Kengo Mashimo (真霜拳號, Mashimo Kengo; born November 25, 1978 in Maizuru, Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese professional…Kengo Mashimo (真霜拳號, Mashimo Kengo; born November 25, 1978 in Maizuru, Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Active Advance Pro Wrestling (2AW). His style is a combination of submission wrestling and hard martial arts style strikes.
Yumiko Shiina (椎名 裕美子, Shiina Yumiko; born November 25, 1978), known by her stage name Ringo Sheena (椎名 林檎, Shiina…Yumiko Shiina (椎名 裕美子, Shiina Yumiko; born November 25, 1978), known by her stage name Ringo Sheena (椎名 林檎, Shiina Ringo), is a Japanese singer, songwriter and musician. She is also the founder and lead vocalist of the band Tokyo Jihen. She describes herself as "Shinjuku-kei Jisaku-Jien-ya (新宿系自作自演屋, a Shinjuku-style writer-performer)". She was ranked number 36 in a list of Japan's top 100 musicians compiled by HMV in 2003.
Masakatsu Ueda (born December 21, 1977) is a professional Japanese mixed martial artist who currently competes in the…Masakatsu Ueda (born December 21, 1977) is a professional Japanese mixed martial artist who currently competes in the bantamweight division of Pancrase. Ueda was also a college level wrestler in Japan, where holds a win over fellow mixed martial artist and Japanese superstar Norifumi Yamamoto, better known as "Kid" Yamamoto. Ueda has also won many national titles in combat wrestling. He also won the All Japan Shooto Grappling championship, and both A and B class Shooto Rookie Tournaments. He is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Yuki Nakai.
Hitomi Mieno (三重野 瞳, Mieno Hitomi; born December 21, 1977 in Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese singer and screenwriter.…Hitomi Mieno (三重野 瞳, Mieno Hitomi; born December 21, 1977 in Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese singer and screenwriter. She has released 17 singles and 11 albums since her debut in 1994. Several of her songs have been used as openings and endings of anime and radio dramas. She has also written the screenplays of various anime series under the alias of Deko Akao (赤尾 でこ, Akao Deko), including Noragami, Frame Arms Girl and After the Rain.
Haruko Momoi (Japanese: 桃井 はるこ, Hepburn: Momoi Haruko; born December 14, 1977) is a Japanese singer, songwriter and…Haruko Momoi (Japanese: 桃井 はるこ, Hepburn: Momoi Haruko; born December 14, 1977) is a Japanese singer, songwriter and voice actress. She is one of the founders of an all-female pop group called Afilia Saga. She was born in Tokyo, Japan and is affectionately referred to as Halko by her fans, a nickname she gave herself which is inspired by HAL 9000, the computer in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Kyokunankai Hiromitsu (born 14 December 1977 as Hirokazu Ken) is a former sumo wrestler from Amagi, Kagoshima, Japan.…Kyokunankai Hiromitsu (born 14 December 1977 as Hirokazu Ken) is a former sumo wrestler from Amagi, Kagoshima, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1993 and reached the top division in September 2010. The 17 years it took him to reach the top division is the second slowest progress ever, in the history of professional sumo wrestling. His highest rank was maegashira 16. He was forced to retire by the Japan Sumo Association, as a result of the 2011 match-fixing scandal.
Hiromi Kojima (小島 宏美, Kojima Hiromi; born December 12, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Hiromi Kojima (小島 宏美, Kojima Hiromi; born December 12, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Yugoh Amano (天野 勇剛, Amano Yūgō; born December 11, 1977 in Miyagi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball…Yugoh Amano (天野 勇剛, Amano Yūgō; born December 11, 1977 in Miyagi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League.
Kazunobu Mineta (峯田和伸, Mineta Kazunobu; born 10 December 1977) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and actor. He is the…Kazunobu Mineta (峯田和伸, Mineta Kazunobu; born 10 December 1977) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and actor. He is the frontman of the punk rock band Ging Nang Boyz (銀杏BOYZ), formed in 2003 after the breakup of his previous band GOING STEADY.
Ichikawa Danjūrō XIII (十三代目 市川 團十郎, Jyūsandaime Ichikawa Danjūrō) (born 6 December 1977) is a Japanese Kabuki, film and…Ichikawa Danjūrō XIII (十三代目 市川 團十郎, Jyūsandaime Ichikawa Danjūrō) (born 6 December 1977) is a Japanese Kabuki, film and television actor, and stage producer. He is the eldest son and successor of the kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjūrō XII. He is known as a tachiyaku (actor specializing in male roles). In particular, he specializes in aragoto roles—a family tradition since 1660, beginning with his ancestor and founder of the Naritaya acting house, Ichikawa Danjūrō I. Prior to assuming his current title, Danjūrō was known as Ichikawa Ebizō XI (十一代目 市川 海老蔵, Jyūichidaime Ichikawa Ebizō), the eleventh holder of the Ebizō name.
Tetsuji Kato (Japanese: 加藤 鉄史, Katō Tetsuji) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competed in the welterweight and…Tetsuji Kato (Japanese: 加藤 鉄史, Katō Tetsuji) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competed in the welterweight and lightweight divisions in Shooto, Strikeforce and DEEP. He was the SuperBrawl 7 Light Heavyweight Tournament winner, defeating Ben Hernandez in the finals.
Kōsuke Noda (野田 浩輔, Noda Kōsuke; born December 4, 1977) is a former professional Japanese baseball catcher and current…Kōsuke Noda (野田 浩輔, Noda Kōsuke; born December 4, 1977) is a former professional Japanese baseball catcher and current coach for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. Noda played with the Saitama Seibu Lions. He also played for the Japan national baseball team at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Kazumi Saito (斉藤 和巳, Saitō Kazumi; born November 30, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball starting pitcher…Kazumi Saito (斉藤 和巳, Saitō Kazumi; born November 30, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball starting pitcher, and current fourth squad manager for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He was a two-time winner of the Eiji Sawamura Award (2003, 2006), but did not pitch in a regular season game after October 2007 due to various shoulder injuries.
Toshiki Yoshioka (吉岡稔記, Yoshioka Toshiki; 21 December 1976, Hiroshima) is a Japanese professional drifting driver…Toshiki Yoshioka (吉岡稔記, Yoshioka Toshiki; 21 December 1976, Hiroshima) is a Japanese professional drifting driver, currently competing in the D1 Grand Prix series for Team DRoo-P and Yamasa. Even before he started drifting professionally, Yoshioka always used the Toyota AE86. He first competed in the D1 Grand Prix in the first round of 2002 and has always scored points in every season. He got his first victory in Round 4 of the 2005 season at Autopolis. His Toyota Sprinter Trueno (later switching to Hideo Hiraoka's Corolla Levin AE85 which was converted to an AE86 and a Sprinter Trueno) was normally aspirated and uses nitrous oxide, which led to many collisions. He is known for liking the AE86. In 2007, he had an average season being best of the AE86 drivers, finishing in eighth place overall. In 2008, he switched from his AE86 to a Lexus SC430, prepared by the renowned tuning garage Tom's.
Miki Sasaki (佐々木 みき, Sasaki Miki, born 15 December 1976) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who competed at the…Miki Sasaki (佐々木 みき, Sasaki Miki, born 15 December 1976) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, wearing the No. 4 jersey. There she and the Japan women's national team took fifth place. She participated in the 2003 FIVB World Grand Prix. Sasaki played as a wing-spiker.
Yukari Kawasaki (河﨑 由加里, Kawasaki Yukari; born December 14, 1976 in Aomori) is an athlete from Japan. She competes in…Yukari Kawasaki (河﨑 由加里, Kawasaki Yukari; born December 14, 1976 in Aomori) is an athlete from Japan. She competes in archery. Kawasaki represented Japan at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She placed 37th in the women's individual ranking round with a 72-arrow score of 622. In the first round of elimination, she faced 28th-ranked Iwona Marcinkiewicz of Poland. Kawasaki lost 119–106 in the 18-arrow match, placing 63rd overall in women's individual archery. Kawasaki was also a member of the 14th-place Japanese women's archery team.
Ryuichi Oda (Japanese: 小田龍一, born 12 December 1976) is a Japanese professional golfer who currently competes on the…Ryuichi Oda (Japanese: 小田龍一, born 12 December 1976) is a Japanese professional golfer who currently competes on the Japan Golf Tour.
Asaka Seto (瀬戸 朝香, Seto Asaka) also known as Megumi Ieda, is a Japanese actress who works at Foster Management. She won…Asaka Seto (瀬戸 朝香, Seto Asaka) also known as Megumi Ieda, is a Japanese actress who works at Foster Management. She won the award for Best Actress at the 24th Yokohama Film Festival for Travail. She is married to Yoshihiko Inohara of the band V6.
Yujiro Shirakawa (白川 裕二郎, Shirakawa Yūjirō; born December 11, 1976, in Kōhoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan)…Yujiro Shirakawa (白川 裕二郎, Shirakawa Yūjirō; born December 11, 1976, in Kōhoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor and singer who is represented by the talent agency, G.P.R.
Tetsuhiro Kina (喜名 哲裕, Kina Tetsuhiro; born 10 December 1976) is a Japanese professional manager and former player. He…Tetsuhiro Kina (喜名 哲裕, Kina Tetsuhiro; born 10 December 1976) is a Japanese professional manager and former player. He is currently the assistant manager of J3 League club Kagoshima United.
Ryuji Kajiwara (born 9 December 1976) is a Japanese former professional kickboxer and boxer. He is the head trainer of…Ryuji Kajiwara (born 9 December 1976) is a Japanese former professional kickboxer and boxer. He is the head trainer of K-1 Gym Headquarters Team Pegasus and member of the K-1 Japan Group executive committee. In 2012 he was ranked #7 lightweight in the world by Liverkick.
Yuichi Fukunaga (福永 祐一, Fukunaga Yūichi; born 9 December 1976) is a Japanese horse trainer and former jockey who has…Yuichi Fukunaga (福永 祐一, Fukunaga Yūichi; born 9 December 1976) is a Japanese horse trainer and former jockey who has won 29 Grade 1 races in Japan and abroad. He is affiliated with the Japan Racing Association (JRA) in Rittō. His father is former jockey Yoichi Fukunaga who was said to be a "genius" during his active career, and his uncle is Takashi Kitamura, also a former jockey. His wife is former Fuji TV announcer Midori Matsuo. Since July 2016, he has a management contract with Horipro together with Yuga Kawada, the entertainment production with which his wife is also affiliated. On 8 December 2022, following his trainer license being issued by the JRA, Fukunaga announced that he would retire as a jockey at the end of February next year and make a transition in to becoming a horse trainer. Two months later, Fukunaga rode his final races in Japan at the February Stakes on 19 February, and finished his racing career at the Riyadh Dirt Sprint on 25 February, 2023, where he rode Remake which finished 3rd behind Elite Power. Retirement ceremonies of Fukunaga were held at Tokyo Racecourse on 19 February and on the Hanshin Racecourse on 4 March. Fukunaga officially opened his stable on 6 March 2024. Upon opening his stable, he received a number of horses from outgoing trainers, including Danon Scorpion and Dualist from Takayuki Yasuda. Later that year, Fukunaga won his first group race as a trainer, when he won the CBC Sho with Drop of Light. 12 October 2026 was a particularly successful day for Fukunaga. On that day he won both of the main races of the two JRA race meetings held that day, the October Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse with Ask Sexy More, and the Swan Stakes at Kyoto Racecourse with Diamond Knot. On top of this, he would finish the day off with his first JpnI victory of his trainer career when he won the Mile Championship Nambu Hai with Meisho Hachiro.
Hiroaki Saito (斎藤洋明, Saito Hiroaki; born 8 December 1976) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…Hiroaki Saito (斎藤洋明, Saito Hiroaki; born 8 December 1976) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2012. He has served as deputy minister of finance since 2024.
Norishige Kanai (金井 宣茂, Kanai Norishige; born 5 December 1976) is a Japanese doctor and JAXA astronaut. He is a…Norishige Kanai (金井 宣茂, Kanai Norishige; born 5 December 1976) is a Japanese doctor and JAXA astronaut. He is a lieutenant and Diving Medical Officer in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (Medical Service Division, 1st Service School). He served as a crew member on board the International Space Station for Expedition 54/55, and returned to Earth on June 3, 2018.
Alisa Mizuki (観月 ありさ, Mizuki Arisa; born December 5, 1976) is a Japanese actress and singer. She began her career as a…Alisa Mizuki (観月 ありさ, Mizuki Arisa; born December 5, 1976) is a Japanese actress and singer. She began her career as a child model and gained attention for starring in commercials for Fujicolor, among other brands, in the early 1990s. She released her debut single "Densetsu no Shōjo" in 1991, for which she won the Newcomer Award at the 33rd Japan Record Awards. Mizuki has recorded material penned by Yumi Matsutoya, Anri and Tetsuya Komuro, the latter of whom produced her signature song, "Too Shy Shy Boy!". Mizuki made her film debut in Reiko, Psyche Resurrected (1991), which garnered her the Japan Academy Film Prize for Newcomer of the Year. As an actress, she is best known for her portrayal of Izumi Asakura in the comedy series Nurse no Oshigoto (1996–2002), which spawned a feature film. She was further nominated for a Japan Academy Film Prize for her lead role in My House (2003). In 2010, Mizuki set the Guinness World Record for being the leading actress in a television drama series for nineteen consecutive years.
Aya Umemura (梅村 礼, Umemura Aya; born 4 December 1976) is a Japanese table tennis player and coach. She was born in…Aya Umemura (梅村 礼, Umemura Aya; born 4 December 1976) is a Japanese table tennis player and coach. She was born in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. She competed in women's singles and women's doubles at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
Hisashi Aikyoh (愛敬 尚史, Aikyō Hisashi; born December 4, 1976) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played…Hisashi Aikyoh (愛敬 尚史, Aikyō Hisashi; born December 4, 1976) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, and was also previously with the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes.
Daisuke Kusano (草野 大輔, Kusano Daisuke; born December 4, 1976) is a Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Tohoku…Daisuke Kusano (草野 大輔, Kusano Daisuke; born December 4, 1976) is a Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan's Pacific League.
Masafumi Gotoh (後藤 正文, Gotō Masafumi) or Gotch (December 2, 1976) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician, best…Masafumi Gotoh (後藤 正文, Gotō Masafumi) or Gotch (December 2, 1976) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for the rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Masafumi met fellow band members Kensuke Kita and Takahiro Yamada while attending a music club of Kanto Gakuin University. The three formed Asian Kung-Fu Generation in 1996, with drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi joining the band shortly after. As the main songwriter of the band, Gotoh is credited with writing a majority of their lyrics, but has a strong tendency to share songwriting duties equally among his bandmates. His vocal style most often alternates between soft, melodic singing, and harder, harsher, yelling. Masafumi has a degree in economics and his favourite artists include Weezer, Number Girl, Oasis, Teenage Fanclub, and Beck. He produces records for other artists such as Chatmonchy, Dr. Downer and The Chef Cooks Me. He was also one of the founding members of the band Skeletons (スケルトンズ). In 2010, Gotoh launched his own music label, only in dreams. In 2012, he started a solo project under the name Gotch, and released the single "'Lost". In 2014, he released his debut solo album, Can't Be Forever Young and released live album called, Live in Tokyo. In 2016, he released his second solo album, Good New Times, with most songs using English lyrics. In 2024, he established a non profit organization "Apple Vinegar Music Support" and is building a studio called "Music inn Fujieda" in Fujieda to support young and independent musicians. In March 2024, Gotoh released drone/ambient music album Recent Report I under his original name.
Takashi Ogasawara (小笠原 孝, born November 29, 1976) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who currently serves as…Takashi Ogasawara (小笠原 孝, born November 29, 1976) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who currently serves as the second squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Chunichi Dragons from 1999 to 2012.
Yoshihiro Murakami (村上 佳宏, Murakami Yoshihiro; born November 28, 1976, in Shizuoka) is a Japanese modern pentathlete.…Yoshihiro Murakami (村上 佳宏, Murakami Yoshihiro; born November 28, 1976, in Shizuoka) is a Japanese modern pentathlete. Murakami represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he finished thirty-first in the men's event, with a score of 4,744 points.
Daigoro Kashiwa (柏大五郎, Kashiwa Daigorō) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and referee best known for his time…Daigoro Kashiwa (柏大五郎, Kashiwa Daigorō) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and referee best known for his time with the Japanese promotion Kaientai Dojo.
Hiroyuki Ikeuchi (池内 博之, Ikeuchi Hiroyuki; born November 24, 1976) is a Japanese actor. Ikeuchi's mother is Salvadoran…Hiroyuki Ikeuchi (池内 博之, Ikeuchi Hiroyuki; born November 24, 1976) is a Japanese actor. Ikeuchi's mother is Salvadoran and his father is Japanese. He is an avid martial artist, notably holding a black belt in judo, and is also a keen fisherman.
Takayuki Chano (茶野 隆行, Chano Takayuki; born 23 November 1976) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Takayuki Chano (茶野 隆行, Chano Takayuki; born 23 November 1976) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Kohei Suwama (諏訪間 幸平, Suwama Kōhei; born November 23, 1976), also known mononymously as Suwama (諏訪魔, Suwa Ma; literally…Kohei Suwama (諏訪間 幸平, Suwama Kōhei; born November 23, 1976), also known mononymously as Suwama (諏訪魔, Suwa Ma; literally translated to "Suwa Evil Spirit"), is a Japanese professional wrestler and executive. He is the founder and president of Pro Wrestling Evolution, which was created in 2023. He is also signed to All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is a former record eight-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion and an eight-time World Tag Team Champion. He was also part of AJPW's board of directors until his departure in early 2025 to focus on Evolution. Debuting in 2004 at the age of 27 under Hiroshi Hase and Kaz Hayashi in the AJPW Dojo, Suwama was seen as the spiritual successor to then-president Keiji Muto, until he turned on him in 2006 to join Voodoo Murders (VDM). Upon dropping his first name and joining VDM, he teamed with both leader Taru and Satoshi Kojima on numerous occasions. He left VDM in 2008 to represent AJPW, and, after winning the Champion Carnival that year, won his first Triple Crown title against Osamu Nishimura. In the years following his first Triple Crown title, he rose to become the legitimate ace of the promotion, winning multiple more Triple Crown and Tag championships. His meteoric rise led to him becoming known in AJPW as both The Emperor and the Next Jumbo. He founded the Evolution stable, which was first known as Last Revolution, in 2012. Within this time, he had been quietly dropped as the ace of AJPW, being replaced by the younger Kento Miyahara. The rivalry between Suwama and Miyahara between 2016 and 2019, and again in 2022, was a pivotal point in AJPW's successes in the mid-to-late 2010s. He formed the Violent Giants (暴走大巨人, Bōsō Dai Kyojin; Japanese for "Runaway Giants") with former DDT and BJW star Shuji Ishikawa; they won four World Tag Team titles and three consecutive Tokyo Sports Best Tag Team Awards between 2017 and 2019 during their run as a tag team. He won the 2016 and 2017 Ōdō Tournaments, and won three World's Strongest Tag Determination Leagues (once with Joe Doering, once with Miyahara, and once with Ishikawa). Since 2008, he has won eight Triple Crown titles and eight World Tag Team titles, becoming one of the winniest competitors in AJPW, surpassing even Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada for championships combined.
Ryuichi Kobayashi (小林 竜一, Kobayashi Ryūichi; born November 23, 1976) is a Japanese bobsledder who has competed since…Ryuichi Kobayashi (小林 竜一, Kobayashi Ryūichi; born November 23, 1976) is a Japanese bobsledder who has competed since 2004. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he earned his best finish of 21st in both the two-man and four-man events at Vancouver in 2010. Kobayashi's best finish at the FIBT World Championships was 19th in the four-man event at Lake Placid, New York, in 2009. His best World Cup finish was 21st in a four-man event at St. Moritz in January 2010.
Michihiro Omigawa (Japanese: 小見川道大, Omigawa Michihiro; born December 19, 1975) is a retired Japanese mixed martial…Michihiro Omigawa (Japanese: 小見川道大, Omigawa Michihiro; born December 19, 1975) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist, judoka and submission grappler, who mainly competed in the Featherweight division. A professional competitor since 2005, Omigawa competed in the UFC, PRIDE, Cage Rage, World Victory Road, DREAM, DEEP, and Shooto.
Miyuki Hatanaka (畑中 みゆき, Hatanaka Miyuki; born 18 December 1975) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She competed at the…Miyuki Hatanaka (畑中 みゆき, Hatanaka Miyuki; born 18 December 1975) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics and the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Yuko Nagayama (永山祐子, born 1975) is a Japanese architect and a visiting professor at the Musashino Art University. As a…Yuko Nagayama (永山祐子, born 1975) is a Japanese architect and a visiting professor at the Musashino Art University. As a Tokyo native, she worked at Jun Aoki & Associates from 1998 to 2002 and subsequently started her own architecture studio, Yuko Nagayama & Associates. She designed the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower at the heart of Tokyo, and is one of the architects of Torch Tower, which is expected to be the tallest building in Japan by 2027. Nagayama received numerous awards, including the JCD designer award 2018, the Tokyo award 2018, and the iF Design Award 2023.
Masaki Sumitani (住谷 正樹, Sumitani Masaki; born December 18, 1975) a Japanese comedian, television personality, and…Masaki Sumitani (住谷 正樹, Sumitani Masaki; born December 18, 1975) a Japanese comedian, television personality, and retired professional wrestler. He is best known for creating and portraying Razor Ramon HG (レイザーラモンHG, Reizā Ramon Eichi Jī; also known as Hard Gay), a satirical fictional character who became known through appearances on the Japanese variety show Bakusho Mondai no Bakuten!