Kenji Momota (桃田 健史, Momota Kenji; born August 4, 1962) is a Japanese racing announcer, racing commentator and former…Kenji Momota (桃田 健史, Momota Kenji; born August 4, 1962) is a Japanese racing announcer, racing commentator and former driver. He has raced in the All Japan Touring Car Championship, American Racing Series, IndyCar and NASCAR.
Takuya Kurosawa (Shinjitai: 黒澤琢弥, Kurosawa Takuya; born in Ibaraki, June 7, 1962) is a Japanese race car driver.…Takuya Kurosawa (Shinjitai: 黒澤琢弥, Kurosawa Takuya; born in Ibaraki, June 7, 1962) is a Japanese race car driver. Kurosawa raced in All-Japan Formula Three from 1988 to 1989, Japanese Formula 3000 from 1990 to 1995 and the JGTC series from 1994 to 1999, also driving in the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing tenth. Kurosawa then obtained sponsorship to drive in the American CART series for Dale Coyne Racing in 2000. He made eight starts with a best finish of 12th at the Detroit Grand Prix. He became the first Japanese driver to lead a Champ Car race when he led seven laps at the Long Beach Grand Prix. Kurosawa then returned to JGTC for the next three seasons, drove in the Super Taikyu series in 2004. He currently competes in the Super GT series, driving a Porsche Boxster for Arktech Motorsports. Kurosawa is the son of Best Motoring presenter Motoharu Kurosawa, and elder brother of Haruki and Tsubasa Kurosawa, all of whom are racing drivers.
Koji Akiyama (秋山 幸二 Akiyama Kōji, born April 6, 1962) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player. He played for…Koji Akiyama (秋山 幸二 Akiyama Kōji, born April 6, 1962) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player. He played for the Seibu Lions and the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (currently the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks) in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Hei Seki (石 平, Seki Hei; born 30 January 1962), also known as Yo Kitano (北埜 陽, Kitano Yō) for Japanese name, is a…Hei Seki (石 平, Seki Hei; born 30 January 1962), also known as Yo Kitano (北埜 陽, Kitano Yō) for Japanese name, is a Chinese-Japanese commentator and politician, serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2025. He is known for criticising the Chinese Communist Party, support of Taiwan as the Republic of China and in the 2010s having held revisionist remarks on the war crimes of Imperial Japan.
Toshinao Sasaki (佐々木 俊尚, Sasaki Toshinao; born December 5, 1961) is a Japanese freelance journalist and critic, a…Toshinao Sasaki (佐々木 俊尚, Sasaki Toshinao; born December 5, 1961) is a Japanese freelance journalist and critic, a regular writer for CNET Japan, and a one-time reporter for Mainichi Shimbun. He was born in Hyōgo Prefecture.
Chihiro Minato (港 千尋, Minato Chihiro; born 1960) is a Japanese photographer, filmmaker, arts curator and art theorist.…Chihiro Minato (港 千尋, Minato Chihiro; born 1960) is a Japanese photographer, filmmaker, arts curator and art theorist. He is also Professor at the Tama Art University since 1995. In 2000, Minato served as curator of the arts exhibition Serendipity: Photography, Video, Experimental Film and Multimedia Installation from Asia. Among his other major curatorial works is the Japanese Pavilion at the Venezia Biennale (Venice, Italy) in 2007.
Norifumi Nishimura (西村 徳文, Nishimura Norifumi; born January 9, 1960 in Kushima, Miyazaki) is a former Nippon…Norifumi Nishimura (西村 徳文, Nishimura Norifumi; born January 9, 1960 in Kushima, Miyazaki) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player and current manager. Nishimura spent the entirety of his 16-year playing career with the Chiba Lotte Marines. After retiring, he coached for the team until being named the successor to former Marines-manager Bobby Valentine in late 2009.
Akio Nakamori (中森 明夫, Nakamori Akio), real name Ansaku Shibahara (柴原安作, Shibahara Ansaku), is a Japanese columnist and…Akio Nakamori (中森 明夫, Nakamori Akio), real name Ansaku Shibahara (柴原安作, Shibahara Ansaku), is a Japanese columnist and editor born on January 1, 1960, in Mie Prefecture, Japan. He is credited as popularizing the term "otaku" in its modern colloquial usage (first used in Manga Burikko). After dropping out of Meiji University's Nakano Junior and Senior High Schools, he graduated from Wako University. Along with Yūichi Endō, he launched the Tokyo Otona Club in 1982. He is most well known for his study of serial killer Tsutomu Miyazaki, The Age of M (Mの時代, M no Jidai), published in 1989. Nakamori is also credited as coining and popularizing the term "chidol," short for child idol, back in the 1990s to refer to young gravure models.
Yutaka Takagi (高木 豊, Yutaka Takagi; born October 22, 1958 in Hōfu, Yamaguchi, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Yutaka Takagi (高木 豊, Yutaka Takagi; born October 22, 1958 in Hōfu, Yamaguchi, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player.
Daijiro Oishi (大石 大二郎, Ōishi Daijirō; born October 20, 1958) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He was an…Daijiro Oishi (大石 大二郎, Ōishi Daijirō; born October 20, 1958) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He was an infielder for the Kintetsu Buffaloes for 16 seasons. He served as a coach for the Buffaloes from 2003 to 2008 before managing the Orix Buffaloes in 2008, managing two seasons.
Eiji Ōtsuka (大塚 英志, Ōtsuka Eiji; born 28 August 1958 in the former Tanashi, Tokyo) is a Japanese social critic…Eiji Ōtsuka (大塚 英志, Ōtsuka Eiji; born 28 August 1958 in the former Tanashi, Tokyo) is a Japanese social critic, folklorist, media theorist, and novelist. He is currently a professor at International Research Center for Japanese Studies, Kyoto. He graduated from University of Tsukuba with a degree in anthropology, women's folklore, human sacrifice and post-war manga. In addition to his work with manga, Ōtsuka is a critic, essayist, and author of several successful non-fiction books on Japanese popular and otaku subcultures. He has written the Multiple Personality Detective Psycho and The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service manga series. One of his first animation script works was Mahō no Rouge Lipstick, an adult lolicon OVA. Ōtsuka was the editor for the bishōjo lolicon manga series Petit Apple Pie. In the 1980s, Ōtsuka was editor-in-chief of Manga Burikko, a leading manga magazine where he pioneered research on otaku subcultures in modern Japan. He has published a host of books and articles about the manga industry. In July 2007, he received a doctorate in artistic engineering from Kobe Design University. His doctoral dissertation is "From Mickey's format to Proposition of Atom: the origin of postwar manga methodology in wartime years and its development".
Mari Kotani (小谷 真理, Kotani Mari; born in Toyama Prefecture on July 11, 1958) is a Japanese science fiction critic, best…Mari Kotani (小谷 真理, Kotani Mari; born in Toyama Prefecture on July 11, 1958) is a Japanese science fiction critic, best known as the author of Evangelion as the Immaculate Virgin (analysis of the anime serie Neon Genesis Evangelion), Tokyo: Magazine House, 1997 and of Joseijou muishiki: techno-gynesis josei SF-ron josetsu, Tokyo: Keiso shobo, 1994 (Techno-Gynesis: The Political Unconscious of Feminist Science Fiction), which won the 15th Nihon SF Taisho Award. Kotani is one of the founders of the Japanese Sense of Gender Award (equivalent to the Tiptree Award) in 2001, and of The Japanese Association of Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy. She is now the chair of the Japan PEN Women Writers Committee and a member of the Science Fiction Writers of Japan.
Shinya Tasaki (Japanese name: 田崎真也 born: 21 March 1958) is a Japanese sommelier who was named best sommelier in the…Shinya Tasaki (Japanese name: 田崎真也 born: 21 March 1958) is a Japanese sommelier who was named best sommelier in the world in 1995 by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale. Tasaki is the only Asian national ever to win the title of the Best Sommelier of the World, and he was awarded the Yellow Ribbon Medal of Honor by the Emperor of Japan.
Koji Miyamoto is a Japanese professional wrestling historian and writer, best known for his work on Lou Thesz. He has…Koji Miyamoto is a Japanese professional wrestling historian and writer, best known for his work on Lou Thesz. He has authored sixteen books.
Akihiko Nakaya (中谷明彦, Nakaya Akihiko; born November 3, 1957) is a successful racing driver in the Japanese Touring Car…Akihiko Nakaya (中谷明彦, Nakaya Akihiko; born November 3, 1957) is a successful racing driver in the Japanese Touring Car Championship and F3000, as well as regular presenter on the Japanese motoring show Best Motoring. Nakaya offered a distinctively analytical approach to reviewing cars on the show, providing detailed analyses of various vehicle components and explaining certain driving styles that were best suited to their characteristics. He was a regular driver of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions during Best Motoring races involving the I, II, III, IV, V, VI (including the Tommi Makinen Edition), VII, and VIII of the car, often recording lap times significantly quicker than other drivers of the same vehicle. Nakaya's name was applied to a special preface-build of the Mitsubishi FTO, the Nakaya-Tune FTO, which appeared in 1997. Nakaya was considered for a Formula One ride with Brabham in 1992, but the FIA would not grant him a superlicense on the grounds that Japanese F3000 (today the Super Formula Championship) was, at the time, not considered a stepping stone to F1. The ride eventually went to Giovanna Amati, who was more known for her gender than talent and was replaced three races into the season by future World Champion Damon Hill.
Junji Ogawa (小川 淳司, Ogawa Junji; born August 30, 1957) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played…Junji Ogawa (小川 淳司, Ogawa Junji; born August 30, 1957) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Yakult Swallows and Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Kazunori "Toshio" Shinozuka (篠塚 和典, Shinozuka Kazunori; born July 16, 1957) is a former professional Japanese baseball…Kazunori "Toshio" Shinozuka (篠塚 和典, Shinozuka Kazunori; born July 16, 1957) is a former professional Japanese baseball player. As a boy, Ichiro Suzuki learned to pattern his original swinging pendulum leg kick after Shinozuka's.
Takuro Morinaga (森永卓郎, Morinaga Takurō; 12 July 1957 – 28 January 2025) was a Japanese economist and academic at Dokkyo…Takuro Morinaga (森永卓郎, Morinaga Takurō; 12 July 1957 – 28 January 2025) was a Japanese economist and academic at Dokkyo University, Saitama, a suburb to Tokyo. He was also a television program editor. As an economist he was highly publicized, expressing his views in television and radio on an array of subjects, from politics to manga to video games. His ideas elicited a large number of reactions on the internet and in media.
Yoshihiko Takahashi (高橋 慶彦, born March 13, 1957) is a Japanese former professional baseball shortstop in Nippon…Yoshihiko Takahashi (高橋 慶彦, born March 13, 1957) is a Japanese former professional baseball shortstop in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp from 1976 to 1989, Lotte Orions in 1990 and the Hanshin Tigers from 1991 to 1992. He was the Japan Series MVP in 1979. He holds the NPB record for consecutive games with a hit at 33, between June and July 1979.
Hiroshi Hasebe (長谷部 浩, Hasebe Hiroshi) is the professional pseudonym of Makoto Matsuno (松野 誠, Matsuno Makoto; born 17…Hiroshi Hasebe (長谷部 浩, Hasebe Hiroshi) is the professional pseudonym of Makoto Matsuno (松野 誠, Matsuno Makoto; born 17 December 1956), a Japanese theatre critic and professor at Tokyo University of the Arts (Fine Arts, Department of Inter Media Art).
Hiromichi Ishige (石毛 宏典, born September 22, 1956) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player and manager in…Hiromichi Ishige (石毛 宏典, born September 22, 1956) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player and manager in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played most of his career for the Seibu Lions. Ishige was the 1986 Pacific League Most Valuable Player, a seven-time Best Nine Award-winner, and a ten-time Gold Glove winner. A 14-time All-Star, he left a track record in 16 years as a shortstop and third baseman in the Pacific League. Ishige was drafted by the Lotte Orions in the third round of the 1974 NPB draft, but went to college instead. He won a Tokyo Metropolitan University League batting title and made six Best Nines in college. He was then picked in the first round of the 1980 NPB draft by the Seibu Lions. Ishige made the All-Star team as a rookie with Seibu and would make it all 14 seasons he was with them. He hit .311/.380/.531 that first year with 21 homers and 25 steals (in 34 tries). He won a Gold Glove, made his first Best Nine and won Rookie of the Year honors. Ishige's production slipped to a .259/.337/.401 line in 1982 though he stole 22 in 26 tries and won a Gold Glove and Best Nine. He hit .296/.321/.370 in his first Japan Series, to help Seibu take the 1982 Series but was thrown out in two of three steal attempts. In 1983, Ishige hit .303/.593/.503 with 29 steals in 34 tries, hit 16 homers, scored 86 runs, won another Gold Glove, earned a third Best Nine spot and tied Yutaka Fukumoto and Hiromi Matsunaga for the PL lead with 7 triples. He hit .276/.276/.379 as Seibu won another Japan Series, but was 0 for 1 in steals. The next year, Ishige batted .259/.338/.498 with 91 runs, 26 homers and 26 steals (in 36 tries); Keijiro Yumioka beat him out for the Best Nine that time. While he only stole 11 bases (in 14 tries) in 1985, Ishige remained a potent offensive force, chipping in at a .280/.386/.508 clip with 96 runs, 27 homers and 88 walks. His 26 doubles led the league and he won another Gold Glove and Best Nine. In the 1985 Japan Series, Hiromichi hit .208/.296/.583 with 3 home runs in a losing effort. Ishige won his MVP in 1986, when he batted .329/.386/.531, won another Gold Glove at short, scored 91 runs, drove in 89, smacked 27 home runs and stole 19 bases. He set a Nippon Pro Baseball record by leading off eight games with home runs and set a Seibu club record with a 23-game hitting streak. He hit .297/.297/.405 as Seibu won a hard-fought 1986 Japan Series over the Hiroshima Carp. In '87, Hiromichi hit .269/.331/.370 in an off-year but still won a Gold Glove and made the Best Nine. He batted .348/.423/.652 in the 1987 Japan Series to win his fourth ring. That winter, he assumed chairmanship of the board of directors of the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association, replacing Hiromitsu Ochiai; two years later, Akinobu Okada would take the role. The 31-year-old had his third and last 20-20 year in 1988 (21 HR, 22 SB in 26 tries; he would never hit 20 homers again) and batted .283/.364/.441 and won his 7th Gold Glove. He had his best Series, the 1989 Japan Series, hitting .389/.389/.944 with 3 HR, 5 runs and 6 RBI in five games to win the Series MVP award. In '89, Ishige stole 28 in 33 tries for his final 20-steal season and batted .270/.395/.428. He drew 98 walks, a career-best and led the PL in that category. Ishige hit .298/.364/.429 in 1990 and was 7 for 8 in steals. Now a third baseman, he fielded .991, a Pacific League record for the position. He went 1 for 12 in the 1990 Japan Series but drew four walks as his club won a sixth Series. At one point, he had hit in 17 straight games in a Japan Series, a record. In '91, the veteran still produced at a .269/.331/.424 rate and he hit .280/.333/.440 in the 1991 Japan Series, Seibu's seventh victory in his time with the club. He won his first Gold Glove in three years. In 1992, Ishige batted .297/.359/.413, won a Gold Glove and made his seventh Best Nine, the first in five years. He hit .240/.286/.440 as Seibu took the 1992 Japan Series for their eighth Series win in his 12 seasons, marking it as the greatest Pacific League dynasty ever — other key contributors in the run had included Koji Akiyama, Kimiyasu Kudoh, Hisanobu Watanabe, Orestes Destrade, Kazuhiro Kiyohara, Taigen Kaku, Osamu Higashio, and Tetsuya Shiozaki. Ishige was the captain of the team during the last stretch of Series victories at least. Destrade recalls that Ishige was the team's motivator. Ishige continued to produce as the 36-year-old put up a .306/.389/.479 batting line in 1993, won his last Gold Glove and made his final Best Nine. He hit .304/.385/.304 in the 1993 Japan Series as Seibu fell in 7 games to the Yakult Swallows to end their dynastic run. In '94, Hiromichi hit .266/.335/.397 and made his last All-Star appearance. He went 1 for 12 with three walks in the 1994 Japan Series. Leaving Seibu after 14 All-Star seasons and 8 titles in 14 years, Ishige moved on to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, where the 38-year-old hit .200/.260/.275 to signal that his glory days were definitely gone. Fellow faded star Matsunaga was the primary third baseman that year. In 1996, Ishige concluded his playing career by going 3 for 23 for Daiei. Overall, Ishige hit .283/.362/.450 in 7,570 plate appearances, cracked 236 homers and stole 243 in 314 tries. Through 2006, Hiromichi ranks 25th all-time in NPB in runs (1,049, 10 behind Matsunaga), 18th in sacrifice bunts (218; manager Masahiko Mori often had him bunt as he felt Ishige hit into too many double plays in the clutch. Destrade, on the other hand, described him as a timely player who drove in key runs, showing how different perceptions of "clutch play" can be) and 22nd in strikeouts (1,127). With one more year as a regular, he likely would have been in the top 30 in walks as well. After retiring as a player, Ishige was a minor league manager for Seibu for two years then spent a year as a commentator for NHK in 1999. When manager Akira Ohgi was let go after the 2001 season, the Orix BlueWave hired Ishige to replace him as manager. The club fell from above-.500 in '01 to 50-87-3 and last place. The next year, they started poorly and Ishige lambasted high-strikeout sluggers Fernando Seguignol and Scott Sheldon. After a 7-12-1 start, Ishige was let go and they brought in Leon Lee as the new manager, the first African-American manager in NPB history. Lee fared no better with the sorry lot and they finished last again. In 2005, Ishige founded the independent Shikoku Island League (now known as Shikoku Island League Plus).
O Sonfa (Japanese: 呉 善花; オ・ソンファ, born 15 September 1956), also known by her Korean name Oh Seon-hwa (Korean: 오선화), is a…O Sonfa (Japanese: 呉 善花; オ・ソンファ, born 15 September 1956), also known by her Korean name Oh Seon-hwa (Korean: 오선화), is a former professor in the School of International Relations at Takushoku University in Tokyo. She is currently a professor of International Relations at Tokyo International University. She is also active as an author and journalist in Japan. She is a critic in many fields such as current issues, history, and culture, particularly in East Asian Countries. Originally from Jeju Island, South Korea, she left for Japan in 1983. She received a BA degree from Daito Bunka University and an MA degree from the Graduate School of North American Studies at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. She went on to naturalise as a Japanese citizen. In 1998, she lost her South Korean nationality as she had acquired Japanese nationality in 1991. In 2007 and 2013, she was refused entry to South Korea. She has since been a source of controversy in Korea due to her open criticism of not only the South Korean government, but Korean culture as a whole. After the 2014 sinking of MV Sewol disaster, she described Koreans as "having no patriotism and completely selfish", and argued that Japan should not try to reconcile its differences with South Korea. O denies that "comfort women", a euphemism for Korean women who are considered by international consensus to have been forced prostitutes during World War II, were forced to work at all.
Kazuhiro Yamakura (山倉 和博, born September 2, 1955) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher. He spent his…Kazuhiro Yamakura (山倉 和博, born September 2, 1955) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher. He spent his entire 13-year playing career with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. He was the 1987 Central League MVP.
Masayuki Kakefu (掛布 雅之, Kakefu Masayuki) (born May 9, 1955) is a Japanese former professional baseball third baseman.…Masayuki Kakefu (掛布 雅之, Kakefu Masayuki) (born May 9, 1955) is a Japanese former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers from 1974 to 1988. Known as “Mr. Tigers”, the popular slugger batted .292 lifetime for the Tigers in his career while hitting over 300 home runs and driving 1,019 runs batted in to go along with three home run titles and seven selections to the Best Nine Award. In 1985, he hit 40 home runs and batted .300 as the Tigers went all the way to the Japan Series and won it for the first time in team history. Kakefu took part in what has been called one of the most famous moments in Tiger history on the game played on April 17, 1985 when he hit the second of three consecutive home runs (Randy Bass hit the first while Akinobu Okada hit the third) against the Yomiuri Giants. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025.
Yuko Hasegawa (長谷川祐子, Hasegawa Yuko, born 1957) is the director of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art…Yuko Hasegawa (長谷川祐子, Hasegawa Yuko, born 1957) is the director of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa and professor of curatorial and art theory at Tokyo University of the Arts.
Hideshi Matsuda (松田 秀士, Matsuda Hideshi; born 22 December 1954) is a Japanese car racer and TV reporter. He is the…Hideshi Matsuda (松田 秀士, Matsuda Hideshi; born 22 December 1954) is a Japanese car racer and TV reporter. He is the brother-in-law of Beat Takeshi.
Shigekazu Mori (森 繁和, born November 18, 1954, in Chosei, Chiba Prefecture) is a former Japanese professional baseball…Shigekazu Mori (森 繁和, born November 18, 1954, in Chosei, Chiba Prefecture) is a former Japanese professional baseball pitcher who played for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He has held coaching positions at 4 different teams most notably including a 10 years stint at the Seibu Lions and 10 years at current employers, the Chunichi Dragons. On 9 August 2016 it was announced that Mori would become the interim manager of the Dragons following the dismissal of Motonobu Tanishige. On 29 September 2016, following the end of the 2016 NPB season where the Dragons finished last in the Central League, Mori was announced as permanent full-time manager for the 2017 season.
Nobuhiro Takashiro (高代 延博, Takashiro Nobuhiro; 27 May 1954 – 9 December 2025) was a Japanese Nippon Professional…Nobuhiro Takashiro (高代 延博, Takashiro Nobuhiro; 27 May 1954 – 9 December 2025) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball infielder. Takashiro died from esophageal cancer in Osaka, on 9 December 2025, at the age of 71.
Kōtarō Iizawa (飯沢 耕太郎, Iizawa Kōtarō; born March 26, 1954) is a Japanese photography critic, historian of photography…Kōtarō Iizawa (飯沢 耕太郎, Iizawa Kōtarō; born March 26, 1954) is a Japanese photography critic, historian of photography, and magazine editor. Born in Sendai, Miyagi in 1954, Iizawa studied photography in Nihon University, graduating in 1977. He obtained his doctorate at University of Tsukuba. Iizawa founded Déjà-vu in 1990 and was its editor in chief until 1994. He coedited the 41-volume series Nihon no Shashinka with Shigeichi Nagano and Naoyuki Kinoshita.
Nobuo Ikeda (池田 信夫, Ikeda Nobuo; born 1953) is a Japanese economist originally from Kyoto Prefecture. He used to be a…Nobuo Ikeda (池田 信夫, Ikeda Nobuo; born 1953) is a Japanese economist originally from Kyoto Prefecture. He used to be a professor at Jobu University until 2012. His current appointments are a visiting professor at SBI Graduate School in Yokohama, Kanagawa, a lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University, and the Chief Executive Officer of Agora Institute.
Yoshinori Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 よしのり or 小林 善範, Hepburn: Kobayashi Yoshinori; born August 31, 1953) is a Japanese…Yoshinori Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 よしのり or 小林 善範, Hepburn: Kobayashi Yoshinori; born August 31, 1953) is a Japanese manga artist known for his far-right political commentary manga Gōmanism Sengen. In particular, the three volumes On War (Sensōron) of this series made him famous in Japan, together selling more than 1.5 million volumes since first appearing in 1998.
Masataka Nashida (Japanese:梨田 昌孝, born August 4, 1953, in Hamada, Shimane, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional…Masataka Nashida (Japanese:梨田 昌孝, born August 4, 1953, in Hamada, Shimane, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball catcher and manager. As a player, he played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes from 1972 to 1988. After playing, he went on to manage three NPB teams. First, Nashida was the final manager of the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes before they were dissolved and merged after the 2004 season. He then went on to manage the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters from 2008 to 2011. Finally, he went on to manage the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, the team created to fill the void left by the Buffaloes merger. He was able to lead the Eagles to their third-ever playoff berth in 2017, however he resigned in July the next year when the club dropped to 20 games below a .500 winning percentage. After his resignation, Eagles' coach Yosuke Hiraishi acted as team's interim manager for the remainder of the 2018 season.
Masanori Ito (伊藤 政則, Itō Masanori; born July 10, 1953) is a Japanese music critic and radio personality, also known as…Masanori Ito (伊藤 政則, Itō Masanori; born July 10, 1953) is a Japanese music critic and radio personality, also known as Seisoku Ito and Masa Ito. His work is specialized in heavy metal and hard rock, and he is known as the leading music critic of Japan. He has been quick to introduce new heavy metal bands to Japan, through writing for magazines such as Burrn! and putting them on the air. Ito wrote the initial story draft of the 2022 film Hagane Iro no Sora no Kanata he (鋼音色の空の彼方へ), based on the story of Japanese thrash metal band Outrage.
Yoshihiro Yonezawa (米澤 嘉博, Yonezawa Yoshihiro; March 21, 1953 – October 1, 2006) was a Japanese manga critic and…Yoshihiro Yonezawa (米澤 嘉博, Yonezawa Yoshihiro; March 21, 1953 – October 1, 2006) was a Japanese manga critic and author. He is also known for being Comiket's co-founder and president. He died of lung cancer at 53. He won the 2007 Seiun Award in the special category and 2010 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Special Award.
Kaoru Kurimoto (栗本 薫, Kurimoto Kaoru; February 13, 1953 – May 26, 2009) was the pen name of Sumiyo Imaoka (今岡 純代…Kaoru Kurimoto (栗本 薫, Kurimoto Kaoru; February 13, 1953 – May 26, 2009) was the pen name of Sumiyo Imaoka (今岡 純代, Imaoka Sumiyo), a Japanese novelist. Imaoka also used the pen name Azusa Nakajima (中島 梓, Nakajima Azusa) to write criticism and music. She was known for her record-breaking 130-volume Guin Saga series, which has been translated into English, German, French, Italian and Russian. Her style has been described as being part of the New Wave science fiction movement. Outside of her literary endeavors, she was a playwright, composer, and pianist who performed with her own jazz ensemble, the Azusa Nakajima Trio.
Shigeru Kobayashi (小林 繁, Kobayashi Shigeru; November 14, 1952 – January 17, 2010) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He…Shigeru Kobayashi (小林 繁, Kobayashi Shigeru; November 14, 1952 – January 17, 2010) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He played for the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball. His trade to the Tigers gave the Giants Suguru Egawa, as he had been drafted by the Tigers, despite him signing with the Giants in secrecy. Kobayashi coached two other NPB teams, the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, and also spent a season in the Korea Baseball Organization as a coach for the SK Wyverns. He died of heart failure in 2010 at the age of 57.
Kiwao Nomura (野村 喜和夫, Nomura Kiwao; born 20 October 1951 in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese poet, writer, critic, and…Kiwao Nomura (野村 喜和夫, Nomura Kiwao; born 20 October 1951 in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese poet, writer, critic, and lecturer. He is considered one of the driving forces behind contemporary Japanese poetry.
Minae Mizumura (水村 美苗, Mizumura Minae; born 1951) is a Japanese novelist. Among other literary awards, she has won the…Minae Mizumura (水村 美苗, Mizumura Minae; born 1951) is a Japanese novelist. Among other literary awards, she has won the Noma Literary New Face Prize and the Yomiuri Prize.
Kyosuke Sasaki (佐々木 恭介, Sasaki Kyōsuke; born December 28, 1949) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball…Kyosuke Sasaki (佐々木 恭介, Sasaki Kyōsuke; born December 28, 1949) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder.
Teruo Ito (伊藤 輝夫, Itō Teruo; born December 27, 1949, in Tsukiji, Chūō, Tokyo, Japan), better known as Terry Ito (テリー…Teruo Ito (伊藤 輝夫, Itō Teruo; born December 27, 1949, in Tsukiji, Chūō, Tokyo, Japan), better known as Terry Ito (テリー 伊藤, Terī Itō), is a Japanese director, television producer, critic, and writer. His name "Terry" comes from his first name, "Teruo". His ancestral home is in Yokoshibahikari, Sanbu District, Chiba Prefecture. Ito served as the president of the television program production company, Locomotion. Ito, in conjunction with Toyota, helped design a limited edition pink S210 Toyota Crown called Toyota Reborn Pink Crown Athlete. The Crown featured a bright pink exterior and pink trim pieces in the interior. Toyota sold 650 units of the limited vehicle.
Choji Murata (村田 兆治, 27 November 1949 – 11 November 2022) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He…Choji Murata (村田 兆治, 27 November 1949 – 11 November 2022) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He played for the Tokyo/Lotte Orions over the period 1968 to 1990. Murata led the Pacific League in Earned run average in 1975 and 1976. In 1976 he won 21 games, the only time he won 20 games or more in his career. Overuse of Murata's pitching arm led to extreme pain and injury, and ultimately Murata was forced to undergo Tommy John elbow surgery, performed in 1982 by Dr. Frank Jobe in California. (Murata was the first Japanese pitcher to undergo the procedure.) As a result, Murata missed much of the 1982 season, all of the 1983 season, and most of the 1984 season during his recovery. Rebounding in 1985 with a 17–5 record, Murata won the Nippon Professional Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award. In 1989 he again led the Pacific League in ERA. Retiring in 1990 with 200+ career wins, Murata became a member of Meikyukai. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, Murata served on the Eiji Sawamura Award selection committee. On 23 September 2022, Murata was arrested at Haneda airport for allegedly assaulting a customs agent. On 11 November 2022, Murata's house in Seijo, Setagaya, Tokyo, caught on fire during the early morning. Subsequently, he was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead due to carbon monoxide poisoning at age 72.
Katsuhiro Nakamura (中村 勝広, Nakamura Katsuhiro; June 6, 1949 - September 23, 2015) was a professional Japanese baseball…Katsuhiro Nakamura (中村 勝広, Nakamura Katsuhiro; June 6, 1949 - September 23, 2015) was a professional Japanese baseball player, coach, and manager.
Sumio Hirota (弘田 澄男, Hirota Sumio) (born May 13, 1949 in Sukumo, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese former…Sumio Hirota (弘田 澄男, Hirota Sumio) (born May 13, 1949 in Sukumo, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played with the Lotte Orions from 1972 to 1983 and the Hanshin Tigers from 1984 to 1987. He won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award in 1974.
Fumio Nanjo (南條 史生, Nanjō Fumio; born 1949 in Tokyo) is a curator and art historian. Between 2006 and 2019 he was the…Fumio Nanjo (南條 史生, Nanjō Fumio; born 1949 in Tokyo) is a curator and art historian. Between 2006 and 2019 he was the director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. A graduate of Keio University, Nanjo was previously Director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts in Nagoya (1986–1990) and served as commissioner of the Japan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (1997). He has curated many art exhibitions and directed many art program, including the Taipei Biennale (1998); the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (1999); the Yokohama Triennale (2001), the Singapore Biennale (2006, 2008) and the inaugural Honolulu Biennial (2017). In 2018 he curated the exhibition Japan in Architecture: Genealogies of Its Transformations at the Mori Art Museum. Fumio Nanjo was one of the co-organizers of 1994 exhibition “Open Air ’94 Out of Bounds̶ Contemporary Art in the Seascape” held in Naoshima. Nanjo also contributed to exhibitions catalogues, art journals and magazines, and is the author of From Art to the City (1997) and Asian Contemporary Art Report: China, India, Middle East and Japan (2010).