Yoshi Ikuzō (吉幾三; born 11 November 1952, Goshogawara, Aomori) is the stage name of Yoshihito Kamata (鎌田 善人, Kamata…
Yoshi Ikuzō (吉幾三; born 11 November 1952, Goshogawara, Aomori) is the stage name of Yoshihito Kamata (鎌田 善人, Kamata Yoshihito), a Japanese enka singer-songwriter. He has released several popular albums of enka music, a genre akin to Japanese folk or blues music in the Western world. Amongst his most famous hits are "Sake yo", "Suika", and "Yuki Guni". Additionally, he is self-described as the "first popular hip hop artist in Japan" due to the 1984 release of "Ora Tōkyō sa Iguda" (lit. "I'm going to Tokyo"), sung in his native Tsugaru dialect of Japanese. He has been on tour with fellow Japanese star Fukui Kodai. Ikuzō is married. His wife is named Hisako, and they have a daughter, Ikumi. His stage name is a pun for the common Japanese phrase "Yoshi, ikuzo!" (よし、いくぞー！, Alright, let's go!).
Famous Japanese People: Singer・Vocalist
Singer・Vocalist: 1,169 people
Tsutomu Aragaki (新垣 勉, Aragaki Tsutomu; born 1952 in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture) is a Japanese tenor. He was born in…
Tsutomu Aragaki (新垣 勉, Aragaki Tsutomu; born 1952 in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture) is a Japanese tenor. He was born in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture. He was blinded shortly after birth when a midwife put overly-strong drops in his eyes. When he was a year old, his parents divorced and his Mexican-American father went back to the United States. His mother, who was Okinawan, remarried when he was still a child, and Tsutomu was sent to live with his maternal grandmother. His grandmother raised him until he was 14, when she died, leaving him without relatives in Japan. One day Tsutomu heard a hymn on the radio. This led him to visit a church, where he told the minister about his life. Sympathetic to Tsutomu's loss, the minister took him in and raised him as family. It was this meeting that led Tsutomu both to sing and to become a Baptist minister. The song, "Sugar Cane Field", was top three in classical CD sales in Japan in 2002. The Fuji TV movie Mada Minu Chichi e, Haha e [まだ見ぬ父へ母へ] (To the Father and Mother I Still Haven't Seen) is a dramatization of his life.
Yukihide Takekawa (タケカワ ユキヒデ（武川 行秀, Takekawa Yukihide; born October 22, 1952) is a Japanese singer, songwriter and…
Yukihide Takekawa (タケカワ ユキヒデ（武川 行秀, Takekawa Yukihide; born October 22, 1952) is a Japanese singer, songwriter and composer from Urawa-ku, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture. He is best known for being the vocalist to the band Godiego as well as his solo career and his work as an author. Some of his compositions have been featured in video game, anime, films, and television drama soundtracks. These include the Galaxy Express 999 film, Saiyūki, Genesis Climber MOSPEADA, Soul Blazer, and Choushinsei Flashman. One of his most popular songs was "Gandhara", which was translated into foreign languages many times and changed more than once during the translation. The Japanese version of Return to Oz has "Keep On Dreamin'", performed by Godiego's Yukihide Takekawa, which was later re-recorded for one of his albums. His daughter Ai is also a musician and has been featured on the soundtrack of InuYasha Kanketsu-Hen.
Kentarō Shimizu (清水 健太郎, Shimizu Kentarō; born October 11, 1952, in Kokura, Fukuoka, Japan) is a Japanese actor and…
Kentarō Shimizu (清水 健太郎, Shimizu Kentarō; born October 11, 1952, in Kokura, Fukuoka, Japan) is a Japanese actor and singer. Born Iwao Sonoda (園田 巌, Sonoda Iwao), he graduated from the Ashikaga Institute of Technology. He has been arrested several times, and served prison terms, for various offences, among others illegal drug use.
Masao Kusakari (草刈 正雄, Kusakari Masao; born September 5, 1952 in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka) is a Japanese actor and model.
Ichirō Tomita (富田 伊知郎, Tomita Ichirō; born August 24, 1952), known professionally as MoJo (モジョ), is a Japanese folk…
Ichirō Tomita (富田 伊知郎, Tomita Ichirō; born August 24, 1952), known professionally as MoJo (モジョ), is a Japanese folk singer and composer who has performed on the soundtracks of various anime and tokusatsu series and movies. He is perhaps best known as the vocalist for the theme songs for Battle Fever J, Dai Sentai Goggle V, Kagaku Sentai Dynaman, Seiun Kamen Machineman (星雲仮面マシンマン, Seiun Kamen Mashinman), Albegas, and performed image songs for various series. He also sang the theme song of the fictional character Segata Sanshiro (played by Hiroshi Fujioka) who appeared in Sega's commercials between 1997 and 1998 to advertise the Sega Saturn in Japan.
Masami Tsuchiya (Japanese: 土屋 昌巳, Hepburn: Tsuchiya Masami) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record…
Masami Tsuchiya (Japanese: 土屋 昌巳, Hepburn: Tsuchiya Masami) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Ippu-Do. Following their disbandment in 1984, Tsuchiya focused on his solo career and formed several short-lived bands with well-known musicians. He has also participated in various collaborations and produced recordings for acts such as Glay, Blankey Jet City, and The Willard.
Shinnosuke Ikehata (池畑慎之助, Ikehata Shinnosuke), professionally known as Peter, is a Japanese actor and singer. Known…
Shinnosuke Ikehata (池畑慎之助, Ikehata Shinnosuke), professionally known as Peter, is a Japanese actor and singer. Known for cross-dressing, Peter was assigned male at birth but identifies as non-binary and is gay. Peter was born in Sōemonchō, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Japan, as the eldest son to their father Yuki Yoshimura, who was the fourth generation Iemoto (family head) of the Kamigatamai Yoshimura-ryu school. Peter, as a succession to the family specialty, made their debut on the stage at age 3, having been trained rigorously by their father. Peter also has one older sister, Toyoko Ishikawa. At the age of 5, their parents divorced, and Peter was told to choose which parent they liked better, and since their father “was terrifying like an ogre during his dance practice", they chose to live with their mother, Kiyoko Ikehata. In their second year of elementary school, they moved to live with their grandparents in the Kagoshima Prefecture, and lived out their childhood days there. Their mother ran a ryoutei in Tenmonkan, (a shopping district in downtown Kagoshima) named 'Yodogawa (淀川)'. From this point onwards, Peter has used their mother’s surname, ‘Ikehata (池畑)’ instead of their father's paternal surname, ‘Hashimoto (橋本)’. They went to school at Shimizu Elementary School, Kagoshima City, and then onto Japanese La Salle Academy. They studied desperately hard to make their mother happy. However, due to being unable to handle dorm life, they transferred to Jōsei Junior High School, Kagoshima City. In their third year of junior high, they ran away from home, going to Tokyo via Osaka.
Keiko Matsuzaka (松坂 慶子, Matsuzaka Keiko; born July 20, 1952) is a Japanese actress.
Yutaka Mizutani (水谷 豊, Mizutani Yutaka) is a Japanese actor and singer. He was born on July 14, 1952, in Ashibetsu…
Yutaka Mizutani (水谷 豊, Mizutani Yutaka) is a Japanese actor and singer. He was born on July 14, 1952, in Ashibetsu, Hokkaidō, Japan.
Rumiko Koyanagi (小柳ルミ子, Koyanagi Rumiko), formerly known as Rumi Natsukawa (夏川るみ, Natsukawa Rumi) during her Takarazuka…
Rumiko Koyanagi (小柳ルミ子, Koyanagi Rumiko), formerly known as Rumi Natsukawa (夏川るみ, Natsukawa Rumi) during her Takarazuka Revue days, is a Japanese actress and singer. She began her career as a member of Takarazuka Revue. She won the award for best new artist at the 13th Japan Record Awards and won the Japan Music Award in 1972. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 6th Japan Academy Prize for To Trap a Kidnapper and the award for best actress at the 7th Japan Academy Prize for Hakujasho.
Yukihiro Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋 幸宏, Hepburn: Takahashi Yukihiro; June 6, 1952 – January 11, 2023) was a Japanese…
Yukihiro Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋 幸宏, Hepburn: Takahashi Yukihiro; June 6, 1952 – January 11, 2023) was a Japanese musician, singer, record producer, fashion designer, and actor, who was best known internationally as the drummer, lead vocalist, & co-composer of Yellow Magic Orchestra, as the former drummer of the Sadistic Mika Band, and as the drummer and backing vocalist of the Sadistics. He was also a member of the groups: the Beatniks (with Keiichi Suzuki), Sketch Show (with Haruomi Hosono), & Metafive (with Towa Tei etc.).
Jun Fubuki (風吹 ジュン, Fubuki Jun; born May 12, 1952 in Toyama prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actress.
Junko Saito (斉藤 淳子, Saitō Jun'ko) (née Nakajima (中島 淳子, Nakajima Jun'ko; born 2 May 1952), more commonly known by her…
Junko Saito (斉藤 淳子, Saitō Jun'ko) (née Nakajima (中島 淳子, Nakajima Jun'ko; born 2 May 1952), more commonly known by her stage name Mari Natsuki (夏木 マリ, Natsuki Mari), is a Japanese singer, dancer, actress and philanthropist, who describes herself as a "person who plays." Born in Tokyo, she started work as a singer from a young age. In 2007, Natsuki announced her engagement to percussionist Nobu Saitō (斉藤ノヴ), with their marriage taking place in Spring 2008. Natsuki has participated in musical theatre, including Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof and that of Yukio Ninagawa. She provided the voice of Yubaba in Spirited Away, played the young witch's mother in the Japanese TV remake of Bewitched and has twice been nominated for a Japanese Academy Award. Natsuki played the character Big Mama in the Japanese version of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and has also acted in television dramas, such as the 2005 series Nobuta o Produce, playing the Vice Principal, Katharine. In 2024, Natsuki reprised her famous roles of Yubaba/Zeniba for the stage production of Spirited Away, performing in Japan and London. In 2026, she performed the role in Seoul, Korea.
Eigo Kawashima (河島英五, Kawashima Eigo; 23 April 1952 – 16 April 2001) was a Japanese singer-songwriter.
Masashi Sada (さだ まさし, Sada Masashi; born 10 April 1952) is a Japanese singer, lyricist, and composer. Sada formed the…
Masashi Sada (さだ まさし, Sada Masashi; born 10 April 1952) is a Japanese singer, lyricist, and composer. Sada formed the folk duo Grape with Masami Yoshida in 1972, and they made their debut as recording artists a year afterward. The pair rose to fame owing to the hit song "Shourou Nagashi" (精霊流し) composed by Sada, which peaked at the number-two position on the Japanese Oricon chart in 1974. They broke up in 1976, after producing some hit singles including "En-kiri Dera" (縁切寺) and "Muen Zaka" (無縁坂). Sada released his first solo album entitled Kikyorai shortly after Grape's dissolution. Following the commercial success of the number-one hit single "Amayadori" (雨やどり, Shelter from the rain) in 1977, he enjoyed a recording career as one of the most popular Japanese male artists during the late 1970s and the first half of the 1980s. Throughout his career as a musician, Sada released over 35 solo albums and 70 singles, and multiple live albums or compilations. Since the release of Shourou Nagashi, published in 2001, Sada has also worked as a novelist.
Pai Pai Miyuki (パイパイ 美ゆき; born 23 March 1952, in Tokyo) is a Japanese actress and singer. Until 1970, she used the…
Pai Pai Miyuki (パイパイ 美ゆき; born 23 March 1952, in Tokyo) is a Japanese actress and singer. Until 1970, she used the stage name Miyuki Kojima (児島 みゆき, Kojima Miyuki). She is represented with Kagawa Office. She graduated from Musashino-shi Daiichi Elementary School, Musashino Municipal First Junior High School, and Nakano Fumizono High School (now Otsuma Nakano High School).
Tomokazu Miura (三浦 友和, Miura Tomokazu; born Miura Minoru (三浦 稔) on January 28, 1952) is a Japanese actor.
Makoto Kitayama (born 1952) is a Japanese musician, active since the late '60s, most notably as vocalist and songwriter…
Makoto Kitayama (born 1952) is a Japanese musician, active since the late '60s, most notably as vocalist and songwriter for the progressive rock band Shingetsu. After Shingetsu folded at the end of the seventies, Kitayama has released two solo albums: the instrumental, keyboard-dominated, "Doubutsukai No Chinou" in 1982 (re-released in 2004) and the progressive rock outing "Hikaru Sazanami" in 1998. "Practical Encyclopedia of Kingdom Plantae" was released in 2008, and is the second part of a planned trilogy that started with his debut solo album, inspired by a book series from 1932. He's helped here by Takashi HAYASHI, the leader and guitarist of Qui.
Sandi A. Hohn (born 鈴木 あや, Suzuki Aya, renamed in the U.S. as Sandra O'Neale, born December 27, 1952), professionally…
Sandi A. Hohn (born 鈴木 あや, Suzuki Aya, renamed in the U.S. as Sandra O'Neale, born December 27, 1952), professionally known as Sandii, is a Japanese singer and vocalist who was a member of the Japanese band Sandii & the Sunsetz. Hohn is also notable for her work on the Japanese animated television series Lupin III Part II.
Shizue Abe (あべ静江, Abe Shizue, born November 28, 1951, in Matsusaka, Mie, Japan) is a Japanese actress and singer.
Mari Amachi (天地 真理, Amachi Mari; born November 5, 1951) is a Japanese female singer and actress, who was famous in…
Mari Amachi (天地 真理, Amachi Mari; born November 5, 1951) is a Japanese female singer and actress, who was famous in 1970s' Japan. On October 1, 1971, she debuted with the single "Mizuiro no Koi." She was born as Mari Saito in Omiya, Saitama Prefecture. She got five Oricon No.1 songs, a record as a female singer which was later broken by Seiko Matsuda. She started the era of Japanese idols in the 1970s and 1980s. Mari Amachi was the top female vocalist of Sony Music Entertainment in Japan.
Yasuko Agawa (Japanese: 阿川 泰子, Hepburn: Agawa Yasuko; born 16 October 1951) is a Japanese singer, actress, and…
Yasuko Agawa (Japanese: 阿川 泰子, Hepburn: Agawa Yasuko; born 16 October 1951) is a Japanese singer, actress, and television personality. Born in Kamakura, she drew inspiration from music that she listened to while recuperating from a childhood illness. After spending a year at the Bungakuza Theatre Institute, she had a brief acting career before leaving due to creative differences. She became a jazz vocalist for clarinetist Shoji Suzuki, before releasing dozens of solo albums with Victor Entertainment. She has achieved widespread popularity in the Japanese jazz scene, and her music has attained enduring popularity among DJs and appeared in several city pop compilations. She was also a regular on the Nippon Television talk show Oshare 30-30 .
Keiichi Suzuki (鈴木 慶一, Suzuki Keiichi; born August 28, 1951) is a Japanese composer, singer, and record producer. He…
Keiichi Suzuki (鈴木 慶一, Suzuki Keiichi; born August 28, 1951) is a Japanese composer, singer, and record producer. He co-founded the rock band Moonriders and is best known known outside of Japan for his musical contributions to the video games Mother (1989) and EarthBound (1994), both of which have been released on several soundtracks. More recently, he has composed film scores including The Blind Swordsman: Zatōichi (2003), Tokyo Godfathers (2003), Uzumaki (2000), Chicken Heart (2009), as well as Takeshi Kitano's Outrage trilogy.
Kyōhei Shibata (柴田恭兵, Shibata Kyōhei; born August 18, 1951 in Shizuoka, Japan) is a Japanese actor and singer. Shibata…
Kyōhei Shibata (柴田恭兵, Shibata Kyōhei; born August 18, 1951 in Shizuoka, Japan) is a Japanese actor and singer. Shibata made his television debut in 1977 with Daitokai Part II as a guest. In 1978, Shibata made his first regular appearance in the police drama Daitsuiseki. Following year, he played a leading role for the first time in TV drama series Akai Arashi on TBS. In 1980, he won his first major award at the Elan d'or Awards for his role in Oretachi wa Tenshi da!. Shibata won great popularity through his role in Abunai Deka series.
Kumiko Ōsugi (大杉久美子, Ōsugi Kumiko; born July 10, 1951) is a J-pop artist from Tokyo. In 1964, she recorded a song with…
Kumiko Ōsugi (大杉久美子, Ōsugi Kumiko; born July 10, 1951) is a J-pop artist from Tokyo. In 1964, she recorded a song with Crown Records using the pseudonym Momoko Shibayama (柴山モモコ, Shibayama Momoko). The first song to be released under her real name was "Attack No. 1" (アタックNo.1, Atakku Nanbā Wan), the opening theme for the Attack No. 1 anime. She went on to perform theme songs for many other anime, including Doraemon, Aim for the Ace!, Araiguma Rascal, Flanders no Inu, and Oz no Mahōtsukai. She is referred to by fans and the Japanese press as the "Queen of Anime Song" and is considered to be one of the "Four Heavenly Kings and Queens of Anison" (アニソン四天王) alongside Ichirou Mizuki, Isao Sasaki, and Mitsuko Horie. The opening theme to Heidi, Girl of the Alps is often mis-attributed to Ōsugi when it was actually performed by Kayo Ishū, a studio singer. Ōsugi did, however, perform the series' ending theme.
Junko Utada (宇多田 純子, Utada Junko) (5 July 1951 – 22 August 2013), known primarily by the stage name Keiko Fuji (藤 圭子…
Junko Utada (宇多田 純子, Utada Junko) (5 July 1951 – 22 August 2013), known primarily by the stage name Keiko Fuji (藤 圭子, Fuji Keiko) was a Japanese enka singer and actress. She had success in Japan in the 1960s and 1970s with her ballad-type songs. She was married on-and-off with Teruzane Utada, and was the mother of Japanese-American pop singer Hikaru Utada.
Masayuki Tanaka (田中 昌之, Tanaka Masayuki; June 30, 1951) is a Japanese singer. He was born in Imari, Saga Prefecture. He…
Masayuki Tanaka (田中 昌之, Tanaka Masayuki; June 30, 1951) is a Japanese singer. He was born in Imari, Saga Prefecture. He is one of the two original vocalists of the band Crystal King (クリスタルキング, Kurisutaru Kingu), known for their anime soundtracks such as Fist of the North Star (北斗の拳, Hokuto no Ken) where Tanaka provided the vocals in the chorus of its opening theme. After leaving Crystal King, he started a solo career but lost his voice after being struck in the throat by a baseball and was never able to regain his original vocal range. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he worked on the soundtracks of the tokusatsu series Ultraman Gaia (ウルトラマンガイア, Urutoraman Gaia) and Kamen Rider Kuuga (仮面ライダークウガ, Kamen Raidā Kūga). He is also featured on the Katamari Damacy soundtrack Katamari Fortissimo Damacy where he sings "Katamari on the Rock" (塊オンザロック, Katamari on za Rokku), the main theme of the game. Tanaka has had his name variably written as 田中昌之 and 田中雅将 in his career, before choosing 田中雅之 in 2004, and then switching back to his birth name kanji in 2013. Masayuki rerecorded on one of his greatest hits, Kamen Rider Kuuga's theme song with Rider Chips for the release of Heisei Kamen Rider 20 Titles Commemoration Best, which was released on May 1, 2019.
Carmen Maki (Japanese: カルメン・マキ, Hepburn: Karumen Maki; born Maki Annette Lovelace, May 18, 1951) is a Japanese singer…
Carmen Maki (Japanese: カルメン・マキ, Hepburn: Karumen Maki; born Maki Annette Lovelace, May 18, 1951) is a Japanese singer and lyricist. After debuting as a folk singer in 1969 with the million-selling single "Toki ni wa Haha no Nai Ko no Yō ni", she quickly shifted to rock music and is best known for fronting the band Oz from 1972 to 1977. Maki was one of the first female rock vocalists in Japan, and her work with Oz and Blues Creation has been credited with pioneering Japanese rock in general.
Kōichi Iwaki (岩城滉一, Iwaki Kōichi) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 8th Yokohama Film…
Kōichi Iwaki (岩城滉一, Iwaki Kōichi) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 8th Yokohama Film Festival for the 1986 film Minami e Hashire, Umi no Michi o. He was a Zainichi Korean until April 5, 2017, when he naturalized. Iwaki is also a racing car driver.
Tomoharu Takeo (竹尾 智晴, Takeo Tomoharu; born February 5, 1951), known by his stage name Ryūsei Nakao (中尾 隆聖, Nakao…
Tomoharu Takeo (竹尾 智晴, Takeo Tomoharu; born February 5, 1951), known by his stage name Ryūsei Nakao (中尾 隆聖, Nakao Ryūsei), is a Japanese actor, voice actor and singer from Tokyo attached to 81 Produce. He worked under the name of Tomoharu Minamiya (南谷 智晴, Minamiya Tomoharu) and is married with two children, a son and daughter. His distinctive voice lands him in the roles of characters with high-pitched voices and sadistic personalities. As a voice actor, he is best known for the roles of Baikinman in Let's Go! Anpanman, Frieza, Tambourine, Cooler, Chilled, and Frost in Dragon Ball, Ishami Nishimura in Touch, Porori in Niko Niko Pun, Resshi in Do-Re-Mi-Fa Donuts, Echikettojii-san in Hotch Potch Station, Sniff in Moomin, the titular character in Topo Gigio, Mayuri Kurotsuchi in Bleach, Caesar Clown and Dr. Indigo in One Piece, and Takashi Shirogane in Beast King GoLion.
Masatoshi Nakamura (中村 雅俊, Nakamura Masatoshi; born February 1, 1951) is a Japanese actor and singer from Onagawa…
Masatoshi Nakamura (中村 雅俊, Nakamura Masatoshi; born February 1, 1951) is a Japanese actor and singer from Onagawa, Miyagi. He graduated from Keio University. Nakamura joined the Bungakuza theater troupe in 1973 and made his television debut in 1974 with "Warera Seishun. Masatoshi made his film debut with "Fureai" in the same year . He won his first major award at the Elan d'or Awards in 1975. In 1977, he married actress Junko Igarashi until her death on April 28, 2026. In 2012, he played the role of Fumimaro Konoe in the Peter Webber's film Emperor. As a singer his first single "Fureai" peaked at number 1 in the Japanese single record chart in 1974. Besides "Fureai" he has several other hit songs such as "Oretachi no Tabi" and "Koibito mo Nureru Machikado". "Nakamura appeared in the Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1982 and 2012.
Mayumi Itsuwa (五輪 真弓, Itsuwa Mayumi) is a Japanese vocalist, composer, lyricist, and keyboardist who made her debut in…
Mayumi Itsuwa (五輪 真弓, Itsuwa Mayumi) is a Japanese vocalist, composer, lyricist, and keyboardist who made her debut in 1972. Her first studio album entitled Shoujo was recorded in Los Angeles, produced by Grammy Award winner John Fischbach, with distinguished musicians such as David Campbell, Carole King and Charles Larkey who was King's husband at that time. Owing to her introspective compositions, Itsuwa was often nicknamed "Japanese Carole King", along with other Japanese singer-songwriters like Yumi Matsutoya (who had worked under her birth name "Yumi Arai" during the mid-1970s) and Minako Yoshida. Itsuwa gained moderate success on the Japanese albums chart in her early career, and received massive popularity and acclaim through the single "Koibito yo" released in 1980. The song topped Japan's Oricon chart for three consecutive weeks, and won the 22nd Japan Record Award for "Gold Prize" in the same year. It was covered by the country's legendary singers including Hibari Misora and Noriko Awaya in later years, and became a signature song for Itsuwa. In 1981 her song "Revival" also became a very well recognized hit. After "Koibito yo" became a hit, Itsuwa gained popularity also in non-Japanese Asian countries during the 1980s. In Indonesia, "Kokoro No Tomo", "Amayadori" and "Rebaibaru" become the most popular songs ever released by her. In 2006, Mayumi Itsuwa and Delon Thamrin recorded an Indonesian and Japanese version of the song. This was later included on the 2006 compilation album "Duet Love Songs". Many of her songs would fall into the musical genre of torch songs because they often describe the lingering memory of past loves.
Motonari Takano (Japanese: 高野 元成, Hepburn: Takano Motonari; January 12, 1951 - April 1, 2006), better known as Ai…
Motonari Takano (Japanese: 高野 元成, Hepburn: Takano Motonari; January 12, 1951 - April 1, 2006), better known as Ai Takano (アイ高野, Ai Takano) and nicknamed Motchin, was a Japanese singer. He is best known for his performances of the theme songs for the anime Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger, Pettonton, and Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion. Takano also sung the songs in Ai Shite Knight for the fictional in-story band, Bee Hive, even though the singer character, Gou, is voiced by singer Isao Sasaki. Before starting his anisong career, Takano was drummer of The Golden Cups and a vocalist of Creation.
Yōko Maekawa (前川 陽子, Maekawa Yōko) is a Japanese singer and jazz singer born in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. She graduated…
Yōko Maekawa (前川 陽子, Maekawa Yōko) is a Japanese singer and jazz singer born in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. She graduated from the Faculty of Letters at Atomi University. She is best known for performing various anison songs, particularly the opening for Cutie Honey. In 2008, she rerecorded the openings for Cutie Honey and Megu the Little Witch, titling them "21st century" versions. The Cutie Honey opening was originally intended to be performed by Linda Yamamoto. At NHK, she is known as one of the "Four Heavenly Kings of Anime Songs" along with Mitsuko Horie, Isao Sasaki and Ichirou Mizuki. She is also widely hailed as "the Goddess of Magical Girl Songs".
Takao Kisugi (来生 たかお, Kisugi Takao), born November 16, 1950, in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. In…
Takao Kisugi (来生 たかお, Kisugi Takao), born November 16, 1950, in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. In 1974, he debuted as a songwriter and in 1976 made his solo debut as a singer. He often collaborates on songs with his sister, Etsuko Kisugi, who is a lyricist. In 1982, on the third Japan Composition Award, he received the "Best Composer" music award for the song Second Love. In his career, spanning over 45 years, he composed over 400 songs.
Shigekatsu Katsuta (勝田 薫且, Katsuta Shigekatsu; born October 12, 1950), known professionally as Takeshi Kaga (鹿賀 丈史…
Shigekatsu Katsuta (勝田 薫且, Katsuta Shigekatsu; born October 12, 1950), known professionally as Takeshi Kaga (鹿賀 丈史, Kaga Takeshi), is a Japanese actor who is best known internationally for his portrayal of Chairman Kaga in the Japanese television show Iron Chef produced by Fuji TV.
Mari Henmi (辺見 マリ, Henmi Mari; born October 5, 1950) is a Japanese singer, tarento, and actress. She was born in Zushi…
Mari Henmi (辺見 マリ, Henmi Mari; born October 5, 1950) is a Japanese singer, tarento, and actress. She was born in Zushi, Kanagawa and raised in Kyōto.
Aki Yashiro (八代亜紀, Yashiro Aki; August 29, 1950 – December 30, 2023), real name Akiyo Masuda (増田明代, Masuda Akiyo), née…
Aki Yashiro (八代亜紀, Yashiro Aki; August 29, 1950 – December 30, 2023), real name Akiyo Masuda (増田明代, Masuda Akiyo), née Hashimoto (橋本明代, Hashimoto Akiyo), was a Japanese enka singer and painter. Her stage name "Yashiro" was adopted from her hometown Yatsushiro.
Junko Ohashi (大橋 純子, Ōhashi Junko; April 26, 1950 – November 9, 2023) was a Japanese singer best known for her songs…
Junko Ohashi (大橋 純子, Ōhashi Junko; April 26, 1950 – November 9, 2023) was a Japanese singer best known for her songs "Silhouette Romance" (1981) and "Tasogare My Love" (1978). She was known for her "overwhelming singing ability" and was mainly successful between late 1970s and early 1980s. Her discography consists of more than 20 albums. After a brief hiatus due to battling esophageal and breast cancers, she returned to music in 2019. On November 9, 2023, Ohashi died in Tokyo at the age of 73.
Akiko Wada (和田 アキ子, Wada Akiko; born April 10, 1950) is an ethnically Korean/Japanese singer, tarento and businesswoman…
Akiko Wada (和田 アキ子, Wada Akiko; born April 10, 1950) is an ethnically Korean/Japanese singer, tarento and businesswoman from Tennōji-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture. She has various nicknames, one being "Akko". Due to her above-average height (174 cm or 5’8.5"), she is also nicknamed jotei (女帝), meaning "empress".
Hiroshi Tachi (舘 ひろし, Tachi Hiroshi; born 31 March 1950 in Naka-ku, Nagoya) is a Japanese actor and singer. His…
Hiroshi Tachi (舘 ひろし, Tachi Hiroshi; born 31 March 1950 in Naka-ku, Nagoya) is a Japanese actor and singer. His ancestors were samurai of the Owari Domain and the family of the former samurai. He graduated from Chiba Institute of Technology. He was a leader of a rock 'n' roll group Cools but he left the group soon after he joined Toei film company and made his film debut with The Classroom of Terror. In 1983, he moved to Yujiro Ishiharas production company. In the 1980s, he won great popularity through his roles in the TV drama series Seibu Keisatsu and Abunai Deka. In 2018, Tachi won the Best Actor award at the 42nd Montreal World Film Festival for his role in Owatta Hito. As a singer Tachi is known for his hit song Nakanaide and appeared in the Kōhaku Uta Gassen twice.
Kan Mikami (三上 寛, Mikami Kan; born March 20, 1950) is a Japanese folk singer-songwriter and actor. His music, heavily…
Kan Mikami (三上 寛, Mikami Kan; born March 20, 1950) is a Japanese folk singer-songwriter and actor. His music, heavily influenced by American blues, was popular in Japan in the 1970s. He re-wrote the lyric of the song "Yume wa Yoru Hiraku" for his cover version in 1972, which was banned for its negative portrayal of modern Japanese culture. Mikami also acted in cinema and is notable for collaborations with Shūji Terayama and his avant-garde theater Tenjō Sajiki. His autobiography, A Life in Folk, was translated into English and published in 2017 by Public Bath Press of Nara, Japan.
Emiko Shiratori (白鳥 英美子 Shiratori Emiko; born March 16, 1950) is a Japanese singer and songwriter. In 1969, the record…
Emiko Shiratori (白鳥 英美子 Shiratori Emiko; born March 16, 1950) is a Japanese singer and songwriter. In 1969, the record label Toshiba EMI (now EMI Music Japan) paired her with Sumio Akutagawa, and they formed the folk group Toi et Moi. They achieved great success in Japan, and from 1969 to 1973 released an average of two albums and four singles a year. In 1973, Shiratori released her first solo album and continued as a solo artist throughout the 1970s. She performed at the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics and the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. As a vocalist for the video game Final Fantasy IX, she performed the main theme "Melodies of Life" in both Japanese and English. Due to the English version's popularity, a special single was released, "Final Fantasy IX" Original Soundtrack. In 2006, she was asked by Nobuo Uematsu to perform a "defining version" of the song at the Final Fantasy Voices Concert; she sang a version that combined the Japanese and English lyrics. Shiratori also performed a vocal arrangement of "Epona's Song" for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Re-Arranged Album, and narrated, as well as performed, the opening and ending themes to the 1990–1992 Moomin anime television series. She also performed "Do-Re-Mi-Fa Lullaby", the ending theme to the second Unico movie, Unico in the Island of Magic, although the song was changed to an instrumental in the film's English version. Shiratori has had at least one song on the NHK program Minna no Uta. Shiratori is married to composer and music producer Sumio Shiratori, and mother of singer Maika Shiratori.
Judy Ongg (Chinese: 翁倩玉; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ong Chhèng-gio̍k; born 24 January 1950) is a Taiwanese-Japanese singer, actress…
Judy Ongg (Chinese: 翁倩玉; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ong Chhèng-gio̍k; born 24 January 1950) is a Taiwanese-Japanese singer, actress, author, and woodblock printing artist. Born in Taipei, she graduated from The American School in Japan in 1969 and later from Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, after which she became a naturalized Japanese citizen. Her career has spanned more than four decades.
Taro Ichihara (市原 多朗, Ichihara Tarō) (born 1950) is a Japanese opera singer, who sings as a tenor, primarily in Verdi…
Taro Ichihara (市原 多朗, Ichihara Tarō) (born 1950) is a Japanese opera singer, who sings as a tenor, primarily in Verdi roles.
Kensaku Morita (森田 健作, Morita Kensaku; born 16 December 1949; birth name: 鈴木 栄治 Eiji Suzuki) is a retired Japanese…
Kensaku Morita (森田 健作, Morita Kensaku; born 16 December 1949; birth name: 鈴木 栄治 Eiji Suzuki) is a retired Japanese politician, actor and singer. He was elected to three terms as governor of Chiba Prefecture, serving from April 2009 to April 2021.
Shigeyuki Matsuzaki (Japanese: 松崎 茂幸, Hepburn: Matsuzaki Shigeyuki; born November 19, 1949), known professionally as…
Shigeyuki Matsuzaki (Japanese: 松崎 茂幸, Hepburn: Matsuzaki Shigeyuki; born November 19, 1949), known professionally as Shigeru Matsuzaki (松崎 しげる, Matsuzaki Shigeru) is a Japanese singer and actor. He is most known in the West for his contributions to the Katamari Damacy soundtracks, performing the theme songs of Nerima Daikon Brothers and acting as its lead character, and voicing the title character in the film adaptation of Space Adventure Cobra. Matsuzaki is left-handed, as seen whenever he plays bass or guitar, his string instruments are usually tuned with the lower E string at the bottom. He has also collaborated with the popular music group Momoiro Clover Z. Matsuzaki is also a baseball fan, having sung the theme song of the Saitama Seibu Lions of the NPB that began to be used when they moved to Tokorozawa in 1979. In an interview with Weekly Baseball, he said that he "loved drinking whiskey behind the net at the Seibu Dome." In Thailand, his song Kimiga ireba sorede ii (君がいればそれでいい), which was used in a Glico almond commercial in 1987, was very well-known and many local singers covered it. However, this song is not well-known in Japan.
Takao Horiuchi (堀内孝雄, Horiuchi Takao; born October 27, 1949 in Abeno-ku, Osaka) is a Japanese pop and enka singer. He…
Takao Horiuchi (堀内孝雄, Horiuchi Takao; born October 27, 1949 in Abeno-ku, Osaka) is a Japanese pop and enka singer. He won a 1990 Japan Record Award for enka.
Takajin Yashiki (やしき たかじん, Yashiki Takajin; real name Takaji Yashiki (家鋪 隆仁, Yashiki Takaji)), often referred to as…
Takajin Yashiki (やしき たかじん, Yashiki Takajin; real name Takaji Yashiki (家鋪 隆仁, Yashiki Takaji)), often referred to as simply Takajin (たかじん), (5 October 1949 – 3 January 2014) was a Japanese singer and television personality. Born in Nishinari-ku, Osaka, Japan, to a Zainichi-issei Korean father Gonzaburou ((unknown surname) 權三郞) and a Japanese mother Mitsuko Yashiki (Japanese: 家鋪光子), he started his singing career in the 1970s in Gion, Kyoto, and then moved to Shimokitazawa, Tokyo in 1980. In 1981, he sang the theme song of the first movie of the Mobile Suit Gundam, Suna no Jūjika and it sold thirteen thousand CDs. He moved back to Osaka in 1982 and had been active mainly in the Kansai region since then. He sang many songs about Osaka such as Yappa Suki Yanen (1986), Osaka Koi Monogatari (1989), Nametonka (1990) and Tokyo (1993). He was popular in Kansai as a frank television presenter. Having made public his dislike of Tokyo, Takajin rarely made appearances on TV stations in Tokyo. He also kept a blacklist of people he wouldn't appear with. His trademark was sunglasses. He wore them because of his taste and glaucoma. In January 2012, he announced that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, and that he would take a leave and concentrate on its treatment. He made a short comeback in 2013, but he died on January 3, 2014. Takajin owned five racehorses between years 1998-2006.