Teppei Mataki (又木 鉄平, Mataki Teppei; born February 12, 1999 in Fuefuki, Yamanashi, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Teppei Mataki (又木 鉄平, Mataki Teppei; born February 12, 1999 in Fuefuki, Yamanashi, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants.
Minami Ando (安藤 みなみ, Andō Minami; born 12 February 1997) is a Japanese table tennis player. She was the winner of the…Minami Ando (安藤 みなみ, Andō Minami; born 12 February 1997) is a Japanese table tennis player. She was the winner of the 2016 Finlandia Open. She has also won several medals from both the 2017 Summer Universiade and the 2019 Summer Universiade.
Taro Sugimoto (杉本 太郎, Sugimoto Tarō; born 12 February 1996 in Tajimi) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a…Taro Sugimoto (杉本 太郎, Sugimoto Tarō; born 12 February 1996 in Tajimi) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for J2 League club Tokushima Vortis.
Ryuju Hino (日野 龍樹, Hino Ryūju; born 12 February 1995) is a Japanese former figure skater. He has won five senior…Ryuju Hino (日野 龍樹, Hino Ryūju; born 12 February 1995) is a Japanese former figure skater. He has won five senior international medals, seven ISU Junior Grand Prix medals – including bronze at the 2012–13 JGP Final, and two (2011, 2012) Japanese national junior titles.
Yuga Hayashi (林悠河, Hayashi Yūga; born February 12, 1995), better known by his ring name El Lindaman (エル・リンダマン, Eru…Yuga Hayashi (林悠河, Hayashi Yūga; born February 12, 1995), better known by his ring name El Lindaman (エル・リンダマン, Eru Rindaman), is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently working for Gleat, where he was the inaugural and current G-Rex Champion in his second reign. He also makes appearances for Japanese Promotions All Japan Pro-Wrestling (AJPW). He is best known for his time in Dragon Gate.
Kazuki Kushibiki (櫛引 一紀 | born 12 February 1993) is a Japanese football player who plays as a centre back for FC…Kazuki Kushibiki (櫛引 一紀 | born 12 February 1993) is a Japanese football player who plays as a centre back for FC Imabari.
Hiroki Kondō (近藤 弘基, Kondō Hiroki; born February 2, 1993) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He…Hiroki Kondō (近藤 弘基, Kondō Hiroki; born February 2, 1993) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played for the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). His father is former Dragons pitching coach, Shinichi Kondō the only NPB pitcher to throw a no-hitter on debut.
Shu Sasaki (佐佐木 周, Sasaki Shū; born 12 February 1991) is a Japanese professional footballer who currently plays for…Shu Sasaki (佐佐木 周, Sasaki Shū; born 12 February 1991) is a Japanese professional footballer who currently plays for Hong Kong Premier League club Southern.
Noriko Fukuda (福田 典子, Fukuda Noriko; born 12 February 1991) is a Japanese announcer for TV Tokyo, and former RKB…Noriko Fukuda (福田 典子, Fukuda Noriko; born 12 February 1991) is a Japanese announcer for TV Tokyo, and former RKB Mainichi Broadcasting announcer.
Asabenkei Daikichi (Japanese 朝弁慶 大吉, born February 12, 1989, as Yasunobu Sakai) is a Japanese retired sumo wrestler…Asabenkei Daikichi (Japanese 朝弁慶 大吉, born February 12, 1989, as Yasunobu Sakai) is a Japanese retired sumo wrestler (rikishi) from Kanagawa. He debuted in March 2007 and he reached his highest rank of juryo 7 in July 2016. He wrestled for Takasago stable and has won one yusho in the sandanme division. He retired in July 2024.
Saki Watanabe (渡邊沙紀, Watanabe Saki; born February 12, 1988), mononymously known by her ring name Saki (often stylized…Saki Watanabe (渡邊沙紀, Watanabe Saki; born February 12, 1988), mononymously known by her ring name Saki (often stylized in capital letters as SAKI) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Wave.
Nana Eikura (榮倉 奈々, Eikura Nana; born February 12, 1988) is a Japanese actress, model, and occasional radio show host…Nana Eikura (榮倉 奈々, Eikura Nana; born February 12, 1988) is a Japanese actress, model, and occasional radio show host affiliated with Ken-On Group.
Country Musume (カントリー娘。, Kantorī Musume) was a Japanese female idol music group that is a part of Hello! Project. On…Country Musume (カントリー娘。, Kantorī Musume) was a Japanese female idol music group that is a part of Hello! Project. On November 5, 2014, Country Musume was rebooted and renamed Country Girls (カントリー・ガールズ, Kantorī Gāruzu) with new members.
Miiko Morita (森田 美位子, Morita Mīko; born February 12, 1987 in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a former Japanese gravure…Miiko Morita (森田 美位子, Morita Mīko; born February 12, 1987 in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a former Japanese gravure idol, actress and television personality known for her role as Sayaka Honiden in the 2012 Super Sentai parody series Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger. She is formerly affiliated with Biscuit Entertainment, a subsidiary of Watanabe Entertainment.
Asami Tano (田野 アサミ, Tano Asami; born 12 February 1987) is a Japanese actress from Amagasaki. She is affiliated with…Asami Tano (田野 アサミ, Tano Asami; born 12 February 1987) is a Japanese actress from Amagasaki. She is affiliated with Amuse Inc. Tano was part of the girl group Boystyle from 2001 to 2007. Her voice acting career began with Toriko in 2011, and she has starred in several anime such as Smile PreCure!, Francesca, Love Live! Sunshine!!, and Zombie Land Saga. She has also appeared in the theatrical productions of Persona 3: The Weird Masquerade, Persona 4 Arena, Blue Exorcist, Kuroko's Basketball, and The Seven Deadly Sins.
Josephat Muchiri Ndambiri (born 12 February 1985) is a Kenyan long-distance runner. He represented his country at the…Josephat Muchiri Ndambiri (born 12 February 1985) is a Kenyan long-distance runner. He represented his country at the World Championships in Athletics in 2007. He is based in Japan and trains with PACE Sports Management. He moved to Japan as a teenager on an athletic scholarship and specialised in long-distance track running, including the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres. He competed for, and graduated from, Ryutsu Keizai University. At the 2005 Sapporo Half Marathon, he led for the first half of the race but had faded to fourth by the finish point. At the end of the year he represented Kenyan in the International Chiba Ekiden. Running the marathon distance with a relay team of Martin Mathathi, Daniel Mwangi, Mekubo Mogusu, Onesmus Nyerere and John Kariuki, he helped set a world record time of 1:57:06 hours for the popular Japanese event. Ndambiri won a second Chiba Ekiden title with Kenya the following year, where he won his 5-kilometre leg by a margin of over twenty seconds. He won the 10,000 metres at the Kenyan Championships in 2007 and in his major international debut he finished fifth in the event at the 2007 World Championships. A month after his world appearance, he took a 5000/10,000 m double at the Japan Corporate Team Track & Field Championships. He attempted to gain selection for the 2008 Summer Olympics, but ended the trials in seventh and was not picked for the squad. Representing the Komori Corporation, he ran in the New Year Ekiden and won his 8.3 km stage. In the 2009 track season he became the first athlete to run the 10,000 m under 27 minutes on Japanese soil, taking the win at the Shizuoka International in an all-comers record of 26:57.36 minutes. He came seventh at the RAK Half Marathon in 2010, setting a personal best of 1:01:07 hours. The following year he came fourth over 10,000 m at the Hyogo Relays and then claimed third place at the Sapporo Half Marathon in June. He made his debut over the marathon distance in December 2011 and made a successful transition by taking the Fukuoka Marathon title in a time of 2:07:36 hours.
Leilani Yoshika Gaja (我謝 美佳 レイラニ, Gaja Yoshika Reirani; born February 12, 1985) is a Japanese model and actress from…Leilani Yoshika Gaja (我謝 美佳 レイラニ, Gaja Yoshika Reirani; born February 12, 1985) is a Japanese model and actress from Tokyo. Her stage name in Japan is Yoshika Katou (加藤 美佳, Katō Yoshika), and is used in nearly all of her appearances in drama and film. Her father is Taiwanese of Japanese descent and her mother is Hawaiian of Japanese descent, lending to her legal name Leilani (Hawaiian for 'heavenly lei'), and making her half-Japanese. Her first major role was as Yuka Osada, the Crane Orphnoch, in Kamen Rider 555.
Natsuki Obama (小濱なつき, Obama Natsuki; born February 12, 1984) is a Japanese fashion model and actor. She appeared in the…Natsuki Obama (小濱なつき, Obama Natsuki; born February 12, 1984) is a Japanese fashion model and actor. She appeared in the national "What should I do to coordinate tomorrow?" campaign for the fashion magazine Marisol in 2017 and 2018. While attending Kagoshima Girl's High School, she was a member of the volleyball team that went to the national finals. Obama was a finalist for the 3rd Cover Girl Prize given out by Magazine Summit, a national organization for magazine publishers in Japan. Obama has used her celebrity status to support products such as shōchū that are produced in Minamisatsuma. She gave birth to a daughter in 2019.
Masayuki Hiizumi (ヒイズミマサユ機, Hiizumi Masayuki; born February 12, 1978), also known by the name H Zett M (stylised as H…Masayuki Hiizumi (ヒイズミマサユ機, Hiizumi Masayuki; born February 12, 1978), also known by the name H Zett M (stylised as H ZETT M) is a Japanese keyboardist and producer. He became a member of jazz instrumental band Pe'z in 1999, and was a member of Ringo Sheena's band Tokyo Jihen between 2004 and 2005. In 2007, Hiizumi debuted as a solo musician with the name H Zett M.
Hiroshi Nakamura (born 1974) is a Japanese architect, who designed the Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center, receiving the…Hiroshi Nakamura (born 1974) is a Japanese architect, who designed the Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center, receiving the Dezeen, Architectural Institute of Japan and Japan Institute of Architects awards for it.
Toranosuke "Tora" Takagi (高木 虎之介; born 12 February 1974) is a Japanese former racing driver, having notably competed in…Toranosuke "Tora" Takagi (高木 虎之介; born 12 February 1974) is a Japanese former racing driver, having notably competed in Formula One from 1998 to 1999 for Tyrrell and Arrows, having served as test driver for the former in 1997. Outside of Formula One, Takagi won the 2005 Super GT series in the GT500 class alongside Yuji Tachikawa, and the 2000 Formula Nippon Championship.
Junichi Kogawa (古川 純一, Kogawa Jun'ichi; born 12 February 1972) is a Japanese skier. He competed in the Nordic combineds…Junichi Kogawa (古川 純一, Kogawa Jun'ichi; born 12 February 1972) is a Japanese skier. He competed in the Nordic combineds at the 1994 Winter Olympics and the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Mayumi Gojo (五條 真由美, Gojō Mayumi; born February 12, 1972) is a Japanese singer from Ibaraki Prefecture. She formerly…Mayumi Gojo (五條 真由美, Gojō Mayumi; born February 12, 1972) is a Japanese singer from Ibaraki Prefecture. She formerly worked under Hyper Voice Managements. Currently she is affiliated with the Love&Light talent management agency. Gojo is known for her theme song performances for anime series such as Ojamajo Doremi, Pretty Cure, and Yumeiro Patissiere. She has performed as part of Project.R and also provides backup chorus for other artists.
Yoshihiko Saito (斎藤 嘉彦, Saitō Yoshihiko; born 12 February 1972 in Tomioka, Gunma) is a retired Japanese athlete who…Yoshihiko Saito (斎藤 嘉彦, Saitō Yoshihiko; born 12 February 1972 in Tomioka, Gunma) is a retired Japanese athlete who specialized in the 400 metres hurdles. He was the first Asian to run under 49 seconds in the event. With a personal best time of 48.64 seconds, achieved in October 1998 in Kumamoto, he is a former Asian record holder. The Asian record currently belongs to Hadi Soua'an Al-Somaily with 47.53 seconds, and the Japanese record to Dai Tamesue.
Makoto Iijima (飯島 誠, Iijima Makoto; born February 12, 1971) is a Japanese former professional road and track cyclist.…Makoto Iijima (飯島 誠, Iijima Makoto; born February 12, 1971) is a Japanese former professional road and track cyclist. Considered one of Japan's most successful cyclists in his decade, Iijima has claimed a total of nine track cycling medals (two golds, three silver, and four bronze) at the Asian Championships, two silvers at the Asian Games (1998 and 2002), and three national time trial titles at the Japanese Championships (1998, 2004, and 2005). He also represented his nation Japan in three editions of the Olympic Games (2000, 2004, and 2008). He announced his retirement from professional cycling in October 2010 as a member of the Bridgestone–Anchor team.
Ryōichi Sekiya (關家 良一, Sekiya Ryōichi; born 12 February 1967) is a Japanese ultramarathon and marathon runner from…Ryōichi Sekiya (關家 良一, Sekiya Ryōichi; born 12 February 1967) is a Japanese ultramarathon and marathon runner from Sagamihara, Kanagawa. He is the current Asian record holder of the 24-hour run with the distance of 274.884 km (170.805 miles), which he achieved in 2007 at Soochow International Ultra-Marathon. He is a four-time IAU 24 Hour World Championship winner, which makes him the athlete with the most wins in the event. Other notable wins of Sekiya include eight wins at the IAU-endorsed Soochow International Ultra-Marathon held in Taipei. He first won the event in 2001, and won in seven consecutive years in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 (there was no event in 2006). Sekiya won the 153 miles (246 km) Spartathlon Ultra Race in Greece in 2002 and 2009.
Yukiharu Yoshitaka (吉鷹 幸春, Yoshitaka Yukiharu; born 1964) is a Japanese judoka. He was born in Ōkawa, Kagawa. He won a…Yukiharu Yoshitaka (吉鷹 幸春, Yoshitaka Yukiharu; born 1964) is a Japanese judoka. He was born in Ōkawa, Kagawa. He won a gold medal at the -71 kg category of the Universiade in 1985 and Paris Super World Cup in 1986. After graduating from Tsukuba University in 1991, he belonged to Tsukuba-Keikaku. In 1995, he took office as the coach of the judo club at Toin University of Yokohama.
Hiroko Yai (Japanese: 矢井 弘子, Hepburn: Yai Hiroko; born February 12, 1959), better known by her stage name Nana Okada…Hiroko Yai (Japanese: 矢井 弘子, Hepburn: Yai Hiroko; born February 12, 1959), better known by her stage name Nana Okada (岡田 奈々, Okada Nana), is a Japanese actress and former idol singer.
Kenji Soda (宗田 研二, Sōda Kenji; born 12 February 1948) is a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's…Kenji Soda (宗田 研二, Sōda Kenji; born 12 February 1948) is a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Masao Nakabori (中堀 正夫, なかぼり まさお) is a Japanese cinematographer, known as DP of Koreeda's Maborosi. He won the Golden…Masao Nakabori (中堀 正夫, なかぼり まさお) is a Japanese cinematographer, known as DP of Koreeda's Maborosi. He won the Golden Osella for the film.
Naomi Uemura (植村 直己, Uemura Naomi; February 12, 1941 – disappeared February 13, 1984) was a Japanese adventurer who was…Naomi Uemura (植村 直己, Uemura Naomi; February 12, 1941 – disappeared February 13, 1984) was a Japanese adventurer who was known particularly for his solo accomplishments. He was the first person to reach the North Pole solo, the first person to raft the Amazon River solo, and the first person to climb Denali solo. Before his 30th birthday, Uemura had solo-climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Mont Blanc, and the Matterhorn; had walked the length of Japan; had summited during the first (1970) Japanese expedition to climb Mount Everest; took part in the subsequent disastrous 1971 International Everest Expedition. Naomi Uemura was a licensed radio amateur operator, signed as JG1QFW. He used amateur radio communication during his expeditions.
Tarō Kimura (木村 太郎, Kimura Tarō; born 12 February 1938 in Berkeley, California, USA) is a Japanese veteran journalist…Tarō Kimura (木村 太郎, Kimura Tarō; born 12 February 1938 in Berkeley, California, USA) is a Japanese veteran journalist who provides commentary and analysis with Yūko Andō on Japan's Fuji Television Super News. He is also the managing director of Shonan Beach FM, a community radio station.
Keisuke Sagawa (砂川 啓介, Sagawa Keisuke; February 12, 1937 – July 11, 2017) was a Japanese actor and tarento. He is…Keisuke Sagawa (砂川 啓介, Sagawa Keisuke; February 12, 1937 – July 11, 2017) was a Japanese actor and tarento. He is notable for being the first actor of the Taisō no Onīsan in the Uta no Ehon program on the long-running television program Okaasan to Issho. His wife was actress, television personality, and voice actress Nobuyo Ōyama.
Takeo Nishioka (西岡 武夫, Nishioka Takeo; 12 February 1936 – 5 November 2011) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic…Takeo Nishioka (西岡 武夫, Nishioka Takeo; 12 February 1936 – 5 November 2011) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), who served as a member of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors in the Diet.
Yasumitsu Toyoda (豊田 泰光, Toyoda Yasumitsu; February 12, 1935 – August 14, 2016) was a Japanese professional baseball…Yasumitsu Toyoda (豊田 泰光, Toyoda Yasumitsu; February 12, 1935 – August 14, 2016) was a Japanese professional baseball player and coach, who played as a shortstop. He played and coached for the Nishitetsu Lions and the Swallows franchise of Nippon Professional Baseball. In 1972, he coached the Kintetsu Buffaloes.
Tetsuro Noborisaka (登坂 哲朗, Noborisaka Tetsurō; 12 February 1934 – 30 August 1978) was a Japanese basketball player. He…Tetsuro Noborisaka (登坂 哲朗, Noborisaka Tetsurō; 12 February 1934 – 30 August 1978) was a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
Masahiro Mori (森 政弘, Mori Masahiro; 12 February 1927 – 12 January 2025) was a Japanese roboticist noted for his…Masahiro Mori (森 政弘, Mori Masahiro; 12 February 1927 – 12 January 2025) was a Japanese roboticist noted for his pioneering work in the fields of robotics and automation, his research achievements in humans' emotional responses to non-human entities, as well as for his views on religion. The ASIMO robot was designed by one of Masahiro's students.
Hirofumi Daimatsu (大松 博文, Daimatsu Hirofumi; 12 February 1921 – 24 November 1978) was a Japanese volleyball coach and a…Hirofumi Daimatsu (大松 博文, Daimatsu Hirofumi; 12 February 1921 – 24 November 1978) was a Japanese volleyball coach and a Japanese politician. He led Oriental Witches, nickname of "Nichibo Kaizuka", a factory volleyball team of Dai Nippon Spinning Co., Ltd. (later, Nichibo, thereafter, Unitika) in Kaizuka, Osaka given by the reports of European media when they achieved 24 consecutive victories against other national teams on the expedition to Europe, to world champion.
Toyoko Yoshino (吉野トヨ子, Yoshino Toyoko; 23 April 1920 – 24 January 2015) was a Japanese discus thrower. She competed at…Toyoko Yoshino (吉野トヨ子, Yoshino Toyoko; 23 April 1920 – 24 January 2015) was a Japanese discus thrower. She competed at the 1952, placing fourth, and the 1956 Summer Olympics. From 1949 until 1956 she became Japanese champion eight times in a row.
Ken Harada (原田 憲, Harada Ken; 12 February 1919 – 29 January 1997) was a member of the Diet of Japan from the Liberal…Ken Harada (原田 憲, Harada Ken; 12 February 1919 – 29 January 1997) was a member of the Diet of Japan from the Liberal Democratic Party until resigning his office on 24 January 1989 following alleged involvement in the Recruit scandal, where Harada admitted Recruit had given him donations, in the form of seasonal summer gifts, for ten years. While the donations were not illegal, they raised questions of political ethics which eventually led Harada to resign. As a member of the Diet, Harada served as Director-General of the Economic Planning Agency, and earned the close trust of Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita. He was the third minister to resign over the scandal. Harada had been appointed to direct the Economic Planning Agency only one month before his resignation. After party officials had already placed him as the chair of a committee in charge of investigating the Recruit stock scandal, where he had concluded that nothing illegal had taken place. In 1992, Harada backed Keizō Obuchi as new leader of the Liberal Democratic Party. Kōichirō Aino replaced Harada as Minister of Economic Planning.
Raizo Matsuno (松野 頼三, Matsuno Raizō; 12 February 1917 – 10 May 2006) was a Japanese politician. Born in Yamaga…Raizo Matsuno (松野 頼三, Matsuno Raizō; 12 February 1917 – 10 May 2006) was a Japanese politician. Born in Yamaga, Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture in 1917, Matsuno served in the Imperial Japanese Navy as an officer at the end of World War II as he was attending Naval Accounting School. He successively held numerous offices in post-war Japan: Director-General for the Prime Minister's Office from 1958 to 1959 under Nobusuke Kishi Minister of Labor from 1959 to 1960 under Nobusuke Kishi Director General of the Japan Defense Agency from 1965 to 1966 under Eisaku Satō Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 1966 under Eisaku Satō He was Chairman of the Policy Affairs Research Council at Liberal Democratic Party, Chairman of the Executive Council.
Taijun Takeda (武田 泰淳, Takeda Taijun; February 12, 1912 – October 5, 1976) was a Japanese novelist and Buddhist priest…Taijun Takeda (武田 泰淳, Takeda Taijun; February 12, 1912 – October 5, 1976) was a Japanese novelist and Buddhist priest active as one of the first post-war generation writers, and a noted influencer on Chinese literature. His Dharma name was (恭蓮社謙誉上人泰淳和尚).
Keiko Minami (南 桂子, Minami Keiko; 12 February 1911 – 1 December 2004) was a Japanese artist, aquatint engraver, and…Keiko Minami (南 桂子, Minami Keiko; 12 February 1911 – 1 December 2004) was a Japanese artist, aquatint engraver, and poet. She is best known for her pictograph-like aquatints with a whimsical, childlike aesthetic.
