Hiroki Akiyama (秋山 裕紀, Akiyama Hiroki; born 9 December 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a…Hiroki Akiyama (秋山 裕紀, Akiyama Hiroki; born 9 December 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for 2. Bundesliga club Darmstadt 98.
Shu Morooka (師岡 柊生, Morooka Shu; born 9 December 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for…Shu Morooka (師岡 柊生, Morooka Shu; born 9 December 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for J1 League club Avispa Fukuoka.
Shotaro Sanada (Japanese: 真田 将太朗, born 9 December 2000) is a Japanese painter and researcher. He is known for…Shotaro Sanada (Japanese: 真田 将太朗, born 9 December 2000) is a Japanese painter and researcher. He is known for large-scale abstract paintings that explore "new landscapes" and for interdisciplinary work linking art, aesthetics, and artificial intelligence.
Kazuma Tsuboi (坪井 一真, Tsuboi Kazuma; born 9 December 1998) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder…Kazuma Tsuboi (坪井 一真, Tsuboi Kazuma; born 9 December 1998) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Tiamo Hirakata from 2023.
Hyōga Ōta (born 9 December 1997) is a Japanese judoka. Ōta is the gold medallist of the 2018 Judo Grand Slam…Hyōga Ōta (born 9 December 1997) is a Japanese judoka. Ōta is the gold medallist of the 2018 Judo Grand Slam Ekaterinburg in the +100 kg category.
Ryuho Kikuchi (菊池 流帆, Kikuchi Ryūho; born 9 December 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a centre…Ryuho Kikuchi (菊池 流帆, Kikuchi Ryūho; born 9 December 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Machida Zelvia.
Minori Yamamoto (山本実 born 9 December 1996) is a Japanese rugby union and sevens player. She plays fly-half for Japan…Minori Yamamoto (山本実 born 9 December 1996) is a Japanese rugby union and sevens player. She plays fly-half for Japan internationally and for Sale Sharks in Premiership Women's Ruby. She competed at the 2017, 2021 and 2025 Women's Rugby World Cups.
Takahiro Kimura (木村貴大, Kimura takahiro; born 5 December 1993) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a…Takahiro Kimura (木村貴大, Kimura takahiro; born 5 December 1993) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a Scrum-half. He currently plays for Sunwolves in Super Rugby.
Yoshiaki Takagi (高木 善朗, Takagi Yoshiaki; born 9 December 1992) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an…Yoshiaki Takagi (高木 善朗, Takagi Yoshiaki; born 9 December 1992) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Thai League 1 club, BG Pathum United.
Shunma Katsumata (勝俣瞬馬, Katsumata Shunma; born September 12, 1992) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently…Shunma Katsumata (勝俣瞬馬, Katsumata Shunma; born September 12, 1992) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for the Japanese professional wrestling promotion DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT), where is the current DDT Extreme Champion in his fourth reign.
Hiroyuki Nakano (中野 弘幸, Nakano Hiroyuki; born 9 December 1988 in Anjō) is a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the 4 ×…Hiroyuki Nakano (中野 弘幸, Nakano Hiroyuki; born 9 December 1988 in Anjō) is a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the 4 × 400 m relay event at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Christopher Hikaru Nakamura (Japanese: 中村光; born December 9, 1987) is an American chess grandmaster, internet…Christopher Hikaru Nakamura (Japanese: 中村光; born December 9, 1987) is an American chess grandmaster, internet personality, five-time U.S. Chess Champion, and the 2022 World Fischer Random Chess Champion. A chess prodigy, he earned his grandmaster title at the age of 15, the youngest American at the time to do so. With a peak rating of 2816, Nakamura is tied as the tenth-highest-rated player in history and is officially ranked the No. 2 chess player worldwide by FIDE. Nakamura has represented the United States at seven Chess Olympiads (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018), securing a team gold medal and two team bronze medals, and participated in four Candidates Tournaments, finishing seventh in the 2016 edition, fourth in the 2022 edition, second in the 2024 edition, and fifth in the 2026 edition. In May 2014, when FIDE began publishing official rapid and blitz chess ratings, Nakamura ranked No. 1 in the world on both lists. Since 2018, Nakamura has pursued a career as a content creator and subsequently signed with an esports organization TSM, later joining Misfits Gaming and then Team Falcons. Having popular channels on Twitch, Kick and YouTube, Nakamura is one of the most popular chess streamers in the world, and is widely credited with contributing to the growth in popularity of online chess.
Quzilax (Japanese: クジラックス) is a Japanese manga artist best known for creating erotic manga, some of which have drawn…Quzilax (Japanese: クジラックス) is a Japanese manga artist best known for creating erotic manga, some of which have drawn public attention and controversy.
Aiko Uemura (上村 愛子, Uemura Aiko) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She participates in moguls and dual moguls. Her family…Aiko Uemura (上村 愛子, Uemura Aiko) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She participates in moguls and dual moguls. Her family moved to Hakuba town, Nagano Prefecture, Japan in 1986. She graduated from Hakuba High School in 1998, and works for the Kitano Construction Corporation in Nagano city, Japan. She is the first Japanese woman to win the 2007–08 World Cup in moguls, and also won two gold medals at FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships 2009. She took part in the Winter Olympic Games in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. In June 2009, she married alpine skier Kentaro Minagawa. At the 2014 Sochi Olympics, she was beaten for bronze by Hannah Kearney, the previous Olympic champion.
Da Pump (ダパンプ, Da Panpu, stylized in all caps) is a Japanese boy band made up of lead vocalist, Issa Hentona and MCs…Da Pump (ダパンプ, Da Panpu, stylized in all caps) is a Japanese boy band made up of lead vocalist, Issa Hentona and MCs Ken Okumoto, Yukinari Tamaki and Shinobu Miyara. The band formed as students at Okinawa Actors School in 1996. They made their debut on the Avex Trax subsidiary avex tune under the guidance of producer Akio Togashi on June 11, 1997, with "Feelin' Good - It's Paradise". As one of the few male bands unassociated with Johnny's Entertainment, they were the first to gain major popularity reaching their peak in 2001 with the release of Da Best of Da Pump. On April 7, 2006, Shinobu formally left the band following a hiatus due to a drunk driving incident in 2005. The band went on an unofficial hiatus at the end of 2006. On December 18, 2008, it was announced that Yukinari was leaving the band and that Ken and Issa were actively looking for his replacement. Within hours, their management company announced a brand new Da Pump with seven new members and a new concept as a multimedia entertainment group. The band will start their official comeback on July 15, 2009, with the new single, "Summer Rider" and a tour in the fall. It was announced on December 5, 2009, that Ken Okumoto had left Da Pump to pursue a solo career, leaving Issa the only original member left. Da Pump now consists of Issa, Kenzo, Tomo, Kimi, Yori, and U-Yeah. Da Pump made their comeback in May 2018 with the hit single, "U.S.A.", a song originally written by Italian singer Joe Yellow.
Ryuji Kajiwara (born 9 December 1976) is a Japanese former professional kickboxer and boxer. He is the head trainer of…Ryuji Kajiwara (born 9 December 1976) is a Japanese former professional kickboxer and boxer. He is the head trainer of K-1 Gym Headquarters Team Pegasus and member of the K-1 Japan Group executive committee. In 2012 he was ranked #7 lightweight in the world by Liverkick.
Yuichi Fukunaga (福永 祐一, Fukunaga Yūichi; born 9 December 1976) is a Japanese horse trainer and former jockey who has…Yuichi Fukunaga (福永 祐一, Fukunaga Yūichi; born 9 December 1976) is a Japanese horse trainer and former jockey who has won 29 Grade 1 races in Japan and abroad. He is affiliated with the Japan Racing Association (JRA) in Rittō. His father is former jockey Yoichi Fukunaga who was said to be a "genius" during his active career, and his uncle is Takashi Kitamura, also a former jockey. His wife is former Fuji TV announcer Midori Matsuo. Since July 2016, he has a management contract with Horipro together with Yuga Kawada, the entertainment production with which his wife is also affiliated. On 8 December 2022, following his trainer license being issued by the JRA, Fukunaga announced that he would retire as a jockey at the end of February next year and make a transition in to becoming a horse trainer. Two months later, Fukunaga rode his final races in Japan at the February Stakes on 19 February, and finished his racing career at the Riyadh Dirt Sprint on 25 February, 2023, where he rode Remake which finished 3rd behind Elite Power. Retirement ceremonies of Fukunaga were held at Tokyo Racecourse on 19 February and on the Hanshin Racecourse on 4 March. Fukunaga officially opened his stable on 6 March 2024. Upon opening his stable, he received a number of horses from outgoing trainers, including Danon Scorpion and Dualist from Takayuki Yasuda. Later that year, Fukunaga won his first group race as a trainer, when he won the CBC Sho with Drop of Light. 12 October 2026 was a particularly successful day for Fukunaga. On that day he won both of the main races of the two JRA race meetings held that day, the October Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse with Ask Sexy More, and the Swan Stakes at Kyoto Racecourse with Diamond Knot. On top of this, he would finish the day off with his first JpnI victory of his trainer career when he won the Mile Championship Nambu Hai with Meisho Hachiro.
Yoshihisa "Kowloon" Kurosawa (黒沢 喜久, Kurosawa Yoshihisa) (born 1971) is a Japanese businessman, essayist, and…Yoshihisa "Kowloon" Kurosawa (黒沢 喜久, Kurosawa Yoshihisa) (born 1971) is a Japanese businessman, essayist, and nonfiction writer from Tokyo, Japan. He is best known for being the designer of Hong Kong 97 on the Super Famicom, which is considered to be one of the worst video games ever made. Currently, he writes underground travel journals and computer books in Asia, and resides in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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.
Hitoshi Morishita (森下 仁之, Morishita Hitoshi; December 9, 1967 – June 25, 2025) was a Japanese football player and…Hitoshi Morishita (森下 仁之, Morishita Hitoshi; December 9, 1967 – June 25, 2025) was a Japanese football player and manager.
Yuka Chokyu (born December 9, 1966) is a Canadian para badminton player and former wheelchair tennis player who…Yuka Chokyu (born December 9, 1966) is a Canadian para badminton player and former wheelchair tennis player who competes at international level events. She was a three-time Paralympian at the Summer Paralympics from 2000 to 2008, her highest achievement in her tennis career was where she had reached the quarterfinals at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in both the women's singles and women's doubles.
Masako (Japanese: 雅子; born Masako Owada (小和田雅子, Owada Masako); 9 December 1963) is Empress of Japan as the wife of…Masako (Japanese: 雅子; born Masako Owada (小和田雅子, Owada Masako); 9 December 1963) is Empress of Japan as the wife of Emperor Naruhito. Born in Minato, Tokyo, Masako was educated at Belmont High School in Massachusetts, United States, before attending Harvard College. She also studied law at the University of Tokyo and international relations at Balliol College, Oxford. After completing her studies, she worked for Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a diplomat. Masako met Crown Prince Naruhito in 1986. They married in 1993 and their only child, Aiko, Princess Toshi, was born in 2001. The birth of Princess Aiko fueled the ongoing Japanese imperial succession debate, which had led some politicians to favor rescinding the agnatic primogeniture imposed by the Allies of World War II on the Constitution of Japan. However, with the birth of a son to Naruhito's brother, Fumihito, in 2006, no amendments were made and Princess Aiko remains ineligible to inherit the throne. The pressure to produce a male heir affected Masako's health. She was diagnosed with adjustment disorder in 2004, which forced her to withdraw from public life periodically. As crown princess and later empress, Masako has accompanied her husband on official visits abroad and at ceremonies in the imperial court.
Yoshihisa Tagami (田上喜久 Tagami Yoshihisa, usually written in hiragana たがみ よしひさ) is a Japanese manga artist. Tagami was…Yoshihisa Tagami (田上喜久 Tagami Yoshihisa, usually written in hiragana たがみ よしひさ) is a Japanese manga artist. Tagami was born on December 9, 1958, in Komoro, Nagano. He was the older brother of another manga artist, Iku Oyamada, who died in 2016. In 1978, Tagami received an Honorable Mention of the Shogakukan Manga Award in the Newcomer category for his manga Zashikiwarashi, which would become his first published manga in the January 10, 1979 issue of Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine.
Minori Mori (森 美乃里, Mori Minori; born 9 December 1957) is a Japanese athlete. She competed in the women's javelin throw…Minori Mori (森 美乃里, Mori Minori; born 9 December 1957) is a Japanese athlete. She competed in the women's javelin throw at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Akio Miyazawa (Japanese: 宮沢 章夫 Miyazawa Akio; 9 December 1956 – 12 September 2022) was a Japanese playwright, writer…Akio Miyazawa (Japanese: 宮沢 章夫 Miyazawa Akio; 9 December 1956 – 12 September 2022) was a Japanese playwright, writer, and academic.
Hiroyuki Watanabe (渡辺 裕之, Watanabe Hiroyuki; December 9, 1955 – May 3, 2022) was a Japanese actor. He primarily acted…Hiroyuki Watanabe (渡辺 裕之, Watanabe Hiroyuki; December 9, 1955 – May 3, 2022) was a Japanese actor. He primarily acted in dramas, of which a handful are tokusatsu series. One of his latest roles was as Taiga Saejima in the tokusatsu series GARO. He also played Kamen Rider Gaoh in the Kamen Rider Den-O movie, Kamen Rider Den-O: I'm Born!.
Takeshi Masu (升毅, Masu Takeshi; born December 9, 1955) is a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 80 films since…Takeshi Masu (升毅, Masu Takeshi; born December 9, 1955) is a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 80 films since 1981.
Shigeyuki Goto (後藤 茂之, Gotō Shigeyuki; born 9 December 1955) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of…Shigeyuki Goto (後藤 茂之, Gotō Shigeyuki; born 9 December 1955) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives.
Hiroshi Yamamoto (山本 博司, Yamamoto Hiroshi; born 1954) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a former…Hiroshi Yamamoto (山本 博司, Yamamoto Hiroshi; born 1954) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a former member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Yawatahama, Ehime and graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007 after working at IBM.
Keiko Namai (生井 けい子, Namai Keiko; born 9 December 1951) is a Japanese basketball player. She competed in the women's…Keiko Namai (生井 けい子, Namai Keiko; born 9 December 1951) is a Japanese basketball player. She competed in the women's tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (Japanese: 安彦 良和, Hepburn: Yasuhiko Yoshikazu; born December 9, 1947) is a Japanese animator, manga…Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (Japanese: 安彦 良和, Hepburn: Yasuhiko Yoshikazu; born December 9, 1947) is a Japanese animator, manga artist, and anime director. He is best known for being the character designer and animation director of the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime, which began in 1979. That same year, he began working as a manga artist, which had been his dream since childhood. His manga have been critically acclaimed and have won numerous awards.
Tadashi Irie (入江 禎, Irie Tadashi; born December 9, 1944 in Uwajima, Ehime) is a yakuza, the head (kumicho) of the…Tadashi Irie (入江 禎, Irie Tadashi; born December 9, 1944 in Uwajima, Ehime) is a yakuza, the head (kumicho) of the Osaka-based 2nd Takumi-gumi and the grand general manager (so-honbucho) of the 6th Yamaguchi-gumi. He is regarded as the number-three leader of the 6th Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest known yakuza syndicate.
Kayoko Shiraishi (白石 加代子, Shiraishi Kayoko) is a Japanese stage actress. Shiraishi became involved in the Angura…Kayoko Shiraishi (白石 加代子, Shiraishi Kayoko) is a Japanese stage actress. Shiraishi became involved in the Angura ("underground") theater movement in Japan in the early 1960s, as the star performer in a theater troupe called the Waseda Little Theatre, led by director Tadashi Suzuki. In Shiraishi, Suzuki found an actress whose physical talents could capture his theories about Japanese stage performance. Her first film role was as Oba in Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1973). She is the narrator in the 1992 film of Stravinsky's opera-oratorio Oedipus Rex directed by Julie Taymor.
Yoshiko Matsumura (松村 好子, Matsumura Yoshiko; born 9 December 1941) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic…Yoshiko Matsumura (松村 好子, Matsumura Yoshiko; born 9 December 1941) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. She was a member of the Japanese winning team, Oriental Witches, at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Iwao Horiuchi (堀内 岩雄, 9 December 1941 – 4 March 2015) was a Japanese lightweight freestyle wrestler. He competed at the…Iwao Horiuchi (堀内 岩雄, 9 December 1941 – 4 March 2015) was a Japanese lightweight freestyle wrestler. He competed at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics and won a bronze medal in 1964. He also won a world title in 1963 and finished second in 1966. He died of diabetes in March 2015, aged 73.
Kiyoharu Ishiwata (石渡 清元, Ishiwata Kiyoharu; 9 December 1940 – January 20, 2014) was a Japanese politician. He was a…Kiyoharu Ishiwata (石渡 清元, Ishiwata Kiyoharu; 9 December 1940 – January 20, 2014) was a Japanese politician. He was a member of the House of Councillors from 1989 to 2001. Ishiwata died of heart failure at the age of 73.
Saburo Yokomizo (横溝 三郎, Yokomizo Saburō; 9 December 1939 – 14 November 2024) was a Japanese middle-distance runner. He…Saburo Yokomizo (横溝 三郎, Yokomizo Saburō; 9 December 1939 – 14 November 2024) was a Japanese middle-distance runner. He competed in the men's 3000 metres steeplechase at the 1964 Summer Olympics. Yokomizo died from liver cancer on 14 November 2024, at the age of 84.
Masahiko Kinoshi (喜熨斗 政彦, Kinoshi Masahiko; December 9, 1939 – September 13, 2023), better known by his stage name…Masahiko Kinoshi (喜熨斗 政彦, Kinoshi Masahiko; December 9, 1939 – September 13, 2023), better known by his stage name Ichikawa Ennosuke III (三代目 市川 猿之助, Sandaime Ichikawa Ennosuke; Japanese pronunciation: [i.tɕi̥.kaꜜ.wa (|) en.no.sɯ̥.ke]), was a Japanese kabuki actor, famous for his love of keren (stage tricks). He was considered the king of chūnori; he flew out over the audience, held aloft on strings, over 5000 times.
Tadatoshi Miyagawa (水谷川忠俊, Miyagawa Tadatoshi; born 9 December 1935) is a Japanese composer, a Gagaku performer and…Tadatoshi Miyagawa (水谷川忠俊, Miyagawa Tadatoshi; born 9 December 1935) is a Japanese composer, a Gagaku performer and researcher, as well as a music arranger. His former last and first name was Konoe Toshitake (近衛俊健). He is a 13th generation Patrilinear descendant, also known as the male line, of Emperor Go-Yōzei, Emperor of Japan.