Shree Panch Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (Nepali: वीरेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह देव; 29 December 1945 – 1 June 2001) was…Shree Panch Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (Nepali: वीरेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह देव; 29 December 1945 – 1 June 2001) was King of Nepal from 1972 until his assassination in the 2001 Nepalese royal massacre. Birendra was the first son of King Mahendra and crown princess Indra. He inherited the panchayat system from his father when he acceded the throne in 1972, ruling as Nepal's absolute monarch. Following the 1990 revolution, he disbanded the system, lifted the concurrent ban on political parties and promulgated a new constitution in which he served as head of state of a democratic constitutional monarchy. The Nepalese Civil War began in the latter part of his reign when the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) launched an insurgency in 1996.
Yoshiaki Takaki (高木 義明, Takaki Yoshiaki; born 22 December 1945) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House…Yoshiaki Takaki (高木 義明, Takaki Yoshiaki; born 22 December 1945) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Democratic Party of Japan. A native of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi and high-school graduate he was elected to the Diet for the first time in 1990 after serving in the union executive and local assemblies for 15 years.
Yukiyo Kojima (小嶋 由紀代, Kojima Yukiyo; born December 10, 1945) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in…Yukiyo Kojima (小嶋 由紀代, Kojima Yukiyo; born December 10, 1945) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics. In 1968 she was part of the Japanese team which won the silver medal in the Olympic tournament. She played all seven matches.
Yukio Hattori (服部 幸應, Hattori Yukio; 16 December 1945 – 4 October 2024) was a Japanese television personality who was…Yukio Hattori (服部 幸應, Hattori Yukio; 16 December 1945 – 4 October 2024) was a Japanese television personality who was best known as an expert commentator on the television show Iron Chef. Hattori was also the fifth president of the Hattori Nutrition College; the Iron Chef end credits mention that the program is "produced in cooperation with" the College. Hattori received a PhD from Showa University.
Takakazu Ishii (石井 隆一, Ishii Takakazu; born 15 December 1945) is a Japanese politician and a former governor of Toyama…Takakazu Ishii (石井 隆一, Ishii Takakazu; born 15 December 1945) is a Japanese politician and a former governor of Toyama Prefecture in Japan, first elected in 2004. A native of Toyama, Toyama and a graduate of the University of Tokyo, he worked in the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1969 before being elected governor.
Soichiro Fukutake (福武 總一郎, Fukutake Sōichirō; born 1945) is a Japanese billionaire, and the former chairman of the…Soichiro Fukutake (福武 總一郎, Fukutake Sōichirō; born 1945) is a Japanese billionaire, and the former chairman of the Benesse Corporation, a publishing firm and juku company known for its patronage of the arts.
Kenji Ueno (上野 健爾, Ueno Kenji, 1945, Kumamoto Prefecture) is a Japanese mathematician, specializing in algebraic…Kenji Ueno (上野 健爾, Ueno Kenji, 1945, Kumamoto Prefecture) is a Japanese mathematician, specializing in algebraic geometry. He was in the 1970s at the University of Tokyo and was from 1987 to 2009 a professor at the University of Kyoto and is now the director of Yokkaichi University's Seki Kōwa Institute for Mathematics. In 1978 he was an Invited Speaker (Classification of algebraic manifolds) at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Helsinki. Ueno was a visiting professor at several universities, including the University of Bonn and the University of Mannheim in the 1970s. He is the author and editor of several books on algebraic geometry.
Minoru Kino (木野 実, Kino Minoru; born 5 December 1945) is a Japanese former handball player who competed in the 1972…Minoru Kino (木野 実, Kino Minoru; born 5 December 1945) is a Japanese former handball player who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics and in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Kuriko Namino (波乃 久里子, Namino Kuriko) (born December 1, 1945, in Kamakura, Japan) is an actress. Her brother Nakamura…Kuriko Namino (波乃 久里子, Namino Kuriko) (born December 1, 1945, in Kamakura, Japan) is an actress. Her brother Nakamura Kanzaburō XVIII was an actor in kabuki, theatre, television and commercials.
Junko Terashima (Japanese: 寺島 純子, Hepburn: Terashima Junko; born 1 December 1945), known professionally as Sumiko Fuji…Junko Terashima (Japanese: 寺島 純子, Hepburn: Terashima Junko; born 1 December 1945), known professionally as Sumiko Fuji (富司 純子, Fuji Sumiko), is a Japanese actress. She began acting in the 1960s under the name Junko Fuji (藤 純子, Fuji Junko), becoming famous as the female lead in yakuza films opposite such stars as Kōji Tsuruta and Ken Takakura. She even starred in her own series as the sword-wielding gambler Red Peony in the Hibotan Bakuto series. Initially retiring in 1972 after getting married, she began appearing on TV in 1974 under her real name. She later returned to films in 1989 using the name Sumiko Fuji, and expanded her acting repertoire. She won the Blue Ribbon Award for best supporting actress in 1999 and 2006. She is married to the kabuki actor Onoe Kikugorō VII and is the mother of the actress Shinobu Terajima and the kabuki actor Onoe Kikugorō VIII.
Hideaki Kobayashi (小林 秀明, Kobayashi Hideaki; born December 12, 1945) is a Japanese diplomat. He was born in Nagano…Hideaki Kobayashi (小林 秀明, Kobayashi Hideaki; born December 12, 1945) is a Japanese diplomat. He was born in Nagano Prefecture in 1945, and passed the Higher Diplomatic Service Examination in 1967. He entered the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1968, after graduating from the University of Tokyo's Public Law Faculty. He spent the year 1969–1970 at Carleton College. He spent his first years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Asian Affairs Bureau. From 1988 to 1990, he served as Counselor of the Japanese Embassy in Australia. From 1990 to 1992 he served as Counsellor of the Japanese Embassy in Poland. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he sat as the Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan at the UN. From 2005 to 2008, he served as Japanese Ambassador to Thailand. While in Thailand, he participated in free trade negotiations with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Masahiro Ishii (石井 正弘, Ishii Masahiro; born November 29, 1945) is a former Japanese politician who served as the…Masahiro Ishii (石井 正弘, Ishii Masahiro; born November 29, 1945) is a former Japanese politician who served as the governor of Okayama Prefecture in Japan from November 1996 until November 2012. He then was elected as a member of the House of Councillors representing Okayama at-large district from 2013 until his retirement in 2025. A native of Okayama, Okayama and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he had worked at the Ministry of Construction since 1969 before being elected governor. Ishii was affiliated to the revisionist lobby Nippon Kaigi.
Hirofumi Nakasone (中曽根 弘文, Nakasone Hirofumi; born 28 November 1945) is a Japanese politician who served as a Minister…Hirofumi Nakasone (中曽根 弘文, Nakasone Hirofumi; born 28 November 1945) is a Japanese politician who served as a Minister for Foreign Affairs from September 2008 to September 2009. A member of Liberal Democratic Party, he also served as a Minister of Education under Prime Ministers Keizō Obuchi and Yoshirō Mori. He is the son of former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone.
Akira Haraguchi (原口 證, Haraguchi Akira; born 1946, Miyagi Prefecture) is a retired Japanese engineer known for…Akira Haraguchi (原口 證, Haraguchi Akira; born 1946, Miyagi Prefecture) is a retired Japanese engineer known for memorizing and reciting digits of pi. He is known to have recited more than 80,000 decimal places of pi in 12 hours.
Masao Akamatsu (赤松 正雄, Akamatsu Masao; born 26 November 1945) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a…Masao Akamatsu (赤松 正雄, Akamatsu Masao; born 26 November 1945) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Himeji, Hyōgo and graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1993 after an unsuccessful run in 1990.
Nobutada Saji (佐治 信忠, Saji Nobutada; born November 25, 1945) is a Japanese businessman. He is the chairman and…Nobutada Saji (佐治 信忠, Saji Nobutada; born November 25, 1945) is a Japanese businessman. He is the chairman and Representative Director of Suntory Ltd, and Chairman of Ad Council Japan. He is also a trustee and director of Keio University. He was ranked 4th on Forbes 2026 list of Japan's richest people, with a net worth of US $9.3 billion (¥1.02 trillion).
Yukio Okamoto (Japanese: 岡本 行夫, Okamoto Yukio; 23 November 1945 – 24 April 2020) was a Japanese diplomat, diplomatic…Yukio Okamoto (Japanese: 岡本 行夫, Okamoto Yukio; 23 November 1945 – 24 April 2020) was a Japanese diplomat, diplomatic analyst, and proponent of strong economic and political Japan–United States relations. Okamoto guided Japanese and American diplomatic relations throughout the 1980s, during an era when both countries simultaneously competed for economic influence on the global stage. He served as a diplomatic advisor and analyst for several Japanese prime ministers, including Ryutaro Hashimoto from 1996 to 1998 and Junichiro Koizumi from 2003 until 2004.
Masaru Hashimoto (橋本 昌, Hashimoto Masaru; born 19 November 1945) is a Japanese politician who was the governor of…Masaru Hashimoto (橋本 昌, Hashimoto Masaru; born 19 November 1945) is a Japanese politician who was the governor of Ibaraki Prefecture from 1993 to 2017.
Haruko Okamoto (née Ishida) (岡本 治子, Okamoto Haruko; born November 16, 1945 in Nagasaki, Japan) is a Japanese figure…Haruko Okamoto (née Ishida) (岡本 治子, Okamoto Haruko; born November 16, 1945 in Nagasaki, Japan) is a Japanese figure skating coach and former competitor. She retired from skating shortly after placing 26th in the 1968 Winter Olympic Games. Her sister is Ayumi Ishida, who is a singer and actress.
Masahiro Hasemi (Shinjitai: 長谷見 昌弘, Hasemi Masahiro; born 13 November 1945) is a former racing driver and team owner…Masahiro Hasemi (Shinjitai: 長谷見 昌弘, Hasemi Masahiro; born 13 November 1945) is a former racing driver and team owner from Japan. He started racing motocross when he was 15 years old. In 1964 he signed to drive for Nissan. After establishing himself in saloon car and GT races in Japan, he notably entered two rounds of the 1973 British Saloon Car Championship. He took part in his only Formula One race at the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix for Kojima on 24 October 1976. He qualified tenth after an error which cost him his chance of a pole position and finished 11th, seven laps behind the winner. Contrary to a widely propagated but mistaken result, however, he never set a fastest lap in a Formula One championship race.1 Along with compatriots Noritake Takahara and Kazuyoshi Hoshino, he was the first Japanese driver to start a Formula One Grand Prix. Hasemi became the Japanese Formula 2 champion in 1980, and got two titles in the Fuji Grand Champion Series in 1974 and 1980. After that he reverted to racing Skylines, which he became heavily synonymous with in Group 5, touring cars and JGTC. He won the Japanese Touring Car Championship in 1989, 1991 and 1992. He also won the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship in 1990, with the controversial win at the Guia Touring Car race at the Macau Grand Prix in 1990 and Daytona 24 hour in 1992. Hasemi retired from driving in 2001 and now runs NDDP Racing, a Super GT team that currently competes in the GT500 class. Hasemi also owns Hasemi Sport, a former Super GT racing team that ran under the Hasemi Motorsport banner and Nissan aftermarket parts company. Hasemi is the most recent Japanese driver to win his home Grand Prix, winning it in 1975, when it was a non-championship race.
Jun'ya Yokota (横田順彌, Yokota Jun'ya; 11 November 1945 - 4 January 2019) was a Japanese science fiction writer and a…Jun'ya Yokota (横田順彌, Yokota Jun'ya; 11 November 1945 - 4 January 2019) was a Japanese science fiction writer and a researcher of Meiji era cultural history. He is the winner of multiple Taisho Awards, the Ozaki Memorial Prize, and the Mystery Writers of Japan Award. He also used the pseudonyms 横田順弥 (same pronunciation) and Jun Masaki (真木じゅん, Masaki Jun).
Kensho Sasaki (佐々木 憲昭, Sasaki Kenshō; born 11 November 1945) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the…Kensho Sasaki (佐々木 憲昭, Sasaki Kenshō; born 11 November 1945) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives for the Japanese Communist Party from 1996 to 2014. He retired from his House of Representatives seat at the 2014 general election.
Shigeo Kitamura (北村 茂男, Kitamura Shigeo; born 8 November 1945) is a retired Japanese politician of the Liberal…Shigeo Kitamura (北村 茂男, Kitamura Shigeo; born 8 November 1945) is a retired Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Akiko Yamanaka (山中 あき子, Yamanaka Akiko; born 6 November 1945) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Akiko Yamanaka (山中 あき子, Yamanaka Akiko; born 6 November 1945) 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 Otaru, Hokkaido and graduate of Tsuda College, she was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1996 and later became a Special Ambassador for Peacebuilding of Japan. She was originally a member of the New Frontier Party but later joined the LDP.
Shozaburo Jimi (自見 庄三郎, Jimi Shōzaburō; born 5 November 1945) is a former Japanese politician of the now defunct…Shozaburo Jimi (自見 庄三郎, Jimi Shōzaburō; born 5 November 1945) is a former Japanese politician of the now defunct People's New Party, and was a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Pater Sato (ペーター 佐藤, Pētā Satō; 1945–1994) was a Japanese artist who created airbrush art for magazines. His birth name…Pater Sato (ペーター 佐藤, Pētā Satō; 1945–1994) was a Japanese artist who created airbrush art for magazines. His birth name was Yoshinori Sato. A selection of Sato's work is on display and for sale at the Pater Sato shop in Harajuku.
Seiichi Ota (太田 誠一, Ōta Seiichi; 31 October 1945 – 4 December 2024) was a Japanese politician who served as a member of…Seiichi Ota (太田 誠一, Ōta Seiichi; 31 October 1945 – 4 December 2024) was a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives. He was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the Koga faction. He was the cousin of Kiyoko Fukuda, who married Prime Minister of Japan Yasuo Fukuda.
Kōhei Oguri (小栗康平, Oguri Kōhei; born October 29, 1945 in Maebashi, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese film director and…Kōhei Oguri (小栗康平, Oguri Kōhei; born October 29, 1945 in Maebashi, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter.
Yoshiko Sakurai (櫻井 よしこ, Sakurai Yoshiko; born 10 October 1945, Hanoi, French Indochina) is a Japanese journalist, TV…Yoshiko Sakurai (櫻井 よしこ, Sakurai Yoshiko; born 10 October 1945, Hanoi, French Indochina) is a Japanese journalist, TV presenter, writer, and political activist. She is also president of the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals, established in 2007.
Manabu Miyazaki (宮崎 学, Miyazaki Manabu; 25 October 1945 – 30 March 2022) was a Japanese writer, social critic and…Manabu Miyazaki (宮崎 学, Miyazaki Manabu; 25 October 1945 – 30 March 2022) was a Japanese writer, social critic and public figure. He is the author of several best-selling books in Japan. His autobiography Toppamono sold 600,000 copies and has since been translated into English. In 1985, Miyazaki was named by the Tokyo police as the prime suspect in the Glico Morinaga case, a 17-month saga of kidnapping and corporate extortion. He was later cleared.
Wakanoumi Masateru II (born Akio Matsuda; October 25, 1945 – March 31, 1995) was a sumo wrestler from Ōhasama, Iwate…Wakanoumi Masateru II (born Akio Matsuda; October 25, 1945 – March 31, 1995) was a sumo wrestler from Ōhasama, Iwate, Japan.
Keaton Yamada (キートン山田, Kiiton Yamada; born Shunji Yamada (山田俊司, Yamada Shunji), October 25, 1945) is a Japanese former…Keaton Yamada (キートン山田, Kiiton Yamada; born Shunji Yamada (山田俊司, Yamada Shunji), October 25, 1945) is a Japanese former actor, voice actor and narrator from Mikasa, Hokkaido. He switched from going by his real name, Shunji Yamada, to going by Keaton Yamada in the 1980s. He is currently represented by Remax. Yamada retired from voice acting in 2021 after stepping down as narrator for Chibi Maruko-chan.
Takeo Kanade (金出 武雄, Kanade Takeo; born October 24, 1945 in Hyōgo) is a Japanese computer scientist and one of the…Takeo Kanade (金出 武雄, Kanade Takeo; born October 24, 1945 in Hyōgo) is a Japanese computer scientist and one of the world's foremost researchers in computer vision. He is U.A. and Helen Whitaker Professor at Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science. He has approximately 300 peer-reviewed academic publications and holds around 20 patents.
Masayuki Naoshima (直嶋 正行, Naoshima Masayuki; born October 23, 1945) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…Masayuki Naoshima (直嶋 正行, Naoshima Masayuki; born October 23, 1945) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Ikeda, Osaka and graduate of Kobe University, he was elected for the first time in 1992 and served until the 2016 Japanese House of Councillors election. Before becoming a politician, he worked for Toyota and its union for a long time.
Ken Narita (成田 賢, Narita Ken; October 22, 1945 – November 13, 2018) was a Japanese musician and singer who primarily…Ken Narita (成田 賢, Narita Ken; October 22, 1945 – November 13, 2018) was a Japanese musician and singer who primarily sang anison, or anime theme songs. He was most known for being the singer of the theme songs "For Whom" (誰がために, Ta ga Tame ni) of the 1979 anime Cyborg 009 and "Oh, Denshi Sentai Denziman" (ああ電子戦隊デンジマン, Aa Denshi Sentai Denjiman) of the 1980 Super Sentai series, Denshi Sentai Denziman. He released Super Best! For Whom?: Ken Narita History (スーパーベスト 誰がために~成田賢ヒストリー, Sūpābesuto Ta ga Tame ni~Narita Ken Hisutorī), a compilation of his works. He also provided vocals to a song on the soundtrack to the 1977 film House. Narita died from pneumonia on November 13, 2018, at the age of 73.
Nobuo Chigusa (千種 信雄, Chigusa Nobuo; born 20 October 1948) is a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's…Nobuo Chigusa (千種 信雄, Chigusa Nobuo; born 20 October 1948) is a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Tsugumichi Suzuki (鈴木 従道, Suzuki Tsugumichi; born 16 October 1945) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in…Tsugumichi Suzuki (鈴木 従道, Suzuki Tsugumichi; born 16 October 1945) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Shigeo Nakata (中田 茂男, Nakata Shigeo; born 16 October 1945 in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese wrestler and Olympic…Shigeo Nakata (中田 茂男, Nakata Shigeo; born 16 October 1945 in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese wrestler and Olympic champion in Freestyle wrestling. He also won a gold medal at the 1967 World Wrestling Championships and at the 1966 Asian Games.
Hisako "Chako" Higuchi (Japanese: 樋口久子, born 13 October 1945 in Kawagoe, Saitama) is a Japanese professional golfer.…Hisako "Chako" Higuchi (Japanese: 樋口久子, born 13 October 1945 in Kawagoe, Saitama) is a Japanese professional golfer. Higuchi studied golf from Torakichi Nakamura, a member of Japan's winning team at the 1957 World Cup of Golf. She turned pro in 1967 and went on to win 69 titles on the LPGA of Japan Tour. Higuchi won the LPGA Championship on 12 June 1977, making her the first Asian-born player to win a major championship for either men or women. (No Asian-born player would win a men's major until Yang Yong-eun won the 2009 PGA Championship.) She was 31 when she won her LPGA Championship. Alongside Ayako Okamoto, she dominated the 1970s and 1980s in Japanese women's golf. Higuchi also won the Colgate European Open on the LPGA Tour and the Wills Australian Ladies Open on the ALPG Tour. Higuchi became president of the LPGA of Japan Tour in 1996. In 2003, she became the first Japanese golfer to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Yoshifumi Tsuge (柘植 芳文, Tsuge Yoshifumi) is a Japanese politician who is a former member of the House of Councillors of…Yoshifumi Tsuge (柘植 芳文, Tsuge Yoshifumi) is a Japanese politician who is a former member of the House of Councillors of Japan.
Harunori Takahashi (高橋 治則, Takahashi Harunori; 1945/46 - 18 July 2005) was a Japanese billionaire property developer…Harunori Takahashi (高橋 治則, Takahashi Harunori; 1945/46 - 18 July 2005) was a Japanese billionaire property developer and the head of EIE International Corp.
Tamiko Hayashida (林田 民子, Hayashida Tamiko; born 1945), better known as Kiyoko Suizenji (水前寺 清子, Suizenji Kiyoko), is a…Tamiko Hayashida (林田 民子, Hayashida Tamiko; born 1945), better known as Kiyoko Suizenji (水前寺 清子, Suizenji Kiyoko), is a Japanese enka singer and actress represented by Suisei Kikaku.
Akio Koizumi (小泉 昭男, Koizumi Akio; born October 6, 1945) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a…Akio Koizumi (小泉 昭男, Koizumi Akio; born October 6, 1945) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet. A native of Kawasaki, Kanagawa, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 after serving in the city assembly of Kawasaki.
Akihiro Ota (太田 昭宏, Ōta Akihiro; born 6 October 1945) is a Japanese politician of the Komeito Party and a former member…Akihiro Ota (太田 昭宏, Ōta Akihiro; born 6 October 1945) is a Japanese politician of the Komeito Party and a former member of the House of Representatives in the National Diet. Ota represented three districts within the Tokyo metropolis since he first entered the Diet in 1993. He served as chief representative of the Komeito Party from 2006 until the general election in September 2009, at which time he lost his seat in the Diet. Upon his return to the House in December 2012, Ota was appointed as the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, a post he held until October 2015. Ota has been involved with Komeito and the Soka Gakkai movement since graduation from university and was called "Komeito's prince" earlier in his career.
Nobuko Kan (菅 伸子, Kan Nobuko; born 3 October 1945) is a Japanese essayist and wife of Naoto Kan, who was the Prime…Nobuko Kan (菅 伸子, Kan Nobuko; born 3 October 1945) is a Japanese essayist and wife of Naoto Kan, who was the Prime Minister of Japan from June 2010 – September 2011.
Shigenobu Murofushi (室伏 重信, Murofushi Shigenobu; born October 2, 1945) is a retired Japanese hammer thrower. He…Shigenobu Murofushi (室伏 重信, Murofushi Shigenobu; born October 2, 1945) is a retired Japanese hammer thrower. He competed at the 1972, 1976 and 1984 Olympics and finished in 8th, 11th and 14th place, respectively. He was the flag bearer for Japan at the 1984 Olympics. On September 29, 1972, Murofushi married Serafina Moritz, a javelin thrower who competed internationally for Romania. Both of their children, Koji Murofushi and Yuka Murofushi, are retired Olympic hammer throwers. Murofushi tried sumo and shot put before changing to the hammer. In 1984 he set a Japanese record at 75.96 m that stood until 1998 when it was broken by his son Koji.