Tatsuhiko Yamamoto (山本達彦, Yamamoto Tatsuhiko; born March 4, 1954) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and composer born in…Tatsuhiko Yamamoto (山本達彦, Yamamoto Tatsuhiko; born March 4, 1954) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and composer born in Shinjuku, Tokyo. He is considered to have helped pioneer the city pop genre.
Akira Uchiyama (内山 晃, Uchiyama Akira; born 3 March 1954) is a former Japanese politician who served as a member of the…Akira Uchiyama (内山 晃, Uchiyama Akira; born 3 March 1954) is a former Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet national legislature.
Katsuko Kanesaka (金坂 克子, Kanesaka Katsuko) (born 1 March 1954) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion.…Katsuko Kanesaka (金坂 克子, Kanesaka Katsuko) (born 1 March 1954) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. Kanesaka was a member of the Japanese winning team at the 1976 Olympic games.
Yoshinori Tokura (十倉 好紀, Tokura Yoshinori; born March 1, 1954) ForMemRS is a Japanese physicist, Professor at…Yoshinori Tokura (十倉 好紀, Tokura Yoshinori; born March 1, 1954) ForMemRS is a Japanese physicist, Professor at University of Tokyo and Director of Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) at RIKEN. He is a specialist in physics of strongly correlated electron systems and known for his work in high-temperature superconductivity, Mott transition, colossal magnetoresistance, Multiferroics, and magnetic skyrmions.
Masaki Eto (江藤 正基, Etō Masaki; born 26 February 1954) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1984 Summer…Masaki Eto (江藤 正基, Etō Masaki; born 26 February 1954) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Mitsuko Ishii (born 25 February 1954) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors…Mitsuko Ishii (born 25 February 1954) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2016. She represents the National proportional representation block and is a member of the Japan Innovation Party.
Take Yokouchi (横内 タケ, Yokouchi Take), born 22 February 1954 in Tokyo, is a musician best known for his work with the…Take Yokouchi (横内 タケ, Yokouchi Take), born 22 February 1954 in Tokyo, is a musician best known for his work with the Japanese glam rock band Vodka Collins. Take (pronounced Ta-kay, real name Takehiro) was originally a live touring guitar player for the popular teen idol band The Four Leaves. When he was approached to join the new band Vodka Collins in 1971, it was on bass guitar. Yokouchi played bass on the 1973 Vodka Collins singles "Sands Of Time" and "Automatic Pilot" from the "Tokyo - New York" album released on the Toshiba-EMI Express label in November 1973.
Tadahiko Fukuhara (born 1954) is a Japanese academics, professor of civil law, member of the board of INES Corp and…Tadahiko Fukuhara (born 1954) is a Japanese academics, professor of civil law, member of the board of INES Corp and Japan Payment Service Association. In 2011 he became the president and chancellor of Chuo University, prior to that he was dean of the Chuo Graduate Law School at the Chuo University.
Kenji Kitahashi (北橋 健治, Kitahashi Kenji; born 19 March 1953, in Nishinomiya) is a Japanese politician and a former…Kenji Kitahashi (北橋 健治, Kitahashi Kenji; born 19 March 1953, in Nishinomiya) is a Japanese politician and a former mayor of Kitakyushu, Japan. A graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected to the House of Representatives in Diet of Japan (parliament) for the first time in 1986 as a member of Democratic Socialist Party, which later became part of Democratic Party of Japan. After losing his seat in 1990, he was re-elected in 1993. In February 2007 he was elected mayor of Kitakyushu and went on to serve four terms, until 2023.
Takashi Yoshimatsu (吉松 隆, Yoshimatsu Takashi; born March 18, 1953) is a Japanese classical music composer. He is well…Takashi Yoshimatsu (吉松 隆, Yoshimatsu Takashi; born March 18, 1953) is a Japanese classical music composer. He is well known for composing the score for the 2003 remake of Astro Boy.
Kazuyuki Hamada (浜田 和幸, Hamada Kazuyuki; born 17 March 1953) is a Japanese politician. He has served one term in the…Kazuyuki Hamada (浜田 和幸, Hamada Kazuyuki; born 17 March 1953) is a Japanese politician. He has served one term in the House of Councillors for the Tottori At-large district. After being elected in 2010 as a candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party, he changed parties three times before unsuccessfully seeking re-election as an independent candidate in 2016.
Kei Akagi (ケイ 赤城/赤城 恵, Akagi Kei; born March 16, 1953) is a Japanese American jazz pianist. In particular, he is known…Kei Akagi (ケイ 赤城/赤城 恵, Akagi Kei; born March 16, 1953) is a Japanese American jazz pianist. In particular, he is known for his work with the Airto Moreira/Flora Purim group and in Miles Davis's band in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was born in Japan, but lived in Cleveland, Ohio, for part of his childhood, until he moved back to Japan at the age of 12. He later returned to the United States at 22. He is associated with the Californian jazz scene at present. He is the Chancellor Professor of Music at the University of California, Irvine.
Kirinji Kazuharu, real name Kazuharu Tarusawa (9 March 1953 – 1 March 2021) was a sumo wrestler from Kashiwa, Chiba…Kirinji Kazuharu, real name Kazuharu Tarusawa (9 March 1953 – 1 March 2021) was a sumo wrestler from Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1967, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1974. His highest rank was sekiwake. During his long career he won several awards and set a number of longevity records. Upon his retirement in 1988 he became a sumo coach and elder of the Japan Sumo Association, until reaching 65 years of age in 2018.
Mineo Maya (魔夜峰央, Maya Mineo) is a Japanese manga artist born in 1953. His series Patalliro! is one of the best-selling…Mineo Maya (魔夜峰央, Maya Mineo) is a Japanese manga artist born in 1953. His series Patalliro! is one of the best-selling and the longest-running shōjo manga of all time.
Kazuo Kitagawa (北側 一雄, Kitagawa Kazuo; born 2 March 1953) is a retired Japanese politician who served as the Minister…Kazuo Kitagawa (北側 一雄, Kitagawa Kazuo; born 2 March 1953) is a retired Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in the cabinet of Junichiro Koizumi.
Yōko Kamikawa (上川 陽子, Kamikawa Yōko; born 1 March 1953) is a Japanese politician and former think tank researcher who…Yōko Kamikawa (上川 陽子, Kamikawa Yōko; born 1 March 1953) is a Japanese politician and former think tank researcher who served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs between September 2023 and October 2024. She served as the Minister of Justice from September 2020 to October 2021, and also served as Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs in the cabinets of Shinzō Abe and Yasuo Fukuda. She has been a member of the House of Representatives since December 2012.
Kōzō Murashita (村下 孝蔵, Murashita Kōzō; February 28, 1953 – June 24, 1999) was a Japanese singer-songwriter who was born…Kōzō Murashita (村下 孝蔵, Murashita Kōzō; February 28, 1953 – June 24, 1999) was a Japanese singer-songwriter who was born in Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan. He died of a brain hemorrhage in 1999.
Shunmyō Masuno (枡野 俊明, Masuno Shunmyō) (born 28 February 1953) is a Japanese monk and garden designer. He is chief…Shunmyō Masuno (枡野 俊明, Masuno Shunmyō) (born 28 February 1953) is a Japanese monk and garden designer. He is chief priest of the Sōtō Zen temple Kenkō-ji (建功寺), professor at Tama Art University, and president of a design firm that has completed numerous projects in Japan and overseas. He has been called "Japan's leading garden designer".
Kaneshiro Kōfuku (February 27, 1953 - December 29, 2002) was a sumo wrestler from Takanabe, Miyazaki, Japan. He made…Kaneshiro Kōfuku (February 27, 1953 - December 29, 2002) was a sumo wrestler from Takanabe, Miyazaki, Japan. He made his professional debut in September 1969, and reached the top division in September 1974. His highest rank was sekiwake. He was a runner-up in two tournaments and earned two gold stars and three Fighting Spirit prizes. After retiring in 1987 he opened up a sumo-themed restaurant. He died of a heart attack in 2002.
Satoru Nakajima (Japanese: 中嶋 悟, Hepburn: Nakajima Satoru; born 23 February 1953) is a Japanese former racing driver…Satoru Nakajima (Japanese: 中嶋 悟, Hepburn: Nakajima Satoru; born 23 February 1953) is a Japanese former racing driver and motorsport executive, who competed in Formula One from 1987 to 1991. Born and raised in Okazaki, Aichi, Nakajima began his racing career at the Suzuka Circuit in 1973. He progressed to Japanese Formula Two in 1977, winning a then-record five titles between 1981 and 1986, with 21 victories across 10 seasons. After several appearances in sportscar racing via the World Sportscar Championship and the All Japan Endurance Championship—as well as a season in International Formula 3000—Nakajima signed for Lotus in 1987 to partner Ayrton Senna, becoming the first Japanese driver to compete full-time in Formula One at the Brazilian Grand Prix. He scored his maiden points finish at the following round in San Marino, and achieved a career-best fourth place at the British Grand Prix. Across his remaining two seasons at Lotus, Nakajima scored points finishes at the 1988 Brazilian and 1989 Australian Grands Prix, setting the fastest lap and finishing fourth at the latter. Nakajima moved to Tyrrell in 1990, scoring points finishes in the United States, Italy and his home Grand Prix in Japan. Retaining his seat for his 1991 campaign at Tyrrell under Honda power, Nakajima scored his final points at the season-opening United States Grand Prix, leaving at the end of the season to join Honda's works team project. Nakajima tested the RC100 and related models until 1994, when Honda pulled out of Formula One following the Japanese asset price bubble. Upon retiring from motor racing, Nakajima focused on his Nakajima Racing team, which he had founded in 1984 to privately enter March chassis into the Japanese Formula Two Championship, winning three consecutive titles until 1986. Nakajima won four Formula Nippon Teams' Championship titles between 1999 and 2009, still competing in the newly-formed Super Formula Championship, as well as the Super GT Series. Nakajima's sons Kazuki and Daisuke both became racing drivers, the former also competing in Formula One for Williams from 2007 to 2009.
Inuhiko Yomota (四方田 犬彦, Yomota Inuhiko; born February 20, 1953) is a Japanese author, cultural essayist, translator…Inuhiko Yomota (四方田 犬彦, Yomota Inuhiko; born February 20, 1953) is a Japanese author, cultural essayist, translator, film historian, and critic. His real name is Goki Yomota (四方田 剛己, Yomota Gōki).
Yoshimi Watanabe (渡辺 喜美, Watanabe Yoshimi; born 17 March 1952) is a former Japanese politician. He was formerly a…Yoshimi Watanabe (渡辺 喜美, Watanabe Yoshimi; born 17 March 1952) is a former Japanese politician. He was formerly a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and later the founder of Your Party, after which he became a member of Nippon Ishin no Kai until 2019 when he then became an independent politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2014, and returned to the Diet (national legislature) in 2016 as a member of the House of Councillors.
Yasuhiko Okudera (奥寺 康彦, Okudera Yasuhiko; born 12 March 1952) is a Japanese former football player and manager. A…Yasuhiko Okudera (奥寺 康彦, Okudera Yasuhiko; born 12 March 1952) is a Japanese former football player and manager. A midfielder, Okudera was the first Japanese footballer to play professionally in Europe, as well as being the first Asian football player to score in the European Cup, while playing for 1. FC Köln in the 1979 semi-final match against Nottingham Forest and made 32 appearances – scoring nine goals – with the Japan national team.
Noriko Matsuda (松田紀子, Matsuda Noriko) (born 5 March 1952) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. She was…Noriko Matsuda (松田紀子, Matsuda Noriko) (born 5 March 1952) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. She was a member of the Japanese winning team at the 1976 Olympic games.
Masaaki Sugiyama (杉山正明, Sugiyama Masaaki) (1952-2019) was a Japanese historian and author. Sugiyama was born March 1…Masaaki Sugiyama (杉山正明, Sugiyama Masaaki) (1952-2019) was a Japanese historian and author. Sugiyama was born March 1, 1952, in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from the Faculty of Letters of Kyoto University in 1974. In 1992, he became an associate professor at the Faculty of Letters at Kyoto University, and in 1995, a professor, and later a professor at the Graduate School of Letters. He received the Japan Academy Prize in 2007. Sugiyama died on December 24, 2019.
Kazuo Oga (男鹿 和雄, Oga Kazuo; born 29 February 1952, in Akita Prefecture, Japan) is an art director and background…Kazuo Oga (男鹿 和雄, Oga Kazuo; born 29 February 1952, in Akita Prefecture, Japan) is an art director and background artist for many Madhouse Studio and Studio Ghibli anime films. Oga has worked with many respected directors, such as Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Osamu Dezaki. He has also published two compilations of his art and directed a short animated film.
Shōgo Tomiyama (富山 省吾, Tomiyama Shōgo) is a Japanese former film producer. He is best known for his long tenure at…Shōgo Tomiyama (富山 省吾, Tomiyama Shōgo) is a Japanese former film producer. He is best known for his long tenure at Toho, where oversaw the production of the Godzilla film series during its Heisei and Millennium eras.
Issey Ogata (イッセー尾形, Issei Ogata; born February 22, 1952) is a Japanese actor and comedian. He was interested in plays…Issey Ogata (イッセー尾形, Issei Ogata; born February 22, 1952) is a Japanese actor and comedian. He was interested in plays since childhood. After he graduated from Toyotama High School in Japan, he joined a theatrical company and appeared on the stage. Later, he jumped at the opportunity to be an entertainer when he took the gold medal at the audition called "Birth of Comedians". Then, he started garnering roles on Japanese TV. Shows he appeared on include Fuji TV's Evil Grandmother and NHK's RinRinto. He performs in Life Never Stops by himself at GyanGyan Theater in Shibuya. Furthermore, he has had starring roles in major art-house films, including Ota in Edward Yang's Yi Yi, the title character in Jun Ichikawa's Tony Takitani (an adaptation of the Haruki Murakami short story), the role of Japanese Emperor Hirohito in Aleksandr Sokurov's The Sun, and Inoue Masashige in Martin Scorsese's Silence.
Juichi Yamagiwa (Japanese: 山極 寿一) (born on February 21, 1952) is a Japanese anthropologist and the former president of…Juichi Yamagiwa (Japanese: 山極 寿一) (born on February 21, 1952) is a Japanese anthropologist and the former president of Kyoto University.
Ryū Murakami (村上 龍, Murakami Ryū; born February 19, 1952) is a Japanese novelist, essayist and filmmaker. His novels…Ryū Murakami (村上 龍, Murakami Ryū; born February 19, 1952) is a Japanese novelist, essayist and filmmaker. His novels explore human nature through themes of disillusion, drug use, surrealism, murder and war, set against the dark backdrop of Japan. His best known novels are Almost Transparent Blue, Audition, Coin Locker Babies, and In the Miso Soup.
Toshihide Isamu Iguchi (井口俊英) (1951–2019) was an Executive VP and U.S. Government Bond trader at Daiwa Bank's New York…Toshihide Isamu Iguchi (井口俊英) (1951–2019) was an Executive VP and U.S. Government Bond trader at Daiwa Bank's New York Branch, who was responsible for $1.1 billion in unauthorized trading losses accumulated over a period of 12 years beginning in 1983.
Ichirō Komatsu (小松 一郎, Komatsu Ichirō; 8 March 1951 – 23 June 2014) was a Japanese diplomat, civil servant and…Ichirō Komatsu (小松 一郎, Komatsu Ichirō; 8 March 1951 – 23 June 2014) was a Japanese diplomat, civil servant and politician.
Takumi Nemoto (根本 匠, Nemoto Takumi; born 7 March 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Takumi Nemoto (根本 匠, Nemoto Takumi; born 7 March 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kōriyama, Fukushima and graduate of the University of Tokyo he joined the Ministry of Construction (which is now part of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) in 1974. Leaving the ministry in 1991 he was elected to the Diet for the first time in 1993. Nemoto was appointed as Minister for Reconstruction in the Second Abe Cabinet on 26 December 2012. Nemoto has served as the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare from 2 October 2018 to 11 September 2019. In January 2019, it was revealed that the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare had been publishing inaccurate monthly labor survey data for nearly 15 years, which led to over 20 million people being underpaid in work-related benefits. The opposition accused Nemoto of being involved in a government coverup to boost Prime Minister Abe's Abenomics policies. A motion of no-confidence was filed against Nemoto on March 1 but was voted down by the ruling LDP coalition. As a member of a parliamentary committee responding to a petition advocating a law prohibiting businesses from forcing female workers to wear high-heeled shoes (KuToo movement), he expressed that it was "necessary and reasonable" to mandate this for female workers.
Takahiro Yodogawa (淀川 隆博, Yodogawa Takahiro; born 4 March 1951) is a former Japanese football player. From 2004 to…Takahiro Yodogawa (淀川 隆博, Yodogawa Takahiro; born 4 March 1951) is a former Japanese football player. From 2004 to 2008, he was the president of Japanese football club JEF United Ichihara Chiba.
Heizō Takenaka (竹中 平蔵, Takenaka Heizō; born 3 March 1951) is a Japanese economist, and key figure in Junichiro…Heizō Takenaka (竹中 平蔵, Takenaka Heizō; born 3 March 1951) is a Japanese economist, and key figure in Junichiro Koizumi's administration (2001–2006), played a significant role in Japan's structural reforms, including labor market deregulation. As Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy and later Financial Services, he advocated for policies aimed at increasing economic flexibility, such as amending the Worker Dispatching Act (also known as the Temporary Staffing Services Act). These changes, enacted in 2003 and 2004, expanded the use of temporary (dispatched) workers by relaxing restrictions. Takenaka's reforms indirectly facilitated the replacement of regular government employees with temporary staff in public sectors, such as education, administrative services, and local government offices. Takenaka's affiliation with Pasona Group, Japan's largest temporary staffing agency, has sparked allegations of embezzlement from government and private sectors, stemming from claims that he replaced permanent employees with Pasona's temporary workers. He joined Pasona as a special advisor in February 2007 (shortly after leaving government) and became chairman in August 2009, serving until 2022. Takenaka benefited from the expanded dispatch market post-deregulation, securing government and private contracts in areas like administrative support, COVID-19 measures, and the Tokyo Olympics—leading to personal profits. Takenaka serves on the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum.
Eiichi Nakamura (中村 栄一, Nakamura Eiichi; born 24 February 1951) is a Japanese chemist and professor of chemistry at…Eiichi Nakamura (中村 栄一, Nakamura Eiichi; born 24 February 1951) is a Japanese chemist and professor of chemistry at University of Tokyo in Japan, also appointed as lecture profession in Nankai University in Tianjin, China from Sep 2025.
Shigefumi Mori (森 重文, Mori Shigefumi; born February 23, 1951) is a Japanese mathematician, known for his work in…Shigefumi Mori (森 重文, Mori Shigefumi; born February 23, 1951) is a Japanese mathematician, known for his work in algebraic geometry, particularly in relation to the classification of three-folds. He won the Fields Medal in 1990.
Toshiharu Ikeda (池田敏春, Ikeda Toshiharu) (23 February 1951 – 26 December 2010) was a Japanese film director and…Toshiharu Ikeda (池田敏春, Ikeda Toshiharu) (23 February 1951 – 26 December 2010) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his films Mermaid Legend (1984) and Evil Dead Trap (1988). Ikeda became involved in filmmaking while still a university student, working as an assistant director for a small independent production company. He joined Nikkatsu in 1974, contributing to multiple Roman Porno movies. He debuted as a director in 1980 with the movie Sukeban Mafia, and later in the same year with Sex Hunter, which the studio criticized for being too rough and vulgar. His latest movie for Nikkatsu was the 1981 Angel Guts: Red Porno. He left the company after the shooting, feeling a lack of support. In 1982 Ikeda joined forces with other directors to found the Director's Company. His first film there was Mermaid Legend (1984), a cult movie that deals with revenge and anti-nuclear sentiment, for which he won Best Director at the 6th Yokohama Film Festival. In 1988 followed Evil Dead Trap, credited with being Japan's first modern horror. During the 90's Ikeda worked less in theatrical films, doing mostly V-Cinema action and erotic films. His latest film was Aki Fukaki (2008), a serious drama and a departure from his usual genre films. Ikeda drowned in 2010 in the sea near Shima in the Mie Prefecture. Speculations arose of the death being a suicide, him having struggled with suicidal thoughts since youth.
Masao Urino (売野 雅勇, Urino Masao; born 22 February 1951 in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese lyricist…Masao Urino (売野 雅勇, Urino Masao; born 22 February 1951 in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese lyricist, script writer, and film director. He has written lyrics for many musical groups and individual artists, sometimes under the pseudonym Reiji Asō (麻生 麗二, Asō Reiji). After graduating from Tochigi Prefectural Ashikaga High School, he graduated in 1974 with a degree in literature from Sophia University. After graduating, he worked as a copy writer for the advertising firm Mannensha (萬年社), which went bankrupt in 1999. Due to missing an error in an advertisement in a national newspaper, though, he was forced to do other work. While working at Tōkyū Agency International (now Frontage), he made his lyricist debut with the 1981 Chanels song Hoshi Kuzu no Dance Hall. In 1982, he had a big hit with the Akina Nakamori song Shōjo A. From there, he wrote the lyrics for a series of hit songs sung by Hiroaki Serizawa, and for the J-pop group The Checkers (Namida no Request). He has written lyrics for artists including Hidemi Ishikawa, Jun'ichi Inagaki, Daisuke Inoue, Hiromi Iwasaki, Yoshimi Iwasaki, Tomio Umezawa, Yukiko Okada, Yōko Oginome, Carlos Toshiki & Omega Tribe, Naoko Kawai, Yuri Kunizane, Masahiko Kondō, Kiyotaka Sugiyama, Tomomi Nishimura, Yū Hayami, Chiemi Hori, Junko Miyama, and others. Urino made his directorial and script writing debut in 1990 with the film Cinderella Express.
Kōichi Kodama (児玉 孝一, Kodama Kōichi; born February 21, 1951) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who…Kōichi Kodama (児玉 孝一, Kodama Kōichi; born February 21, 1951) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 8-dan.
Suzue Miuchi (美内 すずえ, Miuchi Suzue; born February 20, 1951) is a Japanese manga artist and author of long-running shōjo…Suzue Miuchi (美内 すずえ, Miuchi Suzue; born February 20, 1951) is a Japanese manga artist and author of long-running shōjo manga Glass Mask.
Hisato Igarashi (五十嵐 久人, Igarashi Hisato; born February 19, 1951 in Tochigi Prefecture) is a Japanese former gymnast.…Hisato Igarashi (五十嵐 久人, Igarashi Hisato; born February 19, 1951 in Tochigi Prefecture) is a Japanese former gymnast. He was a member of the Japanese team that won the gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. He is a professor at Niigata University.