Hiroko Yamanaka (山中 裕子, Yamanaka Hiroko), more commonly known simply as Hiroko (styled in capitals) and nicknamed…Hiroko Yamanaka (山中 裕子, Yamanaka Hiroko), more commonly known simply as Hiroko (styled in capitals) and nicknamed Incomplete Queen (未完の女王, mikan no joō) or Cat's Eye, is a retired Japanese female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. She fought for Invicta FC, Strikeforce and Jewels, and was the final Smackgirl Open Weight Champion. Yamanaka announced her retirement on August 6, 2013 (2013-08-06).
Ari Ichihashi (市橋 有里, Ichihashi Ari; born 22 November 1977 in Naruto, Tokushima) is a Japanese long-distance runner who…Ari Ichihashi (市橋 有里, Ichihashi Ari; born 22 November 1977 in Naruto, Tokushima) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon race. She won the silver medal at the 1999 World Championships in Seville in a personal best time of 2:27:02 hours. She finished 15th at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Kaori Niyanagi (original name: 二柳 かおり, born (1977-11-21)21 November 1977 in Shiga) was a Japanese female weightlifter…Kaori Niyanagi (original name: 二柳 かおり, born (1977-11-21)21 November 1977 in Shiga) was a Japanese female weightlifter, competing in the 48 kg category and representing Japan at international competitions. She participated at the 2000 Summer Olympics in the 48 kg event. She competed at world championships, most recently at the 1999 World Weightlifting Championships.
Yosei Ide (井出庸生, Ide Yosei; born 21 November 1977) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…Yosei Ide (井出庸生, Ide Yosei; born 21 November 1977) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2012. He is the nephew of Shoichi Ide and the grandson of Ichitaro Ide.
Yoshiteru Yamashita (山下 芳輝, Yamashita Yoshiteru; born November 21, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He…Yoshiteru Yamashita (山下 芳輝, Yamashita Yoshiteru; born November 21, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Makoto Yoshino (吉野 誠, born November 19, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional…Makoto Yoshino (吉野 誠, born November 19, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Hanshin Tigers from 2000 to 2007 and the Orix Buffaloes from 2008 to 2013.
Naoko Kawakami (川上 直子, Kawakami Naoko; born November 16, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. She played for…Naoko Kawakami (川上 直子, Kawakami Naoko; born November 16, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Motohiko Saitō (斎藤 元彦, Saitō Motohiko; born 15 November 1977) is a Japanese politician and the 53rd and 54th governor…Motohiko Saitō (斎藤 元彦, Saitō Motohiko; born 15 November 1977) is a Japanese politician and the 53rd and 54th governor of Hyōgo Prefecture in Japan.
Taishin Kohiruimaki (小比類巻 太信, Kohiruimaki Taishin; born November 7, 1977) is a Japanese welterweight kickboxer and…Taishin Kohiruimaki (小比類巻 太信, Kohiruimaki Taishin; born November 7, 1977) is a Japanese welterweight kickboxer and karateka competing in K-1 MAX. His real name is Takayuki Kohiruimaki. He started calling himself Taishin Kohiruimaki in 2008.
Yoshihiro Sakai (坂井良宏, Sakai Yoshihiro; born November 5, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his…Yoshihiro Sakai (坂井良宏, Sakai Yoshihiro; born November 5, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Super Sasadango Machine (スーパー・ササダンゴ・マシン, Sūpā Sasadango Mashin) who works for the Japanese professional wrestling promotion DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT).
Makoto Tsuruga (敦賀 信人, Tsuruga Makoto; born November 3, 1977 in Kitami, Hokkaido) is a Japanese curler. He represented…Makoto Tsuruga (敦賀 信人, Tsuruga Makoto; born November 3, 1977 in Kitami, Hokkaido) is a Japanese curler. He represented Japan at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, where the Japanese team placed 5th. He was the skip for the Japanese team at the 2010 World Men's Curling Championship.
Chikara Fujimoto (藤本 主税, Fujimoto Chikara; born October 31, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He played twice…Chikara Fujimoto (藤本 主税, Fujimoto Chikara; born October 31, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He played twice for Japan national team.
Hokutōriki Hideki (born October 31, 1977, as Hideki Kimura) is a former sumo wrestler, from Tochigi, Japan. He reached…Hokutōriki Hideki (born October 31, 1977, as Hideki Kimura) is a former sumo wrestler, from Tochigi, Japan. He reached the top makuuchi division in 2002 and was runner-up in three tournaments. He had four special prizes in his career and a gold star for defeating a yokozuna. The highest rank he reached was sekiwake. He retired in May 2011 and is an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and a coach at Kokonoe stable.
Makoto Hirose (廣瀬 誠, Hirose Makoto; born 22 November 1976) is a Japanese Paralympic judoka in Lightweight. In 2004 he…Makoto Hirose (廣瀬 誠, Hirose Makoto; born 22 November 1976) is a Japanese Paralympic judoka in Lightweight. In 2004 he won the silver medal in the men's 60 kg, but was not upgraded when Sergio Arturo Perez was stripped of his gold medal after testing positive for a banned substance. In 2008 he made it to the quarter-finals but lost to Mouloud Noura (Algeria). In 2012 he switched to 66 kg (half-lightweight) and lost the semi-final to Zhao Xu (China). The 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio will be his fourth Games. In the 60 kg, he won his second silver medal when Sherzod Namozov (Uzbekistan) beat him in the final. At the 2010 Asian Para Games he won a bronze medal in the men's -66 kg event.
Sakura Nomura (能村 さくら, nomura sakura; born on (1976-11-22)November 22, 1976) is a Japanese female mixed martial artist…Sakura Nomura (能村 さくら, nomura sakura; born on (1976-11-22)November 22, 1976) is a Japanese female mixed martial artist and kickboxer.
Atsushi Yoneyama (米山 篤志, Yoneyama Atsushi; born November 20, 1976) is a former Japanese football player and manager who…Atsushi Yoneyama (米山 篤志, Yoneyama Atsushi; born November 20, 1976) is a former Japanese football player and manager who played once for the Japan national team.
Tomoaki Honma (本間 朋晃, Honma Tomoaki; born November 18, 1976) is a Japanese professional wrestler primarily working for…Tomoaki Honma (本間 朋晃, Honma Tomoaki; born November 18, 1976) is a Japanese professional wrestler primarily working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). In NJPW, he is a former one-time IWGP Tag Team Champion and a two-time World Tag League winner with Togi Makabe.
Atsushi Nonaka (野中 厚, Nonaka Atsushi; born 17 November 1976) is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of…Atsushi Nonaka (野中 厚, Nonaka Atsushi; born 17 November 1976) is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of Representatives.
Takehiro Sakamoto (坂本 豪大, Sakamoto Takehiro; born 16 November 1976) is a Japanese freestyle skier. He competed in the…Takehiro Sakamoto (坂本 豪大, Sakamoto Takehiro; born 16 November 1976) is a Japanese freestyle skier. He competed in the men's moguls event at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Hiroshi Tanahashi (棚橋弘至, Tanahashi Hiroshi; born November 13, 1976) is a Japanese sports executive, podcaster and…Hiroshi Tanahashi (棚橋弘至, Tanahashi Hiroshi; born November 13, 1976) is a Japanese sports executive, podcaster and retired professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he serves as the president and representative director, whilst also wrestling for them from 1999 until 2026. Hiroshi Tanahashi has held 26 championships in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), including a record eight reigns as IWGP Heavyweight Champion and three as IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion. His other titles include two IWGP Intercontinental Championships, one NJPW World Television Championship, three IWGP Tag Team Championships, one NEVER Openweight Championship, six NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships, and two IWGP U-30 Openweight Championships. Tanahashi won the G1 Climax tournament three times, in 2007, 2015, and 2018, and the New Japan Cup twice, in 2005 and 2008. He was also the fourth wrestler to complete NJPW's Triple Crown and the second to achieve its Grand Slam. Through NJPW's working agreements with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), Pro Wrestling NOAH, Ring of Honor (ROH), All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Revolution Pro Wrestling, Tanahashi has also held the CMLL World Tag Team Championship, the CMLL World Trios Championship, the CMLL Universal Championship, GHC Tag Team Championship, and the RevPro British Heavyweight Championship. Between NJPW, CMLL, Noah, ROH and RevPro, he has 27 championship reigns. When Tanahashi was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame in 2013, Dave Meltzer stated that "you could make a strong case for him as the best in-ring performer in the business today", adding that he was "the leading star in New Japan Pro-Wrestling's comeback from being in terrible shape a few years back to being the No. 2 pro wrestling company in the world". Readers of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter named Tanahashi as the best wrestler of the 2010s in March 2020.
Atsushi Fujita (藤田 敦史, Fujita Atsushi; born November 6, 1976 in Shirakawa, Fukushima) is a former long-distance runner…Atsushi Fujita (藤田 敦史, Fujita Atsushi; born November 6, 1976 in Shirakawa, Fukushima) is a former long-distance runner from Japan.
Yuichiro Saito (齋藤優一郎, Saitō Yūichirō; born November 5, 1976) is a Japanese film producer. He is the founder and…Yuichiro Saito (齋藤優一郎, Saitō Yūichirō; born November 5, 1976) is a Japanese film producer. He is the founder and current president of Studio Chizu. Saito studied in the US. In 1999, he joined the animation studio Madhouse, where he participated in several animation projects led by Masao Maruyama. In 2004, Saito met Mamoru Hosoda, eight years before they founded Studio Chizu. They worked together in the opening of Shinichiro Watanabe’s Samurai Champloo (2004). Saito produced Hosoda's films The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006) and Summer Wars (2009). In 2011, Saito left Madhouse and joined Hosoda to found Studio Chizu. Saito has been nominated for Best Animated Feature Film APSA with Summer Wars, Wolf Children, and Mirai. Saito was also nominated for the 91st Oscars Award in the Best Animated Film category with Hosada's film Mirai.
Tetsurō Araki (荒木 哲郎, Araki Tetsurō; born November 5, 1976) is a Japanese animator, storyboard artist, and director. He…Tetsurō Araki (荒木 哲郎, Araki Tetsurō; born November 5, 1976) is a Japanese animator, storyboard artist, and director. He goes by the alias Mochizuki Saburō (望月 三郎) when working as an episode director and key animator. He is best known as the director of the widely acclaimed anime adaptations of Death Note and the first three seasons of Attack on Titan.
Kenji Inoue (井上 謙二, Inoue Kenji) (born November 5, 1976, in Kyoto) is a Japanese wrestler who won the bronze medal in…Kenji Inoue (井上 謙二, Inoue Kenji) (born November 5, 1976, in Kyoto) is a Japanese wrestler who won the bronze medal in the Men's Freestyle 60 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Misako Odani (小谷美紗子) (born November 4, 1976, in Miyazu, Kyoto-fu), is a Japanese singer, songwriter, and pianist.…Misako Odani (小谷美紗子) (born November 4, 1976, in Miyazu, Kyoto-fu), is a Japanese singer, songwriter, and pianist. Misako, whose songs make heavy use of the piano, began playing the instrument at age seven, and studied abroad in Australia in 1994. Since entering the music industry in 1996, she has released eight albums, and many singles. Her most recent album, Koto no Ha (ことの は), was released in May 2010.
Makoto Tamada (玉田誠) (born November 4, 1976, in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese former professional…Makoto Tamada (玉田誠) (born November 4, 1976, in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese former professional motorcycle racer currently working as a rider instructor at Suzuka Racing School. He is one of the few riders to win races in both MotoGP and Superbike World Championship.
Kenji Osawa Japanese: 大沢ケンジ (born November 4, 1976) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist from Tokyo. He debuted…Kenji Osawa Japanese: 大沢ケンジ (born November 4, 1976) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist from Tokyo. He debuted in MMA over a decade ago, and trains and fights out of Wajitsu Keishukai, where he teaches once a week.
Katsuhiro Shiratori (白鳥 勝浩, Shiratori Katsuhiro) (born October 29, 1976) is a beach volleyball player from Japan. He…Katsuhiro Shiratori (白鳥 勝浩, Shiratori Katsuhiro) (born October 29, 1976) is a beach volleyball player from Japan. He represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics with teammate Kentaro Asahi. He also participated in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Tatsuaki Egusa (江種 辰明, Egusa Tatsuaki; born 28 October 1976) is a Japanese judoka. He won a gold medal at the –60 kg…Tatsuaki Egusa (江種 辰明, Egusa Tatsuaki; born 28 October 1976) is a Japanese judoka. He won a gold medal at the –60 kg category in Judo at the 2006 Asian Games. Egusa is from Yukuhashi, Fukuoka. After graduation from Tenri University, He belongs to Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.
Maki Kashimada (鹿島田 真希, Kashimada Maki; born 1976) is a Japanese writer. She has won the Bungei Prize, the Mishima…Maki Kashimada (鹿島田 真希, Kashimada Maki; born 1976) is a Japanese writer. She has won the Bungei Prize, the Mishima Yukio Prize, the Noma Literary Prize, and the Akutagawa Prize.
Masatoshi Toyota (豊田 雅俊, Toyota Masatoshi; born October 25, 1976) is a retired amateur Japanese Greco-Roman wrestler…Masatoshi Toyota (豊田 雅俊, Toyota Masatoshi; born October 25, 1976) is a retired amateur Japanese Greco-Roman wrestler, who competed in the men's featherweight category. He represented his nation Japan at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and then finished eighth in the 55-kg division at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. Having worked as a police officer in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Toyota also served as a member of its wrestling squad under head coach Masakazu Hijikata. Toyota qualified for the Japanese squad in the men's 55 kg class at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Earlier in the process, he defeated Russia's Geidar Mamedaliyev in the final match and received a berth from the second Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He lost his opening match 3–5 to Hungarian wrestler and eventual Olympic champion István Majoros, but wrestled his stretch to score a 10–0 technical fall over Dominican Republic's Jansel Ramírez to close the prelim pool. Placing behind Majoros in the pool and tenth in the final standings, Toyota failed to advance further into the quarterfinals.
Akihisa Ikeda (池田晃久, Ikeda Akihisa; born October 25, 1976) is a Japanese manga artist known for the manga Rosario +…Akihisa Ikeda (池田晃久, Ikeda Akihisa; born October 25, 1976) is a Japanese manga artist known for the manga Rosario + Vampire.
Aiko Yanai (柳井愛子, Yanai Aiko; born 22 November 1975), known simply as Aiko (stylized in smallcaps), is a Japanese…Aiko Yanai (柳井愛子, Yanai Aiko; born 22 November 1975), known simply as Aiko (stylized in smallcaps), is a Japanese singer and songwriter. She is most famous for her hit songs Ashita, Kabutomushi, Hanabi, Sakura no Toki, Boyfriend, and Kira Kira.
Mayumi Yamashita (山下 まゆみ, Yamashita Mayumi; born 22 November 1975) is a Japanese judoka. Yamashita is from Takayama…Mayumi Yamashita (山下 まゆみ, Yamashita Mayumi; born 22 November 1975) is a Japanese judoka. Yamashita is from Takayama, Gifu and began judo when she was in second grade. After graduating from Tohwa University, she began working for the Osaka Prefectural Police. In 2000, Yamashita won the All-Japan Championships and the All-Japan Weight Class Championships (全日本選抜柔道体重別選手権大会, Zennihon senbatsu jūdō taijūbetsu senshuken taikai) and was chosen to represent Japan in the 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney. There she defeated Christine Cicot by Osotogari to win a bronze medal. Yamashita retired after the Kodokan Cup (講道館杯, Kōdōkan-hai) competition in 2003.
Yuko Yoneda (born 8 September 1979) is a Japanese synchronized swimmer who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics. She is…Yuko Yoneda (born 8 September 1979) is a Japanese synchronized swimmer who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics. She is the younger sister of Yoko Yoneda who is also a synchronized swimmer.
Yusaku Maezawa (前澤 友作, Maezawa Yūsaku; born 22 November 1975) is a Japanese billionaire entrepreneur, space tourist…Yusaku Maezawa (前澤 友作, Maezawa Yūsaku; born 22 November 1975) is a Japanese billionaire entrepreneur, space tourist, and art collector. He founded Start Today in 1998 and launched the online fashion retail website Zozotown in 2004, now Japan's largest. Maezawa introduced a custom-fit apparel brand Zozo and at-home measurement system, the Zozosuit, in 2018. As of July 2025, he was estimated by Forbes to have a net worth of $1.5 billion.
Wataru Ikeda (born 17 November 1975) is a Japanese former professional rugby union player. Born in Higashimatsushima…Wataru Ikeda (born 17 November 1975) is a Japanese former professional rugby union player. Born in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, Ikeda attended Miyagi Fisheries High School and got involved in rugby union as his elder brother was a player. He attended Ryutsu Keizai University. Ikeda, a scrum-half, was with Sanyo Wild Knights for the inaugural Top League season in 2003–04 and earned a place in the tournament's best XV. He made his international debut with Japan in 2004 and was in the team for three years, gaining 14 caps, some as captain. In 2008, Ikeda transferred to Ricoh Black Rams, where he remained for the remainder of his career. He was the competition's oldest player at 39-year of age in his final season.
