Toshiyuki Morikawa (森川 智之, Morikawa Toshiyuki; born January 26, 1967) is a Japanese voice actor, narrator, and singer.…Toshiyuki Morikawa (森川 智之, Morikawa Toshiyuki; born January 26, 1967) is a Japanese voice actor, narrator, and singer. He is the head of Axlone, a voice acting company he founded in April 2011. His name is sometimes, although incorrectly, transliterated as Tomoyuki Morikawa. In 2003, he and Fumihiko Tachiki formed the band "2Hearts", one of their works being the ending theme of the video game Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires. He has voiced many characters in anime and video games, including Yoshikage Kira in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable, Kengo Akechi in Kindaichi Case Files, Sephiroth in the Final Fantasy series and Kingdom Hearts series, Dante in Devil May Cry, Kagaya Ubuyashiki in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Isshin Kurosaki and Kaname Tōsen in Bleach, Minato Namikaze in Naruto: Shippuden, Julius Novachrono in Black Clover, Mard Geer Tartaros in Fairy Tail, Eizen in Tales of Berseria, Boros in One-Punch Man, Enel, Hatchan and Scopper Gaban in One Piece, Tyki Mikk in D.Gray-man, Naraku in Inuyasha, Griffith in the 1997 series of Berserk, Isaburo Sasaki in Gintama and the main and titular character of Tekkaman Blade. He attended Katsuta Voice Actor's Academy with Kotono Mitsuishi, Chisa Yokoyama, Wataru Takagi, Sachiko Sugawara, and Michiko Neya. Because of his deep voice, he is often cast as an imposing character. He is the current official dub-over artist of Ewan McGregor, Tom Cruise, Adam Sandler, Martin Freeman, Chris Pratt, Keanu Reeves, Jude Law, Chris O'Donnell, Colin Farrell, Brendan Fraser, Mark Wahlberg, and Owen Wilson.
Yutaka Higuchi (桶口 豊, Higuchi Yutaka; born January 24, 1967 in Takasaki, Gunma), nicknamed "U-ta", is a Japanese…Yutaka Higuchi (桶口 豊, Higuchi Yutaka; born January 24, 1967 in Takasaki, Gunma), nicknamed "U-ta", is a Japanese musician. Known as the bassist of the rock band Buck-Tick since 1983. He is the younger brother of Toll Yagami, Buck-Tick's drummer.
Manabu Nakanishi (中西 学, Nakanishi Manabu; born January 22, 1967) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and former…Manabu Nakanishi (中西 学, Nakanishi Manabu; born January 22, 1967) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler, who was primarily associated with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is a one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, one-time G1 Climax winner and three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion. Nakanishi has always stayed based in NJPW, but has wrestled for various other promotions including World Championship Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and Pro Wrestling Zero1. Nakanishi's career slowly declined after a spinal injury in 2011, but he continued to wrestle for a further nine years, before retiring on February 22, 2020. In 1992, Nakanishi won bronze in freestyle wrestling at the Asian Championships. Later that year, he competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and placed eleventh.
Goro Miyazaki (Japanese: 宮崎 吾朗, Hepburn: Miyazaki Gorō; born January 21, 1967) is a Japanese landscape architect and…Goro Miyazaki (Japanese: 宮崎 吾朗, Hepburn: Miyazaki Gorō; born January 21, 1967) is a Japanese landscape architect and animation director. His landscape projects include the Ghibli Museum and Ghibli Park. The son of Hayao Miyazaki, Goro has directed three films—Tales from Earthsea (2006), From Up on Poppy Hill (2011), and Earwig and The Witch (2020)—and the television series Ronja, the Robber's Daughter.
Chiyomi Hashiguchi (橋口 千代美, Hashiguchi Chiyomi; née Nakayama (中山), January 19, 1967 – May 10, 1998), known by her pen…Chiyomi Hashiguchi (橋口 千代美, Hashiguchi Chiyomi; née Nakayama (中山), January 19, 1967 – May 10, 1998), known by her pen name Nekojiru (ねこぢる), was a Japanese manga artist. She made her professional debut in 1990 in the monthly manga anthology Garo with Nekojiru Udon, a work that is now widely regarded as her most representative and influential creation.
Tsuneo Gōda (合田 経郎, Gōda Tsuneo) is a Japanese stop motion animator. He is known for creating the character Domo…Tsuneo Gōda (合田 経郎, Gōda Tsuneo) is a Japanese stop motion animator. He is known for creating the character Domo (Domo-kun), the official mascot of Japanese public broadcasting company NHK, as well as directing an animated TV series starring Domo. He is also the founder of studio dwarf inc., an animation studio specializing in stop motion animation and character design. He has also directed the stop motion animation film Komaneko – The Curious Cat and the three-minute stop motion music video "I am a Bear," which is based on the Hikaru Utada song "Boku wa Kuma." In 2011, Gōda was awarded the Inkpot Award for his work on Domo and other animated productions from dwarf studios.
Dandy Sakano (ダンディ坂野) (born Kenichi Sakano in Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan on January 16, 1967) is a Japanese…Dandy Sakano (ダンディ坂野) (born Kenichi Sakano in Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan on January 16, 1967) is a Japanese comedian, best known for his flamboyant clothing and "Gets" catch phrase. A former noodle shop owner, Sakano began his comedy career in 1996. His career took off in 2003 after he featured in an advert for one of Japan's biggest pizza chains, after which he appeared on chat shows and his catchphrase became known all over Japan. In recent years, he formed a group called One Hit Wonder with three other comedians that gained temporary fame for a single gimmick. Sakano has also appeared in an advert for the insect spray Kincho, which is famous for producing silly ads in Japan. Although he can't speak English, Sakano travelled to Dundee, Scotland, in February 2011, with the aim of making 100 people laugh. He chose the city because its name sounded similar to his. Sakano's trip was filmed for a TV show being made for Teijin Ltd, a synthetic-fibre recycling company from Japan; the premise was the "recycling" of a TV star. In one of the show's scenes, Sakano was made an honorary "Dundonian" (native of Dundee). In December 2012 it was announced that Sakano will be appearing in a film version of Kazuto Okada's dark romantic comedy manga Ibitsu, directed by Toshiyuki Morioka. Sakano will play the role of a bar owner.
Reiichi Mikata (三ヶ田 礼一, Mikata Reiichi) (born January 14, 1967) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed during…Reiichi Mikata (三ヶ田 礼一, Mikata Reiichi) (born January 14, 1967) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed during the early 1990s. He won the 3 x 10 km team event at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville.
Akira Morikawa (森川亮, Morikawa Akira; born 13 January 1969) is the current president of NHN Corporation. Morikawa joined…Akira Morikawa (森川亮, Morikawa Akira; born 13 January 1969) is the current president of NHN Corporation. Morikawa joined Nippon Television Network Corporation after graduating from the University of Tsukuba in 1989. While serving for the systems division at the TV firm, he got involved in a wide range of media businesses from online advertising and video distribution, mobile service, international broadcast, to BS digital broadcast. Received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Aoyama Gakuin University in 1999. Joined Sony Corp. in 2000, where he was in charge of new mobile content and broadband businesses and was responsible for overall content business, including business/service planning and sales. Joined Hangame Japan (predecessor of NHN Japan) in 2003, where he served as general manager overseeing overall gaming business and then as director, before becoming vice president in October 2006. Appointed president in October 2007 and doubled as president of newly established Naver Japan the following month. Remained president of NHN Japan after the company, Naver Japan and Livedoor Co. merged to form the NHN Japan group in January 2012.
Akira Morikawa (森川亮, Morikawa Akira; born 13 January 1969) is the current president of NHN Corporation. Morikawa joined…Akira Morikawa (森川亮, Morikawa Akira; born 13 January 1969) is the current president of NHN Corporation. Morikawa joined Nippon Television Network Corporation after graduating from the University of Tsukuba in 1989. While serving for the systems division at the TV firm, he got involved in a wide range of media businesses from online advertising and video distribution, mobile service, international broadcast, to BS digital broadcast. Received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Aoyama Gakuin University in 1999. Joined Sony Corp. in 2000, where he was in charge of new mobile content and broadband businesses and was responsible for overall content business, including business/service planning and sales. Joined Hangame Japan (predecessor of NHN Japan) in 2003, where he served as general manager overseeing overall gaming business and then as director, before becoming vice president in October 2006. Appointed president in October 2007 and doubled as president of newly established Naver Japan the following month. Remained president of NHN Japan after the company, Naver Japan and Livedoor Co. merged to form the NHN Japan group in January 2012.
Takehiko Inoue (井上 雄彦, Inoue Takehiko; born 12 January 1967) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for the…Takehiko Inoue (井上 雄彦, Inoue Takehiko; born 12 January 1967) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for the basketball series Slam Dunk (1990–1996), and the jidaigeki manga Vagabond, which are two of the best-selling manga series in history. Many of his works are about basketball, Inoue himself being a huge fan of the sport. His works sold in North America through Viz Media are Slam Dunk, Vagabond and Real, although Slam Dunk was earlier translated by Gutsoon! Entertainment. In 2012, Inoue became the first recipient of the Cultural Prize at the Asia Cosmopolitan Awards. In 2024, Inoue received the MEXT Arts Encouragement Prize (Media Arts division).
Yumiko Hotta (堀田 祐美子, Hotta Yumiko; born January 10, 1967) is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial…Yumiko Hotta (堀田 祐美子, Hotta Yumiko; born January 10, 1967) is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Hotta was trained by and started her career in the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) promotion in June 1985. She worked for the promotion until 2003, becoming a three-time WWWA World Single and WWWA World Tag Team Champion. In June 2003, Hotta took over the Hyper Visual Fighting Arsion promotion and renamed it Major Girl's Fighting AtoZ. Under Hotta's leadership, the promotion lasted only three years, before folding in 2006, after which Hotta became a freelancer. In January 2011, Hotta joined the new Universal Woman's Pro Wrestling Reina promotion, but just sixteen months later she announced that the promotion was folding. Afterwards, she affiliated herself with the World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana promotion, becoming the leader of the villainous Bousou-gun stable. She resigned from Diana in July 2016 to once again become a freelancer. Since 1995, Hotta has also fought several mixed martial arts matches, mostly at events put together by joshi puroresu promotions.
Masahiko Ohta (Japanese: 太田雅彦, Hepburn: Ōta Masahiko) (born January 4, 1967) is a Japanese animator, storyboard artist…Masahiko Ohta (Japanese: 太田雅彦, Hepburn: Ōta Masahiko) (born January 4, 1967) is a Japanese animator, storyboard artist, and animation director.
Yasuhito Sugiyama (杉山 康人, Sugiyama Yasuhito; born 1967) is a Japanese orchestral tuba player. Sugiyama is the first…Yasuhito Sugiyama (杉山 康人, Sugiyama Yasuhito; born 1967) is a Japanese orchestral tuba player. Sugiyama is the first successful applicant as an Asian to the audition for Wiener Staatsoper Orchester. Since 2006, Sugiyama has played in the Cleveland Orchestra and serves as principal tuba.
Tomomi Yamaguchi is a Japanese anthropologist. Her specialist areas are feminism, popular culture, nationalism, and…Tomomi Yamaguchi is a Japanese anthropologist. Her specialist areas are feminism, popular culture, nationalism, and social movements in contemporary Japan.
Dai Fujiwara (藤原大 (Fujiwara Dai, born 1967)) is a Japanese fashion designer and creative director. He served as the…Dai Fujiwara (藤原大 (Fujiwara Dai, born 1967)) is a Japanese fashion designer and creative director. He served as the creative director of Issey Miyake from 2006 to 2011. He is known for integrating mathematical and industrial engineering concepts into fashion design, most notably through the A-POC ("A Piece of Cloth") system co-created with Issey Miyake. His tenure at the brand was the subject of critical analysis for its use of geometry and scientific methodology in garment construction.
Masaharu Take (武 正晴, Take Masaharu; born 1967 in Chita, Aichi) is a Japanese film director. Take began working in the…Masaharu Take (武 正晴, Take Masaharu; born 1967 in Chita, Aichi) is a Japanese film director. Take began working in the film industry without any formal training. Among his first contributions to film productions as an assistant director were Gonin (1995) and Gonin 2 (1996, both directed by Takashi Ishii). After some more years as an assistant director, his first own film as director followed in 2006, Boy Meets Pusan (ボーイ・ミーツ・プサン, Bōi mītsu Pusan). After that he worked for several years as both director and assistant director. An important role model for Take at that time was the director Kazuyuki Izutsu for whom Take worked as assistant director in many films, including Get Up! / Geroppa! in 2003, Break Through! / Pacchigi! in 2005, and Fly with the Gold / Ōgon o daite tobe in 2012. Take achieved some popularity when his film 100 Yen Love (百円の恋, Hyakuen no koi, 2014) was submitted for the 88th Academy Awards as Best Foreign Language Film (though ultimately not nominated). For Take, this honour came as a surprise, as he himself said. 100 Yen Love is about a woman working as a shop assistant in a 100-yen shop who takes up boxing. In 2017, Take revisited the theme of combat sport in The Ringside Story (リングサイド・ストーリー, Ringusaido sutōrī), a film about wrestling. The Gun (銃, Jū) from 2018 is Take's first and to date only film for which he also wrote the script. It is based on Fuminori Nakamuras debut novel of the same title from 2002. The Gun is about a university student who accidentally comes into possession of a handgun. In a review, a critic compared the film to Japanese New Wave cinema and Nagisa Ōshima, and praised the performance of main actor Nijirō Murakami. Another critic praised the film for illustrating the phantasmatic nature of the phallus and the role it plays within male subjectivity. In 2019, Take directed a television series for the first time (The Naked Director). His 2018 film We Make Antiques (嘘八百, Uso happyaku) was so successful that a sequel followed in 2020, also directed by Take. As his influences and personal favourites, Take names the directors Yūzō Kawashima, Martin Scorsese and the aforementioned Kazuyuki Izutsu, as well as actress Ayako Wakao.
Michiro Sato (佐藤 道朗, Satō Michirō; born January 1967 in Tokyo, Japan) is an avant-garde composer, singer, synthesizer…Michiro Sato (佐藤 道朗, Satō Michirō; born January 1967 in Tokyo, Japan) is an avant-garde composer, singer, synthesizer player, and member of the rock band Factor.
Nobori Kiuchi (木内 昇, Kiuchi Nobori) is a Japanese writer of historical fiction. She has won the Shibata Renzaburo…Nobori Kiuchi (木内 昇, Kiuchi Nobori) is a Japanese writer of historical fiction. She has won the Shibata Renzaburo Prize, the Chūōkōron Literary Prize, and the Naoki Prize.
Tomomi Yamaguchi is a Japanese anthropologist. Her specialist areas are feminism, popular culture, nationalism, and…Tomomi Yamaguchi is a Japanese anthropologist. Her specialist areas are feminism, popular culture, nationalism, and social movements in contemporary Japan.
Miwa Yanagi (やなぎみわ, Yanagi Miwa) is a Japanese photographic artist who examines self-image and stereotypes of women in…Miwa Yanagi (やなぎみわ, Yanagi Miwa) is a Japanese photographic artist who examines self-image and stereotypes of women in contemporary Japanese society. Yanagi was discovered by conceptual photographer Yasumasa Morimura, who noticed some of her work while borrowing her house as a set for a separate project.
Tokujin Yoshioka (吉岡徳仁, Yoshioka Tokujin; born January 20, 1967) is a Japanese designer and artist active in the fields…Tokujin Yoshioka (吉岡徳仁, Yoshioka Tokujin; born January 20, 1967) is a Japanese designer and artist active in the fields of design, architecture and contemporary art. Some of his works are part of permanent collections in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In 2007, he was named by Newsweek one of the 100 most respected Japanese in the world.
Yasushi Watanabe (渡辺 靖, Watanabe Yasushi) (born 1967) is a Japanese anthropologist and a full professor at Keio…Yasushi Watanabe (渡辺 靖, Watanabe Yasushi) (born 1967) is a Japanese anthropologist and a full professor at Keio University. He earned a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology at Harvard University in 1997. After post-doctoral fellowships at Cambridge and Oxford Universities, he joined Keio University's Graduate School of Media and Governance as well as Faculty of Environment and Information Studies in 1999. He attained the rank of full professor in 2005, and is one of Japan's most prominent experts on soft power, public diplomacy, cultural policy and American Studies. During the 2003–04 academic years, he was a recipient of an Abe Fellowship(Social Science Research Council and the Japan Foundation), which he held at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. He was awarded a prestigious Japan Academy Medal in 2005. He served as a Fellow at Downing College, Cambridge in 2007, a visiting professor at Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Science-Po) in 2013 and a Japan Scholar at the Wilson Center in 2018. He was a visiting scholar at the School of International Studies at Peking University in 2017 and at College of Europe in 2018. He has been selected for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) by the U.S. Department of State in 2018. In 2025, he was selected as an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He serves on the editorial boards of Anthem Studies in Soft Power and Public Diplomacy, Place Branding and Public Diplomacy and International Journal of Public Diplomacy Research. He is a director (program chair) at the International House of Japan, a co-chair of the Japan Advisory Council of the Salzburg Global Seminar, and an adjunct senior fellow at NIRA (Nippon Institute for Research Advancement). He is a member of Harvard Club of Japan. He has served on the executive board of the Japanese Association for American Studies, the advisory panel on the Japan Foundation, the advisory panel on public diplomacy of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the advisory panel (chair) on NHK World. He has also served as an editorial member of Gaiko (Diplomacy) magazine, a book reviewer for Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun, among others.