Satoshi Komatsu (小松 聖, Komatsu Satoshi; born October 29, 1981 in Iwaki, Fukushima) is a retired Japanese pitcher who…Satoshi Komatsu (小松 聖, Komatsu Satoshi; born October 29, 1981 in Iwaki, Fukushima) is a retired Japanese pitcher who played his entire career in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan's Pacific League.
Sagan Tosu (サガン鳥栖, Sagan Tosu) is a Japanese professional football club based in Tosu, Saga Prefecture. The club plays…Sagan Tosu (サガン鳥栖, Sagan Tosu) is a Japanese professional football club based in Tosu, Saga Prefecture. The club plays in the J2 League, the second tier of Japanese football, since 2025 following relegation from the J1 League in 2024. Sagan is a coined word with various suggested ideas behind where the name came from. One of its homophones is sandstone (砂岩, sagan) in Japanese. This symbolises many small elements uniting to form one formidable object, for example as a metaphor for a team. Also, Sagan Tosu can be interpreted as "Tosu of Saga (Prefecture)" (佐賀ん鳥栖, Saga-n Tosu) in the area's dialect.
Shun Kuwahara (桑原 俊, Kuwahara Shun; born 28 October 1981 in Kumamoto Prefecture) is a Japanese gymnast. Kuwahara was…Shun Kuwahara (桑原 俊, Kuwahara Shun; born 28 October 1981 in Kumamoto Prefecture) is a Japanese gymnast. Kuwahara was part of the Japanese team that won silver medals in the team event at the 2006 Asian Games and the 2010 Asian Games.
Satoshi Nakatani (仲谷聖史, Nakatani Satoshi; born 27 October 1981) is a Japanese international rugby union player who…Satoshi Nakatani (仲谷聖史, Nakatani Satoshi; born 27 October 1981) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a prop. He currently plays for Yamaha Júbilo in Japan's domestic Top League.
Ryu Koliniasi Holani (ホラニ 龍コリニアシ, Horani Ryu Koriniasi), born 25 October 1981, is a Tongan born, Japanese professional…Ryu Koliniasi Holani (ホラニ 龍コリニアシ, Horani Ryu Koriniasi), born 25 October 1981, is a Tongan born, Japanese professional Rugby union player. He is the nephew of the former Japan international Nofomuli Taumoefolau He plays at number eight for Top League club Panasonic Wild Knights. He moved to Japan on a study abroad programme from Tonga and attended High School in Saitama, Japan at age 16. Holani is fluent in Japanese. Holani has played 42 tests for the Japan national rugby union team. He earned his 40th cap in the 2015 Pacific Nations Cup in their match against the United States.
Hiroshi Aoyama (青山 博一, Aoyama Hiroshi; born October 25, 1981) is a Japanese retired Grand Prix motorcycle road racer…Hiroshi Aoyama (青山 博一, Aoyama Hiroshi; born October 25, 1981) is a Japanese retired Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, and current team principal of Honda Team Asia. Aoyama is best known for winning the 2009 250cc World Championship title. He is the older brother of former 250cc and World Superbike rider, Shuhei Aoyama. In his six seasons in the 250cc World Championship, Aoyama raced Honda and KTM machinery in an Aprilia-dominated class. He took nine victories and never finished lower than seventh overall. By winning the 2009 250cc World Championship, Aoyama become the last winner of this class before its replacement by the Moto2 class in 2010. In 2010 he moved up to the premier class with Interwetten Racing. He stopped competing in MotoGP after the 2014 season and took on the role of HRC test rider and advisor to riders in the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup.
Kintalo (キンタロー。, Kintarō.; born 24 October 1981, in Okazaki, Aichi) is a Japanese comedian and impressionist (monomane…Kintalo (キンタロー。, Kintarō.; born 24 October 1981, in Okazaki, Aichi) is a Japanese comedian and impressionist (monomane tarento). Her real name is Shiho Tanaka (田中 志保, Tanaka Shiho). Kintalo is represented with Shochiku Geino. She is left-handed. Kintalo's catchphrase is Iiko, Tsuyoi Ko, Kawaii Ko (良い子、強い子、可愛い子).
Takumi Wada (和田 拓三, Wada Takumi; born October 20, 1981) is a former Japanese football player. He has the dubious…Takumi Wada (和田 拓三, Wada Takumi; born October 20, 1981) is a former Japanese football player. He has the dubious distinction of having been relegated with four clubs in five years from 2007 to 2011 (Yokohama FC, Tokyo Verdy, JEF United Chiba and Avispa Fukuoka).
Toshiaki Hirose (廣瀬俊朗, Hirose Toshiaki; born October 17, 1981 in Osaka) is Japanese former rugby union player who…Toshiaki Hirose (廣瀬俊朗, Hirose Toshiaki; born October 17, 1981 in Osaka) is Japanese former rugby union player who played as a wing or fly half, and captained the national team between 2012 and 2013. After becoming a regular starter for Toshiba Brave Lupus in the Top League, Hirose made his debut for Japan in 2007 against Hong Kong at fly-half scoring two tries, but never featured again under coach John Kirwan. He continued to be a key player at domestic level though, captaining Toshiba Brave Lupus to back to back Top League victories in 2009 and 2010. In 2012, five years after his debut, he was recalled and named captain of the Japan national rugby union team by new coach, Eddie Jones. He had by now converted from fly-half to wing, and later that year led them to their first ever away wins in Europe against Romania and Georgia. He was also on the receiving end of a rant by Jones after a loss to the French Barbarians in June. Hirose continued as captain in 2013, leading Japan to their first ever victory over Wales, but was dropped in 2014 with his place coming under increasing pressure from new caps Akihito Yamada and Kotaro Matsushima, and Jones citing a lack of pace. From there onwards he became a bit part player at international level with his remaining caps all coming off the bench as a utility player who could cover both fly-half and wing. He was retained for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, with his leadership skills praised by Jones, but was the only player in the 31 man squad not to make the field in the tournament, and following a final season with Toshiba Brave Lupus decided to retire.
Tsubasa Imai (今井 翼, Imai Tsubasa; born October 17, 1981) is a Japanese singer, actor and dancer formerly in the…Tsubasa Imai (今井 翼, Imai Tsubasa; born October 17, 1981) is a Japanese singer, actor and dancer formerly in the Japanese agency Johnny & Associates. He joined Johnny & Associates in 1995 and officially debuted in 2002 in the duo Tackey & Tsubasa with Hideaki Takizawa. They are signed to the record label Avex Trax. Imai released his first solo single, "Backborn", on February 24, 2010.
Kensuke Nakaniwa (中庭 健介, Nakaniwa Kensuke; born October 15, 1981) is a Japanese figure skating coach and former…Kensuke Nakaniwa (中庭 健介, Nakaniwa Kensuke; born October 15, 1981) is a Japanese figure skating coach and former competitive singles skater. He is a two-time Ondrej Nepela Memorial champion, the 2003 Winter Universiade bronze medalist, and a three-time Japan national medalist. He finished in the top ten at three Four Continents Championships.
Ikki Shimamura (嶋村 一輝, Shimamura Ikki; born October 13, 1981) also known as Ikki (一輝) is a Japanese former professional…Ikki Shimamura (嶋村 一輝, Shimamura Ikki; born October 13, 1981) also known as Ikki (一輝) is a Japanese former professional baseball player.
Yusuke Kobori (小堀 佑介, born October 11, 1981) is a retired professional boxer from Japan and a former WBA lightweight…Yusuke Kobori (小堀 佑介, born October 11, 1981) is a retired professional boxer from Japan and a former WBA lightweight champion.
Hiromi Haneda (羽田裕美, Haneda Hiromi; born on October 11, 1981) is a Japanese pianist. She played under the Giza Studio…Hiromi Haneda (羽田裕美, Haneda Hiromi; born on October 11, 1981) is a Japanese pianist. She played under the Giza Studio label.
Daisuke Nasu (那須 大亮, Nasu Daisuke; born 10 October 1981) is a Japanese football player who plays for Iwate Grulla…Daisuke Nasu (那須 大亮, Nasu Daisuke; born 10 October 1981) is a Japanese football player who plays for Iwate Grulla Morioka.
Ryoichi Maeda (前田 遼一, Maeda Ryōichi; born 9 October 1981) is a Japanese football coach and former player who played as…Ryoichi Maeda (前田 遼一, Maeda Ryōichi; born 9 October 1981) is a Japanese football coach and former player who played as a forward. He was the J.League Top Scorer and J.League Best XI in 2009 and 2010. He currently works as an assistant coach for the Japan national team.
Yukari Murata (村田 由香里, Murata Yukari; born 9 October 1981) is a Japanese retired individual rhythmic gymnast. She is…Yukari Murata (村田 由香里, Murata Yukari; born 9 October 1981) is a Japanese retired individual rhythmic gymnast. She is currently the head of training for rhythmic gymnastics at the Japan Gymnastics Association.
Satoru Ikezaki (池崎 慧, Ikezaki Satoru; born October 9, 1981, in Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan), better known for his stage…Satoru Ikezaki (池崎 慧, Ikezaki Satoru; born October 9, 1981, in Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan), better known for his stage name Sunshine Ikezaki (サンシャイン池崎, Sanshain Ikezaki), is a Japanese comedian. His talent agency is Watanabe Entertainment.
Chiharu Icho (伊調 千春, Ichō Chiharu; born October 6, 1981 in Hachinohe, Aomori) is a Japanese wrestler who competed in…Chiharu Icho (伊調 千春, Ichō Chiharu; born October 6, 1981 in Hachinohe, Aomori) is a Japanese wrestler who competed in the 48 kg weight class at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics, winning the silver medal at both Games. Her younger sister Kaori is also a wrestler who competed in the 63 kg weight class at the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal in her event at each of the four Olympics. Chiharu has won the Asian Championship twice and the World Championships three times.
Natsuki Koyata (古谷田 奈月, Koyata Natsuki; born 1981) is a Japanese writer. She has won the Mishima Yukio Prize, the Japan…Natsuki Koyata (古谷田 奈月, Koyata Natsuki; born 1981) is a Japanese writer. She has won the Mishima Yukio Prize, the Japan Fantasy Novel Award, and the Oda Sakunosuke Prize.
Kazuya Tsutsui (筒井 和也, Tsutsui Kazuya; born October 5, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher for the…Kazuya Tsutsui (筒井 和也, Tsutsui Kazuya; born October 5, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played from 2004 to 2005 and from 2007 to 2016.
Naoki Nakahigashi (中東 直己, Nakahigashi Naoki; born October 5, 1981 in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Naoki Nakahigashi (中東 直己, Nakahigashi Naoki; born October 5, 1981 in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays outfielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Manta Aisora (Japanese: 逢空万太) (3 October 1981 in Sapporo) is a Japanese writer. He is best known for the series…Manta Aisora (Japanese: 逢空万太) (3 October 1981 in Sapporo) is a Japanese writer. He is best known for the series Haiyore! Nyaruko-san which was adapted into anime. In 2012 he was awarded the 1st Prize awarded by GA Bunko for Yumemiru mama ni machi itari (夢見 る ま ま に 待 ち い た り) for one of the novels in the Haiyore! Nyaruko-san series.
Satoshi Erasmo Ōtomo (大友 慧, Ōtomo Satoshi; born October 1, 1981) is a former footballer who last played for Davao…Satoshi Erasmo Ōtomo (大友 慧, Ōtomo Satoshi; born October 1, 1981) is a former footballer who last played for Davao Aguilas in the Philippines Football League. He previously playing for United Football League team Global. Born in Japan, he made one appearance for the Philippines national football team.
Hiromasa Tanaka (Japanese: 田中宏昌; born 28 September 1981) is a Japanese decathlete. He won five straight national…Hiromasa Tanaka (Japanese: 田中宏昌; born 28 September 1981) is a Japanese decathlete. He won five straight national decathlon titles from 2004 to 2008 and was the gold medallist in the event at the 2009 Asian Athletics Championships. He also represented Japan at the 2007 World Championships. Hailing from Ōbatake, Yamaguchi, Tanaka established himself domestically with back-to-back decathlon wins at the Japanese Athletics Championships in 2004 and 2005. On his first international appearance, he won the bronze medal at the 2005 Asian Athletics Championships, finishing behind Pavel Andreev and Kim Kun-Woo. He took a third consecutive national title in 2006, a winning streak that would continue until 2009 when he was beaten by Daisuke Ikeda. At the 2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships he missed out on a medal in the indoor heptathlon, although he achieved 5340 points in his first major outing in the event. He scored a personal best total of 7803 points for decathlon in Kanazawa in June 2006, but at his first Asian Games that year he was far off this form and, after he failed to produce a mark in the pole vault, he finished in tenth place. As the reigning national champion, Tanaka gained selection for the 2007 World Championships in Athletics, held in Osaka, and he finished in 19th place overall. Tanaka won his first indoor medal at the 2008 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, taking the bronze at the event in Doha. In the absence of Dmitriy Karpov and the defending champion Ahmed Hassan Moussa, he won the 2009 Asian Athletics Championships. He missed the 2010 Asian Games.
Akira Sasaki (佐々木 明, Sasaki Akira; born September 26, 1981) is a Japanese alpine skier. At the 2002 Winter Olympics…Akira Sasaki (佐々木 明, Sasaki Akira; born September 26, 1981) is a Japanese alpine skier. At the 2002 Winter Olympics, Sasaki ranked 34th in the giant slalom. He did not finish in the slalom event. His best result in the Alpine Skiing World Cup is from 2003 slalom in Wengen, where he finished in a surprising second place with starting number 65. His other best results are fourth places in Kranjska Gora in 2004 and in Beaver Creek in 2005, fifth in Sestriere 2004 and 2005, and second in Schladming and in Shigakōgen in 2006. In giant slalom, his best result in the World Cup was the 24th place in Sölden in 2004. Sasaki represented Japan at the 2006 Winter Olympics participating in slalom and giant slalom, but did not finish in these events. In Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Sasaki placed 14th in the men's slalom
Kanako Urai (浦井 佳奈子, Urai Kanako; born September 26, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler. She has been signed to…Kanako Urai (浦井 佳奈子, Urai Kanako; born September 26, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler. She has been signed to WWE since August 2015, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Asuka (アスカ or 明日華; ). Previously known as Kana (華名), she started her professional wrestling career in 2004. Urai started her professional wrestling career in 2004 in the AtoZ promotion, where she remained until retiring in 2006. She returned to the ring in 2007, starting to work as a freelancer for promotions such as JWP Joshi Puroresu, NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Wave, Reina Joshi Puroresu, Smash, and Wrestling New Classic. Her achievements during this time include winning the JWP Openweight Championship, Smash Diva Championship, and Wave Tag Team Championship. In 2015, Urai signed a developmental deal with WWE, being assigned to NXT under the ring name Asuka, making her the first Japanese female wrestler signed with the company in over 20 years. She won the NXT Women's Championship in 2016 (with her reign of 510 days being the longest in that title's history), and was moved to WWE's main roster in 2017. In 2018, she was the inaugural winner of the Women's Royal Rumble match. She is also a former one-time SmackDown Women's Champion, five-time WWE Women's Tag Team Champion (with Kairi Sane thrice and Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss once each; the first woman to win this title with three different partners), and the 2020 Women's Money in the Bank ladder match winner. Following her first Raw Women's Championship win, Asuka became the third Women's Triple Crown Champion and the second Women's Grand Slam Champion. She would go on to become a three-time Raw Women's Champion, with the title renamed as WWE Women's Championship during her third reign. After her Elimination Chamber match win in 2023, she became the first woman in WWE to win the Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank, and Elimination Chamber matches. Urai has also worked as a freelance graphic designer and video game journalist, and through her work with Microsoft, she has been sponsored by the company, wearing an Xbox 360 logo on her gear. Since 2019, she has her own YouTube channel, KanaChanTV, which focuses on gaming and lifestyle content.
Kazuyuki Nagashima (長島 和幸, Nagashima Kazuyuki; born 25 September 1981 in Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese wrestler. He won…Kazuyuki Nagashima (長島 和幸, Nagashima Kazuyuki; born 25 September 1981 in Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese wrestler. He won the silver medal in the 74 kg class in the men's freestyle wrestling competition, at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
Megumi Yamano (山野仁, Yamano Megumi; formerly Furuya (降谷), born September 25, 1981), known mononymously as Megumi (めぐみ)…Megumi Yamano (山野仁, Yamano Megumi; formerly Furuya (降谷), born September 25, 1981), known mononymously as Megumi (めぐみ), is a Japanese tarento, actress, singer, gravure idol and producer. She is currently affiliated with Suns Entertainment.
Yuki Matsuzaki (松崎 悠希, Matsuzaki Yūki; born September 24, 1981) is a Japanese actor who has appeared in movies and on…Yuki Matsuzaki (松崎 悠希, Matsuzaki Yūki; born September 24, 1981) is a Japanese actor who has appeared in movies and on television. Matsuzaki appeared in Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima and in The Pink Panther 2 where he portrayed Kenji Mazuto, a technology "wiz-kid". He appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides as a character named Garheng. He also starred in the film Man From Reno (2014). He is the voice of Miyamoto Usagi from the 2012 animated series adaptation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the 2022 Netflix series Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles.
Tetsuya Murakami (born 24 September 1981), is a Japanese futsal player and futsal coach. He is part of the Japanese…Tetsuya Murakami (born 24 September 1981), is a Japanese futsal player and futsal coach. He is part of the Japanese national futsal team.
Hiroka Yaginuma (born September 23, 1981) is a Japanese born professional wrestler. She is best known for her work in…Hiroka Yaginuma (born September 23, 1981) is a Japanese born professional wrestler. She is best known for her work in the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Yaginuma has worked under the ring names Hiroka Yaginuma and "Raven Hiroka" but is now billed simply as Hiroka. She is a former holder of the CMLL World Women's Championship. Yaginuma is married to Mexican Mini-Estrella Pequeño Damián 666 who also works for CMLL.
Koji Yamase (山瀬 功治, Yamase Kōji; born 22 September 1981) is a Japanese football player who plays for Renofa Yamaguchi…Koji Yamase (山瀬 功治, Yamase Kōji; born 22 September 1981) is a Japanese football player who plays for Renofa Yamaguchi FC. His father Isao Yamase participated in the 1984 Winter Olympics as a biathlete. His brother Yukihiro Yamase is also a footballer.
Hiromitsu Miura (Japanese: 三浦 広光, Miura Hiromitsu; September 22, 1981 – October 26, 2024) was a Japanese mixed martial…Hiromitsu Miura (Japanese: 三浦 広光, Miura Hiromitsu; September 22, 1981 – October 26, 2024) was a Japanese mixed martial artist who competed in the welterweight division. He was also a former boxer who competed in the light heavyweight division.
Subaru Shibutani (渋谷 すばる, Shibutani Subaru; born September 22, 1981) is a Japanese singer, actor, and lyricist. He…Subaru Shibutani (渋谷 すばる, Shibutani Subaru; born September 22, 1981) is a Japanese singer, actor, and lyricist. He began his career as a member of Kansai Johnny's Jr. and later served as the main vocalist of the Japanese boy band Kanjani Eight (now known as Super Eight), which originally debuted as an enka group. He left the group in 2018. His first solo album, Nisai, was released in October 2019.
Daisuke Arakawa (荒川 大輔, Arakawa Daisuke; born 19 September 1981) is a Japanese athlete specialising in the long jump.…Daisuke Arakawa (荒川 大輔, Arakawa Daisuke; born 19 September 1981) is a Japanese athlete specialising in the long jump. He twice represented his country at World Championships, in 2007 and 2009, failing to reach the final. His personal bests are 8.09 metres outdoors (2008) and 7.77 metres indoors (2003). He also holds the Japanese masters record (M35) with 7.33 metres outdoors (2017).
Mayumi Morinaga (森永真由美, Morinaga Mayumi; born 19 September 1981) is a Japanese singer whose career began in the late…Mayumi Morinaga (森永真由美, Morinaga Mayumi; born 19 September 1981) is a Japanese singer whose career began in the late 2000s singing video game soundtracks. She debuted with her first single, "One Million Miles" in 2006, when she first collaborated with the group Another Infinity. She decided to become a singer in 1994, when she won a singing competition in junior high school. Her album Glitter peaked at number 31 on the Oricon chart.
Kenta Shimizu (清水 健太, Shimizu Kenta; born September 18, 1981) is a Japanese football player who plays for Kamatamare…Kenta Shimizu (清水 健太, Shimizu Kenta; born September 18, 1981) is a Japanese football player who plays for Kamatamare Sanuki.
Kunie Kitamoto (北本 久仁衛, Kitamoto Kunie; born September 18, 1981) is a Japanese football player, he is currently…Kunie Kitamoto (北本 久仁衛, Kitamoto Kunie; born September 18, 1981) is a Japanese football player, he is currently assistant manager of Vissel Kobe.
Yayoi Kobayashi (小林 弥生, Kobayashi Yayoi; born September 18, 1981) is a former Japanese football player. She played for…Yayoi Kobayashi (小林 弥生, Kobayashi Yayoi; born September 18, 1981) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.