Eiji Mitsuoka (Japanese: 光岡 映二, Mitsuoka Eiji; born January 1, 1976) is a retired Japanese professional mixed martial…Eiji Mitsuoka (Japanese: 光岡 映二, Mitsuoka Eiji; born January 1, 1976) is a retired Japanese professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2001 until 2012, Mitsuoka fought for the UFC, DREAM, World Victory Road, PRIDE, Shooto, Cage Force, DEEP and King of the Cage promotions. Mitsuoka's nickname Kanaami no Mōshigo (金網の申し子), which translates as "The Heaven-sent Child of the Cage" was given in reference to his earlier career in King of the Cage and his performance in Cage Force.
Hiroshi Hirao (平尾 博嗣, Hirao Hiroshi; born December 31, 1975) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is…Hiroshi Hirao (平尾 博嗣, Hirao Hiroshi; born December 31, 1975) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. Before playing for the Lions, he was a member of the Hanshin Tigers.
Kensuke "Kenny" Iwabuchi (岩渕健輔 いわぶちけんすけ; born December 30, 1975, in Tokyo) is a Japanese rugby player and coach. He…Kensuke "Kenny" Iwabuchi (岩渕健輔 いわぶちけんすけ; born December 30, 1975, in Tokyo) is a Japanese rugby player and coach. He plays at stand off, and has 20 caps for the Japan national rugby union team. He also captained the Japan sevens team in the third sevens World Cup and was the first Japanese player to play professional rugby in England.
Shinji Otsuka (大塚 真司, Otsuka Shinji; born December 29, 1975) is a Japanese professional football manager and former…Shinji Otsuka (大塚 真司, Otsuka Shinji; born December 29, 1975) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who is the manager of J2 League club Ventforet Kofu.
Nobuhiro Koyama (小山展弘, Koyama Nobuhiro; born 26 December 1975) is a Japanese politician. He served as a member of the…Nobuhiro Koyama (小山展弘, Koyama Nobuhiro; born 26 December 1975) is a Japanese politician. He served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2021 to 2026, having previously served from 2009 to 2012 and from 2014 to 2017. He previously worked at the Norinchukin Bank.
Yoshinori Tateyama (建山 義紀, Tateyama Yoshinori; born December 26, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball…Yoshinori Tateyama (建山 義紀, Tateyama Yoshinori; born December 26, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and the Hanshin Tigers.
Hideki Okajima (岡島 秀樹, Okajima Hideki; born December 25, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher.…Hideki Okajima (岡島 秀樹, Okajima Hideki; born December 25, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. Okajima pitched for the Yomiuri Giants, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball, and the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. Okajima was elected to the 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game as a first time All-Star via the All-Star Final Vote. He became the first Japanese-born pitcher to play in the World Series in Game 2 of the 2007 World Series. On July 18, 2016, Okajima announced his retirement.
Toru Ito (伊藤 透, Itō Tōru; born December 24, 1975) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name…Toru Ito (伊藤 透, Itō Tōru; born December 24, 1975) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Toru Owashi (大鷲 透, Ōwashi Tōru). He is best known for his work in DDT Pro-Wrestling, where he is a former KO-D Openweight Champion and two-time KO-D Tag Team Champion.
Ritsuki Nakano (中野 律紀, Nakano Ritsuki), professionally known as Rikki (りっき), is a Japanese folk singer. Born in Amami…Ritsuki Nakano (中野 律紀, Nakano Ritsuki), professionally known as Rikki (りっき), is a Japanese folk singer. Born in Amami Ōshima, Japan, she began to sing traditional Japanese music when she was four years old. Later, at the age of 15, Rikki was the youngest winner ever to win the "Grand Prix" of the Japanese traditional folk music awards (known as All Japan Minyo awards). She first performed in Tokyo, Japan, at the prestigious Festival Konda Lota in 1992. She released her first single "Maten no Hoshi" (which means 'Sky Full of Stars') in December 1993, originally released in the Kyūshū region of Japan. Shortly thereafter, she produced her debut album, Kaze no Koe. In 1998, Rikki was chosen to participate at the opening ceremony of the 1998 Winter Paralympics in Nagano, Japan, to sing the Paralympics theme song "Tabidachi no Toki". Rikki sang the Final Fantasy X main theme, "Suteki da ne", released as a single on July 18, 2001. The single also included an instrumental version of "Suteki Da Ne", "Pure Heart" (a vocal arrangement of Aeris' Theme from Final Fantasy VII), and a new song entitled "Tsukisama" (which means 'The Moon'). Final Fantasy Distant Worlds VII, released March 7, 2025, included Rikki performing "Suteki da ne" live in concert. In 2001, she produced an image album alongside Joe Hisaishi for the motion picture Spirited Away (directed by Hayao Miyazaki). In 2006, Rikki joined the band Sound Horizon for the release of 5th Story CD: Roman. She was involved in Sound Horizon's releases until 2008, when she gave birth to twins and returned to Amami Ōshima, as she said in her blog. She returned to Sound Horizon in 2009 for their Triumph III live tour. She also returned to Sound Horizon in 2015 for the album 9th Story Nein.
Takashi Sasaki (佐々木貴, Sasaki Takashi) is a Japanese professional wrestler and the owner of Pro Wrestling Freedoms…Takashi Sasaki (佐々木貴, Sasaki Takashi) is a Japanese professional wrestler and the owner of Pro Wrestling Freedoms (Freedoms). A regular on the Japanese independent circuit for over 25 years, Sasaki began his career with IWA Kakutō Shijuku and Dramatic Dream Team before transitioning into the deathmatch wrestling scene in 2005 with Apache Pro-Wrestling Army and Big Japan Pro Wrestling. Following the closure of Apache Pro, Sasaki formed Pro Wrestling Freedoms in 2009. Sasaki has held the KO-D Openweight Championship once, the BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Championship twice and the King of Freedom World Championship once. He is also known for his tag team with Gentaro, the Aka-Rangers, and have held the KO-D Tag Team Championship twice, the WEW Tag Team Championship once and the BJW Tag Team Championship once.
Nozomi Yamago (山郷 のぞみ, Yamagō Nozomi; born January 16, 1975) is a Japanese former football player. She played for the…Nozomi Yamago (山郷 のぞみ, Yamagō Nozomi; born January 16, 1975) is a Japanese former football player. She played for the Japan women's national football team as a goalkeeper.
Ayako Fuchigami (Japanese: 渕上 綾子, Hepburn: Fuchigami Ayako; born 16 January 1975) is Japanese politician serving as a…Ayako Fuchigami (Japanese: 渕上 綾子, Hepburn: Fuchigami Ayako; born 16 January 1975) is Japanese politician serving as a member of the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly, representing Sapporo's Higashi-ku ward. She is the first openly transgender person to hold a prefectural assembly position in Japan.
Yoko Hunnicutt, née Ota (born 14 January 1975 in Amagasaki, Hyōgo and raised in Kamakura, Kanagawa) is a Japanese high…Yoko Hunnicutt, née Ota (born 14 January 1975 in Amagasaki, Hyōgo and raised in Kamakura, Kanagawa) is a Japanese high jumper. Her personal best jump is 1.95 metres, achieved in July 2002 in Sapporo. She finished fifth at the 1992 World Junior Championships and eleventh at the 2000 Olympics. At the regional level she won the 1991 Asian Championships and the 1998 Asian Games and finished second at the 1998 Asian Championships.
Mineko Tanaka (田中 美音子, Tanaka Mineko; born 14 January 1975) is a Japanese handball player who plays for the club Osaka…Mineko Tanaka (田中 美音子, Tanaka Mineko; born 14 January 1975) is a Japanese handball player who plays for the club Osaka Lovvits. She is also member of the Japanese national team. She competed at the 2005 World Women's Handball Championship in Russia, and at the 2015 World Women's Handball Championship in Denmark.
Kenji Mizuhashi (水橋研二, Mizuhashi Kenji; born January 13, 1975) is a Japanese actor. He has appeared in more than 60…Kenji Mizuhashi (水橋研二, Mizuhashi Kenji; born January 13, 1975) is a Japanese actor. He has appeared in more than 60 films since 1997, portraying Kenichi Yamamoto in Tomie (1998) and Tomie: Beginning (2005).
Kousuke Akiyoshi (秋吉耕佑, Akiyoshi Kōsuke; born January 12, 1975) is a Japanese motorcycle road racer. He is a two-time…Kousuke Akiyoshi (秋吉耕佑, Akiyoshi Kōsuke; born January 12, 1975) is a Japanese motorcycle road racer. He is a two-time champion in the All-Japan Superbike Championship, and has competed sporadically in the MotoGP World Championship. Akiyoshi is known in his native Japan as a competitor in the MFJ All Japan Road Race GP250 Championship, and most notably the All Japan Superbike championship, where he has enjoyed success with the Yoshimura Suzuki team riding a Suzuki GSX-R1000. In July 2007 he, along with Yukio Kagayama, won the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race on a Yoshimura Suzuki bike.
Katsuo Yakura (矢倉 克夫, Yakura Katsuo; born January 11, 1975) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the…Katsuo Yakura (矢倉 克夫, Yakura Katsuo; born January 11, 1975) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan from 2013 to 2025.
Satoshi Kuroda (黒田 哲史, Kuroda Satoshi; born January 11, 1975 in Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan) is a former professional Japanese…Satoshi Kuroda (黒田 哲史, Kuroda Satoshi; born January 11, 1975 in Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan) is a former professional Japanese baseball infielder and current coach for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He was previously married to Chiharu Niiyama, a Japanese actress.
Masayoshi Soken (祖堅 正慶, Soken Masayoshi; born January 10, 1975) is a Japanese video game composer who has worked for…Masayoshi Soken (祖堅 正慶, Soken Masayoshi; born January 10, 1975) is a Japanese video game composer who has worked for Square Enix since 1998. Soken is best known for being the lead composer and sound director of Final Fantasy XIV and its expansions and lead composer of Final Fantasy XVI.
Masaumi Shimizu (清水 将海, Shimizu Masaumi; born January 9, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher, and…Masaumi Shimizu (清水 将海, Shimizu Masaumi; born January 9, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher, and current second squad battery coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Chiba Lotte Marines, Chunichi Dragons, and Hawks.
Shoichi Usui (born January 8, 1975, in Chiba Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of…Shoichi Usui (born January 8, 1975, in Chiba Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2022. He is one of the six representatives of the Chiba at-large district, and is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. As of July 29, 2023, he is a member of the following committees: Committee on Education, Culture and Science Committee on Budget Commission on the Constitution He previously served in the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. He is the son of retired politician and former Cabinet member Hideo Usui.
Reiko Chiba (千葉 麗子, Chiba Reiko; born January 8, 1975) is a Japanese actress, voice actress, gravure idol, occasional…Reiko Chiba (千葉 麗子, Chiba Reiko; born January 8, 1975) is a Japanese actress, voice actress, gravure idol, occasional J-pop singer, and political activist.
Kuniomi Haneishi (羽石 国臣, Haneishi Kuniomi; born 6 January 1975) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the men's…Kuniomi Haneishi (羽石 国臣, Haneishi Kuniomi; born 6 January 1975) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the men's 500 metres event at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Kazumasa Tsujimoto (辻本 和正, Tsujimoto Kazumasa) (born January 6, 1975, in Nara) is a retired boxer from Japan who…Kazumasa Tsujimoto (辻本 和正, Tsujimoto Kazumasa) (born January 6, 1975, in Nara) is a retired boxer from Japan who represented his country at the Summer Olympics in 1996 and 2000. After having competed in the men's flyweight division (– 51 kg) in Atlanta, Georgia, he changed weights, and fought in the bantamweight class (– 54 kg) in Sydney, Australia. There he was stopped in the second round by Cuba's eventual gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Tomoko Kuzumi (泉朋子, Izumi Tomoko) better known by her ring name Azumi Hyuga is a Japanese retired professional wrestler…Tomoko Kuzumi (泉朋子, Izumi Tomoko) better known by her ring name Azumi Hyuga is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her tenure with various Japanese promotions such as All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, JWP Joshi Puroresu and NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling.
Dabo (ダボ); born 6 January 1975 is a Japanese hip-hop rapper. He first appeared on the Japanese hip-hop scene in the…Dabo (ダボ); born 6 January 1975 is a Japanese hip-hop rapper. He first appeared on the Japanese hip-hop scene in the 1990s, collaborating in a Shakkazombie song, "Tomo ni ikkou". Since 2002, he has released three albums: Hitman (2002), Diamond (2003), and The Force (2006). Dabo's lyrics are more hard-edged than most J-pop, or Japanese pop, and represent a tough Japanese street culture. He also appears as a playable character in the Japanese version of Def Jam Vendetta.
Jun Maeda (麻枝 准, Maeda Jun; born January 3, 1975) is a Japanese writer and composer. He is a co-founder of the visual…Jun Maeda (麻枝 准, Maeda Jun; born January 3, 1975) is a Japanese writer and composer. He is a co-founder of the visual novel brand Key under Visual Arts. He is considered a pioneer of nakige visual novels, and has mainly contributed as a scenario writer, lyricist, and musical composer for the games the company produces. After graduating with a degree in psychology from Chukyo University, Maeda contributed to the scripts and scores of games released under the Tactics brand of Nexton: Moon and One: Kagayaku Kisetsu e. He has contributed both to writing music and scripts to most games released under the Key brand, notably writing the majority of Air and Clannad. He also served as a screenwriter and composer for several anime series produced by P.A. Works, such as Angel Beats! and Charlotte.
Minoru Kawakami (川上稔, Kawakami Minoru) is a Japanese author of light novels, best known as the author of the Horizon in…Minoru Kawakami (川上稔, Kawakami Minoru) is a Japanese author of light novels, best known as the author of the Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere and The Ending Chronicle light novel series.
Eiichiro Oda (Japanese: 尾田 栄一郎, Hepburn: Oda Eiichirō; born January 1, 1975) is a Japanese manga artist and the creator…Eiichiro Oda (Japanese: 尾田 栄一郎, Hepburn: Oda Eiichirō; born January 1, 1975) is a Japanese manga artist and the creator of the series One Piece, the best-selling manga in history and the best-selling comic series printed in volume. With more than 600 million tankōbon copies of One Piece in circulation worldwide, Oda is one of the best-selling fiction authors. The series' popularity resulted in Oda being named one of the artists who changed the history of manga.
Fumitaka Nitami (仁多見 史隆, Nitami Fumitaka) (born December 27, 1974, in Niigata) is a retired male boxer from Japan. He…Fumitaka Nitami (仁多見 史隆, Nitami Fumitaka) (born December 27, 1974, in Niigata) is a retired male boxer from Japan. He represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was stopped in the first round of the men's light-welterweight division (– 63,5 kg) by Russia's Eduard Zakharov.
Masayori "Masi" Oka (岡 政偉, Oka Masayori; born December 27, 1974) is a Japanese actor, producer, and digital effects…Masayori "Masi" Oka (岡 政偉, Oka Masayori; born December 27, 1974) is a Japanese actor, producer, and digital effects artist based in the United States who became widely known for starring in NBC's Heroes as Hiro Nakamura, for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and in CBS's Hawaii Five-0 as Doctor Max Bergman.
Atsushi Nagai (永井 篤志, Nagai Atsushi; born December 23, 1974) is a former Japanese football player. His elder brother…Atsushi Nagai (永井 篤志, Nagai Atsushi; born December 23, 1974) is a former Japanese football player. His elder brother Hideki is also a former footballer.
Makoto Kawamoto (川本真琴, Kawamoto Makoto; born January 19, 1974), is a Japanese pop singer, songwriter and…Makoto Kawamoto (川本真琴, Kawamoto Makoto; born January 19, 1974), is a Japanese pop singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Fukui, Japan. She currently sings under the pseudonym Tiger Fake Fur.
Yoshiyoshi Arakawa (荒川 良々, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi; born January 18, 1974, in Ogi, Saga) is a Japanese actor. His real name…Yoshiyoshi Arakawa (荒川 良々, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi; born January 18, 1974, in Ogi, Saga) is a Japanese actor. His real name is Yoshitomo Arakawa (荒川 良友, Arakawa Yoshitomo). He is represented with Otona Keikaku. He graduated from Ryukoku High School.
Noriko Koiso (née Hamaguchi, 小磯典子、旧姓濱口、born 15 January 1974) is a Japanese former basketball player who competed in the…Noriko Koiso (née Hamaguchi, 小磯典子、旧姓濱口、born 15 January 1974) is a Japanese former basketball player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics and in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Atsuko Nagai (長井 淳子, Nagai Atsuko; born 14 January 1974) is a Japanese judoka. She was born in Ageo, Saitama, and began…Atsuko Nagai (長井 淳子, Nagai Atsuko; born 14 January 1974) is a Japanese judoka. She was born in Ageo, Saitama, and began judo at the age of a second grader. She entered Komatsu Limited after graduating from Saitama University in 1998. She was known as a rival of Ryoko Tamura. She fought with Tamura 10 times and was defeated 10 times, but never by Ippon. In 2000, after Tamura won gold medal at Olympic Games, Nagai retired. As of 2008, Nagai coaches judo at Komatsu Limited, and Ayumi Tanimoto, one of her pupil, inherits the skill of Uchimata that Nagai was good at.
Akari Kaida (海田 明里, Kaida Akari; born January 10, 1974) is a Japanese video game music composer. She composed various…Akari Kaida (海田 明里, Kaida Akari; born January 10, 1974) is a Japanese video game music composer. She composed various soundtracks for Capcom games, including multiple in the Mega Man series. She has occasionally been credited as Akari Groves, taking the surname of her husband.
Toyoki Takeda (武田 豊樹, Takeda Toyoki; born 9 January 1974) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in two events at the…Toyoki Takeda (武田 豊樹, Takeda Toyoki; born 9 January 1974) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in two events at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Kenta Shinohara (篠原 健太, Shinohara Kenta; born 9 January 1974) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for his…Kenta Shinohara (篠原 健太, Shinohara Kenta; born 9 January 1974) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for his manga series Sket Dance, which was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 2007 to 2013 and won the Shogakukan Manga Award in 2010. His next series, Astra Lost in Space, serialized on Shonen Jump+ from 2016 to 2017 and won the 2019 Manga Taishō. Shinohara began serializing his currently ongoing series Witch Watch in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 2021.
Mayo Okamoto (岡本 真夜, Okamoto Mayo; born January 9, 1974, in Nakamura, Kōchi) is a Japanese pop singer and songwriter.…Mayo Okamoto (岡本 真夜, Okamoto Mayo; born January 9, 1974, in Nakamura, Kōchi) is a Japanese pop singer and songwriter. Her 1995 debut single "Tomorrow" peaked at number 1 on the Oricon weekly single charts. This was the theme song for TBS drama "Second Chance" in 1995, and covered for rhythm game Donkey Konga 3 in 2005. She released her greatest hits album Rise 1 in 2000. The album topped the Oricon weekly album charts. Her song "Itsuka Kitto" is the Japanese theme song for the dub of Chicken Little.