1950s: 1,954 people
Hiroshi Sowa (楚輪 博, Sowa Hiroshi; born May 1, 1956) is a former Japanese football player and manager.
Satoshi Kinsui (金水 敏, Kinsui Satoshi; born (1956-04-29)29 April 1956) is a Japanese linguist who is currently a…
Satoshi Kinsui (金水 敏, Kinsui Satoshi; born (1956-04-29)29 April 1956) is a Japanese linguist who is currently a professor at Osaka University.
Seiji Hagiwara (萩原 誠司, Hagiwara Seiji; born 28 April 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a…
Seiji Hagiwara (萩原 誠司, Hagiwara Seiji; born 28 April 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) representing the Second District of Okayama Prefecture. A native of Nishiawakura, Okayama and graduate of the University of Tokyo he joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1980, attending Princeton University in the United States while in the ministry. At age 37, he was the deputy director in MITI's Industrial Policy Bureau. After leaving the ministry in 1998, he was elected for mayor of Okayama, Okayama in 1999, serving for two terms. In 2005 he was elected to House of Representatives for the first time. He represents the 2nd District of Okayama Prefecture, which includes the city of Okayama.
Hisashi Kato (加藤 久, Kato Hisashi; born April 24, 1956) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for…
Hisashi Kato (加藤 久, Kato Hisashi; born April 24, 1956) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japanese national team.
Yuko Mori (森 裕子, Mori Yūko; born 20 April 1956) is a Japanese politician and a former member of the House of…
Yuko Mori (森 裕子, Mori Yūko; born 20 April 1956) is a Japanese politician and a former member of the House of Councillors of Japan in the Diet (national legislature). She was previously with the Democratic Party of Japan and briefly belonged to the Tomorrow Party of Japan founded by Yukiko Kada, of which she was the deputy leader. A native of Niigata and graduate of Niigata University, she was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2001 after serving in the town assembly of Yokogoshi, Niigata between 1999 and 2001.
Osamu Kuraishi (倉石平, Kuraishi Osamu) is the former head coach of the Hitachi SunRockers.
Ryu Hirose (廣瀬 龍, Hirose Ryu; born 19 April 1956) is a Japanese football manager and former player he is currently head…
Ryu Hirose (廣瀬 龍, Hirose Ryu; born 19 April 1956) is a Japanese football manager and former player he is currently head coach of WE League club Nagano Parceiro. He had previously managed teams in Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, and Cambodia.
Junichi Ihara (伊原 純一, Ihara Jun'ichi, born 18 April 1956) is a Japanese diplomat who served as Grand Master of…
Junichi Ihara (伊原 純一, Ihara Jun'ichi, born 18 April 1956) is a Japanese diplomat who served as Grand Master of Ceremonies for the Imperial Household from 2023 to 2026. He previously served as Ambassador to France and as Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Geneva.
Katsuhito Nakazato (中里 和人, Nakazato Katsuhito; born 1956) is a Japanese photographer of the man-made environment…
Katsuhito Nakazato (中里 和人, Nakazato Katsuhito; born 1956) is a Japanese photographer of the man-made environment, particularly sheds, alleys and night scenes.
Ōzutsu Takeshi (born 18 April 1956 as Takatoshi Matsumoto) is a former sumo wrestler from Mie, Japan. Beginning his…
Ōzutsu Takeshi (born 18 April 1956 as Takatoshi Matsumoto) is a former sumo wrestler from Mie, Japan. Beginning his professional career in May 1971, he was ranked in the top makuuchi division continuously from March 1979 to January 1992, and his record of 1170 consecutive bouts there is the second best in history after Takamiyama. His highest rank was sekiwake. He was runner-up in one tournament and earned ten kinboshi or gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He also won four sanshō or special prizes. He wrestled for Taihō stable and after his retirement in May 1992 he worked there as a coach before leaving the Japan Sumo Association in 2008.
Shingo Mimura (三村申吾, Mimura Shingo; born 16 April 1956) is a Japanese politician who served as Governor of Aomori…
Shingo Mimura (三村申吾, Mimura Shingo; born 16 April 1956) is a Japanese politician who served as Governor of Aomori Prefecture for five terms, from 29 June 2003 to 28 June 2023. He previously served as a member of House of Representatives from June 2000 to June 2003 from Aomori 2nd ward. He also served as a Mayor of his hometown Momoishi, Aomori from the year 1992 to 1996.
Tsutomu Nishioka (西岡 力, Nishioka Tsutomu, born 1956 in Tokyo) is a professor of International Christian Studies at…
Tsutomu Nishioka (西岡 力, Nishioka Tsutomu, born 1956 in Tokyo) is a professor of International Christian Studies at Tokyo Christian University. He specializes in Japan-Korean relations, South Korea/North Korea Studies. His research focuses on the Comfort women and the North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens. He is a chairman of the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea (NARKN).
Yasuo Tanaka (田中 康夫, Tanaka Yasuo; born 12 April 1956) is a Japanese novelist and politician. He served as the governor…
Yasuo Tanaka (田中 康夫, Tanaka Yasuo; born 12 April 1956) is a Japanese novelist and politician. He served as the governor of Nagano Prefecture from 2000 to 2006, became president of New Party Nippon, and has been elected to Japan's legislatures.
Masafumi Yokoyama (横山 正文, Yokoyama Masafumi; born April 10, 1956) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…
Masafumi Yokoyama (横山 正文, Yokoyama Masafumi; born April 10, 1956) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Takekazu Suzuki (鈴木 武一, Suzuki Takekazu; born April 8, 1956) is a former Japanese football player and manager.
Yoshiko Tanaka (田中 好子, Tanaka Yoshiko; April 8, 1956 – April 21, 2011) was a Japanese actress and singer.
Shigemitsu Sudo (須藤 茂光, Sudo Shigemitsu; born April 2, 1956) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He…
Shigemitsu Sudo (須藤 茂光, Sudo Shigemitsu; born April 2, 1956) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.Currently, he is manager WE League club of Mynavi Sendai Ladies.
Makoto Katamine (March 30, 1956 – September 25, 2023) was a Japanese politician and educator. He served two terms as…
Makoto Katamine (March 30, 1956 – September 25, 2023) was a Japanese politician and educator. He served two terms as mayor of Iizuka, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Hisashi Eguchi (江口 寿史, Eguchi Hisashi; born March 29, 1956) is a Japanese manga artist and one of Japan's most…
Hisashi Eguchi (江口 寿史, Eguchi Hisashi; born March 29, 1956) is a Japanese manga artist and one of Japan's most prominent illustrators of female characters. He made his professional manga debut with Susume!! Pirates in the manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1977. Other notable works include Stop!! Hibari-kun! (adapted into an anime television series in 1983), and the gag series Charamono. Eguchi married idol Mari Mizutani (ja:水谷麻里) in 1990.
Kyoji Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本 恭司, Hepburn: Yamamoto Kyōji; born March 23, 1956, in Matsue, Shimane, Japan) is a Japanese…
Kyoji Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本 恭司, Hepburn: Yamamoto Kyōji; born March 23, 1956, in Matsue, Shimane, Japan) is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer who is the leader of the hard rock/heavy metal bands Bow Wow (known as Vow Wow for a period of time) and Wild Flag. He is known for his skillful guitar playing, with former bandmate Neil Murray calling him one of the top Japanese guitarists, and was one of the first hard rock guitarists to use the tapping technique. Yamamoto often uses 24-fret Yamaha HR guitars.
Itai Keisuke (板井圭介, Itai Keisuke; 21 March 1956 – 14 August 2018) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Usuki, Oita, Japan.…
Itai Keisuke (板井圭介, Itai Keisuke; 21 March 1956 – 14 August 2018) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Usuki, Oita, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. He held the record for most consecutive victories from entry into sumo for several years before it was broken by Jōkōryū in 2012. After his retirement, Itai caused controversy by claiming that the outcomes of many of his matches were set by match-fixing.
Naoto Takenaka (竹中 直人, Takenaka Naoto; born March 20, 1956) is a Japanese actor, comedian, singer, whistler, and…
Naoto Takenaka (竹中 直人, Takenaka Naoto; born March 20, 1956) is a Japanese actor, comedian, singer, whistler, and director from Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, affiliated with From First Production. He is married to idol singer and actress Midori Kinouchi. He is also known as the voice of Samuel L. Jackson in the dubbed version of the Avengers film series as Nick Fury.
Yasuyuki Eda (江田 康幸, Eda Yasuyuki; born 19 March 1956) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of…
Yasuyuki Eda (江田 康幸, Eda Yasuyuki; born 19 March 1956) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Yame, Fukuoka, he attended Kumamoto University as both undergraduate and graduate and studied abroad in Boston University in the United States. He was elected for the first time in 2000.
Yoriko Shono (笙野 頼子, Shōno Yoriko), born 16 March 1956, is a Japanese writer who describes her writing as 'avant-pop'.
Yōsuke Takahashi (高橋 葉介, Takahashi Yōsuke; born 15 March 1956, Nagano, Japan) is a Japanese horror manga artist who is…
Yōsuke Takahashi (高橋 葉介, Takahashi Yōsuke; born 15 March 1956, Nagano, Japan) is a Japanese horror manga artist who is known for his works Mugen Shinshi and Gakkō no Kaidan. He graduated from Komazawa University. He made his professional manga debut in 1977, and has had stories published in the manga anthology series Petit Apple Pie. Kouta Hirano, the Japanese manga artist, says that Takahashi is a treasure to the Japanese manga world.
Motoharu Sano (佐野 元春; born March 13, 1956, in Taitō, Tokyo) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician. A graduate of…
Motoharu Sano (佐野 元春; born March 13, 1956, in Taitō, Tokyo) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician. A graduate of Rikkyo University, Sano is a frontman with a history of performing in several bands which feature music both in Japanese and occasionally, English, playing songs that often have a rock and roll sound to them. In 2007, Rolling Stone Japan ranked his album Someday number 11 on a list of the greatest Japanese rock albums of all time. Additionally, he has spent a year in New York City, even doing a radio show there. Sano took part in a special two-day concert commemorating Takashi Matsumoto's 45th anniversary as a lyricist held at the Tokyo International Forum on August 21–22, 2015. He performed lead vocals on "Haikara Hakuchi" with the surviving members of Happy End, Matsumoto, Haruomi Hosono and Shigeru Suzuki, in place of the deceased Eiichi Ohtaki.
Ruth Diana Lounsbury (born March 12, 1956), better known as Ruth Ozeki, is an American author, filmmaker and Zen…
Ruth Diana Lounsbury (born March 12, 1956), better known as Ruth Ozeki, is an American author, filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest. Her books and films, including the novels My Year of Meats (1998), All Over Creation (2003), A Tale for the Time Being (2013), and The Book of Form and Emptiness (2021), seek to integrate personal narrative and social issues, and deal with themes relating to science, technology, environmental politics, race, religion, war and global popular culture. Her novels have been translated into more than thirty languages. She teaches creative writing at Smith College, where she is the Grace Jarcho Ross 1933 Professor of Humanities in the Department of English Language and Literature.
Hiroshi Nakatsuka (中司 宏, Nakatsuka Hiroshi; born 11 March 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Japan Innovation Party…
Hiroshi Nakatsuka (中司 宏, Nakatsuka Hiroshi; born 11 March 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Japan Innovation Party, who serves as the Minister of State for Regulatory Reform since September 2026. He has also served a member of the House of Representatives since 2021. He is the first member of his party to enter the cabinet of the government.
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).
Kenichi Yajima (矢島 健一, Yajima Ken'ichi; born March 1, 1956, in Gifu) is a Japanese actor.
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.
Miyoko Asada (浅田 美代子, Asada Miyoko; born February 15, 1956) is a Japanese actress. She is a former pop idol.
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).
Hiroshi Ishii (石井 裕, Ishii Hiroshi; born 1956) is a Japanese computer scientist and a professor at the Massachusetts…
Hiroshi Ishii (石井 裕, Ishii Hiroshi; born 1956) is a Japanese computer scientist and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also Associate Director of the MIT Media Laboratory.