Yutaka Ikejima (池島ゆたか, Ikejima Yutaka; or 池嶋ゆたか; born March 30, 1948) is a Japanese film director, actor, and producer.…Yutaka Ikejima (池島ゆたか, Ikejima Yutaka; or 池嶋ゆたか; born March 30, 1948) is a Japanese film director, actor, and producer. Considered the most successful filmmaker in the pink film genre in the 2000s, his films are popular with traditional pink film audiences, fans of cinema, and with critics. Because of his prolific contributions to the pink film he has earned the nickname "Mr. Pink".
Masao Doi (土井正男, Doi Masao) (born 29 March 1948) is a Professor Emeritus at Nagoya University and The University of…Masao Doi (土井正男, Doi Masao) (born 29 March 1948) is a Professor Emeritus at Nagoya University and The University of Tokyo. He is a Fellow of the Toyota Physical and Chemical Research Institute. In 1976, he introduced a second quantised formalism for studying reaction-diffusion systems. In 1978 and 1979 he wrote a series of papers with Sir Sam Edwards expanding on the concept of reptation introduced by Pierre-Gilles de Gennes in 1971. In 1996 he authored the textbook Introduction to Polymer Physics. In 2001 the American Physical Society awarded Doi the Polymer Physics Prize for "pioneering contributions to the theory of dynamics and rheology of entangled polymers and complex fluids." He was also awarded the Bingham Medal in 2001 by the Society of Rheology. In 2016, he was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for contributions to the rheology of polymeric liquids, especially the entanglement effect in concentrated solutions and melts.
Sachi Hamano (浜野佐知, Hamano Sachi) a.k.a. Sachiko Hamano (浜野佐知子, Hamano Sachiko) and Chise Matoba (的場ちせ, Matoba Chise)…Sachi Hamano (浜野佐知, Hamano Sachi) a.k.a. Sachiko Hamano (浜野佐知子, Hamano Sachiko) and Chise Matoba (的場ちせ, Matoba Chise) (born March 19, 1948), is a Japanese film director. She is the most prolific and written-about female pink film director.
Toshio Ogawa (小川 敏夫, Ogawa Toshio; born 18 March 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party…Toshio Ogawa (小川 敏夫, Ogawa Toshio; born 18 March 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party and a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). Ogawa is a former Minister of Justice. A native of Nerima, Tokyo, and a graduate of Rikkyo University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1998 after working as a prosecutor.
Masataka Matsuura (松浦 正敬, Matsuura Masataka) is a Japanese politician who served as mayor of Matsue, the capital city…Masataka Matsuura (松浦 正敬, Matsuura Masataka) is a Japanese politician who served as mayor of Matsue, the capital city of Shimane Prefecture, Japan from 2000 to 2021.
Junichi Ota (Japanese: 太田順一, 16 March 1948 – 12 December 2022), best known under the pen name Gosaku Ota (Japanese…Junichi Ota (Japanese: 太田順一, 16 March 1948 – 12 December 2022), best known under the pen name Gosaku Ota (Japanese: 桜多吾作) was a Japanese manga artist.
Hiroshi Murakami (村上 寛, Murakami Hiroshi; born March 14, 1948, Tokyo) is a Japanese jazz drummer. Murakami began…Hiroshi Murakami (村上 寛, Murakami Hiroshi; born March 14, 1948, Tokyo) is a Japanese jazz drummer. Murakami began playing percussion as a teenager, and was playing in a group with Takehiro Honda at age 19. He would go on to play with Masabumi Kikuchi, Kosuke Mine, and Sadao Watanabe in the 1970s, in addition to drumming for the group Native Son. In 1981 he started working as a leader, and has continued playing as a sideman for, among others, Nobuyoshi Ino, Manabu Oishi, and Hidefumi Toki.
Waki Yamato (Japanese: 大和 和紀, Hepburn: Yamato Waki; born March 13, 1948) is a Japanese manga artist. She debuted in…Waki Yamato (Japanese: 大和 和紀, Hepburn: Yamato Waki; born March 13, 1948) is a Japanese manga artist. She debuted in 1966 with the short story Dorobō Tenshi. Since her debut, Yamato steadily created and published a variety of works in the genre of shōjo manga. Among her early time works, Mon Cherie CoCo, 1971, was adapted into an anime television series, and her work, Haikara-san ga Tōru, 1975 to 1977, was very successful, winning the 1st Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo manga in 1977. It was also made into a musical for the Takarazuka Revue, an anime series (which reached an international audience through TV broadcasts in Italy and France), and a live-action film. Through these early works, she established her position as one of the most popular manga artists.
Sanji Inoue (井上 三次, Inoue Sanji; born 10 March 1948) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the sprint and the…Sanji Inoue (井上 三次, Inoue Sanji; born 10 March 1948) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the sprint and the 1000m time trial at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Ryuji Yamane (山根 隆治, Yamane Ryūji; 8 March 1948 – 10 December 2022) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party…Ryuji Yamane (山根 隆治, Yamane Ryūji; 8 March 1948 – 10 December 2022) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Kiyomi Kato (加藤 喜代美, Katō Kiyomi; born March 8, 1948) is a retired Japanese flyweight freestyle wrestler. He won a gold…Kiyomi Kato (加藤 喜代美, Katō Kiyomi; born March 8, 1948) is a retired Japanese flyweight freestyle wrestler. He won a gold medal at the 1972 Olympics and a silver medal at the 1970 Asian Games and placed sixth at the 1971 World Wrestling Championships. Kato lost to Mohammad Ghorbani at the 1970 Asian Games, but took revenge at the 1972 Olympics.
Kazuko Ando (安藤 和子, Andō Kazuko; née Ogino (荻野) and Inukai (犬養), born 6 March 1948, in Tokyo, Japan), better known as…Kazuko Ando (安藤 和子, Andō Kazuko; née Ogino (荻野) and Inukai (犬養), born 6 March 1948, in Tokyo, Japan), better known as Kazu Ando (安藤 和津, Andō Kazu), is a Japanese essayist and tarento represented by Production Pao.
Toshio Fujiwara (藤原 敏男 Fujiwara Toshio, born March 3, 1948) is a Japanese former kickboxer. Out of 141 professional…Toshio Fujiwara (藤原 敏男 Fujiwara Toshio, born March 3, 1948) is a Japanese former kickboxer. Out of 141 professional fights before retiring at age 35, Fujiwara won 126, with a remarkable 99 by knockout; most notably, he was the first non-Thai to win a national Muay Thai title belt in Bangkok.
Akiyoshi Umekawa (梅川 昭美, Umekawa Akiyoshi; March 1, 1948 – January 28, 1979) was a Japanese mass murderer who killed a…Akiyoshi Umekawa (梅川 昭美, Umekawa Akiyoshi; March 1, 1948 – January 28, 1979) was a Japanese mass murderer who killed a woman on December 16, 1963, and shot dead four people on January 26, 1979. Mass media also used a number of different possible readings of his given name, including Teruyoshi, Terumi, Akimi and Akemi. He was one of the rare criminals who was shot dead by Japanese police.
Seiji Isobe (磯部清次, Isobe Seiji; born March 1, 1948) is a Japanese karate instructor residing in Brazil. He is a member…Seiji Isobe (磯部清次, Isobe Seiji; born March 1, 1948) is a Japanese karate instructor residing in Brazil. He is a member of the IKO1 (Kyokushin Matsui Group)'s international committee and is the General Manager of the South American Regional Federation. He holds a rank of 9th Dan Black in Kyokushin Karate. Seiji Isobe, although unsuccessful in Full-Contact Karate competitions himself, became renowned as one of the best Kyokushin and/or Full-Contact Karate coaches. He is known for training various highly prestigious Brazilian Karateka, including Francisco Filho, Glaube Feitosa, Ewerton Teixeira, Andrews Nakahara and Ademir da Costa.
Masashi Nakano (中野 正志, Nakano Masashi; born 29 February 1948) is a Japanese politician and former Secretary-General of…Masashi Nakano (中野 正志, Nakano Masashi; born 29 February 1948) is a Japanese politician and former Secretary-General of the Party for Japanese Kokoro. A native of Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture and graduate of Tohoku Gakuin University, he was first elected to the assembly of Miyagi Prefecture in 1983. During his second term as an assemblyman, he contested the national House of Councillors election in 1989 as an independent but was defeated. He was elected to the House of Representatives in the national Diet as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party in the 1996 general election, representing Miyagi District No.2. In the 2000 general election he was defeated in his district by Sayuri Kamata. In the 2003 general election he was again defeated by Kamata in Miyagi No.2, but was elected to return to the House of Representatives as a member for the Tōhoku proportional block. He retained his seat in the 2005 general election and was appointed Senior Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in Shinzo Abe's first ministry in 2007. He contested his seat in the 2009 general election as a Liberal Democratic Party candidate and with an endorsement from the Komeito Party, but lost his seat as the LDP lost a general election for the first time since the party was formed in 1955. Nakano contested the July 2010 House of Councillors election but was unable to win a seat in the national proportional representation block. In 2012 he was appointed as Miyagi No.2 district leader of the Sunrise Party and resigned from the LDP. Following the Sunrise Party's merger with the Japan Restoration Party in November 2012, Nakano was elected to the national proportional representation block as a JRP member in the July 2013 House of Councillors election. With JRP's split in August 2014 he joined the newly formed Party for Future Generations. He was appointed as the party's secretary-general in November 2015. In December 2015 the party changed its name to the Party for Japanese Kokoro. In November 2018, the Party for Japanese Kokoro dissolved, and Nakano returned to the LDP.
Jirō Akagawa (赤川 次郎, Akagawa Jirō; born February 29, 1948) is a Japanese novelist born in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture…Jirō Akagawa (赤川 次郎, Akagawa Jirō; born February 29, 1948) is a Japanese novelist born in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
Yoshiko Tsuchida (Japanese: 土田よしこ, 26 February 1948 – 15 September 2023) was a Japanese manga artist and writer. Often…Yoshiko Tsuchida (Japanese: 土田よしこ, 26 February 1948 – 15 September 2023) was a Japanese manga artist and writer. Often described as a "unique" figure among Japanese manga artists, because of her style she has been referred to as "a female Fujio Akatsuka".
Hiromitsu Kadota (門田 博光, Kadota Hiromitsu; February 26, 1948 – January 23, 2023) was a Japanese professional baseball…Hiromitsu Kadota (門田 博光, Kadota Hiromitsu; February 26, 1948 – January 23, 2023) was a Japanese professional baseball player for the Hawks franchise (known during his career as the Nankai Hawks and the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks) and the Orix Braves. Celebrated for his slugging ability, he ate a lot and became a strong hitter, though was later weakened by diabetes mellitus. With 567 home runs, Kadota is number three on the NPB career list. Kadota won the Nippon Professional Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1980 with 41 home runs and 84 RBI. He hit 44 home runs at the age of 40 in 1988, also knocking in 125 runs and winning the Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award. He became the first 40-year-old to win the award in NPB history and is still the oldest player to win MVP in NPB history. That year he was also given the Matsutaro Shoriki Award, for contribution to the development of professional baseball. After playing for the Orix Braves for two seasons, he returned to the Hawks in 1991; he retired after his last game against pitcher Hideo Nomo in 1992. Kadota was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. Kadota died on January 23, 2023, after a police officer found him lying on the ground after having not showed up to an outpatient treatment in a hospital in Aioi, Hyogo and was confirmed dead on the scene.
Hiroshi Sugimoto (杉本博司, Sugimoto Hiroshi; born 23 February 1948) is a Japanese photographer and architect. He leads the…Hiroshi Sugimoto (杉本博司, Sugimoto Hiroshi; born 23 February 1948) is a Japanese photographer and architect. He leads the Tokyo-based architectural firm New Material Research Laboratory.
Harumi Miyako (都 はるみ, Miyako Harumi; born 22 February 1948), born Harumi Kitamura (北村春美, Kitamura Harumi) in Kyoto, is…Harumi Miyako (都 はるみ, Miyako Harumi; born 22 February 1948), born Harumi Kitamura (北村春美, Kitamura Harumi) in Kyoto, is a Japanese enka singer. She made her debut in 1964. She has appeared on the annual television special Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Yū Koyama (小山 ゆう, Koyama Yū; born 20 February 1948 in Ogasa, Shizuoka) is a Japanese manga artist. After graduating…Yū Koyama (小山 ゆう, Koyama Yū; born 20 February 1948 in Ogasa, Shizuoka) is a Japanese manga artist. After graduating from Shizuoka Prefectural Shimada Commercial High School he moved to Tokyo and in 1968 took a job with Saito Productions, the company run by Takao Saitō. In 1971 he worked with Kazuo Koike at Studio Ship. Koyama debuted in Shōnen Sunday in 1973 with Ore wa Chokkaku. He has won multiple awards in the manga field, winning the Shogakukan Manga Award twice, once in 1977 for Ganbare Genki and again in 1998 for Azumi. Azumi also won an Excellence Award at the 1997 Japan Media Arts Festival.
Shin Ebihara (海老原 紳, Ebihara Shin; born February 16, 1948) is a Japanese diplomat. Ebihara started his diplomatic…Shin Ebihara (海老原 紳, Ebihara Shin; born February 16, 1948) is a Japanese diplomat. Ebihara started his diplomatic career in 1971, as quit the University of Tokyo and entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and served as Deputy Director General of the Bureau of Middle Eastern and African Affairs, Director General of the Bureau of North American Affairs, and Executive Secretary to the Prime Minister. In 2006-2008 served as Ambassador to Indonesia. In 2008-2011 served as Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Kaiketsu Masateru (Japanese: 魁傑 將晃, born Teruyuki Nishimori; February 16, 1948 – May 18, 2014) was a Japanese sumo…Kaiketsu Masateru (Japanese: 魁傑 將晃, born Teruyuki Nishimori; February 16, 1948 – May 18, 2014) was a Japanese sumo wrestler, who reached the second highest rank of ōzeki on two occasions. He also won two top division tournament championships. After his retirement in 1979 he became a coach under the name of Hanaregoma-oyakata and established Hanaregoma stable. He was also chairman of the Japan Sumo Association from 2010 to 2012.
Seiji Oko (大古 誠司 Ōko Seiji , born 15 February 1948) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who was a member of the…Seiji Oko (大古 誠司 Ōko Seiji , born 15 February 1948) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who was a member of the Japan Men's National Team that won the gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics. In 2004, he became an inductee of the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Toshie Kihara (木原 敏江, Kihara Toshie; born February 14, 1948, in Meguro, Tokyo) is a Japanese manga artist and a member…Toshie Kihara (木原 敏江, Kihara Toshie; born February 14, 1948, in Meguro, Tokyo) is a Japanese manga artist and a member of the Year 24 Group. She made her professional debut in 1969 with the short story Kotchi Muite Mama! in Bessatsu Margaret. She is best known for her manga series Mari to Shingo, serialized from 1977 to 1984 in LaLa, which follows a romance between two young men at the start of the Shōwa era. Several of her manga series have inspired musicals performed by the all-female Takarazuka Revue, including Angélique, an adaptation of the novels by Anne Golon; Torikaebaya Ibun, an adaptation of the Heian era tale Torikaebaya Monogatari; and Ōeyama Kaden. In 1985, Kihara won the 30th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōjo (girls') category for Yume no Ishibumi, a multi-volume collection of short stories with shōnen-ai (male-male romance) themes. In 2017, to commemorate Kihara's 48th anniversary as a manga artist, Kawade Shobo Shinsha published a book containing a chronological list of all of her works; a lengthy interview with Kihara about her career; a round-table discussion between Kihara and her fellow Year 24 Group members, Moto Hagio and Yasuko Aoike; and contributions from other celebrated manga artists, such as Riyoko Ikeda and Yasuko Sakata. The same year, Kihara's first solo art exhibition was held at the Span Art Gallery in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan, from November 3 to November 14, 2017. The exhibition was also held at the Niigata City Manga House in Niigata, Japan, from June 21 to October 9, 2018. Another exhibition dedicated solely to Mari to Shingo was held at the Span Art Gallery in two parts: first, from April 26 to May 8, 2019, and second, from June 22 to July 9, 2019. During its run, Kihara made several appearances at the gallery to sign autographs.
Eizo Kenmotsu (監物永三, Kenmotsu Eizō; born February 13, 1948) is a former Japanese artistic gymnast, who won seven world…Eizo Kenmotsu (監物永三, Kenmotsu Eizō; born February 13, 1948) is a former Japanese artistic gymnast, who won seven world titles and three Olympic gold medals between 1968 and 1979. In retirement, he became a leading Japanese coach. He also served as sports director of the Nippon Sport Science University and vice president of the Japan Gymnastics Association. In 2006, Kenmotsu was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Kenmotsu was 20 years and 8 months old in October 1968 when he became the youngest Japanese artistic gymnast in history to win an Olympic gold medal after the team event finals at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He held on to that longstanding record for almost 48 years until recently when it was finally broken by Kenzō Shirai, who in August 2016 acquired the honour when only 19 years and 11 months old, at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro–also after the team event finals. Coincidentally, they had both similarly won one other Olympic medal, each an individual event bronze–Kenmotsu on the horizontal bar and Shirai on the vault–at their respective first Olympic Games.
Kenji Soda (宗田 研二, Sōda Kenji; born 12 February 1948) is a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's…Kenji Soda (宗田 研二, Sōda Kenji; born 12 February 1948) is a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Yoshihito, Prince Katsura (桂宮宜仁親王, Katsura-no-miya Yoshihito Shinnō; 11 February 1948 – 8 June 2014) was a member of…Yoshihito, Prince Katsura (桂宮宜仁親王, Katsura-no-miya Yoshihito Shinnō; 11 February 1948 – 8 June 2014) was a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the second son of Takahito, Prince Mikasa and Yuriko, Princess Mikasa. He was a first cousin of Emperor Akihito. Originally known as Prince Yoshihito of Mikasa, he received the title Prince Katsura (Katsura-no-miya) and authorization to start a new branch of the Imperial Family on 1 January 1988 at age 39. He died of a heart attack on 8 June 2014, aged 66.
Kisaburo Tokai (渡海 紀三朗, Tokai Kisaburō; born 11 February 1948 in Takasago, Hyōgo) is a former Japanese politician who…Kisaburo Tokai (渡海 紀三朗, Tokai Kisaburō; born 11 February 1948 in Takasago, Hyōgo) is a former Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology under Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda from 2007 to 2008.
Shiro Asano (浅野 史郎, Asano Shirō; born 8 February 1948) is the former governor of Miyagi, Japan, and currently…Shiro Asano (浅野 史郎, Asano Shirō; born 8 February 1948) is the former governor of Miyagi, Japan, and currently university professor & political commentator.
Masanori Toguchi (戸口 正徳, Toguchi Masanori), born Pyo Jeong-deok (Korean: 표정덕; Hanja: 表正德; February 7, 1948), is a…Masanori Toguchi (戸口 正徳, Toguchi Masanori), born Pyo Jeong-deok (Korean: 표정덕; Hanja: 表正德; February 7, 1948), is a retired Zainichi Korean professional wrestler best known by his ring name Kim Duk (Japanese: キム・ドク, Hepburn: Kimu Doku). He was also known by the name Tiger Chung Lee in the World Wrestling Federation.
Mienoumi Tsuyoshi (Japanese: 三重ノ海 剛司, Hepburn: Mienoumi Tsuyoshi; born February 4, 1948 as Gorō Ishiyama (石山五郎…Mienoumi Tsuyoshi (Japanese: 三重ノ海 剛司, Hepburn: Mienoumi Tsuyoshi; born February 4, 1948 as Gorō Ishiyama (石山五郎, Ishiyama Gorō)) is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Matsusaka, Mie. He was the 57th yokozuna of the sport. After retiring he founded the Musashigawa stable and was a chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. He was the first rikishi in history who was demoted from the rank of Ozeki but still managed the promotion to Yokozuna.
Jinsuke Kageyama (影山 任佐, Kageyama Jinsuke; born 3 February 1948) is a Japanese psychiatrist. His specialties are…Jinsuke Kageyama (影山 任佐, Kageyama Jinsuke; born 3 February 1948) is a Japanese psychiatrist. His specialties are criminal psychopathology, psychiatric history, clinical psychiatry and mental health studies. He is Professor Emeritus at Tokyo Institute of Technology and a winner of the Prize of the Japanese Association of Criminology (2002).
Muneo Suzuki (鈴木 宗男 Suzuki Muneo, born 31 January 1948), commonly known simply as "Muneo" due to his common last name…Muneo Suzuki (鈴木 宗男 Suzuki Muneo, born 31 January 1948), commonly known simply as "Muneo" due to his common last name, is a Japanese politician from Ashoro, Hokkaido, currently serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2019, representing the National PR block.
Akira Yoshino (吉野 彰, Yoshino Akira; born 30 January 1948) is a Japanese chemist. He is a fellow of Asahi Kasei…Akira Yoshino (吉野 彰, Yoshino Akira; born 30 January 1948) is a Japanese chemist. He is a fellow of Asahi Kasei Corporation and a professor at Meijo University in Nagoya. He created the first safe, production-viable lithium-ion battery, which became used widely in cellular phones and notebook computers. Yoshino was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 alongside M. Stanley Whittingham and John B. Goodenough.
Mamoru "Mark" Mohri, (Japanese: 毛利 衛, romanized: Mōri Mamoru; born 29 January 1948) is a Japanese scientist, a former…Mamoru "Mark" Mohri, (Japanese: 毛利 衛, romanized: Mōri Mamoru; born 29 January 1948) is a Japanese scientist, a former NASDA astronaut, and a veteran of two NASA Space Shuttle missions. He is the first Japanese astronaut who was part of an official Japanese space program. The first Japanese person in space, Toyohiro Akiyama, was a journalist who was trained in the Soviet Union.
Kōji Makaino (馬飼野 康二, Makaino Kōji; born 26 January 1948) is a Japanese pop music composer, arranger, and musician. He…Kōji Makaino (馬飼野 康二, Makaino Kōji; born 26 January 1948) is a Japanese pop music composer, arranger, and musician. He is the elder brother of composer Shunichi Makaino.
Mitsuo Shindō (信藤 三雄, Shindō Mitsuo; 1948 – 10 February 2023) was a Japanese art director, photographer, film director…Mitsuo Shindō (信藤 三雄, Shindō Mitsuo; 1948 – 10 February 2023) was a Japanese art director, photographer, film director and producer, music video director and calligraphist. Shindō designed over 1000 albums and single cover art for artists including Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Yumi Matsutoya, Pizzicato Five, Mr. Children, Misia, Hikaru Utada and Glay. He was also a frequent collaborator with Mr. Children and Misia, for whom he has directed several music videos. In 2010, Shindō became a board member of Mudef, a foundation established by Misia and Rhythmedia CEO Hiroto Tanigawa. Shindō died from stomach cancer on 10 February 2023, at the age of 75.
Yoshio Hachiro (鉢呂 吉雄, Hachiro Yoshio; born 25 January 1948) is a former Japanese politician of the Constitutional…Yoshio Hachiro (鉢呂 吉雄, Hachiro Yoshio; born 25 January 1948) is a former Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party who served as a member of the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Haruhiko Jō (壤晴彦, Jō Haruhiko; born January 25, 1948) is a Japanese actor, theatre director, and voice actor, currently…Haruhiko Jō (壤晴彦, Jō Haruhiko; born January 25, 1948) is a Japanese actor, theatre director, and voice actor, currently affiliated with Engekikurabu Za.
Machiko Satonaka (里中 満智子, Satonaka Machiko; born 24 January 1948) is a Japanese manga artist. She made her professional…Machiko Satonaka (里中 満智子, Satonaka Machiko; born 24 January 1948) is a Japanese manga artist. She made her professional debut in 1964 during her second year of high school with the one-shot Pia no Shōzō ("Portrait of Pia"). She has since created nearly 500 manga in a variety of genres. Two of her most notable works are Ashita Kagayaku ("Tomorrow Will Shine"), which won the 1974 Kodansha Publishing Culture Award, and Karyūdo no Seiza ("Constellation of the Hunter"), which won the 1982 Kodansha Manga Award. In addition to creating manga, Satonaka teaches at the Osaka University of Arts as the head of the Character Creative Arts Department and serves on the board of various manga-related organizations in Japan.
Mitoji Yabunaka (薮中 三十二, Yabunaka Mitoji; born 23 January 1948) is a Japanese former diplomat who served as Vice…Mitoji Yabunaka (薮中 三十二, Yabunaka Mitoji; born 23 January 1948) is a Japanese former diplomat who served as Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2010. Prior to that position, Yabunaka served as Ministry of Foreign Affair's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director-General. He has been a diplomat for nearly forty years. Yabunaka has represented Japan on a number of occasions and has negotiated trade deals with the United States, Australia and Indonesia. He has had contact with a number of United States diplomats, including hosting current United States Ambassador to Japan John Roos shortly following Roos' appointment. During the first, second and third rounds of the Six-party talks, Yabunaka represented Japan as chief delegate. The Japanese government also sent Yabanuka as a delegate to China to discuss issues of natural gas reserves under the East China Sea. He handled Myanmar relations during the Kenji Nagai shooting incident, demanding an investigation and challenging governmental claims. Yabunaka replaced Toshiyuki Takano as Director General of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau in 2002. In 2008 Yabunaka held talks with South Korean Ambassador Kwon Chul Hyun over disputed islets in the Sea of Japan.
