Hiroyuki Togashi (冨樫 博之, Togashi Hiroyuki; born 27 April 1955) is a Japanese politician from the Liberal Democratic…Hiroyuki Togashi (冨樫 博之, Togashi Hiroyuki; born 27 April 1955) is a Japanese politician from the Liberal Democratic Party who served as the State Minister for Reconstruction in 2021.
Katsuyuki Kawachi (河内 勝幸, Kawachi Katsuyuki; born April 27, 1955) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Katsuyuki Kawachi (河内 勝幸, Kawachi Katsuyuki; born April 27, 1955) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Yukari Takemoto (竹本 ゆかり, Takemoto Yukari; born 27 April 1955) is a retired Japanese swimmer. She had just turned 13…Yukari Takemoto (竹本 ゆかり, Takemoto Yukari; born 27 April 1955) is a retired Japanese swimmer. She had just turned 13 when she qualified for the 1968 Olympics, where she competed in the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke. At her next Olympics in 1972 she took part in the 4 × 100 m freestyle and 200 m and 400 m medley events, but was also eliminated in the preliminaries.
Toshihiro Kaiwa (海和俊宏, Kaiwa Toshihiro; born 24 April 1955) is a Japanese former alpine skier who competed in the 1980…Toshihiro Kaiwa (海和俊宏, Kaiwa Toshihiro; born 24 April 1955) is a Japanese former alpine skier who competed in the 1980 Winter Olympics and 1984 Winter Olympics.
Sakae Kunieda (国枝栄; born 14 April 1955, in Kitagata, Gifu) is a retired Japanese horse trainer. Dubbed "the Kunieda of…Sakae Kunieda (国枝栄; born 14 April 1955, in Kitagata, Gifu) is a retired Japanese horse trainer. Dubbed "the Kunieda of fillies", he is most known for winning 12 Grade I races for fillies and mares, as well as training two Triple Tiara winners; Apapane in 2010 and Almond Eye in 2018.
Yuko Moriguchi (Japanese: 森口祐子, born 13 April 1955) is a Japanese professional golfer who played on the LPGA of Japan…Yuko Moriguchi (Japanese: 森口祐子, born 13 April 1955) is a Japanese professional golfer who played on the LPGA of Japan Tour and the LPGA Tour. Moriguchi won 41 times on the LPGA of Japan Tour between 1978 and 1994 and one of those events, the 1987 Mazda Japan Classic, was an LPGA Tour co-sanctioned tournament. Moriguchi won the LPGA qualifying school tournament in January 1981 and played sparingly on the LPGA Tour from 1981 to 1983. Her 1987 win was as a non-member.
Hideki Saijō (西城 秀樹, Saijō Hideki; originally Tatsuo Kimoto (木本 龍雄, Kimoto Tatsuo); April 13, 1955 – May 16, 2018) was…Hideki Saijō (西城 秀樹, Saijō Hideki; originally Tatsuo Kimoto (木本 龍雄, Kimoto Tatsuo); April 13, 1955 – May 16, 2018) was a Japanese singer, composer, actor, drummer, voice actor, and television and radio show host. Due to his numerous pioneering achievements throughout Asia in the 1970s and 1980s, he is considered an icon amongst Shōwa era idols. With on-stage vivacity and highly acclaimed vocals as his defining trademarks, Saijō quickly came to dominate the Japanese charts of the 1970s. He was consistently promoted as part of the Shin-Gosanke (新御三家, "New Big Three") idol trio alongside two other soloists who debuted around the same time: Goro Noguchi and Hiromi Go. Almost seven years into his career, his 28th single "YOUNG MAN (Y.M.C.A.)" (a Japanese cover of the Village People song of the same name) became a social phenomenon in Japan, selling over 1.8 million copies.
Emiko Kaminuma (上沼 恵美子, Kaminuma Emiko; born 13 April 1955, in Fukura (now Minamiawaji), Mihara District, Hyōgo) is a…Emiko Kaminuma (上沼 恵美子, Kaminuma Emiko; born 13 April 1955, in Fukura (now Minamiawaji), Mihara District, Hyōgo) is a Japanese comedian, singer, television presenter, YouTuber, and radio personality. Her maiden name is Hashimoto (橋本). Kaminuma is one of the leading broadcast personalities in the Kansai region. She has often appeared in Kansai local programs, and has garnered high ratings since the late 1990s. She is married with two children. Kaminuma's husband is Shinpei Kaminuma, a Kansai Telecasting Corporation (KTV) television director, producer, executive director, and production director, as well as Media Pulpo (KTV's subsidiary) representative director and chairman. Kaminuma is represented by her agency, Kaminuma Jimusho. She dropped out of Empire Girls High School Owada School (now Osaka International Waseda High School).
Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (寛仁親王妃信子, Tomohito Shinnōhi Nobuko) (born Nobuko Asō (麻生信子, Asō Nobuko); 9 April 1955) is a…Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (寛仁親王妃信子, Tomohito Shinnōhi Nobuko) (born Nobuko Asō (麻生信子, Asō Nobuko); 9 April 1955) is a member of the Japanese imperial family as the widow of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa.
Kazuyoshi Nakamura (中村 一義, Nakamura Kazuyoshi; born April 8, 1955) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Kazuyoshi Nakamura (中村 一義, Nakamura Kazuyoshi; born April 8, 1955) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Hirofumi Hayashi (林 博史, Hayashi Hirofumi; born April 6, 1955) is a historian, an authority on modern Japanese history…Hirofumi Hayashi (林 博史, Hayashi Hirofumi; born April 6, 1955) is a historian, an authority on modern Japanese history, and is a professor of politics at the Kanto Gakuin University. He has been conducting research on the Japanese occupation of Southeast Asia, Japanese war crimes, and war crimes trials including the subject of comfort women.
Akira Toriyama (Japanese: 鳥山明, Hepburn: Toriyama Akira; April 5, 1955 – March 1, 2024) was a Japanese manga artist and…Akira Toriyama (Japanese: 鳥山明, Hepburn: Toriyama Akira; April 5, 1955 – March 1, 2024) was a Japanese manga artist and character designer. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential authors in the history of manga and created numerous highly influential and popular series, with his most famous and successful project being the Dragon Ball franchise. Toriyama first achieved mainstream recognition for creating the manga series Dr. Slump, which was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. He earned the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen series. Dr. Slump went on to sell over 35 million copies in Japan. It was adapted into an anime, with a second series created in 1997, 13 years after the manga ended. Toriyama wrote and illustrated the Dragon Ball manga from 1984 to 1995. It became one of the best-selling manga series of all time, with 260 million copies sold worldwide, and is considered a key work in increasing manga circulation to its peak in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. Overseas, Dragon Ball's anime adaptations have been credited with boosting anime's international popularity. Beside his manga works, Toriyama acted as a character designer for numerous video games such as Square Enix's Dragon Quest series and Chrono Trigger, in addition to Blue Dragon. In 2019, Toriyama was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts. In October 2024, Toriyama was posthumously inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame.
Takayoshi Yamano (山野 孝義, Yamano Takayoshi; born April 5, 1955) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Takayoshi Yamano (山野 孝義, Yamano Takayoshi; born April 5, 1955) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Akemi Takada (高田明美, Takada Akemi; born March 31, 1955) is a Japanese manga artist and anime character designer born in…Akemi Takada (高田明美, Takada Akemi; born March 31, 1955) is a Japanese manga artist and anime character designer born in Tokyo, Japan. Her character-design work is one of the more recognizable styles of the 1980s, when she worked on series like Creamy Mami and Kimagure Orange Road. She is also noted for her long collaboration with director Mamoru Oshii. She graduated from Tama Art University, after which she worked for Tatsunoko Pro. She is currently a freelance manga artist with her own studio, though she is also a member of the creative group Headgear. She also has her own designer jewelry store called Diakosmos. Takada began working for Tatsunoko productions after visiting the production office as a fan during the broadcast of Gatchaman.
Buichi Terasawa (Japanese: 寺沢 武一, Hepburn: Terasawa Buichi; March 30, 1955 – September 8, 2023) was a Japanese manga…Buichi Terasawa (Japanese: 寺沢 武一, Hepburn: Terasawa Buichi; March 30, 1955 – September 8, 2023) was a Japanese manga artist. His most famous works include Goku Midnight Eye and Cobra.
Tadashi Mihara (三原 正, Mihara Tadashi; born 30 March 1955) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed as a…Tadashi Mihara (三原 正, Mihara Tadashi; born 30 March 1955) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed as a light middleweight throughout his career. Mihara began his boxing career when he was a third grader of the high school. He won the title of the All-Japan Amateur Boxing Championships in the light middleweight division in 1977. He also got the group title of the university league as a captain of the Nihon University boxing club. He experienced 38 matches during his amateur career; winning 28 (15 by knockout) and losing 10. After that, as a professional, Mihara fought 25 times between 1978 and 1985; winning 24 (15 by knockout) and losing 1. He won his first title in his fifth contest as a professional, beating Jae-Keum Lim for the OPBF title, a belt that he defended six times until he returned it. In June 1981, he won via a fifth-round knockout, in the undercard of Ayub Kalule vs. Sugar Ray Leonard, at the Reliant Astrodome, Houston. Since Leonard vacated the title after this, Mihara fought against Rocky Fratto for the vacant WBA world junior middleweight title in Rochester, New York on November 7, 1981. Mihara knocked him down by his right cross in the fourth round, and won the title via a majority decision. Judge Harold Lederman scored the fight a draw. Afterwards he said of Mihara, "There's no doubt that he's got a good jaw. He really got tagged a couple of times. I thought Fratto was going to knock him out." He lost his title after suffering a knockout during his first defence, against Davey Moore at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on February 2, 1982. His lumbago became chronic from these days. Following this loss, Mihara won the Japanese junior middleweight title and defended it six times until June 1984, then returned it. He fought for a final time in March 1985, beating Tricky Kawaguchi by a unanimous decision.
Kōji Tosa (土佐 浩司, Tosa Kōji; March 30, 1955) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of…Kōji Tosa (土佐 浩司, Tosa Kōji; March 30, 1955) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 8-dan.
Jun Murai (村井 純, Murai Jun; born March 29, 1955 in Tokyo) is a Japanese researcher known for being the founder of…Jun Murai (村井 純, Murai Jun; born March 29, 1955 in Tokyo) is a Japanese researcher known for being the founder of influential computer network projects in Japan such as the JUNET and founder of the WIDE Project. He is called by some the "Father of Internet in Japan" and "Internet Samurai." Murai is currently a professor and Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies at Keio University, as well as President of the Japan Network Information Center. Murai has received domestic and international awards and recognitions such as the 2011 IEEE Internet Award and entry to the Internet Hall of Fame in 2013.
Ōyutaka Masachika (born 29 March 1955 as Eiji Suzuki) is a former sumo wrestler from Horinouchi, Niigata, Japan. He…Ōyutaka Masachika (born 29 March 1955 as Eiji Suzuki) is a former sumo wrestler from Horinouchi, Niigata, Japan. He made his professional debut in November 1973, and reached the top division in May 1982. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in January 1987, and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Arashio. He opened Arashio stable in 2002. His son fought for the stable under the shikona Chikarayama, retiring in January 2017. Arashio-oyakata reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in March 2020, and was replaced as head coach of the stable by his most successful wrestler, maegashira Sōkokurai. Sōkokurai had been expelled from sumo in 2011 for alleged match-fixing, but Arashio always stood by his wrestler, and Sōkokurai was re-admitted to sumo in 2013 after winning a court case.
Nahomi Azuma (Japanese: 東菜穂美), known professionally as Nahomi Edamoto (Japanese: 枝元なほみ; March 22, 1955 – February 27…Nahomi Azuma (Japanese: 東菜穂美), known professionally as Nahomi Edamoto (Japanese: 枝元なほみ; March 22, 1955 – February 27, 2025), was a Japanese culinary expert. She wrote various cookbooks and frequently appeared on Japanese cooking shows.
Hiroshi Nishihara (西原寛, Nishihara Hiroshi), born 21 March 1955, is a Japanese chemist and Professor of Chemistry at The…Hiroshi Nishihara (西原寛, Nishihara Hiroshi), born 21 March 1955, is a Japanese chemist and Professor of Chemistry at The University of Tokyo in Japan. Currently heading the department of Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory in The University of Tokyo, he is a distinguished professor, researcher and pioneer in the field of synthesis and electrochemistry of conductive metal complex polymers. His research is focused on creation of new electro- and photo-functional materials comprising both transition metals and π-conjugated chains, and invention of unidirectional electron transfer systems utilizing molecular layer interfaces. He is presently a Vice President of The Electrochemical Society of Japan, and the regional representative of Japan for International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE).
Mariya Takeuchi (竹内 まりや, Takeuchi Mariya; born 20 March 1955) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and record producer.…Mariya Takeuchi (竹内 まりや, Takeuchi Mariya; born 20 March 1955) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and record producer. Regarded as the "Queen of City Pop", Takeuchi is one of the best-selling music artists in Japan with over 16 million records sold. Internationally, her 1985 song "Plastic Love" became a sleeper hit and the catalyst of the 21st century revival of city pop. Takeuchi was born in Taisha, Hikawa district, now the city of Izumo, Shimane, and attended Keio University. She signed with RCA in 1978, releasing five albums under the label which appeared on the Oricon Charts, including her chart-topping third effort Love Songs (1980). She terminated her contract with RCA in 1981 and announced a temporary hiatus. In 1982, she married singer and songwriter Tatsuro Yamashita. She signed with Moon Records in 1984, and internationally released her sixth studio album Variety that same year to commercial success. She has since released seven more studio albums and one live album. All of her works have continued to appear on the Oricon Charts, and since 2001, each one of her albums have topped it. Takeuchi has stayed with the Moon record label, working with the different branches since signing in 1984; since 1998, she has also been signed with Warner Music Japan. Her single "Inochi no Uta" (いのちの歌; Song of Life), when re-recorded in 2020, made her the oldest Japanese singer to have a single top the Oricon Charts.
Mikiyasu Tanaka (田中幹保, Tanaka Mikiyasu; born 18 March 1955) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed at the…Mikiyasu Tanaka (田中幹保, Tanaka Mikiyasu; born 18 March 1955) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Tanaka competed at the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow and won a bronze medal.
Jiro Watanabe (渡辺二郎, Watanabe Jirō; born 16 March 1955) is a Japanese former boxer. Watanabe, who fought only in Japan…Jiro Watanabe (渡辺二郎, Watanabe Jirō; born 16 March 1955) is a Japanese former boxer. Watanabe, who fought only in Japan and South Korea, was one of the first World super flyweight champions, as the division was relatively new when he was crowned.
Tsuneo Niijima (新島 恒男, Niijima Tsuneo; born 1955) is a Japanese farmer and amateur astronomer. He is a prolific…Tsuneo Niijima (新島 恒男, Niijima Tsuneo; born 1955) is a Japanese farmer and amateur astronomer. He is a prolific discoverer of minor planets, credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovery and co-discovery of 32 numbered minor planets between 1986 and 1996. He also co-discovered 112P/Urata-Niijima, a periodic comet of the Jupiter family in 1986. The main-belt asteroid 5507 Niijima, discovered by Takeshi Urata and Kenzo Suzuki, was named in his honor. Naming citation was published on 1 September 1993 (M.P.C. 22510).
Chieko Kikkawa (吉川 智恵子, Kikkawa Chieko; born 16 March 1955) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in six events at the…Chieko Kikkawa (吉川 智恵子, Kikkawa Chieko; born 16 March 1955) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in six events at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Yangji Lee (March 15, 1955 – May 22, 1992) was a Japanese-Korean novelist. She won the Akutagawa Prize for her work…Yangji Lee (March 15, 1955 – May 22, 1992) was a Japanese-Korean novelist. She won the Akutagawa Prize for her work Yuhi, becoming the second Zainichi Korean to win the prize.
Juri Yokoyama (横山 樹理 Yokoyama Juri, born 9 March 1955) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who was a member of…Juri Yokoyama (横山 樹理 Yokoyama Juri, born 9 March 1955) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who was a member of the Japan Women's National Team that won the gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Atsuko Seta (瀬田 敦子, Seta Atsuko) (born March 4, 1955) is a Japanese classical pianist. She is particularly successful…Atsuko Seta (瀬田 敦子, Seta Atsuko) (born March 4, 1955) is a Japanese classical pianist. She is particularly successful in Poland, especially in the southwest of the country, regularly performing with the Sudecka Philharmonic orchestra in Wałbrzych and in her native Japan and in Bulgaria. Seta is living in Poland as an Honorable Citizen of Szczawno-Zdroj city. Artistic Director of Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Festival. Honorary Professor of Payap University Thailand. Honorary Chairman of Japan Ginastera Association.
Tomoko Sasaki (佐々木 知子, Sasaki Tomoko; born 2 March 1955) is a Japanese lawyer, politician, novelist and former…Tomoko Sasaki (佐々木 知子, Sasaki Tomoko; born 2 March 1955) is a Japanese lawyer, politician, novelist and former prosecutor. She became a prosecutor in 1983, and worked at the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders from 1993 to 1996. Elected to the House of Councillors in 1998, Sasaki was engaged in introducing the Stalker Regulation Law of 2000. She served as the director of the Women's Affairs Division of the Liberal Democratic Party. She did not run for the election in 2004, but remains a member of the Party Ethics Committee of the LDP. She is a leading advocate of capital punishment in the party. She set up a law firm in 2004 and became a professor of law at Teikyo University in 2005.
Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃, Asahara Shōkō; March 2, 1955 – July 6, 2018), born as Chizuo Matsumoto (松本 智津夫, Matsumoto…Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃, Asahara Shōkō; March 2, 1955 – July 6, 2018), born as Chizuo Matsumoto (松本 智津夫, Matsumoto Chizuo), was a Japanese cult leader and domestic terrorist who founded and led the doomsday cult known as Aum Shinrikyo. He was convicted of masterminding the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway which killed 14 people and injured thousands more, and was also involved in several other assassinations and terrorist attacks. Asahara was sentenced to death in 2004, and his final appeal failed in 2011. In June 2012, his execution was postponed due to further arrests of Aum members. He was executed along with other senior members of Aum Shinrikyo on July 6, 2018.
Yoshikazu Takeuchi (竹内 義和, Takeuchi Yoshikazu; born February 27, 1955 in Wakayama Prefecture) is a Japanese writer of…Yoshikazu Takeuchi (竹内 義和, Takeuchi Yoshikazu; born February 27, 1955 in Wakayama Prefecture) is a Japanese writer of fan guides and novels, as well as a radio co-host. His work Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis (パーフェクト・ブルー 完全変態, Pāfekuto Burū: Kanzen Hentai) was the basis for the 1997 Satoshi Kon anime film Perfect Blue and a 2002 live-action film titled Perfect Blue: Yume Nara Samete. Takeuchi's book Ultraman Visits the Grave is about a young boy who happens to be a fan of Ultraman. Takeuchi has expressed interest in getting his work translated for an English-speaking audience. Seven Seas Entertainment published English-language versions of his Perfect Blue novels in 2018.
Junki Takegami (武上 純希, Takegami Junki; born February 26, 1955) is a Japanese animation and tokusatsu screenwriter. His…Junki Takegami (武上 純希, Takegami Junki; born February 26, 1955) is a Japanese animation and tokusatsu screenwriter. His real name is Shōzō Yamazaki (山崎 昌三, Yamazaki Shouzou), he has also used the alias Keiji Tanimoto (谷本 敬次, Tanimoto Keiji) in the past.
Toshifumi Hinata is a Japanese classical musician and composer. He was born on February 23, 1955, in Tokyo, Japan. He…Toshifumi Hinata is a Japanese classical musician and composer. He was born on February 23, 1955, in Tokyo, Japan. He has composed several albums and composed music for multiple films and television shows including Pavee Lackeen, Long Vacation and Tokyo Love Story.
Junko Mabuki (麻吹 淳子, Mabuki Junko) is a retired pink film actress who became famous in Nikkatsu Roman Porno films…Junko Mabuki (麻吹 淳子, Mabuki Junko) is a retired pink film actress who became famous in Nikkatsu Roman Porno films, particularly in 1981.
Masao Yoshida (吉田 昌郎, Yoshida Masao; 17 February 1955 – 9 July 2013) was a nuclear engineer who served as plant manager…Masao Yoshida (吉田 昌郎, Yoshida Masao; 17 February 1955 – 9 July 2013) was a nuclear engineer who served as plant manager of the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant during the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Iwashita Eiichi (岩下 栄一, born Eiichi Iwashita; February 15, 1955 – January 21, 1999) was a sumo wrestler from Kisarazu…Iwashita Eiichi (岩下 栄一, born Eiichi Iwashita; February 15, 1955 – January 21, 1999) was a sumo wrestler from Kisarazu, Chiba, Japan. He made his professional debut in November 1971, and reached the top division in July 1977. His highest rank was maegashira 8. He also fought under the shikona of Terunoyama (照の山) and Iwanami (岩波). He left the sumo world upon retirement in March 1984.
Mitsuhisa Taguchi (田口 光久, Taguchi Mitsuhisa; February 14, 1955 – November 12, 2019) was a Japanese footballer. A…Mitsuhisa Taguchi (田口 光久, Taguchi Mitsuhisa; February 14, 1955 – November 12, 2019) was a Japanese footballer. A Japanese international, he spent his entire career with Mitsubishi Motors.
Shin Dong-bin (Korean: 신동빈; born Akio Shigemitsu, 14 February 1956) is a South Korean business executive, and the…Shin Dong-bin (Korean: 신동빈; born Akio Shigemitsu, 14 February 1956) is a South Korean business executive, and the chairman of Lotte Corporation since 2011.
Akiko Yano (矢野 顕子, Yano Akiko; born Akiko Suzuki (鈴木 顕子, Suzuki Akiko); February 13, 1955) is a Japanese pop and jazz…Akiko Yano (矢野 顕子, Yano Akiko; born Akiko Suzuki (鈴木 顕子, Suzuki Akiko); February 13, 1955) is a Japanese pop and jazz musician and singer. Born in Tokyo, she was raised in Aomori and began her singing career in the mid-1970s. She has been called "one of the major musical talents of the Japanese popular music world". Her vocals and eclectic style have often been compared to her slightly later English contemporary Kate Bush. She has recorded with Yellow Magic Orchestra and its members Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, as well as with Swing Out Sister, Pat Metheny, The Chieftains, Lyle Mays, members of Little Feat, David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Kenji Omura, Gil Goldstein, Toninho Horta, Mino Cinelu, Jeff Bova, Charlie Haden, Peter Erskine, Anthony Jackson, David Rhodes, Bill Frisell, Thomas Dolby, the band Quruli, Rei Harakami as Yanokami and her daughter Miu Sakamoto.
Takayuki Miyauchi (宮内 タカユキ, Miyauchi Takayuki; born February 4, 1955), is a Japanese singer best known for his work on…Takayuki Miyauchi (宮内 タカユキ, Miyauchi Takayuki; born February 4, 1955), is a Japanese singer best known for his work on theme songs for tokusatsu and anime. A resident of Ibaraki Prefecture, he began his career as founding member and lead vocalist of the band "WHY" in 1981 before making his solo debut in 1984, singing the opening theme for the "Super Sentai" tokusatsu television series Choudenshi Bioman. In the 1980s and 1990s, he would soon go on to be well known for a wide selection of tokusatsu music; notably a great number of insert themes contributed to Super Sentai series such as the opening for Choudenshi Bioman, as well as the opening and closing themes for Ginga Nagareboshi Gin and Kamen Rider Black RX and opening themes for the Metal Hero Series Tokkei Winspector, Tokkyuu Shirei Solbrain, and Tokusou Exceedraft. He has also contributed vocals for insert themes to the animated television series Kinnikuman, Galaxy Angel Z and The King of Braves GaoGaiGar.
Setsuko Karasuma (烏丸 せつこ, Karasuma Setsuko) is an actress and model born on 3 February 1955 in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture…Setsuko Karasuma (烏丸 せつこ, Karasuma Setsuko) is an actress and model born on 3 February 1955 in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. She attended Chukyo University, but left before finishing. She is employed by the From First Production talent agency. Karasuma made her debut as a Clarion Girl in 1980, moving quickly into the gravure idol scene. Her debut as a film actress came as she got the lead role in the 1980 adaptation of the Hiroyuki Itsuki novel Four Seasons・Natsuko (四季・奈津子, Shiki・Natsuko).
Toshiyuki "Toshi" Watanabe (渡辺 俊幸 Watanabe Toshiyuki; born February 3, 1955) is a Japanese musician and composer, known…Toshiyuki "Toshi" Watanabe (渡辺 俊幸 Watanabe Toshiyuki; born February 3, 1955) is a Japanese musician and composer, known for writing film scores.
Sega Corporation is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It…Sega Corporation is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It produces several multi-million-selling game franchises for arcades and consoles including Sonic the Hedgehog, Angry Birds, Football Manager, Phantasy Star, Puyo Puyo, Super Monkey Ball, Bayonetta, Total War, Virtua Fighter, Megami Tensei, Sakura Wars, Persona, and Yakuza. From 1983 until 2001, Sega also developed its own consoles. Sega was founded by Martin Bromley and Richard Stewart as Nihon Goraku Bussan on June 3, 1960. Shortly after, it acquired the assets of its predecessor, Service Games of Japan. In 1965, it became known as Sega Enterprises, Ltd., after acquiring Rosen Enterprises, an importer of coin-operated games. Sega developed its first coin-operated game, Periscope, in 1966. Sega was sold to Gulf and Western Industries in 1969. Following a downturn in the arcade business in the early 1980s, Sega began to develop video game consoles, starting with the SG-1000 and Master System, but struggled against competitors such as the Nintendo Entertainment System. In 1984, Sega executives David Rosen and Hayao Nakayama led a management buyout, with backing from CSK Corporation. In 1988, Sega released the Mega Drive (the "Genesis" in North America). The Mega Drive struggled against competition in Japan, but the Genesis found success overseas after the release of Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991 and briefly outsold its main competitor, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, in the US. In 2001, after several commercial failures such as the 32X, Saturn, and Dreamcast, Sega stopped manufacturing consoles to become a third-party developer and publisher, and was acquired by Sammy Corporation in 2004. Sega Holdings Co., Ltd. was established in 2015; Sega Corporation was renamed to Sega Games Co., Ltd., and its arcade division was split into Sega Interactive. In 2020, Sega Games and Sega Interactive merged to become Sega Corporation. Sega's international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California, and London. Its development studios include its internal research and development divisions (which utilize the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sonic Team brands for several core franchise entries), Sega Sapporo Studio which mainly provides support for the Tokyo-based development teams as well as handling partial game development, and Atlus (including its R&D divisions) and five development studios in the UK and Europe: Creative Assembly, Sports Interactive, Sega Hardlight, Two Point Studios, and Rovio Entertainment (including Ruby Games). Sega is one of the world's most prolific arcade game producers and its mascot, Sonic, is internationally recognized. Sega is recognized for its video game consoles, creativity and innovations. In more recent years, it has been criticized for its business decisions and the quality of its creative output. Being the entertainment contents division of Sega Sammy Holdings, forming one half of the Sega Sammy Group, Sega also owns a toy and amusement machine company, Sega Fave, which comprises its arcade development and manufacturing divisions and two animation studios: TMS Entertainment, which animates, produces, and distributes anime, and Marza Animation Planet, which specializes in CG animation.
Tōru Iwatani (岩谷 徹, Iwatani Tōru; born January 25, 1955) is a Japanese video game designer who spent much of his career…Tōru Iwatani (岩谷 徹, Iwatani Tōru; born January 25, 1955) is a Japanese video game designer who spent much of his career working for Namco. He is best known and commemorated for being the creator of the arcade game Pac-Man (1980). In 2009, he was chosen by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time.
