Masao Mukai (向井 正雄, Mukai Masao) is a Japanese choir conductor. He was born and raised in the city of Matsusaka, Mie…
Masao Mukai (向井 正雄, Mukai Masao) is a Japanese choir conductor. He was born and raised in the city of Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture, Japan, and graduated from the School of Education at Mie University. In 1992, he founded the Tsu Ensemble Chorus, officially known as "Vocal Ensemble 《EST》", which he still conducts. He also conducts the Yachimata Choir and, on occasion, the Ritsumeikan University Choir. He specializes in church choir music from European Renaissance and has received numerous awards for his work both in Europe and his native Japan. In 2007 he was included in the book "Who's Who in Choral Music". When not conducting, Masao Mukai teaches high school Math. In recent years he taught at Ujiyamada High School in the city of Ise, Mie Prefecture where, as conductor of the chorus club, he led the school to numerous appearances in the final chorus competition at the national level and won first place twice. He now teaches at Matsusaka Technical High School. He also occasionally gives lectures and acts as a judge at choral competitions.
Famous People Born in January
January: 2,106 people
Kazuyuki Ishihara (石原和幸 Ishihara Kazuyuki) is a Japanese garden designer who has won many gold medals at the Chelsea…
Kazuyuki Ishihara (石原和幸 Ishihara Kazuyuki) is a Japanese garden designer who has won many gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show. His design for 2019 is an artisan garden, "Green Switch", whose theme is switching from the urban environment to a natural one. It is planted with horsetail, iris, maple, moss, pine, watercress and features two waterfalls and a Japanese tea room.
Tomoko Yamaguchi (Japanese: 山口 智子, Hepburn: Yamaguchi Tomoko; née Yoshiura (吉浦); born 14 January 1958), known…
Tomoko Yamaguchi (Japanese: 山口 智子, Hepburn: Yamaguchi Tomoko; née Yoshiura (吉浦); born 14 January 1958), known professionally as Tomoko Aran (亜蘭 知子, Aran Tomoko), is a Japanese singer-songwriter and book author. After starting her songwriting career in the late 1970s, she had released nine albums and eight singles for Warner Pioneer and CBS/Sony from 1981 to 1990. She returned to public attention in the 2010s amidst the rise of city pop to popularity.
Akio Yasuraoka (安良岡 章夫, Yasuraoka Akio) (born January 13, 1958) is a Japanese composer.
Kōichi Isobe (磯部晃一, Kōichi Isobe; born January 1958) is a retired lieutenant general in the Japan Ground Self-Defense…
Kōichi Isobe (磯部晃一, Kōichi Isobe; born January 1958) is a retired lieutenant general in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. He retired from active duty in August 2015, after thirty-five years of service in the Japan Self-Defense Forces. He currently serves as a strategic advisor to Kawasaki Heavy Industries. He also serves as senior fellow of Harvard University Asia Center and at the Asia Pacific Initiative Foundation.
Hiroshi Yamada (山田 宏, Yamada Hiroshi) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who is serving as a…
Hiroshi Yamada (山田 宏, Yamada Hiroshi) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who is serving as a member of the House of Councillors. He is a former member of the House of Representatives and was the inaugural Secretary-General of the Party for Future Generations, an opposition party formed in August 2014.
Kiyoshi Sasabe (佐々部清) (January 8, 1958 – March 31, 2020) was a Japanese film director.
Jun Miyake (Japanese: 三宅 純 Hepburn: Miyake Jun, January 7, 1958, in Kyoto) is a Japanese composer. His music (e.g., the…
Jun Miyake (Japanese: 三宅 純 Hepburn: Miyake Jun, January 7, 1958, in Kyoto) is a Japanese composer. His music (e.g., the songs "Lilies in the Valley" and "The Here and After") was used in the film Pina, nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature in January 2012. He has also been awarded by the German critic's award, Der Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, as Best Album of the Year for his last three albums, Stolen from Strangers, Lost Memory Theatre act-1, and Lost Memory Theatre act-2. Miyake has now released 17 solo albums, and has worked on films, documentaries, dances, advertisement, and theatre pieces. His main instruments include the trumpet, flugelhorn, melodica, piano, keyboard, fender rhodes, and programming.
Hiroshi Senju (千住博, Senju Hiroshi; born 1958) is a Japanese Nihonga painter known for his large scale waterfall…
Hiroshi Senju (千住博, Senju Hiroshi; born 1958) is a Japanese Nihonga painter known for his large scale waterfall paintings.
Shuji Shibata (Japanese: 柴田 秀之, Hepburn: Shibata Shūji; born 6 January 1958), known professionally as Chage, is a…
Shuji Shibata (Japanese: 柴田 秀之, Hepburn: Shibata Shūji; born 6 January 1958), known professionally as Chage, is a Japanese musician and radio personality. He was born in Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture. He dropped out from Japan University of Economics. He is also a singer-songwriter, and he is the main vocalist and lyricist-composer of Chage and Aska.
Junko Yagami (八神 純子, Yagami Junko; born 5 January 1958), is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Aichi Prefecture. She…
Junko Yagami (八神 純子, Yagami Junko; born 5 January 1958), is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Aichi Prefecture. She has released 25 albums, including six live concert albums, and is a notable figure in Japanese music of the 1970s and 1980s. Since her marriage in 1986, she has also recorded under the name "June Stanley".
Norifusa Mita (Japanese: 三田 紀房, Hepburn: Mita Norifusa; born January 4, 1958) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best…
Norifusa Mita (Japanese: 三田 紀房, Hepburn: Mita Norifusa; born January 4, 1958) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for Dragon Zakura for which he received the 29th Kodansha Manga Award. Dragon Zakura has been adapted to live-action television series in Japan and South Korea, its spin-off series Angel Bank received live-action television adaptation as well. His manga Investor Z was adapted into live-action television series in 2018 and The Great War of Archimedes was adapted into a film in 2019.
Yutaka Fukushima (福島 豊, Fukushima Yutaka; born 4 January 1958) is a former Japanese politician of the New Komeito…
Yutaka Fukushima (福島 豊, Fukushima Yutaka; born 4 January 1958) is a former Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He was born in Sakai, Osaka but grew up in Saitama Prefecture. A graduate of Kyoto University, he worked as a doctor in Kyoto for ten years. In 1993, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time.
Amon Miyamoto (宮本亞門; born January 4, 1958, in Tokyo) is a theater director. He has directed numerous productions in…
Amon Miyamoto (宮本亞門; born January 4, 1958, in Tokyo) is a theater director. He has directed numerous productions in Japan and worldwide, including musicals, straight plays, opera, kabuki, and other art genres. In 2004, he became the first Japanese director to direct a musical on Broadway when he directed the revival of Pacific Overtures. That production received four Tony Award nominations. Miyamoto made his directing debut with his original musical I Got Merman, winning the National Performing Arts Festival Award. He is a recipient of the Matsuyo Akimoto Award of the Asahi Performing Arts Awards. He served as the inaugural artistic director of Kanagawa Arts Theater (KAAT) from 2010 to 2014. Amon made his North American opera-directing debut in 2007 with the US premiere of Tan Dun's Tea: A Mirror of Soul at the Santa Fe Opera. His recent works in New York include The Temple of the Golden Pavilion at Lincoln Center Festival. His European opera credits include: The Magic Flute (Landestheater Linz in Austria), Le Pavillon d’Or (Opéra national du Rhin in France), Parsifal, and Madame Butterfly (Semperoper in Germany) which is also planned for the San Francisco Opera in 2023 and the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen in 2024. He directed the pre-Broadway world premiere of The Karate Kid: The Musical on May 25, 2022, in St. Louis.
Katsuhiko Oku (奥 克彦 Oku Katsuhiko, 3 January 1958 – 29 November 2003) was a Japanese diplomat who played rugby for…
Katsuhiko Oku (奥 克彦 Oku Katsuhiko, 3 January 1958 – 29 November 2003) was a Japanese diplomat who played rugby for Oxford and Waseda University. In Britain he was known as "Katsu".
Kotobuki Shiriagari (しりあがり 寿, Shiriagari Kotobuki; born Mochizuki Toshiki, January 1, 1958) is a Japanese manga artist…
Kotobuki Shiriagari (しりあがり 寿, Shiriagari Kotobuki; born Mochizuki Toshiki, January 1, 1958) is a Japanese manga artist and actor.
Masamichi Amano (天野 正道, Amano Masamichi; born January 26, 1957 in Akita, Akita) is a Japanese music composer, arranger…
Masamichi Amano (天野 正道, Amano Masamichi; born January 26, 1957 in Akita, Akita) is a Japanese music composer, arranger and conductor. He studied at the Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo and completed master's degree in 1982.
Shigemi Inaga (稲賀 繁美 1957 in Hiroshima) is a Japanese scholar in comparative literature, culture, and the history of…
Shigemi Inaga (稲賀 繁美 1957 in Hiroshima) is a Japanese scholar in comparative literature, culture, and the history of cultural exchange.
Eiji Kanamori (金森 栄治, Kanamori Eiji; born January 24, 1957) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder and the…
Eiji Kanamori (金森 栄治, Kanamori Eiji; born January 24, 1957) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder and the current coach of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Kōsuke Morita (Japanese: 森田 浩介 Hepburn: Morita Kōsukee, born January 23, 1957) is a Japanese experimental nuclear…
Kōsuke Morita (Japanese: 森田 浩介 Hepburn: Morita Kōsukee, born January 23, 1957) is a Japanese experimental nuclear physicist, known as the leader of the Japanese team that discovered nihonium (element 113). He currently holds a joint appointment as a professor at Kyushu University’s Graduate School of Science and as director of the Super Heavy Element Research Group at Riken's Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science.
Kimie Hatano (Japanese: 畑野君枝, Hepburn: Hatano Kimie; born 28 January 1957, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa) is a member of the…
Kimie Hatano (Japanese: 畑野君枝, Hepburn: Hatano Kimie; born 28 January 1957, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa) is a member of the Japanese Communist Party who served in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. In the House of Representatives, she represented the 10th District of Kanagawa prefecture, while in the House of Councillors she represented the second seat of the Kanagawa at-large district. Hatano is opposed to the Technical Intern Training Program, saying that the workers in the program are being subordinated. She is also opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Hatano supports having more classes available in the evenings at junior high schools and is opposed to stopping state grants to national universities, saying that tuition would increase dramatically.
Yōko Akino (秋野 暢子 Akino Yōko, born Yōko Tashiro, 田代 暢子 Tashiro Yōko, born 18 January 1957 in Osaka, Japan) is a…
Yōko Akino (秋野 暢子 Akino Yōko, born Yōko Tashiro, 田代 暢子 Tashiro Yōko, born 18 January 1957 in Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese actress.
Toshio Nobe (野部 利雄, Nobe Toshio; born January 18, 1957 in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese manga…
Toshio Nobe (野部 利雄, Nobe Toshio; born January 18, 1957 in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist. He graduated from Wako University in Machida, Tokyo. In 1979, Nobe won an honorable mention in the 18th Tezuka Award for his story Hana to Arashi ga Iku. Naoki Urasawa worked as an assistant for Toshio when he was starting out.
Hideo Yokoyama (横山 秀夫, Yokoyama Hideo; born 1957) is a Japanese novelist who specializes in mystery novels. He is also…
Hideo Yokoyama (横山 秀夫, Yokoyama Hideo; born 1957) is a Japanese novelist who specializes in mystery novels. He is also known for his career as a journalist for the Jomo Shimbun, the regional paper in Gunma. He repeated his Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! No. 1 ranking in 2013 with Six Four (64). The English edition of Six Four, translated by Jonathan Lloyd-Davies, was shortlisted for the 2016 CWA International Dagger.
Tatsuo Miyajima (宮島 達男, Miyajima Tatsuo; January 16, 1957 –) is a Japanese sculptor and installation artist who lives…
Tatsuo Miyajima (宮島 達男, Miyajima Tatsuo; January 16, 1957 –) is a Japanese sculptor and installation artist who lives in Moriya, in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan. His work frequently consists of digital LED counters, and is primarily concerned with the function and significance of time and space, especially within the context of Buddhist influences .
Tomohisa Takei (武居 智久, Takei Tomohisa; born January 12, 1957) is a retired Japanese admiral who served as the 32nd…
Tomohisa Takei (武居 智久, Takei Tomohisa; born January 12, 1957) is a retired Japanese admiral who served as the 32nd Chief of Staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Born in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Takei was commissioned into the JMSDF in March 1979 following his graduation from the 23rd class of National Defense Academy. After 35 years of service, Takei assumed position of JMSDF Chief of Staff in 2014.
Wakashimazu Mutsuo (若嶋津 六夫) (born Mutsuo Hidaka; 12 January 1957 – 15 March 2026) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from…
Wakashimazu Mutsuo (若嶋津 六夫) (born Mutsuo Hidaka; 12 January 1957 – 15 March 2026) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Nakatane, Kagoshima. His highest rank was ōzeki. He won two top-division yūshō or tournament championships. Mutsuo retired in 1987 and founded Matsugane stable in 1990 (now known as Hanaregoma stable).
Dominique V. Turpin (born 12 January 1957) is a French and Swiss marketing scholar and academic administrator…
Dominique V. Turpin (born 12 January 1957) is a French and Swiss marketing scholar and academic administrator, currently serving as European President and Professor of Marketing at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS). A professor in marketing strategy with a specialization in branding, he previously held the Dentsu Chair in Marketing and served as President, Dean, and Nestlé Professor at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland between 2010 and 2016. Before joining IMD in 1986, Turpin worked in Japan as a representative of a French firm.
Takahiro Ohata (大畑 孝広, Ōhata Takahiro; born 9 January 1957) is a Japanese former handball player who competed in the…
Takahiro Ohata (大畑 孝広, Ōhata Takahiro; born 9 January 1957) is a Japanese former handball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Issei Noro (野呂 一生, Noro Issei; born 1 January 1957) is a Japanese guitarist, songwriter, producer, and composer, best…
Issei Noro (野呂 一生, Noro Issei; born 1 January 1957) is a Japanese guitarist, songwriter, producer, and composer, best known as a founding member of the jazz fusion band Casiopea. Noro began his musical career in 1976 with Casiopea, serving as the group's guitarist. Casiopea made its recording debut in 1979 with their self-titled album, and Noro remained with his band until 2006, when activities were suspended. He returned when Casiopea restarted in 2012 following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent nuclear disaster, and continues to perform with his group. Outside Casiopea, Noro formed the band Inspirits in 2008 and has collaborated with other jazz fusion musicians. He is an endorsed artist of Yamaha, which has provided him with custom-made guitars, and is noted for his guitar-playing techniques.
Keiichi Tsuchiya (土屋圭市, Tsuchiya Keiichi; born January 30, 1956) is a Japanese professional race car driver. He is…
Keiichi Tsuchiya (土屋圭市, Tsuchiya Keiichi; born January 30, 1956) is a Japanese professional race car driver. He is known as the Drift King (ドリキン, Dorikin) for his nontraditional use of drifting in non-drifting racing events and his role in popularizing drifting as a motorsport. In professional racing, he is a two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner and the 2001 All Japan GT Championship runner-up. He is also known for tōge driving. The car Tsuchiya drives, a Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno, has become one of the most popular sports cars; the car is also known as "Hachi-Roku" in Japan (hachi-roku meaning "eight-six"); his car is also called "The Little Hachi that could." A 2-part video known as 'The Touge' produced by Pluspy (styled as +P) documents Tsuchiya's touge driving with his AE86. Tsuchiya was a consultant for the popular manga and anime series, Initial D, in which he makes several cameos. He also served as a stunt coordinator and stuntman on The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, where he also made a cameo appearance.
Tomomi Takahashi (高橋 卓巳, Takahashi Tomomi; born 29 January 1956) is a Japanese former pole vaulter who competed in the…
Tomomi Takahashi (高橋 卓巳, Takahashi Tomomi; born 29 January 1956) is a Japanese former pole vaulter who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics. Takahashi won the British AAA Championships title in the pole vault event at the 1982 AAA Championships.
Kazumi Tsubota (坪田 和美, Tsubota Kazumi; born January 23, 1956) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…
Kazumi Tsubota (坪田 和美, Tsubota Kazumi; born January 23, 1956) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Bandō Mitsugorō X (Japanese: 十代目 坂東 三津五郎) (January 23, 1956 – February 2, 2015) was a Japanese television presenter and…
Bandō Mitsugorō X (Japanese: 十代目 坂東 三津五郎) (January 23, 1956 – February 2, 2015) was a Japanese television presenter and kabuki actor. He was the grandson of Bandō Mitsugorō VIII and son of Bandō Mitsugorō IX.
Kazuya Nakayama (中山一也) is a Japanese actor and producer known for films such as Izo and Agitator directed by Takashi…
Kazuya Nakayama (中山一也) is a Japanese actor and producer known for films such as Izo and Agitator directed by Takashi Miike.
Tsuyoshi Takagi (高木 毅, Takagi Tsuyoshi; born 16 January 1956) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House…
Tsuyoshi Takagi (高木 毅, Takagi Tsuyoshi; born 16 January 1956) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Miki Fujimura (藤村 美樹, Fujimura Miki; born 15 January 1956 in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan, and raised in Fukushima) is a…
Miki Fujimura (藤村 美樹, Fujimura Miki; born 15 January 1956 in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan, and raised in Fukushima) is a Japanese singer, best known as Miki (ミキ), a member of the pop trio Candies.
Takashi Nagasaki (長崎尚志; born January 14, 1956) is a Japanese author, manga writer and former editor of manga. He…
Takashi Nagasaki (長崎尚志; born January 14, 1956) is a Japanese author, manga writer and former editor of manga. He started his professional career at Shogakukan in 1980 and worked as an editor on the publisher's various manga magazines, including as editor-in-chief of Big Comic Spirits from July 1999 to 2001. Since becoming freelance, Nagasaki has worked as an author under various pen names, such as Keishi Edogawa (江戸川啓視), Garaku Toshusai (東周斎雅楽), Big O (ビッグ・オー) and Richard Woo (リチャード・ウー). He is best known for his collaborations with Naoki Urasawa, such as Pluto (2003–2009) and Billy Bat (2008–2016). The Kobe Shimbun wrote that Nagasaki brought the concept of a producer into the manga industry, and in doing so "established a new relationship with manga artists." Brian Ruh of Anime News Network described Nagasaki as the only editor who "has risen to the level of co-creator alongside the artist."
Yasuhiro Abe (安部 恭弘, Abe Yasuhiro) is a male Japanese popular music artist and composer. He made his debut on 1…
Yasuhiro Abe (安部 恭弘, Abe Yasuhiro) is a male Japanese popular music artist and composer. He made his debut on 1 November 1982 with the single We Got It!.
Akitaro Daichi (大地 丙太郎, Daichi Akitarō) is a Japanese anime director, producer and photography director.
Sachio Kuwae (Japanese: 桑江朝千夫 Kuwae Sachio; 11 January 1956 – 9 December 2024) was a Japanese politician. An…
Sachio Kuwae (Japanese: 桑江朝千夫 Kuwae Sachio; 11 January 1956 – 9 December 2024) was a Japanese politician. An independent, he served in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly from 2008 to 2014 and was mayor of Okinawa from 2014 to 2024. Kuwae died of complications from myelodysplastic syndrome in Kagoshima Prefecture, on 9 December 2024, at the age of 68.
Tatsuo Yamada (山田 辰夫, Yamada Tatsuo; January 10, 1956 – July 26, 2009) was a Japanese actor best known for the…
Tatsuo Yamada (山田 辰夫, Yamada Tatsuo; January 10, 1956 – July 26, 2009) was a Japanese actor best known for the protagonist of Sōgo Ishii's 1980 film Crazy Thunder Road.
Mikishi Daimon (大門 実紀史, Daimon Mikishi; born January 10, 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Japanese Communist…
Mikishi Daimon (大門 実紀史, Daimon Mikishi; born January 10, 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Japanese Communist Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kyoto, Kyoto and dropout of Kobe University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2001 after an unsuccessful run in 1998.
Ken'ichi Azuma (Japanese: 東 建一, Hepburn: Azuma Ken'ichi; 5 January 1956 – 11 March 2023), known professionally as Chen…
Ken'ichi Azuma (Japanese: 東 建一, Hepburn: Azuma Ken'ichi; 5 January 1956 – 11 March 2023), known professionally as Chen Kenichi (Japanese: 陳建一, Hepburn: Chin Ken'ichi) was a Chinese - Japanese chef and restaurateur, best known for his role as the Iron Chef Chinese on the television series Iron Chef (料理の鉄人). Nicknamed The Szechuan Sage, he wore a yellow outfit and rose into Kitchen Stadium holding a large Chinese chef's knife in his hand. He was the only Iron Chef to have held his position throughout the life of the show. He was born in Japan to a Japanese mother named Yoko (洋子) and a Han Chinese father, Chen Kenmin.
Takaaki Enoki (榎木 孝明, Enoki Takaaki; born January 5, 1956) is a Japanese actor and artist from Isa District, Kagoshima.…
Takaaki Enoki (榎木 孝明, Enoki Takaaki; born January 5, 1956) is a Japanese actor and artist from Isa District, Kagoshima. He is known for his role as private detective Mitsuhiko Asami in the Asami Mitsuhiko Series. He attended Musashino Art University but left before graduating and joined the Shiki Theatre Company. In 1990, Enoki landed the lead role in Heaven and Earth in place of Ken Watanabe, who had to pull out due to illness. He is also known as an ink painter and his museum opened in 2003.(Located in Kokonoe, Ōita.)
Hideki Hamaguchi (浜口 秀樹, Hamaguchi Hideki; born 4 January 1956) is a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the…
Hideki Hamaguchi (浜口 秀樹, Hamaguchi Hideki; born 4 January 1956) is a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Kohei Otomo (大友 康平, Ōtomo Kōhei; born January 1, 1956 in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese vocalist…
Kohei Otomo (大友 康平, Ōtomo Kōhei; born January 1, 1956 in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese vocalist, actor, and tarento represented by Iehokku. His maternal uncle is Naoki Prize writer Hideo Osabe. His wife is model Keiko Kinoshita.
Kōji Hashimoto (橋本 広司, Hashimoto Kōji; born 1 January 1956), known professionally as Kōji Yakusho (役所 広司, Yakusho…
Kōji Hashimoto (橋本 広司, Hashimoto Kōji; born 1 January 1956), known professionally as Kōji Yakusho (役所 広司, Yakusho Kōji), is a Japanese actor. He is known internationally for his starring roles in Shall We Dance? (1996), Cure (1997), 13 Assassins (2010), The Third Murder (2017), The Blood of Wolves (2018), Under the Open Sky (2020) and The Days (2023). For his performance in Perfect Days (2023), he was awarded the Best Actor award at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
Tōru Iwatani (岩谷 徹, Iwatani Tōru; born January 25, 1955) is a Japanese video game designer who spent much of his career…
Tōru Iwatani (岩谷 徹, Iwatani Tōru; born January 25, 1955) is a Japanese video game designer who spent much of his career working for Namco. He is best known and commemorated for being the creator of the arcade game Pac-Man (1980). In 2009, he was chosen by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time.
Hiromi Ōta (太田 裕美 Ōta Hiromi, born on January 20, 1955, in Kasukabe, Saitama Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese…
Hiromi Ōta (太田 裕美 Ōta Hiromi, born on January 20, 1955, in Kasukabe, Saitama Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese female singer. She is a popular singer who is considered an idol in Japan during the 1970s, and is thought to be representative of that era. She also collaborated with the composer-musician Ayuo and the Japanese koto player Kazue Sawai singing a unique blend of New Age, Classical and traditional Eastern music. Her collaborations with Ayuo were also released in the US on the CD "Red Moon" on Tzadik label. She debuted in 1974. In 1975, she released Momen no handkerchief (木綿のハンカチーフ, Cotton handkerchief)(ja), which became her trademark song. She got married in 1985. Her real name became Hiromi Fukuoka.(福岡弘美) Recently, she often holds joint concerts with Shozo Ise and Masumi Ōno.