Masahiro Sekita (関田 誠大, Sekita Masahiro; born 20 November 1993) is a Japanese male professional volleyball player from…Masahiro Sekita (関田 誠大, Sekita Masahiro; born 20 November 1993) is a Japanese male professional volleyball player from Tokyo. He currently plays in SV.League for Suntory Sunbirds and Japan men's national volleyball team. Sekita used to be the captain of Japan U-21 national team in 2012 Asian Junior Men's Volleyball Championship and 2013 FIVB Volleyball Men's U21 World Championship.
Fumiya Araki (Japanese 荒木 郁也; born 25 April 1988) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder who currently plays for…Fumiya Araki (Japanese 荒木 郁也; born 25 April 1988) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder who currently plays for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball.
Akihito Hirose (広瀬 章人, Hirose Akihito; born January 18, 1987) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan. He…Akihito Hirose (広瀬 章人, Hirose Akihito; born January 18, 1987) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan. He is a former Ryūō and Ōi title holder, and is also the first shogi professional to win a major title while attending university.
Jin Akanishi (赤西 仁, Akanishi Jin; born July 4, 1984) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and actor. He has been active…Jin Akanishi (赤西 仁, Akanishi Jin; born July 4, 1984) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and actor. He has been active since 1998 as one of the two lead vocalists of the J-pop boy-band KAT-TUN before starting a solo career in 2009. Akanishi has also acted in several films and dramas.
Shinobu Ohtaka (Japanese: 大高 忍, Hepburn: Ōtaka Shinobu; born May 9, 1983) is a Japanese manga artist. She is best known…Shinobu Ohtaka (Japanese: 大高 忍, Hepburn: Ōtaka Shinobu; born May 9, 1983) is a Japanese manga artist. She is best known for her manga works Sumomomo, Momomo and Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic.
Fumiyuki Hashimoto (橋本 史之, Hashimoto Fumiyuki) (born April 21, 1982), known by his ring name Kagetora (formerly…Fumiyuki Hashimoto (橋本 史之, Hashimoto Fumiyuki) (born April 21, 1982), known by his ring name Kagetora (formerly stylized in all capitals), is a Japanese professional wrestler who works for Dragon Gate. He wrestles in independent wrestling leagues all around Japan and has wrestled in the United States for Chikara and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. He has wrestled many famous wrestlers including Jinsei Shinzaki.
Eiichi Koyano (小谷野 栄一, Koyano Eīchi; born October 10, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball player…Eiichi Koyano (小谷野 栄一, Koyano Eīchi; born October 10, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball player (infielder) and currently the hitting coach for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He is a native of Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan. Koyano is considered a member of the Matsuzaka Generation.
Kohei Sato (佐藤 耕平, Satō Kōhei; born September 21, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently contracted…Kohei Sato (佐藤 耕平, Satō Kōhei; born September 21, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently contracted with Pro Wrestling Zero1. He also makes appearances on the Japanese independent circuit. Sato is also a former mixed martial artist.
Keisuke Ilmari Ogihara (荻原イルマリ恵介, Ogihara Irumari Keisuke) (born June 17, 1975) is a Japanese rapper and member of the…Keisuke Ilmari Ogihara (荻原イルマリ恵介, Ogihara Irumari Keisuke) (born June 17, 1975) is a Japanese rapper and member of the hip hop group Rip Slyme.
Satoshi Kojima (小島 聡, Kojima Satoshi; born September 14, 1970) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New…Satoshi Kojima (小島 聡, Kojima Satoshi; born September 14, 1970) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Considered to be one of the greatest Japanese professional wrestlers of the 21st century and of all-time, he was the first wrestler to hold NJPW's IWGP Heavyweight Championship and All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW)'s Triple Crown Championship simultaneously, the fourth to win the three major heavyweight championships in Japan with the Triple Crown Heavyweight, IWGP Heavyweight, and Noah's GHC Heavyweight Championship, and one of three wrestlers to hold the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Triple Crown Championship, and NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship (the other two being Keiji Mutoh and Shinya Hashimoto), and is an overall eight-time world champion in major professional wrestling promotions. As a team, he and Hiroyoshi Tenzan are six-time IWGP Tag Team Champions and became the first team to win G1 Tag League and World's Strongest Tag Determination League in the same year. He and Tenzan are also former NWA World Tag Team Champions. Between the NWA, AJPW, NJPW, and Noah, Kojima has held 20 total championships.
Masaaki Mochizuki (望月 成晃, Mochizuki Masaaki; born January 17, 1970) is a Japanese professional wrestler, He is…Masaaki Mochizuki (望月 成晃, Mochizuki Masaaki; born January 17, 1970) is a Japanese professional wrestler, He is currently working on the Dragon Gate and Pro Wrestling Noah. Mochizuki is a former three-time Open the Dream Gate Champion and In NOAH former GHC National Champion and GHC Tag Team Champion. He is also known for his time in Full Impact Pro (FIP), where former one-time FIP World Heavyweight Champion.
Yasuko Endō (遠藤康子, Endō Yasuko; October 21, 1968 – March 30, 1986) was a Japanese model and actress whose idol singer…Yasuko Endō (遠藤康子, Endō Yasuko; October 21, 1968 – March 30, 1986) was a Japanese model and actress whose idol singer debut was derailed by her suicide at age 17. She is not to be confused with narrator Yasuko Endō (遠藤泰子) or actress Yasuko Endō (遠藤靖子).
Kazuto Sakata (坂田 和人; born August 15, 1966 in Kōtō, Tokyo) is a Japanese former professional motorcycle racer. He…Kazuto Sakata (坂田 和人; born August 15, 1966 in Kōtō, Tokyo) is a Japanese former professional motorcycle racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1991 to 1999. Sakata is notable being a two-time F.I.M. 125cc world champion.
Yasuko Kobayashi (小林 靖子, Kobayashi Yasuko; born April 7, 1965) is a Japanese anime and tokusatsu drama screenwriter who…Yasuko Kobayashi (小林 靖子, Kobayashi Yasuko; born April 7, 1965) is a Japanese anime and tokusatsu drama screenwriter who has been involved in various television shows throughout her career, beginning in 1993 with Tokusou Robo Janperson. In September 2022, Kobayashi launched a new manga series with illustrations by Saki Nonoyama titled Danzai Lock in Kodansha's Comic Days website.
Kim Jong-Song (Korean: 김종성; born 23 April 1964) is a professional football manager and former footballer who was most…Kim Jong-Song (Korean: 김종성; born 23 April 1964) is a professional football manager and former footballer who was most recently the manager of Kamatamare Sanuki. Born in Japan, he represented the North Korea national team and represented them at the 1992 AFC Asian Cup.
Kazuharu Shoshi (所司 和晴, Shoshi Kazuharu; born October 23, 1961) is a retired Japanese professional shogi player who…Kazuharu Shoshi (所司 和晴, Shoshi Kazuharu; born October 23, 1961) is a retired Japanese professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 8-dan.
Miyuki Miyabe (宮部みゆき, Miyabe Miyuki; born December 23, 1960) is a Japanese writer of genre fiction. She has won…Miyuki Miyabe (宮部みゆき, Miyabe Miyuki; born December 23, 1960) is a Japanese writer of genre fiction. She has won numerous Japanese literary awards, including the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers, the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for Literature, the Shiba Ryotaro Prize, the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize, and the Naoki Prize. Her work has been widely adapted for film, television, manga, and video games, and has been translated into over a dozen languages.
Hiromichi Fuyuki (冬木 弘道, Fuyuki Hiromichi) (May 11, 1960 – March 19, 2003) was a Japanese professional wrestler and…Hiromichi Fuyuki (冬木 弘道, Fuyuki Hiromichi) (May 11, 1960 – March 19, 2003) was a Japanese professional wrestler and promoter better known by his ring name Kodo Fuyuki (冬木 弘道, Fuyuki Kōdō) best known for his time in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Wrestle Association R (WAR) and other Japanese and international promotions during the 1980s and 1990s as the leader of 6-man tag team Fuyuki-Gun with Gedo and Jado. He is also known as a mainstay of FMW where he was the arch rival of the company's top star Hayabusa and a founding member of the stable Team No Respect included Kintaro Kanemura, Hideki Hosaka, Masao Orihara, Tetsuhiro Kuroda, Mr. Gannosuke, Koji Nakagawa, Horace Boulder, Super Leather, Hido, Gedo and Jado.
Hiromi Iwasaki (岩崎 宏美, Iwasaki Hiromi; born November 12, 1958) is a Japanese female singer who debuted in 1975. Her…Hiromi Iwasaki (岩崎 宏美, Iwasaki Hiromi; born November 12, 1958) is a Japanese female singer who debuted in 1975. Her younger sister Yoshimi Iwasaki is also a singer. In 1981 she was awarded the Silver Prize at the Tokyo Music Festival for her song "Koimachigusa". Her representative songs are "ロマンス" — "Romance" (1975), "思秋期" — "Shishūki" (1977) and "聖母たちのララバイ" — "Madonna Tachi No Lullaby" (1982). However, her most immediately recognizable hit song, "シンデレラ・ハネムーン" — "Cinderella Honeymoon" (1978) has been such a consistent feature of monomane talent Korokke's routines, Hiromi Iwasaki has commented that when the intro played in concerts, fans would laugh, so she has ceremonially "gifted" that song to Korokke, whose performance has elongated both their careers.
Mitsugu Ōnishi (大西みつぐ, Ōnishi Mitsugu; born 7 October 1952) is a Japanese photographer. Born in Tokyo, Ōnishi graduated…Mitsugu Ōnishi (大西みつぐ, Ōnishi Mitsugu; born 7 October 1952) is a Japanese photographer. Born in Tokyo, Ōnishi graduated from the Tokyo College of Photography in 1974, rejoining a year later as a teacher, and staying there in that capacity until 1994. Ōnishi photographed everyday life and his native Tokyo; he later turned his attention to suburban housing projects. Ōnishi won the 22nd Taiyō award in 1985, and the 18th Kimura Ihei Award in 1993. In addition to the collections of his photographs, he has written books about photography and cameras. He continues to live in Tokyo.
Ken Kutaragi (久夛良木 健, Kutaragi Ken; born 2 August 1950) is a Japanese engineering technologist and businessman…Ken Kutaragi (久夛良木 健, Kutaragi Ken; born 2 August 1950) is a Japanese engineering technologist and businessman, currently president and CEO of Cyber AI Entertainment. Formerly the chairman and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE), the video game division of Sony, Kutaragi is known as "The Father of the PlayStation" having overseen the development of the original console and its successors and spinoffs until departing the company in 2007, shortly after the PlayStation 3 was released. Kutaragi had also designed the sound processor for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. With Sony, he designed the VLSI chip that works in conjunction with the PS1's RISC CPU to handle the graphics rendering.
Shizuko Ihara (井原 静子, Ihara Shizuko; 7 May 1941 – 2 July 2000 (pancreatic cancer)), professionally known as Mina Aoe…Shizuko Ihara (井原 静子, Ihara Shizuko; 7 May 1941 – 2 July 2000 (pancreatic cancer)), professionally known as Mina Aoe (青江 三奈, Aoe Mina), was a Japanese female enka singer who had a series of popular hits in the late 1960s and continued charting late into her career. With her distinctive husky voice, she acquired the nickname "Queen of the Blues". She appeared 18 times on the annual Kōhaku Uta Gassen show. After her death, a memorial to Aoe was established in the Isezakichō shopping area in Yokohama.
Yoshitaka Satō (佐藤 良孝, Satō Yoshitaka; April 20, 1935 — June 28, 2007), known by the stage name Shinji Nakae (中江 真司…Yoshitaka Satō (佐藤 良孝, Satō Yoshitaka; April 20, 1935 — June 28, 2007), known by the stage name Shinji Nakae (中江 真司, Nakae Shinji), was a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator from Kōtō, Tokyo. He graduated from Kamakura Gakuen Senior High School, and was affiliated with Aoni Production at the time of his death. He was married with fellow voice actress Michiko Hirai, until her death. Nakae narrated numerous Nintendo commercials during 2006. He retired in 2007 due to his failing health; Hitoshi Kubota took over his role as the narrator of the Nintendo commercials, and Ryūzaburō Ōtomo took over his role as the narrator of the Hey! Spring of Trivia game show. Shinji Nakae died of hepatocellular carcinoma in a Koganei hospital on June 28, 2007. He was 72 years old.
Shintaro Katsu (Japanese: 勝 新太郎, Hepburn: Katsu Shintarō; 29 November 1931 – 21 June 1997) was a Japanese actor…Shintaro Katsu (Japanese: 勝 新太郎, Hepburn: Katsu Shintarō; 29 November 1931 – 21 June 1997) was a Japanese actor, singer, and filmmaker. He is known for starring in the Akumyo series, the Hoodlum Soldier series, the Hanzo the Razor series, and the Zatoichi series.
Ken Utsui (宇津井健, Utsui Ken) (24 October 1931 – 14 March 2014) was a Japanese actor who worked on stage, film, and…Ken Utsui (宇津井健, Utsui Ken) (24 October 1931 – 14 March 2014) was a Japanese actor who worked on stage, film, and television from the 1950s to the 2010s.
Susumu Ōno (大野 晋, Ōno Susumu; August 23, 1919 – July 14, 2008) was a Tokyo-born linguist, specializing in the early…Susumu Ōno (大野 晋, Ōno Susumu; August 23, 1919 – July 14, 2008) was a Tokyo-born linguist, specializing in the early history of the Japanese language. He graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1943, where he studied under Shinkichi Hashimoto. He was professor emeritus at Gakushuin University.
Shinsui Itō (Japanese: 伊東 深水, romanized: Itō Shinsui; 4 February 1898 – 8 May 1972) was the pseudonym of a Nihonga…Shinsui Itō (Japanese: 伊東 深水, romanized: Itō Shinsui; 4 February 1898 – 8 May 1972) was the pseudonym of a Nihonga painter and ukiyo-e woodblock print artist in Taishō- and Shōwa-period Japan. He was one of the great names of the shin-hanga art movement, which revitalized the traditional art after it began to decline with the advent of photography in the early 20th century. His real name was Itō Hajime (Japanese: 伊東 一).
Santō Kyōden (山東 京伝; Japanese pronunciation: [san.toː (|) kʲo(ꜜ)ː.deɴ], 13 September 1761 Edo – 27 October 1816) was a…Santō Kyōden (山東 京伝; Japanese pronunciation: [san.toː (|) kʲo(ꜜ)ː.deɴ], 13 September 1761 Edo – 27 October 1816) was a Japanese artist, writer, and the owner of a tobacco shop during the Edo period. His real name was Iwase Samuru (岩瀬 醒), and he was also known popularly as Kyōya Denzō (京屋 伝蔵). He began his professional career illustrating the works of others before writing his own Kibyōshi and Sharebon, which marked his importance in the history of manga. Within his works, Kyōden often included references to his shop to increase sales. Kyōden's works were affected by the shifting publication laws of the Kansei Reforms, which aimed to punish writers and their publishers for writings related to the Yoshiwara and other things that were deemed to be "harmful to society" at the time by the Tokugawa Bakufu. As a result of his punishment in 1791, Kyōden shifted his writings to the more didactic Yomihon. During the 1790s, Santō Kyōden became a household name, and one of his works could sell as many as 10,000 copies, numbers that were previously unheard of for the time.
Tetsuo Kakimoto (柿本 哲夫, Kakimoto Tetsuo; born September 11, 1968), known professionally as Tetsuo Kurata (倉田 てつを…Tetsuo Kakimoto (柿本 哲夫, Kakimoto Tetsuo; born September 11, 1968), known professionally as Tetsuo Kurata (倉田 てつを, Kurata Tetsuo), is a Japanese television, stage film actor singer restaurateur and model. He is best known for portraying Kotaro Minami, the main character in the tokusatsu television series Kamen Rider Black and its sequel, Kamen Rider Black RX. At the age of 19, Kurata made his acting debut in Black, and has since appeared in many other television series and Japanese doramas. He was Playgirl Magazine's Man of the Year for its September 1988 issue. His centerfold was photographed by Naoko Yamaguchi.
Daisuke Gōri (郷里 大輔, Gōri Daisuke; February 8, 1952 – January 17, 2010) was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator…Daisuke Gōri (郷里 大輔, Gōri Daisuke; February 8, 1952 – January 17, 2010) was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Kōtō, Tokyo. Throughout his life, he was attached to TV Talent Center Tokyo, Yoshizawa Theatre School and then Mausu Promotion; he was attached to Aoni Production at the time of his death. His real name, as well as his former stage name, was Yoshio Nagahori (長堀 芳夫, Nagahori Yoshio). He was best known for his roles in the Dragon Ball series as Mister Satan and numerous other characters, the Gundam series as Dozle Zabi and Bask Om, Ninja Scroll as Gemma Himuro, Kinnikuman as Robin Mask, Patlabor as Hiromi Yamazaki, Star Fox as General Pepper, Andross, and Pigma Dengar, Dead or Alive as Bass Armstrong, Tekken as Heihachi Mishima, and Soulcalibur as Edge Master – as well for his distinctive deep, booming voice.
Tomokazu Seki (関 智一, Seki Tomokazu; born September 8, 1972) is a Japanese voice actor and singer. He previously worked…Tomokazu Seki (関 智一, Seki Tomokazu; born September 8, 1972) is a Japanese voice actor and singer. He previously worked with Haikyō. He is honorary president of and affiliated with Atomic Monkey and the chairman of theater company HeroHero Q. He is a special lecturer at Japan Newart College.
Eriko Sato (佐藤 江梨子, Satō Eriko; born 19 December 1981) is a Japanese actress. She is also a former gravure idol and…Eriko Sato (佐藤 江梨子, Satō Eriko; born 19 December 1981) is a Japanese actress. She is also a former gravure idol and made her debut in 1998.
Genki Sudo (須藤 元気, Sudō Genki; born 8 March 1978) is a Japanese former mixed martial artist, singer, actor, and…Genki Sudo (須藤 元気, Sudō Genki; born 8 March 1978) is a Japanese former mixed martial artist, singer, actor, and politician. Between 1998 and 2006, Sudo was a professional athlete and then was in the entertainment industry from 2006 to 2019. He has since returned to his previous position in World Order as of September 2021 where he is currently active. He is a retired mixed martial artist and a kickboxer who, until 31 December 2006 competed in the Japanese fighting organization HERO'S and before that, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pancrase. He is known for his elaborate ring entrances and unorthodox fighting style. Sudo, following his retirement, transitioned into a career in entertainment as a Japanese singer, composer, choreographer, actor, professional calligrapher and author. He is the producer, director, and lead vocalist of the music group World Order, which is known for their techno music style and highly synchronised robotic choreography. Sudo served in the House of Councillors as a political independent between 2019 and 2024. In 2025, he joined the conservative Democratic Party For the People.
Yasujirō Ozu (小津 安二郎, Ozu Yasujirō; 12 December 1903 – 12 December 1963) was a Japanese filmmaker. He began his career…Yasujirō Ozu (小津 安二郎, Ozu Yasujirō; 12 December 1903 – 12 December 1963) was a Japanese filmmaker. He began his career during the era of silent films, and his last films were made in colour in the early 1960s. Ozu first made a number of short comedies, before turning to more serious themes in the 1930s. The most prominent themes of Ozu's work are family and marriage, and especially the relationships between generations. His most widely beloved films include Late Spring (1949), Tokyo Story (1953) and An Autumn Afternoon (1962). Widely regarded as one of the world's greatest and most influential filmmakers, Ozu's work has continued to receive acclaim since his death. In the 2012 Sight & Sound poll, Ozu's Tokyo Story was voted the third-greatest film of all time by critics world-wide. In the same poll, Tokyo Story was voted the greatest film of all time by 358 directors and film-makers world-wide. He is the subject of several documentaries, including Wim Wenders's Tokyo-Ga (1985) and Daniel Raim's The Ozu Diaries (2025).
