Airi Mitsui (三井 愛梨, Mitsui Airi; born 12 June 2004) is a Japanese competitive swimmer. At the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific…Airi Mitsui (三井 愛梨, Mitsui Airi; born 12 June 2004) is a Japanese competitive swimmer. At the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, she won the gold medal in the 200 metre butterfly and silver medals in the 100 metre butterfly and 4×100 metre medley relay. At the 2022 World Short Course Championships, she placed sixth in the final of the 200 metre butterfly.
Shun Okamoto (岡本 駿, Okamoto Shun; extra) born June 12, 2002 in Katsuura, Katsuura District, Tokushima, Japan is a…Shun Okamoto (岡本 駿, Okamoto Shun; extra) born June 12, 2002 in Katsuura, Katsuura District, Tokushima, Japan is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Suzuno Higuchi (Japanese: 樋口 鈴乃, romanized: Higuchi Suzuno; born 12 June 2001) is a Japanese professional basketball…Suzuno Higuchi (Japanese: 樋口 鈴乃, romanized: Higuchi Suzuno; born 12 June 2001) is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays as a point guard for the Hitachi High-Tech Cougars in the Women's Japan Basketball League. She represented Japan at the 2026 Asian Games, where she won a silver medal in the women's basketball tournament.
Nanami Seki (関 菜々巳, Seki Nanami, born 12 June 1999) is a Japanese professional volleyball player in the setter…Nanami Seki (関 菜々巳, Seki Nanami, born 12 June 1999) is a Japanese professional volleyball player in the setter position. She has been a part of the Japan women's national volleyball team since 2019.
Akiyoshi Katsuno (勝野 昌慶, Katsuno Akiyoshi; born June 12, 1997) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the…Akiyoshi Katsuno (勝野 昌慶, Katsuno Akiyoshi; born June 12, 1997) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Yuuka Kurosaki (born June 12, 1997) is a Japanese soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Glasgow City FC. She…Yuuka Kurosaki (born June 12, 1997) is a Japanese soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Glasgow City FC. She previously played for KuPS in Finland's Kansallinen Liga and Arna-Bjørnar in the Norwegian Toppserien.
Mao Murakami (村上 真魚, Murakami Mao; born June 12, 1995 in Kiryu, Gunma), also known by her stage name Strong Machine 2…Mao Murakami (村上 真魚, Murakami Mao; born June 12, 1995 in Kiryu, Gunma), also known by her stage name Strong Machine 2 (ストロングマシン2号, Sutorongu Mashin Ni-gō), is a Japanese J-pop dancer known for her robotic and machine-like dance-style. She currently lives with her family in a Buddhist temple. Her father, who is a priest at the temple, is also known by his stage name of Strong Machine 1. The two often team up to perform. She has appeared on multiple television programs in Japan, including fifteen appearances on the Super Chample dance variety show on CTV. Murakami was featured in the music video for the 2006 single I My Me Mine by the Japanese new wave band Polysics. Murakami appeared as a gas flame in a series of promotions for G-line Toyama, a natural gas and propane company in Japan.
Yasutaka Shiomi (塩見 泰隆, Shiomi Yasutaka; born June 12, 1993 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese professional…Yasutaka Shiomi (塩見 泰隆, Shiomi Yasutaka; born June 12, 1993 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Shizuka Okazaki (Japanese: 岡崎 静夏, Hepburn: Okazaki Shizuka; born 12 June 1992) is a Japanese motorcycle racer who…Shizuka Okazaki (Japanese: 岡崎 静夏, Hepburn: Okazaki Shizuka; born 12 June 1992) is a Japanese motorcycle racer who competes in the J-GP3 class of the All Japan Road Race Championship for Japan Post NTT docomo Business, aboard a Honda NSF250R. In 2016, she became the first Japanese female rider to compete in a Grand Prix in 21 years.
Tomoyuki Oka (岡 倫之, Oka Tomoyuki; born June 12, 1991), better known by his ring name Great-O-Khan (グレート-O-カーン…Tomoyuki Oka (岡 倫之, Oka Tomoyuki; born June 12, 1991), better known by his ring name Great-O-Khan (グレート-O-カーン, Gurēto-Ō-Kān), is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the United Empire stable. In NJPW, O-Khan is a former one-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion with Henare and Will Ospreay, a former NJPW World Television Champion, the final official KOPW Champion and a five-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, (twice with Jeff Cobb, twice with Henare, and once with Callum Newman).
Manami Marutaka (丸高 愛実, Marutaka Manami; born 12 June 1990, in Tokyo) is a Japanese tarento, actress, and former…Manami Marutaka (丸高 愛実, Marutaka Manami; born 12 June 1990, in Tokyo) is a Japanese tarento, actress, and former gravure idol. Marutaka is represented with Avex Vanguard. Her husband is footballer Yoichiro Kakitani.
Ryo Tateishi (立石 諒, Tateishi Ryō; born 12 June 1989 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese swimmer. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he…Ryo Tateishi (立石 諒, Tateishi Ryō; born 12 June 1989 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese swimmer. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he competed in the Men's 100 metre breaststroke, finishing in 7th place in the first semifinal, failing to reach the final. Tateishi subsequently won a bronze medal in the 200 metre breaststroke.
Masakazu Ito (伊藤 雅和, Itō Masakazu; born 12 June 1988) is a Japanese cyclist, who currently rides for and manages…Masakazu Ito (伊藤 雅和, Itō Masakazu; born 12 June 1988) is a Japanese cyclist, who currently rides for and manages Japanese amateur team Ciel Bleu Kanoya.
Yosuke Miyaji (宮路 洋輔, Miyaji Yōsuke; born June 12, 1987) is a Japanese football manager and former player and currently…Yosuke Miyaji (宮路 洋輔, Miyaji Yōsuke; born June 12, 1987) is a Japanese football manager and former player and currently manager of Japan Football League club, Minebea Mitsumi.
Mayuko Kamio (神尾 真由子, born June 12, 1986, in Toyonaka, Osaka) is a Japanese violinist. She won the First Prize at the…Mayuko Kamio (神尾 真由子, born June 12, 1986, in Toyonaka, Osaka) is a Japanese violinist. She won the First Prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2007, the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in 2000, and was the youngest prize winner at the International Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition in 1998.
Kayo Henmi (born 12 June 1979) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She was born in Isawa, Yamanashi. She competed at the…Kayo Henmi (born 12 June 1979) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She was born in Isawa, Yamanashi. She competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics, in women's aerials.
Yasuhiro Ikuta (生田 康宏, Ikuta Yasuhiro; born 12 June 1979) is a Japanese alpine skier. He competed in the men's slalom…Yasuhiro Ikuta (生田 康宏, Ikuta Yasuhiro; born 12 June 1979) is a Japanese alpine skier. He competed in the men's slalom at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Yuzo Funakoshi (船越 優蔵, Funakoshi Yuzo; born June 12, 1977) is a Japanese football manager and former footballer who is…Yuzo Funakoshi (船越 優蔵, Funakoshi Yuzo; born June 12, 1977) is a Japanese football manager and former footballer who is manager of J2 League club Albirex Niigata.
Ryoko Eda (née Kitajima, Japanese: 北島 良子, romanized: Kitajima Ryoko; born 12 June 1976) is a Japanese marathon runner.…Ryoko Eda (née Kitajima, Japanese: 北島 良子, romanized: Kitajima Ryoko; born 12 June 1976) is a Japanese marathon runner. Her personal best time is 2:24:54 hours, achieved at the 2005 Nagoya Marathon.
Hideki Matsui (松井 秀喜, Matsui Hideki; born June 12, 1974), nicknamed "Godzilla", is a Japanese former professional…Hideki Matsui (松井 秀喜, Matsui Hideki; born June 12, 1974), nicknamed "Godzilla", is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter who is the manager of the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Matsui played the first 10 seasons of his career in Japan for NPB's Yomiuri Giants. During that span, he was a nine-time All-Star, three-time Japan Series champion, and three-time Central League Most Valuable Player (MVP). In 2003, Matsui transitioned to playing in MLB in North America, and spent his first seven seasons there with the New York Yankees. As a Yankee, he was a two-time All-Star and 2009 World Series champion, for which he was named the World Series MVP. He is the first Asian player to win the award in league history. After becoming a free agent, Matsui had one-year stints with three other MLB teams: the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland Athletics, and Tampa Bay Rays. On July 28, 2013, Matsui signed a one-day minor league contract with the Yankees in order to officially retire with the team. During his 20-year playing career, Matsui hit 507 home runs, 332 in NPB and 175 in MLB. In 2018, Matsui was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. He was appointed manager of the Yomiuri Giants during the 2026 offseason.
Kazuhiro Kobayashi (小林一大, Kobayashi Kazuhiro; born 12 June 1973) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the…Kazuhiro Kobayashi (小林一大, Kobayashi Kazuhiro; born 12 June 1973) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2022. From 2007 to 2022, he was a member of the Niigata Prefectural Assembly. He is the son of Ichizo Kobayashi.
Katsuhiko Hanada (Japanese: 花田 勝彦; born 12 June 1971 in Kyoto) is a retired Japanese athlete who competed in the…Katsuhiko Hanada (Japanese: 花田 勝彦; born 12 June 1971 in Kyoto) is a retired Japanese athlete who competed in the long-distance events. He represented his country at two Summer Olympics, in 1996 and 2000.
Kazuhiro Soda (想田 和弘, Sōda Kazuhiro; born 1970 in Tochigi Prefecture) is a Japanese documentary filmmaker and author…Kazuhiro Soda (想田 和弘, Sōda Kazuhiro; born 1970 in Tochigi Prefecture) is a Japanese documentary filmmaker and author based in New York City. He is known for his observational method of documentary filmmaking. Soda obtained a degree in religious studies from the University of Tokyo in 1993 and a BFA in filmmaking from the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he has remained since, in 1997.
Masashi Arikura (有倉 雅史, born June 12, 1967) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the…Masashi Arikura (有倉 雅史, born June 12, 1967) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Nippon-Ham Fighters from 1990 to 1994, the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in 1996 and 1997, and the Hanshin Tigers in 1998.
Yuichi Takahashi (高橋 勇市, Takahashi Yūichi) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T11…Yuichi Takahashi (高橋 勇市, Takahashi Yūichi) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T11 long-distance events. Yuichi took part in the 5000m, 10000m and marathon in the 2004 Summer Paralympics winning the T11 marathon. In the 2008 Summer Paralympics he attempted to defend this title but only managed to finish 16th.
Takashi Yamazaki (山崎 貴, Yamazaki Takashi; born June 12, 1964) is a Japanese filmmaker and visual effects supervisor.…Takashi Yamazaki (山崎 貴, Yamazaki Takashi; born June 12, 1964) is a Japanese filmmaker and visual effects supervisor. Known for his blockbusters featuring advanced visual effects, he is considered a leading figure in the Japanese film industry. Yamazaki is the recipient of multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, eight Japanese Academy Awards, five Nikkan Sports Film Awards, two Hochi Film Awards, and an Asian Film Award. His films have collectively grossed over $560 million worldwide. Yamazaki found employment at visual effects and animation studio Shirogumi in 1986, and has remained there throughout his career. His first directorial features were the science fiction films Juvenile (2000) and Returner (2002), for which he became known as the "Japanese James Cameron". He later gained further notice in Japan by directing film adaptations of popular anime, novels, and manga, including Always: Sunset on Third Street (2005), Space Battleship Yamato (2010), The Eternal Zero (2013), and Stand by Me Doraemon (2014). The latter two films ranked as the highest-grossing Japanese live-action and animated releases, respectively, at the 2014 box office, and together earned a total of nine awards at the 38th Japan Academy Film Prize. Yamazaki's career continued with other film adaptations such as Parasyte: Part 1 (also 2014) and Part 2 (2015), Fueled: The Man They Called Pirate (2016), The Great War of Archimedes, Dragon Quest: Your Story, Lupin III: The First (all 2019), and Stand by Me Doraemon 2 (2020). His 2023 kaiju epic, Godzilla Minus One, became the most successful Japanese Godzilla film of all time and one of his highest-grossing films. Yamazaki and the visual effects team also became the first Japanese crew ever to receive the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. In 2024, Yamazaki was included in Gold House's annual list of 100 Most Impactful Asians. He has since made the Minus One sequel Godzilla Minus Zero (2026), and is developing his first Hollywood productions: Grandgear (2028) and Nue.
Kenichi Hirose (広瀬 健一, Hirose Kenichi; June 12, 1964 – July 26, 2018) was a Japanese terrorist and member of the…Kenichi Hirose (広瀬 健一, Hirose Kenichi; June 12, 1964 – July 26, 2018) was a Japanese terrorist and member of the doomsday-cult group Aum Shinrikyo. He was later convicted and executed for murder during the Tokyo subway sarin attack.
Keisuke Shinohara (Japanese: 篠原 敬介, Hepburn: Shinohara Keisuke; 12 June 1959 – 17 August 2011) was a Japanese…Keisuke Shinohara (Japanese: 篠原 敬介, Hepburn: Shinohara Keisuke; 12 June 1959 – 17 August 2011) was a Japanese television and film composer. His work can be seen in such films as Arashi no Yoru ni and Piano no Mori. He died in 2011 at the age of 52.
Masaya Oki (沖 雅也, Oki Masaya; 12 June 1952 – 28 June 1983) was a Japanese actor and singer who appeared in many films…Masaya Oki (沖 雅也, Oki Masaya; 12 June 1952 – 28 June 1983) was a Japanese actor and singer who appeared in many films and television series.
Kaoru Mende (born 1950 in Tokyo, Japan) is an architectural lighting designer from Japan. Mende has bachelor's and…Kaoru Mende (born 1950 in Tokyo, Japan) is an architectural lighting designer from Japan. Mende has bachelor's and master's degrees from the Tokyo University of Art. He is a visiting professor of lighting design at Musashino Art University and also lectures at Tokyo University of the Arts, among other institutions. Kaoru Mende is the CEO of Lighting Planners Associates. He is a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES, formerly IESNA) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). Mende is also the acting chief of the "Lighting Detectives", a citizens' group that specializes in the study of the culture of lighting. Mende has been involved in such superb projects as Tokyo International Forum, JR Kyoto Station, Sendai Mediatheque, Roppongi Hills, National Museum of Singapore, Singapore City Center Lighting Master Plan, Alila Villas Uluwatu, Aman New Delhi, Gardens by the Bay and Façade lighting for Tokyo station.
Ryohei Suzuki (鈴木 良平, Suzuki Ryōhei; born June 12, 1949) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He managed…Ryohei Suzuki (鈴木 良平, Suzuki Ryōhei; born June 12, 1949) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He managed Japan women's national team.
Haruo Wakō (和光 晴生, Wakō Haruo; June 12, 1948 – November 4, 2023) was a Japanese communist militant, member of the…Haruo Wakō (和光 晴生, Wakō Haruo; June 12, 1948 – November 4, 2023) was a Japanese communist militant, member of the Japanese Red Army (JRA). Wakō attended Keio University, but dropped out in 1970. Later he worked for a time as an assistant for Kōji Wakamatsu's Wakamatsu Productions, a producer of leftist movies.
Hiromasa Ezoe (June 12, 1936 – February 8, 2013) was a Japanese industrialist who founded Recruit Holdings. He is…Hiromasa Ezoe (June 12, 1936 – February 8, 2013) was a Japanese industrialist who founded Recruit Holdings. He is remembered as one of the most prolific entrepreneurs educated at the University of Tokyo, alongside Kiichiro Toyoda (founder of Toyota) and Namihei Odaira (founder of Hitachi). Ezoe was also the central figure in the Recruit insider trading scandal, which fundamentally changed the Japanese political landscape after the resignation of prominent figures including then-PM Noboru Takeshita.
Akira Yanabu (柳父 章, Yanabu Akira) (1928 – 2 January 2018) was a Japanese researcher in the areas of translation studies…Akira Yanabu (柳父 章, Yanabu Akira) (1928 – 2 January 2018) was a Japanese researcher in the areas of translation studies and comparative literature. He was born in Tokyo and graduated from the University of Tokyo.
Noriko Ibaragi (茨木 のり子, Ibaragi Noriko) was a Japanese poet, playwright, essayist, children's literature writer, and…Noriko Ibaragi (茨木 のり子, Ibaragi Noriko) was a Japanese poet, playwright, essayist, children's literature writer, and translator. She is most well known for her poem, Watashi ga ichiban kirei datta toki (わたしが一番きれいだったとき, "When my beauty shone"), written twelve years after the Japanese defeat in WWII. In 1953, she co-founded the literary journal Kai ("Oars"). She began to learn Korean as a second language at the age of fifty, going on to publish her own translations of poetry by her Korean contemporaries.
Masahide Ōta (大田 昌秀, Ōta Masahide; 12 June 1925 – 12 June 2017) was a Japanese academic and politician who served as…Masahide Ōta (大田 昌秀, Ōta Masahide; 12 June 1925 – 12 June 2017) was a Japanese academic and politician who served as the governor of Okinawa Prefecture from 1990 until 1998. After starting his career as a professor at the University of the Ryūkyūs, he wrote books in English and Japanese, mostly about the Battle of Okinawa and Japan–United States bilateral relations following World War II. After his retirement as professor he was elected as governor and was best known for his strong stand against occupation of prefectural lands by military bases of United States, going against the Japanese central government at the time.
Masamichi Yamagiwa (山際正道, Yamagiwa Masamichi; June 12, 1901 – March 16, 1975) was a Japanese businessman, central…Masamichi Yamagiwa (山際正道, Yamagiwa Masamichi; June 12, 1901 – March 16, 1975) was a Japanese businessman, central banker, the 20th Governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ).
Kiichi Okamoto (Japanese: 岡本 歸一, romanized: Okamoto Kiichi; 12 June 1888 – 29 December 1930) was a Japanese painter…Kiichi Okamoto (Japanese: 岡本 歸一, romanized: Okamoto Kiichi; 12 June 1888 – 29 December 1930) was a Japanese painter best known for his illustrations for children.
Tachū Naitō (内藤 多仲, Naitō Tachū; 12 June 1886 – 25 August 1970) was a Japanese architect, engineer, and professor. He…Tachū Naitō (内藤 多仲, Naitō Tachū; 12 June 1886 – 25 August 1970) was a Japanese architect, engineer, and professor. He was a father of earthquake-proof design and built many broadcasting and observation towers, including the Tokyo Tower.
Tanaka Shōhei (田中正平, Tanaka Shōhei; May 15, 1862 – October 16, 1945) was a Japanese physicist, music theorist, and…Tanaka Shōhei (田中正平, Tanaka Shōhei; May 15, 1862 – October 16, 1945) was a Japanese physicist, music theorist, and inventor. He graduated from Tokyo University in 1882 as a science student. On an imperial scholarship, he was sent to Germany for doctoral studies in 1884, together with Mori Ōgai. His dissertation concerned just intonation and practical means to its implementation. Tanaka was an early advocate of 53 equal temperament as a means of closely approximating 5-limit just intonation. He was the first to obtain a clear understanding of the temperament, noticing that it tempered out both the schisma, 32805/32768, but also the kleisma (), an interval of size 15625/15552 = 2−6 3−5 56, which is the interval by which five just minor thirds of size 6/5 exactly differs from a just tenth of size 5/2 exactly. Tanaka was the first to take practical note of this interval and gave it its name. Tanaka realized that the 53 equal temperament was completely characterized as a five limit temperament by the fact that it tempers out both the schisma and the kleisma. Tanaka was also an early advocate of the use of the hexagonal lattice for representing the pitch classes of 5-limit just intonation. First proposed in the 18th century by Leonhard Euler, this model was also used by Hugo Riemann in his theory of harmony. Tanaka also suggested what would now be called a Fokker block as a way of viewing the pitch classes of 53 equal temperament. Tanaka proposed a set of harmonic cadences designed to reflect a traditional Japanese aesthetic, acknowledging pentatonic scales and incorporating suspended tones in the manner of the chords played by the shō. Tanaka's suggestion was taken up by a number of 20th-century Japanese composers and theorists. Tanaka was an inventor as well as a theoretician. He designed and patented a just intonation Enharmonium (enharmonic+harmonium) with 20 keys and 26 pitches in an octave. He had Johannes Kewitsch, of Berlin, construct a 5-octave version and in 1891 he demonstrated it to Anton Bruckner in Vienna, who was impressed with its potential. He also constructed an early calculating machine.
Maruyama Ōkyo (円山 応挙; Japanese pronunciation: [ma.ɾɯ.ja.ma (|) oꜜː.kʲo, ma.ɾɯ.ja.ma (|) oː.kʲo], June 12, 1733 – August…Maruyama Ōkyo (円山 応挙; Japanese pronunciation: [ma.ɾɯ.ja.ma (|) oꜜː.kʲo, ma.ɾɯ.ja.ma (|) oː.kʲo], June 12, 1733 – August 31, 1795), born Maruyama Masataka, was a Japanese artist active in the late 18th century. He moved to Kyoto, during which he studied artworks from Chinese, Japanese and Western sources. A personal style of Western naturalism mixed with Eastern decorative design emerged, and Ōkyo founded the Maruyama school of painting. Although many of his fellow artists criticized his work as too slavishly devoted to natural representation, it proved a success with laypeople.
Hitoshi Okamoto (岡本 仁志) is a Japanese guitarist, composer, arranger and the former member of the J-pop band Garnet Crow…Hitoshi Okamoto (岡本 仁志) is a Japanese guitarist, composer, arranger and the former member of the J-pop band Garnet Crow in years 1999 to 2013, as well as some of his own solo releases.
