Machi Tawara (俵万智, Tawara Machi; born December 31, 1962) is a contemporary Japanese writer, translator and poet. Tawara…Machi Tawara (俵万智, Tawara Machi; born December 31, 1962) is a contemporary Japanese writer, translator and poet. Tawara is most famous as a contemporary poet. She is credited with revitalizing the tanka for modern Japanese audiences. Her skill as a translator consist of translating classical Japanese into modern Japanese, for example books such as the Man'yōshū and the Taketori Monogatari.
Minako Hamada (濵田 聖名子, Hamada Minako; née Shimamura (島村), born December 30, 1962, in Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan), better known…Minako Hamada (濵田 聖名子, Hamada Minako; née Shimamura (島村), born December 30, 1962, in Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan), better known as Natsumi Ogawa (小川 菜摘, Ogawa Natsumi), is a Japanese actress and entertainer who is represented by Yoshimoto Creative Agency. Her aunt is actress Megumi Tama.
Satoshi Fukushima (born 1962) is a Japanese researcher and advocate for people with disabilities. Blind since age nine…Satoshi Fukushima (born 1962) is a Japanese researcher and advocate for people with disabilities. Blind since age nine and deaf from the age of eighteen, Fukushima was the first deafblind student to earn a degree from a Japanese university when he graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan University in 1987. Fukushima leads the Barrier-Free Laboratory, part of the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo; the research done by members of the lab's staff focuses on accessibility.
Eiji Kutsuki (朽木英次, Kutsuki Eiji) (born Fukui 25 December 1962) is a former Japanese rugby union player and coach. He…Eiji Kutsuki (朽木英次, Kutsuki Eiji) (born Fukui 25 December 1962) is a former Japanese rugby union player and coach. He played as a centre. His younger brothers Yasuhiro and Masafumi were former rugby union players.
Nobuteru Yūki (結城 信輝, Yūki Nobuteru; born December 24, 1962, in Tokyo) is a Japanese manga artist, illustrator…Nobuteru Yūki (結城 信輝, Yūki Nobuteru; born December 24, 1962, in Tokyo) is a Japanese manga artist, illustrator, animator and doujinshi artist. He has designed characters for manga, anime and video games, and has frequently collaborated with director Kazuki Akane, including on his most famous work, The Vision of Escaflowne. After working at Artland and D.A.S.T. (Ichirō Itano's animation studio, which he ran after becoming independent from Artland), he is currently working as a freelancer.
Keiji Muto (武藤 敬司, Mutō Keiji; born December 23, 1962) is a Japanese professional wrestling executive, actor and…Keiji Muto (武藤 敬司, Mutō Keiji; born December 23, 1962) is a Japanese professional wrestling executive, actor and retired professional wrestler. He is known for his work under his real name and as his alter ego The Great Muta (グレート・ムタ, Gurēto Muta) in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) during the 1980s and 1990s. He is also known for his runs in both All Japan Pro-Wrestling (AJPW) between 2001 and 2013, and his run in Pro Wrestling Noah (NOAH) from 2020 to 2023. He was the president of All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) from 2002 to 2013 and representative director of Wrestle-1 (W-1) from 2013 until its closure in 2020. Considered one of the greatest and most influential wrestlers of all time, Muto is one of the first Japanese wrestlers (puroresura) to gain an international fanbase in the 1990s and beyond, thanks in large part to his Great Muta gimmick. The gimmick is one of the most influential in puroresu, emulated by many wrestlers, and seen as the most prevalent of Muto's alter ego's. Many wrestlers copied or modified some of the moves that he popularized or innovated, such as the Shining Wizard, Moonsault (also known as the Rounding Body Press), Muta Lock, and the Dragon-screw leg-whip. He took part in what was generally considered to be one of the bloodiest professional wrestling matches at the time against Hiroshi Hase, leading to the creation of the "Muta scale", which rates the bloodiness of matches relative to this one's 1.0 value. Muto is one of the five wrestlers to win the three major championships of puroresu (AJPW's Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, NJPW's IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and Pro Wrestling Noah's GHC Heavyweight Championship) with Kensuke Sasaki, Yoshihiro Takayama, Satoshi Kojima, and Yuji Nagata. He also held the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, making him an overall nine-time world champion. He is also a 13-time world tag team champion with five AJPW World Tag Team Championships, six IWGP Tag Team Championships, one GHC Tag Team Championship, and one WCW World Tag Team Championship. In total, he held 32 championships throughout his 38-year career. In 2013, Muto founded W-1, where he also wrestled semi-regularly. He made special appearances for the American promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA, renamed Impact Wrestling in 2017) from 2014 to 2019, as part of a talent exchange with W-1. In June 2022, Muto announced that he would retire in 2023. His retirement matches occurred on February 21, 2023, in the Tokyo Dome during Noah's Keiji Muto Grand Final Pro-Wrestling "Last-Love" event, first against his scheduled opponent Tetsuya Naito, and second in an impromptu double-retirement match against Masahiro Chono. In April 2023, Muto was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Kiyoshige Maekawa (前川 清成, Maekawa Kiyoshige; born December 22, 1962) is a Japanese politician and a former member of…Kiyoshige Maekawa (前川 清成, Maekawa Kiyoshige; born December 22, 1962) is a Japanese politician and a former member of both the House of Representatives and House of Councillors in the Diet. He joined the Japan Innovation Party in 2020, but had previously been a member of the Democratic Party of Japan.
Atsushi Koyano (小谷野 敦, Koyano Atsushi; 21 December 1962) is a Japanese scholar of comparative literature and critic. He…Atsushi Koyano (小谷野 敦, Koyano Atsushi; 21 December 1962) is a Japanese scholar of comparative literature and critic. He also has advanced degrees and pedagogy careers in Osaka University, Meiji University, Tokyo University.
Osamu Abe (安部 理, Abe Osamu; born December 19, 1962 in Miyagi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player…Osamu Abe (安部 理, Abe Osamu; born December 19, 1962 in Miyagi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.
Mitsugu Sarudate (猿館 貢, Sarudate Mitsugu; born 18 December 1962) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the team…Mitsugu Sarudate (猿館 貢, Sarudate Mitsugu; born 18 December 1962) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the team pursuit event at the 1984 Summer Olympics and 1982 Asian Games.
Fumihiro Joyu (上祐 史浩, Jōyū Fumihiro; born 17 December 1962) is a former spokesperson and public relations manager of…Fumihiro Joyu (上祐 史浩, Jōyū Fumihiro; born 17 December 1962) is a former spokesperson and public relations manager of the Japanese doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo, and served as the de facto chief of the organization from 1999 to 2007, when he split and formed a new group.
Mamoru Kuroiwa (黒岩 守, Kuroiwa Mamoru; born December 16, 1962) is a retired boxer from Japan, who twice competed for his…Mamoru Kuroiwa (黒岩 守, Kuroiwa Mamoru; born December 16, 1962) is a retired boxer from Japan, who twice competed for his native country at the Summer Olympics: 1984 and 1988. He lost in the quarterfinals of the light flyweight division to Zambia's eventual bronze medalist Keith Mwila at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California. In the light flyweight division at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, he lost his opening bout to Ochiryn Demberel of Mongolia by knockout in the third round.
Suzuki Matsuo (松尾 スズキ, Matsuo Suzuki; born 15 December 1962) is a Japanese theatre director, actor, novelist, and…Suzuki Matsuo (松尾 スズキ, Matsuo Suzuki; born 15 December 1962) is a Japanese theatre director, actor, novelist, and screenwriter.
Emiko Odaka (Japanese: 小高 笑子; born 14 December 1962) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1984…Emiko Odaka (Japanese: 小高 笑子; born 14 December 1962) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In 1984, Odaka was a member of the Japanese team that won the bronze medal in the Olympic tournament.
Ryohei Koba (木場 良平, Koba Ryōhei; born 13 December 1962) is a Japanese sport shooter. He was born in Kagoshima…Ryohei Koba (木場 良平, Koba Ryōhei; born 13 December 1962) is a Japanese sport shooter. He was born in Kagoshima Prefecture. He won a bronze medal in 50 metre rifle three positions at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Koba was born in Kagoshima.
Kenichi Sonoda (園田 健一, Sonoda Ken'ichi; born 13 December 1962) is a Japanese manga artist and animation character…Kenichi Sonoda (園田 健一, Sonoda Ken'ichi; born 13 December 1962) is a Japanese manga artist and animation character designer.
Atsushi Yamanishi (山西 惇, Yamanishi Atsushi; born December 12, 1962, in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese…Atsushi Yamanishi (山西 惇, Yamanishi Atsushi; born December 12, 1962, in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor represented by Ricomotion.
Yasuo Hanzaki (Hanzaki Yasuo; 12 December 1962) is a Japanese instructor of Shotokan karate. He is currently an…Yasuo Hanzaki (Hanzaki Yasuo; 12 December 1962) is a Japanese instructor of Shotokan karate. He is currently an instructor of the Japan Karate Association.
Miyako Yamashita (Japanese: 山下 美弥子; born 6 December 1962) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the…Miyako Yamashita (Japanese: 山下 美弥子; born 6 December 1962) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. In 1988 she finished fourth with the Japanese team in the Olympic tournament.
Yoshiyuki Morishita (森下 能幸, Morishita Yoshiyuki; born 4 December 1962) is a Japanese actor. He has appeared in more…Yoshiyuki Morishita (森下 能幸, Morishita Yoshiyuki; born 4 December 1962) is a Japanese actor. He has appeared in more than eighty films since 1996.
Hideaki Kobayashi (小林 秀章, Kobayashi Hideaki) is a Japanese cosplayer, computer engineer, music producer, and…Hideaki Kobayashi (小林 秀章, Kobayashi Hideaki) is a Japanese cosplayer, computer engineer, music producer, and photographer. He is known for cosplaying as a schoolgirl. He is nicknamed as Sailor Suit Uncle (セーラー服おじさん, Sērā-fuku Ojisan).
Hayashiya Shōzō IX (九代目 林家 正蔵, Kudaime Hayashiya Shōzō; born Yasutaka Ebina (海老名 泰孝, Ebina Yasutaka), December 1, 1962…Hayashiya Shōzō IX (九代目 林家 正蔵, Kudaime Hayashiya Shōzō; born Yasutaka Ebina (海老名 泰孝, Ebina Yasutaka), December 1, 1962 in Negishi, Taito, Tokyo, Japan), formerly known as Hayashiya Kobuhei (林家 こぶ平, Hayashiya Kobuhei), is a Japanese rakugoka, tarento and voice actor. He is an associate professor of humanities at Josai International University. He is the son of Hayashiya Sanpei I.
Hisataka Ikuta (生田久貴, Ikuta Hisataka) is a former Japanese rugby union player, and currently CEO and president of…Hisataka Ikuta (生田久貴, Ikuta Hisataka) is a former Japanese rugby union player, and currently CEO and president of Mikuni.
Hiraku Nakajima (Japanese: 中島 啓, romanized: Nakajima Hiraku; born November 30, 1962) is a Japanese mathematician, and a…Hiraku Nakajima (Japanese: 中島 啓, romanized: Nakajima Hiraku; born November 30, 1962) is a Japanese mathematician, and a professor of the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe at the University of Tokyo. He is International Mathematical Union president for the 2023–2026 term. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo in 1991. In 2002 he was plenary speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Beijing. He won the 2003 Cole Prize in algebra for his work on representation theory and geometry. He proved Nekrasov's conjecture.
Mitsue Minamikawa (南川 光江) (née Matsuda (松田); born 27 November 1962), known by her stage name Marumi Shiraishi (白石 マル美…Mitsue Minamikawa (南川 光江) (née Matsuda (松田); born 27 November 1962), known by her stage name Marumi Shiraishi (白石 マル美, formerly 白石 まるみ), is an actress and media personality from Tokyo, Japan. In 1978, Shiraishi auditioned for the part of leading man Hiromi Go's sweetheart on the TBS TV drama, Mū ichozoku and debuted as the girl in "Izakaya Hiromi." Shiraishi worked as a singer, television and movie actress, and radio personality. Later, in 2002, she changed the spelling of her stage name from "まるみ" to the identically pronounced "マル美" and has been hosting a TV shopping program, living frugally on Ikinari! Ōgon densetsu, and appearing as a TV travelogue reporter. As a hobby, she plays in a badminton club.
Kazunari Sasaki (佐々木 一成, Sasaki Kazunari; born 25 November 1962) is a Japanese cross-country skier. He competed at the…Kazunari Sasaki (佐々木 一成, Sasaki Kazunari; born 25 November 1962) is a Japanese cross-country skier. He competed at the 1984, 1988, 1992 and the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Hironobu Sakaguchi (坂口 博信, Sakaguchi Hironobu; born November 25, 1962) is a Japanese game designer, director, producer…Hironobu Sakaguchi (坂口 博信, Sakaguchi Hironobu; born November 25, 1962) is a Japanese game designer, director, producer, and writer. Originally working for Square (later Square Enix) from 1983 to 2003, he departed the company and founded independent studio Mistwalker in 2004. He is known as the creator of the Final Fantasy franchise, in addition to other titles during his time at Square. At Mistwalker, he is known for creating the Blue Dragon and Terra Battle series among several standalone titles like Lost Odyssey, as well as later moving away from home consoles and creating titles for mobile platforms. Originally intending to become a musician, he briefly studied electronics and programming, joining Square as a part-time employee, then later a full-time employee when Square became an independent company in 1986. He led the development of several titles before helping to create the original Final Fantasy, which proved highly successful and cemented his status within the company. Following the financial failure of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, his debut as a film director, Sakaguchi withdrew from Square's management and eventually resigned in 2003. He continued his game career through Mistwalker, first co-developing projects through external partners and then smaller in-studio mobile projects. Born in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, Sakaguchi now lives in Hawaii where one of Mistwalker's offices is based. He has also influenced the creation of several other Square Enix projects, such as Kingdom Hearts. Sakaguchi has received several industry awards.
Yoshito Terakado (寺門 義人, Terakado Yoshito; born 25 November 1962, in Kawanishi, Hyōgo, Japan), better known as Jimon…Yoshito Terakado (寺門 義人, Terakado Yoshito; born 25 November 1962, in Kawanishi, Hyōgo, Japan), better known as Jimon Terakado (寺門 ジモン, Terakado Jimon), is a Japanese comedian who is represented by the talent agency Ohta Production. He is part of the comedy trio Dachou Club. He is known for his love of food, in particular beef, and appears often on gourmet programs on television.
Tatsuya Satō (佐藤 裁也, born 25 November 1962) is a Japanese former civil servant and corporate auditor. He served in…Tatsuya Satō (佐藤 裁也, born 25 November 1962) is a Japanese former civil servant and corporate auditor. He served in Japan's central government, including positions within the Cabinet Secretariat (Japan) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications(MIC), and later became an outside statutory auditor of NTT West, a subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone. Satō is the author of Okinawa Tantō 2000-nichi no Kiroku: Heisei no Okinawa Shinkō (2022). The volume includes introductory prefaces by Hisashi Owada and Teijirō Furukawa, and an analytical commentary by historian Makoto Iokibe (五百籏頭眞). The book was reviewed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs journal Diplomacy (Vol. 77, 2023), which discussed its account of Okinawa policy during the administrations of Prime Ministers Ryutaro Hashimoto and Keizō Obuchi.
Masayoshi Motegi (茂木正淑, Motegi Masayoshi; born November 24, 1962) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. He is…Masayoshi Motegi (茂木正淑, Motegi Masayoshi; born November 24, 1962) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. He is known for his background in karate and the innovation of the Rolling German suplex. He also has been a staple of Big Japan Pro Wrestling, IWA Japan and W*ING as well as Japanese independent promotions such as the Social Progressive Wrestling Federation (SPWF).
Aoi Hiiragi (柊 あおい, Hiiragi Aoi; born November 22, 1962) is a Japanese manga artist who grew up in Mibu. She is best…Aoi Hiiragi (柊 あおい, Hiiragi Aoi; born November 22, 1962) is a Japanese manga artist who grew up in Mibu. She is best known for her Whisper of the Heart manga, and the film based on it.
Michiyo Yagi (八木美知依, Yagi Michiyo), a Japanese musician who studied koto under Tadao Sawai, Kazue Sawai and Satomi…Michiyo Yagi (八木美知依, Yagi Michiyo), a Japanese musician who studied koto under Tadao Sawai, Kazue Sawai and Satomi Kurauchi, and graduated from the NHK Professional Training School for Traditional Musicians. Between 1989 and 1990, during her tenure as visiting professor of music at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, U.S.A., she premiered numerous modern compositions for koto and came under the influence of maverick American composers such as John Cage, Conlon Nancarrow, and John Zorn. Her solo koto CD Shizuku was produced by Zorn and released on the Tzadik label in 1999. In 2001 she recorded "Yural" with her koto ensemble Paulownia Crush for the East Works label. Under the auspices of the Japan Foundation, Yagi toured Russia with this ensemble in the fall of 2004. An eclectic musician, Yagi has frequently appeared on Japanese TV and has performed at the Moers Jazz, Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, Archipel, Bang on a Can, Tokyo Summer, Vision, Punkt, Instal, Music Unlimited, Météo-Mulhouse, Born Creative, and Jazztopad Festivals. Yagi's koto has been featured in ex-Judy and Mary guitarist/singer Takuya's rock band, and she has recorded and appeared onstage with Ayumi Hamasaki, one of Japan's best-selling pop singers. Yagi was a founding member of the quartet Koto Vortex with fellow Sawai apprentices Yoko Nishi, Miki Maruta and Etsuko Takezawa, as well as Kokoo, a trio which performs originals and progressive rock covers exclusively on traditional Japanese instruments. She was also one-third of the avant-pop girl group Hoahio which recorded two CD's for Tzadik. Yagi is one of the few improvising koto players on the international stage. She has performed with Eivind Aarset, Mark Dresser, John Zorn, Peter Brötzmann, Elliott Sharp, Han Bennink, Akira Sakata, Kazuhisa Uchihashi (Altered States), Natsuki Kido (Bondage Fruit), Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, Otomo Yoshihide, Bugge Wesseltoft, Saadet Türköz, Ned Rothenberg, Hoppy Kamiyama, Samm Bennett, Yuji Katsui (Rovo), Lauren Newton, Hans Reichel, Sabu Toyozumi, Mino Cinelu, Satoko Fujii, Joëlle Léandre, Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins), Bill Laswell, Kazutoki Umezu, Carl Stone, Kang Tae Hwan, Christian Marclay, Koichi Makigami, Zeena Parkins, Masahiko Satoh, Billy Bang, Keiji Haino, Jason Roebke, Sachiko M, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love, MZN3 (Kjetil Møster, Per Zanussi, Kjell Nordeson), Chris Mosdell, Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), WHO Trio, Mani Neumeier, The Geordie Approach, Chrome Hill, Hamid Drake (Jazztopad Festival Wroclaw /Poland 2022, and others. Among Yagi's post-Tzadik recordings are Seventeen, entirely performed on the giant 17-string koto; Live! at SuperDeluxe, a trio session with Flaten and Nilssen-Love; Head On and Volda as a member of the trio Brötzmann/Yagi/Nilssen-Love; Reflexions, a duo album with guitarist Elliott Sharp; Ichi no Maki and Ni no Maki by Dōjō, her duo with drummer Tamaya Honda; and Into The Forest featuring Yagi on kotos and vocals, with instrumental support from members of her Double Trio.
Masato Honda (本田 雅人, Honda Masato; born November 13, 1962) is a Japanese saxophone player, composer, and…Masato Honda (本田 雅人, Honda Masato; born November 13, 1962) is a Japanese saxophone player, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. Born in Nakamura City, Kochi Prefecture (now Shimanto City), he graduated from Kunitachi College of Music. He is most well known for being a member of the band T-Square and appearing on Cowboy Bebop's soundtrack with The Seatbelts.
Fumio Yamamoto (13 November 1962 – 13 October 2021) was a Japanese author. She was born on 13 November 1962 in…Fumio Yamamoto (13 November 1962 – 13 October 2021) was a Japanese author. She was born on 13 November 1962 in Yokohama, as Akemi Omura. She graduated from Yokohama-Seiryo Senior High School and the department of economics at Kanagawa University. Yamamoto won the 1999 Eiji Yoshikawa Prize for New Authors for Loveholic. Her novel Planaria was awarded the Naoki Prize. Yamamoto died on 13 October 2021 of pancreatic cancer in Karuizawa, Nagano, aged 58.
Shinji Yamasaki (山崎 慎次, Yamasaki Shinji; born 13 November 1962) is a Japanese former water polo player who competed in…Shinji Yamasaki (山崎 慎次, Yamasaki Shinji; born 13 November 1962) is a Japanese former water polo player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Kuniko Asagi (麻木 久仁子, Asagi Kuniko; born on November 12, 1962) is a Japanese actress and television presenter. Her real…Kuniko Asagi (麻木 久仁子, Asagi Kuniko; born on November 12, 1962) is a Japanese actress and television presenter. Her real name is Kuniko Tanaka (田中 久仁子, Tanaka Kuniko).
Kenji Ohmori (大森 賢治, Ōmori Kenji; born November 10, 1962 in Kumamoto City) is a Japanese physicist and chemist.…Kenji Ohmori (大森 賢治, Ōmori Kenji; born November 10, 1962 in Kumamoto City) is a Japanese physicist and chemist. National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Japan (NIMS), Institute for Molecular Science (IMS)
Yuichi Watanabe (渡部 優一, Watanabe Yūichi; born November 9, 1962) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional…Yuichi Watanabe (渡部 優一, Watanabe Yūichi; born November 9, 1962) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. He competed in Shooto's Lightweight division and was the inaugural Shooto Lightweight Champion defeating Kazuhiro Kusayanagi. As a pro wrestler he competes for Real Japan Pro Wrestling under the name Super Rider (スーパーライダー, Sūpā Raidā). He has also wrestled for notable promotions such as W*ING, Big Japan Pro Wrestling, IWA Japan, Battlarts, Dramatic Dream Team, Pro Wrestling Kageki, Pro Wrestling Zero1 and Diamond Ring.
Toshio Iwai (岩井 俊雄, Iwai Toshio; born 1962) is a Japanese interactive media and installation artist who has also…Toshio Iwai (岩井 俊雄, Iwai Toshio; born 1962) is a Japanese interactive media and installation artist who has also created a number of commercial video games. In addition he has worked in television, music performance, museum design and digital musical instrument design.
Hiroshige Seko (世耕 弘成, Sekō Hiroshige; born 9 November 1962) is a Japanese politician serving as a Member of the House…Hiroshige Seko (世耕 弘成, Sekō Hiroshige; born 9 November 1962) is a Japanese politician serving as a Member of the House of Councillors since 1998. He previously served as Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party in the House of Councillors, and was the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry from August 2016 to September 2019 under Shinzo Abe. As Minister, he played a crucial role for announcing the export restrictions against South Korea in 2019. A native of Wakayama Prefecture, he graduated from Waseda University and received a master's degree in corporate communications from Boston University. On 4 April 2024, Seko resigned from the LDP after he was reprimanded along with 38 other party members for their involvement in the 2023–2024 Japanese slush fund scandal. In the 2024 election, Seko ran as an independent candidate in the Wakayama 2nd district of the House of Representatives, and defeated the LDP candidate Nobuyasu Nikai, son of former cabinet minister Toshihiro Nikai. Seko has been described as one of the core members of the "Abe Faction" of the LDP.
Takehiro Sonohara (Japanese: 園原 健弘; born November 9, 1962, in Nagano Prefecture) is a retired male race walker from…Takehiro Sonohara (Japanese: 園原 健弘; born November 9, 1962, in Nagano Prefecture) is a retired male race walker from Japan. He competed for his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Oriza Hirata (平田オリザ, Hirata Oriza; born on 8 November 1962, in Tokyo) is a Japanese playwright, director, and academic.…Oriza Hirata (平田オリザ, Hirata Oriza; born on 8 November 1962, in Tokyo) is a Japanese playwright, director, and academic. For the majority of his life, he has been best known for his work in theater and creating what he has coined, “contemporary colloquial theater,” or as theater critics call it, “quiet drama.”
Osamu Nakamura (中村 修, Nakamura Osamu; born November 7, 1962) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan. He…Osamu Nakamura (中村 修, Nakamura Osamu; born November 7, 1962) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan. He is a two-time winner of the Ōshō title, and the current president of the Professional Shogi Players Group.
Hisaharu Saito (斉藤 久治, Saitō Hisaharu; born 6 November 1962) is a Japanese former water polo player who competed in the…Hisaharu Saito (斉藤 久治, Saitō Hisaharu; born 6 November 1962) is a Japanese former water polo player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Akitoshi Kawazu (河津 秋敏, Kawazu Akitoshi; born November 5, 1962) is a Japanese game designer, director, producer and…Akitoshi Kawazu (河津 秋敏, Kawazu Akitoshi; born November 5, 1962) is a Japanese game designer, director, producer and writer. After joining Square (later Square Enix) in 1986, he went on to become a central developer for the first two Final Fantasy titles, then acted as creator and lead developer for the SaGa series. Interested in games since his high school days, his first project at Square was a graphic designer for Rad Racer; he then acted as battle designer for Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II. He has since worked on nearly every SaGa title, in addition to creating the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles subseries, smaller projects including The Last Remnant, and serving in an executive role on many Square Enix projects. Kawazu was inspired by role-playing titles such as Dungeons & Dragons, Wizardry and Dragon Quest, with a preference for sword and sorcery settings in his scenarios. A characteristic of his games is a non-linear design for storylines and exploration, and systems that are not actively explained to players. He also has a deep involvement in each project beyond his credited roles, and tries something new with each game he develops.
General Yoshihide Yoshida (吉田 圭秀, Yoshida Yoshihide) (30 October 1962) is a Japanese retired military general who…General Yoshihide Yoshida (吉田 圭秀, Yoshida Yoshihide) (30 October 1962) is a Japanese retired military general who served as Chief of Staff, Joint Staff from March 2023 to August 2025. General Yoshida previously served as Chief of the Ground Staff, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force from March 2021 to March 2023, and is the first person to become a General Officer in the JSDF that did not graduate from the National Defense Academy in over 30 years.
Mari Tanigawa (谷川真理, Tanigawa Mari; born 27 October 1962) is a Japanese former marathon runner. Born in Fukuoka…Mari Tanigawa (谷川真理, Tanigawa Mari; born 27 October 1962) is a Japanese former marathon runner. Born in Fukuoka Prefecture, she was a two-time winner at the Tokyo International Women's Marathon, winner of the Australia's Gold Coast Marathon in 1992 and won the Paris Marathon in 1994. Tanigawa also competed in half marathon races: she won individual and team silver medals at the 1993 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and won the 1994 Sapporo Half Marathon and 1996 America's Finest City Half Marathon. She was a team bronze medalist at the 1994 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, where she finished tenth. She had career personal bests of 2:27:55 hours for the marathon and 1:09:37 hours for the half marathon. She is the organizer of several popular races in Japan, the Mari Tanigawa Half Marathon and the Mari Tanigawa Ekiden.
On November 5, 1989, Tsutsumi Sakamoto (坂本 堤, Sakamoto Tsutsumi; April 6, 1956 – November 5, 1989), a lawyer working on…On November 5, 1989, Tsutsumi Sakamoto (坂本 堤, Sakamoto Tsutsumi; April 6, 1956 – November 5, 1989), a lawyer working on a class action lawsuit against Aum Shinrikyo, a doomsday cult in Japan, was murdered, along with his wife Satoko and his son Tatsuhiko, by perpetrators who broke into his apartment. Six years later, following the 1995 attack on the Tokyo subway, the murderers were uncovered and it was established that the murderers had been members of Aum Shinrikyo at the time of the crime.
