Haruki Hosono (細野 晴希, Hosono Haruki; born February 26, 2002 in Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese professional…Haruki Hosono (細野 晴希, Hosono Haruki; born February 26, 2002 in Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Hirokazu Ishihara (石原 広教, Ishihara Hirokazu; born 26 February 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as…Hirokazu Ishihara (石原 広教, Ishihara Hirokazu; born 26 February 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as right back for J1 League club FC Tokyo.
Hanami Sekine (関根 花観 (Sekine Hanami); born 26 February 1996) is a Japanese female long-distance runner who competes in…Hanami Sekine (関根 花観 (Sekine Hanami); born 26 February 1996) is a Japanese female long-distance runner who competes in track events. She competed for Japan at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Born in Tokyo, Sekine showed her promise for distance running by winning a leg at the Inter-Prefectural Women's Ekiden as a junior high school athlete. Her first international medal came over 3000 metres at the 2014 Asian Junior Athletics Championships, where she was silver medallist behind Kyrgyz athlete Darya Maslova. She continued to perform well in national ekiden competitions, winning her stage at the Inter-Prefectural race in 2014 and 2016, and coming runner-up at the All-Japan Women's Corporate Ekiden Championships in 2015. Sekine showed much improvement on the track in the 2016 season and at the 2016 Japan Championships in Athletics she set a personal best of 31:22.92 minutes to take second behind Ayuko Suzuki in the 10,000 metres, then placed third in the 5000 metres with another best of 15:24.74 minutes. She was chosen to represent Japan at the 2016 Summer Olympics over the longer distance. At the competition she was near the top of the field in the opening stages, but fell away as the leading pack took on a world record pace. She finished 20th, two places behind national rival Yuka Takashima.
Haruno Sasaki (佐々木 春乃, Sasaki Haruno; born 26 February 1995) is a Japanese handball player for Borussia Dortmund…Haruno Sasaki (佐々木 春乃, Sasaki Haruno; born 26 February 1995) is a Japanese handball player for Borussia Dortmund Handball and the Japanese national team.
Satoko Yamada (Kanji:山田 聡子, born 26 February 1995) is a Japanese sports shooter. She competed in the women's 10 metre…Satoko Yamada (Kanji:山田 聡子, born 26 February 1995) is a Japanese sports shooter. She competed in the women's 10 metre air pistol event at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Kotaro Munyaradzi Matsushima (松島 幸太朗, Matsushima Kōtarō; born 26 February 1993) is a professional rugby union player…Kotaro Munyaradzi Matsushima (松島 幸太朗, Matsushima Kōtarō; born 26 February 1993) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for Japan Rugby League One club Tokyo Sungoliath. Born in South Africa, he represents Japan at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.
Akishige Kaneda (兼田 亜季重, Kaneda Akishige; born February 26, 1990) is a Japanese football player who plays for Oita…Akishige Kaneda (兼田 亜季重, Kaneda Akishige; born February 26, 1990) is a Japanese football player who plays for Oita Trinita in the J2 League.
Takanoiwa Yoshimori (born 26 February 1990 as Adiyagiin Baasandorj) is a former sumo wrestler from Ulaanbaatar…Takanoiwa Yoshimori (born 26 February 1990 as Adiyagiin Baasandorj) is a former sumo wrestler from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. He made his professional debut in January 2009. He has both a sandanme and a jūryō division championship. He reached the jūryō division in July 2012 and the top makuuchi division for the first time in January 2014. He was the only wrestler recruited by former yokozuna Takanohana to reach the elite sekitori ranks. He was runner-up in one top division tournament and earned two special prizes, one for Fighting Spirit and one for Outstanding Performance. His highest rank was maegashira 2. Takanoiwa was the victim of an assault by sumo wrestler Harumafuji in October 2017. Takanoiwa was then the assailant in an incident against a junior member of his own stable the following year, which led to his retirement from the sport.
Hitomi Niiya (新谷 仁美, Niiya Hitomi; born 26 February 1988) is a Japanese professional long-distance runner who competes…Hitomi Niiya (新谷 仁美, Niiya Hitomi; born 26 February 1988) is a Japanese professional long-distance runner who competes in track, cross country running and marathon races. Niiya competed for Japan at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She is a two-time silver medallist at the Asian Athletics Championships and has represented Japan three times at the World Athletics Championships (2011, 2013, 2019). She represents Team Toyota Industries in national competition. She formed part of the Japanese junior team at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships from 2004 to 2006, helping them to team medals each time. She also won a bronze medal over 5000 metres at the 2005 World Youth Championships. Niiya won the 2007 Tokyo Marathon at the age of eighteen in her debut over the marathon distance. Her best for the event is 2:30:58 hours. She has also had success in ekiden relay running, having represented Japan at the Yokohama International Women's Ekiden and helped Toyota Industries to their first team title domestically. She is the Japanese record holder in the half marathon (1:06:38) set during a win at the Houston Half Marathon.
Kim Song-yong, also known as Kimu Sonyon (キム ソンヨン; Korean: 김성용; Hanja: 金成勇; born February 26, 1987) is a former…Kim Song-yong, also known as Kimu Sonyon (キム ソンヨン; Korean: 김성용; Hanja: 金成勇; born February 26, 1987) is a former professional footballer who played as a striker. Born in Japan, he represented the North Korea at international level.
Crystal Kay Williams (クリスタル・ケイ・ウィリアムズ, Kurisutaru Kei Wiriamuzu; born February 26, 1986) is a Japanese-born singer…Crystal Kay Williams (クリスタル・ケイ・ウィリアムズ, Kurisutaru Kei Wiriamuzu; born February 26, 1986) is a Japanese-born singer, songwriter, actress and radio host. After releasing her first single, "Eternal Memories" (1999), Crystal Kay gained fame for her third studio album, Almost Seventeen (2002), which debuted at number 2 on the Japanese Oricon charts. Almost Seventeen eventually sold over 400,000 copies and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Crystal Kay, formerly signed to Epic Records, a sub-label of Sony Music Japan for 12 years, suddenly transferred to Delicious Deli Records, a sub-label of Universal Music Japan in 2011. As of April 2021, she has released thirteen albums. Her seventh studio album, All Yours (2007) became Crystal Kay's only number-one release in her career when it debuted on top of the Oricon chart in June 2007. Throughout her career, Crystal Kay has collaborated with M-Flo and BoA, Chemistry as well as other well-known recording artists. With over 5 million records sold to date, Crystal Kay is one of the best-selling musicians in Japan.
Ryosuke Kawanabe (川鍋 良祐, Kawanabe Ryōsuke; born February 26, 1986 in Kasukabe, Saitama) is a Japanese football player…Ryosuke Kawanabe (川鍋 良祐, Kawanabe Ryōsuke; born February 26, 1986 in Kasukabe, Saitama) is a Japanese football player currently playing for Gainare Tottori.
Saki Kagami (加賀美早紀, Kagami Saki; born February 26, 1985) is a Japanese actress. Her acting career began in early 2001…Saki Kagami (加賀美早紀, Kagami Saki; born February 26, 1985) is a Japanese actress. Her acting career began in early 2001, when she was cast for the lead role in the movie Platonic Sex among 12,083 applicants. Now she is probably best known for roles in various TV Dramas and tokusatsu shows such as Ultraseven X and Kamen Rider Kiva. She was represented by Watanabe Entertainment.
Miki Shōji (庄司 美貴, Shōji Miki) (born February 26, 1985), professionally known by her birth name of Miki Fujimoto (藤本…Miki Shōji (庄司 美貴, Shōji Miki) (born February 26, 1985), professionally known by her birth name of Miki Fujimoto (藤本 美貴, Fujimoto Miki), and nicknamed Mikitty, is a Japanese actress, singer and YouTuber. After failing the audition to join girl group Morning Musume with the fourth generation members, Fujimoto debuted as a solo artist within Hello! Project in 2002 with the single "Aenai Nagai Nichiyōbi". Fujimoto later joined Morning Musume in 2003 along with the sixth generation and eventually became the leader of the group in 2007.
Yoshika Arai (Japanese: 荒井 悦加, née Tatsumi Japanese: 辰巳; born 26 February 1982) is a Japanese middle- and long-distance…Yoshika Arai (Japanese: 荒井 悦加, née Tatsumi Japanese: 辰巳; born 26 February 1982) is a Japanese middle- and long-distance runner who specialises in the 3000 metres steeplechase. Her personal best for that event is 9:55.93 minutes. She took up the steeplechase event in 2007 and represented her country at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics, held in Osaka. Her first major medal came at the 2009 Asian Athletics Championships, where she won in a championship record. Earlier in her career, Arai was a frequent runner-up to Minori Hayakari at the Japan Championships in Athletics, but she took national titles in both 2012 and 2013. She also placed fourth at the 2013 Asian Athletics Championships.
Kaori Yoneyama (米山 香織, Yoneyama Kaori; born February 26, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler, working as a…Kaori Yoneyama (米山 香織, Yoneyama Kaori; born February 26, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler, working as a freelancer on the Japanese independent circuit. Yoneyama started her career in 1999, working with the JWP Joshi Puroresu promotion. During the following years, she became a one-time JWP Openweight Champion, a one-time JWP Junior Champion, a five-time JWP Tag Team Champion, a one-time Pure-J Openweight Champion and a three-time Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Champion. Notable titles she has held outside of JWP include All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling's AJW Championship and AJW Tag Team Championship, Ice Ribbon's International Ribbon Tag Team Championship, Big Japan Pro Wrestling's BJW Women's Championship, and NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling's High Speed Championship. In July 2011, Yoneyama announced that she would be ending her twelve-year career the following December. After a retirement tour, which took Yoneyama not only across the Japanese independent circuit, but also to the United States, she announced during her retirement ceremony that she had changed her mind and decided to continue her career. In January 2013, Yoneyama quit JWP to become a freelancer, working for promotions such as Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling, Oz Academy, Union Pro Wrestling and World Wonder Ring Stardom.
Hitomi Kashima (鹿島 瞳, Kashima Hitomi; born February 26, 1980) is a retired Japanese female butterfly swimmer. She…Hitomi Kashima (鹿島 瞳, Kashima Hitomi; born February 26, 1980) is a retired Japanese female butterfly swimmer. She represented Japan at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. She also won a silver medal at the 1997 FINA Short Course World Championships.
Takahiro Ueda (上田 岳弘, Ueda Takahiro) is a Japanese novelist. He won the 2019 Akutagawa Prize for his science-fiction…Takahiro Ueda (上田 岳弘, Ueda Takahiro) is a Japanese novelist. He won the 2019 Akutagawa Prize for his science-fiction novel Nimuroddo (Nimrod), which "depicts relations between the advancement of science and humanism with a focus on cryptocurrency". He also won the 2015 Mishima Prize for My One True Love. In 2016, he was named by Granta magazine as one of the best young Japanese novelists.
Masato Shimizu (清水 真人, Shimizu Masato; born 26 February 1975) is a Japanese politician belonging to the Nikai Faction…Masato Shimizu (清水 真人, Shimizu Masato; born 26 February 1975) is a Japanese politician belonging to the Nikai Faction of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), serving his first term in the House of Councillors, representing Gumma Prefecture.
Junko Moriyama (森山 淳子, Moriyama Junko; born (1975-02-26)26 February 1975) is a retired Japanese female volleyball…Junko Moriyama (森山 淳子, Moriyama Junko; born (1975-02-26)26 February 1975) is a retired Japanese female volleyball player. She was part of the Japan women's national volleyball team at the 1998 FIVB World Championship in Japan.
Shigenori Yamazaki (山崎樹範, Yamazaki Shigenori; born February 26, 1974 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actor and voice…Shigenori Yamazaki (山崎樹範, Yamazaki Shigenori; born February 26, 1974 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actor and voice actor. He has been married to actress Rei Yoshii since November 11, 2016.
Tochinonada Taiichi (栃乃洋 泰一 born February 26, 1974, as Taiichi Gotō) is a former sumo wrestler from Ishikawa…Tochinonada Taiichi (栃乃洋 泰一 born February 26, 1974, as Taiichi Gotō) is a former sumo wrestler from Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. An amateur sumo champion, he turned professional in 1996 and reached the top makuuchi division in 1997. He earned twelve kinboshi or gold stars for defeating yokozuna, the second highest ever, and he was a runner-up in two tournaments. His highest rank was sekiwake. He is now a coach at Kasugano stable under the name Takenawa Oyakata.
Luvsannyamyn Gantömör (Mongolian: Лувсаннямын Гантөмөр; born 26 February 1973) is a Mongolian politician and leader of…Luvsannyamyn Gantömör (Mongolian: Лувсаннямын Гантөмөр; born 26 February 1973) is a Mongolian politician and leader of the Democratic Party from 2023 to 2025. He was a member of the State Great Khural from 2004 to 2016, and was re-elected as a member of parliament (MP) in 2024. He previously served as Minister of Education under the Altankhuyag and Saikhanbileg cabinets from 2012 to 2016, and as deputy leader of the Democratic Party caucus between 2009 and 2012.
Tsutomu Nihei (弐瓶 勉, Nihei Tsutomu; born February 26, 1971) is a Japanese manga artist. Nihei has been drawing comics…Tsutomu Nihei (弐瓶 勉, Nihei Tsutomu; born February 26, 1971) is a Japanese manga artist. Nihei has been drawing comics professionally since the mid-1990s. In 1995, he was awarded the "Jiro Taniguchi Special Prize" in that year's Afternoon Four Seasons Award for his one-shot submission, Blame. After working as an assistant to veteran comic artist Tsutomu Takahashi, Nihei went on to launch his debut series Blame! in Monthly Afternoon in 1997. Following the success of Blame!, he next penned Wolverine: Snikt! (published by Marvel Comics) and Biomega. In 2009, Nihei returned to Monthly Afternoon to launch what would become his most successful series, Knights of Sidonia. An architectural student, Nihei's early works were mainly wordless, relying on visuals and backgrounds to tell their stories. His cyberpunk-influenced artwork has gained a strong cult following worldwide.
Rui Arai (新居 るい, Arai Rui, née Matsukawa, 松川; February 26, 1971) is a Japanese politician and diplomat who serves as a…Rui Arai (新居 るい, Arai Rui, née Matsukawa, 松川; February 26, 1971) is a Japanese politician and diplomat who serves as a member of the House of Councillors representing the Liberal Democratic Party. She previously served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Cabinet Office. She is the wife of diplomat Yūsuke Arai.
Masami Hirosaka (広坂正美, Hirosaka Masami; born February 26, 1970, Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese radio controlled car driver…Masami Hirosaka (広坂正美, Hirosaka Masami; born February 26, 1970, Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese radio controlled car driver who is considered to be the world's most successful with a record fourteen IFMAR World Championships in 1/12 scale electric, 1/10 scale Pan, 1/10 scale 2WD off-road and 1/10 scale 4WD, all electric. Hirosaka's peers have nicknamed him "Master Masami". He was considered to be one of the highest paid drivers in RC racing, until he retired from the activity. His last IFMAR race was the 2008 world championship in Thailand. His retirement ceremony was on May 3, 2009.
Kazuyoshi "Kazu" Miura (三浦 知良, Miura Kazuyoshi; born 26 February 1967), nicknamed King Kazu, is a Japanese professional…Kazuyoshi "Kazu" Miura (三浦 知良, Miura Kazuyoshi; born 26 February 1967), nicknamed King Kazu, is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for J3 League club Fukushima United, on loan from J2 League club Yokohama FC. He is the world's oldest professional player. In addition, he is one of the few players to have made over 1,050 career appearances and the first Japanese player to achieve the feat. He played for the Japan national team from 1990 to 2000, and was the first Japanese recipient of the IFFHS Asia's Footballer of the Year award. With 55 goals in 89 caps for the national team, Miura is the second most prolific goalscorer in the national team's history, behind Kunishige Kamamoto. Miura holds the records for being the oldest goalscorer in J-League history at 50, the footballer with the world's longest professional career, and, as of 2026, is the oldest professional footballer in the world at 59. He also holds the distinction of having played professional football in five separate decades (1980s–2020s). His elder brother Yasutoshi is a former professional footballer.
Kenji Suda (須田 健仁, Suda Kenji) (born 26 February 1966) is a Japanese former ski jumper. In the World Cup, he finished…Kenji Suda (須田 健仁, Suda Kenji) (born 26 February 1966) is a Japanese former ski jumper. In the World Cup, he finished twelve times among the top 10, his best result being a second place from Örnsköldsvik in March 1994. He participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, where he finished 39th in the normal hill, 17th in the large hill and 4th in the team event.
Norihiro Akimura (秋村 謙宏, Akimura Norihiro; born February 26, 1966 in Yamaguchi, Japan) is a retired Japanese Nippon…Norihiro Akimura (秋村 謙宏, Akimura Norihiro; born February 26, 1966 in Yamaguchi, Japan) is a retired Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Kosei Akaishi (赤石 光生, Akaishi Kōsei; born 26 February 1965) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1984…Kosei Akaishi (赤石 光生, Akaishi Kōsei; born 26 February 1965) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics, in the 1988 Summer Olympics, and in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Naoto Ohshima (大島 直人, Ōshima Naoto) (born February 26, 1964) is a Japanese video game designer and artist, best known…Naoto Ohshima (大島 直人, Ōshima Naoto) (born February 26, 1964) is a Japanese video game designer and artist, best known for designing Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Although Yuji Naka made a tech demo around which Sonic's gameplay was based, the character in his prototype was a ball that lacked any specific features and was based on Ohshima's game proposal. Sonic Team considered numerous potential animal mascots before deciding on Ohshima's design, with an armadillo or hedgehog being the top choices because their spikes worked well with the concept of rolling into enemies. After leaving Sonic Team, Ohshima formed an independent game company called Artoon in 1999. There he went on to work on such games as Pinobee (2001), Blinx: The Time Sweeper (2002), and Blinx 2: Masters of Time & Space (2004). In 2010, Artoon was absorbed into AQ Interactive, and Ohshima and other key members of Artoon left to form Arzest. Early in his career, he was credited under the nickname "Big Island" in a number of games, which is a literal translation of his family name.
Gota Yashiki (屋敷 豪太, Yashiki Gōta), born 26 February 1962, is a Japanese musician. He performs an independent acid jazz…Gota Yashiki (屋敷 豪太, Yashiki Gōta), born 26 February 1962, is a Japanese musician. He performs an independent acid jazz artist and drum/bass player, and was a member of English band Simply Red.
David Zoppetti (デビット・ゾペティ, Debitto Zopeti; born 26 February 1962) is a Swiss-born author, best known for his novel…David Zoppetti (デビット・ゾペティ, Debitto Zopeti; born 26 February 1962) is a Swiss-born author, best known for his novel Ichigensan. Writing exclusively in Japanese, Zoppetti is thus an exophonic writer, considered part of the J-Literature movement. (J-Literature refers to Japanese literature of the 1990s, particularly novels on street life in urban Japan.) After leaving the Japanese language faculty of Geneva University, Zoppetti came to Japan and attended Doshisha University's department of Japanese literature, which he graduated in 1990. On graduation he became TV Asahi's first non-Japanese employee, and also their first employee to claim paternity leave. Soon after being hired, on 5 April 1991 he appeared in the opening scene of Kensaku Morita's 'Netsuketsu Television' show, and he went on to be a reporter and director for the flagship news programme News Station. His first novel, Ichigensan won the 20th Subaru Prize for Literature in 1996, and was further nominated for the 116th Akutagawa Prize. It also attracted critical attention as a work to "cross borders and break with established literary tradition [...] unique in that it is a novel of Kyoto written in Japanese by an 'outsider' for a Japanese audience". This success led him to leave TV Asahi in 1998 and concentrate on his writing activities, although he continued to work in a number of side-ventures including the promotion of Swiss goods such as absinthe and reflexology. Ichigensan "was a best-seller among young women readers [and went on to be] made into a hit film in 1999". His second novel, Alegrias was nominated for the 13th Mishima Yukio Prize, and his third book - a non-fiction travelogue - won the 50th Japan Essayists Club Prize in 2001. Zoppetti refers to his own race as 'thoroughly mixed' (純粋な混血), having Italian, American, Ukrainian, Iraqi and Polish great-grandparents, and speaking German, French, Italian, English and Japanese.
Junki Takegami (武上 純希, Takegami Junki; born February 26, 1955) is a Japanese animation and tokusatsu screenwriter. His…Junki Takegami (武上 純希, Takegami Junki; born February 26, 1955) is a Japanese animation and tokusatsu screenwriter. His real name is Shōzō Yamazaki (山崎 昌三, Yamazaki Shouzou), he has also used the alias Keiji Tanimoto (谷本 敬次, Tanimoto Keiji) in the past.
Masaki Eto (江藤 正基, Etō Masaki; born 26 February 1954) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1984 Summer…Masaki Eto (江藤 正基, Etō Masaki; born 26 February 1954) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Izumi Yoshida (吉田 泉, Yoshida Izumi; born 26 February 1949) is former a Japanese politician of the Constitutional…Izumi Yoshida (吉田 泉, Yoshida Izumi; born 26 February 1949) is former a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Iwaki, Fukushima and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected in 1996 as the mayor of Iwaki. After an unsuccessful run in 2000, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2003.
Banri Kaieda (海江田 万里, Kaieda Banri; born 26 February 1949) is a Japanese politician who served as the Vice Speaker of…Banri Kaieda (海江田 万里, Kaieda Banri; born 26 February 1949) is a Japanese politician who served as the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan from 2021 to 2024. A member of the House of Representatives of Japan, he also served as the President of the Democratic Party of Japan between 2012 and 2014. He is a former minister in the Kan cabinet.
Kazuo Kawasaki (川崎和男) is a Japanese industrial designer born in Fukui Prefecture in 1949. He graduated from Kanazawa…Kazuo Kawasaki (川崎和男) is a Japanese industrial designer born in Fukui Prefecture in 1949. He graduated from Kanazawa College of Art in 1972. Kawasaki is a professor at Osaka University and a visiting professor at Tama Art University and Kanazawa Institute of Technology. Representative works include the wheelchair "CARNA" (part of the permanent collection at MoMA New York), the "Kazuo Kawasaki" brand of eyeware and the "EIZO" brand of computer displays. One of his research projects is artificial heart design. Kawasaki was Apple design director in the early 1990s and designed portable computer devices (named MindTop, POPEYE, Pluto, Sweatpea, JEEP).
Yoshiko Tsuchida (Japanese: 土田よしこ, 26 February 1948 – 15 September 2023) was a Japanese manga artist and writer. Often…Yoshiko Tsuchida (Japanese: 土田よしこ, 26 February 1948 – 15 September 2023) was a Japanese manga artist and writer. Often described as a "unique" figure among Japanese manga artists, because of her style she has been referred to as "a female Fujio Akatsuka".
Hiromitsu Kadota (門田 博光, Kadota Hiromitsu; February 26, 1948 – January 23, 2023) was a Japanese professional baseball…Hiromitsu Kadota (門田 博光, Kadota Hiromitsu; February 26, 1948 – January 23, 2023) was a Japanese professional baseball player for the Hawks franchise (known during his career as the Nankai Hawks and the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks) and the Orix Braves. Celebrated for his slugging ability, he ate a lot and became a strong hitter, though was later weakened by diabetes mellitus. With 567 home runs, Kadota is number three on the NPB career list. Kadota won the Nippon Professional Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1980 with 41 home runs and 84 RBI. He hit 44 home runs at the age of 40 in 1988, also knocking in 125 runs and winning the Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award. He became the first 40-year-old to win the award in NPB history and is still the oldest player to win MVP in NPB history. That year he was also given the Matsutaro Shoriki Award, for contribution to the development of professional baseball. After playing for the Orix Braves for two seasons, he returned to the Hawks in 1991; he retired after his last game against pitcher Hideo Nomo in 1992. Kadota was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. Kadota died on January 23, 2023, after a police officer found him lying on the ground after having not showed up to an outpatient treatment in a hospital in Aioi, Hyogo and was confirmed dead on the scene.
Moriaki Wakabayashi (若林 盛亮, Wakabayashi Moriaki; born February 26, 1947) is a Japanese former rock and roll musician…Moriaki Wakabayashi (若林 盛亮, Wakabayashi Moriaki; born February 26, 1947) is a Japanese former rock and roll musician and airline hijacker currently residing in self-imposed exile in North Korea. In the late 1960s, Wakabayashi was a founding member of the Japanese avant-garde rock band Les Rallizes Dénudés, serving as the band's bassist. Wakabayashi was a member of the "Yodogō Group" of the radical New Left Japan Communist League's "Red Army Faction" that carried out the hijacking of Japan Air Lines Flight 351 in 1970, ultimately forcing the plane to fly to North Korea. Wakabayashi currently resides in North Korea, along with other hijackers of the aircraft.
Yōsuke Yamashita (山下 洋輔, Yamashita Yōsuke; born 26 February 1942) is a Japanese jazz pianist, composer and writer. His…Yōsuke Yamashita (山下 洋輔, Yamashita Yōsuke; born 26 February 1942) is a Japanese jazz pianist, composer and writer. His piano style is influenced by free jazz, modal jazz and soul jazz. Since the late 1980s, Yamashita's main performing group has consisted of Cecil McBee (bass), Pheeroan akLaff (drums), and often Joe Lovano (saxophone).
Tsunenari Tokugawa (徳川 恒孝, Tokugawa Tsunenari; born 26 February 1940) is the 18th generation head of the Tokugawa clan.…Tsunenari Tokugawa (徳川 恒孝, Tokugawa Tsunenari; born 26 February 1940) is the 18th generation head of the Tokugawa clan. He is the son of Ichirō Matsudaira and Toyoko Tokugawa. His great-grandfather was the famed Matsudaira Katamori of Aizu and his maternal great-grandfather was Tokugawa Iesato. As a great-grandson of Shimazu Tadayoshi, the last lord of Satsuma Domain, he is also a second cousin of the former Emperor, Akihito. Tsunenari was active for many years in the shipping company Nippon Yūsen, retiring in June, 2002, and is the head of the nonprofit Tokugawa Foundation. The nonprofit aims to preserve the remaining cultural treasures of the Tokugawa family, many of which were lost in the Meiji Restoration and World War II U.S. bombings. In 2007, Tsunenari published a book entitled Edo no idenshi (江戸の遺伝子), released in English in 2009 as The Edo Inheritance, which seeks to counter the common belief among Japanese that the Edo period (throughout which members of his Tokugawa clan ruled Japan as shōguns) was like a Dark Age, when Japan, cut off from the world, fell behind. On the contrary, he argues, the roughly 250 years of peace and relative prosperity saw great economic reforms, the growth of a sophisticated urban culture, and the development of the most urbanized society on the planet. Tokugawa stepped down from being the head of the Tokugawa clan on 1 January 2023. His son, author and translator Iehiro Tokugawa, took over the role.
Huisheng (26 February 1938 – 4 December 1957), or Eisei, was a Manchu-Japanese noblewoman. She was born in the Aisin…Huisheng (26 February 1938 – 4 December 1957), or Eisei, was a Manchu-Japanese noblewoman. She was born in the Aisin Gioro clan, the imperial clan of the Qing dynasty. She was the elder daughter of Pujie, the younger brother of Puyi, the last emperor of China. Her mother was Hiro Saga, a Japanese noblewoman who married Pujie in 1937.
Sadao Yamahana (山花 貞夫, Yamahana Sadao; 26 February 1936 – 14 July 1999) was a Japanese politician who served as…Sadao Yamahana (山花 貞夫, Yamahana Sadao; 26 February 1936 – 14 July 1999) was a Japanese politician who served as chairman of the Japan Socialist Party from January 1993 to September 1993. Yamahana led his party into coalition with other opposition parties to form the first non-LDP cabinet since 1955, led by Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa. Yamahana served as Minister in charge of political reform in the same cabinet. Yamahana later left the Socialists and became a founding member of the Democratic Party.
Lee Hoesung (Korean: 이회성; February 26, 1935 – January 5, 2025) was a Japanese Zainichi Korean novelist. He wrote under…Lee Hoesung (Korean: 이회성; February 26, 1935 – January 5, 2025) was a Japanese Zainichi Korean novelist. He wrote under the pen name Ri Kaisei, the Japanese reading of his Korean name. In 1972, he became the first ethnic Korean to win the Akutagawa Prize for his story "The Woman Who Fulled Clothes" (Kinuta wo utsu onna). Other representative works of his include Mihatenu Yume (見果てぬ夢; Unfulfilled Dream) and Hyakunen no tabibitotachi (百年の旅人たち; Travellers of a Hundred Years).
Gorō Yamaguchi (山口 五郎; February 26, 1933 – January 3, 1999) was a Japanese shakuhachi player who worked in both solo…Gorō Yamaguchi (山口 五郎; February 26, 1933 – January 3, 1999) was a Japanese shakuhachi player who worked in both solo and ensemble performances. He was noted for his influential recordings of traditional Japanese music and one of his pieces was selected by NASA to be included on the Voyager Golden Record and launched into space.
