Hiroyuki Watanabe (渡邉博幸, Watanabe Hiroyuki; born June 29, 1970) is a Japanese former professional baseball utility…Hiroyuki Watanabe (渡邉博幸, Watanabe Hiroyuki; born June 29, 1970) is a Japanese former professional baseball utility player. He played for the Chunichi Dragons. He is currently the second team infield defense and baserunning for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Western League.
Takeshi Konomi (許斐 剛, Konomi Takeshi; born June 26, 1970) is a Japanese manga artist, known for creating the manga…Takeshi Konomi (許斐 剛, Konomi Takeshi; born June 26, 1970) is a Japanese manga artist, known for creating the manga series The Prince of Tennis. On February 25, 2023, it was reported Konomi is unable to walk and has to use a wheelchair. As of June 2023, Konomi seems to have recovered as he states he was able to attend Tenipuri Festa from the audience and posts a photo of him standing without assistance.
Chiyori Masuchi (増地 千代里, Masuchi Chiyori; née Tateno (立野); born 25 June 1970 in Moriguchi, Osaka) is a retired Japanese…Chiyori Masuchi (増地 千代里, Masuchi Chiyori; née Tateno (立野); born 25 June 1970 in Moriguchi, Osaka) is a retired Japanese judoka.
Yoshitaka Ito (伊藤 喜剛, Itō Yoshitaka; born 23 June 1970) is a retired Japanese athlete who specialised in sprinting…Yoshitaka Ito (伊藤 喜剛, Itō Yoshitaka; born 23 June 1970) is a retired Japanese athlete who specialised in sprinting events. He represented his country at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics. He won a gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games in the 4 × 100 m relay, while his best individual success was winning bronze at the 1995 Asian Athletics Championships in the 100 m.
Tadahiro Sasaki (佐々木 忠広, Sasaki Tadahiro) (born June 22, 1970, in Niigata) is a retired boxer from Japan, who competed…Tadahiro Sasaki (佐々木 忠広, Sasaki Tadahiro) (born June 22, 1970, in Niigata) is a retired boxer from Japan, who competed for his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
Masanori Murakawa (村川 政徳, Murakawa Masanori; born July 18, 1969), best known under his ring name The Great Sasuke…Masanori Murakawa (村川 政徳, Murakawa Masanori; born July 18, 1969), best known under his ring name The Great Sasuke (ザ・グレート・サスケ, Za Gurēto Sasuke), is a Japanese professional wrestler, professional wrestling promoter and politician. He is the founder of Michinoku Pro Wrestling (MPW). He currently wrestles in Japan and in the United States in various independent circuits. Aside from professional wrestling, he is also a former Iwate Prefectural Assembly legislator. He is said to have an incredible tolerance for pain, mainly in reference to the injuries he has had including a cracked skull on two occasions.
Kenji Watanabe (渡辺 健司, Watanabe Kenji; July 17, 1969 – September 18, 2017) was a Japanese breaststroke swimmer. He…Kenji Watanabe (渡辺 健司, Watanabe Kenji; July 17, 1969 – September 18, 2017) was a Japanese breaststroke swimmer. He represented his native country in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1984. His best Olympic result was the 7th place (2:14.70) in the Men's 200m Breaststroke event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He was the grandson of Hisakichi Toyoda, who won a gold medal in the 4 × 200 m freestyle in the 1932 Summer Olympics. At the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, Watanabe won the gold medal in the 200m breaststroke and the bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke. Watanabe again won gold in the 200m breaststroke at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. He also won silver medals in the 100m breaststroke and the 4 × 100 m medley relay. Watanabe died at his home on September 18, 2017 at 48 years old.
Henry Armstrong Miller (July 16, 1969 – January 29, 2026), known under the shikona Sentoryū Henri (戦闘竜 扁利), was a…Henry Armstrong Miller (July 16, 1969 – January 29, 2026), known under the shikona Sentoryū Henri (戦闘竜 扁利), was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler and MMA fighter, raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Sentoryū was the first wrestler from the United States mainland to reach the top makuuchi division. Sentoryū made his professional debut in 1988 and reached a highest rank of maegashira 12 before retiring in 2003. He last competed in MMA in 2013, losing to Kazuhiro Nakamura.
Aki Nagatomi (永富 有紀, Nagatomi Aki) (born 15 July 1969) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed at the 1996…Aki Nagatomi (永富 有紀, Nagatomi Aki) (born 15 July 1969) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where she finished in ninth place. Nagatomi won the bronze medal at the 1994 Goodwill Games in Saint Petersburg.
Kazushi Sakuraba (Japanese: 桜庭 和志, Sakuraba Kazushi; born July 14, 1969) is a Japanese professional wrestler…Kazushi Sakuraba (Japanese: 桜庭 和志, Sakuraba Kazushi; born July 14, 1969) is a Japanese professional wrestler, submission wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is performing as a freelancer, primarily appearing for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he was formerly one-half of the former GHC Tag Team Champions with Takashi Sugiura. He has also competed in traditional puroresu for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and shoot-style competition for UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling (KPW). He has fought in MMA competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride Fighting Championships, Hero's, Dream and most recently Rizin Fighting Federation. He is known as the Gracie Hunter or the Gracie Killer due to his wins over four members of the famed Gracie family: Royler Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Ryan Gracie, and Royce Gracie. Sakuraba is famous for beating 15 champions of different top MMA organizations; opponents who were often many weight-classes above him. Known for his excellent skills in catch wrestling and unorthodox fighting style, he is considered one of the greatest mixed martial art fighters of all time, and holds notable victories over seven UFC champions, three Pancrase Champions, a DREAM champion, a King of the Cage champion and Battlecade Extreme Fighting champion; former Welterweight Champion Carlos Newton, two former Light heavyweight champions Vitor Belfort and Quinton Jackson, former Heavyweight Champion Kevin Randleman, three-time UFC Tournament champion Royce Gracie, former Superfight champion and King of Pancrase Ken Shamrock, former UFC Tournament champion and King of Pancrase Guy Mezger, former King of Pancrase Masakatsu Funaki, DREAM Super Hulk Tournament Champion Ikuhisa Minowa, former King of the Cage Light Heavyweight champion Vernon White, and former Battlecade Extreme Fighting champion Marcus Silveira. He is also the first of only two Japanese UFC champions. Sakuraba's Pride fights routinely drew over 20 million viewers in Japan. Sakuraba is the founder of the submission wrestling promotion Quintet, where he has competed since 2018.
Yumi Natta (born 12 July 1969) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. She was part of the Japan women's national…Yumi Natta (born 12 July 1969) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. She was part of the Japan women's national volleyball team at the 1994 FIVB World Championship in Brazil, where she finished in seventh place. She helped Japan win the bronze medal at the 1994 Goodwill Games in Saint Petersburg. On club level, she played with Daiei.
Kazuyuki Nakane (中根 一幸, Nakane Kazuyuki; born 11 July 1969) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of…Kazuyuki Nakane (中根 一幸, Nakane Kazuyuki; born 11 July 1969) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Kōnosu, Saitama he attended Nippon Sport Science University as an undergraduate and Senshu University as a graduate student. He was elected to the Diet for the first time in 2005 after unsuccessfully running for mayor of his hometown Kōnosu in 2001.
Masayo Tanabu (田名部 匡代, Tanabu Masayo; born 10 July 1969) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Councillors…Masayo Tanabu (田名部 匡代, Tanabu Masayo; born 10 July 1969) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
Yūne Sugihara (Japanese: 杉原有音, Hepburn: Sugihara Yūne), born Yasuhiro Sugihara (杉原 康弘) and better known by his stage…Yūne Sugihara (Japanese: 杉原有音, Hepburn: Sugihara Yūne), born Yasuhiro Sugihara (杉原 康弘) and better known by his stage name Sugizo, is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known as the lead guitarist and violinist of the rock band Luna Sea since 1989. Sugizo started his solo career in 1997 and has since collaborated with a variety of different artists. He formed the psychedelic jam band Shag in 2002, the rock duo The Flare in 2004, and the electronica duo S.T.K (Sensual Technology Kooks) in 2005. In 2007 he became a member of the international trance/world music act Juno Reactor, and of the Japanese rock supergroup S.K.I.N. Sugizo officially joined the rock band X Japan in 2009, and became a member of the supergroup The Last Rockstars in 2022. In addition to being known for experimenting with many musical genres, mostly rock, psychedelic and electronica, he is known for his political views and for being an anti-war, anti-nuclear, and environmental activist.
Shiro Kikuhara (菊原 志郎, Kikuhara Shirō; born July 7, 1969) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Shiro Kikuhara (菊原 志郎, Kikuhara Shirō; born July 7, 1969) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Hideaki Okubo (大久保 秀昭, Okubo Hideaki; born July 3, 1969) is a Japanese baseball catcher who won a silver medal in the…Hideaki Okubo (大久保 秀昭, Okubo Hideaki; born July 3, 1969) is a Japanese baseball catcher who won a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics. He also played for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes in the Pacific League from 1998 to 2000.
Ryō Adachi (安達 亮, Adachi Ryō; born July 2, 1969) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He is the current…Ryō Adachi (安達 亮, Adachi Ryō; born July 2, 1969) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He is the current manager of J2 League club Kataller Toyama .
So Taguchi (田口 壮, Taguchi Sō; born July 2, 1969) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played in…So Taguchi (田口 壮, Taguchi Sō; born July 2, 1969) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix BlueWave / Buffaloes, and in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs. Taguchi is the third Japanese-born player to win a World Series after Hideki Irabu in 1998 and Tadahito Iguchi in 2005. Taguchi is also the first Japanese player to win two World Series with different teams – with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006 and the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.
Shinjiro Hiyama (桧山 進次郎, Hiyama Shinjirō; Korean: 황진환; Hanja: 黄進煥; RR: Hwang Jinhwan; born July 1, 1969) is a…Shinjiro Hiyama (桧山 進次郎, Hiyama Shinjirō; Korean: 황진환; Hanja: 黄進煥; RR: Hwang Jinhwan; born July 1, 1969) is a Korean-born Japanese baseball player from Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. He plays as an outfielder for the Hanshin Tigers of the Central League.
Shigenari Izumi (和泉 茂徳, Izumi Shigenari; born 30 June 1969) is a Japanese former footballer and former manager of Ehime…Shigenari Izumi (和泉 茂徳, Izumi Shigenari; born 30 June 1969) is a Japanese former footballer and former manager of Ehime FC.
Tōru Hashimoto (橋下 徹, Hashimoto Tōru; born 29 June 1969) is a Japanese television personality, former politician, and…Tōru Hashimoto (橋下 徹, Hashimoto Tōru; born 29 June 1969) is a Japanese television personality, former politician, and lawyer. He is a former governor of Osaka Prefecture and mayor of City of Osaka. He is a founder of Nippon Ishin no Kai and the Osaka Restoration Association. He is one of Japan's leading right-wing conservative-populist politicians.
Yasuto Honda (本田 泰人, Honda Yasuto; born June 25, 1969) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Yasuto Honda (本田 泰人, Honda Yasuto; born June 25, 1969) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Akihiro Hino (日野 晃博, Hino Akihiro; born July 20, 1968) is a Japanese video game designer, producer, scriptwriter, and…Akihiro Hino (日野 晃博, Hino Akihiro; born July 20, 1968) is a Japanese video game designer, producer, scriptwriter, and businessman. He is the founder, president, and chief executive officer of Level-5. Hino has held multiple roles in game development, including programming, scenario writing, directing, and executive production.
Aya Sugimoto (杉本 彩, Sugimoto Aya; born July 19, 1968) is a Japanese TV personality, actress, dancer, author, gravure…Aya Sugimoto (杉本 彩, Sugimoto Aya; born July 19, 1968) is a Japanese TV personality, actress, dancer, author, gravure idol and singer born in Kyoto. She also had a J-pop career in the late 1980s to the early 1990s.
Yukinori Miyabe (宮部 行範, Miyabe Yukinori; 18 July 1968 – 7 March 2017) was a Japanese speed skater who competed in the…Yukinori Miyabe (宮部 行範, Miyabe Yukinori; 18 July 1968 – 7 March 2017) was a Japanese speed skater who competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics and the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Tatsuji Nishimura (西村 龍次, Nishimura Tatsuji; born July 18, 1968, in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Tatsuji Nishimura (西村 龍次, Nishimura Tatsuji; born July 18, 1968, in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Hideyuki Kurata (倉田 英之, Kurata Hideyuki; born July 9, 1968 in Ibara, Okayama Prefecture) is a Japanese anime…Hideyuki Kurata (倉田 英之, Kurata Hideyuki; born July 9, 1968 in Ibara, Okayama Prefecture) is a Japanese anime screenwriter, light novelist, and manga artist, noted for authoring the series composition of such works as Read or Die, Now and Then, Here and There, Kamichu!, and Gun Sword. He has been a member of Yōsuke Kuroda's creative group Studio Orphee since 2003, and has collaborated with Kuroda on many series, including Hellsing Ultimate, Drifters, and Goblin Slayer.
Susumu Aoyagi (青柳 進, Aoyagi Susumu) was a professional baseball player. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)…Susumu Aoyagi (青柳 進, Aoyagi Susumu) was a professional baseball player. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Lotte Orions/Chiba Lotte Marines in the Japan Pacific League and the Yakult Swallows in the Japan Central League.
Yuka Onishi or Ohnishi (大西結花, Ōnishi Yuka, born July 6, 1968, in Toyonaka-shi, Osaka prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese…Yuka Onishi or Ohnishi (大西結花, Ōnishi Yuka, born July 6, 1968, in Toyonaka-shi, Osaka prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actress and idol singer in the 1980s, notable in the west for her role in the TV series Sukeban Deka III in 1987 and its following movies, Sukeban Deka: The Movie and Sukeban Deka II.
Minatofuji Takayuki (Japanese: 湊富士 孝行; born 6 July 1968 as Takayuki Miura (三浦孝行)) is a Japanese former professional…Minatofuji Takayuki (Japanese: 湊富士 孝行; born 6 July 1968 as Takayuki Miura (三浦孝行)) is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Annaka, Gunma. He made his professional debut in March 1984, and his highest rank was maegashira 2. He retired in 2002, and in 2010 became the head coach of Minato stable.
Kenji Ito (伊藤 賢治, Itō Kenji; born July 5, 1968), also known by the nickname Itoken (イトケン), is a Japanese video game…Kenji Ito (伊藤 賢治, Itō Kenji; born July 5, 1968), also known by the nickname Itoken (イトケン), is a Japanese video game composer and musician. He is best known for his work on the Mana and SaGa series, though he has worked on over 30 video games throughout his career as well as composed or arranged music for over 15 other albums, concerts, and plays. He learned to play several instruments at a young age, and joined Square directly out of college as a composer in 1990 at the advice of a professor. He worked there for over a decade, composing many of his best-known scores. In 2001, he left Square to become a freelance composer, but has since continued to collaborate with the company. Since leaving Square, Ito has composed soundtracks to over a dozen games, and has branched out into composition and production of music for plays and albums for other performers. Ito's work has been performed in a concert dedicated to his pieces as well as general video game music events, and he has played the piano in additional concerts. Pieces of his from the SaGa and Mana series have been arranged as piano solos and published in sheet music books.
Ken Akamatsu (Japanese: 赤松 健, Hepburn: Akamatsu Ken; born July 5, 1968) is a Japanese manga artist and politician who…Ken Akamatsu (Japanese: 赤松 健, Hepburn: Akamatsu Ken; born July 5, 1968) is a Japanese manga artist and politician who has served since 2022 as a member of the House of Councillors. He made his professional manga debut in 1993, and is best known as the author of Love Hina (1998–2001) and Negima! Magister Negi Magi (2003–2012), both serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine; a sequel to Negima!, UQ Holder!, was serialized from 2013 to 2022. In 2011, Akamatsu founded J-Comi (now Manga Library Z), a free digital distributor of out-of-print manga. Akamatsu has been a managing director of the Japan Cartoonists Association since 2018, and is a vocal advocate for protecting freedom of expression in manga and anime from expansions in censorship and copyright law. In the 2022 Japanese House of Councillors election, he won a seat as a candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party in the national proportional representation block on a free expression platform, becoming the first manga creator in the National Diet. On November 13, 2024, he was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Reconstruction as part of the Second Ishiba Cabinet. On September 18, 2026, he was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Digital Agency and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Cabinet Office as part of the September 2026 cabinet reshuffle of the Second Takaichi Cabinet.
Masakazu Natsuda (夏田 昌和 Natsuda Masakazu, born 2 July 1968 in Tokyo) is a Japanese composer, former student of Gérard…Masakazu Natsuda (夏田 昌和 Natsuda Masakazu, born 2 July 1968 in Tokyo) is a Japanese composer, former student of Gérard Grisey at the Conservatoire de Paris.
Sadaharu Aoki (青木 定治, Aoki Sadaharu; born 1 July 1968) is a Japanese chef patissier at the pâtisserie Sadaharu Aoki in…Sadaharu Aoki (青木 定治, Aoki Sadaharu; born 1 July 1968) is a Japanese chef patissier at the pâtisserie Sadaharu Aoki in Paris, France. He is known for using traditional Japanese ingredients and flavors in French-style pastries. His style is defined as a combination of minimalistic aesthetics with rigorous French techniques. He is also known as a food consultant for Yumeiro Pâtissière manga, as claimed by the series author Natsumi Matsumoto.
Makoto Yamashita (山下真, Yamashita Makoto; born June 1968) is a Japanese politician and the current governor of Nara…Makoto Yamashita (山下真, Yamashita Makoto; born June 1968) is a Japanese politician and the current governor of Nara Prefecture in Japan.
Tetsuya Nishio (西尾 鉄也, Nishio Tetsuya; born 23 June 1968 in Aichi Prefecture) is a Japanese animator, character…Tetsuya Nishio (西尾 鉄也, Nishio Tetsuya; born 23 June 1968 in Aichi Prefecture) is a Japanese animator, character designer and puzzle setter. Nishio began his career as an inbetweener for the TV series Osomatsu-kun (1988). He worked for Studio Pierrot on Ninku (1995-1996). Since he was hired to work on Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999), he has worked for Production I.G., having previously done freelance work. Minipato came about because Nishio made some promotional character illustrations which Patlabor series creator Oshii liked. Nishio was also a key animator on Millennium Actress (2001), and The Cat Returns (2002). He won the Tokyo Anime Award for best character design at the Tokyo International Anime Fair for his work on The Sky Crawlers in 2009. Nishio is particularly noted for his designs of older men. Masashi Kishimoto requested that Tetsuya Nishio oversee the character designs of Naruto when the manga was adapted into an anime series. An artbook has been released of his works, called The Art of Tetsuya Nishio: Full Spectrum. Nishio is also a professional puzzle setter. Described by the The Times as "the undisputed grand puzzle master of sudoku", he creates about 15 puzzles per day (as of 2025). He is also credited with the invention of killer sudoku, a sudoku variation.
Lee Jae-yong (Korean: 이재용; born June 23, 1968) is a South Korean business executive who has been chairman of Samsung…Lee Jae-yong (Korean: 이재용; born June 23, 1968) is a South Korean business executive who has been chairman of Samsung since October 2022. In 2017, Lee was convicted of bribery, embezzlement, and concealment of criminal proceeds. He served a prison sentence until being pardoned by President Yoon Suk Yeol in August 2022. Born into the family that controls the Samsung conglomerate, Lee has held various positions in the company since joining Samsung in 1991. Lee has consistently ranked among the wealthiest persons in South Korea, with a net worth reaching tens of billions of dollars. He has also been named to Forbes’ list of the world’s top 100 billionaries.
Hideo Yamamoto (山本英夫, Yamamoto Hideo) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known as the creator of the manga series…Hideo Yamamoto (山本英夫, Yamamoto Hideo) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known as the creator of the manga series Ichi the Killer, which was adapted into a live-action film by Takashi Miike in 2001, and Homunculus. Recurring themes in his manga are crime, sexual deviations, and the human mind.
Takashi Morita (森田 高, Morita Takashi; born July 22, 1967) is a Japanese politician of People's New Party, an…Takashi Morita (森田 高, Morita Takashi; born July 22, 1967) is a Japanese politician of People's New Party, an independent and member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Shōji Tōyama (遠山 奨志, Tōyama Shōji; born July 21, 1967, in Ashikita, Kumamoto, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Shōji Tōyama (遠山 奨志, Tōyama Shōji; born July 21, 1967, in Ashikita, Kumamoto, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher and coach.
Akihito Sugisawa (杉沢 明人, Sugisawa Akihito; born 20 July 1967) is a Japanese former ice hockey player. He competed in…Akihito Sugisawa (杉沢 明人, Sugisawa Akihito; born 20 July 1967) is a Japanese former ice hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Yoko Minamoto (源洋子, Minamoto Yoko, born 18 July 1967) is a Japanese sport shooter who competed in the 1988 Summer…Yoko Minamoto (源洋子, Minamoto Yoko, born 18 July 1967) is a Japanese sport shooter who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics, in the 1992 Summer Olympics, and in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Kazuaki Sasaki (佐々木 一昭, Sasaki Kazuaki; born 17 July 1967) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the team…Kazuaki Sasaki (佐々木 一昭, Sasaki Kazuaki; born 17 July 1967) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the team pursuit event at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He later became a professional keirin cyclist with over 200 wins.
Makoto Kitano (北野 誠, Kitano Makoto; born July 17, 1967) is a former Japanese football player and manager, currently in…Makoto Kitano (北野 誠, Kitano Makoto; born July 17, 1967) is a former Japanese football player and manager, currently in charge of Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara.
