Eizaburo Mitsuhashi (三橋栄三郎, Mitsuhashi Eizaburō; born 5 January 1960) is a Japanese former volleyball player who…Eizaburo Mitsuhashi (三橋栄三郎, Mitsuhashi Eizaburō; born 5 January 1960) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Mitsuhashi competed at the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow and won a bronze medal.
Miharu Koshi (コシミハル, Koshi Miharu; born January 3, 1960) is a Japanese singer and musician. Her career started in the…Miharu Koshi (コシミハル, Koshi Miharu; born January 3, 1960) is a Japanese singer and musician. Her career started in the late 1970s performing Japanese new music. By the mid-1980s she was performing music with electronic instruments, with many albums produced by Haruomi Hosono. Her later work has led to European classical music, French chanson and early 20th-century European Jazz, which she sings in several languages (most often French).
Hiroko Yamasaki (山崎 浩子, Yamasaki Hiroko; born January 3, 1960, Minamikyushu, Kagoshima) is a retired Japanese rhythmic…Hiroko Yamasaki (山崎 浩子, Yamasaki Hiroko; born January 3, 1960, Minamikyushu, Kagoshima) is a retired Japanese rhythmic gymnast. After enrolling at the Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education, Yamasaki became a five-time national champion. She competed for Japan in the individual rhythmic gymnastics all-around competition at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She tied for 9th place in the qualification round and advanced to the final, placing 8th overall. Yamasaki retired the same year. After finishing her competitive career, Yamasaki began coaching as well as working as a sports writer. She became a training director for the Japan Gymnastics Association in 2004, a position she held until 2021, and directed the national group, which won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships. In 1992, Yamasaki was part of a highly publicized mass wedding organized by the Unification Church. She broke with the church in 1993, claiming that it was abusive.
Naoki Urasawa (Japanese: 浦沢 直樹, Hepburn: Urasawa Naoki; born January 2, 1960) is a Japanese manga artist and musician.…Naoki Urasawa (Japanese: 浦沢 直樹, Hepburn: Urasawa Naoki; born January 2, 1960) is a Japanese manga artist and musician. He has been drawing manga since he was four years old, and for most of his professional career has created two series simultaneously. The stories to many of these were co-written in collaboration with his former editor, Takashi Nagasaki. Urasawa has been called one of the artists that changed the history of manga and has won numerous awards, including the Shogakukan Manga Award three times, the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize twice, and the Kodansha Manga Award once. South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho called him "the greatest storyteller of our time", while Dominican-American writer Junot Díaz proclaimed Urasawa to be a national treasure in Japan. By December 2021, his various works had over 140 million copies in circulation worldwide, making him one of the best-selling authors of all time. Urasawa's first major work was illustrating the action series Pineapple Army (1985–1988), which was written by Kazuya Kudo. The first serial that he wrote and illustrated himself, and his first major success, was the sports manga Yawara! (1986–1993). He then illustrated the adventure series Master Keaton (1988–1994), which was written by Hokusei Katsushika and Nagasaki, and created the sports manga Happy! (1993–1999). The thriller Monster (1994–2001) was his first to receive international acclaim and success, which continued with the science fiction mystery 20th Century Boys (1999–2006). Following the acclaimed Pluto (2003–2009), which is a re-imagining of Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka, one of Urasawa's biggest influences, he and Nagasaki created the mystery series Billy Bat (2008–2016). After two short series, a sequel to Master Keaton with Nagasaki and Mujirushi: The Sign of Dreams, Urasawa began his currently ongoing Asadora! in 2018.
Shinji Hosokawa (細川伸二, Hosokawa Shinji; born on 2 January 1960 in Ichinomiya, Hyogo, Japan) is a Japanese retired…Shinji Hosokawa (細川伸二, Hosokawa Shinji; born on 2 January 1960 in Ichinomiya, Hyogo, Japan) is a Japanese retired judoka who won two Olympic medals during the 1980s.
Motoko Kotani (Japanese: 小谷 元子, born 1960) is a Japanese applied mathematician, specializing in discrete geometric…Motoko Kotani (Japanese: 小谷 元子, born 1960) is a Japanese applied mathematician, specializing in discrete geometric analysis and crystallography, and an academic administrator. She is the executive vice president for research for Tohoku University, the former executive director of Riken, the former president of the Mathematical Society of Japan, and the president-elect of the International Science Council.
Yang Bang-ean (Korean: 양방언; Hanja: 梁邦彦; born January 1, 1960) is a Zainichi Korean composer, arranger, record producer…Yang Bang-ean (Korean: 양방언; Hanja: 梁邦彦; born January 1, 1960) is a Zainichi Korean composer, arranger, record producer, and pianist. His Japanese name is Kunihiko Ryo.
Shinya Tsukamoto (塚本 晋也, Tsukamoto Shin'ya; born January 1, 1960) is a Japanese filmmaker and actor. With a…Shinya Tsukamoto (塚本 晋也, Tsukamoto Shin'ya; born January 1, 1960) is a Japanese filmmaker and actor. With a considerable cult following both domestically and abroad, Tsukamoto is best known for his body horror/cyberpunk film Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989), which is considered the defining film of the Japanese Cyberpunk movement, as well as for its companion pieces Tetsuo II: Body Hammer (1992) and Tetsuo: The Bullet Man (2009). His other films include Tokyo Fist (1995), Bullet Ballet (1998), A Snake of June (2002), Vital (2004), Kotoko (2011) and Killing (2018). In addition to starring in almost all his films, Tsukamoto has also appeared as an actor in films by other directors, including Martin Scorsese, Takashi Miike and Hideaki Anno. He has been cited as an influence on popular western filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, David Fincher, Darren Aronofsky and The Wachowskis.
Akio Nakamori (中森 明夫, Nakamori Akio), real name Ansaku Shibahara (柴原安作, Shibahara Ansaku), is a Japanese columnist and…Akio Nakamori (中森 明夫, Nakamori Akio), real name Ansaku Shibahara (柴原安作, Shibahara Ansaku), is a Japanese columnist and editor born on January 1, 1960, in Mie Prefecture, Japan. He is credited as popularizing the term "otaku" in its modern colloquial usage (first used in Manga Burikko). After dropping out of Meiji University's Nakano Junior and Senior High Schools, he graduated from Wako University. Along with Yūichi Endō, he launched the Tokyo Otona Club in 1982. He is most well known for his study of serial killer Tsutomu Miyazaki, The Age of M (Mの時代, M no Jidai), published in 1989. Nakamori is also credited as coining and popularizing the term "chidol," short for child idol, back in the 1990s to refer to young gravure models.
Takeshi Niinami (新浪 剛史 (Niinami Takeshi); born 30 January 1959 in Yokohama) is a Japanese business executive, who was…Takeshi Niinami (新浪 剛史 (Niinami Takeshi); born 30 January 1959 in Yokohama) is a Japanese business executive, who was president, CEO and representative director of Suntory from 2014 until his resignation in September 2025. Suntory is the largest alcoholic beverage maker in Japan, and holds the brands Yamazaki and Jim Beam in its portfolio.
Koshi Sobu (蘇武 幸志, Sobu Kōshi; born 27 January 1959) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1984…Koshi Sobu (蘇武 幸志, Sobu Kōshi; born 27 January 1959) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics. Standing 192 cm tall and weighing 81 kg. At the Olympics, the Japanese men's volleyball team, with Sobu as a member, achieved a 7th-place finish.
Hideyuki Okano (Japanese: 岡野栄之) (born 26 January 1959 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese physiology professor and the…Hideyuki Okano (Japanese: 岡野栄之) (born 26 January 1959 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese physiology professor and the current dean of Keio University School of Medicine. He is also the team leader of the Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, at RIKEN Brain Science Institute. His lab is the first in the world to produce transgenic marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) with germline transmission. He is a director of the International Society for Stem Cell Research.
Koji Nagai (Japanese: 永井 浩二, Hepburn: Nagai Kōji) is a Japanese business executive. He served as the Chief Executive…Koji Nagai (Japanese: 永井 浩二, Hepburn: Nagai Kōji) is a Japanese business executive. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Nomura Holdings (NYSE: NMR).
Akira Maeda (前田 日明, Maeda Akira) (born Go Il-myeong (Hangul: 고일명, Hanja: 高日明), January 24, 1959) is a Japanese mixed…Akira Maeda (前田 日明, Maeda Akira) (born Go Il-myeong (Hangul: 고일명, Hanja: 高日明), January 24, 1959) is a Japanese mixed martial arts promoter, writer and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Maeda was also known by the ring name Kwik-kik-Lee during his time on the British wrestling's slot on the sports show World of Sport (WoS). Maeda helped develop the shoot-style of professional wrestling during the late 1980s. He founded Fighting Network RINGS in 1991 which would become one of the top MMA promotions before it folded in 2002.
Masaji Matsuyama (松山 政司, Matsuyama Masaji; born 20 January 1959) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Masaji Matsuyama (松山 政司, Matsuyama Masaji; born 20 January 1959) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Shiida, Fukuoka and graduate of Meiji University, he was elected for the first time in 2001.
Izumi Takemoto (竹本 泉, Takemoto Izumi; born January 19, 1959, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist…Izumi Takemoto (竹本 泉, Takemoto Izumi; born January 19, 1959, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator. He attended College of Economics at Nihon University. His spouse is manga artist Reiko Yano. He cites artists such as Shinji Wada, Fumio Hisamatsu, Shotaro Ishinomori, and Mitsuteru Yokoyama as his influences.
Momoe Miura (Japanese: 三浦 百恵, Hepburn: Miura Momoe; born 17 January 1959), known by her maiden name Momoe Yamaguchi…Momoe Miura (Japanese: 三浦 百恵, Hepburn: Miura Momoe; born 17 January 1959), known by her maiden name Momoe Yamaguchi (Japanese: 山口 百恵, Hepburn: Yamaguchi Momoe), is a Japanese former singer, actress, and idol whose career lasted from 1972 to 1980. Often simply referred to by her given name "Momoe", Yamaguchi is one of the most successful singers in Japanese music, releasing 32 singles, including three number one hits, and 21 studio albums. She also starred in 15 feature films and several television serial dramas. At age 21, Yamaguchi retired at the height of her popularity to marry her frequent costar, Tomokazu Miura; she has never performed or made a public appearance since. Therefore, she is called a legendary idol in Japan.
Sulpizio Shinzo Moriyama is a Japanese Roman Catholic prelate currently serving as the Bishop of the Roman Catholic…Sulpizio Shinzo Moriyama is a Japanese Roman Catholic prelate currently serving as the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oita, Japan.
Kimiko Ikegami (池上季実子, Ikegami Kimiko; born January 16, 1959) is an American-born Japanese actress. She is best known…Kimiko Ikegami (池上季実子, Ikegami Kimiko; born January 16, 1959) is an American-born Japanese actress. She is best known for playing the lead role of Gorgeous in the 1977 film House.
Nakayama Zenji (中山 善司, January 16, 1959) is the fourth and current Shinbashira of Tenrikyo. He has held the office…Nakayama Zenji (中山 善司, January 16, 1959) is the fourth and current Shinbashira of Tenrikyo. He has held the office since October 25, 1998.
Seinosuke Toda (戸田 誠之助, Toda Seinosuke; born January 15, 1959) is a computer scientist working at the Nihon University…Seinosuke Toda (戸田 誠之助, Toda Seinosuke; born January 15, 1959) is a computer scientist working at the Nihon University in Tokyo. Toda earned his Ph.D. from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1992, under the supervision of Kojiro Kobayashi. He was a recipient of the 1998 Gödel Prize for proving Toda's theorem in computational complexity theory, which states that every problem in the polynomial hierarchy has a polynomial-time Turing reduction to a counting problem.
Kōtarō Yoshida (吉田 鋼太郎, Yoshida Kōtarō; born January 14, 1959, in Tokyo) is a Japanese actor and theatre director. He…Kōtarō Yoshida (吉田 鋼太郎, Yoshida Kōtarō; born January 14, 1959, in Tokyo) is a Japanese actor and theatre director. He established himself on the stage in classical theatre, becoming a regular in Yukio Ninagawa's Shakespeare productions and co-founding the theatre company Performance Unit AUN in 1997. Television roles in Hanzawa Naoki (2013) and Hanako to Anne (2014) brought him wider recognition and led to frequent film and television work. In 2016 he succeeded Ninagawa as the second artistic director of the Sai no Kuni Shakespeare Series. He is affiliated with Horipro.
Yosuke Tagawa (太川 陽介, Tagawa Yōsuke; born 13 January 1959, in Ōmiya, Naka (now Kyōtango), Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a…Yosuke Tagawa (太川 陽介, Tagawa Yōsuke; born 13 January 1959, in Ōmiya, Naka (now Kyōtango), Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor, tarento, and former idol singer. His real name is Ikuo Tsubokura (坪倉 育生, Tsubokura Ikuo). Tagawa is a resident of Chōfu, Tokyo. He is represented by Sun Music Production. Tagawa's wife is actress Kumiko Fujiyoshi.
Shu Fujisawa (藤沢 周, Fujisawa Shū; born June 29, 1959) is a Japanese writer active during the late Shōwa and early…Shu Fujisawa (藤沢 周, Fujisawa Shū; born June 29, 1959) is a Japanese writer active during the late Shōwa and early Heisei period periods of Japan.
Yoshiyuki Ohmiya (近江谷 好幸, Ōmiya Yoshiyuki; born January 8, 1959) is a Japanese curler and curling coach from Kitami…Yoshiyuki Ohmiya (近江谷 好幸, Ōmiya Yoshiyuki; born January 8, 1959) is a Japanese curler and curling coach from Kitami, Hokkaido, Japan. He represented Japan at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, where the Japanese men's team placed 5th. His daughter is Japanese female curler Anna Ohmiya, participant of Japan women's curling team on 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.
Tetsunari Iida (飯田 哲也, Iida Tetsunari; born 1959, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan) is director of the Institute for…Tetsunari Iida (飯田 哲也, Iida Tetsunari; born 1959, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan) is director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies in Japan. Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, he is calling for a decrease in Japan's reliance on nuclear power and an increase in renewable energy use. Iida started his career as a nuclear engineer, but he quit in 1992, and went to study renewable energy in Sweden. In September 2011, Iida launched the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation, which is backed by ¥1 billion (US$13 million) from Japan's richest man, Masayoshi Son. Solar power in Japan has been expanding since the late 1990s. The country is a leading manufacturer of photovoltaics (PV) and a large installer of domestic PV systems with most of them grid connected.
Hiroya Ebina (蝦名 大也, Ebina Hiroya; 4 January 1959 – 7 January 2026) was a Japanese politician. He was the mayor of…Hiroya Ebina (蝦名 大也, Ebina Hiroya; 4 January 1959 – 7 January 2026) was a Japanese politician. He was the mayor of Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan, from 2008 to 2024 and a member of the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly from 1999 until 2008. On the evening of 7 January 2026, after returning home from a meeting, he collapsed at his home in Kushiro City and was taken to a hospital, where he died of a sudden cardiac arrest the same day. He was 67.
Yusuke Kishi (貴志 祐介, Kishi Yūsuke; born January 3, 1959) is a Japanese author. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of…Yusuke Kishi (貴志 祐介, Kishi Yūsuke; born January 3, 1959) is a Japanese author. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of Japan and the Honkaku Mystery Writers Club of Japan.
Atsuji Yamamoto (山本 貴嗣, Yamamoto Atsuji; born January 1, 1959) is a Japanese manga artist and character designer, best…Atsuji Yamamoto (山本 貴嗣, Yamamoto Atsuji; born January 1, 1959) is a Japanese manga artist and character designer, best known for manga Ultimate Teacher, Elf-17 and Saber Cats, along with video game series Metal Max.
Takao Makino (牧野 京夫, Makino Takao; born 1959) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who serves as…Takao Makino (牧野 京夫, Makino Takao; born 1959) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who serves as member of the House of Councillors. A graduate of Waseda University and former member of the assembly of Shizuoka Prefecture, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007.
Shuji Ono (小野秀二, Ono Shuji; born January 31, 1958) is the former head coach for Toyota Alvark, Hitachi SunRockers and…Shuji Ono (小野秀二, Ono Shuji; born January 31, 1958) is the former head coach for Toyota Alvark, Hitachi SunRockers and Earthfriends Tokyo Z in Japan.
Sayuri Ishikawa (石川 さゆり, Ishikawa Sayuri; born January 30, 1958) is a Japanese enka singer who made her professional…Sayuri Ishikawa (石川 さゆり, Ishikawa Sayuri; born January 30, 1958) is a Japanese enka singer who made her professional debut in 1973. With a career nearing five decades, she is one of the most-recognized and successful enka singers in history. Ishikawa is a popular contestant on the annual NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen broadcast. Up till 2017, she has been invited to perform 40 times since 1977, the year she released her biggest hit, "Tsugaru Kaikyo-Fuyugeshiki". To date, she holds the record for the most appearances in the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen for a female artist. She has released over 100 albums (including compilation albums) and more than 120 singles, of which a few were not enka, but rock and jazz music instead. Another of her biggest hits, "Amagi-goe", which was released in 1986, won her many awards, and many believe that it was this song that made her an icon as an A-list enka singer. Ishikawa appears in the Wim Wenders film "Perfect Days", which won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
Kōzō Shibasaki (柴崎 幸三, Shibasaki Kōzō; born January 30, 1958) is a Japanese cinematographer. A member of the Japanese…Kōzō Shibasaki (柴崎 幸三, Shibasaki Kōzō; born January 30, 1958) is a Japanese cinematographer. A member of the Japanese Society of Cinematographers, he is the recipient of four Japanese Academy Awards, three of which were for films directed by acclaimed filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki.
Satoko Inoue (井上 郷子, Inoue Satoko; born January 29, 1958) is a Japanese musician. Inoue is a concert pianist whose…Satoko Inoue (井上 郷子, Inoue Satoko; born January 29, 1958) is a Japanese musician. Inoue is a concert pianist whose performance repertoire is mainly contemporary music. Inoue is also associate professor at the Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo.
Admiral Yutaka Murakawa (村川豊, Murakawa Yutaka; born 29 January 1958) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as…Admiral Yutaka Murakawa (村川豊, Murakawa Yutaka; born 29 January 1958) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as the 33rd chief of staff of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) from 2016 to 2019.
Masatsugu Asakawa (浅川 雅嗣, Asakawa Masatsugu; born 25 January 1958), a Japanese civil servant, was the president of the…Masatsugu Asakawa (浅川 雅嗣, Asakawa Masatsugu; born 25 January 1958), a Japanese civil servant, was the president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Asakawa, who took office on 17 January 2020, was the 10th president of ADB. He was formerly special adviser to Shinzo Abe, prime minister of Japan, and to Taro Aso, the deputy prime minister of Japan and minister of finance. He was also formerly the vice minister for international affairs in the Ministry of Finance in Japan.
Takuya Hirai is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a member of the House of Representatives…Takuya Hirai is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Takamatsu, Kagawa and graduate of Sophia University he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000 as a member of the New Frontier Party after running unsuccessfully as an independent in 1996. He later joined LDP. On 1 September 2021, he became the Digital Minister, who has jurisdiction over the Digital Agency. Prior to entering politics, he was the president of Nishinippon Broadcasting, which is owned by him and his family.
Ichita Yamamoto (山本 一太, Yamamoto Ichita; born 24 January 1958 in Kusatsu, Gunma) is a Japanese politician who has been…Ichita Yamamoto (山本 一太, Yamamoto Ichita; born 24 January 1958 in Kusatsu, Gunma) is a Japanese politician who has been the governor of Gunma Prefecture since July 2019. He was a neoconservative member of the House of Councillors in Japan. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he served as the Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs from 2012 to 2019 on the second Abe cabinet.
Minoru Terada (寺田 稔, Terada Minoru; born 24 January 1958) is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister for…Minoru Terada (寺田 稔, Terada Minoru; born 24 January 1958) is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from August until November 2022. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he also serves in the House of Representatives and was Special Advisor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida from December 2021 to August 2022.
Koji Sotomura (外村 康二, Sotomura Kōji; born 23 January 1958) is a Japanese former gymnast who won two bronze medals at…Koji Sotomura (外村 康二, Sotomura Kōji; born 23 January 1958) is a Japanese former gymnast who won two bronze medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics. His son Tetsuya Sotomura is a trampolinist and represents Japan at international competitions.
Kazushi Kanoda (Japanese: 鹿野田 一司, born 22 January 1958) is a Japanese physicist and Professor Emeritus of the…Kazushi Kanoda (Japanese: 鹿野田 一司, born 22 January 1958) is a Japanese physicist and Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, specializing in the nuclear magnetic resonance measurement of organic conductors.
Yasunori Ogura (Ogura Yasunori; 21 January 1958) is a Japanese master of Shotokan karate. He has won the JKA All-Japan…Yasunori Ogura (Ogura Yasunori; 21 January 1958) is a Japanese master of Shotokan karate. He has won the JKA All-Japan championships for kumite. He is currently the Acting Executive Director of the Japan Karate Association.
Yoshitaka Shindō (新藤 義孝, Shindō Yoshitaka; born 20 January 1958) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Yoshitaka Shindō (新藤 義孝, Shindō Yoshitaka; born 20 January 1958) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) for Saitama Prefecture 2nd District. Affiliated to the openly revisionist lobby Nippon Kaigi, Shindo is known for his committed stance on territorial disputes with neighboring countries of Japan, and his recurring visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
