Motohiro Hata (秦基博, Hata Motohiro; born 11 October 1980) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. He debuted under the major…Motohiro Hata (秦基博, Hata Motohiro; born 11 October 1980) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. He debuted under the major label BMG Japan in 2006 with the single "Synchro" (シンクロ, Shinkuro).
Eishin Soyogi (梵 英心, Soyogi Eishin; born October 11, 1980) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays…Eishin Soyogi (梵 英心, Soyogi Eishin; born October 11, 1980) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays infielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Eiichi Koyano (小谷野 栄一, Koyano Eīchi; born October 10, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball player…Eiichi Koyano (小谷野 栄一, Koyano Eīchi; born October 10, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball player (infielder) and currently the hitting coach for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He is a native of Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan. Koyano is considered a member of the Matsuzaka Generation.
Yuiko Konno (金野 結子, Konno Yuiko; born October 10, 1980) is a former Japanese football player. She played for the Japan…Yuiko Konno (金野 結子, Konno Yuiko; born October 10, 1980) is a former Japanese football player. She played for the Japan national team.
Mayu Wakisaka (脇阪 真由, Wakisaka Mayu; born October 7, 1980) is a singer-songwriter, composer, and lyricist based in…Mayu Wakisaka (脇阪 真由, Wakisaka Mayu; born October 7, 1980) is a singer-songwriter, composer, and lyricist based in Tokyo, Japan. Wakisaka grew up in Osaka, Japan, and studied law at Kyoto University. In 2007, she quit law school to pursue her career as a singer-songwriter and moved to Los Angeles. While studying music at LA Music Academy, Wakisaka self-produced her first EP Stars Won't Fall, from which "24 Hours" got featured in Sony Walkman as a preload song, attracting an international fanbase. In 2011, she recorded her second EP Into the Wild with an L.A. based producer, John Avila. An acoustic tune "Once" won the first prize in International Acoustic Music Award Open Category and made it to the final of Great American Songwriting Contest. Also, the piano ballad "What I See in Love" made it to the final of UK Songwriting Contest and Australian Songwriting Contest. Later, this song was featured as a sub theme song in In the Name of Love, a TV drama aired in Singapore and Malaysia. In 2014, she released Halfway to You, a compilation album of her first EP as her first full-length album. In promotion of the album, she performed at SXSW as part of the Japan Nite tour in the United States and at The Great Escape Festival in UK. She also released her CD and performed in Korea and Singapore too. In 2015, she co-wrote "Love Song" for the Korean female group, Miss A's EP, Colors, and "Like a Fool" for the Korean female group, Twice's debut EP, The Story Begins. In 2017, she co-wrote "Real World" for Oh My Girl's fourth EP, Coloring Book, and in 2018, she co-wrote the song "Secret Garden" for their fifth EP of the same name. She is also credited as co-producer in TXT's debut song "Crown", for their EP The Dream Chapter in 2019. In 2020, Wakisaka was credited as a co-writer for GFriend's song "Crème Brûlée" from the EP Song of the Sirens, as well as the songs "Three of Cups" and "Wheel of the Year" from their album Walpurgis Night. In 2025, she wrote and co-produced the song "Liar Liar" from @onefive's first EP More Than Kawaii, as well as "Alps Vibes" from their second EP Doh Yoh. In 2026, she wrote and co-produced "M1X5R" for @onefive's Sakuraization.
Yuta Tabuse (田臥 勇太, Tabuse Yūta; born October 5, 1980) is a Japanese professional basketball player for Utsunomiya Brex…Yuta Tabuse (田臥 勇太, Tabuse Yūta; born October 5, 1980) is a Japanese professional basketball player for Utsunomiya Brex of the B.League. A point guard, Tabuse is 1.75 metres (5 ft 9 in) and 75 kilograms (165 lb). He was the first Japanese-born player to appear in a National Basketball Association (NBA) game. Tabuse has enjoyed popularity in Japan since his high school playing days, when he led his school to three straight national championships, and has been referred to as "the Michael Jordan of Japan" for his celebrity status.
Kentaro Yoshida (吉田 賢太郎, Yoshida Kentarō; born October 5, 1980) is a former Japanese football player. He is the current…Kentaro Yoshida (吉田 賢太郎, Yoshida Kentarō; born October 5, 1980) is a former Japanese football player. He is the current assistant manager of Vegalta Sendai.
Ryohei Otani (大谷 亮平, Ōtani Ryōhei; born October 1, 1980) is a Japanese actor and model. He began his modeling career in…Ryohei Otani (大谷 亮平, Ōtani Ryōhei; born October 1, 1980) is a Japanese actor and model. He began his modeling career in Japan, then entered Korean entertainment by being featured in a commercial for Dunkin' Donuts in 2003, followed by Hyundai Motors, Olympus and SK Telecom. His popularity helped him land roles on television, beginning with the 2006 sitcom Soulmate. Otani's acting career continued to be active in South Korea, starring in television dramas such as The Road Home, Dear My Sister, Hero, The Chaser, and Gunman in Joseon that earned him Global Star Award in the 7th Korea Drama Awards as well as the period blockbusters War of the Arrows and The Admiral: Roaring Currents. He has currently been acting in Japan; starring in hit Japanese dramas like The Full-Time Wife Escapist as Ryota Kazami, Love Rerun as Ryosuke Sagisawa in 2018, and will be taking part in many more Japanese works later in 2018 as well.
Kenzō Katō (加藤 賢三, Katō Kenzō; born September 26, 1980 in Aichi Prefecture) is an amateur Japanese Greco-Roman…Kenzō Katō (加藤 賢三, Katō Kenzō; born September 26, 1980 in Aichi Prefecture) is an amateur Japanese Greco-Roman wrestler, who played for the men's heavyweight category. Katō represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics, where he competed for the men's 96 kg class. He lost the qualifying round match to Italy's Daigoro Timoncini, who was able to score eight points in two straight periods, leaving Kato without a single point.
Shingo Inoue (井上真悟, Inoue Shingo; born 27 September 1980) is a Japanese ultramarathon and marathon runner from…Shingo Inoue (井上真悟, Inoue Shingo; born 27 September 1980) is a Japanese ultramarathon and marathon runner from Hachioji, Tokyo. He won the IAU 24 Hour Run World Championship held in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France in 2010 with the distance of 273.708 km (170.074 miles) at the age of 29. He won the International Tour de Taiwan Ultra-marathon in April, 2013 with a time of 109:25:21. His personal best in full marathon is 2:29:12 achieved in 2013 at Katsuta Marathon, and his personal best in 100 km is 7:02:05 achieved in 2011 at Lake Saroma Ultramarathon.
Asashōryū Akinori (Japanese: 朝青龍 明徳; born 27 September 1980, as Dolgorsürengiin Dagvadorj, Mongolian Cyrillic…Asashōryū Akinori (Japanese: 朝青龍 明徳; born 27 September 1980, as Dolgorsürengiin Dagvadorj, Mongolian Cyrillic: Долгорсүрэнгийн Дагвадорж; [tɔɮgɔrsʊːrengiːn tagw̜atɔrt͡ʃ]) is a Mongolian former professional sumo wrestler (rikishi). He was the 68th yokozuna in the history of the sport in Japan, and in January 2003 he became the first Mongolian to reach sumo's highest rank. He was one of the most successful yokozuna ever. In 2005, he became the first wrestler to win all six official tournaments (honbasho) in a single year. Over his entire career, he won 25 top division tournament championships, placing him fourth on the all-time list. He is often referred to as one of the greatest sumo wrestlers of all time. From 2004 until 2007, Asashōryū was sumo's sole yokozuna between the retirement of Musashimaru and the promotion of fellow Mongolian Hakuhō, and was criticized at times by the media and the Japan Sumo Association for not upholding the standards of behaviour expected of a holder of such a prestigious rank. He became the first yokozuna in history to be suspended from competition in August 2007 when he participated in a charity football match in his home country despite having withdrawn from a regional sumo tour claiming injury. After a career filled with a multitude of other controversies, both on and off the dohyō, his career was cut short when he retired from sumo in February 2010 after allegations that he assaulted a man outside a Tokyo nightclub.
Tomoo Amino (網野 友雄, Amino Tomoo; born September 25, 1980) is a former Japanese professional basketball player. He…Tomoo Amino (網野 友雄, Amino Tomoo; born September 25, 1980) is a former Japanese professional basketball player. He played for the Aisin Seahorses of the JBL Super League. Amino also was a member of the Japan national basketball team. He played for the team in the 2006 FIBA World Championship and the FIBA Asia Championship 2007 and FIBA Asia Championship 2009. Amino played professionally with the Aisin Seahorses of the JBL Super League. In the 2009-10 season, Amino entered the month-long winter break averaging 4.5 points per game for the Seahorses. Despite this, the popular Amino was voted by fans as a starter to the West squad for the 2009-10 JBL Super League All-Star game.
Syu (Japanese: シュウ, Hepburn: Shū) is a Japanese musician, best known as the leader and guitarist of the power metal…Syu (Japanese: シュウ, Hepburn: Shū) is a Japanese musician, best known as the leader and guitarist of the power metal band Galneryus. He also performs guitar and lead vocals in Spinalcord (formerly known as Aushvitz) and guitar in Animetal. Under his own name, Syu has released one studio album, one cover album and one instrumental album, each featuring collaborations with many guest musicians. He was voted the Best Guitarist in online music magazine Beeast's music awards four years in a row, from 2015 to 2018. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Syu the fourth best guitarist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election". His work on Galneryus' song "Emotions" was named the 73rd best guitar instrumental by Young Guitar Magazine in 2019.
Inio Asano (Japanese: 浅野 いにお, Hepburn: Asano Inio; born September 22, 1980) is a Japanese manga artist. Asano created…Inio Asano (Japanese: 浅野 いにお, Hepburn: Asano Inio; born September 22, 1980) is a Japanese manga artist. Asano created the acclaimed manga series Solanin, which was released as a feature film in Japan in April 2010, starring Aoi Miyazaki. He is also famous for the series Goodnight Punpun and Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction. Known for creating character-driven, realist stories, ranging from slice of life to psychological horror, Asano won first prize in the 2001 GX competition for young manga artists. In 2010, Yomiuri Shimbun described Asano as "one of the voices of his generation."
Kenji Yano (矢野 謙次, born September 21, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played for the…Kenji Yano (矢野 謙次, born September 21, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played for the Yomiuri Giants and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. After his retirement in 2018, Yano was sent to the Texas Rangers for a year to train to be a coach. For the 2020 season, Yano will return to Japan as the Fighters' outfield coach and assistant hitting coach.
Wataru Yamazaki (山崎 渡, Yamazaki Wataru; born September 18, 1980) is a former Japanese football player. He first played…Wataru Yamazaki (山崎 渡, Yamazaki Wataru; born September 18, 1980) is a former Japanese football player. He first played for Nihon University in 2003 and later transferred to Thespa Kusatsu in 2010 after 7 years.
Hiroshi Miyama (三山 ひろし, Miyama Hiroshi; born 17 September 1980, in Nankoku, Kōchi) is a Japanese enka singer. His real…Hiroshi Miyama (三山 ひろし, Miyama Hiroshi; born 17 September 1980, in Nankoku, Kōchi) is a Japanese enka singer. His real name is Masaaki Tsuneishi (恒石 正彰, Tsuneishi Masaaki). Miyama's voice gives people a sense of security and vitality ανδ is called "Vitamin Voice" (ビタミンボイス, Bitamin Boisu).
Daichi Sawano (澤野大地, Sawano Daichi; born 16 September 1980 in Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka and raised in Chiba Prefecture)…Daichi Sawano (澤野大地, Sawano Daichi; born 16 September 1980 in Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka and raised in Chiba Prefecture) is a Japanese pole vaulter. His personal best is 5.83 metres, which is the current Japanese National Record (as of 2019/01/01) achieved in May 2005 in Shizuoka. Sawano is a three-time Olympian (2004, 2008, 2016), two-time Olympic Finalist, whose best finish was 7th at the Rio Olympics (2016). Sawano is currently coached by the staff at the University of Japan (Nichidai) and USA Track and Field National Pole Vault Chair, Brian Yokoyama. He was formerly coached by former Japanese record holder Teruyasu Yonekura and renown Japanese pole coach Yamazaki.
Daisuke Matsuzaka (松坂 大輔, Matsuzaka Daisuke; [matsɯꜜzaka daꜜisɯ̥ke]; born September 13, 1980) is a Japanese former…Daisuke Matsuzaka (松坂 大輔, Matsuzaka Daisuke; [matsɯꜜzaka daꜜisɯ̥ke]; born September 13, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher, who pitched professionally for 23 seasons, 16 of them in NPB, 7 in MLB. He is currently a baseball color commentator, critic, reporter, and YouTuber. Daisuke is nicknamed "the Monster of the Heisei Era" (平成の怪物, heisei no kaibutsu) in Japan and "Dice-K" in the United States by The Boston Globe and USA Today. He played for the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Saitama Seibu Lions, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Internationally, Matsuzaka represented Japan. Matsuzaka was selected the All-World Baseball Classic Team and World Baseball Classic MVP of the inaugural and the second World Baseball Classic, and is an Olympic bronze medalist. He is the first player to have won both a World Series and a World Baseball Classic, winning the 2006 World Baseball Classic with Team Japan and the 2007 World Series with the Red Sox.
Yūsuke Takahashi (高橋 祐介, Takahashi Yūsuke; born 12 September 1980) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Yūsuke Takahashi (高橋 祐介, Takahashi Yūsuke; born 12 September 1980) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Hiromi Kaneko (金子 広美, Kaneko Hiromi; born 9 September 1980) is a Japanese racing cyclist. She rode in the women's road…Hiromi Kaneko (金子 広美, Kaneko Hiromi; born 9 September 1980) is a Japanese racing cyclist. She rode in the women's road race event at the 2018 UCI Road World Championships. She was selected to the 2020 Summer Olympics team, and finished in 43rd place in the women's road race.
Nobuchika Terado (born September 9, 1980) is a retired Japanese kickboxer. He was the 2009 AJKF and RISE Bantamweight…Nobuchika Terado (born September 9, 1980) is a retired Japanese kickboxer. He was the 2009 AJKF and RISE Bantamweight champion, the 2011 ISKA Bantamweight and 2012 Super Bantamweight champion, as well as the 2016 Krush Super Bantamweight champion. Combat Press ranked him as a top ten bantamweight between April and June 2018.
Ichiro Yamaguchi (山口 一郎, Yamaguchi Ichirō; born September 8, 1980), is a Japanese musician. He is the vocalist…Ichiro Yamaguchi (山口 一郎, Yamaguchi Ichirō; born September 8, 1980), is a Japanese musician. He is the vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for the Hokkaido rock band Sakanaction.
Takehisa Matsumoto (松本武久, Matsumoto Takehisa; born September 8, 1980 in Gotō, Nagasaki, Japan) is a professional go…Takehisa Matsumoto (松本武久, Matsumoto Takehisa; born September 8, 1980 in Gotō, Nagasaki, Japan) is a professional go player.
Yūya Asahina (朝比奈 ゆうや, Asahina Yūya; born September 7, 1980) is a Japanese manga artist. She made her professional…Yūya Asahina (朝比奈 ゆうや, Asahina Yūya; born September 7, 1980) is a Japanese manga artist. She made her professional manga debut in 1998. She used to work with Ribon, but now her manga is serialized in Margaret Comics.
Yuji Hamano (濱野 裕二, Hamano Yūji; born September 6, 1980 in Hiroshima) is a Japanese archer. He placed 42nd at the 2000…Yuji Hamano (濱野 裕二, Hamano Yūji; born September 6, 1980 in Hiroshima) is a Japanese archer. He placed 42nd at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He won a silver medal at the 2002 Asian Games in the men's individual event. At the 2004 Summer Olympics he was again defeated in the first round of elimination, placing 37th overall in men's individual archery. Later he was a member of the 8th-place Japanese men's archery team.
Hitomi Shimatani (島谷ひとみ, Shimatani Hitomi; born 4 September 1980) is a Japanese pop singer. Formerly signed to the Avex…Hitomi Shimatani (島谷ひとみ, Shimatani Hitomi; born 4 September 1980) is a Japanese pop singer. Formerly signed to the Avex Trax label for 22 years, Shimatani started her career as an Enka singer with the release of her debut single "Ōsaka no Onna" (大阪の女, Ōsakan Woman) in 1999, but later decided to get into the dance/pop style for her music. Shimatani's music has also appeared in several video games and television shows. Shimatani is currently releasing music under her own label, AI.R LAND RECORD, under Daiki Sound.
Hirotaka Egusa (江草 仁貴, Egusa Hirotaka; born September 3, 1980) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. His…Hirotaka Egusa (江草 仁貴, Egusa Hirotaka; born September 3, 1980) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. His wife is a former Japanese volleyball player Yoshie Takeshita.
Manabu Ikezoe (Japanese: 池添 学一, born September 2, 1980) is a Japanese horse trainer affiliated with the Ritto Training…Manabu Ikezoe (Japanese: 池添 学一, born September 2, 1980) is a Japanese horse trainer affiliated with the Ritto Training Center of the Japan Racing Association, and the younger brother of jockey Kenichi Ikezoe.
Toshiaki Fukuda (福田 敏昭, Fukuda Toshiaki; born September 1, 1980) is a field hockey player from Japan, who finished in…Toshiaki Fukuda (福田 敏昭, Fukuda Toshiaki; born September 1, 1980) is a field hockey player from Japan, who finished in ninth place with the Men's National Team at the 2006 Men's Hockey World Cup in Mönchengladbach. Before the start of the tournament he played 30 international matches for his native country, according to the official players list issued by the International Field Hockey Federation (FIH) just before the start of the tournament.
Hiroyuki Nagao (長尾寛征, Nagao Hiroyuki; born 28 August 1980 in Yokohama) is a Japanese slalom canoeist who competed at…Hiroyuki Nagao (長尾寛征, Nagao Hiroyuki; born 28 August 1980 in Yokohama) is a Japanese slalom canoeist who competed at the international level from 2003 to 2011. He was eliminated in the semifinals of the C2 event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, finishing in 9th place. His partner in the C2 boat from 2007 to 2011 was Masatoshi Sanma.
Ryosuke Nemoto (根本 亮助, Nemoto Ryōsuke; born August 24, 1980) is a former Japanese football player. He spent his career…Ryosuke Nemoto (根本 亮助, Nemoto Ryōsuke; born August 24, 1980) is a former Japanese football player. He spent his career playing for Japan club Montedio Yamagata.
Seiko Yamamoto (山本 聖子, Yamamoto Seiko; born 22 August 1980) is a Japanese wrestler and submission grappler. She is a…Seiko Yamamoto (山本 聖子, Yamamoto Seiko; born 22 August 1980) is a Japanese wrestler and submission grappler. She is a four time World Wrestling Champion, two time Asian Wrestling Champion and an ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship medallist.
Masato Kobayashi (小林 正人, Kobayashi Masato; born August 21, 1980 in Tsumagoi, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese former…Masato Kobayashi (小林 正人, Kobayashi Masato; born August 21, 1980 in Tsumagoi, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. Kobayashi played for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball from 2005 to 2014. He is currently a development coach for the Chunichi Dragons farm team.
Akihiro Higashide (東出 輝裕, Higashide Akihiro; born August 21, 1980) is a Nippon Professional Baseball player for the…Akihiro Higashide (東出 輝裕, Higashide Akihiro; born August 21, 1980) is a Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan's Central League.
Shintaro Sato (佐藤 真太郎, Satō Shintarō) (born (1980-08-20)August 20, 1980 in Tsurugashima) is a Japanese retired…Shintaro Sato (佐藤 真太郎, Satō Shintarō) (born (1980-08-20)August 20, 1980 in Tsurugashima) is a Japanese retired bobsledder and sprinter.
Tatsuo Fujioka (藤岡 竜雄, Fujioka Tatsuo; born August 19, 1980), better known as Dean Fujioka (ディーン・フジオカ, Dīn Fujioka…Tatsuo Fujioka (藤岡 竜雄, Fujioka Tatsuo; born August 19, 1980), better known as Dean Fujioka (ディーン・フジオカ, Dīn Fujioka; stylized as DEAN FUJIOKA) is a Japanese actor, voice actor, singer, songwriter, musician, model and film director/producer.
