Hiroshi Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木浩, Hepburn: Suzuki Hiroshi; born 5 June 1961) is a Japanese diplomat who has served as…Hiroshi Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木浩, Hepburn: Suzuki Hiroshi; born 5 June 1961) is a Japanese diplomat who has served as Ambassador of Japan to the United Kingdom since September 2024. He previously served as Ambassador of Japan to India and Bhutan from 2022 to 2024.
Koichi Hashiratani (柱谷 幸一, Hashiratani Koichi; born 1 March 1961) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He…Koichi Hashiratani (柱谷 幸一, Hashiratani Koichi; born 1 March 1961) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team. His younger brother Tetsuji Hashiratani is also a former footballer.
Naoyuki Uchida (内田 直行, Uchida Naoyuki; born December 23, 1960), known by his pen name Yukito Ayatsuji (綾辻 行人, Ayatsuji…Naoyuki Uchida (内田 直行, Uchida Naoyuki; born December 23, 1960), known by his pen name Yukito Ayatsuji (綾辻 行人, Ayatsuji Yukito), is a Japanese writer of mystery and horror. He is one of the founders of Honkaku Mystery Writers Club of Japan and one of the representative writers of the new traditionalist movement in Japanese mystery writing. His wife is Fuyumi Ono, a Japanese fantasy and horror writer who is known for her fantasy series The Twelve Kingdoms. His first novel The Decagon House Murders was ranked as the No. 8 novel on the Top 100 Japanese Mystery Novels of All Time. In 2018, a minor planet (2001 RG46) was named as Yukito Ayatsuji.
Yuji Nakae (中江 裕司, Nakae Yūji) is a Japanese film director who specializes in films set in Okinawa, featuring Okinawan…Yuji Nakae (中江 裕司, Nakae Yūji) is a Japanese film director who specializes in films set in Okinawa, featuring Okinawan music, language, themes and atmosphere. He shared the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award for his debut film, Pineapple Tours, which was an omnibus film co-directed with Tsutomu Makiya and Hayashi Tōma. He won the award for Best Director at the 25th Hochi Film Award for Nabbie's Love.
Momiji Yamamura (山村 紅葉, Yamamura Momiji; born 27 October 1960) is a Japanese actress. Her real name is Momiji Yoshikawa…Momiji Yamamura (山村 紅葉, Yamamura Momiji; born 27 October 1960) is a Japanese actress. Her real name is Momiji Yoshikawa (吉川 紅葉, Yoshikawa Momiji; née Yamamura (山村)). Yamamura is represented by Misa Yamamura Office and Toho Entertainment. She is a graduate of Kyoto University of Education Kindergarthen, Elementary School, Junior High, and High School and Waseda University Political Science and Economics. Yamamura's mother was Misa Yamamura and her husband is a former Ministry of Finance bureaucrat. Her uncle is Hiroshi Kimura. Yamamura's hobby is ice skating. Her skills are speaking English, German, and Kyoto words and playing the piano. Yamamura is nicknamed Momi-chan (もみちゃん) and Momiji-san (紅葉さん).
Fumio Iwai (Japanese: 岩井文男) (born 17 July 1960), is a Japanese politician who currently serves as the ambassador of…Fumio Iwai (Japanese: 岩井文男) (born 17 July 1960), is a Japanese politician who currently serves as the ambassador of Japan to Saudi Arabia, and previously served as the Ambassador of Japan to Iraq.
Kimiko Ikegami (池上季実子, Ikegami Kimiko; born January 16, 1959) is an American-born Japanese actress. She is best known…Kimiko Ikegami (池上季実子, Ikegami Kimiko; born January 16, 1959) is an American-born Japanese actress. She is best known for playing the lead role of Gorgeous in the 1977 film House.
Naomi Fujiyama (藤山 直美, Fujiyama Naomi; born December 28, 1958) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best…Naomi Fujiyama (藤山 直美, Fujiyama Naomi; born December 28, 1958) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best actress at the 25th Hochi Film Award and at the 22nd Yokohama Film Festival for Face. She is the daughter of leading Japanese comedian Kanbi Fujiyama.
Shoji Nishida (西田 昌司, Nishida Shōji; born September 19, 1958) is a conservative Japanese politician of the Liberal…Shoji Nishida (西田 昌司, Nishida Shōji; born September 19, 1958) is a conservative Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Reiko Terashima (寺島令子, Terashima Reiko) is a Japanese yonkoma manga artist and illustrator born on 8 September 1958 in…Reiko Terashima (寺島令子, Terashima Reiko) is a Japanese yonkoma manga artist and illustrator born on 8 September 1958 in Kyoto, Japan. She graduated from Ritsumeikan University with a degree in psychology, and was a member of the manga club while there. Terashima made her professional debut in 1979 with Children Play (チルドレンプレイ, Chirudoren Purei), published in the manga magazine Young Magazine. She has illustrated multiple cards for the Japanese edition of Magic: The Gathering. Terashima is divorced. She has a close friendship with manga artist and illustrator Naoko Kanazawa, and her younger sister is manga artist Yoshiko Terakawa.
Kaizo Hayashi (林 海象, Hayashi Kaizō; born July 15, 1957) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He made his…Kaizo Hayashi (林 海象, Hayashi Kaizō; born July 15, 1957) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He made his directorial debut with To Sleep so as to Dream (1986). He is best known for his neo-noir Maiku Hama trilogy, The Most Terrible Time in My Life (1994), Stairway to the Distant Past (1995) and The Trap (1996). In addition to film, Hayashi served as creative director on the 2000 Konami video game 7 Blades for the PlayStation 2, and was director for two episodes of Power Rangers: Time Force.
Yoshizumi Ishino (石野 良純, Ishino Yoshizumi) is a Japanese molecular biologist, known for discovering the DNA sequence of…Yoshizumi Ishino (石野 良純, Ishino Yoshizumi) is a Japanese molecular biologist, known for discovering the DNA sequence of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR).
Ken'ichi Yamamoto (山本兼一, Yamamoto Ken'ichi; July 23, 1956 – February 13, 2014) was a Japanese writer. After first being…Ken'ichi Yamamoto (山本兼一, Yamamoto Ken'ichi; July 23, 1956 – February 13, 2014) was a Japanese writer. After first being employed by a publisher, Yamamoto, himself, became a full-time writer. In 2004, he won the Seichō Matsumoto Award for Katen no shiro, and in 2009 the Naoki Prize for Rikyū ni Tazune yo. Both books were made into movies. Yamamoto died on February 13, 2014, from lung cancer at the age of 57.
Mikishi Daimon (大門 実紀史, Daimon Mikishi; born January 10, 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Japanese Communist…Mikishi Daimon (大門 実紀史, Daimon Mikishi; born January 10, 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Japanese Communist Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kyoto, Kyoto and dropout of Kobe University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2001 after an unsuccessful run in 1998.
Yasuichi Oshima (大島 やすいち, Ōshima Yasuichi; born 24 March 1954 in Kyoto) is a Japanese manga artist. In 1984, he won the…Yasuichi Oshima (大島 やすいち, Ōshima Yasuichi; born 24 March 1954 in Kyoto) is a Japanese manga artist. In 1984, he won the Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen for Bats & Terry. He is the father of manga artist Towa Oshima.
Takashi Yamaguchi (山口 隆, Takashi Yamaguchi; born February 20, 1953) is a Japanese architect, born in Kyoto. He…Takashi Yamaguchi (山口 隆, Takashi Yamaguchi; born February 20, 1953) is a Japanese architect, born in Kyoto. He graduated from Kyoto University and worked for Tadao Ando and Associates. He founded his own architectural firm, Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates, in 1996. Yamaguchi served as a visiting professor at the Osaka University of Arts in 2005, and in 2009 served as visiting professor at Columbia University and visiting scholar at Harvard. He is a professor at Osaka Sangyo University and a member of the Japan Institute of Architects and the Architectural Institute of Japan. He is an elite member of the Supporters of Romania Research at the Academy of Romanian Scientists. He is also a Regional President of Asia Designer Communication Platform.
Mitsuo Sawamoto (澤本 光男 Sawamoto Mitsuo, December 12, 1954) is a Japanese chemist specializing in the field of polymer…Mitsuo Sawamoto (澤本 光男 Sawamoto Mitsuo, December 12, 1954) is a Japanese chemist specializing in the field of polymer chemistry, Emeritus Professor at Kyoto University, professor at Chubu University. He is co-recipient of the Franklin Institute Award in Chemistry in 2017 with Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, for their independent discover of Atom-transfer radical-polymerization (ATRP).
Kaoru Kobayashi (小林 薫, Kobayashi Kaoru; born on September 4, 1951) is a Japanese actor born in Kyoto. He won best actor…Kaoru Kobayashi (小林 薫, Kobayashi Kaoru; born on September 4, 1951) is a Japanese actor born in Kyoto. He won best actor at the 30th Yokohama Film Festival and best-supporting actor at the 8th Yokohama Film Festival for Sorobanzuku.
Kazuhide Ishiyama or Song Il-soo (石山 一秀、いしやま かずひで、born December 23, 1950) is the former manager of the Doosan Bears of…Kazuhide Ishiyama or Song Il-soo (石山 一秀、いしやま かずひで、born December 23, 1950) is the former manager of the Doosan Bears of the KBO League.
Kazuhiro Koizumi (小泉 和裕, Koizumi Kazuhiro; born 16 October 1949) is a Japanese conductor who has had an active…Kazuhiro Koizumi (小泉 和裕, Koizumi Kazuhiro; born 16 October 1949) is a Japanese conductor who has had an active international career since the 1970s. Koizumi was one among the founding conductors of the New Japan Philharmonic established in July 1972. He has appeared as a guest conductor throughout Europe and the United States, appearing with such ensembles as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He is the current principal conductor of both the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, a post he has held since 2008, and the Century Orchestra Osaka (2003). Since 2006 he has been a current principal guest conductor with the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra.
Jiro Dan (団 時朗, Dan Jirō; January 30, 1949 – March 22, 2023) was a Japanese actor, singer, and model best known for his…Jiro Dan (団 時朗, Dan Jirō; January 30, 1949 – March 22, 2023) was a Japanese actor, singer, and model best known for his role as Hideki Go/Ultraman Jack in The Return of Ultraman, making guest appearances in subsequent Ultraman productions as well. His real name was Hideo Murata (村田 秀雄). He was born in Kyoto and graduated from Heian High School.
Harumi Miyako (都 はるみ, Miyako Harumi; born 22 February 1948), born Harumi Kitamura (北村春美, Kitamura Harumi) in Kyoto, is…Harumi Miyako (都 はるみ, Miyako Harumi; born 22 February 1948), born Harumi Kitamura (北村春美, Kitamura Harumi) in Kyoto, is a Japanese enka singer. She made her debut in 1964. She has appeared on the annual television special Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Haruhiko Jō (壤晴彦, Jō Haruhiko; born January 25, 1948) is a Japanese actor, theatre director, and voice actor, currently…Haruhiko Jō (壤晴彦, Jō Haruhiko; born January 25, 1948) is a Japanese actor, theatre director, and voice actor, currently affiliated with Engekikurabu Za.
Sachio Kinugasa (衣笠 祥雄; January 18, 1947 – April 23, 2018) was a Japanese professional baseball third baseman for the…Sachio Kinugasa (衣笠 祥雄; January 18, 1947 – April 23, 2018) was a Japanese professional baseball third baseman for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball league from 1965 to 1987. He was nicknamed Tetsujin, meaning "Iron Man". He played in a record-breaking 2,215 consecutive games, having surpassed Lou Gehrig's record by 1987. Kinugasa is mostly remembered for his consecutive-game streak, but he ranks seventh in Nippon Professional Baseball in career home runs (504), 5th in career hits (2543) and 10th in career RBIs (1448), showing that he was one of the most consistent hitters in Japanese baseball. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.
Ittoku Kishibe (岸部 一徳, Kishibe Ittoku; born 9 January 1947), born Osami Kishibe (岸部 修三, Kishibe Osami), is a Japanese…Ittoku Kishibe (岸部 一徳, Kishibe Ittoku; born 9 January 1947), born Osami Kishibe (岸部 修三, Kishibe Osami), is a Japanese actor and musician.
Miwa Takada (高田 美和, Takada Miwa; born 5 January 1947 in Kyoto) is a Japanese film, TV and stage actress. She has…Miwa Takada (高田 美和, Takada Miwa; born 5 January 1947 in Kyoto) is a Japanese film, TV and stage actress. She has starred in several Japanese movies that are today considered classics (especially in the Zatoichi saga, and the Daimajin trilogy). Takada also worked as a singer, and the duet she recorded with Mitsuo Kaji, "Waga Ai wo Hoshi ni Inorite," became a huge hit. Now she focuses on stage performances and TV. She lives in Numazu.
Helen Nishikawa (Japanese: 西川 ヘレン, Hepburn: Nishikawa Heren) [born Helen Sugimoto (杉本 ヘレン, Sugimoto Heren); 6 October…Helen Nishikawa (Japanese: 西川 ヘレン, Hepburn: Nishikawa Heren) [born Helen Sugimoto (杉本 ヘレン, Sugimoto Heren); 6 October 1946] is a female Japanese TV presenter and actress. Although one of her parents was American, Nishikawa does not speak native-level English. She is well known as the wife of the comedian and former politician Kiyoshi Nishikawa and has written two books.
Minoru Arakawa (荒川 實, Arakawa Minoru; born September 3, 1946) is a Japanese businessman best known as the founder and…Minoru Arakawa (荒川 實, Arakawa Minoru; born September 3, 1946) is a Japanese businessman best known as the founder and former president of Nintendo of America, and the co-founder of Tetris Online, Inc.
Manabu Miyazaki (宮崎 学, Miyazaki Manabu; 25 October 1945 – 30 March 2022) was a Japanese writer, social critic and…Manabu Miyazaki (宮崎 学, Miyazaki Manabu; 25 October 1945 – 30 March 2022) was a Japanese writer, social critic and public figure. He is the author of several best-selling books in Japan. His autobiography Toppamono sold 600,000 copies and has since been translated into English. In 1985, Miyazaki was named by the Tokyo police as the prime suspect in the Glico Morinaga case, a 17-month saga of kidnapping and corporate extortion. He was later cleared.
Miyuki Matsuhisa-Hironaka (松久-広中 ミユキ, born August 15, 1945) is a retired Japanese artistic gymnast who competed at the…Miyuki Matsuhisa-Hironaka (松久-広中 ミユキ, born August 15, 1945) is a retired Japanese artistic gymnast who competed at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. She had her best results in 1968, when her team placed fourth and she shared ninth place on the balance beam.
Norihiko Hashida (はしだのりひこ; 7 January 1945 – 2 December 2017) was a Japanese singer-songwriter. His real name in kanji…Norihiko Hashida (はしだのりひこ; 7 January 1945 – 2 December 2017) was a Japanese singer-songwriter. His real name in kanji was 端田 宣彦, but he used the hiragana rendering of his name as his stage name. Hashida was a Kyoto native and attended Doshisha University. He was invited to join The Folk Crusaders in 1967 and appeared with the band in the 1968 film Three Resurrected Drunkards before the group split. Hashida then led Norihiko Hashida and the Shoebelts until 1970. The song "Hanayome" performed by Norihiko Hashida and Climax reached number 1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart from 15 February to 28 February 1971. Hashida died of Parkinson's disease aged 72, at a hospital in Kyoto.
Aki Kuroda (黒田 アキ, Kuroda Aki; 4 October 1944), real name Akihiko Kuroda (黒田 明比古, Kuroda Akihiko), is a Japanese…Aki Kuroda (黒田 アキ, Kuroda Aki; 4 October 1944), real name Akihiko Kuroda (黒田 明比古, Kuroda Akihiko), is a Japanese painter based in Paris, France. Aki Kuroda, well known for his silhouettes and figures painted with line strokes, which has been considered like a symbol of "passage" to the labyrinth. Since 1992, he has continued to produce a fluxional interactive art spectacle/installation named "COSMOGARDEN" (the cosmic garden).
Satoshi Ninoyu (二之湯 智, Ninoyu Satoshi; born September 13, 1944) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Satoshi Ninoyu (二之湯 智, Ninoyu Satoshi; born September 13, 1944) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, and served as a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Yumiko Nogawa (野川由美子, Nogawa Yumiko; born August 30, 1944) is a Japanese actress born in Kyoto, Japan. She has starred…Yumiko Nogawa (野川由美子, Nogawa Yumiko; born August 30, 1944) is a Japanese actress born in Kyoto, Japan. She has starred in several movies, notably Gate of Flesh (1964), part of a trilogy of films she made with director Seijun Suzuki. Including Story of a Prostitute (1965) and Carmen from Kawachi (1966), these films are known as Nogawa's "Flesh Trilogy". Nogawa has appeared in numerous films in Japan, including director Nagisa Oshima's The Pleasures of the Flesh (1965) and Zatoichi and the Fugitives (1968), the eighteenth film in the Zatoichi series. She has also appeared in television series on Nippon Television, TV Tokyo, Fuji TV, and NHK.
Tarō Ishida (石田 太郎, Ishida Tarō; March 16, 1944 – September 21, 2013), born Gentarō Ishida (石田 弦太郎, Ishida Gentarō)…Tarō Ishida (石田 太郎, Ishida Tarō; March 16, 1944 – September 21, 2013), born Gentarō Ishida (石田 弦太郎, Ishida Gentarō), was a Japanese actor, voice actor, and Shin Buddhist priest from the city of Kyoto. He was affiliated with Granpapa Production.
Tadao Onishi (大西 忠生, Ōnishi Tadao; April 18, 1943 – June 29, 2006) was a Japanese football player and manager. He…Tadao Onishi (大西 忠生, Ōnishi Tadao; April 18, 1943 – June 29, 2006) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.
Kim Sung-keun (Korean: 김성근; Hanja: 金星根; born October 30, 1941, in Kyoto, Japan) is a retired South Korean left-handed…Kim Sung-keun (Korean: 김성근; Hanja: 金星根; born October 30, 1941, in Kyoto, Japan) is a retired South Korean left-handed baseball pitcher and KBO League manager. Over the course of his managerial career, Kim managed seven different KBO League teams, and is only the second manager in the history of the league to record 1,000 victories. He is a four-time KBO Manager of the Year, and as manager of the SK Wyverns led the team to victory in the Korean Series three times. His nickname is the "Baseball God."
Gunpei Yokoi (Japanese: 横井 軍平, Hepburn: Yokoi Gunpei; 10 September 1941 – 4 October 1997), sometimes transliterated as…Gunpei Yokoi (Japanese: 横井 軍平, Hepburn: Yokoi Gunpei; 10 September 1941 – 4 October 1997), sometimes transliterated as Gumpei Yokoi, was a Japanese toy maker, video game designer, and producer. During his 31-year tenure at Nintendo, he served as general manager of Nintendo Research & Development 1 (R&D1) and designed several of the company's most prominent hardware products, including the Ultra Hand toy, the cross-shaped D-pad, the Game & Watch and Game Boy handheld systems, the R.O.B. accessory, and the Virtual Boy. As a producer and mentor to Shigeru Miyamoto, Yokoi oversaw major Nintendo franchises and titles including Donkey Kong, Mario Bros., Metroid, Kid Icarus, Fire Emblem, and Super Mario Land. His design philosophy of "Lateral Thinking with Withered Technology" (枯れた技術の水平思考, Kareta Gijutsu no Suihei Shikō)—finding novel, creative uses for mature, inexpensive hardware rather than relying on cutting-edge specifications—shaped Nintendo's hardware strategy for decades and informed its later Blue Ocean Strategy with the Nintendo DS and Wii.
Masahiko Tsugawa (津川 雅彦, Tsugawa Masahiko), born Masahiko Katō (加藤 雅彦 Katō Masahiko; January 2, 1940 – August 4, 2018)…Masahiko Tsugawa (津川 雅彦, Tsugawa Masahiko), born Masahiko Katō (加藤 雅彦 Katō Masahiko; January 2, 1940 – August 4, 2018) was a Japanese actor and director.
Toyoharu Yoshida (Japanese: 吉田豊治, Hepburn: Yoshida Toyoharu; January 1, 1940 – July 1, 2023), better known as Ippei…Toyoharu Yoshida (Japanese: 吉田豊治, Hepburn: Yoshida Toyoharu; January 1, 1940 – July 1, 2023), better known as Ippei Kuri (九里一平, Kuri Ippei), was a Japanese manga artist and the third president of animation production company Tatsunoko Production.
