Mio Narita (成田 実生, Narita Mio; born 18 December 2006) is a Japanese competitive swimmer. She is the 2022 World Junior…Mio Narita (成田 実生, Narita Mio; born 18 December 2006) is a Japanese competitive swimmer. She is the 2022 World Junior champion and 2022 Junior Pan Pacific champion in both the 200-metre individual medley and the 400-metre individual medley. She is a former world junior record holder in the 400-metre individual medley.
Souta Arao (荒尾創大, Arao Sōta; born 18 December 2005) is a Japanese racing driver who is set to compete in the 2026 Super…Souta Arao (荒尾創大, Arao Sōta; born 18 December 2005) is a Japanese racing driver who is set to compete in the 2026 Super GT Series for Team Mach. He previously raced in Super Formula Lights, the French F4 Championship & GB3 Championship. He is a scholar of the Honda Racing School which formerly as Suzuka Racing School, and part of the Honda Formula Dream Project.
Keigo Kitamura (北村 恵吾, Kitamura Keigo; born December 18, 2000 in Ōgaki, Gifu, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Keigo Kitamura (北村 恵吾, Kitamura Keigo; born December 18, 2000 in Ōgaki, Gifu, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays the infield for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Takuya Hitomi (人見 拓哉, Hitomi Takuya; born 18 December 1997) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for…Takuya Hitomi (人見 拓哉, Hitomi Takuya; born 18 December 1997) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for Reilac Shiga FC.
Himawari Sato (佐藤向日葵, Satō Himawari) better known mononymously by her ring name Himawari (ヒマワリ, Himawari) (often…Himawari Sato (佐藤向日葵, Satō Himawari) better known mononymously by her ring name Himawari (ヒマワリ, Himawari) (often stylized as HIMAWARI) is a Japanese professional wrestler and stage actress signed to Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW). She is also known for sporadically competing in various promotions from the Japanese independent scene.
Powell Obinna Obi (オビ パウエル オビンナ, Obi Paueru Obinna; born 18 December 1997) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a…Powell Obinna Obi (オビ パウエル オビンナ, Obi Paueru Obinna; born 18 December 1997) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for J1 League club Avispa Fukuoka.
Kōki Saitō (齋藤 綱記, Saitō Kōki; born December 18, 1996) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for…Kōki Saitō (齋藤 綱記, Saitō Kōki; born December 18, 1996) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Chunichi Dragons. He previously played for the Orix Buffaloes and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Kenichiro Fumita (文田 健一郎, Fumita Ken'ichirō; born 18 December 1995) is a Japanese Greco-Roman wrestler. He won the gold…Kenichiro Fumita (文田 健一郎, Fumita Ken'ichirō; born 18 December 1995) is a Japanese Greco-Roman wrestler. He won the gold medal in the 60 kg event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. In 2017, he won a gold medal at Paris World Wrestling Championships in 59 kg.
Haruka Agatsuma (我妻 悠香, Agatsuma Haruka, born 18 December 1994) is a Japanese softball player. She competed in the 2020…Haruka Agatsuma (我妻 悠香, Agatsuma Haruka, born 18 December 1994) is a Japanese softball player. She competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics and won a gold medal.
Mizuki Tanimoto (谷本 観月, Tanimoto Mizuki; born 18 December 1994) is a Japanese athlete competing in long-distance…Mizuki Tanimoto (谷本 観月, Tanimoto Mizuki; born 18 December 1994) is a Japanese athlete competing in long-distance events. Representing Japan at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, she placed seventh in the women's marathon.
Takuya Fujiwara (藤原 拓也, Fujiwara Takuya; born December 18, 1992) is a Japanese football player. He plays for YSCC…Takuya Fujiwara (藤原 拓也, Fujiwara Takuya; born December 18, 1992) is a Japanese football player. He plays for YSCC Yokohama.
Zack Alan Baranski (born December 18, 1992), is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Alvark…Zack Alan Baranski (born December 18, 1992), is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Alvark Tokyo of the B.League in Japan.
Yuta Shitara (設楽 悠太, Shitara Yūta; born 18 December 1991) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the 10,000…Yuta Shitara (設楽 悠太, Shitara Yūta; born 18 December 1991) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the 10,000 metres at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing finishing 23rd. Yuta Shitara competed in the 2018 edition of the Tokyo Marathon, where he, after falling off the lead pack at 32 km to seventh place, regrouped and advanced position to take second overall, at 2:06:11, which was a new Japanese National Record at the time. In doing so, he also won a prize of 100 million yen (roughly $936,000) that was offered to any Japanese man who could run a new national record.
Teruya Goto (後藤 輝也, Gotō Teruya; born December 18, 1991) is a Japanese rugby sevens player. He competed for Japan 7s at…Teruya Goto (後藤 輝也, Gotō Teruya; born December 18, 1991) is a Japanese rugby sevens player. He competed for Japan 7s at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. He scored the first try in their upset against New Zealand at the Olympics.
Takuya Kinoshita (木下 拓哉, Kinoshita Takuya; born December 18, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher for the…Takuya Kinoshita (木下 拓哉, Kinoshita Takuya; born December 18, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Minami Tsukui (佃井 皆美, Tsukui Minami; born December 18, 1987, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actress who is…Minami Tsukui (佃井 皆美, Tsukui Minami; born December 18, 1987, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actress who is formerly affiliated with Japan Action Enterprise. She is best known for her role as the character Yoko Minato/Kamen Rider Marika, from the Kamen Rider series Kamen Rider Gaim.
Yuki Furukawa (古川 雄輝, Furukawa Yūki; born 18 December 1987) is a Japanese actor. He gained popularity as Naoki Irie in…Yuki Furukawa (古川 雄輝, Furukawa Yūki; born 18 December 1987) is a Japanese actor. He gained popularity as Naoki Irie in the 2013 J-Drama Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo.
Hirokatsu Hashimoto (橋本 博且, Hashimoto Hirokatsu; born 18 December 1985) is a former Japanese badminton player who…Hirokatsu Hashimoto (橋本 博且, Hashimoto Hirokatsu; born 18 December 1985) is a former Japanese badminton player who competed in doubles. He is best known for his men's doubles partnership with Noriyasu Hirata. In 2011, Hashimoto and Hirata won the India Open, making history as the first Japanese male players to ever capture a BWF Super Series title. Among his other major international achievements, Hashimoto won a gold medal at the 2014 Thomas Cup with the Japanese men's national team and competed at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games.
Shunsuke Kato (加藤 俊介, Katō Shunsuke; born December 18, 1978), known by his stage name Funky Kato (ファンキー加藤, Fankī Katō)…Shunsuke Kato (加藤 俊介, Katō Shunsuke; born December 18, 1978), known by his stage name Funky Kato (ファンキー加藤, Fankī Katō), is a Japanese singer-songwriter. He is best known as the vocalist of the band Funky Monkey Babys, which disbanded in 2013.
Miyuki Hatanaka (畑中 みゆき, Hatanaka Miyuki; born 18 December 1975) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She competed at the…Miyuki Hatanaka (畑中 みゆき, Hatanaka Miyuki; born 18 December 1975) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics and the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Yuko Nagayama (永山祐子, born 1975) is a Japanese architect and a visiting professor at the Musashino Art University. As a…Yuko Nagayama (永山祐子, born 1975) is a Japanese architect and a visiting professor at the Musashino Art University. As a Tokyo native, she worked at Jun Aoki & Associates from 1998 to 2002 and subsequently started her own architecture studio, Yuko Nagayama & Associates. She designed the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower at the heart of Tokyo, and is one of the architects of Torch Tower, which is expected to be the tallest building in Japan by 2027. Nagayama received numerous awards, including the JCD designer award 2018, the Tokyo award 2018, and the iF Design Award 2023.
Masaki Sumitani (住谷 正樹, Sumitani Masaki; born December 18, 1975) a Japanese comedian, television personality, and…Masaki Sumitani (住谷 正樹, Sumitani Masaki; born December 18, 1975) a Japanese comedian, television personality, and retired professional wrestler. He is best known for creating and portraying Razor Ramon HG (レイザーラモンHG, Reizā Ramon Eichi Jī; also known as Hard Gay), a satirical fictional character who became known through appearances on the Japanese variety show Bakusho Mondai no Bakuten!
Yūsuke Ina (伊奈 祐介, Ina Yūsuke; born December 18, 1975) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the…Yūsuke Ina (伊奈 祐介, Ina Yūsuke; born December 18, 1975) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 7-dan.
Shinji Takeda (武田 真治, Takeda Shinji), born December 18, 1972, is a Japanese actor, talent, and saxophone player. He has…Shinji Takeda (武田 真治, Takeda Shinji), born December 18, 1972, is a Japanese actor, talent, and saxophone player. He has had notable roles in such works as The Incite Mill, Kyō Kara Hitman, and Tokyo Eyes.
Narihiro Inamura (稲村 成浩, Inamura Narihiro; born 18 December 1971) is a Japanese cyclist. He competed in two events at…Narihiro Inamura (稲村 成浩, Inamura Narihiro; born 18 December 1971) is a Japanese cyclist. He competed in two events at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Takahiro Shimotaira (下平 隆宏, Shimotaira Takahiro; born December 18, 1971) is a Japanese professional football manager…Takahiro Shimotaira (下平 隆宏, Shimotaira Takahiro; born December 18, 1971) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who is the manager of J3 League club Kōchi United SC.
Yutaka Aihara (相原 豊, Aihara Yutaka; born 18 December 1970) is a Japanese former gymnast who competed in the 1992 Summer…Yutaka Aihara (相原 豊, Aihara Yutaka; born 18 December 1970) is a Japanese former gymnast who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the team event. At the 1991 World Championships, he won a bronze medal on the vault.
Akira Iida (Shinjitai: 飯田 章, Iida Akira; born 18 December 1969 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa) is a Japanese racing driver…Akira Iida (Shinjitai: 飯田 章, Iida Akira; born 18 December 1969 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa) is a Japanese racing driver currently competing in the Super GT series. He won the 2002 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship GT500 title with Esso Toyota Team LeMans, co-driving with Juichi Wakisaka. He also won the 2013 Asian Le Mans Series GTE class title for Team Taisan Ken Endless. Iida was also a presenter on the Japanese performance-car program Best Motoring.
Keiji Okuyama (奥山 恵二, Okuyama Keiji; born 18 December 1968) is a Japanese wrestler. He competed in the men's freestyle…Keiji Okuyama (奥山 恵二, Okuyama Keiji; born 18 December 1968) is a Japanese wrestler. He competed in the men's freestyle 57 kg at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Makiko Esumi (江角 マキコ, Esumi Makiko) (born 18 December 1966 in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, Japan) is a former Japanese…Makiko Esumi (江角 マキコ, Esumi Makiko) (born 18 December 1966 in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, Japan) is a former Japanese model, actress, writer, essayist, and lyricist. Esumi is most well known for her role as Chinatsu Tsuboi in the Japanese television drama series Shomuni. Esumi won the 1995 Rookie of the Year Award at both the 19th Annual Japan Academy Prize ceremonies and at the 38th Blue Ribbon Awards for her role in the 1995 film Maborosi. She was nominated in 2002 for the Best Actress Award at the 26th Annual Japan Academy Prize ceremonies for her role in Inochi. In 2000, she released her single, One Way Drive, featuring guitar work and production by Tomoyasu Hotei, who also co-wrote the song with Esumi. She wrote a children's book in 2005. Esumi is married to Fuji TV director Shin Hirano and is distantly related to Koji Ezumi, a goalkeeper for Omiya Ardija. She was previously married to photographer Rowland Kirishima. She gave birth in 2005 to her first daughter, with her second due to be born in December 2009. She is represented by the talent management firm Ken-On.
Nobuko Fujimura (Japanese: 藤村 信子; born 18 December 1965) is a Japanese female former long-distance runner who competed…Nobuko Fujimura (Japanese: 藤村 信子; born 18 December 1965) is a Japanese female former long-distance runner who competed in the marathon. She won the Hokkaido Marathon in 1993 and the Tokyo Women's Marathon in 1996. She represented her country at the World Championships in Athletics (1997), IAAF World Cross Country Championships (1994), and was a bronze medallist at the 1994 Asian Games.
Mitsugu Sarudate (猿館 貢, Sarudate Mitsugu; born 18 December 1962) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the team…Mitsugu Sarudate (猿館 貢, Sarudate Mitsugu; born 18 December 1962) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the team pursuit event at the 1984 Summer Olympics and 1982 Asian Games.
Tetsuya Shiokawa (塩川鉄也 Shiokawa Tetsuya) is a Japanese politician and former member of the House of Representatives for…Tetsuya Shiokawa (塩川鉄也 Shiokawa Tetsuya) is a Japanese politician and former member of the House of Representatives for the Japanese Communist Party.
Sion Sono (園 子温, Sono Shion; born December 18, 1961) is a Japanese filmmaker, writer, and poet. He is best known for…Sion Sono (園 子温, Sono Shion; born December 18, 1961) is a Japanese filmmaker, writer, and poet. He is best known for the films Love Exposure (2008), Strange Circus (2005) and Suicide Club (2001). He has been called "the most subversive filmmaker working in Japanese cinema today," and a "stakhanovite filmmaker" with an "idiosyncratic" career.
Ryōsei Akazawa (赤沢 亮正, Akazawa Ryōsei; born 18 December 1960) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Ryōsei Akazawa (赤沢 亮正, Akazawa Ryōsei; born 18 December 1960) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature), representing the Tottori 2nd district in Tottori Prefecture.
Hideo Ohno (Japanese: 大野 英男; Hideo Ōno; born 18 December 1954, Tokyo) is a Japanese physicist. He is the 22nd president…Hideo Ohno (Japanese: 大野 英男; Hideo Ōno; born 18 December 1954, Tokyo) is a Japanese physicist. He is the 22nd president of Tohoku University, succeeding Susumu Satomi in April 2018.
Isao Takeuchi (竹内功, 18 December 1951 – 24 September 2026) was a Japanese civil servant and politician. He began his…Isao Takeuchi (竹内功, 18 December 1951 – 24 September 2026) was a Japanese civil servant and politician. He began his career as a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Construction (now known as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) beginning in 1974. In 2002, he was elected Mayor of Tottori city, defeating the incumbent mayor. He served three terms consecutive terms as Tottori's mayor for twelve years from 2002 until 2014. During his first term, Mayor Takeuchi oversaw the 2004 merger of Tottori city with six surrounding towns and two villages to establish Tottori's modern city borders. Takeuchi also opened the Tottori Sand Museum, established new facilities at the West Japan Railway Company JR train station, and expanded the Tottori Expressway.
Yōko Maekawa (前川 陽子, Maekawa Yōko) is a Japanese singer and jazz singer born in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. She graduated…Yōko Maekawa (前川 陽子, Maekawa Yōko) is a Japanese singer and jazz singer born in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. She graduated from the Faculty of Letters at Atomi University. She is best known for performing various anison songs, particularly the opening for Cutie Honey. In 2008, she rerecorded the openings for Cutie Honey and Megu the Little Witch, titling them "21st century" versions. The Cutie Honey opening was originally intended to be performed by Linda Yamamoto. At NHK, she is known as one of the "Four Heavenly Kings of Anime Songs" along with Mitsuko Horie, Isao Sasaki and Ichirou Mizuki. She is also widely hailed as "the Goddess of Magical Girl Songs".
Masatoshi Muto (武藤 正敏, Mutō Masatoshi; born December 18, 1948) is a Japanese diplomatic analyst and former diplomat who…Masatoshi Muto (武藤 正敏, Mutō Masatoshi; born December 18, 1948) is a Japanese diplomatic analyst and former diplomat who served as the Japanese ambassador to South Korea from 2010 to 2012. He also served as the Japanese ambassador to Kuwait in the late 2000s and was the Japanese consul-general in Hawaii in the early 2000s. Starting in 2015, he is also an author.
Akira Fuse (布施 明, Fuse Akira; born December 18, 1947) is a Japanese singer and actor. He debuted in 1965 with the…Akira Fuse (布施 明, Fuse Akira; born December 18, 1947) is a Japanese singer and actor. He debuted in 1965 with the single "Kimi ni Namida to Hohoemi o" (君に涙とほほえみを; "Tears and Smiles to You").
Seiken Akamine (赤嶺 政賢, Akamine Seiken; born 18 December 1947) is a Japanese politician of the Japanese Communist Party…Seiken Akamine (赤嶺 政賢, Akamine Seiken; born 18 December 1947) is a Japanese politician of the Japanese Communist Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Naha, Okinawa and graduate of the Tokyo University of Education, he taught at high schools. He was elected to the first of his three terms in the Naha City Assembly in 1985 and then to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000. In the 2014 Japanese general elections, he won Okinawa's 1st district. The election saw significant gains for the Japanese Communist Party, which raised its seat total from 8 to 21. Akamine's victory was JCP's first single-seat constituency victory in 18 years. His victory was part of a wave against the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Okinawa caused by local anger over by a joint US-Japan decision to relocate a marine base to a residential area. LDP candidates lost all four Okinawan seats despite the party winning nationwide. In the 2017 general election, Akamine retained his seat. In the 2026 Japanese general election he lost the district to the previous LDP representative Kōnosuke Kokuba.
Riyoko Ikeda (池田 理代子, Ikeda Riyoko; born December 18, 1947) is a Japanese manga artist and singer. She was one of the…Riyoko Ikeda (池田 理代子, Ikeda Riyoko; born December 18, 1947) is a Japanese manga artist and singer. She was one of the most popular mangaka in the 1970s, being best known for The Rose of Versailles.
Susumu Kagawa (香川 征, Kagawa Susumu; 1944 – 7 April 2021) was a Japanese urologist and a co-author of 41 peer-reviewed…Susumu Kagawa (香川 征, Kagawa Susumu; 1944 – 7 April 2021) was a Japanese urologist and a co-author of 41 peer-reviewed articles all of which can be found on Web of Science and PubMed. He was also a President of the University of Tokushima.
