Tadashi Takagi (髙木 規, Takagi Tadashi; born January 13, 1970 in Toyonaka, Japan), better known by his ring name Sanshiro…Tadashi Takagi (髙木 規, Takagi Tadashi; born January 13, 1970 in Toyonaka, Japan), better known by his ring name Sanshiro Takagi (髙木 三四郎, Takagi Sanshirō), is a Japanese professional wrestler and promoter who works for the Japanese wrestling promotion CyberFight, where he serves as executive vice president. He is one of the founding members and current chairman of United Japan Pro Wrestling. Takagi is the founder of DDT Pro-Wrestling, which is now part of the CyberFight umbrella. As a wrestler, Takagi's gimmick is that he is Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Kiyoshi Adachi (born December 14, 1969, in Ōita Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of…Kiyoshi Adachi (born December 14, 1969, in Ōita Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan from 2019 until his resignation in 2023 to run for Governor of Ōita Prefecture. He represented the Ōita at-large district as an independent. He was a member of the Committee on Financial Affairs.
Keisuke Hiwatashi (樋渡啓祐, Hiwatashi Keisuke; born 18 November 1969 in Takeo, Saga Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese…Keisuke Hiwatashi (樋渡啓祐, Hiwatashi Keisuke; born 18 November 1969 in Takeo, Saga Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician, entrepreneur, and businessman. He is the founder and CEO of Hiwatashi Shachū, a consulting and marketing services firm created after he left the public service sector. He has written four books.
Koji Sato (佐藤 恒治, Satō Kōji; born October 19, 1969) is a Japanese mechanical engineer who served as president and chief…Koji Sato (佐藤 恒治, Satō Kōji; born October 19, 1969) is a Japanese mechanical engineer who served as president and chief executive officer of Toyota from 2023 to 2026. He became chief executive officer in April 2023 and president in June 2023. On April 1, 2026, Kenta Kon became President and CEO of Toyota, and Satō became vice chairman and assumed a new position as chief industry officer.
Jun Akiyama (秋山 潤, Akiyama Jun; ring name: 秋山 準) (born October 9, 1969) is a Japanese professional wrestler, He is…Jun Akiyama (秋山 潤, Akiyama Jun; ring name: 秋山 準) (born October 9, 1969) is a Japanese professional wrestler, He is signed to DDT Pro-Wrestling, where he is a former KO-D Openweight Champion, former one-time DDT Extreme Champion, former four-time Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion and former KO-D Six Man Tag Team Champion. He is best known for his time with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he was the president, representative director, co-head booker, and an in-ring performer. In AJPW, he is a former two-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion and former longest reign one-time Gaora TV Champion, while also being a six-time overall professional wrestling world champion. Akiyama is noted for his serious in-ring style and demeanor, innovating the Blue Thunder Driver and the wrist–clutch exploder suplex maneuvers. Considered an outstanding tag team wrestler, Akiyama is a three-time winner of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Tag Team of the Year award.
Gota Miura (三浦 豪太, Miura Gōta; born 10 August 1969) is a Japanese freestyle skier. He competed at the 1994 Winter…Gota Miura (三浦 豪太, Miura Gōta; born 10 August 1969) is a Japanese freestyle skier. He competed at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer and the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, placing 27th and 13th, respectively, in freestyle moguls. His father, Yūichirō Miura, son of Keizo Miura, was the first person to ski down Mt. Everest, and set the record for the oldest person to climb the mountain. Gota joined his father on at least on his father's first and third ascents of Everest. Gota Miura has a PhD in medicine and teaches at Keio University and he moved in with his father when his health began failing in his father's later years. The Miura family has a strong connection to Utah. On 15 February 2004, Keizo Miura celebrated his 100th birthday with a ski descent together with more than 120 friends and family members, including four generations of his family, at Snowbird ski resort, Keizo's favorite ski resort, near Salt Lake City, Utah. All three of Yūichirō's children attended Rowmark Ski Academy in Salt Lake City. Gota graduated from Rowland Hall in 1988 in Salt Lake City. Yuta and Gota both graduated from the University of Utah, also in Salt Lake City. Gota earned his bachelor's degree in 2001 in sports physiology. Gota completed his PhD in 2012 with the Graduate School of Juntendo University, School of Medicine, with a major concentration in Genetic Expression Under Hypoxic Environment.
Hiroshi Koizumi (小泉 洋史, Koizumi Hiroshi; born 25 May 1969 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese racing driver who last competed…Hiroshi Koizumi (小泉 洋史, Koizumi Hiroshi; born 25 May 1969 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese racing driver who last competed for TF Sport in the LMGT3 class of the European Le Mans Series.
Satoshi Okura (大倉 智, Okura Satoshi; born May 22, 1969) is a former Japanese football player. He is currently chairman…Satoshi Okura (大倉 智, Okura Satoshi; born May 22, 1969) is a former Japanese football player. He is currently chairman of Iwaki FC.
Yoshihiro Narisawa (成澤 由浩, Narisawa Yoshihiro; born 11 April 1969) is a Japanese chef and owner of the two-Michelin…Yoshihiro Narisawa (成澤 由浩, Narisawa Yoshihiro; born 11 April 1969) is a Japanese chef and owner of the two-Michelin star restaurant Narisawa in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Naoto Nakamura (中村直人, Nakamura Naoto) (born 18 January 1969) is a Japanese former rugby union player who played as…Naoto Nakamura (中村直人, Nakamura Naoto) (born 18 January 1969) is a Japanese former rugby union player who played as prop. He played 20 tests for the Japan national rugby union team including two matches in 1999 Rugby World Cup. Currently he is the scrum coach for Canon Eagles.
Mikiko Futagami (二上美紀子, Futagami Mikiko), better known by her ring name Gami (stylized in capital letters as GAMI), is…Mikiko Futagami (二上美紀子, Futagami Mikiko), better known by her ring name Gami (stylized in capital letters as GAMI), is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Pro Wrestling Wave, Arsion and JWP Joshi Puroresu.
Masaki Inayoshi (稲吉 正樹, Inayoshi Masaki) (born 1969) is the owner and founder of G.Communication, a Japanese kabushiki…Masaki Inayoshi (稲吉 正樹, Inayoshi Masaki) (born 1969) is the owner and founder of G.Communication, a Japanese kabushiki kaisha based in Nagoya, Japan. The company is an operator of restaurant chains, juku (cram schools), and eikaiwa (language schools).
Kazuhiko Gomi (born October 31, 1967), also known as Gomi or DJ Gomi, is a Japanese record producer and songwriter…Kazuhiko Gomi (born October 31, 1967), also known as Gomi or DJ Gomi, is a Japanese record producer and songwriter, based in New York.
Kota Matsuda (or Kouta Matsuda) (born 3 December 1968) is a Japanese entrepreneur, business executive, and former…Kota Matsuda (or Kouta Matsuda) (born 3 December 1968) is a Japanese entrepreneur, business executive, and former politician. He is best known as the founder and former president and CEO of Tully's Coffee Japan, and as a former member of Japan's House of Councillors representing the Tokyo at-large district from 2010 to 2016. Matsuda also served as the leader of the political party The Assembly to Energize Japan (日本を元気にする会) from 2015 to 2016.
Jun Nagura (名倉 潤, Nagura Jun; born 4 November 1968, in Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese comedian, actor and…Jun Nagura (名倉 潤, Nagura Jun; born 4 November 1968, in Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese comedian, actor and businessman who is the leader of the comedy trio Neptune and in charge of tsukkomi. He is nicknamed Jun-chan (潤ちゃん) and Leader (リーダー, Rīdā). Nagura is represented by Watanabe Entertainment. He is married to Marina Watanabe and is left-handed. The couple has two children, a son and a daughter. Nagura is the youngest of four brothers
Mitsuo Terada (寺田 光男, Terada Mitsuo; born October 29, 1968), known professionally as Tsunku (つんく♂), is a Japanese…Mitsuo Terada (寺田 光男, Terada Mitsuo; born October 29, 1968), known professionally as Tsunku (つんく♂), is a Japanese singer, record producer, and songwriter. He was the lead singer of the rock band Sharam Q. As a songwriter, Tsunku is the primary producer for Morning Musume and other Hello! Project acts, such as Coconuts Musume, Berryz Kobo, Cute, V-u-den, Aya Matsuura, and Maki Goto. He has also produced music for artists such as EE Jump and Sonim. Aside from musical acts, Tsunku has also produced soundtracks for anime and video game series such as Rhythm Heaven and ClassicaLoid. The total sales of the singles he has written exceed 37.9 million copies, making him the fifth best-selling lyricist in Japan.
Kohei Oguchi (小口耕平, Oguchi Kōhei) (born Saitama Prefecture, 6 October 1968) is a Japanese former rugby union player. He…Kohei Oguchi (小口耕平, Oguchi Kōhei) (born Saitama Prefecture, 6 October 1968) is a Japanese former rugby union player. He played as a prop.
Yukinori Taniguchi (谷口 行規, Taniguchi Yukinori; born September 27, 1968 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima) is a Japanese…Yukinori Taniguchi (谷口 行規, Taniguchi Yukinori; born September 27, 1968 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima) is a Japanese businessperson and auto racing driver. He founded Yuke's, a video game developer company, in Sakai, Osaka in 1993.
Akihiro Hino (日野 晃博, Hino Akihiro; born July 20, 1968) is a Japanese video game designer, producer, scriptwriter, and…Akihiro Hino (日野 晃博, Hino Akihiro; born July 20, 1968) is a Japanese video game designer, producer, scriptwriter, and businessman. He is the founder, president, and chief executive officer of Level-5. Hino has held multiple roles in game development, including programming, scenario writing, directing, and executive production.
Aya Sugimoto (杉本 彩, Sugimoto Aya; born July 19, 1968) is a Japanese TV personality, actress, dancer, author, gravure…Aya Sugimoto (杉本 彩, Sugimoto Aya; born July 19, 1968) is a Japanese TV personality, actress, dancer, author, gravure idol and singer born in Kyoto. She also had a J-pop career in the late 1980s to the early 1990s.
Ken Akamatsu (Japanese: 赤松 健, Hepburn: Akamatsu Ken; born July 5, 1968) is a Japanese manga artist and politician who…Ken Akamatsu (Japanese: 赤松 健, Hepburn: Akamatsu Ken; born July 5, 1968) is a Japanese manga artist and politician who has served since 2022 as a member of the House of Councillors. He made his professional manga debut in 1993, and is best known as the author of Love Hina (1998–2001) and Negima! Magister Negi Magi (2003–2012), both serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine; a sequel to Negima!, UQ Holder!, was serialized from 2013 to 2022. In 2011, Akamatsu founded J-Comi (now Manga Library Z), a free digital distributor of out-of-print manga. Akamatsu has been a managing director of the Japan Cartoonists Association since 2018, and is a vocal advocate for protecting freedom of expression in manga and anime from expansions in censorship and copyright law. In the 2022 Japanese House of Councillors election, he won a seat as a candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party in the national proportional representation block on a free expression platform, becoming the first manga creator in the National Diet. On November 13, 2024, he was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Reconstruction as part of the Second Ishiba Cabinet. On September 18, 2026, he was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Digital Agency and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Cabinet Office as part of the September 2026 cabinet reshuffle of the Second Takaichi Cabinet.
Lee Jae-yong (Korean: 이재용; born June 23, 1968) is a South Korean business executive who has been chairman of Samsung…Lee Jae-yong (Korean: 이재용; born June 23, 1968) is a South Korean business executive who has been chairman of Samsung since October 2022. In 2017, Lee was convicted of bribery, embezzlement, and concealment of criminal proceeds. He served a prison sentence until being pardoned by President Yoon Suk Yeol in August 2022. Born into the family that controls the Samsung conglomerate, Lee has held various positions in the company since joining Samsung in 1991. Lee has consistently ranked among the wealthiest persons in South Korea, with a net worth reaching tens of billions of dollars. He has also been named to Forbes’ list of the world’s top 100 billionaries.
Minoru Suzuki (鈴木 実, Suzuki Minoru; ring name: 鈴木 みのる) (born June 17, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestler and…Minoru Suzuki (鈴木 実, Suzuki Minoru; ring name: 鈴木 みのる) (born June 17, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. Despite being a freelancer for most of his career, he has worked for the largest promotions in Japan: New Japan Pro-Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and DDT Pro-Wrestling. He also made appearances for promotions outside Japan, like Major League Wrestling (MLW), Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro), TNA Wrestling, Game Changer Wrestling (GCW), All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Ring of Honor (ROH). Suzuki was the co-founder of Pancrase, one of the first mixed martial arts organizations in the world. During the 1990s, he was widely considered one of the best fighters in the world and was the second King of Pancrase world champion. Suzuki returned to puroresu in 2003, when he has become a perennial top contender for all major Japanese heavyweight championships. He is also known for his time in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he is two-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, and Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and a former GHC Tag Team Champion along with Naomichi Marufuji. A mixed martial arts pioneer, Suzuki is well noted for his catch wrestling, and has been praised many times by elite fighters such as Josh Barnett, Bas Rutten, and Ken Shamrock for his grappling and submission skills.
James Kondo (近藤 正晃ジェームス Kondo Masaakira James, born December 9, 1967) is an executive whose career spans social…James Kondo (近藤 正晃ジェームス Kondo Masaakira James, born December 9, 1967) is an executive whose career spans social, technology, government, business and academic sectors. From January 2019, he is Chairman of International House of Japan.
Hisako Sasaki (佐々木 久子, Sasaki Hisako; née Uno (宇野)), (born July 13, 1967) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler…Hisako Sasaki (佐々木 久子, Sasaki Hisako; née Uno (宇野)), (born July 13, 1967) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler better known as Akira Hokuto (北斗 晶, Hokuto Akira).
Taro Yamada (山田 太郎, Yamada Tarō; born May 12, 1967) is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of Councillors…Taro Yamada (山田 太郎, Yamada Tarō; born May 12, 1967) is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of Councillors for the Liberal Democratic Party. He is known as a defender of freedom of expression in manga and anime, and has promoted policies to exempt sexual depictions of fictional characters from legal restrictions. He is an honorary advisor at Association for Freedom of Entertainment Expression. Taro Yamada was born in Ōta, Tokyo, and began his career as a businessman. After becoming a politician as a member of the Diet for the Your Party in 2012, he lost an election. In 2019 he became a member of the House of Councillors for the Liberal Democratic Party. In the first and second Kishida Cabinets, he served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Digital Affairs and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. During his tenure, he pushed for the inclusion of paragraph 3 in Article 14 of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime to decriminalize manga and anime, and visited Visa headquarters to end financial censorship.
Yūta Mochizuki (望月 祐多, Mochizuki Yūta; born 14 March 1967) is a Japanese former actor and voice actor. He is best known…Yūta Mochizuki (望月 祐多, Mochizuki Yūta; born 14 March 1967) is a Japanese former actor and voice actor. He is best known for playing Geki/TyrannoRanger in Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger and the titular character of Kamen Rider J. He also voiced Keisuke Harukaze in the Ojamajo Doremi franchise, Thierry Rothschild in Ashita no Nadja, and Akira Mimasaka in Boys Over Flowers.
Hiromoto Okubo (大久保 博元, born February 1, 1967), nickname "Dave" is a former Nippon Professional Baseball catcher. After…Hiromoto Okubo (大久保 博元, born February 1, 1967), nickname "Dave" is a former Nippon Professional Baseball catcher. After playing, he turned to managing and coaching. In 2015, Hiromoto was promoted from Rakuten's farm team manager to Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles full-time manager. He only lasted one season, however, as he resigned after the team again finished in last place. In Kobe Earthquake Dream Match 1995, he played for the Foreign Dream with registered name "Dave" because without foreign player catcher.
Akira Morikawa (森川亮, Morikawa Akira; born 13 January 1969) is the current president of NHN Corporation. Morikawa joined…Akira Morikawa (森川亮, Morikawa Akira; born 13 January 1969) is the current president of NHN Corporation. Morikawa joined Nippon Television Network Corporation after graduating from the University of Tsukuba in 1989. While serving for the systems division at the TV firm, he got involved in a wide range of media businesses from online advertising and video distribution, mobile service, international broadcast, to BS digital broadcast. Received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Aoyama Gakuin University in 1999. Joined Sony Corp. in 2000, where he was in charge of new mobile content and broadband businesses and was responsible for overall content business, including business/service planning and sales. Joined Hangame Japan (predecessor of NHN Japan) in 2003, where he served as general manager overseeing overall gaming business and then as director, before becoming vice president in October 2006. Appointed president in October 2007 and doubled as president of newly established Naver Japan the following month. Remained president of NHN Japan after the company, Naver Japan and Livedoor Co. merged to form the NHN Japan group in January 2012.
Akira Morikawa (森川亮, Morikawa Akira; born 13 January 1969) is the current president of NHN Corporation. Morikawa joined…Akira Morikawa (森川亮, Morikawa Akira; born 13 January 1969) is the current president of NHN Corporation. Morikawa joined Nippon Television Network Corporation after graduating from the University of Tsukuba in 1989. While serving for the systems division at the TV firm, he got involved in a wide range of media businesses from online advertising and video distribution, mobile service, international broadcast, to BS digital broadcast. Received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Aoyama Gakuin University in 1999. Joined Sony Corp. in 2000, where he was in charge of new mobile content and broadband businesses and was responsible for overall content business, including business/service planning and sales. Joined Hangame Japan (predecessor of NHN Japan) in 2003, where he served as general manager overseeing overall gaming business and then as director, before becoming vice president in October 2006. Appointed president in October 2007 and doubled as president of newly established Naver Japan the following month. Remained president of NHN Japan after the company, Naver Japan and Livedoor Co. merged to form the NHN Japan group in January 2012.
Tatsuya Tanimoto (谷本 龍哉, Tanimoto Tatsuya; born 26 October 1966) is a former Japanese member of the House of…Tatsuya Tanimoto (谷本 龍哉, Tanimoto Tatsuya; born 26 October 1966) is a former Japanese member of the House of Representatives of the Diet. He served as a representative of Wakayama 1st district, first as an independent politician, but after 2003 as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Wakayama City and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected for the first time in 2000 after working as a bartender and an aide to Representative Toshihiro Nikai, and serving in the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly.
Tsutomu Itō (伊藤 努, Itō Tsutomu; born August 12, 1966), known professionally as David "Debi" Ito (デビット 伊東, Debitto Itō)…Tsutomu Itō (伊藤 努, Itō Tsutomu; born August 12, 1966), known professionally as David "Debi" Ito (デビット 伊東, Debitto Itō), is a Japanese comedian, actor and businessman.
Kensuke Sasaki (Japanese: 佐々木 健介, Sasaki Kensuke; born August 4, 1966) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. He…Kensuke Sasaki (Japanese: 佐々木 健介, Sasaki Kensuke; born August 4, 1966) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his numerous runs in the top three Japanese wrestling promotions; New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), and Pro Wrestling Noah. He was the founder and owner of the now-defunct wrestling promotion Diamond Ring, which was also named Kensuke Office. Sasaki is the first of five men ever to hold all three of puroresu's major heavyweight titles (the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, and the GHC Heavyweight Championship), the others being Yoshihiro Takayama, Keiji Muto, Satoshi Kojima, and Yuji Nagata - totaling seven world championship reigns. Sasaki also competed in MMA and won both fights by submission, remaining undefeated in mixed martial arts competition.
Ryūta Ibaragi (伊原木 隆太, Ibaragi Ryūta; born 29 July 1966) is a Japanese politician, businessman and the governor of…Ryūta Ibaragi (伊原木 隆太, Ibaragi Ryūta; born 29 July 1966) is a Japanese politician, businessman and the governor of Okayama Prefecture in Japan.
Minami Ichikawa (市川 南, Ichikawa Minami; born July 22, 1966) is a Japanese businessman and film producer. An executive…Minami Ichikawa (市川 南, Ichikawa Minami; born July 22, 1966) is a Japanese businessman and film producer. An executive officer at Toho Co., Ltd., Ichikawa is the head of their Motion Picture Group, the Chairman of Toho Cinemas, the director of Toho-Towa and the former President of Toho Pictures.
Makoto Uchida (内田 誠, Uchida Makoto; born July 20, 1966) is a Japanese businessman. He was the CEO of the Nissan Motor…Makoto Uchida (内田 誠, Uchida Makoto; born July 20, 1966) is a Japanese businessman. He was the CEO of the Nissan Motor Corporation from December 2019 until March 2025.
Mitsuhiro Matsunaga (松永 光広, Matsunaga Mitsuhiro; born March 24, 1966) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best…Mitsuhiro Matsunaga (松永 光広, Matsunaga Mitsuhiro; born March 24, 1966) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for his deathmatch wrestling style, having competed in memorable deathmatches in Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) and Wrestling International New Generations (W*ING). He is renowned for participating in the first-ever deathmatch in Japanese wrestling history on December 10, 1989 and is also credited for participating in a Piranha Deathmatch against Kendo Nagasaki on August 19, 1996, which has been considered to be the most popular and greatest deathmatch in Japanese wrestling history by wrestling journalists and many sports websites and Matsunaga has received critical acclaim for his performance. Matsunaga began his career in FMW where he specialized in the deathmatch wrestling style and adopted it as his own trademark style. He competed in many infamous deathmatches in W*ING and high-profile feuds with Mr. Pogo, Freddy Krueger and Leatherface in many successful deathmatches earned him the moniker of "Mr. Danger". After working as W*ING's ace from 1992-1993, Matsunaga left the company and returned to FMW where he headlined the successful 1993 Year End Spectacular event against Atsushi Onita. After an alliance with Onita, Matsunaga formed the W*ING Alliance to feud with FMW and avenge the demise of W*ING from FMW. Initially considered to be Onita's successor as FMW's ace, Matsunaga was demoted from his role and failed to gain prominence in FMW and ultimately quit the company in 1996. He then joined BJW and helped the promotion revolutionize in deathmatch wrestling and became a two-time Deathmatch Heavyweight Champion in the company before quitting in 2001.
Kenji Kamiyama (神山 健治, Kamiyama Kenji; born on March 20, 1966) is a Japanese director and writer, best known for Ghost…Kenji Kamiyama (神山 健治, Kamiyama Kenji; born on March 20, 1966) is a Japanese director and writer, best known for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.
Shoichi Arai (荒井 昌一 Arai Shōichi) (December 19, 1965 – May 16, 2002) was a Japanese professional wrestling promoter.…Shoichi Arai (荒井 昌一 Arai Shōichi) (December 19, 1965 – May 16, 2002) was a Japanese professional wrestling promoter. Arai ran Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling from 1995 until its closure in 2002.
Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a…Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, film director, and fashion designer. He is best known as the leader of the visual kei rock bands X Japan and the Last Rockstars, for which he is the drummer, pianist, and main songwriter. He has been described by Billboard as a "musical innovator" and named "one of the most influential composers in Japanese history" by Consequence. Time labeled Yoshiki as "an absolute force" and "one of Japan's most celebrated musicians". Yoshiki's solo career includes several classical studio albums and collaborations with artists such as George Martin, Bono, will.i.am, St. Vincent, the Chainsmokers, Skrillex, Ellie Goulding, Stan Lee, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Gene Simmons and Kiss, Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Brightman, Jonas Brothers, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Diana Ross, and Josh Groban. In 1999, at the request of the Japanese Imperial family, he composed and performed a classical song at a celebration in honor of the tenth anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement. Yoshiki also composed the theme for the 69th Golden Globe Awards as well as for several anime and film soundtracks including Attack on Titan and Saw IV. In 2023, he made his directorial debut with the feature documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Yoshiki the best drummer and the best keyboardist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election". In 2023, he was selected as the first Japanese artist to be honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in nearly 100 years. In 2024, Variety selected Yoshiki as the International Achievement in Music honoree. Time named Yoshiki one of the most influential people of 2025 in their Time 100 list.
Hidehiko Yuzaki (湯崎 英彦, Yuzaki Hidehiko; born 4 October 1965) is a Japanese politician and former governor of Hiroshima…Hidehiko Yuzaki (湯崎 英彦, Yuzaki Hidehiko; born 4 October 1965) is a Japanese politician and former governor of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan.
Kazuhiro "Kaz" Ayabe (綾部 和弘, Ayabe Kazuhiro; born 1965) is a Japanese video game developer. He is the founder of the…Kazuhiro "Kaz" Ayabe (綾部 和弘, Ayabe Kazuhiro; born 1965) is a Japanese video game developer. He is the founder of the video game company Millennium Kitchen and is best known as the creator of the video game series Boku no Natsuyasumi.
Atsushi Fukuda (福田淳, born 26 July 1965) is a Japanese entrepreneur. He was born in Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.…Atsushi Fukuda (福田淳, born 26 July 1965) is a Japanese entrepreneur. He was born in Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He is best known as the president of Speedy Inc. and former president of the entertainment company Starto Entertainment.
Gala Inc. (株式会社ガーラ, Gala Kabushiki gaisha) is a holding company based in Tokyo, Japan, that administers GALA Group…Gala Inc. (株式会社ガーラ, Gala Kabushiki gaisha) is a holding company based in Tokyo, Japan, that administers GALA Group, which is made up of subsidiary companies of Gala Inc. The group of companies comprises three types of businesses: MMORPG games, web design, and data mining. Within the group companies Gala Lab Corp. was established in South Korea after the merger of Aeonsoft and n Flavor and develops games for the group's online gaming portal gPotato. GALA Group focuses on developing largely multiplayer online role-playing games. To cover local areas, there are group companies located in the United States, Japan, and South Korea. GALA Group's games are free-to-play. However, there is a micro-currency system that can be used to buy in-game upgrades. Games and their item shops can be accessed by the Group's regional gPotato portal sites.
Kazuhiro Takeda (武田 一浩, Takeda Kazuhiro; born June 22, 1965) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He…Kazuhiro Takeda (武田 一浩, Takeda Kazuhiro; born June 22, 1965) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He played the first half of his career for the Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He was also the pitching coach for the Japan national baseball team at the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Tetsuya Mizuguchi (水口 哲也, Mizuguchi Tetsuya; born May 22, 1965) is a Japanese video game designer, producer, and…Tetsuya Mizuguchi (水口 哲也, Mizuguchi Tetsuya; born May 22, 1965) is a Japanese video game designer, producer, and businessman. Along with ex-Sega developers he is one of the co-founders of the video game development firm Q Entertainment. He formerly worked for Sega as a producer in their Sega AM3 'arcade machines' team, developing games like Sega Rally Championship and Sega Touring Car Championship, before moving on to become the head of Sega's United Game Artists division, the team responsible for Rez and Space Channel 5. Mizuguchi is better known for creating video games that incorporate interactive synesthesia into his game design, regardless of genre, evidenced by Rez, Lumines, Child of Eden, and Tetris Effect. He left Q Entertainment in 2013. He is currently the CEO of Enhance, Inc., a company he founded in 2014. In 2009, he was chosen by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time.
Ken Nomura (Shinjitai: 野村謙, Nomura Ken; born Fukuoka, May 9, 1965) is a drifting driver from Japan. He made his debut…Ken Nomura (Shinjitai: 野村謙, Nomura Ken; born Fukuoka, May 9, 1965) is a drifting driver from Japan. He made his debut in the D1 Grand Prix in the third round in 2001, driving the Blitz D1 Spec ER34 Skyline which he still drives. His nickname is Nomuken (のむけん) or Monkey Magic (as a reference to his company). In his youth, Nomura was a baseball player and was very well known within his region, but his career never progressed any further through injury and turned to property developing. Once he gained his driving licence, he was dedicated to night-time street drag racing and then progressed to touge racing. In 1992, Nomuken was runner up in the "All Japan Ikaten" Finals and later in 1996 opened his own tuning shop Uras (reverse for saru, Japanese for monkey), producing drift specific products. When he first joined the D1GP series in 2000, Nomura's performance was average, he had been away from drifting for some time before competing in its inaugural year. But as soon as he signed a contract with parts manufacturer Blitz as a works driver, his skills quickly developed. In the D1 events, Nomura is known for his imitation of a monkey, as the pioneer of the smoke technique, he drifts with the most smoke. He is widely a fan favorite in the series. He also competes in the budget spinoff series, D1 Street Legal with a toned down version of his Skyline. In 2006, Nomura won the D1GP Non Championship Event World All Star. Nomura has also appeared for a TV commercial for his sponsor, Dunlop Tires in Japan, appears as a guest presenter in Video Option and Drift Tengoku as well as a columnist for the Option magazine and judges in drift events. Nomura announced his intention to retire after the 2018 season on Twitter, and ran his last full-time race on Odaiba.