Narumi Miura (三浦 成美, Miura Narumi; born 3 July 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder…Narumi Miura (三浦 成美, Miura Narumi; born 3 July 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club Utah Royals and the Japan national team.
Ryuya Mura (武良竜也, Mura Ryūya, born 3 July 1996) is a Japanese breaststroke swimmer. He competed in the 2020 Summer…Ryuya Mura (武良竜也, Mura Ryūya, born 3 July 1996) is a Japanese breaststroke swimmer. He competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics. ,
Koya Yuruki (汰木 康也, Yuruki Kōya; born 3 July 1995 in Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays…Koya Yuruki (汰木 康也, Yuruki Kōya; born 3 July 1995 in Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol.
Yuka Ichiguchi (市口侑果, Ichiguchi Yuka) is a Japanese softball player who plays as an infielder. She helped Japan qualify…Yuka Ichiguchi (市口侑果, Ichiguchi Yuka) is a Japanese softball player who plays as an infielder. She helped Japan qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Hisayoshi Harasawa (原沢 久喜, Harasawa Hisayoshi; born 3 July 1992) is a Japanese judoka. Harasawa was considered a staple…Hisayoshi Harasawa (原沢 久喜, Harasawa Hisayoshi; born 3 July 1992) is a Japanese judoka. Harasawa was considered a staple of Japanese heavyweight judo throughout the 2010s decade.
Tomomi Itano (板野 友美, Itano Tomomi; born July 3, 1991) is a Japanese performing artist, actress, model and entrepreneur.…Tomomi Itano (板野 友美, Itano Tomomi; born July 3, 1991) is a Japanese performing artist, actress, model and entrepreneur. Nicknamed Tomochin (ともちん), she is best known as a former member of the Japanese idol girl group AKB48. In 2011, she debuted solo with a single titled "Dear J", which was followed the same year by "Fui ni" (number 1 in Japan), and later by "10nen Go no Kimi e" (2012) and "1%" (2013).
Aya Yokoshima (横嶋 彩, Yokoshima Aya; born 3 July 1990) is a Japanese handball player for Hokkoku Bank Handball Team and…Aya Yokoshima (横嶋 彩, Yokoshima Aya; born 3 July 1990) is a Japanese handball player for Hokkoku Bank Handball Team and the Japanese national team. She competed at the 2015 World Women's Handball Championship in Denmark.
Kento Sakuyama (Japanese: 作山憲斗, romanized: Sakuyama Kento; born 3 July 1990) is a Japanese ski jumper. At the 2008…Kento Sakuyama (Japanese: 作山憲斗, romanized: Sakuyama Kento; born 3 July 1990) is a Japanese ski jumper. At the 2008 Junior World Ski Championships he finished fifth in the team competition, and at the 2009 Junior World Ski Championships he finished sixth in the team competition. He made his Continental Cup debut in December 2007, his best result being a tenth place from Zakopane in February 2009. He made his World Cup debut in January 2010 in Sapporo, collecting his first World Cup points with a 21st place.
Kento Kaku (賀来 賢人, Kaku Kento; born 3 July 1989) is a Japanese actor born in Tokyo. He has appeared in a number of…Kento Kaku (賀来 賢人, Kaku Kento; born 3 July 1989) is a Japanese actor born in Tokyo. He has appeared in a number of feature films, television series, and stage productions. His wife is actress Nana Eikura.
Kosuke Tanaka (田中 広輔, Tanaka Kōsuke; born July 3, 1989) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays infielder…Kosuke Tanaka (田中 広輔, Tanaka Kōsuke; born July 3, 1989) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays infielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Akitoshi Oka (岡 亮聡, Oka Akitoshi; born July 3, 1989), known professionally by the stage name Taiiku Okazaki (岡崎 体育…Akitoshi Oka (岡 亮聡, Oka Akitoshi; born July 3, 1989), known professionally by the stage name Taiiku Okazaki (岡崎 体育, Okazaki Taiiku), is a Japanese musician and songwriter who is signed to SME Records. Beginning his career as an independent musician in 2012, he made his major debut with the release of his first major album Basin Techno in 2016. The album includes the song "Music Video", which became a viral hit in Japan for parodying common tropes used in music videos. That same year, he performed the song "Pose", which was used as the first closing theme for the anime series Pokémon: Sun & Moon. He has also written music for commercials and for other musicians.
Mikie Hara (原 幹恵, Hara Mikie; born July 3, 1987 in Murakami, Niigata) is a Japanese gravure idol and actress. Her debut…Mikie Hara (原 幹恵, Hara Mikie; born July 3, 1987 in Murakami, Niigata) is a Japanese gravure idol and actress. Her debut role was in Cutie Honey: The Live as the lead role of Honey Kisaragi/Cutie Honey.
Kisenosato Yutaka (Japanese: 稀勢の里 寛, Hepburn: Kisenosato Yutaka; born July 3, 1986, as Yutaka Hagiwara (萩原 寛, Hagiwara…Kisenosato Yutaka (Japanese: 稀勢の里 寛, Hepburn: Kisenosato Yutaka; born July 3, 1986, as Yutaka Hagiwara (萩原 寛, Hagiwara Yutaka)) is a Japanese sumo elder from Ibaraki. As a wrestler, he made his professional debut in 2002 and reached the top makuuchi division in 2004 at the age of just 18. After many years in the junior san'yaku ranks, he reached the second highest rank of ōzeki in January 2012. He earned three kinboshi or gold stars by defeating yokozuna in his career leading up to ōzeki and nine special prizes. He scored more than 20 double-digit winning records at the ōzeki rank. In 2016, he secured the most wins in the calendar year, the first wrestler to do so without winning a tournament in that year. After being a runner-up in a tournament on twelve occasions, he broke through at the January 2017 tournament, winning his first top division championship or yūshō with a 14–1 record and subsequently was promoted to yokozuna, the first Japanese-born wrestler to reach sumo's highest rank since Wakanohana in 1998. He had been a candidate four times previously (July 2013, January 2014, July 2016 and September 2016), but in each case, he failed to achieve the necessary number of wins. Kisenosato won his first tournament as a yokozuna in March 2017, but suffered a left chest muscle injury in the process and was not able to complete another tournament until September 2018. His eight straight missed tournaments were a record for a yokozuna. His 12 runner-up finishes are the most in history. In January 2019, he announced his retirement from sumo. He is now an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name of Nishonoseki Yutaka (二所ノ関 寛).
Nozomi Satō (佐藤 希望, Satō Nozomi) (née Nozomi Nakano (中野 希望, Nakano Nozomi), born 3 July 1986, Fukui Prefecture) is a…Nozomi Satō (佐藤 希望, Satō Nozomi) (née Nozomi Nakano (中野 希望, Nakano Nozomi), born 3 July 1986, Fukui Prefecture) is a Japanese fencer. She competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Women's épée, but was defeated in the second round.
Keisuke Minami (南 圭介, Minami Keisuke) (born 3 July 1985) is a Japanese actor and singer. He is best known for his role…Keisuke Minami (南 圭介, Minami Keisuke) (born 3 July 1985) is a Japanese actor and singer. He is best known for his role as Kunimitsu Tezuka in the Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, of the third generation Seigaku cast, Tsurugi Ohtori/HououSoldier in Uchu Sentai Kyuranger, and a live-action portrayal of Fumito Nanahara in Blood-C series. He is one of PureBoys.
Mai Yamaguchi (山口 舞 Yamaguchi Mai, born July 3, 1983) is a former Japanese volleyball player who played for Okayama…Mai Yamaguchi (山口 舞 Yamaguchi Mai, born July 3, 1983) is a former Japanese volleyball player who played for Okayama Seagulls. She was part of Japan's 2012 bronze medal-winning team. Mai participated in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship, which was her last international tournament with the national team. She announced her retirement from volleyball in 2019.
Kazuya Fujita (藤田 一也, born July 3, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He previously played in…Kazuya Fujita (藤田 一也, born July 3, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He previously played in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Aoi Tada (多田葵, Tada Aoi; born 3 July 1981 in Tokyo) is a Japanese singer and former voice actress. She formerly…Aoi Tada (多田葵, Tada Aoi; born 3 July 1981 in Tokyo) is a Japanese singer and former voice actress. She formerly belonged to the Gekidan Himawari theatre group. She voiced the role of Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV in Cowboy Bebop and performed an insert song to the series, "Wo Qui Non Coin". In March 2005, she signed on to Moon-Bunny Entertainment and began her singer-songwriting career. She has performed the theme songs for Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino and Angel Beats!. She is also affiliated with the group Veil. She is credited for her Veil-related songs as Veil ∞ Aoi.
Megumi Kobashi (小橋 めぐみ, Kobashi Megumi; born 3 July 1979) is a Japanese actress who has appeared in a number of…Megumi Kobashi (小橋 めぐみ, Kobashi Megumi; born 3 July 1979) is a Japanese actress who has appeared in a number of television series, feature films and stage productions. She is represented by the agency FMG. She was born in Tokyo.
Sayuri Katayama (片山 さゆり, Katayama Sayuri; previously 片山 沙有里) born July 3, 1979 is a Japanese singer, stage actress and…Sayuri Katayama (片山 さゆり, Katayama Sayuri; previously 片山 沙有里) born July 3, 1979 is a Japanese singer, stage actress and songwriter. She has played the role of Kou Seiya in the Sailor Moon musicals. As a songwriter, she is known as Sayuri.
Koji Onuma (大沼 幸二, Ōnuma Kōji; born July 3, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who most recently…Koji Onuma (大沼 幸二, Ōnuma Kōji; born July 3, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who most recently played in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan's Central League.
Taiga Ishikawa (石川 大我, Ishikawa Taiga; born 1974) is a Japanese politician and LGBT activist. He was elected to the…Taiga Ishikawa (石川 大我, Ishikawa Taiga; born 1974) is a Japanese politician and LGBT activist. He was elected to the House of Councillors in the 2019 Japanese House of Councillors election, becoming the first openly-gay man to be elected to either chamber of the National Diet. Previously, he became one of the first two openly gay male politicians to win an election in Japanese history when he was elected in April 2011 to a seat in the Tokyo's Toshima ward assembly. Wataru Ishizaka, also openly gay, was elected in the same election to the Nakano ward council in Tokyo. Before he was elected to the city council, he was Mizuho Fukushima's chief of staff.
Kenji Imaizumi (今泉 健司, Imaizumi Kenji; born July 3, 1973) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 5-dan.…Kenji Imaizumi (今泉 健司, Imaizumi Kenji; born July 3, 1973) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 5-dan. Imaizumi (a former 3-dan professional shogi apprentice) was the first amateur to become a professional player via the Professional Admission Test (プロ編入試験 puro henyū shiken) in 2014.
Ninety-nine (ナインティナイン, Naintinain), or Nainai (ナイナイ) is a Japanese comic duo from Osaka working for the entertainment…Ninety-nine (ナインティナイン, Naintinain), or Nainai (ナイナイ) is a Japanese comic duo from Osaka working for the entertainment conglomerate Yoshimoto Kogyo. The duo (kombi), consisting of Takashi Okamura as boke (stooge) and Hiroyuki Yabe as tsukkomi (straightman), formed in 1990. The pair met in high school, where they were both involved in the soccer club. Okamura had been receiving guidance from Yabe's brother Yoshiyuki Yabe and throughout their high school life they had a senpai and kōhai relationship. As he was Yoshiyuki's younger brother, his soccer club peers referred to him as "Yabe Juni[or]". Upon graduating from high school, Okamura entered Ritsumeikan University and studied there for one year. Yabe, who was significantly less able academically, was unable to get into any universities and as a result invited Okamura to join Yoshimoto with him as a duo. The pair have stated that one of the reasons that drove them to this decision was their combined admiration for Yabe's brother Yoshiyuki, who had entered Yoshimoto two years before and formed the comedic duo "Channels". However, Yoshiyuki was allegedly opposed to the idea at that time, advising the pair on the harsh realities of a life as an entertainer. Their act is typical of manzai comedy duos, though they are also known for TV segments filmed in locales such as Hong Kong and Italy. Yabe has tended to receive criticism from Japanese fans because his participation in their skits is small and out of proportion compared to the always active and effervescent Okamura, even as a straightman. Okamura and Yabe also famously took the roles of Mario and Luigi (respectively) in the Japanese Hot Mario Bros. advertisement campaign. They have hosted Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!, a Japanese comedy show, and they have also hosted a number of television programs in the past. They also hosted a weekly radio program for All Night Nippon on Fridays as a duo, but since 2015 Okamura hosts this program alone.
Chiyomaru Shikura (志倉千代丸, Shikura Chiyomaru; born July 3, 1970) is a Japanese video game writer, lyricist and composer.…Chiyomaru Shikura (志倉千代丸, Shikura Chiyomaru; born July 3, 1970) is a Japanese video game writer, lyricist and composer. He is the executive producer and former chairman of Mages. He planned and wrote the 2008 visual novel Chaos;Head, and subsequently other works in the Science Adventure series including Steins;Gate. He has also been credited with composing the opening and ending songs of the Science Adventure series.
Hideaki Okubo (大久保 秀昭, Okubo Hideaki; born July 3, 1969) is a Japanese baseball catcher who won a silver medal in the…Hideaki Okubo (大久保 秀昭, Okubo Hideaki; born July 3, 1969) is a Japanese baseball catcher who won a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics. He also played for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes in the Pacific League from 1998 to 2000.
Satoko Ito (伊藤 聡子, Itō Satoko; born 3 July 1967) is a Japanese television tarento and news anchor. She is a visiting…Satoko Ito (伊藤 聡子, Itō Satoko; born 3 July 1967) is a Japanese television tarento and news anchor. She is a visiting professor of the Graduate Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. She is represented by Sankei.
Shinya Hashimoto (橋本 真也, Hashimoto Shin'ya; July 3, 1965 – July 11, 2005) was a Japanese professional wrestler…Shinya Hashimoto (橋本 真也, Hashimoto Shin'ya; July 3, 1965 – July 11, 2005) was a Japanese professional wrestler, promoter and actor. Along with Masahiro Chono and Keiji Mutoh, Hashimoto was dubbed one of the "Three Musketeers" that began competing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in the mid-1980s and dominated the promotion in the 1990s. He is one of three wrestlers (the others being Keiji Mutoh and Satoshi Kojima) that have held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and is an overall five-time world champion.
Tae Ashida (芦田 多恵; born July 3, 1964) is a well-known fashion designer who has designed many uniforms in high-profile…Tae Ashida (芦田 多恵; born July 3, 1964) is a well-known fashion designer who has designed many uniforms in high-profile businesses and venues across Japan. She is the daughter of Japanese fashion designer Jun Ashida who at one point of his career was the dressmaker of Empress Michiko.
Megumi Mizusawa (水沢めぐみ, Mizusawa Megumi; born 3 July 1963) is the pen name of a Japanese manga artist. Her real name is…Megumi Mizusawa (水沢めぐみ, Mizusawa Megumi; born 3 July 1963) is the pen name of a Japanese manga artist. Her real name is Atsuko Naruse, and her maiden name was Katou. She is best known for her manga Hime-chan's Ribbon, which was published in Ribon. She is good friends with fellow manga artists, Wataru Yoshizumi, Ai Yazawa and Miho Obana.
Kenya Akiba (秋葉 賢也, Akiba Ken'ya; born 3 July 1962) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member…Kenya Akiba (秋葉 賢也, Akiba Ken'ya; born 3 July 1962) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Miyagi Prefecture, he attended Chuo University as an undergraduate and received his master's degree from Tohoku University. He was elected to the first of his three terms in the assembly of Miyagi Prefecture in 1995 and then to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2005.
Eiko Matsumura (松村栄子; born July 3, 1961) is a Japanese novelist. She is best known for her novel Abaton (至高聖所(アバトーン))…Eiko Matsumura (松村栄子; born July 3, 1961) is a Japanese novelist. She is best known for her novel Abaton (至高聖所(アバトーン)) which won the Akutagawa Prize in 1991.
Konami Kanata (こなみ かなた) is a Japanese manga artist best known for her cat manga Chi's Sweet Home. Her first manga…Konami Kanata (こなみ かなた) is a Japanese manga artist best known for her cat manga Chi's Sweet Home. Her first manga Buchineko JamJam (ブチねこジャムジャム) was published in the magazine Nakayoshi in 1982. Chi's Sweet Home, FukuFuku: Kitten Tales (ふくふくふにゃ~ん子猫だにゃん, Fuku Fuku Funyan Koneko Da Nyan), and Sue & Tai-chan (スーと鯛ちゃん, Suu to Taichan) have been published in English by Vertical Inc. Manga artist Risa Itō and Kanata are from the same small town and Kanata's father was Itō's homeroom teacher in elementary school. Kanata has a blood type of O.
Shunsuke Mutai (務台 俊介, Mutai Shunsuke; born 3 July 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who…Shunsuke Mutai (務台 俊介, Mutai Shunsuke; born 3 July 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He was first elected in the 2012 general election. He is a former career bureaucrat in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (briefly serving as Director of the CLAIR London Office) and graduate of University of Tokyo. Having unsuccessfully contested the Nagano 2nd district in the 2009 general election, he then served as a professor of local administration at Kanagawa University. Mutai was Secretary to the Alliance of Legislators who wish to legislate for Mountain Day, which was inaugurated in August 2016. In 2016 Mutai was appointed Parliamentary Vice Minister for Reconstruction and shortly after hit global headlines concerning an incident concerning a ministerial visit to a disaster-hit region. Half year later at a campaign party Mutai joked about the incident only to be criticized by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. Mutai resigned from his post on the following day. At the 2017 general election Mutai was defeated in his Nagano constituency but re-elected to the Diet under his party's proportional representation bloc. He was reappointed to government as a State Minister for the Environment in October 2021 but relieved of his position in the August 2022 Kishida reshuffle .
Hiroyuki Kanno (born July 3, 1952) is a Japanese jurist who served as an associate Justice of the Supreme Court of…Hiroyuki Kanno (born July 3, 1952) is a Japanese jurist who served as an associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan from 2016 to 2022.
Yoshiaki "Fuji" Fujimori (born 1951) is a Japanese businessman. Between August 2011 and June 2016 he was the president…Yoshiaki "Fuji" Fujimori (born 1951) is a Japanese businessman. Between August 2011 and June 2016 he was the president and CEO of Lixil Group, a Japan headquartered manufacturer of building materials and housing equipment with net sales of $16.8bn, where he oversaw a globalization strategy that included the acquisition of global interests including Permasteelisa, American Standard Brands and GROHE Group. Under his leadership, Lixil expanded its ratio of sales from outside of Japan from 3% in 2010 to 30.3% in 2016.
Masato Harada (原田 眞人, Harada Masato; July 3, 1949 – December 8, 2025) was a Japanese film director, screenwriter…Masato Harada (原田 眞人, Harada Masato; July 3, 1949 – December 8, 2025) was a Japanese film director, screenwriter, critic and occasional actor. He was nominated five times for the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Director, among other accolades.
Toshiji Fukuda (福田俊司, Fukuda Toshiji; born 1948) is a Japanese photographer. He has been taking pictures of wildlife in…Toshiji Fukuda (福田俊司, Fukuda Toshiji; born 1948) is a Japanese photographer. He has been taking pictures of wildlife in Japan and Russia. He spends 100 to 150 days every year in the Far East of Russia, photographing the endangered species and other wildlife. He has been working with the Russian Academy of Sciences since 1991 and is an honorary member of the Academy's Far East branch of the Institute of Marine Biology. In 2025, Fukuda was a winner of the national Crystal Compass Award.
Japan was the host nation for the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. 328 competitors, 270 men and 58 women, took part in…Japan was the host nation for the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. 328 competitors, 270 men and 58 women, took part in 155 events in 21 sports.
Natsuko Toda (戸田 奈津子, Toda Natsuko; born July 3, 1936) is a Japanese subtitler and film industry interpreter. She has…Natsuko Toda (戸田 奈津子, Toda Natsuko; born July 3, 1936) is a Japanese subtitler and film industry interpreter. She has been called "the most famous film translator in Japan [...] unquestionably" and the "Subtitle Queen". She has subtitled more than 1,000 English-language films in Japanese.
Jirō Tsunoda (Japanese: つのだじろう Tsunoda Jirō, born 3 July 1936) is a Japanese manga artist. He is known in Japan for his…Jirō Tsunoda (Japanese: つのだじろう Tsunoda Jirō, born 3 July 1936) is a Japanese manga artist. He is known in Japan for his horror manga series such as Kyōfu Shinbun and Ushiro no Hyakutarō as well as illustrator of the karate series Karate Master.
Mutsuo Minagawa (皆川 睦夫, July 3, 1935 – February 6, 2005) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. Listed at 5' 10"…Mutsuo Minagawa (皆川 睦夫, July 3, 1935 – February 6, 2005) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. Listed at 5' 10" [1.82 m], 162 lb. [73 k.], Minagawa batted and threw right handed. He was born in Yonezawa, Yamagata. A tough three quarters, side arm pitcher, Minagawa spent 18 seasons in the Pacific Coast League during three different decades spanning 1954–1971, all of them with the Nankai Hawks, which is currently known as the Softbank Hawks. By using a wide array of breaking pitches, his command of sliders and screwballs secured him double-digit victories during 11 seasons, including eight consecutive years from 1956 through 1963. A six-time All-Star, Minagawa also received Best Nine Award honors and was a member of Hawks teams that won six pennant titles and two Japan Series championships. Overall, he posted a career 221-139 record highlighted by a 31-win season in 1968. Since then there has been no other pitchers in the Nippon Professional Baseball who won 30 or more games in a regular season.
Keiji Hase (長谷 景治, Hase Keiji; born 3 July 1935) is a Japanese former backstroke swimmer who competed in the 1956…Keiji Hase (長谷 景治, Hase Keiji; born 3 July 1935) is a Japanese former backstroke swimmer who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics.
Kinji Fukasaku (Japanese: 深作 欣二, Hepburn: Fukasaku Kinji; 3 July 1930 – 12 January 2003) was a Japanese filmmaker.…Kinji Fukasaku (Japanese: 深作 欣二, Hepburn: Fukasaku Kinji; 3 July 1930 – 12 January 2003) was a Japanese filmmaker. Known for his "broad range and innovative filmmaking", he worked in many different genres and styles, but was best known for his gritty yakuza films, typified by the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series (1973–1976). According to the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, his "turbulent energy and at times extreme violence express a cynical critique of social conditions and genuine sympathy for those left out of Japan's postwar prosperity". He used a cinema verite-inspired shaky camera technique in many of his films from the early 1970s. Fukasaku wrote and directed over 60 films between 1961 and 2003. Some Western sources have associated him with the Japanese New Wave movement of the 1960s and 1970s, but this belies his commercial success. His works include the Japanese portion of the Hollywood war film Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), jidaigeki such as Shogun's Samurai (1978), the space opera film Message from Space (1978), the science fiction film Virus (1980), the fantasy film Samurai Reincarnation (1981), and the highly influential dystopian thriller film Battle Royale (2000). Fukasaku won the Japan Academy Film Prize for Director of the Year three times from nine nominations. He served as the sixth president of the Directors Guild of Japan from 1996 until his death from prostate cancer in 2003. He received the Purple Medal of Honor from the Japanese government for his work in 1997. His films have inspired directors such as Quentin Tarantino, William Friedkin, and John Woo.
Tomohiko Tomita (富田 朝彦, Tomita Tomohiko; July 3, 1920 – November 13, 2003) was a Japanese official who served as Grand…Tomohiko Tomita (富田 朝彦, Tomita Tomohiko; July 3, 1920 – November 13, 2003) was a Japanese official who served as Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency from May 1978 to June 1988). Tomita graduated from the University of Tokyo. Prior to his appointment as Grand Steward he was a senior police officer who served as chief of the Security Bureau of the National Police Agency, Deputy Superintendent General of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and director of the Cabinet Research Office.