Masahiro Tanaka (田中 将大, Tanaka Masahiro; born November 1, 1988) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the…
Masahiro Tanaka (田中 将大, Tanaka Masahiro; born November 1, 1988) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees. From 2007 through 2013, he played for the Eagles in NPB. Tanaka was posted by the Eagles after the 2013 season to be signed with the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball (MLB) and signed a seven-year, $155 million contract, the fifth-largest deal ever given to a pitcher at the time. He made his major league debut in 2014 and played for the Yankees through the 2020 season, before deciding to return to Japan. Tanaka has said that he decided to return to Japan partly due to anti-Asian racism in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tanaka was the Eagles' first-round pick in the 2006 NPB amateur player draft. From 2012 to 2013, he won 26 consecutive decisions, which set a new NPB record. In MLB, Tanaka was the Yankees' Opening Day starter for four seasons and was twice named an All-Star.
Famous People Born in 1980s
1980s: 3,564 people
Shota Arai (新井 章太, Arai Shota; born November 1, 1988 in Saitama) is a Japanese footballer who currently plays for J1…
Shota Arai (新井 章太, Arai Shota; born November 1, 1988 in Saitama) is a Japanese footballer who currently plays for J1 League club Vissel Kobe.
Mucha Mori (森 ムチャ, Mori Mucha; born November 1, 1988 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese basketball player, who…
Mucha Mori (森 ムチャ, Mori Mucha; born November 1, 1988 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese basketball player, who plays center for the Toyota Antelopes in the Women's Japan Basketball League.
Ariajasuru Hasegawa (Japanese: 長谷川 アーリアジャスール, romanized: Hasegawa Āriajasūru; Persian: آریا جسور; born 29 October 1988)…
Ariajasuru Hasegawa (Japanese: 長谷川 アーリアジャスール, romanized: Hasegawa Āriajasūru; Persian: آریا جسور; born 29 October 1988) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
Shota Kawanishi (川西 翔太, born October 28, 1988) is a Japanese football player for Nara Club.
Sayoko Izumi (泉彩世子, Izumi Sayoko; born October 28, 1988) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and actor from Toyonaka, Osaka…
Sayoko Izumi (泉彩世子, Izumi Sayoko; born October 28, 1988) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and actor from Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture. She was signed to King Records (Japan) until January, 2015. She debuted in 2013 with the single "Scramble".
Mitsuhiro Kitamiya (北宮 光洋, Kitamiya Mitsuhiro; born November 27, 1988) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to…
Mitsuhiro Kitamiya (北宮 光洋, Kitamiya Mitsuhiro; born November 27, 1988) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Pro Wrestling Noah. Kitamiya's ring name Masa Kitamiya (マサ北宮, Masa Kitamiya) is a tribute to former professional wrestler Masa Saito. Kitamiya also wears a similar ring attire to Saito as tribute.
Ayumu Honda (本田アユム, Honda Ayumu) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Active Advance Pro Wrestling (2AW) where…
Ayumu Honda (本田アユム, Honda Ayumu) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Active Advance Pro Wrestling (2AW) where he is a former two-time 2AW Tag Team Champion. He is also known for his work in various promotions of the Japanese independent scene such as Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW).
Mitsuhiro Abiko (安孫子 充裕, Abiko Mitsuhiro; born October 25, 1988 in Yamagata Prefecture) is a Japanese sprinter, who…
Mitsuhiro Abiko (安孫子 充裕, Abiko Mitsuhiro; born October 25, 1988 in Yamagata Prefecture) is a Japanese sprinter, who specialized in the 400 metres. Abiko competed in the men's 4 × 400 m relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, along with his teammates Kenji Narisako, Dai Tamesue, and Yoshihiro Horigome. He ran on the starting leg of the second heat, with an individual-split time of 46.70 seconds. Abiko and his team finished the relay in sixth place for a seasonal best time of 3:04.18, failing to advance into the final.
Megu Sakuragawa (櫻川 めぐ, Sakuragawa Megu) is a Japanese singer, voice actress, and drummer from Ibaraki Prefecture…
Megu Sakuragawa (櫻川 めぐ, Sakuragawa Megu) is a Japanese singer, voice actress, and drummer from Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. She is better known as Tsubasa Kira from Love Live! and Ako Udagawa from BanG Dream!, the latter of which involves playing drums for the band Roselia. She is currently affiliated with S.
Kazusada Higuchi (樋口和貞, Higuchi Kazusada; born October 24, 1988) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and sumo…
Kazusada Higuchi (樋口和貞, Higuchi Kazusada; born October 24, 1988) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and sumo rikishi (sumo wrestler). He is best known for his time in Japanese professional wrestling promotion DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT), where he is a two-time KO-D Openweight Champion. As a sumo rikishi, he was known as Hokudōzan (北道山); as a member of the Hakkaku stable, his highest rank was makushita 45. From January 2020 to July 2022, he was a member of Eruption (エラップション, Erappushon; stylized in English text), alongside Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai, and later Hideki Okatani. Amid his departure, he created Harimao (ハリマオ, Harimao) with Naomi Yoshimura and Yuki Ishida. He captured both the KO-D Tag Team and KO-D 6-Man Tag Team titles in his run with both stables. He won the 2022 and 2025 King of DDT tournaments, won the vacant KO-D Openweight Championship in his first 2022 victory, and won the title in the challenge subsequent to the 2025 victory at the King of Kings event. He won the Japan Indie Awards' MVP Award in 2022 for his accomplishments in DDT. His retirement was announced on March 23, 2026, and his retirement ceremony to confirm it will be held on the April 5 DDT Korakuen Hall event.
Hikaru Kosaka (born 21 October 1988) is a Japanese cyclo-cross and road cyclist, who currently rides for UCI…
Hikaru Kosaka (born 21 October 1988) is a Japanese cyclo-cross and road cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Continental team Velolien Matsuyama. He represented his nation in the men's elite event at the 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Heusden-Zolder.
Risa Niigaki (新垣 里沙, Niigaki Risa; born October 20, 1988) is a Japanese actress and singer. She was a fifth-generation…
Risa Niigaki (新垣 里沙, Niigaki Risa; born October 20, 1988) is a Japanese actress and singer. She was a fifth-generation member of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. She joined Morning Musume in 2001 along with 3 others- Ai Takahashi, Asami Konno and Makoto Ogawa. She grew up in Yokohama after moving there at the age of six. She was one of the longest serving members of Morning Musume, and was the leader of the group from October 2011 to her graduation on May 18, 2012.
Keiki Nishiyama (西山 慶樹 Nishiyama Keiki, born 19 October 1988) is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for JT…
Keiki Nishiyama (西山 慶樹 Nishiyama Keiki, born 19 October 1988) is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for JT Marvelous.
Yuki Kobayashi (小林 裕紀, Kobayashi Yūki; born October 18, 1988) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defensive…
Yuki Kobayashi (小林 裕紀, Kobayashi Yūki; born October 18, 1988) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Oita Trinita.
Daisuke Kataoka (片岡 大育, Kataoka Daisuke; born 17 October 1988) is a Japanese professional golfer.
Tori Matsuzaka (松坂 桃李, Matsuzaka Tōri; born October 17, 1988) is a Japanese actor and model. He debuted as Takeru…
Tori Matsuzaka (松坂 桃李, Matsuzaka Tōri; born October 17, 1988) is a Japanese actor and model. He debuted as Takeru Shiba/Shinken Red in Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. Since then, he has appeared in several television shows and films.
Arfiya Eri (born 16 October 1988), also known by her Turkic name Arfiya Ablat, is a Japanese politician of Uyghur and…
Arfiya Eri (born 16 October 1988), also known by her Turkic name Arfiya Ablat, is a Japanese politician of Uyghur and Uzbek descent. She is a member of the House of Representatives for the Liberal Democratic Party.
Kyōhei Kamezawa (亀澤 恭平, Kamezawa Kyōhei; born October 15, 1988) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He played…
Kyōhei Kamezawa (亀澤 恭平, Kamezawa Kyōhei; born October 15, 1988) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Chunichi Dragons for the Nippon Professional Baseball(NPB). On December 2, 2019, he became a free agent.
Ryū Shichinohe (七戸 龍, Shichinohe Ryū; born 14 October 1988 in Okinawa) is a male Japanese judoka. His father, Yasuhiro…
Ryū Shichinohe (七戸 龍, Shichinohe Ryū; born 14 October 1988 in Okinawa) is a male Japanese judoka. His father, Yasuhiro Shichinohe, is a former Kyokushin karate national champion and his mother is Belgian. In childhood, he practiced both judo and karate, but at the age of 13, he chose to focus only on judo. In 2011, after graduating from Fukuoka University, he was employed by Kyushu Electric Power. Shichinohe won the silver medal in the heavyweight (+100 kg) division at the 2014 and 2015 World Judo Championships.
Rina Sawayama (澤山 璃奈, Sawayama Rina; born 13 October 1988, in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese professional…
Rina Sawayama (澤山 璃奈, Sawayama Rina; born 13 October 1988, in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese professional figure skater, dancer, actress, gravure idol, TV personality.
Akito Tachibana (橘 章斗, Tachibana Akito; born October 13, 1988) is a former Japanese football player.
Shōya Yamamoto (山本 翔也, Yamamoto Shōya; born October 12, 1988 in Takefu, Fukui) is a Japanese Nippon Professional…
Shōya Yamamoto (山本 翔也, Yamamoto Shōya; born October 12, 1988 in Takefu, Fukui) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Central League.
Tatsuya Oishi (大石 達也, Ōishi Tatsuya; born October 10, 1988 in Dazaifu, Fukuoka) is a Japanese former professional…
Tatsuya Oishi (大石 達也, Ōishi Tatsuya; born October 10, 1988 in Dazaifu, Fukuoka) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher and current coach for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball.
Yuki Yanagita (柳田 悠岐, Yanagita Yūki; born October 9, 1988 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan), nicknamed "Gita (ギータ)" and…
Yuki Yanagita (柳田 悠岐, Yanagita Yūki; born October 9, 1988 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan), nicknamed "Gita (ギータ)" and sometimes condescendingly referred to as "Japan's Mike Trout" in English-speaking reports of baseball in Japan, is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He is an eleven-time All-Star and a two-time Pacific League MVP, earning those honors in 2015 and 2020. Yanagita is recognized as one of the most successful players in NPB since the 21st century, based on his accomplishments both team and individual, including seven Japan Series championships, four-time Japan Series MVP, two-time Pacific League MVP and five-time OPS leader.
Jin Okubo (大久保 陣, Ōkubo Jin; born 8 October 1988) is a Japanese road cyclist, who most recently rode for UCI…
Jin Okubo (大久保 陣, Ōkubo Jin; born 8 October 1988) is a Japanese road cyclist, who most recently rode for UCI Continental team Utsunomiya Blitzen.
Naoki Ozawa (小沢直樹, Ozawa Naoki; born 8 October 1988) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a Flanker. He…
Naoki Ozawa (小沢直樹, Ozawa Naoki; born 8 October 1988) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a Flanker. He currently plays for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan's domestic Top League.
Michael Geoffrey Leitch (リーチ マイケル, Rīchi Maikeru; born 7 October 1988) is a New Zealand-born Japanese professional…
Michael Geoffrey Leitch (リーチ マイケル, Rīchi Maikeru; born 7 October 1988) is a New Zealand-born Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as a number eight for Japan Rugby League One club Toshiba Brave Lupus. Born in New Zealand, he represents Japan at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.
Daisuke Yako (born 7 October 1988) is a retired Japanese male volleyball player. He was a part of the Japan men's…
Daisuke Yako (born 7 October 1988) is a retired Japanese male volleyball player. He was a part of the Japan men's national volleyball team. On club level, he only played for JT Thunders.
Ayumu Nakajima (中島歩, Nakajima Ayumu; born October 7, 1988 in Tokyo) is a Japanese actor.
Kazuya Murata (村田 和哉, born 7 October 1988) is a Japanese football player.
Maki Horikita (堀北 真希, Horikita Maki; born October 6, 1988) is a Japanese former actress. During her career from 2003…
Maki Horikita (堀北 真希, Horikita Maki; born October 6, 1988) is a Japanese former actress. During her career from 2003 until 2017, she starred in numerous Japanese television dramas, television and magazine advertisements, and movies, including roles in Nobuta wo Produce, Hanazakari no Kimitachi e and Doctor Ume.
Takumi Shimohira (下平 匠, Shimohira Takumi; born October 6, 1988, in Minoh, Osaka) is a Japanese former football player.
Tetsurō Itodani (糸谷 哲郎, Itodani Tetsurō; born October 5, 1988) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan…
Tetsurō Itodani (糸谷 哲郎, Itodani Tetsurō; born October 5, 1988) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan and former Ryūō title holder. He is also an executive director of the Japan Shogi Association.
Taku Ishihara (石原 卓, Ishihara Taku; born October 3, 1992) is a former Japanese football player. He had previously…
Taku Ishihara (石原 卓, Ishihara Taku; born October 3, 1992) is a former Japanese football player. He had previously played for the J2 League team Tokushima Vortis. Ishihira is a midfielder who plays an attacking role from the wings with left-footed shots and crosses. He dominates the left side with his technique and good physical strength. In July 2014, he was loaned to fourth tier Regionalliga Nordost club TSG Neustrelitz for the upcoming season.
Tsuyoshi Ueda (上田 剛史, Tsuyoshi Ueda; born July 22, 1988 in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan) is a Zainichi Korean…
Tsuyoshi Ueda (上田 剛史, Tsuyoshi Ueda; born July 22, 1988 in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan) is a Zainichi Korean former professional baseball outfielder. An ethnic Korean, his birth name is Hanja: 周剛史. On December 2, 2020, he become free agent.
Ryota Fujii (藤井 亮太, Fujii Ryota; born September 30, 1988) is a Japanese baseball player for the CITYLIGHT OKAYAMA. He…
Ryota Fujii (藤井 亮太, Fujii Ryota; born September 30, 1988) is a Japanese baseball player for the CITYLIGHT OKAYAMA. He has played for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). On December 2, 2020, he become free agent.
Osama Ibrahim Ali Elsamni (Arabic: أسامة إبراهيم علي السمني, romanized: Usāma Ibrāhīm ʿAlī as-Samnī; Japanese…
Osama Ibrahim Ali Elsamni (Arabic: أسامة إبراهيم علي السمني, romanized: Usāma Ibrāhīm ʿAlī as-Samnī; Japanese: エルサムニー・オサマ, romanized: Erusamunī Osama; born 29 September 1988) is an Egyptian-Japanese retired footballer who played as a striker.
Ryunosuke Noda (野田 隆之介, Noda Ryūnosuke; born September 28, 1988) is a Japanese former football player.
Yasuhiro Awano (粟野 靖浩, Awano Yasuhiro; born 27 September 1988 in Shimotsuma, Ibaraki) is a Japanese judoka. He won a…
Yasuhiro Awano (粟野 靖浩, Awano Yasuhiro; born 27 September 1988 in Shimotsuma, Ibaraki) is a Japanese judoka. He won a bronze medal in the lightweight division (73 kg) at the 2010 World Judo Championships.
Ryosuke Nanjo (南條 遼介, Nanjo Ryosuke; born September 27, 1988) is a Japanese chess player.
Marina Kuroki (黒木 マリナ, Kuroki Marina; born 26 September 1988) is a Japanese actress, singer and model best known for…
Marina Kuroki (黒木 マリナ, Kuroki Marina; born 26 September 1988) is a Japanese actress, singer and model best known for her appearances in the Sailor Moon musicals series.
Yuichi Kubo (久保 裕一, born September 26, 1988) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Fagiano Okayama, as a striker for…
Yuichi Kubo (久保 裕一, born September 26, 1988) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Fagiano Okayama, as a striker for SC Sagamihara.
Ryohei Komori (小森 亮 平, Komori Ryōhei; born 26 September 1988) is a Japanese cyclist, who currently rides for UCI…
Ryohei Komori (小森 亮 平, Komori Ryōhei; born 26 September 1988) is a Japanese cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Continental team Matrix Powertag.
Yūdai Ōno (大野 雄大, born September 26, 1988, in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the…
Yūdai Ōno (大野 雄大, born September 26, 1988, in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Shingo Kukita (久木田 紳吾, Kukita Shingo; born September 24, 1988) is a Japanese former footballer who last played for…
Shingo Kukita (久木田 紳吾, Kukita Shingo; born September 24, 1988) is a Japanese former footballer who last played for Thespakusatsu Gunma.
Kaori Housako (宝迫 香織, Hōsako Kaori; born September 23, 1988) is a Japanese professional wrestler and actress. She is…
Kaori Housako (宝迫 香織, Hōsako Kaori; born September 23, 1988) is a Japanese professional wrestler and actress. She is best known for her two tenures in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Kairi Sane (カイリ・セイン, Kairi Sein). From 2012 to 2017, she wrestled for the Japanese promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom under the ring name Kairi Hojo (宝城 カイリ, Hōjō Kairi). Embodying a "Pirate Princess" persona, she became a one-time World of Stardom Champion, a one-time Wonder of Stardom Champion, a three-time Goddesses of Stardom Champion and a five-time Artist of Stardom Champion. She also won the 2015 5Star Grand Prix Tournament and the 2016 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League. In 2017, she signed with WWE, where she adopted the ring name Kairi Sane. She won the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament the same year, and was then assigned to the NXT brand. She captured the NXT Women's Championship in 2018 and subsequently won the 2018 NXT Year-End Awards for Female Competitor of the Year and for Overall Competitor of the Year. In 2019, she debuted on WWE's main roster, where she became a one-time and the longest reigning WWE Women's Tag Team Champion, along with Asuka as part of the Kabuki Warriors. The team also received 2019 WWE Year-End Award for Women's Tag Team of the Year. In 2020, she returned to Japan to join her husband, and worked as a WWE ambassador and trainer in her native country until December 2021 when her contract expired. After her stint with WWE, she returned to World Wonder Ring Stardom in February 2022 and performed under ring name Kairi (stylized in all caps). She also performed for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) where she was a one-time and inaugural IWGP Women's Champion. She became a free agent in March 2023 and returned to WWE at Crown Jewel 2023 until her release in April 2026.
Ryo Kimura (木村 了, Kimura Ryō; born September 23, 1988) is a Japanese actor who debuted in 2002. His first movie was…
Ryo Kimura (木村 了, Kimura Ryō; born September 23, 1988) is a Japanese actor who debuted in 2002. His first movie was Moonlight Jellyfish, in which he co-starred with Tatsuya Fujiwara. He played the role of Michio, a mentally challenged 15-year-old boy diagnosed with an incurable skin disease called XP (Xeroderma Pigmentosum).
Naomichi Donoue (堂上 直倫, born September 23, 1988, in Japan) is a coach and former Japanese professional baseball player…
Naomichi Donoue (堂上 直倫, born September 23, 1988, in Japan) is a coach and former Japanese professional baseball player for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He was a utility infielder and has played at various positions including short stop, third base and second base.