Yuya Shirai (born April 2, 1980) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the…Yuya Shirai (born April 2, 1980) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2003, Shirai has fought for ONE FC, DEEP, BAMMA, Glory World Series, M-1 Global, Pancrase, DREAM, and is a former DEEP Welterweight Champion.
Kyōhei Ishiguro (Japanese: イシグロキョウヘイ, Hepburn: Ishiguro Kyōhei; born April 2, 1980) is a Japanese anime director. He…Kyōhei Ishiguro (Japanese: イシグロキョウヘイ, Hepburn: Ishiguro Kyōhei; born April 2, 1980) is a Japanese anime director. He debuted in 2009, and after doing the storyboards for three series, he was given the full directorial role in the anime adaptation of Your Lie in April. After directing other television series, he debuted as a film director with Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop.
Ayano Egami (江上 綾乃, Egami Ayano) (born 1 April 1980) is a Japanese synchronised swimmer who competed in the 2000 Summer…Ayano Egami (江上 綾乃, Egami Ayano) (born 1 April 1980) is a Japanese synchronised swimmer who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Akihiro Murayama (Japanese: 村山 暁洋, Murayama Akihiro; born March 29, 1980) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who has…Akihiro Murayama (Japanese: 村山 暁洋, Murayama Akihiro; born March 29, 1980) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who has competed mainly for Pancrase, Shooto and Greatest Common Multiple.
Ryutaro Sakamoto (坂本 竜太郎, Sakamoto Ryutaro; born 28 March 1980) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Ryutaro Sakamoto (坂本 竜太郎, Sakamoto Ryutaro; born 28 March 1980) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Keiko Teshima (手島 桂子, Teshima Keiko; née Maeda Maeda (前田); born 25 March 1980) is a Japanese retired judoka. Teshima…Keiko Teshima (手島 桂子, Teshima Keiko; née Maeda Maeda (前田); born 25 March 1980) is a Japanese retired judoka. Teshima was born in Takasago, Hyogo, and began judo at the age of 12. She entered Miki House after graduating from Tsukuba University. She was good at Seoinage and Newaza. In 1998, Teshima won a gold medal the World Junior Judo Championships. In 1999, she won a gold medal at the World Judo Championships and the Ippon Trophy. Teshima also participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics but was defeated by Celita Schutz from USA.
175R (１７５Ｒ, Inago Raidā; "Inago Rider") is a Japanese ska punk band from Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture. Debuting in…175R (１７５Ｒ, Inago Raidā; "Inago Rider") is a Japanese ska punk band from Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture. Debuting in 2001, 175R has released seven singles, seven albums and four DVDs. The band's members include Shogo on Vocals, Kazya on guitar, Isakick on bass and Yoshiaki on drums. The band shared their second single with the band Shaka Labbits. The name 175R means "Inago Rider," which is derived from the goroawase of "175" plus "R" for "rider." Inago (蝗) means grasshopper in Japanese, as a reference to the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu television programs. In 2007, the group's single "Yume de Aeta Nara..." was featured as the ending theme for the film Kamen Rider Den-O: I'm Born!. Another one of their songs, Melody, was used featured in a music-related video game for the Nintendo DS called Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan. Unlike the other songs included in the game, Ouendan made use of an actual (albeit edited) 175R recording, instead of a cover version.
Ayuko Kato (加藤 鮎子, Katō Ayuko; born 19 April 1979) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who…Ayuko Kato (加藤 鮎子, Katō Ayuko; born 19 April 1979) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who is the current member of the House of Representatives for Yamagata 3rd district. She served as Minister of State in the Kishida Cabinet. Kato graduated from Keio University Faculty of Law in 2003 and from the School of International and Public Affairs of Columbia University in 2008. Kato was elected in the 2014 Japanese general election to the same seat as her father Koichi Kato, a longtime member of the House of Representatives for Yamagata Prefecture who had lost the seat in the 2012 general election. From 2006 to 2009, Kato was married to LDP politician Kensuke Miyazaki, who later served as member for Kyoto 3rd district from 2012 to 2016.
Naoki Ishikawa (Japanese: 石川直生, Hepburn: Ishikawa Naoki; born April 18, 1989) is a Japanese retired kickboxer, who…Naoki Ishikawa (Japanese: 石川直生, Hepburn: Ishikawa Naoki; born April 18, 1989) is a Japanese retired kickboxer, who competed in the super featherweight division of AJKF, where he was the Super Featherweight champion, as well as in the super featherweight and lightweight divisions of Krush.
Yusuke Kamiji (上地 雄輔, Kamiji Yūsuke; born April 18, 1979 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan as the first born) is…Yusuke Kamiji (上地 雄輔, Kamiji Yūsuke; born April 18, 1979 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan as the first born) is a Japanese actor, singer, and tarento. In the music world, he is known simply as Yusuke (遊助, Yūsuke).
Ayako Ōnuma (大沼 綾子, Ōnuma Ayako; born (1979-04-17)17 April 1979) is a Japanese female volleyball player. She was part…Ayako Ōnuma (大沼 綾子, Ōnuma Ayako; born (1979-04-17)17 April 1979) is a Japanese female volleyball player. She was part of the Japan women's national volleyball team. She participated in the 2005 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix. On club level she played for Hitachi Sawa Rivale in 2005.
Midori Yajima (born 17 April 1979) is a Japanese sport shooter. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Men's 10…Midori Yajima (born 17 April 1979) is a Japanese sport shooter. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Men's 10 metre air rifle, finishing in 38th place, the men's 50 m rifle 3 positions, finishing in 39th place, and the men's 50 m rifle prone, finishing in 33rd place.
Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryūsuke; born April 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New…Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryūsuke; born April 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). He also makes appearances for DDT Pro Wrestling (DDT), where he is the current DDT Universal Champion in his first reign. Pursuing several sports in high school, Taguchi competed in 76 kg (168 lb) class amateur wrestling in college before entering the NJPW Dojo in March 2002 and debuting in November of that year at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, wrestling in New Japan's famous junior heavyweight division. Taguchi's best known gimmick is akin to a disco dancer, often sporting a short afro and colorful, flamboyant attire and celebrating victories with a post-match dance, encouraging his partners to join in during tag team matches. This earned Taguchi the nickname "Funky Weapon".
Tetsuya Matsunaga (松永 鉄也, Matsunaga Tetsuya; born 15 April 1979 in Kyoto) is a Japanese sailor, who specialized in…Tetsuya Matsunaga (松永 鉄也, Matsunaga Tetsuya; born 15 April 1979 in Kyoto) is a Japanese sailor, who specialized in two-person dinghy (470) class. He represented Japan, along with his partner Taro Ueno, at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and has also been training for Three Bond Sailing Team in Kyoto throughout most of his sporting career under his longtime coach and mentor Kenji Nakamura. As of September 2014, Matsunaga is ranked twenty-sixth in the world for two-person dinghy class by the International Sailing Federation, following his successes at the South American Championships, ISAF Sailing World Cup Series, and 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Santander, Spain. Matsunaga qualified as a skipper for the Japanese squad in the men's 470 class at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing by placing fifteenth and receiving a berth from the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Teaming with crew member Taro Ueno in the eleven-race series, the Japanese duo mounted a marvelous lead in the opening leg, but came up short for the medal with a net score of 97 and a seventh-place finish in a fleet of twenty-nine boats. At the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships, Matsunaga and his new partner Yugo Yoshida set a career record with a sixth-place finish in the men's 470 class to secure their spot on the Japanese sailing team for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Shota Takiya (Japanese: 瀧谷渉太, Takiya Shota; born April 15, 1989) is a retired Japanese kickboxer who competed in the…Shota Takiya (Japanese: 瀧谷渉太, Takiya Shota; born April 15, 1989) is a retired Japanese kickboxer who competed in the super bantamweight divisions of Krush, K-1, RISE and Rizin FF. A professional competitor since 2007, he is a former two-time Krush Super Bantamweight champion.
Kohichi Amano (天野 浩一, Amano Kōichi; born April 12, 1979) is a professional Japanese baseball player playing who has…Kohichi Amano (天野 浩一, Amano Kōichi; born April 12, 1979) is a professional Japanese baseball player playing who has played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Nippon Professional Baseball. After his short stint in NPB, he went on to play in the Shikoku Island League and the Baseball Challenge League.
Tsuyoshi Domoto (堂本 剛, Dōmoto Tsuyoshi; born April 10, 1979) is a Japanese idol, singer, songwriter, actor, and…Tsuyoshi Domoto (堂本 剛, Dōmoto Tsuyoshi; born April 10, 1979) is a Japanese idol, singer, songwriter, actor, and television personality. Along with Koichi Domoto (with whom he has no blood-relation), he is a member of Domoto, which is a Japanese duo under the management of Starto Entertainment (formerly of Johnny & Associates) and the record holder of Guinness World Records for having the record of the most consecutive number-one singles since their debut single.
Kei Satō (born 4 July 1979) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors since 2016…Kei Satō (born 4 July 1979) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors since 2016, representing Nara Prefecture.
Keiichi Hirano (平野 恵一, born April 7, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and current manager for…Keiichi Hirano (平野 恵一, born April 7, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and current manager for the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes and Hanshin Tigers from 2002 to 2015.
Kei Satō (born 4 July 1979) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors since 2016…Kei Satō (born 4 July 1979) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors since 2016, representing Nara Prefecture.
Michiyo Heike (平家みちよ, Heike Michiyo; born April 6, 1979) is a former Japanese pop singer-songwriter from Osaka…Michiyo Heike (平家みちよ, Heike Michiyo; born April 6, 1979) is a former Japanese pop singer-songwriter from Osaka Prefecture and raised in Nabari, Mie. She first become known after her appearance on the Japanese talent show Asayan in the late 1990s, becoming the first member of the future "Hello! Project". Heike currently goes by the simply Michiyo.
Mitsuo Ogasawara (小笠原 満男, Ogasawara Mitsuo; born 5 April 1979) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played…Mitsuo Ogasawara (小笠原 満男, Ogasawara Mitsuo; born 5 April 1979) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for Japan national team.
Noriko Miyagawa (Japanese: 宮川 典子, Hepburn: Miyagawa Noriko; April 5, 1979 – September 12, 2019) was a Japanese…Noriko Miyagawa (Japanese: 宮川 典子, Hepburn: Miyagawa Noriko; April 5, 1979 – September 12, 2019) was a Japanese politician. She was a member of the House of Representatives from 2012 until her death in 2019, and the Parliamentary Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in the Fourth Abe Cabinet.
Yumiko Abe (阿部 由美子, Abe Yumiko; born April 4, 1979), better known by her ring name Yumi Ohka (桜花 由美, Ōka Yumi), is a…Yumiko Abe (阿部 由美子, Abe Yumiko; born April 4, 1979), better known by her ring name Yumi Ohka (桜花 由美, Ōka Yumi), is a Japanese professional wrestler. Originally trained by the now defunct JDStar promotion, Ohka now works for Oz Academy and Pro Wrestling Wave. She is a former two-time Wave Single Champion, while also being a former Oz Academy Tag Team Champion and Wave Tag Team Champion. She is the managing director of Zabun Co., Ltd., which owns Pro Wrestling Wave.
Masato Watanabe (渡辺 正人, born April 3, 1979, in Osaka) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder. He played…Masato Watanabe (渡辺 正人, born April 3, 1979, in Osaka) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2001 to 2012.
Daisuke Usami (宇佐美 大輔, Usami Daisuke; born March 29, 1979) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. He played as a…Daisuke Usami (宇佐美 大輔, Usami Daisuke; born March 29, 1979) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. He played as a setter and was one of the key players in the Japan men's national volleyball team in the 2000s. Usami was named Most Spectacular Player at the 2003 FIVB World Cup, where Japan ended in ninth place.
Tomoe Shinohara (篠原ともえ, Shinohara Tomoe; born March 29, 1979 in Higashimurayama, Tokyo) is a Japanese singer, actress…Tomoe Shinohara (篠原ともえ, Shinohara Tomoe; born March 29, 1979 in Higashimurayama, Tokyo) is a Japanese singer, actress, fashion designer, producer and artist. She is notable for her flamboyant fashion sense and bubbly (sometimes goofballish) personality, as well as her distinctive squealing speaking voice. She is also a close friend of singer Eiko Matsumoto.
Jun Hirose (廣瀬 純, Hirose Jun; born March 29, 1979) is a former professional Japanese baseball player. He played as an…Jun Hirose (廣瀬 純, Hirose Jun; born March 29, 1979) is a former professional Japanese baseball player. He played as an outfielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Hiromi Uehara (上原 ひろみ, Uehara Hiromi) (born March 26, 1979), often known mononymously as Hiromi, is a Japanese jazz…Hiromi Uehara (上原 ひろみ, Uehara Hiromi) (born March 26, 1979), often known mononymously as Hiromi, is a Japanese jazz composer and pianist. She is known for her virtuosic technique, energetic live performances and blending of musical genres such as stride, post-bop, progressive rock, classical, nu jazz and fusion in her compositions. In 2021, she performed at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Akihiro Kitamura (北村 昭博, Kitamura Akihiro; born March 26, 1979) is a Japanese actor and director, who appeared in The…Akihiro Kitamura (北村 昭博, Kitamura Akihiro; born March 26, 1979) is a Japanese actor and director, who appeared in The Human Centipede (First Sequence) and Cobra Kai as Young Sato.
Eiji Takigawa (滝川 英治, Takigawa Eiji) is a Japanese former actor. Hailed from Osaka, Takigawa graduated from the law…Eiji Takigawa (滝川 英治, Takigawa Eiji) is a Japanese former actor. Hailed from Osaka, Takigawa graduated from the law department of Kounan Daigaku (Konan University) at Kobe, before he pursued his career in the entertainment industry. During the filming of Yowamushi Pedal 2 in 2017, Takigawa was involved in a biking accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. On March 9, 2020, he announced his retirement from the entertainment industry.
Hiromi Kawabata (川畑宏美, born 23 March 1979) is a Japanese former basketball player who competed in the 2004 Summer…Hiromi Kawabata (川畑宏美, born 23 March 1979) is a Japanese former basketball player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Nobuo Kyo (姜 暢雄, Kyō Nobuo; born March 23, 1979, in Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese actor who is represented by the…Nobuo Kyo (姜 暢雄, Kyō Nobuo; born March 23, 1979, in Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese actor who is represented by the talent agency Cube. He graduated from Ichikawa High School.
Keiko Suenobu (Japanese: すえのぶ けいこ, Hepburn: Suenobu Keiko; March 23, 1979) is a female Japanese shōjo manga artist from…Keiko Suenobu (Japanese: すえのぶ けいこ, Hepburn: Suenobu Keiko; March 23, 1979) is a female Japanese shōjo manga artist from Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka. She graduated from the School of Art and Design at the University of Tsukuba with a major in sculpture. In 2006, Suenobu's manga series, Life won the Kodansha Manga Award for best shōjo manga. Life and her manga series Limit were adapted for broadcast as live-action television drama series. Bullying is a recurring theme in her stories.
Shinya Yoshihara (吉原 慎也, Yoshihara Shinya; born April 19, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is married to…Shinya Yoshihara (吉原 慎也, Yoshihara Shinya; born April 19, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is married to well-known professional Go player Yukari Yoshihara (née Yukari Umezawa), who is known for her work in spreading and teaching Go, especially in the worldwide-distributed manga and anime series Hikaru no Go.
Toshihide Matsui (松井 俊英, Matsui Toshihide; born 19 April 1978) is a professional Japanese tennis player. He has a…Toshihide Matsui (松井 俊英, Matsui Toshihide; born 19 April 1978) is a professional Japanese tennis player. He has a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 261 achieved on 12 June 2006 and a doubles ranking of No. 121 achieved on 27 May 2024. He is currently the oldest active singles player in the ATP world doubles rankings.
Ryota Tsuzuki (都築 龍太, Tsuzuki Ryōta; born April 18, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He played six times for…Ryota Tsuzuki (都築 龍太, Tsuzuki Ryōta; born April 18, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He played six times for Japan national team.
Miho Sato (佐藤 美保, Satō Miho; née Sugimori; born 14 April 1978) is a retired Japanese athlete specialising in…Miho Sato (佐藤 美保, Satō Miho; née Sugimori; born 14 April 1978) is a retired Japanese athlete specialising in middle-distance events. From Ise, Mie, she competed in the 800 metres at the 2004 Summer Olympics without reaching the semifinals. She is married to a long-distance runner, Atsushi Sato.
Tomoko Ogawa (尾川 智子, Ogawa Tomoko; born April 14, 1978) is a Japanese boulderer. In 2012, she sent Catharsis, a boulder…Tomoko Ogawa (尾川 智子, Ogawa Tomoko; born April 14, 1978) is a Japanese boulderer. In 2012, she sent Catharsis, a boulder route in Shiobara established by Dai Koyamada, and confirmed by Daniel Woods, to become the first-ever woman to climb an 8B+ (V14) route. Ogawa began climbing in 2000, at age 22. Her other notable ascents of boulders include Caramba 8A+ (V12), Mutante 8A+ (V12), Akugeki 8A/8A+ , Atomic Playboy 8A (V11), Hatchling 8A (V11), and No Late Tenders 8A (V11).
Kyohei Sakaguchi (坂口 恭平, Sakaguchi Kyōhei; born 13 April 1978) is a Japanese artist and architect who was born in…Kyohei Sakaguchi (坂口 恭平, Sakaguchi Kyōhei; born 13 April 1978) is a Japanese artist and architect who was born in Kumamoto. He graduated from Waseda University's department of architecture in 2001. He is most known for his Zero Yen Project, which involves studying structures built at no cost, such as shanties made by the homeless. The Zero Yen Project involved building dwellings after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant meltdowns following the March 2011 earthquake, and subsequent tsunami that devastated the Tohuku region. In response to the disaster, he created a suicide help line using his personal cell phone. Later he studied provisional dwellings made from scrap wood, discarded cardboard boxes and other scavenged materials. In 2004 is photographic book Zero Yen House was published. In 2013 his book, Build Your Own Independent Nation, was published. In 2014, he wrote a novel, Genjitsu Dasshutsuron (Thesis on Escaping Reality). In 2020 his book Kurushii Toki wa Denwa Shite (Call Me When You're in Pain) was published. Sakaguchi's work has been exhibited at the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, the Trax Gallery in Yamanashi Prefecture, the Vancouver Art Gallery, as well as exhibitions in Nairobi, Berkeley, California, Philadelphia, Tokyo, the Walter Phillips Gallery at Banff Centre, Canada, Museo Desafinado / Casa Endeble in Mexico City, among other international venues
Sakura Hirota (広田さくら, Hirota sakura) is a Japanese politician and professional wrestler. She is currently a freelancer…Sakura Hirota (広田さくら, Hirota sakura) is a Japanese politician and professional wrestler. She is currently a freelancer who is best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Gaea, Pro Wrestling Wave and Oz Academy. Hirota's later career is characterized by being a comedy wrestler who oft appears as a doppelgänger of other wrestlers, dressing up as and portraying their mannerisms in an exaggerated, poorly executed way for comedic effect. Hirota sometimes even ironically imitates her own opponent, examples include: Saki Akai and Asuka. She tentatively retired on June 2, 2025, due to her pursuing a career in politics; in the process, she left Pro Wrestling Wave. However she resumed full time activity in August 2025 as a result of having lost her local House of Councillors election. She became representative of the Katsushika Ward Assembly in Tokyo as of 2026, a result of winning the assembly election in November 2025.
Yasuji Ohagi (大萩康司, Ohagi Yasuji) is a Japanese classical guitarist. He has been named a "guitar poet" by Japanese…Yasuji Ohagi (大萩康司, Ohagi Yasuji) is a Japanese classical guitarist. He has been named a "guitar poet" by Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shinbun.
Akiko Sekiwa (Japanese: 関和 章子; born April 6, 1978, in Tokoro, Hokkaido, Japan as Akiko Katoh, Japanese: 加藤 章子) is a…Akiko Sekiwa (Japanese: 関和 章子; born April 6, 1978, in Tokoro, Hokkaido, Japan as Akiko Katoh, Japanese: 加藤 章子) is a Japanese curler and curling coach, a four-time Pacific-Asian champion (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998) and a four-time Japan women's champion (1997, 1998, 1999, 2001). She played for Japan at the 1998 Winter Olympics, where the Japanese team finished in fifth place. Also, she competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics, where the Japanese team finished in eighth place.
