Kaori Chiba-Fujio (Japanese: 千葉 香織; born January 29, 1981, in Minami-Alps, Yamanashi) is a field hockey player from…Kaori Chiba-Fujio (Japanese: 千葉 香織; born January 29, 1981, in Minami-Alps, Yamanashi) is a field hockey player from Japan. She has represented her native country at three Summer Olympics (2004, 2008 and 2012). Chiba was the top scorer at the 2006 Women's Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Rome, Italy, alongside Tomomi Komori (Japan), Rhona Simpson (Scotland) and Maryna Vynohradova (Ukraine), each scoring six goals.
Gen Hoshino (星野 源, Hoshino Gen; born January 28, 1981) (Japanese pronunciation: [hoɕino ɡeɴ]) is a Japanese…Gen Hoshino (星野 源, Hoshino Gen; born January 28, 1981) (Japanese pronunciation: [hoɕino ɡeɴ]) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and writer.
Erikson Noguchipinto (ノグチピント・エリキソン, Noguchipinto Erikson; born Erikson Frank Noguchi Pinto; January 27, 1981) is a…Erikson Noguchipinto (ノグチピント・エリキソン, Noguchipinto Erikson; born Erikson Frank Noguchi Pinto; January 27, 1981) is a former football player. He moved to Japan at age 10 and obtained his Japanese citizenship in 2003. Although he is Brazilian Japanese and thus entitled to have his maternal surname Noguchi as his legal Japanese surname, he chose a combination of his paternal and maternal surnames as his legal Japanese surname.
Yoshihiro Sato (佐藤 嘉洋, Satō Yoshihiro; born January 25, 1981) is a Japanese kickboxer competing in K-1 at middleweight…Yoshihiro Sato (佐藤 嘉洋, Satō Yoshihiro; born January 25, 1981) is a Japanese kickboxer competing in K-1 at middleweight (−70 kg). He is the former world champion of Muay Thai in WKA and WPKC, and he won the Japanese national tournament of K-1 twice in 2006 and 2007. His official nickname is "Mugen Sniper" which means Infinite Sniper.
Shiori Kamimachi (上町 史織, Kamimachi Shiori; born 1981) is a Japanese team handball player. She plays on the Japanese…Shiori Kamimachi (上町 史織, Kamimachi Shiori; born 1981) is a Japanese team handball player. She plays on the Japanese national team, and participated at the 2011 World Women's Handball Championship in Brazil.
Kazuhiro Murakami (村上 和弘, Murakami Kazuhiro; born January 20, 1981) is a former Japanese football player He is the…Kazuhiro Murakami (村上 和弘, Murakami Kazuhiro; born January 20, 1981) is a former Japanese football player He is the current assistant manager of Vegalta Sendai.
Sayaka Sasaki (born 18 January 1981) is a Japanese politician who was a member of the House of Councillors of Japan…Sayaka Sasaki (born 18 January 1981) is a Japanese politician who was a member of the House of Councillors of Japan from 2013 to 2025.
Naoyuki Daigo (醍醐 直幸, Daigo Naoyuki; born 18 January 1981 in Tokyo) is a retired male high jumper from Japan. His…Naoyuki Daigo (醍醐 直幸, Daigo Naoyuki; born 18 January 1981 in Tokyo) is a retired male high jumper from Japan. His personal best jump is 2.33 metres, achieved in July 2006 in Kobe. This was the Japanese record until February 2019, when Naoto Tobe broke it by two centimetres.
Kazunari Sanematsu (實松 一成, Sanematsu Kazunari; born January 18, 1981) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player…Kazunari Sanematsu (實松 一成, Sanematsu Kazunari; born January 18, 1981) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan's Pacific League. Before playing for the Fighters he was a member of the Yomiuri Giants.
Kensuke Miyazaki (宮崎 謙介, Miyazaki Kensuke; born 17 January 1981) is a Japanese politician. He served as a member of the…Kensuke Miyazaki (宮崎 謙介, Miyazaki Kensuke; born 17 January 1981) is a Japanese politician. He served as a member of the House of Representatives for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) between 2012 and 2016.
Yūya Oikawa (及川 佑, Oikawa Yūya) (born 16 January 1981) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the 500 meter speed…Yūya Oikawa (及川 佑, Oikawa Yūya) (born 16 January 1981) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the 500 meter speed skating events in the 2006, 2010, and 2014 Winter Olympics.
Chiharu Niiyama (新山千春, Nīyama Chiharu; born January 14, 1981) is a Japanese actress, tarento, and former gravure idol.…Chiharu Niiyama (新山千春, Nīyama Chiharu; born January 14, 1981) is a Japanese actress, tarento, and former gravure idol. She is affiliated with Horipro.
Yujiro Takahashi (高橋 裕二郎, Takahashi Yūjirō; born January 13, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to…Yujiro Takahashi (高橋 裕二郎, Takahashi Yūjirō; born January 13, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of House of Torture. Takahashi entered New Japan in November 2003 with an extensive amateur background, advancing through the dojo and debuting on July 26, 2004, under his full name. He later shortened his name to Yujiro (裕次郎, Yūjirō). From 2007 to 2008, he was a member of the stable Samurai Gym with El Samurai and Ryusuke Taguchi, which ended when Samurai left the company. In 2010, he joined Chaos, where he was a one-time IWGP Tag Team and Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with Tetsuya Naito, with whom he teamed as No Limit. In 2014, Takahashi defected to Bullet Club, becoming the first non-gaijin member to join the stable. As a member of Bullet Club and House of Torture, he is a one-time NEVER Openweight Champion and a four-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion. During his time in Chaos, he had a "ladies' man" gimmick, which was carried on in Bullet Club. He is referred to as the "Tokyo Pimp" and is often accompanied to the ring by go-go dancer, the "Tokyo Latina" Pieter.
Ryotaro Doi (土居 龍太郎, Doi Ryōtarō) (born January 11, 1981) is a former professional baseball player in Japan. Doi for a…Ryotaro Doi (土居 龍太郎, Doi Ryōtarō) (born January 11, 1981) is a former professional baseball player in Japan. Doi for a period played for the Yokohama BayStars. Doi played as a pitcher.
Shoko Mikami (三上 尚子, Mikami Shōko; born January 8, 1981) is a former Japanese football player and manager. She played…Shoko Mikami (三上 尚子, Mikami Shōko; born January 8, 1981) is a former Japanese football player and manager. She played for Japan national team.
Yoshihiko Matsumoto (松本 慶彦, Matsumoto Yoshihiko; born 7 January 1981) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in…Yoshihiko Matsumoto (松本 慶彦, Matsumoto Yoshihiko; born 7 January 1981) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Riki Fukuda (Japanese: 福田 力, Fukuda Riki; born January 6, 1981), is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing…Riki Fukuda (Japanese: 福田 力, Fukuda Riki; born January 6, 1981), is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2004, he has formerly competed for the UFC, EliteXC, DEEP, DREAM, K-1 (MMA), Shooto, and Pancrase. Currently, he runs an izakaya-style restaurant in Leiden, The Netherlands.
Aki Shibata (芝田安希 Shibata Aki, born January 6, 1981) was a Japanese volleyball player who played for Toray Arrows. She…Aki Shibata (芝田安希 Shibata Aki, born January 6, 1981) was a Japanese volleyball player who played for Toray Arrows. She served as captain of the team between 2008 and 2010. Toray announced that she retired in June 2010.
Takamasa Oe (大江 崇允, Ōe Takamasa; born 6 January 1981) is a Japanese screenwriter. He was co-nominated with Ryusuke…Takamasa Oe (大江 崇允, Ōe Takamasa; born 6 January 1981) is a Japanese screenwriter. He was co-nominated with Ryusuke Hamaguchi for an Academy Award in the category Best Adapted Screenplay for the film Drive My Car.
Rinko Kikuchi () (菊地 凛子, Kikuchi Rinko; born Yuriko Kikuchi (菊地 百合子, Kikuchi Yuriko), January 6, 1981) is a Japanese…Rinko Kikuchi () (菊地 凛子, Kikuchi Rinko; born Yuriko Kikuchi (菊地 百合子, Kikuchi Yuriko), January 6, 1981) is a Japanese actress. She was the first Japanese actress to be nominated for an Academy Award in 50 years, for her work in Babel (2006). Kikuchi's other notable films include Norwegian Wood (2010), which screened in competition at the 67th Venice Film Festival and Guillermo del Toro's science fiction action film Pacific Rim (2013). For her role in the drama film Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter (2014), Kikuchi received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead. She played a supporting role in the HBO Max crime drama series Tokyo Vice.
Hitomi Obara née Sakamoto (小原 日登美, Obara Hitomi; 4 January 1981 – 18 July 2025) was a Japanese female wrestler from…Hitomi Obara née Sakamoto (小原 日登美, Obara Hitomi; 4 January 1981 – 18 July 2025) was a Japanese female wrestler from Hachinohe, Aomori. She was Captain in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. On 8 August 2012, Obara won the women's 48kg freestyle wrestling gold in her first Olympic Games at London's Excel Arena. She had retired from competitive wrestling after winning the gold medal at the London Olympics. Hitomi Obara died on 18 July 2025, at the age of 44. She had previously been diagnosed with depression and an eating disorder.
Kenji Ishijima (石島健至, Ishijima Kenji; born January 3, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known under the…Kenji Ishijima (石島健至, Ishijima Kenji; born January 3, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known under the ring name Guts Ishijima (ガッツ石島, Gattsu Ishijima). He is currently working as a freelancer and is best known for having founded the Japanese promotions Guts World Pro-Wrestling and Total Triumph Team Pro-Wrestling (TTT).
Yoshihiro Horigome (堀籠 佳宏, Horigome Yoshihiro; born 2 January 1981) is a retired Japanese sprinter who specializes in…Yoshihiro Horigome (堀籠 佳宏, Horigome Yoshihiro; born 2 January 1981) is a retired Japanese sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres. His personal best time is 45.77 seconds, achieved in September 2006 in Yokohama.
Shirow Shiratori (白鳥士郎 Shiratori Shirō, born 1981 is a Japanese light novelist. He is most known for his series No-Rin…Shirow Shiratori (白鳥士郎 Shiratori Shirō, born 1981 is a Japanese light novelist. He is most known for his series No-Rin and The Ryuo's Work Is Never Done!. He is from Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture.
Eisuke Tachikawa (Japanese: 太刀川 英輔, romanized: Tachikawa Eisuke; born 1981) is a Japanese designer, design strategist…Eisuke Tachikawa (Japanese: 太刀川 英輔, romanized: Tachikawa Eisuke; born 1981) is a Japanese designer, design strategist and educator. He is the founder of the design firm NOSIGNER, a board member of the World Design Organization (WDO), and a project professor at the Graduate School of System Design and Management at Keio University. Tachikawa served as president of the Japan Industrial Design Association (JIDA) from 2021 to 2025, becoming the youngest president in the organization's history. He was elected to the WDO Board of Directors in 2023 and re-elected for the 2025–2027 term. In 2024, he became the inaugural recipient of the DFA Designer of the Year award.
Yuki Hayashi (林 ゆうき, Hayashi Yūki; born 31 December 1980) is a Japanese composer and arranger best known for his work…Yuki Hayashi (林 ゆうき, Hayashi Yūki; born 31 December 1980) is a Japanese composer and arranger best known for his work on the soundtracks for anime, television series, and films. His notable works include Triangle (in collaboration with Hiroyuki Sawano), Zettai Reido, Diabolik Lovers, Asa ga Kita, Haikyū!!, and My Hero Academia.
Fumie Suguri (村主 章枝, Suguri Fumie; born December 31, 1980) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. She is a…Fumie Suguri (村主 章枝, Suguri Fumie; born December 31, 1980) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. She is a three-time World medalist, a three-time Four Continents champion, the 2003 Grand Prix Final champion, and a five-time Japanese national champion.
Yuki Sunaga (須長 由季, Sunaga Yuki; born 28 December 1980 in Sakado, Saitama) is a Japanese windsurfer, who specialized in…Yuki Sunaga (須長 由季, Sunaga Yuki; born 28 December 1980 in Sakado, Saitama) is a Japanese windsurfer, who specialized in Neil Pryde RS:X class. As of September 2013, Sunaga is ranked no. 53 in the world for the sailboard class by the International Sailing Federation. Sunaga competed in the women's RS:X class at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London by finishing thirty-third and receiving a berth from the ISAF World Championships in Perth, Western Australia. Struggling to attain a top position in the opening series, Sunaga accumulated a net score of 180 points for a twenty-first-place finish in a fleet of twenty-six windsurfers.
Shuichi Murata (村田 修一, Murata Shūichi; born December 28, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball third…Shuichi Murata (村田 修一, Murata Shūichi; born December 28, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball third baseman. He played 15 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2003 to 2017 for the Yokohama BayStars and Yomiuri Giants. Murata led the Central League in home runs in both 2007 and 2008 and is one of the few pure home run hitters in Japanese professional baseball today. He played in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as the 2009 World Baseball Classic as a member of the Japanese national team and hit cleanup for much of the latter tournament.
Kenichiro Suehiro (末廣 健一郎, Suehiro Kenichirō; born December 27, 1980) is a Japanese composer and arranger, known for…Kenichiro Suehiro (末廣 健一郎, Suehiro Kenichirō; born December 27, 1980) is a Japanese composer and arranger, known for his work on many television dramas, anime series, and films. He is currently represented by ONE MUSIC, a music production company.
Fumitake Fujita (藤田 文武, Fujita Fumitake; born 27 December 1980) is a Japanese businessman and politician. A member of…Fumitake Fujita (藤田 文武, Fujita Fumitake; born 27 December 1980) is a Japanese businessman and politician. A member of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), he has served as a member of the House of Representatives since 2019 and co-leader of Ishin since August 2025, serving alongside Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura. He previously served as the party’s Secretary-General from 2021 to 2024.
Ken'ichirō Saitō (born 25 December 1980) is a Japanese businessman, politician and YouTuber. He is a member of the…Ken'ichirō Saitō (born 25 December 1980) is a Japanese businessman, politician and YouTuber. He is a member of the House of Councillors since 2022, formerly of the political organization NHK Party. He is also the former accounting officer of the Horiemon New Party.
Motoko Fujimoto (藤本索子; born December 25, 1980 in Dazaifu, Fukuoka) is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal…Motoko Fujimoto (藤本索子; born December 25, 1980 in Dazaifu, Fukuoka) is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Reika Hashimoto (橋本麗香, Hashimoto Reika; born December 25, 1980 in Tokyo) is a Japanese model and actress. She is of…Reika Hashimoto (橋本麗香, Hashimoto Reika; born December 25, 1980 in Tokyo) is a Japanese model and actress. She is of Japanese-Spanish heritage. Her father is an American citizen of Spanish descent. She has been working as a model since she was 10, and her acting debut was in the 1999 movie Hakuchi (directed by Makoto Tezuka, opposite Tadanobu Asano), and has performed in several movies. On television, she had a participation on TV Asahi's Profile and has performed in Chinese soap operas.
Naoya Tabara (田原 直哉, Tabara Naoya; born 24 December 1980) is a Japanese male artistic gymnast and freestyle skier. He…Naoya Tabara (田原 直哉, Tabara Naoya; born 24 December 1980) is a Japanese male artistic gymnast and freestyle skier. He has formerly competed as a gymnast and has participated at the gymnastic competitions until 2005 before switching on to take the sport of freestyle skiing in 2006. Naoya Tabara sustained a shoulder injury in 2005 when he was professional artistic gymnast which caused him to choose aerials freestyle skiing. He participated at the 2018 Winter Olympics and competed in the freestyle skiing men's aerials event. Naoya most notably took part in the 2005 Gymnastics World Cup finishing sixth in the floor excise event. Naoya Tabara has competed in FIS World Championships and has represented Japan during the 2011 Asian Winter Games before being selected to represent Japan at the 2018 Winter Olympics. He is also the first Japanese male freestyle skier to secure a podium finish in aerials at a Skiing World Cup.
Kōhei Yamamoto (山本 康平, Yamamoto Kōhei; born December 23, 1980, in Okayama Prefecture) is a Japanese actor who is…Kōhei Yamamoto (山本 康平, Yamamoto Kōhei; born December 23, 1980, in Okayama Prefecture) is a Japanese actor who is affiliated with Ohta Production. He graduated from Komazawa University. He played the role of Kouta Bitou (Hurricane Yellow) in the 2002 Super Sentai TV series Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger.
Ayako Ito (伊藤 綾子, Itō Ayako; born 23 December 1980, in Akita, Akita, Japan) is a former Japanese television and radio…Ayako Ito (伊藤 綾子, Itō Ayako; born 23 December 1980, in Akita, Akita, Japan) is a former Japanese television and radio announcer who was represented with Cent Force.
Kenichi Takahashi (高橋 憲一, Takahashi Ken'ichi; born December 22, 1980), nicknamed Shocho, is a former Japanese…Kenichi Takahashi (高橋 憲一, Takahashi Ken'ichi; born December 22, 1980), nicknamed Shocho, is a former Japanese professional basketball player and served for Akita Northern Happinets of the B.League as the ambassador. Takahashi is currently the instructor for Toreiku Katagami. He was selected by the Sendai 89ers with the third overall pick in the 2006 bj League draft. He has played for the four Tohoku clubs of the bj league. In October 2015 he became a one-day honorary police chief at the Akita Higashi Police Station. Since then a police officer salute has become popular among Akita's boosters. Takahashi studies NBA to improve his game, and he is an Air Jordan collector. His retirement memorial game was held at Akita Prefectural Gymnasium on October 29, 2017.
Junko Nishimuro (西室淳子, Nishimuro Junko; born December 21, 1980 as Junko Sonobe) is a Japanese curler from Otsuki…Junko Nishimuro (西室淳子, Nishimuro Junko; born December 21, 1980 as Junko Sonobe) is a Japanese curler from Otsuki, Yamanashi. She is the second on the SC Karuizawa Club curling team, which is skipped by Miyu Ueno. At the international level, she represented Japan at the 2005 Pacific Curling Championships and the 2006 World Women's Curling Championship as a result of winning the 2005 Japan Curling Championships.
Mai Nakachi (中地 舞, Nakachi Mai; born 16 December 1980) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan…Mai Nakachi (中地 舞, Nakachi Mai; born 16 December 1980) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Hozumi Hasegawa (長谷川 穂積, Hasegawa Hozumi; born 16 December 1980) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed…Hozumi Hasegawa (長谷川 穂積, Hasegawa Hozumi; born 16 December 1980) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2016. He won world titles in three weight classes, including the World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight title from 2005 to 2010, the WBC featherweight title from 2010 to 2011, and the WBC super bantamweight title in 2016. Hasegawa received MVP awards from the Japan Boxing Commission in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009 for his title defenses, and is the first Japanese boxer to have defended a bantamweight world title more than four times.
Chisato Amate (天手 千聖, Amate Chisato; born 16 December 1980, in Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese actress. She played…Chisato Amate (天手 千聖, Amate Chisato; born 16 December 1980, in Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese actress. She played the lead actress role in 1-Ichi, a prequel to Ichi the Killer. In 2004, she played a supporting role in Izo. With Azuma Mami she is part of a CM duo called G☆cups, a reference to their large busts (Chisato's, at 86 cm, is large for a Japanese woman).