Tomoe Kawabata (川畑 和愛, Kawabata Tomoe; born January 12, 2002) is a retired Japanese figure skater. She is the 2019–20…Tomoe Kawabata (川畑 和愛, Kawabata Tomoe; born January 12, 2002) is a retired Japanese figure skater. She is the 2019–20 Japanese national bronze medalist. She has represented Japan at two World Junior Championships.
Kōsei Yoshida (吉田 輝星, Yoshida Kōsei; born January 12, 2001) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays…Kōsei Yoshida (吉田 輝星, Yoshida Kōsei; born January 12, 2001) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes.
Daigo Kamikawabata (上川畑 大悟, Kamikawabata Daigo; born January 12, 1997) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder…Daigo Kamikawabata (上川畑 大悟, Kamikawabata Daigo; born January 12, 1997) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Miyu Takeuchi (竹内 美宥, Takeuchi Miyu; born January 12, 1996, in Tokyo, Japan), known professionally as MiyuMiyu, is a…Miyu Takeuchi (竹内 美宥, Takeuchi Miyu; born January 12, 1996, in Tokyo, Japan), known professionally as MiyuMiyu, is a Japanese singer and YouTuber. She is a former member of AKB48.
Rin Sumida (隅田 凜, Sumida Rin; born January 12, 1996) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder. She plays for…Rin Sumida (隅田 凜, Sumida Rin; born January 12, 1996) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder. She plays for Nippon TV Beleza and the Japan national team.
Fumiya Hayakawa (早川 史哉, Hayakawa Fumiya; born 12 January 1994) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for J2…Fumiya Hayakawa (早川 史哉, Hayakawa Fumiya; born 12 January 1994) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for J2 League club Albirex Niigata.
Mayu Sasaki (佐々木 繭, Sasaki Mayu; born January 12, 1993) is a Japanese former football player who played for WE League…Mayu Sasaki (佐々木 繭, Sasaki Mayu; born January 12, 1993) is a Japanese former football player who played for WE League club Urawa Reds. She has previously played for Japan national team.
Akane Saito (齊藤 あかね, Saitō Akane; born January 12, 1993) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder. She plays…Akane Saito (齊藤 あかね, Saitō Akane; born January 12, 1993) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder. She plays for AC Nagano Parceiro and has previously played for the Japan national team.
Yu Inaba (稲葉 友, Inaba Yū; born January 12, 1993) is a Japanese actor, best known for his role as Go Shijima/Kamen Rider…Yu Inaba (稲葉 友, Inaba Yū; born January 12, 1993) is a Japanese actor, best known for his role as Go Shijima/Kamen Rider Mach in the Kamen Rider series Kamen Rider Drive.
Ayano Yamada (山田彩乃, Yamada Ayano; born December 1, 1990) is a Japanese beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss…Ayano Yamada (山田彩乃, Yamada Ayano; born December 1, 1990) is a Japanese beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Earth Japan 2015 that gives her the right to represent Japan at Miss Earth 2015. She was crowned by Miss Earth Japan 2014, Reina Nagata.
Chihiro Kitada (born 12 January 1989) is a Japanese wheelchair basketball player (4.5 wheelchair basketball…Chihiro Kitada (born 12 January 1989) is a Japanese wheelchair basketball player (4.5 wheelchair basketball classification). She is a member of the Japan women's national wheelchair basketball team and her club Cocktail. In 2021 she competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
Keishin Yoshida (吉田 圭伸, Yoshida Keishin; born 12 January 1987) is a Japanese cross-country skier. He competed at the…Keishin Yoshida (吉田 圭伸, Yoshida Keishin; born 12 January 1987) is a Japanese cross-country skier. He competed at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 in Oslo, and placed 12th in 15 kilometre classical. At the 2011 Asian Winter Games he won gold medals in the 10 kilometre classical event and in the 15 kilometre freestyle event.
Hisayoshi Sato (佐藤 久佳, Satō Hisayoshi; born January 12, 1987, in Tomakomai, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese swimmer. He won a…Hisayoshi Sato (佐藤 久佳, Satō Hisayoshi; born January 12, 1987, in Tomakomai, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese swimmer. He won a bronze medal in the men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Ryōta Murata (村田 諒太, Murata Ryōta; born 12 January 1986) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2013…Ryōta Murata (村田 諒太, Murata Ryōta; born 12 January 1986) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2013 to 2022. He held the WBA (Regular) middleweight title twice between 2017 and 2021, and the WBA (Super) middleweight title from 2021 to 2022. As an amateur, he won a silver medal at the 2011 World Championships, and gold the following year at the 2012 Olympics.
Ayako Imoto (井本 絢子, Imoto Ayako; born 12 January 1986 in Tottori Prefecture) is a Japanese comedian, TV personality and…Ayako Imoto (井本 絢子, Imoto Ayako; born 12 January 1986 in Tottori Prefecture) is a Japanese comedian, TV personality and actress.
Yutaka Tanoue (田上 裕, Tanoue Yutaka; born 12 January 1986) is a Japanese former footballer who mostly played for…Yutaka Tanoue (田上 裕, Tanoue Yutaka; born 12 January 1986) is a Japanese former footballer who mostly played for Kagoshima United FC.
Yoshiaki Fujita (藤田 義明, Fujita Yoshiaki; born 12 January 1983) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played…Yoshiaki Fujita (藤田 義明, Fujita Yoshiaki; born 12 January 1983) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a defender for JEF United Chiba, Oita Trinita and most notably Júbilo Iwata.
Masakatsu Sawa (澤 昌克, Sawa Masakatsu; born January 12, 1983) is a former Japanese nationalized Peruvian football…Masakatsu Sawa (澤 昌克, Sawa Masakatsu; born January 12, 1983) is a former Japanese nationalized Peruvian football player. He plays for Deportivo Municipal. His preferred position is as an attacking midfielder.
Miho Tanaka (田中 美保, Tanaka Miho; born January 12, 1983, in Nishitōkyō, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese model, entertainer…Miho Tanaka (田中 美保, Tanaka Miho; born January 12, 1983, in Nishitōkyō, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese model, entertainer, and actress who was represented by Office Palette until March 31, 2010, and by Asia Business Partners after that. Her husband is former Japan national football team player Junichi Inamoto.
Takeshi Aono (青野 毅, born January 12, 1983, in Bonotsu, Kagoshima) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder…Takeshi Aono (青野 毅, born January 12, 1983, in Bonotsu, Kagoshima) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played in 2002, and from 2006 to 2007 and from 2010 to 2012.
Takehito Kanazawa (金澤 健人, born January 12, 1979, in Kitaibaraki, Ibaraki) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher…Takehito Kanazawa (金澤 健人, born January 12, 1979, in Kitaibaraki, Ibaraki) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He previously played for the Hanshin Tigers from 2001 to 2006, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2007 and 2008, and the Orix Buffaloes in 2009.
Shigeyuki Furuki (古城 茂幸, Furuki Shigeyuki; born January 12, 1976 in Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon…Shigeyuki Furuki (古城 茂幸, Furuki Shigeyuki; born January 12, 1976 in Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League. Before playing for the Giants he was a member of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. When he comes to bat, his fans often sing a cheer that goes to the tune of a song from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System game EarthBound.
Ryūhei Kawada (川田 龍平; January 12, 1976) is a Japanese activist, haemophiliac and a former member of the House of…Ryūhei Kawada (川田 龍平; January 12, 1976) is a Japanese activist, haemophiliac and a former member of the House of Councillors (Japan). Ryūhei Kawada became famous for coming out as HIV positive in Japan, where doing so was considered taboo by many.
Kousuke Akiyoshi (秋吉耕佑, Akiyoshi Kōsuke; born January 12, 1975) is a Japanese motorcycle road racer. He is a two-time…Kousuke Akiyoshi (秋吉耕佑, Akiyoshi Kōsuke; born January 12, 1975) is a Japanese motorcycle road racer. He is a two-time champion in the All-Japan Superbike Championship, and has competed sporadically in the MotoGP World Championship. Akiyoshi is known in his native Japan as a competitor in the MFJ All Japan Road Race GP250 Championship, and most notably the All Japan Superbike championship, where he has enjoyed success with the Yoshimura Suzuki team riding a Suzuki GSX-R1000. In July 2007 he, along with Yukio Kagayama, won the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race on a Yoshimura Suzuki bike.
Motoharu Kawashima (川島素晴; surname Kawashima; born 12 January 1972 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese composer of…Motoharu Kawashima (川島素晴; surname Kawashima; born 12 January 1972 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese composer of contemporary classical music.
Masaaki Sawanobori (澤登 正朗, Sawanobori Masaaki; born January 12, 1970) is a former Japanese football player. He played…Masaaki Sawanobori (澤登 正朗, Sawanobori Masaaki; born January 12, 1970) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Junichi Masuda (増田 順一, Masuda Jun'ichi; born January 12, 1968) is a Japanese video game composer, director, designer…Junichi Masuda (増田 順一, Masuda Jun'ichi; born January 12, 1968) is a Japanese video game composer, director, designer, producer, singer, programmer and trombonist, best known for his work in the Pokémon franchise. He was a member of Game Freak where he was an employee and executive at the company since 1989 after Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori founded it, starting as a music composer. In 2022, Masuda was appointed to be Chief Creative Fellow at The Pokémon Company. With the development of new Pokémon games, Masuda took new roles in future projects. He began to produce and direct games, starting with Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, and became responsible for approving new character models. His style seeks to keep games accessible while still adding increasing levels of complexity. His work sticks to older mainstays of the series, including a focus on handheld game consoles and 2D graphics. His music draws inspiration from the work of celebrated modern composers like Dmitri Shostakovich, though he used the Super Mario series as a model of good video game composition.
Takehiko Inoue (井上 雄彦, Inoue Takehiko; born 12 January 1967) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for the…Takehiko Inoue (井上 雄彦, Inoue Takehiko; born 12 January 1967) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for the basketball series Slam Dunk (1990–1996), and the jidaigeki manga Vagabond, which are two of the best-selling manga series in history. Many of his works are about basketball, Inoue himself being a huge fan of the sport. His works sold in North America through Viz Media are Slam Dunk, Vagabond and Real, although Slam Dunk was earlier translated by Gutsoon! Entertainment. In 2012, Inoue became the first recipient of the Cultural Prize at the Asia Cosmopolitan Awards. In 2024, Inoue received the MEXT Arts Encouragement Prize (Media Arts division).
Shozo Majima (真島 省三) is a member of the Japanese Communist Party serving in the House of Representatives. He was…Shozo Majima (真島 省三) is a member of the Japanese Communist Party serving in the House of Representatives. He was elected to this position in 2014.
Tomohisa Takei (武居 智久, Takei Tomohisa; born January 12, 1957) is a retired Japanese admiral who served as the 32nd…Tomohisa Takei (武居 智久, Takei Tomohisa; born January 12, 1957) is a retired Japanese admiral who served as the 32nd Chief of Staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Born in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Takei was commissioned into the JMSDF in March 1979 following his graduation from the 23rd class of National Defense Academy. After 35 years of service, Takei assumed position of JMSDF Chief of Staff in 2014.
Wakashimazu Mutsuo (若嶋津 六夫) (born Mutsuo Hidaka; 12 January 1957 – 15 March 2026) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from…Wakashimazu Mutsuo (若嶋津 六夫) (born Mutsuo Hidaka; 12 January 1957 – 15 March 2026) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Nakatane, Kagoshima. His highest rank was ōzeki. He won two top-division yūshō or tournament championships. Mutsuo retired in 1987 and founded Matsugane stable in 1990 (now known as Hanaregoma stable).
Dominique V. Turpin (born 12 January 1957) is a French and Swiss marketing scholar and academic administrator…Dominique V. Turpin (born 12 January 1957) is a French and Swiss marketing scholar and academic administrator, currently serving as European President and Professor of Marketing at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS). A professor in marketing strategy with a specialization in branding, he previously held the Dentsu Chair in Marketing and served as President, Dean, and Nestlé Professor at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland between 2010 and 2016. Before joining IMD in 1986, Turpin worked in Japan as a representative of a French firm.
Motonari Takano (Japanese: 高野 元成, Hepburn: Takano Motonari; January 12, 1951 - April 1, 2006), better known as Ai…Motonari Takano (Japanese: 高野 元成, Hepburn: Takano Motonari; January 12, 1951 - April 1, 2006), better known as Ai Takano (アイ高野, Ai Takano) and nicknamed Motchin, was a Japanese singer. He is best known for his performances of the theme songs for the anime Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger, Pettonton, and Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion. Takano also sung the songs in Ai Shite Knight for the fictional in-story band, Bee Hive, even though the singer character, Gou, is voiced by singer Isao Sasaki. Before starting his anisong career, Takano was drummer of The Golden Cups and a vocalist of Creation.
Kentarō Haneda (羽田 健太郎, Haneda Kentarō; January 12, 1949 – June 2, 2007) was a Japanese pianist, composer and arranger.…Kentarō Haneda (羽田 健太郎, Haneda Kentarō; January 12, 1949 – June 2, 2007) was a Japanese pianist, composer and arranger. He composed for popular anime series, movies and video games. His popular name was Haneken.
Haruki Murakami (村上 春樹, Murakami Haruki; born January 12 1949) is a Japanese writer. His novels, essays, and short…Haruki Murakami (村上 春樹, Murakami Haruki; born January 12 1949) is a Japanese writer. His novels, essays, and short stories have been best-sellers in Japan and internationally, with his work translated into 50 languages and having sold millions of copies outside Japan. He received numerous awards for his work, including the Gunzo Prize for New Writers, the World Fantasy Award, the Tanizaki Prize, Yomiuri Prize for Literature, the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the Noma Literary Prize, the Franz Kafka Prize, the Kiriyama Prize for Fiction, the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fiction, the Jerusalem Prize, and the Princess of Asturias Awards. Growing up in Ashiya, near Kobe, before moving to Tokyo to attend Waseda University, he published his first novel Hear the Wind Sing (1979) after owning a small jazz bar for seven years. His notable works include the novels Norwegian Wood (1987), The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1994–95), Kafka on the Shore (2002) and 1Q84 (2009–10); the last was ranked as the best work of Japan's Heisei era (1989–2019) by the national newspaper Asahi Shimbun's survey of literary experts. His work spans genres including science fiction, fantasy, and crime fiction, and has become known for his use of magical realist elements. His official website cites Raymond Chandler, Kurt Vonnegut, and Richard Brautigan as key inspirations to his work, while Murakami himself has named Kazuo Ishiguro, Cormac McCarthy, and Dag Solstad as his favorite contemporary writers. Murakami has also published five short story collections, including First Person Singular (2020), and non-fiction works including Underground (1997), an oral history of the Tokyo subway sarin attack, and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (2007), a memoir about his experience as a long-distance runner. His fiction has polarized literary critics and the reading public. He has sometimes been characterized by Japan's literary establishment as un-Japanese, leading to Murakami's recalling that he was a "black sheep in the Japanese literary world". Meanwhile, Murakami has been described by Gary Fisketjon, the editor of Murakami's collection The Elephant Vanishes (1993), as a "truly extraordinary writer", while Steven Poole of The Guardian praised Murakami as "among the world's greatest living novelists" for his oeuvre.
Daijiro Hashimoto (Japanese: 橋本 大二郎, Hepburn: Hashimoto Daijirō; born 12 January 1947) is a politically independent…Daijiro Hashimoto (Japanese: 橋本 大二郎, Hepburn: Hashimoto Daijirō; born 12 January 1947) is a politically independent former governor of the Kōchi Prefecture who served from 1991 to 2007, with an intermediate resignation in 2004 to test support after a scandal alleging transactions between his campaign aide and a construction company in 1991. He is also the host of "Wide Scramble", a morning show on TV Asahi. His policies included encouraging a more open government and the implementation of a green tax to help preserve forests. He is considered to be a reformer. Hashimoto is the brother of the former Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.
Nobuyuki Sato (佐藤宣践, Satō Nobuyuki; born 12 January 1944) is a Japanese judoka, sambist, Japan national judo coach…Nobuyuki Sato (佐藤宣践, Satō Nobuyuki; born 12 January 1944) is a Japanese judoka, sambist, Japan national judo coach, author, educator and sports science researcher.
Hideo Madarame (班目 秀雄, Madarame Hideo; born 12 January 1944) is a former Japanese cyclist. He competed in the men's…Hideo Madarame (班目 秀雄, Madarame Hideo; born 12 January 1944) is a former Japanese cyclist. He competed in the men's tandem at the 1964 Summer Olympics. From 1967 to 1996 he was a professional keirin cyclist, with a total of 24 championships and 440 wins in his career. He served as a coach for the national cycling team at the 2004 Summer Olympics as well as the head coach for the national cycling team at the 2008 Paralympic Games.
Yojiro Uetake (上武 洋次郎, Uetake Yōjirō; born January 12, 1943) is a Japanese wrestler and two-time Olympic champion in…Yojiro Uetake (上武 洋次郎, Uetake Yōjirō; born January 12, 1943) is a Japanese wrestler and two-time Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling. He went undefeated for the entirety of his college career, winning three consecutive NCAA Championships. Uetake was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma as a Distinguished Member in 1980. In 2005, he was inducted into the FILA Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Kazuo Imanishi (今西 和男, Imanishi Kazuo; January 12, 1941 – April 16, 2026) was a Japanese football player and manager. A…Kazuo Imanishi (今西 和男, Imanishi Kazuo; January 12, 1941 – April 16, 2026) was a Japanese football player and manager. A defender, he played for Toyo Industries and made three appearances for the Japan national team.
Akira Fujii (藤井 旭, Fujii Akira; 12 January 1941 – 28 December 2022) was a Japanese astrophotographer and astronomer.…Akira Fujii (藤井 旭, Fujii Akira; 12 January 1941 – 28 December 2022) was a Japanese astrophotographer and astronomer. PBS has described him as "the world's foremost wide-angle astrophotographer". Fujii graduated from Tama Art University in 1961, and began working at observatories, producing a substantial bibliography of general-audience astronomy books. In 1974, Fujii began Japan's first star party, the "Invitation to Starlit Skies", which he hosted on Mount Azuma until 1984. Fujii's work is marketed by David Malin; he collaborated with Serge Brunier in the production of 2001's Great Atlas of the Stars. The main-belt asteroid 3872 Akirafujii is named in his honor. Fujii died on 28 December 2022, at the age of 81.
Masamitsu Ichiguchi (市口 政光, Ichiguchi Masamitsu; born January 12, 1940) is a Japanese retired wrestler. He competed in…Masamitsu Ichiguchi (市口 政光, Ichiguchi Masamitsu; born January 12, 1940) is a Japanese retired wrestler. He competed in the Greco-Roman bantamweight event at the 1960 and 1964 Olympics and finished in seventh and first place, respectively. Earlier in 1962 he won the world championships and Asian Games in the same event.
Hiroshi "Monsieur" Kamayatsu (かまやつひろし, Hiroshi "Monsieur" Kamayatsu; 12 January 1939 – 1 March 2017) was a Japanese…Hiroshi "Monsieur" Kamayatsu (かまやつひろし, Hiroshi "Monsieur" Kamayatsu; 12 January 1939 – 1 March 2017) was a Japanese singer and guitarist born in Tokyo. He composed the music for Download, a direct-to-video anime release based on PC Engine games.
Tomiko Ishii (石井 トミコ, Ishii Tomiko; 12 January 1935 – 6 October 2022) was a Japanese actress. Ishii died on 6 October…Tomiko Ishii (石井 トミコ, Ishii Tomiko; 12 January 1935 – 6 October 2022) was a Japanese actress. Ishii died on 6 October 2022, at the age of 87.
Kentarō Ogawa (January 12, 1934 – October 8, 1995) was a Japanese professional baseball player. A right-handed…Kentarō Ogawa (January 12, 1934 – October 8, 1995) was a Japanese professional baseball player. A right-handed submarine-style pitcher, he played in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons. Ogawa was one of the top pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball before a scandal derailed his career. During his prime years from 1965–1969, Ogawa won 93 games, including winning 20 games or more twice.
Minoru Makihara (Japanese: 槙原稔 Makihara Minoru; January 12, 1930 – December 13, 2020) was a Japanese business executive…Minoru Makihara (Japanese: 槙原稔 Makihara Minoru; January 12, 1930 – December 13, 2020) was a Japanese business executive who was the chief executive (1992–1998) and chairman (1998–2004) of Mitsubishi Corporation. He was noted for steering the group through the turbulent economic times of the 1990s and for advocating strong US–Japan business relations, serving on many trade and cultural relations advocacy groups.