Sora Ishikawa (Japanese: 石川 空; born 20 December 2002) is a Japanese handball player who plays as a right back for…Sora Ishikawa (Japanese: 石川 空; born 20 December 2002) is a Japanese handball player who plays as a right back for Spanish club Super Amara Bera Bera and the Japan women's national team. She represented Japan at the Asian Games, winning gold at the 2022 Asian Games, held in Hangzhou in 2023, and silver at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya. She has also represented Japan at the IHF Women's World Handball Championship.
Keita Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 圭太; born 20 December 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender or…Keita Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 圭太; born 20 December 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder, most recently for Tajikistan Higher League club Istiklol.
Yuki Yoza (Japanese: 与座優貴, Yoza Yuki; born December 20, 1997) is a Japanese professional kickboxer and former Kyokushin…Yuki Yoza (Japanese: 与座優貴, Yoza Yuki; born December 20, 1997) is a Japanese professional kickboxer and former Kyokushin practitioner, who currently competes in the Bantamweight Kickboxing division of ONE Championship. He is the former K-1 lightweight champion. As of September 2025, Yoza is ranked the #8 pound-for-pound kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kick.
Naoya Yoshida (吉田 直矢, Yoshida Naoya; born December 20, 1994) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Thespakusatsu…Naoya Yoshida (吉田 直矢, Yoshida Naoya; born December 20, 1994) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Thespakusatsu Gunma.
Ryōta Takinaka (瀧中瞭太, Takinaka Ryōta; born December 20, 1994) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He is a…Ryōta Takinaka (瀧中瞭太, Takinaka Ryōta; born December 20, 1994) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He is a pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Takuya Kawamura (Japanese: 河村拓哉, Hepburn: Kawamura Takuya; December 20, 1993) is a Japanese quiz player, writer…Takuya Kawamura (Japanese: 河村拓哉, Hepburn: Kawamura Takuya; December 20, 1993) is a Japanese quiz player, writer, television personality and member of the YouTube and media group QuizKnock.
Taichi Fukuyama (福山 汰一, Fukuyama Taichi; born (1993-12-20)20 December 1993) is a Japanese volleyball player. He…Taichi Fukuyama (福山 汰一, Fukuyama Taichi; born (1993-12-20)20 December 1993) is a Japanese volleyball player. He currently plays for Japan national team and JTEKT Stings in V.League Division 1. He was the captain of the Waseda University volleyball club and the Japanese national team at the 2017 Eastern Asian Men's Volleyball Championship.
Shuta Tonosaki (外崎 修汰, Tonosaki Shūta; born December 20, 1992 in Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan), nicknamed "Apple Punch", is…Shuta Tonosaki (外崎 修汰, Tonosaki Shūta; born December 20, 1992 in Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan), nicknamed "Apple Punch", is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Katsunori Hirai (平井 克典, Hirai Katsunori; born December 20, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who is a…Katsunori Hirai (平井 克典, Hirai Katsunori; born December 20, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Naoki Kobayashi (小林 直己, Kobayashi Naoki; born 20 December 1990 in Hadano, Kanagawa) is a Japanese track and field…Naoki Kobayashi (小林 直己, Kobayashi Naoki; born 20 December 1990 in Hadano, Kanagawa) is a Japanese track and field sprinter who specialises in the 400 metres. His personal best in the event is 45.79 seconds. He competed in the 4 × 400 metres relay at the 2015 World Championships without qualifying for the final.
Erina Yamane (山根 恵里奈, Yamane Erina; born December 20, 1990) is a Japanese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.…Erina Yamane (山根 恵里奈, Yamane Erina; born December 20, 1990) is a Japanese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. She formerly played for the Japan national team.
Yutaka Otsuka (大塚 豊, Ōtsuka Yutaka) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He was born on December 20, 1987, in…Yutaka Otsuka (大塚 豊, Ōtsuka Yutaka) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He was born on December 20, 1987, in Tokyo, Japan. He is currently playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of the NPB.
Michihiro Yasuda (安田 理大, Yasuda Michihiro; born 20 December 1987) is a Japanese former professional footballer player…Michihiro Yasuda (安田 理大, Yasuda Michihiro; born 20 December 1987) is a Japanese former professional footballer player who played as a full back. He also represented the Japan national team until 2011. His younger brother Kodai was also a professional footballer.
Miyuki Nakagawa (中川 未由希, Nakagawa Miyuki; born 20 December 1986 in Kakamigahara) is a Japanese field hockey player who…Miyuki Nakagawa (中川 未由希, Nakagawa Miyuki; born 20 December 1986 in Kakamigahara) is a Japanese field hockey player who competed in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
Yasuhiro Fueki (Japanese: 笛木 靖宏; born 20 December 1985) is a Japanese track and field athlete who competes in the 400…Yasuhiro Fueki (Japanese: 笛木 靖宏; born 20 December 1985) is a Japanese track and field athlete who competes in the 400 metres hurdles. He is the 2013 Asian champion in the event. Born in Chiba Prefecture he attended high school in Narita. He dipped under 51 seconds for the first time in 2006, running 50.73 seconds. He reduced this to 50.07 seconds the following season and was a semi-finalist at the 2007 Summer Universiade. He also placed third at the National Sports Festival of Japan that year. He did not compete in the hurdles again until 2011, when he returned to win the 400 m hurdles title at the Japanese Corporate Athletics Championships. Marking a return to previous form, the 26-year-old ran a personal best of 49.71 seconds in 2011. He improved again to 49.31 seconds to take second at the 2013 Japan Championships in Athletics before going on to claim the gold medal at the 2013 Asian Athletics Championships.
Sachiko Masumi (桝見 咲智子, Masumi Sachiko; born 20 December 1984) is a retired Japanese track and field athlete who…Sachiko Masumi (桝見 咲智子, Masumi Sachiko; born 20 December 1984) is a retired Japanese track and field athlete who competes in the long jump. She has a personal best of 6.65 metres for the long jump and occasionally competes in the triple jump, having a best of 13.34 m for that event. She was the Japanese Champion in the event in 2008 and 2009. She was the gold medallist at the Asian Athletics Championships in 2013 and was the bronze medallist at the competition in 2009. She represented her country at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics and has also competed for Japan at the Asian Games and the Summer Universiade.
Yoshika (ヨシカ) is a Japanese singer, who sings mainly with R&B influences. Her major label debut album, Timeless, was…Yoshika (ヨシカ) is a Japanese singer, who sings mainly with R&B influences. Her major label debut album, Timeless, was released in January 2006.
Princess Akiko of Mikasa (三笠宮彬子女王, Mikasa-no-miya Akiko Joō; born 20 December 1981) is a member of the Imperial House…Princess Akiko of Mikasa (三笠宮彬子女王, Mikasa-no-miya Akiko Joō; born 20 December 1981) is a member of the Imperial House of Japan, a paternal second cousin of Emperor Naruhito, and the elder daughter of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa and Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (Nobuko). She is also a niece of Japan's 92nd prime minister Tarō Asō (who is the older brother of her mother), a great-niece of author and literary critic Ken'ichi Yoshida, and a great-granddaughter of Japan's 45th prime minister Shigeru Yoshida. In September 2025, Princess Akiko became the head of the Mikasa-no-miya branch of the imperial family. She is the first woman who was a princess by birth to succeed as head of a branch of the imperial family since Princess Sumiko.
Princess Akiko of Mikasa (三笠宮彬子女王, Mikasa-no-miya Akiko Joō; born 20 December 1981) is a member of the Imperial House…Princess Akiko of Mikasa (三笠宮彬子女王, Mikasa-no-miya Akiko Joō; born 20 December 1981) is a member of the Imperial House of Japan, a paternal second cousin of Emperor Naruhito, and the elder daughter of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa and Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (Nobuko). She is also a niece of Japan's 92nd prime minister Tarō Asō (who is the older brother of her mother), a great-niece of author and literary critic Ken'ichi Yoshida, and a great-granddaughter of Japan's 45th prime minister Shigeru Yoshida. In September 2025, Princess Akiko became the head of the Mikasa-no-miya branch of the imperial family. She is the first woman who was a princess by birth to succeed as head of a branch of the imperial family since Princess Sumiko.
Yuri Ichii (市井 由理, Ichii Yuri; born December 20, 1972) is a Japanese pop idol and rapper, best known for being a member…Yuri Ichii (市井 由理, Ichii Yuri; born December 20, 1972) is a Japanese pop idol and rapper, best known for being a member in the breakthrough Japanese hip hop trio, East End X Yuri. She was also a singer with the revolving-door group Tokyo Performance Doll (TPD) alongside Ryoko Shinohara. She was part of TPD for a while but sought to do something different, deciding to try rap. Ichii began practicing her rapping in preparation for a solo show with her friend Gaku, who was a part of the group East End. In February 1994 when Gaku performed with Yuri for part of her show, she was seen by File Records (the independent record label that signed East End). They were impressed with her and decided to sign them together for a mini-album. Ichii is a pioneer for women in Japanese hip hop.
Gen Urobuchi (Japanese: 虚淵 玄, Hepburn: Urobuchi Gen; born December 20, 1972) is a Japanese novelist, visual novel…Gen Urobuchi (Japanese: 虚淵 玄, Hepburn: Urobuchi Gen; born December 20, 1972) is a Japanese novelist, visual novel writer and anime screenwriter. He is known for being the co-creator of the highly acclaimed and commercially successful anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica, which earned him the Tokyo Anime Award for Best Scriptwriter, as well as the writer of the 2003 visual novel Saya no Uta, the 2012 anime Psycho-Pass, the light novel and anime Fate/Zero, and the 2013–2014 tokusatsu show Kamen Rider Gaim. He currently works at Nitroplus and Nitro+chiral. Anime written by Urobuchi that have won the Newtype Anime Awards have been Puella Magi Madoka Magica in 2011, Fate/Zero in 2012 and Psycho-Pass: The Movie in 2015.
Rikiō Takeshi (力皇 猛; born December 20, 1972 as Inoue Takeshi) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, who worked…Rikiō Takeshi (力皇 猛; born December 20, 1972 as Inoue Takeshi) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, who worked for Pro Wrestling Noah. He is also a former sumo wrestler.
Reiko Kataoka (片岡 礼子, Kataoka Reiko; born December 20, 1971) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best actress…Reiko Kataoka (片岡 礼子, Kataoka Reiko; born December 20, 1971) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best actress at the 45th Blue Ribbon Awards for Hush!.
Kenji Ogiwara (荻原 健司, Ogiwara Kenji; born 20 December 1969) is a Japanese politician and former Nordic combined skier…Kenji Ogiwara (荻原 健司, Ogiwara Kenji; born 20 December 1969) is a Japanese politician and former Nordic combined skier who won several medals at the Winter Olympics, the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, and the Holmenkollen ski festival. He won gold medals in the Nordic combined team events at the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. Ogiwara won two gold medals each in the 15 km individual (1993, 1997) and the team (3 x 10 km: 1993, 4 x 5 km: 1995) events and one bronze in the 7.5 km sprint (1999) at the Nordic skiing world championships. In 1995, Ogiwara won the Nordic combined event at the Holmenkollen ski festival. Ogiwara received the Holmenkollen medal in 1995, becoming the first non-European and first Asian to ever receive the honor. At the 1998 Winter Olympics, he took the Athlete's Oath. Ogiwara's twin brother Tsugiharu competed with him at the 1995 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Thunder Bay, Ontario, sharing a gold with him in the 4 x 5 km team event. Ogiwara has also stood as candidate for Liberal Democratic Party. He ran for the Mayor of Nagano election, which was executed on October 31, 2021, won 98,711 votes, and was appointed Mayor of Nagano on November 11, 2021.
Tsugiharu Ogiwara (荻原 次晴, Ogiwara Tsugiharu) (born 20 December 1969) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed…Tsugiharu Ogiwara (荻原 次晴, Ogiwara Tsugiharu) (born 20 December 1969) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed from 1994 to 1998. He won the 4 x 5 km team event at the 1995 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Ogiwara's best individual finish at the Winter Olympics was 6th at Nagano in 1998. He had two individual career victories (1993: 15 km individual, 1998: 7.5 km sprint). He is the twin brother of Kenji Ogiwara, a fellow Japanese Nordic combined athlete.
Chisa Yokoyama (横山 智佐, Yokoyama Chisa; born December 20, 1969) is a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer from…Chisa Yokoyama (横山 智佐, Yokoyama Chisa; born December 20, 1969) is a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer from Tokyo, Japan. She was affiliated with Arts Vision but has since founded her own voice company called Banbina. When she was a high school student, she was an assistant of Jump Broadcasting Station of Weekly Shōnen Jump (1988–1996). Some of her major roles are Sasami Masaki Jurai (Tenchi Muyo!), Ryoko Subaru (Martian Successor Nadesico), Lucrezia Noin (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing) and Sakura Shinguji (Sakura Wars). She married musician Chaka from the band Tripolysm and their first child was born in September 2015.
Tadaharu Ogawa (小川 忠晴, Ogawa Tadaharu) is the head coach of the Niigata Albirex BB Rabbits in the Women's Japan…Tadaharu Ogawa (小川 忠晴, Ogawa Tadaharu) is the head coach of the Niigata Albirex BB Rabbits in the Women's Japan Basketball League.
Ayumu Saito (斎藤 歩, Saitō Ayumu; 20 December 1964 – 11 June 2025) was a Japanese playwright, director, actor and theatre…Ayumu Saito (斎藤 歩, Saitō Ayumu; 20 December 1964 – 11 June 2025) was a Japanese playwright, director, actor and theatre producer. He was represented by Knockout. Saito was also the director of the Japan Directors Association. Saito died on 11 June 2025, at the age of 60, following a struggle with urothelial carcinoma.
Fumio Nutahara (奴田原 文雄, Nutahara Fumio; born 20 December 1963) is a Japanese rally driver. He finished eighth on the…Fumio Nutahara (奴田原 文雄, Nutahara Fumio; born 20 December 1963) is a Japanese rally driver. He finished eighth on the 2006 Rally Japan to score one World Rally Championship point.
Beyblade, known in Japan as Bakuten Shoot Beyblade (Japanese: 爆転シュートベイブレード, Hepburn: Bakuten Shūto Beiburēdo; lit.…Beyblade, known in Japan as Bakuten Shoot Beyblade (Japanese: 爆転シュートベイブレード, Hepburn: Bakuten Shūto Beiburēdo; lit. 'Explosive-Spin Shoot Beyblade'), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takao Aoki, created to promote Takara's Beyblade spinning tops. The series focuses on a group of kids who form teams, which battle one another using Beyblades. It was serialized in Shogakukan's children's manga magazine CoroCoro Comic from August 1999 to June 2004, with its chapters collected and published in 14 tankōbon volumes. It was licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media and in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand by Chuang Yi. An anime adaptation by Madhouse aired in Japan on TV Tokyo from January to December 2001 and was followed by two sequel series, Beyblade V-Force and Beyblade G-Revolution, and the 2002 film Beyblade: Fierce Battle all three by Nippon Animedia, a partnership between Nippon Animation, Takara, Agatsuma and Epoch. Nelvana licensed and produced English-language adaptations of the anime series and the film.
Takeyuki Nakayama (中山 竹通, Nakayama Takeyuki; born December 20, 1959 in Ikeda, Nagano) is a former Japanese world-class…Takeyuki Nakayama (中山 竹通, Nakayama Takeyuki; born December 20, 1959 in Ikeda, Nagano) is a former Japanese world-class marathon runner. He represented his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea (gold medal). Nakayama's notable marathon wins include Fukuoka Marathon (1984, 1987), the Seoul marathon (1985), and the Tokyo marathon (1990). In 1985 Nakayama set the 2nd record in the world from the 1st World Cup Marathon (2:08:15). As of 2007, Nakayama is a coach at the Aichi Seiko Track Team.
Atsuji Miyahara (宮原 厚次, Miyahara Atsuji; born December 20, 1958) is a Japanese wrestler and Olympic champion in…Atsuji Miyahara (宮原 厚次, Miyahara Atsuji; born December 20, 1958) is a Japanese wrestler and Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling.
Hisatoshi Shintaku (新宅 永灯至, Shintaku Hisatoshi; born December 20, 1957), also known as Masanari Shintaku (新宅雅也…Hisatoshi Shintaku (新宅 永灯至, Shintaku Hisatoshi; born December 20, 1957), also known as Masanari Shintaku (新宅雅也, Shintaku Masanari), is a retired long-distance runner from Japan. He won the 1985 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon, clocking 2:09:51 on December 1, 1985. He represented his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics, finishing in 17th place (2:15:42).
Hideki Noda (野田 秀樹, Noda Hideki; born 20 December 1955) is a Japanese actor, playwright and theatre director who has…Hideki Noda (野田 秀樹, Noda Hideki; born 20 December 1955) is a Japanese actor, playwright and theatre director who has written and directed more than 40 plays in Japan.
Masayoshi Watanabe (渡邉 正義, Watanabe Masayoshi; born December 20, 1954) is a Japanese chemist and professor of Yokohama…Masayoshi Watanabe (渡邉 正義, Watanabe Masayoshi; born December 20, 1954) is a Japanese chemist and professor of Yokohama National University.
Shigeru Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 茂, Hepburn: Suzuki Shigeru; born December 20, 1951) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and…Shigeru Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 茂, Hepburn: Suzuki Shigeru; born December 20, 1951) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and guitarist. He first became known as a member of the influential rock band Happy End in the early 1970s, before starting a solo career and becoming a prolific session musician. As of 2006, Suzuki had contributed to 588 recordings. In 2019, Suzuki's high school band Skye reunited and released their first album.
Hiroya Masuda (増田 寛也, Masuda Hiroya; born 20 December 1951) is a Japanese politician, government official, and business…Hiroya Masuda (増田 寛也, Masuda Hiroya; born 20 December 1951) is a Japanese politician, government official, and business executive. He was Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications from August 2007 to September 2008, and has served as the president and CEO of Japan Post Holdings since January 2020.
Takao Okawara (大河原 孝夫, Ōkawara Takao; born December 20, 1949, in Tokyo) is a Japanese film director, writer, and…Takao Okawara (大河原 孝夫, Ōkawara Takao; born December 20, 1949, in Tokyo) is a Japanese film director, writer, and producer.
Yoshitaka Sakurada (桜田 義孝, Sakurada Yoshitaka; born 20 December 1949) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal…Yoshitaka Sakurada (桜田 義孝, Sakurada Yoshitaka; born 20 December 1949) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet of Japan. He formerly served as Minister of State for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Fourth Abe Cabinet.
Akihiko Ohya (大矢 明彦 Ōya Akihiko, born December 20, 1947) is a former Japanese baseball player and manager. He was the…Akihiko Ohya (大矢 明彦 Ōya Akihiko, born December 20, 1947) is a former Japanese baseball player and manager. He was the manager of the Yokohama BayStars baseball team in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball until he was fired on May 18, 2009, for not maintaining club standards.
Chikako Urano (Japanese: 浦野千賀子, born 20 December 1946) is a Japanese mangaka. She is best known for the series Attack…Chikako Urano (Japanese: 浦野千賀子, born 20 December 1946) is a Japanese mangaka. She is best known for the series Attack No.1 (1968–1970).
Yukiyo Kojima (小嶋 由紀代, Kojima Yukiyo; born December 10, 1945) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in…Yukiyo Kojima (小嶋 由紀代, Kojima Yukiyo; born December 10, 1945) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics. In 1968 she was part of the Japanese team which won the silver medal in the Olympic tournament. She played all seven matches.
Kazuyoshi Kaneko (金子 一義, Kaneko Kazuyoshi; born 20 December 1942) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Kazuyoshi Kaneko (金子 一義, Kaneko Kazuyoshi; born 20 December 1942) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Yoshitaka Egawa (江川 嘉孝, Egawa Yoshitaka; 20 December 1942 – 26 December 2024) was a Japanese basketball player. He…Yoshitaka Egawa (江川 嘉孝, Egawa Yoshitaka; 20 December 1942 – 26 December 2024) was a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1964 Summer Olympics. Egawa died in Kisarazu on 26 December 2024, at the age of 82.
Japan was the host nation for the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. 328 competitors, 270 men and 58 women, took part in…Japan was the host nation for the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. 328 competitors, 270 men and 58 women, took part in 155 events in 21 sports.