partnered with fashion label Kenzo for the launch of its men's fragrance Kenzo Power. He designed the official posters for EXPO 2005 Aichi, created the signage system for the Umeda Hospital, the visual identification for the Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum, worked on a new design for the Matsuya department store in Ginza, and participated in other design projects. In 2021, Hara partnered with Xiaomi, designing a new logo for the company, which was unveiled on 31 March 2021. Hara and his company converted the previous square logo into a combination of a square and a circle. He earned $300,000 from the project.
Hiroshi Abe (安部 裕史, Abe Hiroshi; born 1958) is a Japanese amateur astronomer affiliated with the Yatsuka Observatory.…Hiroshi Abe (安部 裕史, Abe Hiroshi; born 1958) is a Japanese amateur astronomer affiliated with the Yatsuka Observatory. He is noted for numerous discoveries, including his 2007 discovery of the Nova Vulpeculae, and 28 numbered minor planets during 1993–1999. The main-belt asteroid 5379 Abehiroshi, discovered by Osamu Muramatsu in 1991 is named in his honor. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 28 July 1999 (M.P.C. 35482).
Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. is a Japanese multinational holding company, video game developer, publisher, and…Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. is a Japanese multinational holding company, video game developer, publisher, and entertainment conglomerate. It releases role-playing game franchises, such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts, among numerous others. Outside of video game publishing and development, it is also in the business of merchandise, arcade facilities, and manga publication under its Gangan Comics brand. The original Square Enix Co., Ltd. was formed in April 2003 from a merger between Square and Enix, with the latter as the surviving company. Each share of Square's common stock was exchanged for 0.85 shares of Enix's common stock. At the time, 80% of Square Enix staff were made up of former Square employees. As part of the merger, former Square president Yoichi Wada was appointed the president of the new corporation, while former Enix president Keiji Honda was named vice president. Yasuhiro Fukushima, the largest shareholder of the combined corporation and founder of Enix, became chairman. In October 2008, Square Enix conducted a company split between its corporate business and video game operations, reorganizing itself as the holding company Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., while its internally domestic video game operations were formed under the subsidiary Square Enix Co., Ltd. The group operates American, Chinese and European branches, based in Los Angeles, Beijing, Paris, Hamburg, and London respectively. Several of Square Enix's franchises have sold over 10 million copies worldwide after 2020, with Final Fantasy selling 212 million, Dragon Quest selling 97 million, and Kingdom Hearts shipping 36 million. In 2005, Square Enix acquired arcade corporation Taito. In 2009, Square Enix acquired Eidos plc, the parent company of British game publisher Eidos Interactive, which was then absorbed into its European branch. Square Enix is headquartered at the Shinjuku Eastside Square Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo, along with offices at Shibuya and Osaka. It has over 5,000 employees worldwide through its base operations and subsidiaries.
Masaru Tomita (Japanese: 冨田 勝, Hepburn: Tomita Masaru; born December 28, 1957) is a Japanese life scientist and…Masaru Tomita (Japanese: 冨田 勝, Hepburn: Tomita Masaru; born December 28, 1957) is a Japanese life scientist and computer scientist known for pioneering contributions to systems biology, metabolomics, artificial intelligence, and computational biology. He is Distinguished Professor at Keio University and Representative Director of Tsuruoka Science Park. He previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies and Director of the Institute for Advanced Biosciences at Keio University. Tomita holds four doctoral degrees in four different fields.
Tadashi Maeda (born December 1957) is governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. He was previously…Tadashi Maeda (born December 1957) is governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. He was previously senior managing director He is a member of the council of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. On 10 April 2024, Maeda was among the guests invited to the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden in honor of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House.
Milk Morizono (Japanese: 森園 みるく, Hepburn: Morizono Miruku; born December 25, 1957) is the pen name of Hiroko Mizoguchi…Milk Morizono (Japanese: 森園 みるく, Hepburn: Morizono Miruku; born December 25, 1957) is the pen name of Hiroko Mizoguchi (Japanese: 溝口 比呂子, Hepburn: Mizoguchi Hiroko), a Japanese manga artist and photographer. Noted for her works in the ladies' manga genre that feature ecchi themes and subject material, Morizono has been called the "Queen of Ladies' Manga" and noted by Rachel Matt Thorn as "the most popular and respected creator of erotic manga for women".
Kazumi Okamura (born December 23, 1957) is a Japanese jurist who has served as an associate justice of the Supreme…Kazumi Okamura (born December 23, 1957) is a Japanese jurist who has served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Japan since 2019.
Tsutomu Kitagawa (喜多川2tom (Real name,喜多川 務), Kitagawa Tsutomu; born December 21, 1957) is a Japanese actor and stuntman…Tsutomu Kitagawa (喜多川2tom (Real name,喜多川 務), Kitagawa Tsutomu; born December 21, 1957) is a Japanese actor and stuntman who is mostly known for playing Godzilla for the "Millennium" (or "Shinsei") series. He also played King Ghidorah for Rebirth of Mothra III. He also played the costumed actor for the Blue (and occasionally, Black) Ranger in many of Toei Company's Super Sentai Series in the 1980s, better known in the United States as Power Rangers. Kitagawa graduated from Sakuragaoka High School before joining Sonny Chiba's Japan Action Club in January 1975.
Hisatoshi Shintaku (新宅 永灯至, Shintaku Hisatoshi; born December 20, 1957), also known as Masanari Shintaku (新宅雅也…Hisatoshi Shintaku (新宅 永灯至, Shintaku Hisatoshi; born December 20, 1957), also known as Masanari Shintaku (新宅雅也, Shintaku Masanari), is a retired long-distance runner from Japan. He won the 1985 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon, clocking 2:09:51 on December 1, 1985. He represented his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics, finishing in 17th place (2:15:42).
Masami Yuki (ゆうきまさみ, Yūki Masami), real name Shūji Satō (佐藤修司 Satō Shūji; born December 19, 1957), is a Japanese manga…Masami Yuki (ゆうきまさみ, Yūki Masami), real name Shūji Satō (佐藤修司 Satō Shūji; born December 19, 1957), is a Japanese manga artist. He is a member of the artist collective known as Headgear, along with Mamoru Oshii, Akemi Takada, Kazunori Itō, and Yutaka Izubuchi. He has received multiple awards for his work: the 1988 Seiun Award for Kyūkyoku Chōjin R, and the 1991 Shogakukan Manga Award for Mobile Police Patlabor. After graduating from Kutchan High School, Yūki moved to Tokyo, where he worked as a manga assistant under artists like Miki Tori and Kaoru Shintani, who inspired him to create his own works. He began by publishing several works in doujinshi, and soon after began working as a professional manga artist with Weekly Shōnen Sunday. In the mid-1980s, he developed the original concept for a lighthearted mecha anime that would become Patlabor, which launched in 1988 with the Early Days OVA and Yūki's serialized manga. As of 2026, he continues to work on projects like Shinkurō, Hashiru! and Patlabor EZY.
Satoru Otomo (大友 哲, Ōtomo Satoru, 19 December 1957, Mitaka) is a Japanese dentist, amateur astronomer and a discoverer…Satoru Otomo (大友 哲, Ōtomo Satoru, 19 December 1957, Mitaka) is a Japanese dentist, amateur astronomer and a discoverer of minor planets. According to the Minor Planet Center, he is credited with the discovery of 148 asteroids between 1991 and 1997, 15 of which were co-discoveries with Osamu Muramatsu. As of 2016, he ranks in 81st place, just behind Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova in the MPC's asteroid discovery listings.
Masako Natsume (夏目 雅子, Natsume Masako; November 17, 1957 – September 11, 1985) was a Japanese actress from Tokyo.…Masako Natsume (夏目 雅子, Natsume Masako; November 17, 1957 – September 11, 1985) was a Japanese actress from Tokyo. Widely popular in Japan, she gained worldwide recognition for her portrayal of Tripitaka in the TV series Monkey, which is now considered a cult classic.
Lin Tainan (Japanese: Lin Tainan/はやしやすお Hayashi Yasuo; December 15, 1957 – July 26, 2018) was a Japanese convicted…Lin Tainan (Japanese: Lin Tainan/はやしやすお Hayashi Yasuo; December 15, 1957 – July 26, 2018) was a Japanese convicted murderer, terrorist and former member of the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo. He is of Korean descent, and changed his name to Koike Yasuo after taking his wife's surname. He was a former senior cadre of Aum Shinrikyo (Master Zhengwu, deputy minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology).
Tomohiro Kojiri (Japanese: 小尻知博; December 12, 1957 – May 4, 1987) was a Japanese journalist for the Tokyo-based…Tomohiro Kojiri (Japanese: 小尻知博; December 12, 1957 – May 4, 1987) was a Japanese journalist for the Tokyo-based newspaper Asahi Shimbun. Kojiri was killed in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, near Osaka, during a shooting at the Asahi Shimbun bureau; the shooter also fired at two other people, injuring one. Investigators believed that Kojiri was targeted by a right-wing, political extremist group known as Sekihōtai (Japanese: 赤報隊), as Kojiri had written a story about Japanese discrimination against the Korean minority, and typed letters were sent in the group's name claiming responsibility. It was the first attack on a newspaper in Japan since 1972. The attack is known in Japan as the Asahi Shimbun Hanshin bureau attack [ja].
Kiyoto Inoue (井上 清登, Inoue Kiyoto; born December 10, 1957) is a Japanese sprint canoer who competed in the mid to late…Kiyoto Inoue (井上 清登, Inoue Kiyoto; born December 10, 1957) is a Japanese sprint canoer who competed in the mid to late 1980s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he earned his best finish of sixth in the C-1 500 m event at Los Angeles in 1984.
Minori Mori (森 美乃里, Mori Minori; born 9 December 1957) is a Japanese athlete. She competed in the women's javelin throw…Minori Mori (森 美乃里, Mori Minori; born 9 December 1957) is a Japanese athlete. She competed in the women's javelin throw at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Katsunori Takahashi (高橋 克法, Takahashi Katsunori; born 7 December 1957) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal…Katsunori Takahashi (高橋 克法, Takahashi Katsunori; born 7 December 1957) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Councillors.
Hiroshi Mori (森 博嗣, Mori Hiroshi; born December 7, 1957) is a Japanese writer and engineer. He is known for writing…Hiroshi Mori (森 博嗣, Mori Hiroshi; born December 7, 1957) is a Japanese writer and engineer. He is known for writing mystery novels – particularly his debut work The Perfect Insider, which won him the first Mephisto Prize in 1996 – but he considers himself to be a researcher as well as a craftsman. He writes his name as "MORI Hiroshi," family name first and uppercased, regardless of the language when romanized.
Mitsuo Tateishi (立石 充男, Tateishi Mitsuo; born June 12, 1957 in Izumi, Osaka, Japan) is a former Japanese baseball…Mitsuo Tateishi (立石 充男, Tateishi Mitsuo; born June 12, 1957 in Izumi, Osaka, Japan) is a former Japanese baseball player. He was most recently the position player coach for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Tomorowo Taguchi (田口 トモロヲ, Taguchi Tomorowo; born November 30, 1957) is a Japanese actor, film director and musician.…Tomorowo Taguchi (田口 トモロヲ, Taguchi Tomorowo; born November 30, 1957) is a Japanese actor, film director and musician. After leaving Dokkyo University without graduating, he started to earn his living as an illustrator, writer and pornographic cartoonist. He joined a theatre called Hakken no Kai in 1978 and he made a screen debut in Zokubutsu Zukan (based on the book by Yasutaka Tsutsui) in 1982. He was also a prominent cult musician in the Tokyo underground scene with his band Bachikaburi in the 1980s and early 1990s. He is probably most well known to the West as the lead actor in Tetsuo and Tetsuo II directed by Shinya Tsukamoto. He also makes regular appearances in Takashi Miike's films. He became known to the Japanese public as a narrator for the TV documentary series Project X - Challengers which aired between 2000 and 2005 on NHK. Taguchi has directed 3 films, Iden & Tity in 2003, Shikisoku Generation in 2009, and Piece of Cake in 2015.
Yumi Maruyama (née Egami, Japanese: 丸山 由美; born 30 November 1957) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed…Yumi Maruyama (née Egami, Japanese: 丸山 由美; born 30 November 1957) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. In 1984, Maruyama was a member of the Japanese team that won the bronze medal at the Olympic tournament. Four years later, she finished fourth with the Japanese team at the 1988 Olympic tournament.
Masahiro Yamada (山田 昌弘, Yamada Masahiro; born November 30, 1957) is a Japanese sociologist known for coining popular…Masahiro Yamada (山田 昌弘, Yamada Masahiro; born November 30, 1957) is a Japanese sociologist known for coining popular sociological terms like parasite singles and gap-widening society (格差社会, kakusa shakai). A graduate of University of Tokyo, he now teaches at Tokyo Gakugei University as professor.
Tetsuo Sugamata (菅又 哲男, Sugamata Tetsuo; born November 29, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Tetsuo Sugamata (菅又 哲男, Sugamata Tetsuo; born November 29, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Shin Hea-sook (born 29 November 1957) is a former competitive South Korean figure skater. She is a two-time South…Shin Hea-sook (born 29 November 1957) is a former competitive South Korean figure skater. She is a two-time South Korean National champion (1979, 1980) and competed in the ladies' singles event at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Yasutaro Matsuki (松木 安太郎, Matsuki Yasutarō; born November 28, 1957) is a former Japanese football player and manager.…Yasutaro Matsuki (松木 安太郎, Matsuki Yasutarō; born November 28, 1957) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team. He also worked as a football commentator.
Kiichiro Satō (佐藤 樹一郎, Satō Kiichirō; born 28 November 1957) is a Japanese politician. He currently serves as governor…Kiichiro Satō (佐藤 樹一郎, Satō Kiichirō; born 28 November 1957) is a Japanese politician. He currently serves as governor of Ōita Prefecture since 2023.
Kie Nakai (中井貴惠, Nakai Kie) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 7th Yokohama…Kie Nakai (中井貴惠, Nakai Kie) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 7th Yokohama Film Festival for Kanashii kibun de joke.
Tsunekazu Ishihara (Japanese: 石原 恒和, Hepburn: Ishihara Tsunekazu; born November 27, 1957) is a Japanese video game…Tsunekazu Ishihara (Japanese: 石原 恒和, Hepburn: Ishihara Tsunekazu; born November 27, 1957) is a Japanese video game designer, director, producer and businessman who is the president and Chief executive officer of The Pokémon Company. Prior to working with the Pokémon franchise, Ishihara was part of Ape Inc. and worked on titles such as EarthBound, and then years later he founded Creatures Inc. Ishihara's work with Pokémon, in which he was involved since early development stages during the 1990s, had him as a producer from Creatures while he also heavily focused on licensed and spin-off products such as the Pokémon Trading Card Game, with him founding The Pokémon Company to handle such business activities. He was also crucial in the development of Pokémon Go, having supported the concept of a location-based Pokémon game.
Satoru Sayama (佐山 聡, Sayama Satoru; born November 27, 1957), best known as the original Tiger Mask, is a Japanese…Satoru Sayama (佐山 聡, Sayama Satoru; born November 27, 1957), best known as the original Tiger Mask, is a Japanese writer, retired professional wrestler, martial artist, mixed martial arts (MMA) and wrestling promoter, and trainer. He is the founder of Shooto, a pre-Ultimate Fighting Championship MMA promotion, and is widely considered to be one of the most influential masked Japanese wrestlers of all time (alongside his contemporaries Jushin Thunder Liger and Último Dragón). The only man to hold the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship and the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship simultaneously, Sayama became widely known in the wrestling world for his all-round prowess of high-flying, technical abilities, and martial combat skills (as he was a practitioner of judo and freestyle wrestling in his youth). Primarily trained under New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) founder Antonio Inoki and his mentor Karl Gotch, Sayama made his professional wrestling debut in 1976 at 18 years old. He was sent on an excursion to Europe for World of Sport Wrestling and Mexico for Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre, where he not only found his ground as a technical wrestler, but also found his niche in Lucha libre. Sayama became Tiger Mask in 1981, brought from Ikki Kajiwara's 1968 manga series of the same name and the popular anime of the decade. He became involved in highly publicized feuds with Black Tiger (portrayed by Mark Rocco), Dynamite Kid, and Yoshiaki Fujiwara, who was one of Sayama's own trainers. He left NJPW at the height of his popularity in 1983 due to political disenfranchisement, and later became a founding member of the UWF brand in Japan. He then became dissatisfied with wrestling as a whole, leading him to write Kay Fabe (1985), which detailed the kayfabe and secrets of puroresu at the time. After declaring retirement from professional wrestling in 1985 after the collapse of UWF, he founded Shooto, one of the first MMA organizations in the world. Sayama also started mixed martial arts training and developed his own Shooto syllabus for learning what could be considered the first put together MMA training of its kind, with a focus on striking from arts like boxing, muay thai, and karate, and grappling from wrestling, judo, and sambo. The curriculum would help produce the first well rounded fighters of MMA several years before the first UFC event. While on Shooto, Sayama promoted the Vale Tudo Japan events, more rules free events inspired by Brazilian Vale Tudo and early UFC, helping to popularize MMA in Japan. He retired from his post in Shooto in 1996, and returned to professional wrestling soon after. In 2005, Sayama founded his own promotion, Real Japan Pro-Wrestling (RJPW), which later became Strong Style Pro-Wrestling. Sayama likened the promotion to include wrestlers from the past, as well as martial artists, Sayama's students, and modern stars from the likes of Battlarts, Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJPW), and more. Although he hasn't officially declared retirement, Sayama last wrestled on December 7, 2016. It was announced in 2020 that he had several health problems, which linked him to Parkinson's disease and immobility.
Kōichi Watanabe (渡辺 孝一, Watanabe Kōichi; 25 November 1957 – 17 September 2026) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal…Kōichi Watanabe (渡辺 孝一, Watanabe Kōichi; 25 November 1957 – 17 September 2026) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives.
Akinobu Okada (岡田 彰布, Okada Akinobu) (born November 25, 1957) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and…Akinobu Okada (岡田 彰布, Okada Akinobu) (born November 25, 1957) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and manager. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 1980 to 1995 for the Hanshin Tigers and Orix BlueWave.
Junichi Ishii (石井 準一, Ishii Jun'ichi; born 1957) is a Japanese politician, currently a member of the House of…Junichi Ishii (石井 準一, Ishii Jun'ichi; born 1957) is a Japanese politician, currently a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (Japanese national legislature). He is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, and affiliated to the revisionist lobby Nippon Kaigi. A graduate of a high school in Chiba Prefecture, he served in the assembly of Chiba Prefecture since 2003, and was elected to the national House in 2007.
Kozo Tashima (田嶋 幸三, Tashima Kōzō; born November 21, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the…Kozo Tashima (田嶋 幸三, Tashima Kōzō; born November 21, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team. He is also the president of the Japan Football Association and the East Asian Football Federation.
Michiko Nishiwaki (西脇 美智子, Nishiwaki Michiko; born November 21, 1957) is a Japanese actress, stuntwoman, martial…Michiko Nishiwaki (西脇 美智子, Nishiwaki Michiko; born November 21, 1957) is a Japanese actress, stuntwoman, martial artist, fight choreographer, former female bodybuilder and powerlifter. She performed the high-risk stunts as a double for Lucy Liu in the film Charlie's Angels.
Kiminori Matsuyama (松山公紀, Matsuyama Kiminori; born 19 November 1957) is a Japanese economist. He is a professor of…Kiminori Matsuyama (松山公紀, Matsuyama Kiminori; born 19 November 1957) is a Japanese economist. He is a professor of economics at Northwestern University and, since December 2018, the chief scientific adviser of the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research. He is also international senior fellow at the Canon Institute of Global Studies. He was awarded the Nakahara Prize from the Japanese Economic Association in 1996 and was elected a fellow of the Econometric Society in 1999, and a fellow of the Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory in 2011.
Michiru Jo (城みちる, Jō Michiru; born 18 November 1957 in present day Kure, Hiroshima, Japan, as Kōtarō Jōya) is an actor…Michiru Jo (城みちる, Jō Michiru; born 18 November 1957 in present day Kure, Hiroshima, Japan, as Kōtarō Jōya) is an actor and J-pop musician in Japan. He first became famous when he applied to a Star Tanjō! audition at the age of 15. He released his first single, "Iruka ni Notta Shounen" ('The Boy Who Rode the Dolphin'), in 1973, which was his most well-known song. At the age of 20, he stopped singing to study at the Komazawa University in Tokyo, but then left at the age of 23 to return to Hiroshima. In Hiroshima, he lived with his parents and worked for them in their electrical appliance shop. He then got married when he was 25 and moved to Tokyo. His first child (a son) was born two years later. He soon divorced but then remarried again when he was 34, and not long after that, his daughter was born. His most famous television appearance was on the game show Takeshi's Castle during the late 1980s, where he played the role of one of the many henchmen working for Count Takeshi, portrayed by, Takeshi Kitano. Despite the rumours outside Japan, Michiru is not Takeshi Kitano's nephew. Most recently, he got a job on the local TV channel Hiroshima TV on a programme called "Susume, sports-genkimaru", where he talked about fishing once a month. The programme is still shown in Hiroshima, but it is unknown whether or not he is still on it. He is still listed as a "Class D Entertainer", which means that his appearance fee is between 1 and 2 million yen.
Hideaki Tomiyama (富山 英明, Tomiyama Hideaki; born November 16, 1957) represented Japan in wrestling at the 1984 Olympics…Hideaki Tomiyama (富山 英明, Tomiyama Hideaki; born November 16, 1957) represented Japan in wrestling at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and won the gold medal in the bantamweight division. He later coached the 2004 Athens Olympics wrestling team. He is currently the head coach of the Nihon University wrestling team.
Koji Miyamoto is a Japanese professional wrestling historian and writer, best known for his work on Lou Thesz. He has…Koji Miyamoto is a Japanese professional wrestling historian and writer, best known for his work on Lou Thesz. He has authored sixteen books.
Tetsuo Sakurai (櫻井(桜井) 哲夫, Sakurai Tetsuo; born 13 November 1957) is a Japanese bassist. To date, he has released a…Tetsuo Sakurai (櫻井(桜井) 哲夫, Sakurai Tetsuo; born 13 November 1957) is a Japanese bassist. To date, he has released a total of 37 albums as a member of Casiopea and Jimsaku and as a solo artist, and has also made 3 bass instructional videos.
Fumiko Takano (高野文子, Takano Fumiko; born 12 November 1957) is a Japanese manga artist. She is considered to be one of…Fumiko Takano (高野文子, Takano Fumiko; born 12 November 1957) is a Japanese manga artist. She is considered to be one of the manga artists of the "New Wave" of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when she started as a doujinshi (amateur) artist and then drew short stories with an unconventional style for magazines like June and Petit Flower. She was also a pioneer for female manga artists to publish outside of female-oriented publishing venues. Two of Takano's short story collections, Zettai Anzen Kamisori (1982) and Kiiroi Hon (2002), won awards. While she has a strong fan base in Japan, her work is less known internationally.
Manabu Matsuda (born 11 November 1957) is a Japanese politician, finance bureaucrat and university professor. He is a…Manabu Matsuda (born 11 November 1957) is a Japanese politician, finance bureaucrat and university professor. He is a member of the House of Councillors, since 2025, for the Sanseitō party.
