Hitoshi Ono (大野均, Ōno Hitoshi; born May 6, 1978, in Kōriyama, Fukushima) is a retired Japanese rugby player. He plays…
Hitoshi Ono (大野均, Ōno Hitoshi; born May 6, 1978, in Kōriyama, Fukushima) is a retired Japanese rugby player. He plays at lock for the Japan national rugby union team. He is nicknamed the "Iron Man". Ono started playing rugby after converting from baseball at Nihon University where he was studying to become a firefighter. However, he changed careers and joined Toshiba Brave Lupus in 2001, with whom he has gone on to win the Top League four times. He made his international debut for Japan in 2004 against Korea. He became a regular member of the national team from there onwards and represented his country at both the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cup. Since Eddie Jones took over as Japan coach in 2012, he has not missed an international match, and has become the most capped player for Japan of all time. After the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, Ono's family dairy farm suffered greatly, and alongside prop Kensuke Hatakeyama who lost his home, he was named honorary captain for the Asian 5 Nations match with the UAE by coach John Kirwan to mark the team's solidarity for the cause. Ono is one of the 'Frontier Ambassadors' of his hometown Koriyama City. He retired from professional rugby in 2020
Famous People Born in 1978
1978: 291 people
Dai Tamesue (為末大, Tamesue Dai; born May 3, 1978 in Hiroshima) is the first Japanese sprinter to win a medal in a track…
Dai Tamesue (為末大, Tamesue Dai; born May 3, 1978 in Hiroshima) is the first Japanese sprinter to win a medal in a track event at a World Competition. Current Japanese record holder for Men's 400 meter hurdle (as of July 2021). Bronze medalist of the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton and 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki. Tamesue represented Japan in the Sydney, Athens, and Beijing Olympics. He started running professionally in 2003 and retired after 25 years of competitive athletics in 2012. Pursuing ways to pass on the benefits of sports into society through associate organizations; Samurai Co., Ltd. (Representative Director), Athlete Society (Representative Director, Founded 2010), Xiborg (Founded 2014 ). Assigned to Bhutan's Olympic Committee (BOC) ambassador in April 2015. Continues to support countries that are limited in Olympic medal experiences. Other assignments include; Specially assigned researcher for the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology in Tokyo University (2014) Member of the evaluation committee for the New National Stadium reconstruction planning procedure of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (2015) Sports Legacy Project management committee member for the Tokyo Marathon Foundation. In 2006, He appeared as a celebrity contestant on Quiz $ Millionaire and won the ¥10,000,000 top prize.
Shingo Hoshino (星野 真悟, Hoshino Shingo; born May 2, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. Hoshino previously…
Shingo Hoshino (星野 真悟, Hoshino Shingo; born May 2, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. Hoshino previously played for Ehime FC in the J2 League.
Takayoshi Ono (小野 隆儀, Ono Takayoshi; born April 30, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Tadashi Ohtsuka (大束忠司, Ōtsuka Tadashi; born 30 April 1978) is a male badminton player from Japan.
Julius Gitahi (born 29 April 1978 in Nyeri, Central Province) is a Kenyan long-distance runner.
Takahiro Suzuki (鈴木 尚広, Suzuki Takahiro; born April 27, 1978 in Sōma, Fukushima) is a Japanese retired Nippon…
Takahiro Suzuki (鈴木 尚広, Suzuki Takahiro; born April 27, 1978 in Sōma, Fukushima) is a Japanese retired Nippon Professional Baseball player. After leaving his professional career, he worked as a baseball commentator and also was engaged in farming.
Naoya Umeda (梅田 直哉, Umeda Naoya; born April 27, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Yasushi Kita (喜多 靖, Kita Yasushi; born April 25, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Risa Kazumi (born 24 April 1978) is a Japanese judoka. She competed in the women's middleweight event at the 1996…
Risa Kazumi (born 24 April 1978) is a Japanese judoka. She competed in the women's middleweight event at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Masashi Miyazawa (宮沢 正史, Miyazawa Masashi; born April 24, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Saori Obata (Japanese: 小畑沙織, Obata Saori; born 23 April 1978) is a former tennis player from Japan. She turned…
Saori Obata (Japanese: 小畑沙織, Obata Saori; born 23 April 1978) is a former tennis player from Japan. She turned professional in April 1996, and in February 2004, she achieved a career-high singles ranking of 39, and on the same day, she reached her best doubles ranking of 98.
Hiroki Mihara (三原 廣樹, Mihara Hiroki; born April 20, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Kunihiko Takizawa (滝澤 邦彦, Takizawa Kunihiko; born April 20, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Shinya Yoshihara (吉原 慎也, Yoshihara Shinya; born April 19, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is married to…
Shinya Yoshihara (吉原 慎也, Yoshihara Shinya; born April 19, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is married to well-known professional Go player Yukari Yoshihara (née Yukari Umezawa), who is known for her work in spreading and teaching Go, especially in the worldwide-distributed manga and anime series Hikaru no Go.
Toshihide Matsui (松井 俊英, Matsui Toshihide; born 19 April 1978) is a professional Japanese tennis player. He has a…
Toshihide Matsui (松井 俊英, Matsui Toshihide; born 19 April 1978) is a professional Japanese tennis player. He has a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 261 achieved on 12 June 2006 and a doubles ranking of No. 121 achieved on 27 May 2024. He is currently the oldest active singles player in the ATP world doubles rankings.
Ryota Tsuzuki (都築 龍太, Tsuzuki Ryōta; born April 18, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He played six times for…
Ryota Tsuzuki (都築 龍太, Tsuzuki Ryōta; born April 18, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He played six times for Japan national team.
Miho Sato (佐藤 美保, Satō Miho; née Sugimori; born 14 April 1978) is a retired Japanese athlete specialising in…
Miho Sato (佐藤 美保, Satō Miho; née Sugimori; born 14 April 1978) is a retired Japanese athlete specialising in middle-distance events. From Ise, Mie, she competed in the 800 metres at the 2004 Summer Olympics without reaching the semifinals. She is married to a long-distance runner, Atsushi Sato.
Tomoko Ogawa (尾川 智子, Ogawa Tomoko; born April 14, 1978) is a Japanese boulderer. In 2012, she sent Catharsis, a boulder…
Tomoko Ogawa (尾川 智子, Ogawa Tomoko; born April 14, 1978) is a Japanese boulderer. In 2012, she sent Catharsis, a boulder route in Shiobara established by Dai Koyamada, and confirmed by Daniel Woods, to become the first-ever woman to climb an 8B+ (V14) route. Ogawa began climbing in 2000, at age 22. Her other notable ascents of boulders include Caramba 8A+ (V12), Mutante 8A+ (V12), Akugeki 8A/8A+ , Atomic Playboy 8A (V11), Hatchling 8A (V11), and No Late Tenders 8A (V11).
Masamitsu Kobayashi (小林 成光, Kobayashi Masamitsu; born April 13, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Kyohei Sakaguchi (坂口 恭平, Sakaguchi Kyōhei; born 13 April 1978) is a Japanese artist and architect who was born in…
Kyohei Sakaguchi (坂口 恭平, Sakaguchi Kyōhei; born 13 April 1978) is a Japanese artist and architect who was born in Kumamoto. He graduated from Waseda University's department of architecture in 2001. He is most known for his Zero Yen Project, which involves studying structures built at no cost, such as shanties made by the homeless. The Zero Yen Project involved building dwellings after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant meltdowns following the March 2011 earthquake, and subsequent tsunami that devastated the Tohuku region. In response to the disaster, he created a suicide help line using his personal cell phone. Later he studied provisional dwellings made from scrap wood, discarded cardboard boxes and other scavenged materials. In 2004 is photographic book Zero Yen House was published. In 2013 his book, Build Your Own Independent Nation, was published. In 2014, he wrote a novel, Genjitsu Dasshutsuron (Thesis on Escaping Reality). In 2020 his book Kurushii Toki wa Denwa Shite (Call Me When You're in Pain) was published. Sakaguchi's work has been exhibited at the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, the Trax Gallery in Yamanashi Prefecture, the Vancouver Art Gallery, as well as exhibitions in Nairobi, Berkeley, California, Philadelphia, Tokyo, the Walter Phillips Gallery at Banff Centre, Canada, Museo Desafinado / Casa Endeble in Mexico City, among other international venues
Sakura Hirota (広田さくら, Hirota sakura) is a Japanese politician and professional wrestler. She is currently a freelancer…
Sakura Hirota (広田さくら, Hirota sakura) is a Japanese politician and professional wrestler. She is currently a freelancer who is best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Gaea, Pro Wrestling Wave and Oz Academy. Hirota's later career is characterized by being a comedy wrestler who oft appears as a doppelgänger of other wrestlers, dressing up as and portraying their mannerisms in an exaggerated, poorly executed way for comedic effect. Hirota sometimes even ironically imitates her own opponent, examples include: Saki Akai and Asuka. She tentatively retired on June 2, 2025, due to her pursuing a career in politics; in the process, she left Pro Wrestling Wave. However she resumed full time activity in August 2025 as a result of having lost her local House of Councillors election. She became representative of the Katsushika Ward Assembly in Tokyo as of 2026, a result of winning the assembly election in November 2025.
Taku Iwasa (born November 15, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for his work in Dragon Gate.
Yasuji Ohagi (大萩康司, Ohagi Yasuji) is a Japanese classical guitarist. He has been named a "guitar poet" by Japanese…
Yasuji Ohagi (大萩康司, Ohagi Yasuji) is a Japanese classical guitarist. He has been named a "guitar poet" by Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shinbun.
Akiko Sekiwa (Japanese: 関和 章子; born April 6, 1978, in Tokoro, Hokkaido, Japan as Akiko Katoh, Japanese: 加藤 章子) is a…
Akiko Sekiwa (Japanese: 関和 章子; born April 6, 1978, in Tokoro, Hokkaido, Japan as Akiko Katoh, Japanese: 加藤 章子) is a Japanese curler and curling coach, a four-time Pacific-Asian champion (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998) and a four-time Japan women's champion (1997, 1998, 1999, 2001). She played for Japan at the 1998 Winter Olympics, where the Japanese team finished in fifth place. Also, she competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics, where the Japanese team finished in eighth place.
Brendan Neilson (born 5 April 1978) is a New Zealand-Japanese former rugby union player who played as a Centre in Japan…
Brendan Neilson (born 5 April 1978) is a New Zealand-Japanese former rugby union player who played as a Centre in Japan for Coca-Cola Red Sparks, NEC Green Rockets and Kamaishi Seawaves. He studied in Japan at Sendai Ikuei High School, then Ryutsu Keizai University. On graduation he first joined NEC Green Rockets. He has a bachelor's degree in tourism and social studies. In 2006, he obtained Japanese citizenship, though at international level he has yet to represent the senior Japan squad, having played for the Japan A and Under-23 sides. In April 2015, he began working as IBDP World History Instructor & Rugby Head Coach at Sendai Ikuei High School and is still currently there.
Kazunori Yokota (横田 一則, Yokota Kazunori; born April 3, 1978) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka. Yokota…
Kazunori Yokota (横田 一則, Yokota Kazunori; born April 3, 1978) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka. Yokota fought for the Japanese MMA promotions DEEP and WVR Sengoku.
Atsushi Kanazawa (金澤篤志, Kanazawa Atsushi) is the former head coach of the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka in the Japanese…
Atsushi Kanazawa (金澤篤志, Kanazawa Atsushi) is the former head coach of the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka in the Japanese B.League.
Yoshitaka Kageyama (影山 由高, Kageyama Yoshitaka; born March 31, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Hirotoki Onozawa (小野澤 宏時, Onozawa Hirotoki; born March 29, 1978 in Shimada, Shizuoka, Japan) is a Japanese former rugby…
Hirotoki Onozawa (小野澤 宏時, Onozawa Hirotoki; born March 29, 1978 in Shimada, Shizuoka, Japan) is a Japanese former rugby union player who played at Wing and occasionally Fullback for Canon Eagles. He previously played for Suntory Sungoliath and the Japan national rugby union team. Nicknamed "the eel" for his sharp sidestepping ability, Onozawa is the second most capped Japanese rugby player of all time, and fifth highest try scorer in international rugby. Despite spending much of his career in the shadow of Daisuke Ohata he is considered an all-time great of Japanese rugby in his own right.
Hanae Yokoya (横谷 花絵, Yokoya Hanae; born March 25, 1978) is a Japanese former figure skater. She is the 1995 Japanese…
Hanae Yokoya (横谷 花絵, Yokoya Hanae; born March 25, 1978) is a Japanese former figure skater. She is the 1995 Japanese national champion. Her highest placement at the World Figure Skating Championships was 10th, which she achieved in 1995 and 1996. Yokoya retired from competitive skating following the 1998–1999 season. She currently works as a coach.
Takeharu Kato (加藤 武治, Katō Takeharu; born March 24, 1978 in Tendō, Yamagata) is a retired Japanese professional pitcher.
Ryohei Miki (三木亮平, Miki Ryōhei) (born Tokyo, 24 March 1978) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as wing…
Ryohei Miki (三木亮平, Miki Ryōhei) (born Tokyo, 24 March 1978) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as wing and as centre.
Seiko Yamada (山田 靑子, Yamada Seiko; born 22 March 1978; in Toyama) is a Japanese badminton player. Together with Shizuka…
Seiko Yamada (山田 靑子, Yamada Seiko; born 22 March 1978; in Toyama) is a Japanese badminton player. Together with Shizuka Yamamoto, she won the women's doubles national champion in 2000 and 2003. Yamada competed in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in women's doubles with partner Shizuka Yamamoto. They were defeated by Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty of Malaysia in the round of 32. She is currently ranked #7 in Japan.
Fumikazu Kobayashi (小林 史和, Kobayashi Fumikazu; born 21 March 1978) is a Japanese athlete who competes primarily in the…
Fumikazu Kobayashi (小林 史和, Kobayashi Fumikazu; born 21 March 1978) is a Japanese athlete who competes primarily in the 1500 metres. He competed at 2005 and 2007 World Championships reaching the semifinals stage the second time. He holds national records at several distances.
Shingo Suzuki (鈴木 慎吾, Suzuki Shingo; born March 20, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Hanako Oku (奥 華子, Oku Hanako; born March 20, 1978, in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan) is a pop singer famous in her native…
Hanako Oku (奥 華子, Oku Hanako; born March 20, 1978, in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan) is a pop singer famous in her native Japan for her piano ballads. She rose to fame after performing the end-title track "Garnet" for the Madhouse film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time in 2006. She was signed to a major record label the preceding year.
Shimotori Norio (born March 18, 1978) is a former sumo wrestler from Arai, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. A former amateur…
Shimotori Norio (born March 18, 1978) is a former sumo wrestler from Arai, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. A former amateur champion, he made his professional debut in 2000 and first reached the top division in 2002, although due to injuries he had trouble maintaining that position. He earned one special prize, for Fighting Spirit. His highest rank was komusubi. He was forced to retire in April 2011 after an investigation by the Japan Sumo Association found him guilty of match-fixing.
Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi (小林 尊, Kobayashi Takeru; born March 15, 1978) is a Japanese former competitive eater.…
Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi (小林 尊, Kobayashi Takeru; born March 15, 1978) is a Japanese former competitive eater. Described as "the godfather of competitive eating", he is a six-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champion and widely credited with popularizing the sport.
Seiko Okamoto (岡本 聖子, Okamoto Seiko) (born 14 March 1978) is a Japanese former professional tennis player. Okamoto took…
Seiko Okamoto (岡本 聖子, Okamoto Seiko) (born 14 March 1978) is a Japanese former professional tennis player. Okamoto took part in the 2006 Bangalore Open but lost in the first round of singles qualifying, and the first round of doubles, alongside Ryōko Fuda. She has stated that her favorite surface to play on is hardcourt. In her career, Okamoto won one doubles title on the WTA Tour, as well as two singles and 15 doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit.
Haruki Seto (瀬戸 春樹, Seto Haruki; born March 14, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Arina Tanemura (種村 有菜, Tanemura Arina; born March 12, 1978) is a Japanese manga artist, illustrator, and character…
Arina Tanemura (種村 有菜, Tanemura Arina; born March 12, 1978) is a Japanese manga artist, illustrator, and character designer. She made her professional manga debut in 1996 with the one-shot The Style of the Second Love in the shōjo manga magazine Ribon Original and later published her first series, I.O.N, in 1997, in the main Ribon magazine. She gained mainstream popularity from the late 1990s to mid-2000s with her series Phantom Thief Jeanne, Full Moon o Sagashite, and The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross. Throughout her career, Tanemura's work has been recognized in shōjo manga for her art style and themes of young girls transforming into the women they would like to become. In addition to her publications, Tanemura has released two independent studio albums of songs based on her characters and is the character designer for Idolish7 and other media projects.
Toshinori Muto (born 10 March 1978) is a Japanese professional golfer.
Ryosuke Sawai (born March 9, 1978, in Choshi, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese former baseball infielder in Nippon…
Ryosuke Sawai (born March 9, 1978, in Choshi, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese former baseball infielder in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in 1998 and from 2000 to 2003. Prior to playing professionally, he attended Choshi Shogyo High School. In 1997, at 19 years old, he played briefly in the minor league system of the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. With the AZL Padres, he hit .100 in 10 at-bats. He assumed a utility role upon joining the Marines and was used infrequently. In his first year with the club, he was hitless in two at-bats. In 2000, he hit .200 with a home run in 10 at-bats and in 2001, he hit .263 in 19 at-bats. He hit .176 with three home runs and eight RBI in 68 at-bats in 2002 and in 2003, his final season, he hit .279 with two home runs and nine RBI in 61 at-bats. Overall, Sawai hit .225 with six home runs and 19 RBI in 160 at-bats spread over 90 games in five seasons.
Kengo Tsutsumi (堤 健吾, Tsutsumi Kengo; born March 8, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Teruaki Kurobe (黒部 光昭, Kurobe Teruaki; born March 6, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…
Teruaki Kurobe (黒部 光昭, Kurobe Teruaki; born March 6, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Michiyasu Osada (長田 道泰, Osada Michiyasu; born March 5, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Shingo Matsumoto (松本 慎吾, Matsumoto Shingo; born March 3, 1978 in Uwajima, Ehime) is an amateur Japanese Greco-Roman…
Shingo Matsumoto (松本 慎吾, Matsumoto Shingo; born March 3, 1978 in Uwajima, Ehime) is an amateur Japanese Greco-Roman wrestler, who played for the men's light heavyweight category. He won a gold and a bronze medal for his division at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, and at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. Matsumoto made his official debut for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where he placed second in the preliminary pool of the men's 84 kg class, against Sweden's Ara Abrahamian, Slovakia's Attila Bátky, and Kyrgyzstan's Janarbek Kenjeev. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Matsumoto competed for the second time in the men's 84 kg class, by receiving a qualifying place from the Asian Wrestling Championships in Jeju City, South Korea. He lost the qualifying round match to Armenia's Denis Forov, with a two-set technical score (2–4, 0–6), and a classification point score of 1–3.
Noriyasu Agematsu (上松 範康, Agematsu Noriyasu; born March 1, 1978 in Nagano) is a Japanese composer, arranger and music…
Noriyasu Agematsu (上松 範康, Agematsu Noriyasu; born March 1, 1978 in Nagano) is a Japanese composer, arranger and music producer, as well as founding member of the musical group Elements Garden. He composed and arranged tracks on Nana Mizuki's singles Massive Wonders and Eternal Blaze, "Brave Phoenix" on the single Super Generation and the track "Tears' Night" on the album Alive & Kicking, composed the track Shin'ai and the music for "UNCHAIN∞WORLD" on the single Silent Bible. He composed and arranged the music for the track "Heart-shaped chant" on the single Secret Ambition and the track Justice to Believe. He composed the music for the track Mugen and the tracks "Trickster" and "DISCOTHEQUE" from the single Trickster. Along with his fellow Elements Garden members, he is the composer and arranger for the BanG Dream! franchise, including overseeing music production for its anime.
Hisako Mukai (born 1 March 1978) is a retired Japanese female volleyball player, who played as a wing spiker. She was…
Hisako Mukai (born 1 March 1978) is a retired Japanese female volleyball player, who played as a wing spiker. She was part of the Japan women's national volleyball team at the 2002 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship in Germany, and at the 2002 Asian Games. On club level she played with Toray Arrows.