Yuko Mitsuya (三屋 裕子 Mitsuya Yūko, born 29 July 1958) is a Japanese former volleyball player who was a member of the…Yuko Mitsuya (三屋 裕子 Mitsuya Yūko, born 29 July 1958) is a Japanese former volleyball player who was a member of the Japanese women's national volleyball team that won the bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Fumio Kishida (born 29 July 1957) is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the…Fumio Kishida (born 29 July 1957) is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2021 until his resignation in 2024. He has represented Hiroshima 1st in the House of Representatives since 1996. Before his premiership, he was the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2017, as acting Minister of Defense in 2017, and he also chaired the LDP Policy Research Council from 2017 to 2020. Born into a political family, Kishida spent part of his childhood in the United States, where he attended elementary school in New York City. After beginning his career in finance, Kishida entered politics and was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1993 general election as a member of the LDP. Kishida was appointed to Minister of State for Special Missions in the premiership of Shinzo Abe and Yasuo Fukuda from 2007 to 2008, and was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2012 after Abe regained the premiership following the 2012 general election, serving for five years and becoming the longest-serving Foreign Affairs Minister in Japanese history. Kishida resigned from the Abe cabinet in 2017 in order to head the LDP's Policy Research Council. Kishida also assumed leadership of the LDP's more moderate Kōchikai faction in 2012 following the retirement of faction leader Makoto Koga, a position he held until his resignation in 2023. Long considered a potential future prime minister, Kishida ran in the 2020 LDP presidential election, but lost to Yoshihide Suga. He ran again for the party leadership in 2021, this time winning in a second round run-off against opponent Taro Kono. Kishida was confirmed as prime minister by the National Diet four days later on 4 October 2021. Upon assuming office as prime minister, Kishida stated that his administration would pursue a "new model of capitalism" by implementing redistributive policies aimed at raising wages and expanding the middle class. His tenure saw a reversal of decades-long deflationary economic policies, with Japan experiencing its highest wage growth in 30 years, driven by record wage increases achieved through annual wage negotiations. He led the LDP to victory in 2021 general election and 2022 House of Councillors election, albeit at a slightly reduced majority. He oversaw the dissolution of the Unification Church (UC) in Japan following the assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022 and the disbandment of his faction Kōchikai, along with Seiwakai and Shisuikai following a party-wide slush fund corruption scandal. His tenure also oversaw the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean in August 2023, less than 12 years since the Great East Japan earthquake in March 2011. He reshuffled his cabinet twice, in August 2022 to remove cabinet members affiliated with the UC and in September 2023 to remove cabinet members associated with the slush fund scandal. On foreign policy, Kishida continued strengthening the Quad Security Dialogue and close cooperation with NATO in pursuit of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, signed the American–Japanese–Korean trilateral pact in 2023, formed security pacts with the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Philippines, and took steps to repair ties with South Korea. In 2022 he instructed the cabinet to increase Japan's military budget by 65% by 2027, the most significant defense budget increase in decades. Kishida responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by becoming the first Asian country to impose sanctions on Russia and Belarus and authorizing civilian aid to Ukraine. Kishida survived an assassination attempt on 15 April 2023 while delivering a campaign speech. The end of his premiership was marked by a struggle to recover from record-low approval ratings amid fallout from the LDP slush fund scandal. On 14 August 2024, Kishida announced that he would resign from office and step down as LDP party leader, thereby not seeking re-election in September of the same year. In the LDP leadership election, Kishida initially endorsed Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, then, in the second round, whipped votes for Shigeru Ishiba, who defeated Sanae Takaichi to become the next party leader and prime minister.
Kumiko Onodera (小野寺 久美子, Onodera Kumiko) (born July 29, 1954), better known as Kumiko Akiyoshi (秋吉 久美子, Akiyoshi…Kumiko Onodera (小野寺 久美子, Onodera Kumiko) (born July 29, 1954), better known as Kumiko Akiyoshi (秋吉 久美子, Akiyoshi Kumiko), is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best actress at the 1st Hochi Film Award for Banka, Saraba natsuno hikariyo and Brother and Sister.
Kazuo Shii (志位 和夫, Shii Kazuo; born 29 July 1954) is a Japanese politician who has been the chairman of the Central…Kazuo Shii (志位 和夫, Shii Kazuo; born 29 July 1954) is a Japanese politician who has been the chairman of the Central Committee of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) since 2024. He previously served as the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Committee of the JCP from 24 November 2000 to 18 January 2024. Born in Yotsukaidō in Chiba Prefecture, Shii first joined the JCP while studying engineering physics at the University of Tokyo. He participated in the JCP's Tokyo Committee after graduation, and worked in the Party Central Committee from 1982. He became the head of the secretariat in 1990, and was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 1993. He became the chairman of the Party Executive Committee in 2000. He led the party until 18 January 2024, when he resigned as the executive committee chairman, and was succeeded by Tomoko Tamura. On the same day, Shii was appointed as the chairman of the Central Committee.
Hideki Nakano (中野 秀樹, Nakano Hideki; born 29 July 1952) is a Japanese skier. He competed in the Nordic combined event…Hideki Nakano (中野 秀樹, Nakano Hideki; born 29 July 1952) is a Japanese skier. He competed in the Nordic combined event at the 1972 Winter Olympics.
Momotarō Dentetsu (桃太郎電鉄, Momotarō Dentetsu; Momotarō Electric Railway) (also known by the abbreviated name Momotetsu)…Momotarō Dentetsu (桃太郎電鉄, Momotarō Dentetsu; Momotarō Electric Railway) (also known by the abbreviated name Momotetsu) is a long-running digital tabletop game series in Japan; in which players travel by rail, ship, and airplane; attempting to acquire wealth through business transactions buying properties; and dealing with rival entrepreneurs and nemeses such as the God of Poverty (貧乏神, Binbōgami). The game mechanics are often compared to the board games sugoroku and Monopoly.
Hiroko Yamashita (山下 博子, Yamashita Hiroko; born July 29, 1951) is a retired Japanese long jumper. She won a gold and a…Hiroko Yamashita (山下 博子, Yamashita Hiroko; born July 29, 1951) is a retired Japanese long jumper. She won a gold and a bronze medal at the Asian Games in 1970 and 1974, respectively, and placed 15th at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Yoshihiro Katayama (片山 善博, Katayama Yoshihiro; born 29 July 1951) is a former Japanese politician who served as the…Yoshihiro Katayama (片山 善博, Katayama Yoshihiro; born 29 July 1951) is a former Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications in the Kan Cabinet from September 2010 through to September 2011. He was the governor of Tottori Prefecture from 1999 to 2007.
Hisashi Yamada (山田 久志, Yamada Hisashi; born July 29, 1948) is a retired Japanese professional baseball submarine…Hisashi Yamada (山田 久志, Yamada Hisashi; born July 29, 1948) is a retired Japanese professional baseball submarine pitcher. He played with the Hankyu Braves in Nippon Professional Baseball from 1969 to 1988. Yamada won the Pacific League MVP for three consecutive seasons (1976–1978), sharing a record with Ichiro Suzuki (1994–1996) for the most consecutive awards won. In addition, Yamada won the Japan Series MVP in 1977. He won 20 or more games four times in his career, including notching 26 victories in 1976. Yamada twice won the Pacific League earned run average championship, with marks of 2.37 in 1971 and 2.28 in 1977. He won the Best Nine Award five times in his career. As coach of the Chunichi Dragons in 1999, he led the team to the Central League pennant. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2009, Yamada served as a coach for the Japanese team in the World Baseball Classic.
Masaki Orita (折田 正樹, Orita Masaki; born 1942 in Tokyo) is a Japanese lawyer specializing in international law. He is on…Masaki Orita (折田 正樹, Orita Masaki; born 1942 in Tokyo) is a Japanese lawyer specializing in international law. He is on the board of directors of the NGO Japan Center for Conflict Prevention. During the 1990s he served as Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and as Japanese Ambassador to Denmark and Lithuania. From 2001 to 2004, he was the Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom. In 2005, served as Special Envoy for UN Reform on behalf of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is a member of the Japanese chapter of the International Law Association.
Shigeo Kaoku (加奥 成雄, born 29 July 1942) is a retired Japanese field hockey player, who won a bronze medal at the 1966…Shigeo Kaoku (加奥 成雄, born 29 July 1942) is a retired Japanese field hockey player, who won a bronze medal at the 1966 Asian Games. He competed at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics and finished in 7th and 13th place, respectively.
Ryutaro Hashimoto (橋本 龍太郎, Hashimoto Ryūtarō; 29 July 1937 – 1 July 2006) was a Japanese politician who served as prime…Ryutaro Hashimoto (橋本 龍太郎, Hashimoto Ryūtarō; 29 July 1937 – 1 July 2006) was a Japanese politician who served as prime minister of Japan from 1996 to 1998. Born in Okayama Prefecture, Hashimoto graduated from Keio University in 1960 and entered the National Diet in 1963. He rose through the ranks of the Liberal Democratic Party and became major figure in the Tanaka/Takeshita faction, and served as health and welfare minister under Masayoshi Ōhira, transport minister under Yasuhiro Nakasone, and finance minister under Toshiki Kaifu. In 1994, he became minister of international trade and industry, then became prime minister in 1996 as the head of a coalition with the Social Democratic Party and New Party Sakigake. During his tenure, Hashimoto sought currency reform and tried to revive the Japanese economy. He resigned after the LDP lost its majority in the 1998 upper house election, but remained leader of his faction until a scandal in 2004. He retired from politics in 2005.
Miyako Maki (牧 美也子, Maki Miyako; born July 29, 1935) is a Japanese manga artist, and one of the earliest female manga…Miyako Maki (牧 美也子, Maki Miyako; born July 29, 1935) is a Japanese manga artist, and one of the earliest female manga artists. During the 1960s, Maki contributed significantly to the development of shōjo manga (manga for girls), and became one of the most popular shōjo authors of her generation. She later became a pioneer in manga for adults, producing gekiga and redikomi towards the end of that decade. She is the widow of manga artist Leiji Matsumoto, with whom she has collaborated with on multiple works. Miyako created Licca-chan, a popular Japanese doll manufactured by Takara. Works by Maki have been awarded the Japan Cartoonists Association Award, the Montreal International Comic Contest prize, and the Shogakukan Manga Award.
Jirō Ishiba (Japanese: 石破 二朗, Hepburn: Ishiba Jirō; 29 July 1908 – 16 September 1981) was a Japanese bureaucrat and…Jirō Ishiba (Japanese: 石破 二朗, Hepburn: Ishiba Jirō; 29 July 1908 – 16 September 1981) was a Japanese bureaucrat and politician who served as the governor of Tottori and as a member of the House of Councillors. He also held other high-ranking positions, including Minister of Home Affairs and Vice Minister of Construction. His son Shigeru Ishiba, served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 2024 to 2025.
Mamoru Shigemitsu (重光 葵, Shigemitsu Mamoru; July 29, 1887 – January 26, 1957) was a Japanese diplomat and politician…Mamoru Shigemitsu (重光 葵, Shigemitsu Mamoru; July 29, 1887 – January 26, 1957) was a Japanese diplomat and politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs three times during and after World War II and as Deputy Prime Minister. As a civilian plenipotentiary representing the Japanese government, Shigemitsu cosigned the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on board the battleship USS Missouri on September 2, 1945.
Kawai Michi (河井 道; July 29, 1877 – February 11, 1953) was a Japanese educator, Christian activist, and proponent of…Kawai Michi (河井 道; July 29, 1877 – February 11, 1953) was a Japanese educator, Christian activist, and proponent of Japanese-Western ties before, during, and after World War II. She served as the first Japanese National Secretary of the YWCA of Japan and founded Keisen University.
Yoshida Masujirō (吉田増次郎; July 29, 1867 – March 14, 1942) was a Japanese admiral who was Commander of the Interim…Yoshida Masujirō (吉田増次郎; July 29, 1867 – March 14, 1942) was a Japanese admiral who was Commander of the Interim Southern Islands Defense Unit from 1916 to 1917.
Eiko Ishibashi (石橋 英子, Ishibashi Eiko) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician. She composed the scores for the…Eiko Ishibashi (石橋 英子, Ishibashi Eiko) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician. She composed the scores for the films Drive My Car (2021) and Evil Does Not Exist (2023).