Yuki Konagaya (小長谷 有紀, Konagaya Yuki; born November 7, 1957 in Toyonaka, Osaka) is a Japanese professor specializing in…Yuki Konagaya (小長谷 有紀, Konagaya Yuki; born November 7, 1957 in Toyonaka, Osaka) is a Japanese professor specializing in the history and cultural anthropology of Central Asia and Mongolia.
Torahiko Tanaka (田中 寅彦, Tanaka Torahiko; born April 29, 1957) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who…Torahiko Tanaka (田中 寅彦, Tanaka Torahiko; born April 29, 1957) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 9-dan. He is also a former Kisei title holder and a former senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association.
Midori Matsushima (Japanese: 松島 みどり, Hepburn: Matsushima Midori; born 15 July 1956) also known by her legal name Midori…Midori Matsushima (Japanese: 松島 みどり, Hepburn: Matsushima Midori; born 15 July 1956) also known by her legal name Midori Baba (馬場 みどり, Baba Midori) is a Japanese politician. She served as Japan's Minister of Justice in 2014, later resigning in the same year after an allegation of violating electoral laws by distributing paper fans to voters.
Kaoru Shintani (新谷 かおる, Shintani Kaoru; born April 26, 1951 in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist.…Kaoru Shintani (新谷 かおる, Shintani Kaoru; born April 26, 1951 in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist. Shintani is best known for his series Area 88. In addition to his pilot comics, Shintani has ventured into science fiction, fantasy, comedy, and hentai comics as well. In 1985, he was awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen for Area 88 and Futari Daka. Shintani began his career in 1972 as a shōjo artist and was nominated for the Ribon Comics Award for best new artist of that year. After working as an assistant to Leiji Matsumoto, the creator of Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999 and the creative director for Space Battleship Yamato, Shintani began to publish aviator titles in various comic magazines. Serialization of Area 88 began in 1979 and the title has been popular ever since. While working as an assistant to Matsumoto, one of Shintani's duties was to construct plastic models for drawing reference. Matsumoto often states that he based the character Yattaran (who appears as a supporting character in several Harlock stories) on Shintani.
Sanae Tsuchida (土田 早苗, Tsuchida Sanae) is a Japanese actress. She was born on July 26, 1949, in Toyonaka, Osaka. In…Sanae Tsuchida (土田 早苗, Tsuchida Sanae) is a Japanese actress. She was born on July 26, 1949, in Toyonaka, Osaka. In film, Tsuchida had a role in Kore ga Seishun Da! (1966). In another modern role (1976), she appeared in the Norifumi Suzuki film Torakku Yarō: Hōkyō Ichiban Hoshi. The year 1979 saw her in a film based on the television series she had been in: Onmitsu dōshin Ōedo sōsamō. Tsuchida has appeared in major roles in many prime-time television series. She starred as Kagari, playing opposite Asahi Kurizuka in the 42-episode 1967–68 black-and-white jidaigeki series Kaze on the Tokyo Broadcasting System network. She had a leading role as Inazuma Oryū in Ōedo Sōsamō. From 1970 to 1975, she appeared as Chiharu in Ōoka Echizen, and from 1970 to 1973 as Oyumi in Zenigata Heiji, with kabuki actor Hashizō Ōkawa as the title character. Leaving the Edo period, she played Itoko in the daytime drama series Akantare (1976–77). Tsuchida starred as well as Hu San-Niang in the 1973 series, The Water Margin. In addition to series, she has also been cast in numerous guest-star roles, among them Abarenbō Shōgun. Tsuchida has also appeared on stage, in variety and quiz shows, and in commercials.
Eiichi Yamashita (山下 栄一, Yamashita Eiichi; born August 18, 1947) is a former Japanese politician of the New Komeito…Eiichi Yamashita (山下 栄一, Yamashita Eiichi; born August 18, 1947) is a former Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, who served as a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Toyonaka, Osaka, he graduated from Kyoto University and received a master's degree in law from Osaka City University, he was elected for the first time in 1992.
Takashi Kako (加古 隆, Kako Takashi) (born 31 January 1947) is a Japanese pianist and composer, who works in both jazz and…Takashi Kako (加古 隆, Kako Takashi) (born 31 January 1947) is a Japanese pianist and composer, who works in both jazz and art-music idioms.
Kazuhiko Sakazaki (坂崎一彦, Sakazaki Kazuhiko; January 5, 1938 – January 28, 2014) was a Japanese baseball player who…Kazuhiko Sakazaki (坂崎一彦, Sakazaki Kazuhiko; January 5, 1938 – January 28, 2014) was a Japanese baseball player who played as an outfielder. Born in Toyonaka, Osaka, he played for the Yomiuri Giants (1956–1964) and the Toei Flyers (1965–1967). After he retired from baseball, he took over the electric construction family business, and was also a member of the "Japan Baseball Promotion Association". He died on January 28, 2014, from stomach cancer.
Masaaki Mori (森 祇晶, Mori Masaaki; born January 9, 1937) is a retired professional Japanese baseball player and manager.…Masaaki Mori (森 祇晶, Mori Masaaki; born January 9, 1937) is a retired professional Japanese baseball player and manager. Mori played Nippon Professional Baseball from 1955–1974 as the catcher of the Yomiuri Giants. He was an eight-time Best Nine Award-winner (1961–1968) and the Japan Series MVP in 1967. He was selected to eleven Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Games. He was nicknamed "the brains of the V9 Dynasty", as he was the main catcher of the Yomiuri Giants V9 Dynasty. When his career ended in 1974, he asked newly-minted Giants manager Shigeo Nagashima for a job and was refused. After his retirement as a player, Mori managed the Seibu Lions from 1986 to 1994, leading the team to six Japan Series championships of the Invincible Seibu dynasty. He won the Matsutaro Shoriki Award in 1986 and 1990. He announced his impeding retirement from the Lions at the close of the 1994 Japan Series, although it was later speculated that management expressed it was time for a change. Mori managed the Yokohama BayStars in 2001 to 2002. Mori participated in 27 of the 73 Japan Series contested, as a player, coach, and manager, as of 2023, with him winning 21 of the 27, making him the most decorated individual in NPB history.
Tadanari Okamoto (岡本 忠成, Okamoto Tadanari; January 11, 1932 – February 16, 1990) was a Japanese independent animator.…Tadanari Okamoto (岡本 忠成, Okamoto Tadanari; January 11, 1932 – February 16, 1990) was a Japanese independent animator. From 1965 until his death he completed at least 37 short subject films in a wide variety of mediums, many of them winning award-winning, his honorific nicknamed "Sheldon Cohen and Hans Fischerkoesen of Japan".
Sankichi Tōge (峠 三吉, Tōge Sankichi; 19 February 1917 – 10 March 1953), born Mitsuyoshi Tōge, was a Japanese poet…Sankichi Tōge (峠 三吉, Tōge Sankichi; 19 February 1917 – 10 March 1953), born Mitsuyoshi Tōge, was a Japanese poet, activist, and survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. He is best known for his collection of poems Genbaku Shishu ("Poems of the Atomic Bomb"), published in 1951.
Akio Suyama (陶山 章央, Suyama Akio; born July 8, 1968) is a Japanese voice actor, affiliated with Sigma Seven. He was born…Akio Suyama (陶山 章央, Suyama Akio; born July 8, 1968) is a Japanese voice actor, affiliated with Sigma Seven. He was born in Toyonaka, Osaka. He is best known for voicing Ichiro Ogami in the Sakura Wars franchise.
Naomi Kawai (河合 直美, Kawai Naomi; born May 12, 1971), known professionally as Nao Nagasawa (永澤 菜教, Nagasawa Nao) and…Naomi Kawai (河合 直美, Kawai Naomi; born May 12, 1971), known professionally as Nao Nagasawa (永澤 菜教, Nagasawa Nao) and formerly Naomi Nagasawa (長沢 直美, Nagasawa Naomi) is a Japanese voice actress from Toyonaka, Osaka who used to be represented by Aoni Production and Ken Production and is now represented by Kekke Corporation. She was formerly married to Ryōtarō Okiayu and they had a daughter.
Mayo Hibi (日比 万葉, Hibi Mayo; born 3 April 1996) is a Japanese former professional tennis player. Over her career, she…Mayo Hibi (日比 万葉, Hibi Mayo; born 3 April 1996) is a Japanese former professional tennis player. Over her career, she won eight singles titles and one doubles title on the ITF Women's Circuit. On 3 February 2020, she reached her best singles ranking of world No. 157. On 26 May 2014, she peaked at No. 378 in the WTA doubles rankings. Hibi won her first $50k tournament at the 2013 FSP Gold River Women's Challenger, defeating Madison Brengle in straight sets in the final.
Miki Maya (真矢みき, Maya Miki; born January 31, 1964 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture) is a Japanese actress and former…Miki Maya (真矢みき, Maya Miki; born January 31, 1964 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture) is a Japanese actress and former top star of the Takarazuka Revue. Her real name is Miki Sato (佐藤美季, Satō Miki).
