Minoru Sano (佐野 実, Sano Minoru; April 4, 1951 – April 11, 2014) was a Japanese celebrity chef who specialized in ramen.…
Minoru Sano (佐野 実, Sano Minoru; April 4, 1951 – April 11, 2014) was a Japanese celebrity chef who specialized in ramen. He was called the Oni of Ramen in Japan. He founded the Shinasobaya Company and helped run the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum. Minoru Sano was born in Totsuka-ku in the city of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He had numerous appearances in the Japanese media. He had many ramen chef disciples. He died of multiple organ failure after suffering with Diabetes for 3 years prior to his death in hospital, surrounded by family.
Famous People Born in 1950s
1950s: 1,954 people
Keigo Masuya (桝屋 敬悟, Masuya Keigo; born 3 April 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a…
Keigo Masuya (桝屋 敬悟, Masuya Keigo; born 3 April 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Abu District, Yamaguchi and graduate of the Soka University, he worked at the government of Yamaguchi Prefecture from 1975 to 1992. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1993.
Kiyoshiro Imawano (忌野 清志郎, Imawano Kiyoshirō), born Kiyoshi Kurihara (栗原 清志, Kurihara Kiyoshi; April 2, 1951 – May 2…
Kiyoshiro Imawano (忌野 清志郎, Imawano Kiyoshirō), born Kiyoshi Kurihara (栗原 清志, Kurihara Kiyoshi; April 2, 1951 – May 2, 2009), was a Japanese rock musician, lyricist, composer, musical producer, and actor from Tokyo, Japan. He was dubbed "Japan's King of Rock". He formed and led the influential rock band RC Succession. He wrote many anti-nuclear songs following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. He was known for pioneering the adoption of linguistic characteristics of the Japanese language into his songs.
Takanori Arisawa (有澤 孝紀, Arisawa Takanori; April 2, 1951 – November 26, 2005) was a Japanese composer and arranger best…
Takanori Arisawa (有澤 孝紀, Arisawa Takanori; April 2, 1951 – November 26, 2005) was a Japanese composer and arranger best known for composing the Sailor Moon and Digimon (Seasons 1-4) anime series. He wrote music for the series, including its video games. Born in Tokyo, Arisawa began to learn piano at the age of 20. After graduating from Senzoku Gakuen College, Arisawa started his career in 1980 by composing "Shinjuku Transfer". He worked for the Tokyo Broadcasting System and wrote several TV dramas. From the 1990s until his death, Arisawa began composing for anime series exclusively. His work on Sailor Moon was initially based on pop music, but gradually began to change to those found in classical music. Sailor Moon was successful and Arisawa won several awards for his work. After Sailor Moon, Arisawa composed music for several shows, including the Digimon series, until his death from bladder cancer in 2005.
Moriteru Ueshiba (植芝 守央, Ueshiba Moriteru; born 2 April 1951) is a Japanese teacher of aikido. He is a grandson of…
Moriteru Ueshiba (植芝 守央, Ueshiba Moriteru; born 2 April 1951) is a Japanese teacher of aikido. He is a grandson of Morihei Ueshiba and son of Kisshomaru Ueshiba. Ueshiba is the third and current Dōshu.
Yōko Asaji (浅茅 陽子, Asaji Yōko) (born April 2, 1951) is a Japanese actress from Shimizu (now part of the city of…
Yōko Asaji (浅茅 陽子, Asaji Yōko) (born April 2, 1951) is a Japanese actress from Shimizu (now part of the city of Shizuoka), Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Yōko starred in the NHK morning drama Kumo no Jūtan, achieving widespread popularity. Since then she has appeared in various television, film, and stage productions. In addition to contemporary roles, Yōko has taken parts in jidaigeki. She portrayed Yaya in the 1987 NHK Taiga drama Onna Taikōki, and from 1988 to 1994 she played Osai, the wife of the fire captain, in Abarenbo Shogun (the second of three actresses for that character). Yōko voiced Maddie Hayes, the Cybill Shepherd role, in the dubbed version of Moonlighting.
Ayako Okamoto (岡本 綾子, Okamoto Ayako; born 2 April 1951) is a Japanese professional golfer. She won 62 tournaments…
Ayako Okamoto (岡本 綾子, Okamoto Ayako; born 2 April 1951) is a Japanese professional golfer. She won 62 tournaments internationally, including 17 on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour in the 1980s and 1990s. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Kohji Kishio (岸尾 光二, Kishio Kōji; born April, 1951) is a Japanese scientist. He retired from the University of Tokyo in…
Kohji Kishio (岸尾 光二, Kishio Kōji; born April, 1951) is a Japanese scientist. He retired from the University of Tokyo in March 2017 and is now Emeritus Professor of UT. His major research fields are Solid State Chemistry, Materials Science and Superconducting Materials Engineering. He is a Fellow of the Japan Society of Applied Physics.
Kōshū Tani (谷 甲州, Tani Kōshū; born March 30, 1951 in Itami, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese science fiction…
Kōshū Tani (谷 甲州, Tani Kōshū; born March 30, 1951 in Itami, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese science fiction writer. He graduated from the Osaka Institute of Technology, and worked as a volunteer in Nepal and the Philippines. He made his professional debut with the story 137th Mobile Brigade in 1979 while still in Nepal. He is known mostly for his hard science fiction works, for which he won the Seiun Award three times (twice for Best Novel, and once for Best Short Story), and the Nitta Jirō Culture Award once. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of Japan, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan, the Space Authors Club, and an associate member of the Hard SF Laboratory. Tani currently lives in Komatsu in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Tomomi "Tommy" Tsuruta (鶴田 友美, Tsuruta Tomomi; March 25, 1951 – May 12, 2000), better known by his ring name Jumbo…
Tomomi "Tommy" Tsuruta (鶴田 友美, Tsuruta Tomomi; March 25, 1951 – May 12, 2000), better known by his ring name Jumbo Tsuruta (ジャンボ鶴田, Janbo Tsuruta), was a Japanese professional wrestler who wrestled for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) for most of his career, and is well known for being the first ever Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, having won the PWF Heavyweight Championship, the NWA United National Championship, and the NWA International Heavyweight Championship, and unifying the three titles. He is also known for being one-half of the first World Tag Team Champions with Yoshiaki Yatsu, having won the NWA International Tag Team Championship and the PWF Tag Team Championship, and unifying the two titles.
Kōichi Iwaki (岩城滉一, Iwaki Kōichi) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 8th Yokohama Film…
Kōichi Iwaki (岩城滉一, Iwaki Kōichi) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 8th Yokohama Film Festival for the 1986 film Minami e Hashire, Umi no Michi o. He was a Zainichi Korean until April 5, 2017, when he naturalized. Iwaki is also a racing car driver.
Toshihide Isamu Iguchi (井口俊英) (1951–2019) was an Executive VP and U.S. Government Bond trader at Daiwa Bank's New York…
Toshihide Isamu Iguchi (井口俊英) (1951–2019) was an Executive VP and U.S. Government Bond trader at Daiwa Bank's New York Branch, who was responsible for $1.1 billion in unauthorized trading losses accumulated over a period of 12 years beginning in 1983.
Ichirō Komatsu (小松 一郎, Komatsu Ichirō; 8 March 1951 – 23 June 2014) was a Japanese diplomat, civil servant and…
Ichirō Komatsu (小松 一郎, Komatsu Ichirō; 8 March 1951 – 23 June 2014) was a Japanese diplomat, civil servant and politician.
Takumi Nemoto (根本 匠, Nemoto Takumi; born 7 March 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…
Takumi Nemoto (根本 匠, Nemoto Takumi; born 7 March 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kōriyama, Fukushima and graduate of the University of Tokyo he joined the Ministry of Construction (which is now part of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) in 1974. Leaving the ministry in 1991 he was elected to the Diet for the first time in 1993. Nemoto was appointed as Minister for Reconstruction in the Second Abe Cabinet on 26 December 2012. Nemoto has served as the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare from 2 October 2018 to 11 September 2019. In January 2019, it was revealed that the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare had been publishing inaccurate monthly labor survey data for nearly 15 years, which led to over 20 million people being underpaid in work-related benefits. The opposition accused Nemoto of being involved in a government coverup to boost Prime Minister Abe's Abenomics policies. A motion of no-confidence was filed against Nemoto on March 1 but was voted down by the ruling LDP coalition. As a member of a parliamentary committee responding to a petition advocating a law prohibiting businesses from forcing female workers to wear high-heeled shoes (KuToo movement), he expressed that it was "necessary and reasonable" to mandate this for female workers.
Ken Tanaka (田中健, Tanaka Ken; born 6 March 1951) is a Japanese actor. He has appeared in more than 40 films since 1974.
Takahiro Yodogawa (淀川 隆博, Yodogawa Takahiro; born 4 March 1951) is a former Japanese football player. From 2004 to…
Takahiro Yodogawa (淀川 隆博, Yodogawa Takahiro; born 4 March 1951) is a former Japanese football player. From 2004 to 2008, he was the president of Japanese football club JEF United Ichihara Chiba.
Heizō Takenaka (竹中 平蔵, Takenaka Heizō; born 3 March 1951) is a Japanese economist, and key figure in Junichiro…
Heizō Takenaka (竹中 平蔵, Takenaka Heizō; born 3 March 1951) is a Japanese economist, and key figure in Junichiro Koizumi's administration (2001–2006), played a significant role in Japan's structural reforms, including labor market deregulation. As Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy and later Financial Services, he advocated for policies aimed at increasing economic flexibility, such as amending the Worker Dispatching Act (also known as the Temporary Staffing Services Act). These changes, enacted in 2003 and 2004, expanded the use of temporary (dispatched) workers by relaxing restrictions. Takenaka's reforms indirectly facilitated the replacement of regular government employees with temporary staff in public sectors, such as education, administrative services, and local government offices. Takenaka's affiliation with Pasona Group, Japan's largest temporary staffing agency, has sparked allegations of embezzlement from government and private sectors, stemming from claims that he replaced permanent employees with Pasona's temporary workers. He joined Pasona as a special advisor in February 2007 (shortly after leaving government) and became chairman in August 2009, serving until 2022. Takenaka benefited from the expanded dispatch market post-deregulation, securing government and private contracts in areas like administrative support, COVID-19 measures, and the Tokyo Olympics—leading to personal profits. Takenaka serves on the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum.
Eiichi Nakamura (中村 栄一, Nakamura Eiichi; born 24 February 1951) is a Japanese chemist and professor of chemistry at…
Eiichi Nakamura (中村 栄一, Nakamura Eiichi; born 24 February 1951) is a Japanese chemist and professor of chemistry at University of Tokyo in Japan, also appointed as lecture profession in Nankai University in Tianjin, China from Sep 2025.
Shigefumi Mori (森 重文, Mori Shigefumi; born February 23, 1951) is a Japanese mathematician, known for his work in…
Shigefumi Mori (森 重文, Mori Shigefumi; born February 23, 1951) is a Japanese mathematician, known for his work in algebraic geometry, particularly in relation to the classification of three-folds. He won the Fields Medal in 1990.
Toshiharu Ikeda (池田敏春, Ikeda Toshiharu) (23 February 1951 – 26 December 2010) was a Japanese film director and…
Toshiharu Ikeda (池田敏春, Ikeda Toshiharu) (23 February 1951 – 26 December 2010) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his films Mermaid Legend (1984) and Evil Dead Trap (1988). Ikeda became involved in filmmaking while still a university student, working as an assistant director for a small independent production company. He joined Nikkatsu in 1974, contributing to multiple Roman Porno movies. He debuted as a director in 1980 with the movie Sukeban Mafia, and later in the same year with Sex Hunter, which the studio criticized for being too rough and vulgar. His latest movie for Nikkatsu was the 1981 Angel Guts: Red Porno. He left the company after the shooting, feeling a lack of support. In 1982 Ikeda joined forces with other directors to found the Director's Company. His first film there was Mermaid Legend (1984), a cult movie that deals with revenge and anti-nuclear sentiment, for which he won Best Director at the 6th Yokohama Film Festival. In 1988 followed Evil Dead Trap, credited with being Japan's first modern horror. During the 90's Ikeda worked less in theatrical films, doing mostly V-Cinema action and erotic films. His latest film was Aki Fukaki (2008), a serious drama and a departure from his usual genre films. Ikeda drowned in 2010 in the sea near Shima in the Mie Prefecture. Speculations arose of the death being a suicide, him having struggled with suicidal thoughts since youth.
Masao Urino (売野 雅勇, Urino Masao; born 22 February 1951 in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese lyricist…
Masao Urino (売野 雅勇, Urino Masao; born 22 February 1951 in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese lyricist, script writer, and film director. He has written lyrics for many musical groups and individual artists, sometimes under the pseudonym Reiji Asō (麻生 麗二, Asō Reiji). After graduating from Tochigi Prefectural Ashikaga High School, he graduated in 1974 with a degree in literature from Sophia University. After graduating, he worked as a copy writer for the advertising firm Mannensha (萬年社), which went bankrupt in 1999. Due to missing an error in an advertisement in a national newspaper, though, he was forced to do other work. While working at Tōkyū Agency International (now Frontage), he made his lyricist debut with the 1981 Chanels song Hoshi Kuzu no Dance Hall. In 1982, he had a big hit with the Akina Nakamori song Shōjo A. From there, he wrote the lyrics for a series of hit songs sung by Hiroaki Serizawa, and for the J-pop group The Checkers (Namida no Request). He has written lyrics for artists including Hidemi Ishikawa, Jun'ichi Inagaki, Daisuke Inoue, Hiromi Iwasaki, Yoshimi Iwasaki, Tomio Umezawa, Yukiko Okada, Yōko Oginome, Carlos Toshiki & Omega Tribe, Naoko Kawai, Yuri Kunizane, Masahiko Kondō, Kiyotaka Sugiyama, Tomomi Nishimura, Yū Hayami, Chiemi Hori, Junko Miyama, and others. Urino made his directorial and script writing debut in 1990 with the film Cinderella Express.
Kōichi Kodama (児玉 孝一, Kodama Kōichi; born February 21, 1951) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who…
Kōichi Kodama (児玉 孝一, Kodama Kōichi; born February 21, 1951) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 8-dan.
Suzue Miuchi (美内 すずえ, Miuchi Suzue; born February 20, 1951) is a Japanese manga artist and author of long-running shōjo…
Suzue Miuchi (美内 すずえ, Miuchi Suzue; born February 20, 1951) is a Japanese manga artist and author of long-running shōjo manga Glass Mask.
Hisato Igarashi (五十嵐 久人, Igarashi Hisato; born February 19, 1951 in Tochigi Prefecture) is a Japanese former gymnast.…
Hisato Igarashi (五十嵐 久人, Igarashi Hisato; born February 19, 1951 in Tochigi Prefecture) is a Japanese former gymnast. He was a member of the Japanese team that won the gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. He is a professor at Niigata University.
Shigeru Umebayashi (梅林茂, Umebayashi Shigeru; [ɯmebajaɕi ɕiɡeɾɯ]) (born February 19, 1951) is a Japanese composer. Once…
Shigeru Umebayashi (梅林茂, Umebayashi Shigeru; [ɯmebajaɕi ɕiɡeɾɯ]) (born February 19, 1951) is a Japanese composer. Once the leader and bass player of Japan's new wave rock band EX, Umebayashi began scoring films in 1985 when the band broke up. He has more than 30 Japanese and Chinese film scores to his credit and is perhaps best known in the West for "Yumeji's Theme" (originally from Seijun Suzuki's Yumeji), included in director Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love (2000). Umebayashi scored most of Wong Kar-wai's follow-up film, 2046 (2004), and House of Flying Daggers.
Makoto Hasebe (Japanese: 長谷部誠 Hasebe Makoto; 17 February 1951 – 12 February 2022) was a Japanese politician. An…
Makoto Hasebe (Japanese: 長谷部誠 Hasebe Makoto; 17 February 1951 – 12 February 2022) was a Japanese politician. An independent, he served as mayor of Yurihonjō from 2009 to 2021. He died on 12 February 2022, at the age of 70.
Haruki Uemura (上村 春樹, Uemura Haruki; born 14 February 1951 in Uki, Kumamoto) is a judoka from Japan, who won the gold…
Haruki Uemura (上村 春樹, Uemura Haruki; born 14 February 1951 in Uki, Kumamoto) is a judoka from Japan, who won the gold medal in the Open class at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. In the final of the Olympic tournament in Canada he defeated Great Britain's Keith Remfry. In 2009 Uemura was elected President of Kodokan and awarded the rank of 9th dan.
Mitsuru Adachi (Japanese: あだち 充 or 安達 充, Hepburn: Adachi Mitsuru; born February 9, 1951) is a Japanese manga artist.…
Mitsuru Adachi (Japanese: あだち 充 or 安達 充, Hepburn: Adachi Mitsuru; born February 9, 1951) is a Japanese manga artist. After graduating from Gunma Prefectural Maebashi Commercial High School in 1969, Adachi worked as an assistant for Isami Ishii. He made his manga debut in 1970 with Kieta Bakuon, based on a manga originally created by Satoru Ozawa. Kieta was published in Deluxe Shōnen Sunday (a manga magazine published by Shogakukan). Adachi is well known for romantic comedy and sports manga (especially baseball) such as Touch, H2, Slow Step, Miyuki and Cross Game. He has been described as a writer of "delightful dialogue", a genius at portraying everyday life, "the greatest pure storyteller", and "a master manga artist". He is one of the few manga artists to write for shōnen, shōjo and seinen manga magazines, and be popular in all three. His works have been carried in manga magazines such as Weekly Shōnen Sunday, Ciao, Shōjo Comic, Big Comic and Petit Comic, and most of his works are published through Shogakukan and Gakken. He was one of the flagship authors in the new Monthly Shōnen Sunday magazine which began publication in June 2009. Two short story collections, Short Program and Short Program 2 (both through Viz Media), have been released in North America, and Viz Media scheduled to begin publishing Cross Game in October 2010. The first volume was released on October 12. He modeled the spelling of あだち (rather than 安達) for his family name after the example of his older brother, manga artist Tsutomu Adachi. In addition, it has been suggested that the accurate portrayal of sibling rivalry in Touch may come from Adachi's experiences while growing up with his older brother. Adachi did the character designs for the OVA anime series Nozomi Witches, so he is sometimes incorrectly given credit for creating the original series.
Keiichi Hayashi (林 景一, Hayashi Keiichi; born 8 February 1951) is a Japanese diplomat. From 2011 to 2016, he served as…
Keiichi Hayashi (林 景一, Hayashi Keiichi; born 8 February 1951) is a Japanese diplomat. From 2011 to 2016, he served as the Japanese ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Hirotarō Honda (本田 博太郎, Honda Hirotarō; born February 8, 1951) is a Japanese actor from Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. He…
Hirotarō Honda (本田 博太郎, Honda Hirotarō; born February 8, 1951) is a Japanese actor from Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. He started his acting career at the Bungakuza Theatre Company's acting school. His first film appearance was in the Nikkatsu Roman Porno film Sei to Ai no Korider in 1977.
Tetsuo Sekigawa (関川 哲夫, Sekigawa Tetsuo; February 5, 1951 – June 23, 2017) was a Japanese professional wrestler best…
Tetsuo Sekigawa (関川 哲夫, Sekigawa Tetsuo; February 5, 1951 – June 23, 2017) was a Japanese professional wrestler best known for his work under the ring name Mr. Pogo (ミスター・ポーゴ, Misutā Pōgo). He helped popularize hardcore wrestling in the 1990s with "death matches" in promotions such as Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, W*ING and Big Japan Pro Wrestling.
Tomoharu Takeo (竹尾 智晴, Takeo Tomoharu; born February 5, 1951), known by his stage name Ryūsei Nakao (中尾 隆聖, Nakao…
Tomoharu Takeo (竹尾 智晴, Takeo Tomoharu; born February 5, 1951), known by his stage name Ryūsei Nakao (中尾 隆聖, Nakao Ryūsei), is a Japanese actor, voice actor and singer from Tokyo attached to 81 Produce. He worked under the name of Tomoharu Minamiya (南谷 智晴, Minamiya Tomoharu) and is married with two children, a son and daughter. His distinctive voice lands him in the roles of characters with high-pitched voices and sadistic personalities. As a voice actor, he is best known for the roles of Baikinman in Let's Go! Anpanman, Frieza, Tambourine, Cooler, Chilled, and Frost in Dragon Ball, Ishami Nishimura in Touch, Porori in Niko Niko Pun, Resshi in Do-Re-Mi-Fa Donuts, Echikettojii-san in Hotch Potch Station, Sniff in Moomin, the titular character in Topo Gigio, Mayuri Kurotsuchi in Bleach, Caesar Clown and Dr. Indigo in One Piece, and Takashi Shirogane in Beast King GoLion.
Motoi Oyama (尾山 基, born 2 February 1951) is a Japanese businessman specializing in footwear. After graduating from…
Motoi Oyama (尾山 基, born 2 February 1951) is a Japanese businessman specializing in footwear. After graduating from Department of Commerce of Osaka City University, in January 1982 he joined ASICS where he worked ever since. In July 2001 he became President of ASICS Europe, and between June 2004 and February 2008 held senior manager positions at the central ASICS offices. On 8 February 2008, he was appointed as ASICS President, and in April 2011 also became its chief executive officer.
Masatoshi Nakamura (中村 雅俊, Nakamura Masatoshi; born February 1, 1951) is a Japanese actor and singer from Onagawa…
Masatoshi Nakamura (中村 雅俊, Nakamura Masatoshi; born February 1, 1951) is a Japanese actor and singer from Onagawa, Miyagi. He graduated from Keio University. Nakamura joined the Bungakuza theater troupe in 1973 and made his television debut in 1974 with "Warera Seishun. Masatoshi made his film debut with "Fureai" in the same year . He won his first major award at the Elan d'or Awards in 1975. In 1977, he married actress Junko Igarashi until her death on April 28, 2026. In 2012, he played the role of Fumimaro Konoe in the Peter Webber's film Emperor. As a singer his first single "Fureai" peaked at number 1 in the Japanese single record chart in 1974. Besides "Fureai" he has several other hit songs such as "Oretachi no Tabi" and "Koibito mo Nureru Machikado". "Nakamura appeared in the Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1982 and 2012.
Hiroshi Kato (加藤 寛, Katō Hiroshi; born January 29, 1951) is a former Japanese football player and manager.
Michiko Shiokawa (塩川 美知子, Shiokawa Michiko; later Furuhashi 古橋, born January 26, 1951) is a Japanese former volleyball…
Michiko Shiokawa (塩川 美知子, Shiokawa Michiko; later Furuhashi 古橋, born January 26, 1951) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics. In 1972 she was part of the Japanese team which won the silver medal in the Olympic tournament. She played all five matches.
Mayumi Itsuwa (五輪 真弓, Itsuwa Mayumi) is a Japanese vocalist, composer, lyricist, and keyboardist who made her debut in…
Mayumi Itsuwa (五輪 真弓, Itsuwa Mayumi) is a Japanese vocalist, composer, lyricist, and keyboardist who made her debut in 1972. Her first studio album entitled Shoujo was recorded in Los Angeles, produced by Grammy Award winner John Fischbach, with distinguished musicians such as David Campbell, Carole King and Charles Larkey who was King's husband at that time. Owing to her introspective compositions, Itsuwa was often nicknamed "Japanese Carole King", along with other Japanese singer-songwriters like Yumi Matsutoya (who had worked under her birth name "Yumi Arai" during the mid-1970s) and Minako Yoshida. Itsuwa gained moderate success on the Japanese albums chart in her early career, and received massive popularity and acclaim through the single "Koibito yo" released in 1980. The song topped Japan's Oricon chart for three consecutive weeks, and won the 22nd Japan Record Award for "Gold Prize" in the same year. It was covered by the country's legendary singers including Hibari Misora and Noriko Awaya in later years, and became a signature song for Itsuwa. In 1981 her song "Revival" also became a very well recognized hit. After "Koibito yo" became a hit, Itsuwa gained popularity also in non-Japanese Asian countries during the 1980s. In Indonesia, "Kokoro No Tomo", "Amayadori" and "Rebaibaru" become the most popular songs ever released by her. In 2006, Mayumi Itsuwa and Delon Thamrin recorded an Indonesian and Japanese version of the song. This was later included on the 2006 compilation album "Duet Love Songs". Many of her songs would fall into the musical genre of torch songs because they often describe the lingering memory of past loves.
Mikiko Shiroma (城間 幹子, Shiroma Mikiko; born 20 January 1951) is a Ryukyuan politician and former mayor of Naha, the…
Mikiko Shiroma (城間 幹子, Shiroma Mikiko; born 20 January 1951) is a Ryukyuan politician and former mayor of Naha, the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture.
Shimon Sakaguchi (坂口 志文, Sakaguchi Shimon; born 19 January 1951) is a Japanese immunologist. He is a distinguished…
Shimon Sakaguchi (坂口 志文, Sakaguchi Shimon; born 19 January 1951) is a Japanese immunologist. He is a distinguished professor at Osaka University and a professor emeritus at Kyoto University. His work includes the discovery of regulatory T cells and describing their role in the immune system. In 2025, he was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell.
Misako Satake (佐竹 美佐子, Satake Misako; born 19 January 1951) is a Japanese basketball player. She competed in the…
Misako Satake (佐竹 美佐子, Satake Misako; born 19 January 1951) is a Japanese basketball player. She competed in the women's tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Akiko Ashizawa (芦澤明子, Ashizawa Akiko; born 1951 in Tokyo) is a Japanese cinematographer and photographer.
Motonari Takano (Japanese: 高野 元成, Hepburn: Takano Motonari; January 12, 1951 - April 1, 2006), better known as Ai…
Motonari Takano (Japanese: 高野 元成, Hepburn: Takano Motonari; January 12, 1951 - April 1, 2006), better known as Ai Takano (アイ高野, Ai Takano) and nicknamed Motchin, was a Japanese singer. He is best known for his performances of the theme songs for the anime Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger, Pettonton, and Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion. Takano also sung the songs in Ai Shite Knight for the fictional in-story band, Bee Hive, even though the singer character, Gou, is voiced by singer Isao Sasaki. Before starting his anisong career, Takano was drummer of The Golden Cups and a vocalist of Creation.
Tadayoshi Nagashima (長島 忠美, Nagashima Tadayoshi; 9 January 1951 – 18 August 2017) was a Japanese politician who served…
Tadayoshi Nagashima (長島 忠美, Nagashima Tadayoshi; 9 January 1951 – 18 August 2017) was a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Kazuko Sawamatsu (Japanese: 沢松和子, born 5 January 1951) is a retired tennis player from Japan. She competed in a number…
Kazuko Sawamatsu (Japanese: 沢松和子, born 5 January 1951) is a retired tennis player from Japan. She competed in a number of major LTA tournaments in the 1970s on the world circuit. At the 1975 Australian Open, she reached the quarterfinals as well as reached the quarterfinals of the French Open and U.S. Open the same year. She also reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in 1973, and won the 1975 Wimbledon ladies doubles title with partner Ann Kiyomura. In November 1975, she won the singles title at the Japan Open Tennis Championships, defeating Kiyomura in the final in three sets, and together they won the doubles title. Sawamatsu is the sister of tennis player Junko Sawamatsu and the aunt of Naoko Sawamatsu.
Ryoko Onozawa (小野沢 良子, Onozawa Ryōko; born 1 January 1951), also written as Yoshiko Onozawa, is a Japanese speed…
Ryoko Onozawa (小野沢 良子, Onozawa Ryōko; born 1 January 1951), also written as Yoshiko Onozawa, is a Japanese speed skater. She competed in two events at the 1972 Winter Olympics.
Takako Hasegawa (長谷川たか子, Hasegawa Takako; born 1 January 1951) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed at the 1972 Summer…
Takako Hasegawa (長谷川たか子, Hasegawa Takako; born 1 January 1951) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics where she finished thirty-fifth in the individual all around.
Takemiya Masaki (武宮 正樹, Takemiya Masaki; born January 1, 1951) is a professional Go player.
Dai Muneishi (Japanese: 宗石 大; born January 1, 1951) is a Japanese jockey and trainer at the Kochi Racecourse. He was…
Dai Muneishi (Japanese: 宗石 大; born January 1, 1951) is a Japanese jockey and trainer at the Kochi Racecourse. He was known as trainer of the thoroughbred Haru Urara. His first race was with Burringbar at Kochi. He achieved his first win with Gambare Shacho. His overall record according to Sky Racing World website: 61 wins, 273 places, among 3,495 total starts, not getting a single grade during his career.
Baku Yumemakura (夢枕 獏, Yumemakura Baku; born 1951 in Odawara, Kanagawa) (real name: Yoneyama Mineo (米山峰夫)) is a…
Baku Yumemakura (夢枕 獏, Yumemakura Baku; born 1951 in Odawara, Kanagawa) (real name: Yoneyama Mineo (米山峰夫)) is a Japanese science fiction and adventure writer whose penname translates to Dream Pillow (Yumemakura) Tapir (Baku). His works have sold more than 20 million copies in Japan spread across more than 280 titles and adapted into a variety of formats including feature films, television shows, movies and comic books. His works are influenced by outdoor interests such as fishing, particularly Ayu fishing, mountain climbing, canoeing as well as manga, photography, pottery, art, calligraphy, martial arts. He has published a number of photo collections of his journeys through Nepalese mountains. He is best known for writing Jōgen no Tsuki wo Taberu Shishi (The Lion that Ate the Crescent Moon), which won both the Seiun Award and the Nihon SF Taisho Award. He also has written film scripts, including the one to Onmyōji. One of his popular martial arts serials that has been adapted into manga is Garōden (餓狼伝), which has also been adapted to two video games and a movie. His novel series Majūgari (also known as Demon Hunters) has been adapted into an anime OVA Psycho Diver: Soul Siren and three manga series. He's been nicknamed "the artisan of violence" due to one of his popular martial arts novel series, Shishi no Mon (獅子の門, Gate of Fierce Lions). As of 2014, he has been working on the scripts for the manga series Shin Garōden with renowned manga artist Masami Nobe. He is also a past president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan organization.
Genichiro Takahashi (高橋 源一郎, Takahashi Gen'ichirō; born 1 January 1951) is a Japanese novelist.