Haruhisa Hasegawa (長谷川 治久, Hasegawa Haruhisa; born April 14, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Haruhisa Hasegawa (長谷川 治久, Hasegawa Haruhisa; born April 14, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Toshiyuki Honda (本多 俊之, Honda Toshiyuki; born April 9, 1957) is a Japanese jazz musician and composer. Honda's father…Toshiyuki Honda (本多 俊之, Honda Toshiyuki; born April 9, 1957) is a Japanese jazz musician and composer. Honda's father was a jazz critic, whose name was also Toshiyuki Honda. As a jazz musician, he learned flute and saxophone, and worked in the late 1970s with George Otsuka and the Burning Waves ensemble. In the 1980s he worked with Chick Corea, Tatsuya Takahashi, and Kazumi Watanabe, as well as leading his own ensemble, Super Quartet. He was also a member of the ensemble Native Son. Starting in the late 1980s, Honda turned increasingly toward composing for film and television, as well as working in record producing. He composed the soundtrack for the Juzo Itami film A Taxing Woman in 1987, which raised his prominence as a film scorer. He went on to compose the score for all but one of the rest of Itami's films.
Mitsuru Matsumura (松村 充, Matsumura Mitsuru; born on April 9, 1957, in Yokohama) is a Japanese former competitive figure…Mitsuru Matsumura (松村 充, Matsumura Mitsuru; born on April 9, 1957, in Yokohama) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. He won the Japanese national title in the 1978–79 season and competed at two Winter Olympics, placing 11th in 1976 (Innsbruck) and 8th in 1980 (Lake Placid, New York). He also appeared at seven World Championships, achieving his best results, 6th, at the 1980 Worlds in Dortmund. After retiring from competition, he became a coach.
Akira Ōta (born 8 April 1957 in Akita) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics, in the…Akira Ōta (born 8 April 1957 in Akita) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics, in the 1988 Summer Olympics, and in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Hiroyuki Itagaki (Japanese: 板垣 博之, Hepburn: Itagaki Hiroyuki; born April 4, 1957), better known by the pen name Keisuke…Hiroyuki Itagaki (Japanese: 板垣 博之, Hepburn: Itagaki Hiroyuki; born April 4, 1957), better known by the pen name Keisuke Itagaki (板垣 恵介, Itagaki Keisuke), is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for his martial arts series Baki the Grappler (1991–1999) and its many sequels, which together have sold over 100 million copies, making it one of the best-selling manga series in history. Itagaki lives in Fuchū, Tokyo, and has been a Musashi Province Fuchū Ambassador since 2014. He is the father of fellow manga artist Paru Itagaki.
Nobuyoshi Kuwano (桑野 信義, Kuwano Nobuyoshi; born April 4, 1957 in Ōta, Tokyo) is a Japanese television performer, former…Nobuyoshi Kuwano (桑野 信義, Kuwano Nobuyoshi; born April 4, 1957 in Ōta, Tokyo) is a Japanese television performer, former member of Rats & Star. His nickname is "Kuwa-man" (桑マン). In Rats & Star, he took charge of the trumpet and vocals. After the group broke up, he shifted to a television comedian and co-starred with The Drifters' Ken Shimura and Masashi Tashiro. He took over as lead vocalist of Rats & Star during Masayuki Suzuki's solo concert tour. He appears in some Japanese television programs as a performer. He was disappointed by Masashi Tashiro's arrest. He also said to Tashiro in public, "It's disappointing. Please atone for your crimes and thoroughly cleanse your body and soul" following Tashiro's retirement from the entertainment world.
Kazumi Kotani (小谷一美, Kotani Kazumi; born April 3, 1957) better known by the ring name Daikokubō Benkei (大黒坊弁慶) is a…Kazumi Kotani (小谷一美, Kotani Kazumi; born April 3, 1957) better known by the ring name Daikokubō Benkei (大黒坊弁慶) is a former Japanese sumo wrestler and professional wrestler best known for his time in the Japanese promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW).
Kiyoshi Ejima (born April 2, 1957) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of…Kiyoshi Ejima (born April 2, 1957) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2013. He represents the Yamaguchi at-large district as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Kazuko Kori (郡 和子, Kōri Kazuko; born 31 March 1957) is a Japanese politician serving as the mayor of Sendai. She was…Kazuko Kori (郡 和子, Kōri Kazuko; born 31 March 1957) is a Japanese politician serving as the mayor of Sendai. She was formerly a member of the Democratic Party of Japan and served in the House of Representatives. A native of Sendai, Miyagi and graduate of Tohoku Gakuin University, she was elected for the first time in 2005 after working at a TV broadcaster.
Kenji Kobayashi (小林健二, Kobayashi Kenji; born March 31, 1957) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who…Kenji Kobayashi (小林健二, Kobayashi Kenji; born March 31, 1957) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 9-dan. He is also a former director of the Japanese Shogi Association.
Masao Akashi (明石昌夫, Akashi Masao; March 25, 1957 – May 19, 2025) was a Japanese music arranger in distributors Being…Masao Akashi (明石昌夫, Akashi Masao; March 25, 1957 – May 19, 2025) was a Japanese music arranger in distributors Being Inc., mainly in their label B-Gram Records. In 1988, he debuted as arranger in debut single Dakara Sono Te wo Hanashite by Japanese hard-rock band B'z. By 1998, his arrangement work had been involved with many Being artists including Manish, Wands and Zard. Although Akashi was no longer working for Being Inc., he sometimes provided producing jobs for various artists such as Naomi Tamura, Maria, Color Bottle and Sonoda Band. Akashi died on May 19, 2025, at the age of 68.
Park Yu-ha (Korean: 박유하; born March 25, 1957) is a professor at the College of Liberal Arts, Sejong University. Her…Park Yu-ha (Korean: 박유하; born March 25, 1957) is a professor at the College of Liberal Arts, Sejong University. Her research focuses on Japanese–Korean relations. Her 2013 book Comfort Women of the Empire criticized the Korean interpretation of comfort women as exclusively "sex slaves."
Izumi Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 泉美, Hepburn: Kobayashi Izumi; born 25 March 1957) is a Japanese musician, record…Izumi Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 泉美, Hepburn: Kobayashi Izumi; born 25 March 1957) is a Japanese musician, record producer, and business executive. Originally working for a funk band at a US military base, she formed the band ASOCA and won the EastWest '76 Best Keyboardist award, and she performed as a keyboardist for other musicians and bands. Working for CBS/Sony, she released several solo albums, either with the Mimie-Chan Super Band and its later iteration Izumi Kobayashi & Flying Mimi Band or solely with her own name. She also worked as a composer for Japanese media, including "Lum's Love Song" (the theme song for the Urusei Yatsura anime), and hosted TV Tokyo late-night show Rock in Japan. She later moved to London in 1985 and worked as a record producer and industry executive in Europe, serving as president of Cisco Records London.
Koji Okajima (岡島功治, Okajima Koji; born March 23, 1957) is a retired Japanese competitive pair skater and figure skating…Koji Okajima (岡島功治, Okajima Koji; born March 23, 1957) is a retired Japanese competitive pair skater and figure skating coach. With pair partner, Naoko Asano, he is the 1976–77 Japanese National bronze medalist and with pair partner, Mutsumi Takezaki, he is the 1978–79 Japanese National silver medalist.
Akira Asada (浅田 彰, Asada Akira; born March 23, 1957) is a Japanese postmodern critic and curator, whose interests…Akira Asada (浅田 彰, Asada Akira; born March 23, 1957) is a Japanese postmodern critic and curator, whose interests include contemporary arts, the history of social thought, and economic philosophy. He is currently the Dean of the Graduate School at the Kyoto University of Art and Design. Until March 2008, he served as an associate professor of economics at the Institute of Economic Research at Kyoto University (KIER). Asada is widely recognized as the author of the bestselling book, "構造と力─記号論を超えて (Structure and Power: Beyond Semiotics)", which was published in 1983. He holds a position as a member of the supervisory committee at NTT InterCommunication Center, and was a co-editor of the Japanese quarterly journal Hihyōkūkan (Critical Space) with Kojin Karatani until 2002. It has been noted that it was popular in late 1980s Japan to have words ending with "... phenomenon", an example being the use of the expression "Akira Asada phenomenon", which took the name of Asada as he was a central figure in the "new academism" that was a much-discussed topic at the time.
Ryu Hirose (廣瀬 龍, Hirose Ryu; born 19 April 1956) is a Japanese football manager and former player he is currently head…Ryu Hirose (廣瀬 龍, Hirose Ryu; born 19 April 1956) is a Japanese football manager and former player he is currently head coach of WE League club Nagano Parceiro. He had previously managed teams in Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, and Cambodia.
Junichi Ihara (伊原 純一, Ihara Jun'ichi, born 18 April 1956) is a Japanese diplomat who served as Grand Master of…Junichi Ihara (伊原 純一, Ihara Jun'ichi, born 18 April 1956) is a Japanese diplomat who served as Grand Master of Ceremonies for the Imperial Household from 2023 to 2026. He previously served as Ambassador to France and as Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Geneva.
Katsuhito Nakazato (中里 和人, Nakazato Katsuhito; born 1956) is a Japanese photographer of the man-made environment…Katsuhito Nakazato (中里 和人, Nakazato Katsuhito; born 1956) is a Japanese photographer of the man-made environment, particularly sheds, alleys and night scenes.
Ōzutsu Takeshi (born 18 April 1956 as Takatoshi Matsumoto) is a former sumo wrestler from Mie, Japan. Beginning his…Ōzutsu Takeshi (born 18 April 1956 as Takatoshi Matsumoto) is a former sumo wrestler from Mie, Japan. Beginning his professional career in May 1971, he was ranked in the top makuuchi division continuously from March 1979 to January 1992, and his record of 1170 consecutive bouts there is the second best in history after Takamiyama. His highest rank was sekiwake. He was runner-up in one tournament and earned ten kinboshi or gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He also won four sanshō or special prizes. He wrestled for Taihō stable and after his retirement in May 1992 he worked there as a coach before leaving the Japan Sumo Association in 2008.
Shingo Mimura (三村申吾, Mimura Shingo; born 16 April 1956) is a Japanese politician who served as Governor of Aomori…Shingo Mimura (三村申吾, Mimura Shingo; born 16 April 1956) is a Japanese politician who served as Governor of Aomori Prefecture for five terms, from 29 June 2003 to 28 June 2023. He previously served as a member of House of Representatives from June 2000 to June 2003 from Aomori 2nd ward. He also served as a Mayor of his hometown Momoishi, Aomori from the year 1992 to 1996.
Tsutomu Nishioka (西岡 力, Nishioka Tsutomu, born 1956 in Tokyo) is a professor of International Christian Studies at…Tsutomu Nishioka (西岡 力, Nishioka Tsutomu, born 1956 in Tokyo) is a professor of International Christian Studies at Tokyo Christian University. He specializes in Japan-Korean relations, South Korea/North Korea Studies. His research focuses on the Comfort women and the North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens. He is a chairman of the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea (NARKN).
Yasuo Tanaka (田中 康夫, Tanaka Yasuo; born 12 April 1956) is a Japanese novelist and politician. He served as the governor…Yasuo Tanaka (田中 康夫, Tanaka Yasuo; born 12 April 1956) is a Japanese novelist and politician. He served as the governor of Nagano Prefecture from 2000 to 2006, became president of New Party Nippon, and has been elected to Japan's legislatures.
Masafumi Yokoyama (横山 正文, Yokoyama Masafumi; born April 10, 1956) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Masafumi Yokoyama (横山 正文, Yokoyama Masafumi; born April 10, 1956) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Shigemitsu Sudo (須藤 茂光, Sudo Shigemitsu; born April 2, 1956) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He…Shigemitsu Sudo (須藤 茂光, Sudo Shigemitsu; born April 2, 1956) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.Currently, he is manager WE League club of Mynavi Sendai Ladies.
Makoto Katamine (March 30, 1956 – September 25, 2023) was a Japanese politician and educator. He served two terms as…Makoto Katamine (March 30, 1956 – September 25, 2023) was a Japanese politician and educator. He served two terms as mayor of Iizuka, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Hisashi Eguchi (江口 寿史, Eguchi Hisashi; born March 29, 1956) is a Japanese manga artist and one of Japan's most…Hisashi Eguchi (江口 寿史, Eguchi Hisashi; born March 29, 1956) is a Japanese manga artist and one of Japan's most prominent illustrators of female characters. He made his professional manga debut with Susume!! Pirates in the manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1977. Other notable works include Stop!! Hibari-kun! (adapted into an anime television series in 1983), and the gag series Charamono. Eguchi married idol Mari Mizutani (ja:水谷麻里) in 1990.
Kyoji Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本 恭司, Hepburn: Yamamoto Kyōji; born March 23, 1956, in Matsue, Shimane, Japan) is a Japanese…Kyoji Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本 恭司, Hepburn: Yamamoto Kyōji; born March 23, 1956, in Matsue, Shimane, Japan) is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer who is the leader of the hard rock/heavy metal bands Bow Wow (known as Vow Wow for a period of time) and Wild Flag. He is known for his skillful guitar playing, with former bandmate Neil Murray calling him one of the top Japanese guitarists, and was one of the first hard rock guitarists to use the tapping technique. Yamamoto often uses 24-fret Yamaha HR guitars.
Itai Keisuke (板井圭介, Itai Keisuke; 21 March 1956 – 14 August 2018) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Usuki, Oita, Japan.…Itai Keisuke (板井圭介, Itai Keisuke; 21 March 1956 – 14 August 2018) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Usuki, Oita, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. He held the record for most consecutive victories from entry into sumo for several years before it was broken by Jōkōryū in 2012. After his retirement, Itai caused controversy by claiming that the outcomes of many of his matches were set by match-fixing.
Sakae Kunieda (国枝栄; born 14 April 1955, in Kitagata, Gifu) is a retired Japanese horse trainer. Dubbed "the Kunieda of…Sakae Kunieda (国枝栄; born 14 April 1955, in Kitagata, Gifu) is a retired Japanese horse trainer. Dubbed "the Kunieda of fillies", he is most known for winning 12 Grade I races for fillies and mares, as well as training two Triple Tiara winners; Apapane in 2010 and Almond Eye in 2018.
Yuko Moriguchi (Japanese: 森口祐子, born 13 April 1955) is a Japanese professional golfer who played on the LPGA of Japan…Yuko Moriguchi (Japanese: 森口祐子, born 13 April 1955) is a Japanese professional golfer who played on the LPGA of Japan Tour and the LPGA Tour. Moriguchi won 41 times on the LPGA of Japan Tour between 1978 and 1994 and one of those events, the 1987 Mazda Japan Classic, was an LPGA Tour co-sanctioned tournament. Moriguchi won the LPGA qualifying school tournament in January 1981 and played sparingly on the LPGA Tour from 1981 to 1983. Her 1987 win was as a non-member.
Hideki Saijō (西城 秀樹, Saijō Hideki; originally Tatsuo Kimoto (木本 龍雄, Kimoto Tatsuo); April 13, 1955 – May 16, 2018) was…Hideki Saijō (西城 秀樹, Saijō Hideki; originally Tatsuo Kimoto (木本 龍雄, Kimoto Tatsuo); April 13, 1955 – May 16, 2018) was a Japanese singer, composer, actor, drummer, voice actor, and television and radio show host. Due to his numerous pioneering achievements throughout Asia in the 1970s and 1980s, he is considered an icon amongst Shōwa era idols. With on-stage vivacity and highly acclaimed vocals as his defining trademarks, Saijō quickly came to dominate the Japanese charts of the 1970s. He was consistently promoted as part of the Shin-Gosanke (新御三家, "New Big Three") idol trio alongside two other soloists who debuted around the same time: Goro Noguchi and Hiromi Go. Almost seven years into his career, his 28th single "YOUNG MAN (Y.M.C.A.)" (a Japanese cover of the Village People song of the same name) became a social phenomenon in Japan, selling over 1.8 million copies.
Emiko Kaminuma (上沼 恵美子, Kaminuma Emiko; born 13 April 1955, in Fukura (now Minamiawaji), Mihara District, Hyōgo) is a…Emiko Kaminuma (上沼 恵美子, Kaminuma Emiko; born 13 April 1955, in Fukura (now Minamiawaji), Mihara District, Hyōgo) is a Japanese comedian, singer, television presenter, YouTuber, and radio personality. Her maiden name is Hashimoto (橋本). Kaminuma is one of the leading broadcast personalities in the Kansai region. She has often appeared in Kansai local programs, and has garnered high ratings since the late 1990s. She is married with two children. Kaminuma's husband is Shinpei Kaminuma, a Kansai Telecasting Corporation (KTV) television director, producer, executive director, and production director, as well as Media Pulpo (KTV's subsidiary) representative director and chairman. Kaminuma is represented by her agency, Kaminuma Jimusho. She dropped out of Empire Girls High School Owada School (now Osaka International Waseda High School).
Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (寛仁親王妃信子, Tomohito Shinnōhi Nobuko) (born Nobuko Asō (麻生信子, Asō Nobuko); 9 April 1955) is a…Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (寛仁親王妃信子, Tomohito Shinnōhi Nobuko) (born Nobuko Asō (麻生信子, Asō Nobuko); 9 April 1955) is a member of the Japanese imperial family as the widow of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa.
Kazuyoshi Nakamura (中村 一義, Nakamura Kazuyoshi; born April 8, 1955) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Kazuyoshi Nakamura (中村 一義, Nakamura Kazuyoshi; born April 8, 1955) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Hirofumi Hayashi (林 博史, Hayashi Hirofumi; born April 6, 1955) is a historian, an authority on modern Japanese history…Hirofumi Hayashi (林 博史, Hayashi Hirofumi; born April 6, 1955) is a historian, an authority on modern Japanese history, and is a professor of politics at the Kanto Gakuin University. He has been conducting research on the Japanese occupation of Southeast Asia, Japanese war crimes, and war crimes trials including the subject of comfort women.
Akira Toriyama (Japanese: 鳥山明, Hepburn: Toriyama Akira; April 5, 1955 – March 1, 2024) was a Japanese manga artist and…Akira Toriyama (Japanese: 鳥山明, Hepburn: Toriyama Akira; April 5, 1955 – March 1, 2024) was a Japanese manga artist and character designer. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential authors in the history of manga and created numerous highly influential and popular series, with his most famous and successful project being the Dragon Ball franchise. Toriyama first achieved mainstream recognition for creating the manga series Dr. Slump, which was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. He earned the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen series. Dr. Slump went on to sell over 35 million copies in Japan. It was adapted into an anime, with a second series created in 1997, 13 years after the manga ended. Toriyama wrote and illustrated the Dragon Ball manga from 1984 to 1995. It became one of the best-selling manga series of all time, with 260 million copies sold worldwide, and is considered a key work in increasing manga circulation to its peak in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. Overseas, Dragon Ball's anime adaptations have been credited with boosting anime's international popularity. Beside his manga works, Toriyama acted as a character designer for numerous video games such as Square Enix's Dragon Quest series and Chrono Trigger, in addition to Blue Dragon. In 2019, Toriyama was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts. In October 2024, Toriyama was posthumously inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame.
Takayoshi Yamano (山野 孝義, Yamano Takayoshi; born April 5, 1955) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Takayoshi Yamano (山野 孝義, Yamano Takayoshi; born April 5, 1955) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Akemi Takada (高田明美, Takada Akemi; born March 31, 1955) is a Japanese manga artist and anime character designer born in…Akemi Takada (高田明美, Takada Akemi; born March 31, 1955) is a Japanese manga artist and anime character designer born in Tokyo, Japan. Her character-design work is one of the more recognizable styles of the 1980s, when she worked on series like Creamy Mami and Kimagure Orange Road. She is also noted for her long collaboration with director Mamoru Oshii. She graduated from Tama Art University, after which she worked for Tatsunoko Pro. She is currently a freelance manga artist with her own studio, though she is also a member of the creative group Headgear. She also has her own designer jewelry store called Diakosmos. Takada began working for Tatsunoko productions after visiting the production office as a fan during the broadcast of Gatchaman.
Buichi Terasawa (Japanese: 寺沢 武一, Hepburn: Terasawa Buichi; March 30, 1955 – September 8, 2023) was a Japanese manga…Buichi Terasawa (Japanese: 寺沢 武一, Hepburn: Terasawa Buichi; March 30, 1955 – September 8, 2023) was a Japanese manga artist. His most famous works include Goku Midnight Eye and Cobra.
Tadashi Mihara (三原 正, Mihara Tadashi; born 30 March 1955) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed as a…Tadashi Mihara (三原 正, Mihara Tadashi; born 30 March 1955) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed as a light middleweight throughout his career. Mihara began his boxing career when he was a third grader of the high school. He won the title of the All-Japan Amateur Boxing Championships in the light middleweight division in 1977. He also got the group title of the university league as a captain of the Nihon University boxing club. He experienced 38 matches during his amateur career; winning 28 (15 by knockout) and losing 10. After that, as a professional, Mihara fought 25 times between 1978 and 1985; winning 24 (15 by knockout) and losing 1. He won his first title in his fifth contest as a professional, beating Jae-Keum Lim for the OPBF title, a belt that he defended six times until he returned it. In June 1981, he won via a fifth-round knockout, in the undercard of Ayub Kalule vs. Sugar Ray Leonard, at the Reliant Astrodome, Houston. Since Leonard vacated the title after this, Mihara fought against Rocky Fratto for the vacant WBA world junior middleweight title in Rochester, New York on November 7, 1981. Mihara knocked him down by his right cross in the fourth round, and won the title via a majority decision. Judge Harold Lederman scored the fight a draw. Afterwards he said of Mihara, "There's no doubt that he's got a good jaw. He really got tagged a couple of times. I thought Fratto was going to knock him out." He lost his title after suffering a knockout during his first defence, against Davey Moore at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on February 2, 1982. His lumbago became chronic from these days. Following this loss, Mihara won the Japanese junior middleweight title and defended it six times until June 1984, then returned it. He fought for a final time in March 1985, beating Tricky Kawaguchi by a unanimous decision.
Kōji Tosa (土佐 浩司, Tosa Kōji; March 30, 1955) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of…Kōji Tosa (土佐 浩司, Tosa Kōji; March 30, 1955) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 8-dan.
Jun Murai (村井 純, Murai Jun; born March 29, 1955 in Tokyo) is a Japanese researcher known for being the founder of…Jun Murai (村井 純, Murai Jun; born March 29, 1955 in Tokyo) is a Japanese researcher known for being the founder of influential computer network projects in Japan such as the JUNET and founder of the WIDE Project. He is called by some the "Father of Internet in Japan" and "Internet Samurai." Murai is currently a professor and Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies at Keio University, as well as President of the Japan Network Information Center. Murai has received domestic and international awards and recognitions such as the 2011 IEEE Internet Award and entry to the Internet Hall of Fame in 2013.
Ōyutaka Masachika (born 29 March 1955 as Eiji Suzuki) is a former sumo wrestler from Horinouchi, Niigata, Japan. He…Ōyutaka Masachika (born 29 March 1955 as Eiji Suzuki) is a former sumo wrestler from Horinouchi, Niigata, Japan. He made his professional debut in November 1973, and reached the top division in May 1982. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in January 1987, and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Arashio. He opened Arashio stable in 2002. His son fought for the stable under the shikona Chikarayama, retiring in January 2017. Arashio-oyakata reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in March 2020, and was replaced as head coach of the stable by his most successful wrestler, maegashira Sōkokurai. Sōkokurai had been expelled from sumo in 2011 for alleged match-fixing, but Arashio always stood by his wrestler, and Sōkokurai was re-admitted to sumo in 2013 after winning a court case.
Nahomi Azuma (Japanese: 東菜穂美), known professionally as Nahomi Edamoto (Japanese: 枝元なほみ; March 22, 1955 – February 27…Nahomi Azuma (Japanese: 東菜穂美), known professionally as Nahomi Edamoto (Japanese: 枝元なほみ; March 22, 1955 – February 27, 2025), was a Japanese culinary expert. She wrote various cookbooks and frequently appeared on Japanese cooking shows.
Hiroshi Nishihara (西原寛, Nishihara Hiroshi), born 21 March 1955, is a Japanese chemist and Professor of Chemistry at The…Hiroshi Nishihara (西原寛, Nishihara Hiroshi), born 21 March 1955, is a Japanese chemist and Professor of Chemistry at The University of Tokyo in Japan. Currently heading the department of Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory in The University of Tokyo, he is a distinguished professor, researcher and pioneer in the field of synthesis and electrochemistry of conductive metal complex polymers. His research is focused on creation of new electro- and photo-functional materials comprising both transition metals and π-conjugated chains, and invention of unidirectional electron transfer systems utilizing molecular layer interfaces. He is presently a Vice President of The Electrochemical Society of Japan, and the regional representative of Japan for International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE).
Isshō Fujita (藤田 一照, Fujita Isshō; b. 18 April 1954) was born in Niihama, Ehime, Japan and was head teacher at Valley…Isshō Fujita (藤田 一照, Fujita Isshō; b. 18 April 1954) was born in Niihama, Ehime, Japan and was head teacher at Valley Zendo, a Sōtō Zen practice center in Charlemont, Massachusetts, USA. Fujita had done studies in child psychology at Tokyo University Graduate School, but abandoned them and became a Zen monk. At the age of twenty-nine, on 8 December, Fujita was ordained a Zen priest, along with Ryōdō Yamashita, by Kōhō Watanabe at Antai-ji temple. In 1987, Fujita assumed the role of abbot at Valley Zendo, where he lived until his return to Japan in 2005. From 2010 to 2018, he was the Director of the Soto Zen International Center.