Muneaki Murai (村井 宗明, Murai Muneaki; born 30 May 1973) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…Muneaki Murai (村井 宗明, Murai Muneaki; born 30 May 1973) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of the former Ōyama, Toyama and graduate of Doshisha University, Murai was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2003.
Gen Tomii (富井 彦, Tomii Gen; born May 30, 1973) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed from 1998 to 2004.…Gen Tomii (富井 彦, Tomii Gen; born May 30, 1973) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed from 1998 to 2004. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he had his best overall finish of fifth in the 4 x 5 km team event at Nagano in 1998 and his best individual finish of 33rd in the 15 km individual event at Salt Lake City in 2002. Tomii's best finish at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships was 27th in the 7.5 km sprint event at Ramsau in 1999. His best World Cup finish was fifth in a 7.5 km sprint event in Finland in 1998. Tomii's best individual career finish was third on five occasions in World Cup B events from 1998 to 2003.
Hiroshi Shimizu (born May 29, 1973) is a Japanese management scholar, specializing in innovation and entrepreneurship…Hiroshi Shimizu (born May 29, 1973) is a Japanese management scholar, specializing in innovation and entrepreneurship research. He is currently a professor at the School of Commerce, Waseda University.
Takashi Hagino (萩野 崇, Hagino Takashi; born 27 May 1973) is a Japanese actor. He is noted for his roles in tokusatsu…Takashi Hagino (萩野 崇, Hagino Takashi; born 27 May 1973) is a Japanese actor. He is noted for his roles in tokusatsu dramas, such as the lead role in Choukou Senshi Changéríon (超光戦士シャンゼリオン, Chōkō Senshi Shanzerion) and his supporting role in Kamen Rider Ryuki (仮面ライダー龍騎, Kamen Raidā Ryūki) as the psychopath Takeshi Asakura, known as Kamen Rider Ouja.
Ai Kobayashi (小林 愛, Kobayashi Ai; born May 25, 1973) is a Japanese actress and voice actress. She is known for her work…Ai Kobayashi (小林 愛, Kobayashi Ai; born May 25, 1973) is a Japanese actress and voice actress. She is known for her work in anime, animated films, video games, and dubbing of foreign media. Kobayashi has been active since the early 1990s and is affiliated with Office Osawa.
Hiroyuki Tanuma (田沼 広之, Tanuma Hiroyuki; born 24 May 1973 in Kanagawa) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He…Hiroyuki Tanuma (田沼 広之, Tanuma Hiroyuki; born 24 May 1973 in Kanagawa) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as lock.
Rinka (梨花; born 21 May 1973, in Sumida, Tokyo) is a Japanese fashion model and tarento. Her real name (and maiden name)…Rinka (梨花; born 21 May 1973, in Sumida, Tokyo) is a Japanese fashion model and tarento. Her real name (and maiden name) is Chieko Nenaka (根中 千恵子, Nenaka Chieko). Rinka is represented with Stardust Promotion. She graduated from Tokyo Girls' School Junior High and High School. Rinka also attended a dental hygienist vocational school.
Tomoo Torii (鳥居 智男, Torii Tomio) (born May 20, 1973) is a Japanese judoka. He won Asian silver medal in the…Tomoo Torii (鳥居 智男, Torii Tomio) (born May 20, 1973) is a Japanese judoka. He won Asian silver medal in the half-lightweight division in 1996 Asian Judo Championships. In November 2012 Torii took 5th in the World Sambo Championships in Minsk.
Sandro Chaves de Assis Rosa (born 19 May 1973) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a defensive…Sandro Chaves de Assis Rosa (born 19 May 1973) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He has spent most of his football career in Japan where he moved to complete his high school studies. He played for FC Tokyo and Oita Trinita in the J1 League before moving to Polish Ekstraklasa side Pogoń Szczecin.
Tohru Ukawa (宇川 徹, Ukawa Tōru; born 18 May 1973) is a Japanese former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Ukawa began his…Tohru Ukawa (宇川 徹, Ukawa Tōru; born 18 May 1973) is a Japanese former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Ukawa began his Grand Prix career in 1994, racing in the 250cc world championships. He finished second to Valentino Rossi in the 1999 World Championship. In 2002, he moved up to the MotoGP class, riding for the factory Repsol Honda Grand Prix team, finishing third overall behind teammate Rossi, with a win at Phakisa in South Africa. In 2003, he finished seventh overall for the Sito Pons Pramac team before returning to a factory testing role. Ukawa won five Grand Prix races during his career and is a five-time winner of the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race.
Yoshihito Sugamoto (菅本 儀人, Sugamoto Yoshihito; born May 16, 1973), better known by the ring name Gamma, is a Japanese…Yoshihito Sugamoto (菅本 儀人, Sugamoto Yoshihito; born May 16, 1973), better known by the ring name Gamma, is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is best known for his Dragon Gate tenure.
Susumu Fujita (藤田 晋; born May 16, 1973) is a Japanese businessman, entrepreneur and racehorse owner. He founded…Susumu Fujita (藤田 晋; born May 16, 1973) is a Japanese businessman, entrepreneur and racehorse owner. He founded CyberAgent in 1998 and served as its president until December 2025, when he became representative director and chairman. He is also president of AbemaTV, Inc. and president and chief executive officer of Zelvia, Inc., the operating company of FC Machida Zelvia.
Yōsuke "Yōsukezan" Nishijima (西島 洋介, Nishijima Yōsuke; born May 15, 1973) is a Japanese professional boxer who has also…Yōsuke "Yōsukezan" Nishijima (西島 洋介, Nishijima Yōsuke; born May 15, 1973) is a Japanese professional boxer who has also competed in kickboxing and mixed martial arts.
Shin Amano (天野 真, Amano Shin; born May 13, 1973 in Tokyo) is a Japanese figure skating coach and ISU technical…Shin Amano (天野 真, Amano Shin; born May 13, 1973 in Tokyo) is a Japanese figure skating coach and ISU technical specialist. He appeared as a men's singles skater during most of his competitive career, winning the national title in the 1994–1995 season. In 1997, he began a brief pairs career with Marie Arai. The pair placed 20th at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. They are the 1998 Japanese national champions.
Chiharu Nozaki (野崎 千春, Nozaki Chiharu; born 12 May 1973) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed in two events at the…Chiharu Nozaki (野崎 千春, Nozaki Chiharu; born 12 May 1973) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed in two events at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Tsuyoshi Ogata (尾方 剛, Ogata Tsuyoshi; born May 11, 1973) is a Japanese long-distance athlete competing mainly in the…Tsuyoshi Ogata (尾方 剛, Ogata Tsuyoshi; born May 11, 1973) is a Japanese long-distance athlete competing mainly in the marathon. Ogata was born in Kumano, Hiroshima. In August 2003 he came twelfth at the 2003 World Championships in Paris. In August 2005 he won a bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. He then finished fifth at the 2007 World Championships.
Hiromi Amada (Japanese: 天田 ヒロミ; born May 10, 1973) is a retired Japanese heavyweight kickboxer and boxer from Gunma…Hiromi Amada (Japanese: 天田 ヒロミ; born May 10, 1973) is a retired Japanese heavyweight kickboxer and boxer from Gunma, Japan. A staple in the K-1 heavyweight division from 1999 to 2007, the company considered him one of its most talented Japanese fighters, second only to Musashi. He is also the first-ever HEAT Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion and holds notable victories over Freddy Kemayo, Makoto Uehara, and Rene Rooze.
Takamaro Fukuoka (福岡 資麿, Fukuoka Takamaro; born 9 May 1973) is a Japanese politician from Saga City and member of the…Takamaro Fukuoka (福岡 資麿, Fukuoka Takamaro; born 9 May 1973) is a Japanese politician from Saga City and member of the Liberal Democratic Party. Fukuoka was elected to the House of Representatives in Saga 1st district in after an unsuccessful run in 2003. He lost the seat in the 2009 election but was elected to the House of Councillors in 2010. In October 2024, Fukuoka became the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare in the Ishiba Cabinet. Fukuoka graduated from the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law, Keio University in 1996 and joined the Mitsubishi Estate company.
Hiromu Arakawa (荒川 弘, Arakawa Hiromu; born May 8, 1973) is a Japanese manga artist. She is best known as the creator of…Hiromu Arakawa (荒川 弘, Arakawa Hiromu; born May 8, 1973) is a Japanese manga artist. She is best known as the creator of the manga series Fullmetal Alchemist (2001–2010), which became a hit both domestically and internationally, and was adapted into two anime television series. She is also known for Silver Spoon (2011–2019), the manga adaptation of The Heroic Legend of Arslan novels (since 2013), and Daemons of the Shadow Realm (since 2021).
Takayuki Okada (岡田 貴幸, Okada Takayuki; May 8, 1973 – August 8, 2003), more widely known as Giant Ochiai (ジャイアント落合…Takayuki Okada (岡田 貴幸, Okada Takayuki; May 8, 1973 – August 8, 2003), more widely known as Giant Ochiai (ジャイアント落合, Jaianto Ochiai), was a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Okada's MMA record was 3-3-2 (win–loss–draw).
Hirotake Yasuoka (保岡宏武, Yasuoka Hirotake; born 6 May 1973) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House…Hirotake Yasuoka (保岡宏武, Yasuoka Hirotake; born 6 May 1973) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2026, having previously served from 2021 to 2024. He is the son of Okiharu Yasuoka.
Tatsuo Kawai (川合 達夫, Kawai Tatsuo; born 2 May 1973) is a Japanese wrestler. He competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics and…Tatsuo Kawai (川合 達夫, Kawai Tatsuo; born 2 May 1973) is a Japanese wrestler. He competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Shinji Morimoto (Morimoto Shinji, born 2 May 1973) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party who…Shinji Morimoto (Morimoto Shinji, born 2 May 1973) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party who has been serving in the House of Councillors (the upper house of the Diet) since 2013.
Masaaki Taniai (谷合 正明, Taniai Masaaki; born 1973) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the…Masaaki Taniai (谷合 正明, Taniai Masaaki; born 1973) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Niiza, Saitama, he attended Kyoto University and received a master's degree in agricultural economy from it. He also studied at Uppsala University in Sweden. He was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004.
Megumi Inoue (井上 恵, Inoue Megumi; born April 27, 1973 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa) is a Japanese sport shooter. She has…Megumi Inoue (井上 恵, Inoue Megumi; born April 27, 1973 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa) is a Japanese sport shooter. She has produced a career tally of six medals, including two golds in women's double trap shooting at the Asian Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and also finished fifth at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Inoue serves and trains full-time as a member of the Japanese Clay Target Shooting Association, under head coach Hiroshi Teranishi. Inoue came to prominence in the world shooting scene at the 2004 Asian Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she claimed the gold medal in the women's double trap final with a score of 138. Inoue's astonishing success and a minimum qualifying score of 106 led to her selection on the Japanese shooting team for her only Olympic debut. Six months after her illustrious victory from the Asian Championships, Inoue qualified for her first and only Japanese squad in the women's double trap at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. She put up a stringent top-level effort with an unparalleled qualifying score of 106 to seal a third seed in the six-woman final, but fell out of the medal podium by a two-point margin that ended her up in fifth. Inoue's total score of 140 proved to be more rewarding than her previous career feat from the Asian Championships by just two targets. With the women's double trap being officially removed from the Olympic program, Inoue decided to focus solely on trap shooting. In 2005, she held off a charge from the rest of the field to set a new world-record score of 88 hits for the gold medal victory at the ISSF World Cup meet in Changwon, South Korea.
Osamu Shitara (設楽 統, Shitara Osamu; born 23 April 1973) is a Japanese comedian, actor, voice actor and television…Osamu Shitara (設楽 統, Shitara Osamu; born 23 April 1973) is a Japanese comedian, actor, voice actor and television presenter. He performs boke (he does not entirely do boke he is known for doing tsukkomi) and tells stories in the comedy duo Bananaman. His partner is Yūki Himura. He is also a former Seibu Railway employee.
Haruna Hosoya (細谷 はるな, Hosoya Haruna; born April 23, 1973 in Kawanishi, Hyōgo) is an athlete from Japan. She competes…Haruna Hosoya (細谷 はるな, Hosoya Haruna; born April 23, 1973 in Kawanishi, Hyōgo) is an athlete from Japan. She competes in the triathlon. Hosoya competed at the first Olympic triathlon at the 2000 Summer Olympics. She did not finish the competition.
Yutaka Nakamura (中村 豊, Nakamura Yutaka; born April 23, 1973 in Sakai, Osaka) is a retired Japanese professional…Yutaka Nakamura (中村 豊, Nakamura Yutaka; born April 23, 1973 in Sakai, Osaka) is a retired Japanese professional outfielder.
Tomoaki Kunichika (Japanese: 国近 友昭; born April 22, 1973, in Yamaguchi) is a male long-distance runner from Japan, who…Tomoaki Kunichika (Japanese: 国近 友昭; born April 22, 1973, in Yamaguchi) is a male long-distance runner from Japan, who won the 2003 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon, clocking 2:07:52 on December 7, 2003.
Chiharu Kawai (川合千春, Kawai Chiharu) is a Japanese actress and voice actress. She is well known for her role as Mayumi…Chiharu Kawai (川合千春, Kawai Chiharu) is a Japanese actress and voice actress. She is well known for her role as Mayumi Sasaki in Carved.
Yoshiharu Ueno (上野 良治, Ueno Yoshiharu; born April 21, 1973) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Yoshiharu Ueno (上野 良治, Ueno Yoshiharu; born April 21, 1973) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Kumiko Yokote (横手 久美子, Yokote Kumiko; born April 21, 1973 in Chiba) is a Japanese voice actress and singer who works…Kumiko Yokote (横手 久美子, Yokote Kumiko; born April 21, 1973 in Chiba) is a Japanese voice actress and singer who works for Power Rise under the alias Hyo-sei (氷青, Hyōsei). For adult works, she goes by the name Elena Kaibara (海原 エレナ, Kaibara Erena). Hyo-sei released her first album titled Fuyu Hanabi (冬花火) on April 21, 2010.
Toshihide Saito (斉藤 俊秀, Saitō Toshihide; born April 20, 1973) is a Japanese former football player and manager. He…Toshihide Saito (斉藤 俊秀, Saitō Toshihide; born April 20, 1973) is a Japanese former football player and manager. He currently works as an assistant coach for the Japan national team.
Yoko Takahashi (高橋 洋子, Takahashi Yōko; born on (1973-04-20)20 April 1973) is a Japanese female mixed martial arts (MMA)…Yoko Takahashi (高橋 洋子, Takahashi Yōko; born on (1973-04-20)20 April 1973) is a Japanese female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and kickboxer and former boxer and professional wrestler. Takahashi is a former Smackgirl open weight champion. She is considered Japan's first female mixed martial artist.
Kaihō Ryōji (born April 17, 1973 as Ryōji Kumagaya) is a former sumo wrestler from Aomori, Japan. His highest rank was…Kaihō Ryōji (born April 17, 1973 as Ryōji Kumagaya) is a former sumo wrestler from Aomori, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. An amateur champion at Nihon University, he entered professional sumo in 1996. He was one of the lightest sekitori wrestlers in recent years. He won two special prizes for Technique. He retired from active competition in 2010 and became a coach, but in April 2011 he was asked to resign from the Japan Sumo Association after being found guilty of match-fixing.
Kentarō Kobayashi (小林 賢太郎, Kobayashi Kentarō; born 17 April 1973) is a Japanese comedian, actor, dramaturge, theatre…Kentarō Kobayashi (小林 賢太郎, Kobayashi Kentarō; born 17 April 1973) is a Japanese comedian, actor, dramaturge, theatre director, and manga artist. Outside Japan, he is most well known for directing and acting in "The Japanese Tradition (日本の形)" videos (e.g. "Sushi (鮨)"), and for playing the Mac (opposite Jin Katagiri who plays the PC) in the "Get a Mac" advertising campaign in Japan. He is a member of the Rahmens owarai comedy duo. His manga series, Hana Usagi, ran from 1999 to 2004 in Young Magazine Uppers (published by Kodansha).
Keiji Hirose (廣瀬佳司, Hirose Keiji), born April 16, 1973, in Osaka) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as…Keiji Hirose (廣瀬佳司, Hirose Keiji), born April 16, 1973, in Osaka) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as a fly-half. His club team was Toyota Verblitz. He was nicknamed Golden Boots (ゴールデン・ブーツ, Gôruden Būtsu). Hirose was awarded 40 caps for Japan; he made his debut in a 26–11 1995 Rugby World Cup qualifier win over South Korea, October 29, 1994, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In his career, Hirose scored 5 tries, 77 conversions, 79 penalties and 2 drop goals, reaching a national record of 422 points in aggregate. He was the primary goalkicker for Japan during his international career. He played in a single game at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the infamous 145–17 defeat to New Zealand. Hirose scored 2 conversions and 1 penalty in the game. In the 44–17 win over Tonga, at 8 May 1999, in Tokyo, during the Pacific Rim Championship, he kicked a then record of 9 penalties from 9 attempts. He played in all three of Japan's games at the 1999 Rugby World Cup. His 5 penalties and 4 conversions (a total of 23 points) led his country in scoring. Hirose again played only once at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, in a 32–11 defeat to Scotland, at 12 October 2003, scoring 2 penalties. His last international game came was on 5 November 2005, a 44–29 win over Spain, in Tokyo. Hirose had a memorable farewell, scoring 19 points through 5 conversions, 2 penalties and 1 drop goal. He was 32 years old.
Megumu Yoshida (吉田 恵, Yoshida Megumi; born April 13, 1973) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He is the…Megumu Yoshida (吉田 恵, Yoshida Megumi; born April 13, 1973) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He is the currently assistant manager of J1 League club Avispa Fukuoka.
