1951: 187 people
Emiko Okuyama (奥山 恵美子; born 23 June 1951) is a Japanese politician. She served as the mayor of Sendai from 2009 to 2017.
Nobutaka Taguchi (田口信教, Taguchi Nobutaka; born June 18, 1951) is a retired Japanese breaststroke swimmer. He competed…
Nobutaka Taguchi (田口信教, Taguchi Nobutaka; born June 18, 1951) is a retired Japanese breaststroke swimmer. He competed in the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke and 4 × 100 m medley relay at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympics and won two medals in 1972, a gold in the 100 m and a bronze in the 200 m events. His breaststroke gold medal was the first for Japan since 1956. He won during the five-year era dominated by John Hencken and David Wilkie. He also earned the bronze medal in the 200 m breaststroke at the 1972 Olympics and in both breaststrokes at the 1975 World Championships. He ended his career after the 1976 Olympics.
Shuichi Nosé (能勢 修一, Nose Shūichi; June 17, 1951 – August 17, 2005) was a Japanese physicist. Nosé is best known for…
Shuichi Nosé (能勢 修一, Nose Shūichi; June 17, 1951 – August 17, 2005) was a Japanese physicist. Nosé is best known for his two 1984 papers in which he proposed a method to specify the temperature of molecular dynamics simulations. This method was later improved by William G. Hoover and is known as the Nosé–Hoover thermostat.
Yasumasa Morimura (森村 泰昌, Morimura Yasumasa, born June 11, 1951) is a contemporary Japanese performance and…
Yasumasa Morimura (森村 泰昌, Morimura Yasumasa, born June 11, 1951) is a contemporary Japanese performance and appropriation artist whose work encompasses photography, film, and live performance. He is known for his reinterpretation of recognizable artworks and figures from art history, history, and mass media through his adoption of personas that transcend national, ethnic, gendered, and racial boundaries. Across his photographic and performative series, Morimura's works explore a number of interconnected themes, including: the nature of identity and its ability to undergo change, postcolonialism, authorship, and the Western view of Japan – and Asia, more broadly – as feminine. Originally intent on channeling his creative energy into black-and-white still life photography, Morimura struggled to ascertain his identity and decided to visualize this inner struggle through self-portraiture. In 1985, Portrait (Van Gogh), marked the first of dozens of self-portraits Morimura completed in which he adopted the role of established artists, major historical figures, celebrated popular culture icons, and identifiable subjects from well-known artworks. Since the 1980s, Morimura's artistic process entails a rigorous system in which he transforms his entire body into a nearly identical replica of his designated subject through elaborate costumes, makeup, props, and set designs. Once digital photography and computer editing software became more accessible and refined in the late-1990s, Morimura's works demonstrate greater visual complexity in his manipulation of composition, lighting, and the number of figures he portrays within a single artwork. For the last two and a half decades, Morimura has brought his personas to life in short video, film, and live performances in which he expresses their thoughts through movement and scripted monologues.
Shoichi Yanagimoto (柳本 晶一, Yanagimoto Shōichi; born 5 June 1951) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in the…
Shoichi Yanagimoto (柳本 晶一, Yanagimoto Shōichi; born 5 June 1951) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He announced retirement in 1991.
Motoka Murakami (Japanese: 村上 もとか, Hepburn: Murakami Motoka; born June 3, 1951, in Setagaya, Tokyo) is a Japanese manga…
Motoka Murakami (Japanese: 村上 もとか, Hepburn: Murakami Motoka; born June 3, 1951, in Setagaya, Tokyo) is a Japanese manga artist. He won the Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen manga for Gakuto Retsuden 1982 and the Shogakukan Manga Award twice, for shōnen manga for Musashi no Ken in 1984 and for general manga in 1996 for Ron, serialized in Big Comic Original from 1991 to 2006. In 1998, he received an Excellence Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival for Ron. Jin won the Grand Prize at the 2011 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. On a list published in the beginning of August 2011, he ranked as the 35th best-selling manga artist since January 2010, with 1,901,000 copies sold.
Haruhisa Chiba (3 June 1951 – 8 February 2006) was a Japanese alpine skier. He competed at the 1972 Winter Olympics and…
Haruhisa Chiba (3 June 1951 – 8 February 2006) was a Japanese alpine skier. He competed at the 1972 Winter Olympics and the 1976 Winter Olympics.
Nobuo Matsuno (松野 信夫, Matsuno Nobuo; born 2 June 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…
Nobuo Matsuno (松野 信夫, Matsuno Nobuo; born 2 June 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, who served as a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Tokyo and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2003 after an unsuccessful run in 2000. After losing the seat in 2005, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007.
Katsura Funakoshi (舟越 桂, Funakoshi Katsura; 25 May 1951 – 29 March 2024) was a Japanese sculptor. Funakoshi was…
Katsura Funakoshi (舟越 桂, Funakoshi Katsura; 25 May 1951 – 29 March 2024) was a Japanese sculptor. Funakoshi was well-known in the field of visual arts in Japan. His father, Yasutake Funakoshi, was also a sculptor and soon he felt the same vocation. He studied at the Tokyo University of the Arts, from 1971 to 1975, and at the University of Fine Arts and Music, from 1975 to 1977. He started carving in camphor wood in 1980. His works, usually depicting human figures from the waist up, have a great poetical effect, and are striking and distinctive. Funakoshi worked this material in a personal way and left visible both the grain of the wood and the marks of carving. The artist carefully utilised the grain for modelling and left part of the head unpainted, normally the crown. Funakoshi exhibited his work at the Venice Biennale, the São Paulo Biennale, the Documenta IX, and the Shanghai Biennale, and his work is represented in several art museums in Japan and other countries. Funakoshi died from lung cancer on 29 March 2024, at the age of 72.
Shun Nakahara (中原 俊, Nakahara Shun; born May 25, 1951 as Toshihiro Nakahara (中原 俊弘, Nakahara Toshihiro)) is a Japanese…
Shun Nakahara (中原 俊, Nakahara Shun; born May 25, 1951 as Toshihiro Nakahara (中原 俊弘, Nakahara Toshihiro)) is a Japanese film director and a professor at the Japan Institute of the Moving Image. He began his career directing Roman Porno films, and since then he has dealt with a wide range of subjects regardless of genre. He won the award for Best Director at the 12th Yokohama Film Festival for Sakura no Sono.
Mieko Yoshimura (吉村 美栄子, Yoshimura Mieko; born 18 May 1951) is governor of Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. She was elected…
Mieko Yoshimura (吉村 美栄子, Yoshimura Mieko; born 18 May 1951) is governor of Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. She was elected on 25 January 2009. She defeated the sitting governor of Yamagata Prefecture, Hiroshi Saitō in an upset. A native of Ōe, Yamagata, she worked at a help-wanted advertising company before becoming a notary public for the city government of Yamagata. She soon became a member of Yamagata Prefecture's Education Committee before running for governor in 2008. She is Yamagata's first female governor and the sixth in Japanese history.
Carmen Maki (Japanese: カルメン・マキ, Hepburn: Karumen Maki; born Maki Annette Lovelace, May 18, 1951) is a Japanese singer…
Carmen Maki (Japanese: カルメン・マキ, Hepburn: Karumen Maki; born Maki Annette Lovelace, May 18, 1951) is a Japanese singer and lyricist. After debuting as a folk singer in 1969 with the million-selling single "Toki ni wa Haha no Nai Ko no Yō ni", she quickly shifted to rock music and is best known for fronting the band Oz from 1972 to 1977. Maki was one of the first female rock vocalists in Japan, and her work with Oz and Blues Creation has been credited with pioneering Japanese rock in general.
Yoshifumi Hibako (火箱 芳文, Hibako Yoshifumi; born May 15, 1951) is a member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces who served…
Yoshifumi Hibako (火箱 芳文, Hibako Yoshifumi; born May 15, 1951) is a member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces who served as the 31st Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. A graduate of the National Defense Academy of Japan, he later returned to serve as vice-president of the Academy. He has served in multiple capacities, including the chiefs of staff of the GSDF Northern Army during the Iraq War, commanding officer of the Chūbu region Army Headquarters, and has even acted as a Japanese foreign representative when meeting officers of other countries.
Dewanohana Yoshitaka (born 13 May 1951 as Soichi Nomura) is a former sumo wrestler from Nakasato, Aomori, Japan. He…
Dewanohana Yoshitaka (born 13 May 1951 as Soichi Nomura) is a former sumo wrestler from Nakasato, Aomori, Japan. He made his professional debut in July 1974, and reached the top division in November 1977. His highest rank was sekiwake. He retired in January 1988 and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Dekiyama. Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 in May 2016 he was re-hired by the Sumo Association for five years as a consultant.
Kurosegawa Kuniyuki (born 13 May 1951 as Kensaku Sakai) is a former sumo wrestler from Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan.…
Kurosegawa Kuniyuki (born 13 May 1951 as Kensaku Sakai) is a former sumo wrestler from Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 1966, and reached the top division in May 1978. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in May 1984 and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Kiriyama. In 1995 he branched out from Isegahama stable and established his own Kiriyama stable, which shut down in 2011. He reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in May 2016, but was re-hired by the Sumo Association for five years as a consultant. In September 2016 he was re-appointed as a judge of tournament bouts, following the demotion of Kasugayama. He left the Sumo Association upon turning 70 in May 2021.
Hisao Niura, also known as Kim Il-young (Korean: 김일융; born May 11, 1951), is a Japanese former professional baseball…
Hisao Niura, also known as Kim Il-young (Korean: 김일융; born May 11, 1951), is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who played Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan and KBO League baseball in South Korea. Over a 22-season career, he was a five-time champion, four times with the Yomiuri Giants and once with the Samsung Lions. He was a two-time ERA champion of Japan's Central League. A workhorse during much of his career, he had success as both a starter and a reliever. Although born in Japan, Niura is of Korean descent, part of the Zainichi community.
Tadashi Yamashina (born 8 May 1951) is the former Team Principal of the Toyota Racing Formula One team, responsible for…
Tadashi Yamashina (born 8 May 1951) is the former Team Principal of the Toyota Racing Formula One team, responsible for conducting Toyota's Formula One operations, having taken over from Tsutomu Tomita in June 2007.
Banryūyama Takaharu (born Takaharu Taguchi, 4 May 1951) is a former sumo wrestler from Tatsuno, Hyōgo, Japan. He made…
Banryūyama Takaharu (born Takaharu Taguchi, 4 May 1951) is a former sumo wrestler from Tatsuno, Hyōgo, Japan. He made his professional debut in November 1966, and reached the top division in March 1975. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in November 1984 and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Matsuchiyama. He worked as a coach at Mihogaseki stable until its closure in 2013 and then moved to Kasugano stable. Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 in May 2016 he was re-hired as a consultant for five more years. He left the Sumo Association upon turning 70 in May 2021.
Tamakiyama Masanori (born April 29, 1951 as Masanori Hagio) is a former sumo wrestler from Maebaru, Fukuoka, Japan. He…
Tamakiyama Masanori (born April 29, 1951 as Masanori Hagio) is a former sumo wrestler from Maebaru, Fukuoka, Japan. He reached the rank of komusubi in July 1979 and retired in March 1984.
Kaoru Shintani (新谷 かおる, Shintani Kaoru; born April 26, 1951 in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist.…
Kaoru Shintani (新谷 かおる, Shintani Kaoru; born April 26, 1951 in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist. Shintani is best known for his series Area 88. In addition to his pilot comics, Shintani has ventured into science fiction, fantasy, comedy, and hentai comics as well. In 1985, he was awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen for Area 88 and Futari Daka. Shintani began his career in 1972 as a shōjo artist and was nominated for the Ribon Comics Award for best new artist of that year. After working as an assistant to Leiji Matsumoto, the creator of Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999 and the creative director for Space Battleship Yamato, Shintani began to publish aviator titles in various comic magazines. Serialization of Area 88 began in 1979 and the title has been popular ever since. While working as an assistant to Matsumoto, one of Shintani's duties was to construct plastic models for drawing reference. Matsumoto often states that he based the character Yattaran (who appears as a supporting character in several Harlock stories) on Shintani.
Chikahito Harada (原田 親仁, Harada Chikahito; born April 21, 1951) is a Japanese diplomat and former Ambassador to the…
Chikahito Harada (原田 親仁, Harada Chikahito; born April 21, 1951) is a Japanese diplomat and former Ambassador to the Russian Federation. In 1999-2001 served as Press Secretary in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2001-2002 served as representative of Japan to the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission. Served also as Charge d'Affaire at the Japanese Embassy in China and director of the Russia Division at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Harada was the ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2008 to 2010. From 2010 to 2015, he served as the ambassador to the Russian Federation.
Choei Sato (佐藤 長栄, Satō Chōei; born April 15, 1951) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for…
Choei Sato (佐藤 長栄, Satō Chōei; born April 15, 1951) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Naoyuki Agawa (阿川 尚之, Agawa Naoyuki; April 14, 1951 – November 12, 2024) was a Japanese lawyer, diplomat, academic and…
Naoyuki Agawa (阿川 尚之, Agawa Naoyuki; April 14, 1951 – November 12, 2024) was a Japanese lawyer, diplomat, academic and author. He was a professor of law at Keio University from 1999; and from 2009, he served as the university's vice president for International Collaboration and Education.
Masudayama Yasuhito (舛田山 靖仁, born 10 April 1951 as Shigeru Masuda) is a former sumo wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa…
Masudayama Yasuhito (舛田山 靖仁, born 10 April 1951 as Shigeru Masuda) is a former sumo wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1974, and reached the top division in November 1976. His highest rank was sekiwake. He retired in July 1989 and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Chiganoura. He was the oldest man in any of the professional sumo divisions at the time of his retirement. He set up Chiganoura stable (now renamed Tokiwayama stable) in 2004 at the age of 53, after he was passed over for the head coach position at Kasugano stable the previous year. He retired upon reaching 65 years of age in April 2016, but was re-employed by his stable as a consultant, which expired upon his 70th birthday in April 2021. He continued to live at the old Chiganoura stable premises after it relocated earlier in 2021.
Kaori Momoi (桃井 かおり, Momoi Kaori; born 8 April 1951) is a Japanese actress.
Minoru Sano (佐野 実, Sano Minoru; April 4, 1951 – April 11, 2014) was a Japanese celebrity chef who specialized in ramen.…
Minoru Sano (佐野 実, Sano Minoru; April 4, 1951 – April 11, 2014) was a Japanese celebrity chef who specialized in ramen. He was called the Oni of Ramen in Japan. He founded the Shinasobaya Company and helped run the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum. Minoru Sano was born in Totsuka-ku in the city of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He had numerous appearances in the Japanese media. He had many ramen chef disciples. He died of multiple organ failure after suffering with Diabetes for 3 years prior to his death in hospital, surrounded by family.
Keigo Masuya (桝屋 敬悟, Masuya Keigo; born 3 April 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a…
Keigo Masuya (桝屋 敬悟, Masuya Keigo; born 3 April 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Abu District, Yamaguchi and graduate of the Soka University, he worked at the government of Yamaguchi Prefecture from 1975 to 1992. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1993.
Kiyoshiro Imawano (忌野 清志郎, Imawano Kiyoshirō), born Kiyoshi Kurihara (栗原 清志, Kurihara Kiyoshi; April 2, 1951 – May 2…
Kiyoshiro Imawano (忌野 清志郎, Imawano Kiyoshirō), born Kiyoshi Kurihara (栗原 清志, Kurihara Kiyoshi; April 2, 1951 – May 2, 2009), was a Japanese rock musician, lyricist, composer, musical producer, and actor from Tokyo, Japan. He was dubbed "Japan's King of Rock". He formed and led the influential rock band RC Succession. He wrote many anti-nuclear songs following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. He was known for pioneering the adoption of linguistic characteristics of the Japanese language into his songs.
Takanori Arisawa (有澤 孝紀, Arisawa Takanori; April 2, 1951 – November 26, 2005) was a Japanese composer and arranger best…
Takanori Arisawa (有澤 孝紀, Arisawa Takanori; April 2, 1951 – November 26, 2005) was a Japanese composer and arranger best known for composing the Sailor Moon and Digimon (Seasons 1-4) anime series. He wrote music for the series, including its video games. Born in Tokyo, Arisawa began to learn piano at the age of 20. After graduating from Senzoku Gakuen College, Arisawa started his career in 1980 by composing "Shinjuku Transfer". He worked for the Tokyo Broadcasting System and wrote several TV dramas. From the 1990s until his death, Arisawa began composing for anime series exclusively. His work on Sailor Moon was initially based on pop music, but gradually began to change to those found in classical music. Sailor Moon was successful and Arisawa won several awards for his work. After Sailor Moon, Arisawa composed music for several shows, including the Digimon series, until his death from bladder cancer in 2005.
Moriteru Ueshiba (植芝 守央, Ueshiba Moriteru; born 2 April 1951) is a Japanese teacher of aikido. He is a grandson of…
Moriteru Ueshiba (植芝 守央, Ueshiba Moriteru; born 2 April 1951) is a Japanese teacher of aikido. He is a grandson of Morihei Ueshiba and son of Kisshomaru Ueshiba. Ueshiba is the third and current Dōshu.
Yōko Asaji (浅茅 陽子, Asaji Yōko) (born April 2, 1951) is a Japanese actress from Shimizu (now part of the city of…
Yōko Asaji (浅茅 陽子, Asaji Yōko) (born April 2, 1951) is a Japanese actress from Shimizu (now part of the city of Shizuoka), Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Yōko starred in the NHK morning drama Kumo no Jūtan, achieving widespread popularity. Since then she has appeared in various television, film, and stage productions. In addition to contemporary roles, Yōko has taken parts in jidaigeki. She portrayed Yaya in the 1987 NHK Taiga drama Onna Taikōki, and from 1988 to 1994 she played Osai, the wife of the fire captain, in Abarenbo Shogun (the second of three actresses for that character). Yōko voiced Maddie Hayes, the Cybill Shepherd role, in the dubbed version of Moonlighting.
Ayako Okamoto (岡本 綾子, Okamoto Ayako; born 2 April 1951) is a Japanese professional golfer. She won 62 tournaments…
Ayako Okamoto (岡本 綾子, Okamoto Ayako; born 2 April 1951) is a Japanese professional golfer. She won 62 tournaments internationally, including 17 on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour in the 1980s and 1990s. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Kohji Kishio (岸尾 光二, Kishio Kōji; born April, 1951) is a Japanese scientist. He retired from the University of Tokyo in…
Kohji Kishio (岸尾 光二, Kishio Kōji; born April, 1951) is a Japanese scientist. He retired from the University of Tokyo in March 2017 and is now Emeritus Professor of UT. His major research fields are Solid State Chemistry, Materials Science and Superconducting Materials Engineering. He is a Fellow of the Japan Society of Applied Physics.
Kōshū Tani (谷 甲州, Tani Kōshū; born March 30, 1951 in Itami, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese science fiction…
Kōshū Tani (谷 甲州, Tani Kōshū; born March 30, 1951 in Itami, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese science fiction writer. He graduated from the Osaka Institute of Technology, and worked as a volunteer in Nepal and the Philippines. He made his professional debut with the story 137th Mobile Brigade in 1979 while still in Nepal. He is known mostly for his hard science fiction works, for which he won the Seiun Award three times (twice for Best Novel, and once for Best Short Story), and the Nitta Jirō Culture Award once. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of Japan, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan, the Space Authors Club, and an associate member of the Hard SF Laboratory. Tani currently lives in Komatsu in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Tomomi "Tommy" Tsuruta (鶴田 友美, Tsuruta Tomomi; March 25, 1951 – May 12, 2000), better known by his ring name Jumbo…
Tomomi "Tommy" Tsuruta (鶴田 友美, Tsuruta Tomomi; March 25, 1951 – May 12, 2000), better known by his ring name Jumbo Tsuruta (ジャンボ鶴田, Janbo Tsuruta), was a Japanese professional wrestler who wrestled for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) for most of his career, and is well known for being the first ever Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, having won the PWF Heavyweight Championship, the NWA United National Championship, and the NWA International Heavyweight Championship, and unifying the three titles. He is also known for being one-half of the first World Tag Team Champions with Yoshiaki Yatsu, having won the NWA International Tag Team Championship and the PWF Tag Team Championship, and unifying the two titles.
Kōichi Iwaki (岩城滉一, Iwaki Kōichi) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 8th Yokohama Film…
Kōichi Iwaki (岩城滉一, Iwaki Kōichi) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 8th Yokohama Film Festival for the 1986 film Minami e Hashire, Umi no Michi o. He was a Zainichi Korean until April 5, 2017, when he naturalized. Iwaki is also a racing car driver.
Toshihide Isamu Iguchi (井口俊英) (1951–2019) was an Executive VP and U.S. Government Bond trader at Daiwa Bank's New York…
Toshihide Isamu Iguchi (井口俊英) (1951–2019) was an Executive VP and U.S. Government Bond trader at Daiwa Bank's New York Branch, who was responsible for $1.1 billion in unauthorized trading losses accumulated over a period of 12 years beginning in 1983.
Ichirō Komatsu (小松 一郎, Komatsu Ichirō; 8 March 1951 – 23 June 2014) was a Japanese diplomat, civil servant and…
Ichirō Komatsu (小松 一郎, Komatsu Ichirō; 8 March 1951 – 23 June 2014) was a Japanese diplomat, civil servant and politician.
Takumi Nemoto (根本 匠, Nemoto Takumi; born 7 March 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…
Takumi Nemoto (根本 匠, Nemoto Takumi; born 7 March 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kōriyama, Fukushima and graduate of the University of Tokyo he joined the Ministry of Construction (which is now part of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) in 1974. Leaving the ministry in 1991 he was elected to the Diet for the first time in 1993. Nemoto was appointed as Minister for Reconstruction in the Second Abe Cabinet on 26 December 2012. Nemoto has served as the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare from 2 October 2018 to 11 September 2019. In January 2019, it was revealed that the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare had been publishing inaccurate monthly labor survey data for nearly 15 years, which led to over 20 million people being underpaid in work-related benefits. The opposition accused Nemoto of being involved in a government coverup to boost Prime Minister Abe's Abenomics policies. A motion of no-confidence was filed against Nemoto on March 1 but was voted down by the ruling LDP coalition. As a member of a parliamentary committee responding to a petition advocating a law prohibiting businesses from forcing female workers to wear high-heeled shoes (KuToo movement), he expressed that it was "necessary and reasonable" to mandate this for female workers.
Ken Tanaka (田中健, Tanaka Ken; born 6 March 1951) is a Japanese actor. He has appeared in more than 40 films since 1974.
Takahiro Yodogawa (淀川 隆博, Yodogawa Takahiro; born 4 March 1951) is a former Japanese football player. From 2004 to…
Takahiro Yodogawa (淀川 隆博, Yodogawa Takahiro; born 4 March 1951) is a former Japanese football player. From 2004 to 2008, he was the president of Japanese football club JEF United Ichihara Chiba.
Heizō Takenaka (竹中 平蔵, Takenaka Heizō; born 3 March 1951) is a Japanese economist, and key figure in Junichiro…
Heizō Takenaka (竹中 平蔵, Takenaka Heizō; born 3 March 1951) is a Japanese economist, and key figure in Junichiro Koizumi's administration (2001–2006), played a significant role in Japan's structural reforms, including labor market deregulation. As Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy and later Financial Services, he advocated for policies aimed at increasing economic flexibility, such as amending the Worker Dispatching Act (also known as the Temporary Staffing Services Act). These changes, enacted in 2003 and 2004, expanded the use of temporary (dispatched) workers by relaxing restrictions. Takenaka's reforms indirectly facilitated the replacement of regular government employees with temporary staff in public sectors, such as education, administrative services, and local government offices. Takenaka's affiliation with Pasona Group, Japan's largest temporary staffing agency, has sparked allegations of embezzlement from government and private sectors, stemming from claims that he replaced permanent employees with Pasona's temporary workers. He joined Pasona as a special advisor in February 2007 (shortly after leaving government) and became chairman in August 2009, serving until 2022. Takenaka benefited from the expanded dispatch market post-deregulation, securing government and private contracts in areas like administrative support, COVID-19 measures, and the Tokyo Olympics—leading to personal profits. Takenaka serves on the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum.
Eiichi Nakamura (中村 栄一, Nakamura Eiichi; born 24 February 1951) is a Japanese chemist and professor of chemistry at…
Eiichi Nakamura (中村 栄一, Nakamura Eiichi; born 24 February 1951) is a Japanese chemist and professor of chemistry at University of Tokyo in Japan, also appointed as lecture profession in Nankai University in Tianjin, China from Sep 2025.
Shigefumi Mori (森 重文, Mori Shigefumi; born February 23, 1951) is a Japanese mathematician, known for his work in…
Shigefumi Mori (森 重文, Mori Shigefumi; born February 23, 1951) is a Japanese mathematician, known for his work in algebraic geometry, particularly in relation to the classification of three-folds. He won the Fields Medal in 1990.
Toshiharu Ikeda (池田敏春, Ikeda Toshiharu) (23 February 1951 – 26 December 2010) was a Japanese film director and…
Toshiharu Ikeda (池田敏春, Ikeda Toshiharu) (23 February 1951 – 26 December 2010) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his films Mermaid Legend (1984) and Evil Dead Trap (1988). Ikeda became involved in filmmaking while still a university student, working as an assistant director for a small independent production company. He joined Nikkatsu in 1974, contributing to multiple Roman Porno movies. He debuted as a director in 1980 with the movie Sukeban Mafia, and later in the same year with Sex Hunter, which the studio criticized for being too rough and vulgar. His latest movie for Nikkatsu was the 1981 Angel Guts: Red Porno. He left the company after the shooting, feeling a lack of support. In 1982 Ikeda joined forces with other directors to found the Director's Company. His first film there was Mermaid Legend (1984), a cult movie that deals with revenge and anti-nuclear sentiment, for which he won Best Director at the 6th Yokohama Film Festival. In 1988 followed Evil Dead Trap, credited with being Japan's first modern horror. During the 90's Ikeda worked less in theatrical films, doing mostly V-Cinema action and erotic films. His latest film was Aki Fukaki (2008), a serious drama and a departure from his usual genre films. Ikeda drowned in 2010 in the sea near Shima in the Mie Prefecture. Speculations arose of the death being a suicide, him having struggled with suicidal thoughts since youth.
Masao Urino (売野 雅勇, Urino Masao; born 22 February 1951 in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese lyricist…
Masao Urino (売野 雅勇, Urino Masao; born 22 February 1951 in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese lyricist, script writer, and film director. He has written lyrics for many musical groups and individual artists, sometimes under the pseudonym Reiji Asō (麻生 麗二, Asō Reiji). After graduating from Tochigi Prefectural Ashikaga High School, he graduated in 1974 with a degree in literature from Sophia University. After graduating, he worked as a copy writer for the advertising firm Mannensha (萬年社), which went bankrupt in 1999. Due to missing an error in an advertisement in a national newspaper, though, he was forced to do other work. While working at Tōkyū Agency International (now Frontage), he made his lyricist debut with the 1981 Chanels song Hoshi Kuzu no Dance Hall. In 1982, he had a big hit with the Akina Nakamori song Shōjo A. From there, he wrote the lyrics for a series of hit songs sung by Hiroaki Serizawa, and for the J-pop group The Checkers (Namida no Request). He has written lyrics for artists including Hidemi Ishikawa, Jun'ichi Inagaki, Daisuke Inoue, Hiromi Iwasaki, Yoshimi Iwasaki, Tomio Umezawa, Yukiko Okada, Yōko Oginome, Carlos Toshiki & Omega Tribe, Naoko Kawai, Yuri Kunizane, Masahiko Kondō, Kiyotaka Sugiyama, Tomomi Nishimura, Yū Hayami, Chiemi Hori, Junko Miyama, and others. Urino made his directorial and script writing debut in 1990 with the film Cinderella Express.
Kōichi Kodama (児玉 孝一, Kodama Kōichi; born February 21, 1951) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who…
Kōichi Kodama (児玉 孝一, Kodama Kōichi; born February 21, 1951) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 8-dan.
Suzue Miuchi (美内 すずえ, Miuchi Suzue; born February 20, 1951) is a Japanese manga artist and author of long-running shōjo…
Suzue Miuchi (美内 すずえ, Miuchi Suzue; born February 20, 1951) is a Japanese manga artist and author of long-running shōjo manga Glass Mask.
Hisato Igarashi (五十嵐 久人, Igarashi Hisato; born February 19, 1951 in Tochigi Prefecture) is a Japanese former gymnast.…
Hisato Igarashi (五十嵐 久人, Igarashi Hisato; born February 19, 1951 in Tochigi Prefecture) is a Japanese former gymnast. He was a member of the Japanese team that won the gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. He is a professor at Niigata University.
Shigeru Umebayashi (梅林茂, Umebayashi Shigeru; [ɯmebajaɕi ɕiɡeɾɯ]) (born February 19, 1951) is a Japanese composer. Once…
Shigeru Umebayashi (梅林茂, Umebayashi Shigeru; [ɯmebajaɕi ɕiɡeɾɯ]) (born February 19, 1951) is a Japanese composer. Once the leader and bass player of Japan's new wave rock band EX, Umebayashi began scoring films in 1985 when the band broke up. He has more than 30 Japanese and Chinese film scores to his credit and is perhaps best known in the West for "Yumeji's Theme" (originally from Seijun Suzuki's Yumeji), included in director Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love (2000). Umebayashi scored most of Wong Kar-wai's follow-up film, 2046 (2004), and House of Flying Daggers.