Junichi Masuda (増田 順一, Masuda Jun'ichi; born January 12, 1968) is a Japanese video game composer, director, designer…Junichi Masuda (増田 順一, Masuda Jun'ichi; born January 12, 1968) is a Japanese video game composer, director, designer, producer, singer, programmer and trombonist, best known for his work in the Pokémon franchise. He was a member of Game Freak where he was an employee and executive at the company since 1989 after Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori founded it, starting as a music composer. In 2022, Masuda was appointed to be Chief Creative Fellow at The Pokémon Company. With the development of new Pokémon games, Masuda took new roles in future projects. He began to produce and direct games, starting with Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, and became responsible for approving new character models. His style seeks to keep games accessible while still adding increasing levels of complexity. His work sticks to older mainstays of the series, including a focus on handheld game consoles and 2D graphics. His music draws inspiration from the work of celebrated modern composers like Dmitri Shostakovich, though he used the Super Mario series as a model of good video game composition.
Toru Shioya (born January 9, 1968) is a former professional basketball Head coach for the Hitachi High-Technologies…Toru Shioya (born January 9, 1968) is a former professional basketball Head coach for the Hitachi High-Technologies Cougars of Women's Japan Basketball League .
Sachiko Fujita (Japanese: 藤田 幸子; born 9 January 1968) is a Japanese former volleyball and beach volleyball player who…Sachiko Fujita (Japanese: 藤田 幸子; born 9 January 1968) is a Japanese former volleyball and beach volleyball player who competed in the 1988 and in the 1996 Summer Olympics. In 1988, she finished third with the Japanese team in the Olympic tournament in Seoul. Eight years later, she finished fifth with her partner Yukiko Takahashi in the beach volleyball tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Keiko Aoki (青木 恵子, Aoki Keiko; née Nakano (中野), born 8 January 1968) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and…Keiko Aoki (青木 恵子, Aoki Keiko; née Nakano (中野), born 8 January 1968) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and professional golfer better known as Bull Nakano (ブル中野, Burunakano). She began competing in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) as a teenager under the ring name Bull Nakano. As a wrestler she was a villain, who often teamed with her mentor Dump Matsumoto. In Japan, she held several of AJW's singles and tag team championships. After being phased out by the company in the early 1990s, she traveled to North America, where she first competed in Mexico's Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), becoming its first World Women's Champion. In 1994, she made her way to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where she had feuded with Alundra Blayze over the WWF Women's Championship. After holding the title once, she also competed in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). In 1998, Nakano began competing as a professional golfer, and in 2006, she joined a tour with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). She was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2001 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2024.
Sakura Uchikoshi (born Sakura Muraki on January 6, 1968, in Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as…Sakura Uchikoshi (born Sakura Muraki on January 6, 1968, in Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2019. She represents the Niigata at-large district and is a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. She is a member of the following committees (as of 2021): Committee on Health, Welfare and Labour Committee on Budget Special Committee on North Korean Abduction Issue and Related Matters Commission on the Constitution
Shunpei Mizuno (水野俊平, Mizuno Shunpei; born 1968) is a Japanese academic who primarily writes on Korean culture. He has…Shunpei Mizuno (水野俊平, Mizuno Shunpei; born 1968) is a Japanese academic who primarily writes on Korean culture. He has also published instructional books for Korean learners of Japanese. He used to write under the pen name Shunsui Nohira (野平俊水, Nohira Shunsui).
Noboru Asahi (Japanese: 朝日 昇, Asahi Noboru; born January 5, 1968) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist, a…Noboru Asahi (Japanese: 朝日 昇, Asahi Noboru; born January 5, 1968) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist, a designer, and an owner of MMA gym. He was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan on January 5, 1968, as Shin'ichi Asahi (Japanese: 朝日 愼一, Asahi Shin'ichi).
Goichi Suda (須田 剛一, Suda Gōichi; born January 2, 1968), known by his alias Suda51, is a Japanese video game designer…Goichi Suda (須田 剛一, Suda Gōichi; born January 2, 1968), known by his alias Suda51, is a Japanese video game designer and writer. Affiliated with Human Entertainment from 1994 to 1998, he founded Grasshopper Manufacture in 1998 with a number of other Human Entertainment staff to produce their own titles. His best-known work has come from Grasshopper Manufacture, including The Silver Case (1999), Killer7 (2005), the No More Heroes series, and Lollipop Chainsaw (2012). Suda is from Nagano Prefecture, moving to Tokyo at the age of 18 and eventually being hired by Human Entertainment after having a number of other jobs including as an undertaker. His first projects were in the Fire Pro Wrestling and Twilight Syndrome series. At Grasshopper Manufacture, he worked on their debut title The Silver Case as writer and director. The Silver Case helped establish both Suda and his company in Japan, but Suda and Grasshopper gained international attention with the release of Killer7, Suda's first title to be released outside Japan. He has contributed to most of the company's projects, taking on a more managerial role following No More Heroes in 2007. Suda's work is characterized by a focus on themes of crime, and the clash of people with different ideals. While his early works adopted a serious tone, his later projects incorporated elements of humor. Sexual elements have also made appearances in his work to the point where he became worried they would become too heavily associated with him. Aspects of his work have been influenced by film and literature, with one of his favorite authors being Franz Kafka. He frequently incorporates references to pop culture in his games.
Yōsuke Eguchi (江口 洋介, Eguchi Yōsuke; born December 31, 1967) is a Japanese actor and singer. Since 1986, he has…Yōsuke Eguchi (江口 洋介, Eguchi Yōsuke; born December 31, 1967) is a Japanese actor and singer. Since 1986, he has appeared in a number of television series and movies.
Hideki Nagano (born 1968) is a Japanese classical pianist. He has been a member of the Ensemble intercontemporain since…Hideki Nagano (born 1968) is a Japanese classical pianist. He has been a member of the Ensemble intercontemporain since 1995 and lives in France.
Kosuke Takahashi (高橋 浩祐, Takahashi Kōsuke; born October 13, 1968 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa) is a Japanese journalist. He…Kosuke Takahashi (高橋 浩祐, Takahashi Kōsuke; born October 13, 1968 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa) is a Japanese journalist. He contributes to IHS Jane's Defence, NK News, and Toyo Keizai Online among other media by writing in both English and Japanese. He is also currently a regular TV commentator of Tokyo MX's Morning Cross program. Takahashi worked as the senior online news editor at Thomson Reuters in Tokyo from April 2016 to January 2017, where he focuses on expanding its online news coverage across multiple digital channels. He was appointed editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Japan in September 2014 where he was in charge of overseeing all of the day-to-day editorial content and operations of the Huffington Post Japan. Previously, he has worked as Tokyo correspondent for IHS Jane's Defence Weekly from January 2009 to early September 2014, specializing in Japan's defense and politics as well as East Asian affairs such as on Sino-Japanese relations and Korean Peninsula issues. He also has worked for the Asahi Shimbun, Bloomberg News, Dow Jones Japan and The Wall Street Journal Japan as staff writer/editor, and Nikkei CNBC Japan as regular TV commentator. He used the pen name Kosuke Goto (後藤 浩祐, Goto Kosuke) at Bloomberg. His work has appeared in the International Herald Tribune, The Guardian, The Straits Times, Institutional Investor magazine, Asia Times Online, The Diplomat, NK News and Japan's Tokyo Keizai magazine, among other publications. His comments on international affairs have appeared in worldwide articles such as those of the Christian Science Monitor, the Australian, Italy's daily newspaper Il Foglio, the Taipei Times, the Ukrainian Week, China's Xinhua News Agency and South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo. The news media Takahashi has worked for: Tokyo Correspondent for The Diplomat, May 2023– Present Tokyo Correspondent for Janes Defence Weekly, January 2017– April 2023 Senior Online News Editor of Thomson Reuters, April 1, 2016– January 2017 Editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Japan, September 8, 2014– March 14, 2016 Tokyo Correspondent for IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, January 2009– September 7, 2014 Editor at Wall Street Journal Japan, Oct 2012 - Dec 2013 Senior Writer at Asia Times Online, May 2004– Sept 2012 TV Commentator at Nikkei CNBC Japan, March 2009– March 2012 (under his pen name Kosuke Goto) Freelancer for Institutional Investor Magazine, January 2009–December 2010 Staff Writer at Bloomberg News, July 2005 - Sept 2008 (under his pen name Kosuke Goto) Staff Writer at RIM Intelligence Co, Feb 2004 - May 2005 Intern at the Tokyo bureau of The New York Times, May- July, 2002 Copy Editor at Dow Jones Japan, 2000–2001 Staff Writer at The Asahi Shimbun, 1993–1999 Takahashi graduated from Keio University with a B.A. in economics in 1993. After working for The Asahi Shimbun and Dow Jones, he studied at Columbia University's Journalism School and School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and graduated with Master of Science in Journalism in 2003 and Master of International Affairs in 2004. Prior to joining the Asahi as a reporter in 1993, he worked for Baltimore Economic Development Corporation as an exchange trainee to a sister city program of Kawasaki City, and researched trade issues between the United States and Japan. He was awarded an Honorary citizenship of Baltimore for his work in 1988.
Kyoko Uchiyama (内山 京子, Uchiyama Kyōko; born 16 November 1968) is a Japanese table tennis player. She competed in the…Kyoko Uchiyama (内山 京子, Uchiyama Kyōko; born 16 November 1968) is a Japanese table tennis player. She competed in the women's singles event at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Reversi is an abstract strategy board game for two players, played on an 8×8 uncheckered board. It was invented in…Reversi is an abstract strategy board game for two players, played on an 8×8 uncheckered board. It was invented in 1883. Othello, a variant with a fixed initial setup of the board, was patented in 1971. Two players compete, using 64 identical game pieces ("disks") that are light on one side and dark on the other. Each player chooses one color to use throughout the game. Players take turns placing one disk on an empty square, with their assigned color facing up. After a play is made, any disks of the opponent's color that lie in a straight line bounded by the one just played and another one in the current player's color are turned over. When all playable empty squares are filled, the player with more disks showing in their own color wins the game.
Naoko Matsumoto is a Professor in the Department of Archaeology at Okayama University. Her research covers the areas of…Naoko Matsumoto is a Professor in the Department of Archaeology at Okayama University. Her research covers the areas of cognitive archaeology, gender archaeology and the Jomon period.
Ryuji Masuda (増田 龍治, Masuda Ryūji; born 1968) is a Japanese CGI animation director. His works include Popee the…Ryuji Masuda (増田 龍治, Masuda Ryūji; born 1968) is a Japanese CGI animation director. His works include Popee the Performer, Mr. Stain on Junk Alley and Funny Pets. He has been known to be active in both his native Kumamoto and Okinawa.
Yoshimasa Ishibashi (石橋義正, Ishibashi Yoshimasa; born 1968) is a Japanese video, experimental film and performance…Yoshimasa Ishibashi (石橋義正, Ishibashi Yoshimasa; born 1968) is a Japanese video, experimental film and performance artist based in Kyoto, Japan and the leader of the Kyupi Kyupi artist collective, founded in 1996. He has directed work for both art museums, including Kyupi Kyupi performances at the Palais de Tokyo and Tate Modern in 2003, and commercial television and film, his most famous creation being the Fuccons, a family of mannequins who first appeared in Vermilion Pleasure Night in 2000 and since in their own program Oh! Mikey and its spin-offs.
Yūji Tajiri (田尻裕司, Tajiri Yūji) is a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is one of the group of pink…Yūji Tajiri (田尻裕司, Tajiri Yūji) is a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is one of the group of pink film directors collectively known as the "Seven Lucky Gods of Pink" (ピンク七福神, shichifukujin), a group which also includes Toshiya Ueno, Mitsuru Meike, Shinji Imaoka, Yoshitaka Kamata, Toshirō Enomoto and Rei Sakamoto.
Susumu Sakurai (born 1968) is a Japanese scientist and science navigator. He was born in Yamagata Prefecture. He is the…Susumu Sakurai (born 1968) is a Japanese scientist and science navigator. He was born in Yamagata Prefecture. He is the president of sakurAi Science Factory Inc.
Kōji Kiriyama (桐山 光侍, Kiriyama Kōji) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for the Ninku series which was serialized…Kōji Kiriyama (桐山 光侍, Kiriyama Kōji) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for the Ninku series which was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump manga magazine between 1993 and 1995, and was adapted into an anime series and film. A second manga titled Ninku Second Stage: Stories of Etonins (忍空 -SECOND STAGE 干支忍編-) ran from 2005 to 2011 in the seinen magazine Ultra Jump. His works inspired artists such as Masashi Kishimoto of Naruto fame, who used to copy Kiriyama's drawings in his studying to become a manga artist.
Norihiro Yagi (八木 教広, Yagi Norihiro; born 1968) is a Japanese manga writer and artist from Okinawa Prefecture. He…Norihiro Yagi (八木 教広, Yagi Norihiro; born 1968) is a Japanese manga writer and artist from Okinawa Prefecture. He started making manga in 1990.
Hiroshi Sambuichi is a Hiroshima-based Japanese architect. He has been recognized and awarded for his buildings that…Hiroshi Sambuichi is a Hiroshima-based Japanese architect. He has been recognized and awarded for his buildings that combine aesthetic appeal with environmental sustainability in regards to their material composition and functional operation. His projects span various prefectures of Japan, as well as other parts of the world, like Denmark. In 2017, the editorial team of Designwanted called Sambuichi's firm, Hiroshi Sambuichi Architects, one of ten top architecture firms in the world to know, citing his "unique design philosophy" of making architecture harmonize with nature.
Kōyū Amano (天野 高雄, 1968 - present) is a Japanese Buddhist monk of Kōyasan Shingon-shū. He currently serves as abbot at…Kōyū Amano (天野 高雄, 1968 - present) is a Japanese Buddhist monk of Kōyasan Shingon-shū. He currently serves as abbot at Kōzō-ji (高蔵寺) in Okayama Prefecture and has been active as a missionary, artist, sculptor and radio personality.
Eito Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 エイト, born 1968) is a pseudonymous Japanese investigative journalist who covers new religious…Eito Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 エイト, born 1968) is a pseudonymous Japanese investigative journalist who covers new religious movements in the country. His primary area of editorial coverage is fraudulent missionary activities and the relationship between religious organizations and major political parties, primarily the Unification Church (UC) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Ari Fuji (藤 明里, Fuji Ari; born 1968) is the first female pilot in command and flight instructor at a commercial…Ari Fuji (藤 明里, Fuji Ari; born 1968) is the first female pilot in command and flight instructor at a commercial passenger airline in Japan. She earned her original aviation license in the United States of America and trained to be a certified pilot for commercial passenger airline under Japanese aviation regulations.
Yasuji Okada (born 1968) is a Japanese molecular biologist and physician. He is a professor at the University of Tokyo.…Yasuji Okada (born 1968) is a Japanese molecular biologist and physician. He is a professor at the University of Tokyo. He is known for his research in single-molecule biology and bioimage informatics, notably discovering that kinesin can move as a single molecule. Collaborating with Olympus, he also developed a high-speed, high-resolution spinning disk super-resolution microscopy technique. He is the chief researcher at the University of Tokyo's International Research Centre for Neurointelligence, leading the Information Physics of Living Matters project. This project had already secured 1.15 billion yen (approximately US$10 million) of government research grant before it started.
Shuji Ogino (荻野周史, Ogino Shuji; born 24 April 1968) is a molecular pathological epidemiologist, pathologist, and…Shuji Ogino (荻野周史, Ogino Shuji; born 24 April 1968) is a molecular pathological epidemiologist, pathologist, and epidemiologist. He is Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He is also Chief of Program in MPE (Molecular Pathological Epidemiology) at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and an associate member of Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. He has been known for his work on establishing a new discipline, molecular pathological epidemiology (MPE) – an interdisciplinary science of molecular pathology and epidemiology.
Takashi Komatsu (小松 隆志, Komatsu Takashi; born 30 December 1967) is a male triple jumper from Japan. His personal best…Takashi Komatsu (小松 隆志, Komatsu Takashi; born 30 December 1967) is a male triple jumper from Japan. His personal best jump is 16.65 metres, achieved in October 2003 in Hyderabad.
Miki Takai (Japanese: 高井 美紀, romanized: Takai Miki; 28 December 1967 – 25 January 2023) was an announcer who belonged…Miki Takai (Japanese: 高井 美紀, romanized: Takai Miki; 28 December 1967 – 25 January 2023) was an announcer who belonged to Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS), and was the former deputy announcer of the Mainichi Broadcasting System. She died suddenly during her tenure as "chief announcer". She is survived by one daughter .
Fumitoshi Ishino (石野 文敏, Ishino Fumitoshi; born 26 December 1967), better known by his stage name Takkyu Ishino (石野 卓球…Fumitoshi Ishino (石野 文敏, Ishino Fumitoshi; born 26 December 1967), better known by his stage name Takkyu Ishino (石野 卓球, Ishino Takkyū), is a Japanese musician, DJ, record producer, and singer from Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture. He is a member of Denki Groove.
Takenobu Mitsuyoshi (光吉 猛修, Mitsuyoshi Takenobu; born December 25, 1967) is a Japanese composer of video game music…Takenobu Mitsuyoshi (光吉 猛修, Mitsuyoshi Takenobu; born December 25, 1967) is a Japanese composer of video game music, singer, and video game voice actor. He has composed music for various games produced by Sega, including Virtua Fighter 2 and Shenmue. He first gained major recognition after the release of Daytona USA, for which he wrote music and personally sang vocals. He also recorded live orchestras for the arcade games Derby Owners Club, World Club Champion Football, and Star Horse. Aside from original compositions, he also arranges, provides vocals, and is a performer for various projects, including S.S.T from 1988 to 1993, and [H.] from 2004 onwards. He is well-known for voicing the character Kage-Maru in the Virtua Fighter franchise. His younger brother, Kenji Mitsuyoshi (光吉 賢司, Mitsuyoshi Kenji), is a manga artist and member of the artist-writer duo Ark Performance along with Kōichi Ishikawa.
Yusuke Kawada (河田 雄祐, Kawada Yusuke; born December 22, 1967 in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan) is a former Japanese Nippon…Yusuke Kawada (河田 雄祐, Kawada Yusuke; born December 22, 1967 in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player.
Sayori Saito (斉藤 さより, Saitō Sayori; December 21, 1967 – December 15, 2016) was a Japanese professional wrestler, who…Sayori Saito (斉藤 さより, Saitō Sayori; December 21, 1967 – December 15, 2016) was a Japanese professional wrestler, who performed under the ring name Harley Saito (ハーレー斉藤, Hārē Saitō). She spent much of her career for Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling.
Toshinobu Kawai (河合 季信, Kawai Toshinobu; born 19 December 1967 in Nagoya, Japan) is a Japanese short-track speed…Toshinobu Kawai (河合 季信, Kawai Toshinobu; born 19 December 1967 in Nagoya, Japan) is a Japanese short-track speed skater, who won a bronze medal in the 5000 m relay at the 1992 Winter Olympics together with teammates Yuichi Akasaka, Tatsuyoshi Ishihara and Tsutomu Kawasaki. Before 1992, he won two gold medals in the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, 1985 and 1987. He is currently working at the University of Tsukuba.
Yasumichi Morita (森田 恭通, Morota Yasumichi; born 19 December 1967) is an interior designer from Ibaraki, Osaka. He…Yasumichi Morita (森田 恭通, Morota Yasumichi; born 19 December 1967) is an interior designer from Ibaraki, Osaka. He undertakes projects in many countries including Japan, New York and Hong Kong.
Yukito Ara (新良 幸人, Ara Yukito; born 1967) is a Japanese sanshin player and Okinawa min'yō (traditional folk songs)…Yukito Ara (新良 幸人, Ara Yukito; born 1967) is a Japanese sanshin player and Okinawa min'yō (traditional folk songs) singer.
Ami Kawai (河合 亞美 (亜美), Kawai Ami; born December 15, 1967) is a Japanese television and theater actress, best known in…Ami Kawai (河合 亞美 (亜美), Kawai Ami; born December 15, 1967) is a Japanese television and theater actress, best known in Japan for her role as Marsha in Kidou Keiji Jiban and Lamy in Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (the latter known as Scorpina in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers).
Yuzo Koshiro (古代 祐三, Koshiro Yūzō; born December 12, 1967) is a Japanese video game composer. He is often regarded as…Yuzo Koshiro (古代 祐三, Koshiro Yūzō; born December 12, 1967) is a Japanese video game composer. He is often regarded as one of the most influential innovators in chiptune and video game music, producing music in a number of genres including rock, jazz, symphonic, and various electronic genres such as house, electro, techno, and trance. He and his sister Ayano founded the game development company Ancient in 1990, of which he remains the president. Koshiro has been cited as creating some of the most memorable game music of the 1980s and 1990s contributing to games such as Nihon Falcom's Dragon Slayer and Ys series, as well as Sega's The Revenge of Shinobi and Streets of Rage series. The soundtracks for the latter have been called "revolutionary" and "ahead of their time" by some critics.
James Kondo (近藤 正晃ジェームス Kondo Masaakira James, born December 9, 1967) is an executive whose career spans social…James Kondo (近藤 正晃ジェームス Kondo Masaakira James, born December 9, 1967) is an executive whose career spans social, technology, government, business and academic sectors. From January 2019, he is Chairman of International House of Japan.
Hitoshi Morishita (森下 仁之, Morishita Hitoshi; December 9, 1967 – June 25, 2025) was a Japanese football player and…Hitoshi Morishita (森下 仁之, Morishita Hitoshi; December 9, 1967 – June 25, 2025) was a Japanese football player and manager.
Kazuki Ōtake (大竹 一樹, Ōtake Kazuki; born December 8, 1967 in Sumida, Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian. He is a former…Kazuki Ōtake (大竹 一樹, Ōtake Kazuki; born December 8, 1967 in Sumida, Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian. He is a former member of Japanese band UltraCats and current member of owarai group Summers.
Miki Inoue (井上 美紀, Inoue Miki; born 8 December 1967) is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Aoni Production. Her…Miki Inoue (井上 美紀, Inoue Miki; born 8 December 1967) is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Aoni Production. Her hometown is Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture.
Shigeomi Hasumi (蓮実重臣, Hasumi Shigeomi) (7 December 1967 – 18 June 2017) was a Japanese composer, arranger and…Shigeomi Hasumi (蓮実重臣, Hasumi Shigeomi) (7 December 1967 – 18 June 2017) was a Japanese composer, arranger and musician. He also used the alias Glenn Miyashiro. He graduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Department of Mongolian Studies. He was the grandson of Shigeyasu Hasumi, a historian of Japanese art. His father, Shigehiko Hasumi, a French literature scholar, literary and film critic, was a professor at the University of Tokyo and the 26th President (1997-2001). His mother was Chantal Van Melkebeke, a French-speaking Belgian.