Shintaro Ishiwatari (Japanese: 石渡伸太郎, Ishiwatari Shintarō; born February 21, 1985) is a retired Japanese mixed martial…Shintaro Ishiwatari (Japanese: 石渡伸太郎, Ishiwatari Shintarō; born February 21, 1985) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and former Pancrase Bantamweight Champion. A professional competitor since 2006, he has also competed in Shooto, RIZIN, Vale Tudo Japan, DEEP, and World Victory Road.
Kanae Aoki (Japanese: 青木香奈枝, Hepburn: Aoki Kanae; born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese retired ice hockey player…Kanae Aoki (Japanese: 青木香奈枝, Hepburn: Aoki Kanae; born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese retired ice hockey player, currently serving as assistant coach to the Japanese women's national under-18 ice hockey team.
Kazuki Sado (佐渡一毅, born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese dressage rider. He competed at the 2018 World Equestrian Games…Kazuki Sado (佐渡一毅, born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese dressage rider. He competed at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, at the Asian Games in 2014 and 2018. He won team gold during the Asian Games in 2018 and team silver during the Asian Games in 2014. He trained in the Netherlands with former Olympian Imke Schellekens-Bartels in preparation towards the 2020 Olympic Games. He participated in the 2020 Olympics.
Yasuo Yamaji (山路泰生, Yamaji Yasuo; born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a…Yasuo Yamaji (山路泰生, Yamaji Yasuo; born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a prop. He currently plays for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Canon Eagles in Japan's domestic Top League.
Memeco Sakata (坂田米米子, Sakata Memeko; born February 17, 1985), formerly known as Hiroko Sato (佐藤 寛子, Satō Hiroko), is a…Memeco Sakata (坂田米米子, Sakata Memeko; born February 17, 1985), formerly known as Hiroko Sato (佐藤 寛子, Satō Hiroko), is a Japanese actress, singer and gravure idol.
Masato Nakazawa (中澤 雅人, Nakazawa Masato; born February 16, 1985 in Toyama, Toyama, Japan) is a Japanese former…Masato Nakazawa (中澤 雅人, Nakazawa Masato; born February 16, 1985 in Toyama, Toyama, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Yuki Yatomi (矢富 勇毅, Yatomi Yūki; born 16 February 1985 in Kyoto) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as a…Yuki Yatomi (矢富 勇毅, Yatomi Yūki; born 16 February 1985 in Kyoto) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as a scrum-half. Yatomi is currently a player for Yamaha Jubilo, from Iwata. He has 15 caps for Japan, with 2 tries scored, 10 points in aggregate, since 2006. His debut was at a 50-14 win over South Korea, in Tokyo, in a 2007 Rugby World Cup qualifier, where he played as a substitute. He was present at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, playing two games.
Maiko Nakaoka (中岡 麻衣子, Nakaoka Maiko; born February 15, 1985) is a former Japanese football player. She played for…Maiko Nakaoka (中岡 麻衣子, Nakaoka Maiko; born February 15, 1985) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Tomohisa Ōtani (大谷 智久, born February 14, 1985, in Hyōgo Prefecture) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher…Tomohisa Ōtani (大谷 智久, born February 14, 1985, in Hyōgo Prefecture) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who is currently a coach for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Marines from 2010 to 2020.
Josephat Muchiri Ndambiri (born 12 February 1985) is a Kenyan long-distance runner. He represented his country at the…Josephat Muchiri Ndambiri (born 12 February 1985) is a Kenyan long-distance runner. He represented his country at the World Championships in Athletics in 2007. He is based in Japan and trains with PACE Sports Management. He moved to Japan as a teenager on an athletic scholarship and specialised in long-distance track running, including the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres. He competed for, and graduated from, Ryutsu Keizai University. At the 2005 Sapporo Half Marathon, he led for the first half of the race but had faded to fourth by the finish point. At the end of the year he represented Kenyan in the International Chiba Ekiden. Running the marathon distance with a relay team of Martin Mathathi, Daniel Mwangi, Mekubo Mogusu, Onesmus Nyerere and John Kariuki, he helped set a world record time of 1:57:06 hours for the popular Japanese event. Ndambiri won a second Chiba Ekiden title with Kenya the following year, where he won his 5-kilometre leg by a margin of over twenty seconds. He won the 10,000 metres at the Kenyan Championships in 2007 and in his major international debut he finished fifth in the event at the 2007 World Championships. A month after his world appearance, he took a 5000/10,000 m double at the Japan Corporate Team Track & Field Championships. He attempted to gain selection for the 2008 Summer Olympics, but ended the trials in seventh and was not picked for the squad. Representing the Komori Corporation, he ran in the New Year Ekiden and won his 8.3 km stage. In the 2009 track season he became the first athlete to run the 10,000 m under 27 minutes on Japanese soil, taking the win at the Shizuoka International in an all-comers record of 26:57.36 minutes. He came seventh at the RAK Half Marathon in 2010, setting a personal best of 1:01:07 hours. The following year he came fourth over 10,000 m at the Hyogo Relays and then claimed third place at the Sapporo Half Marathon in June. He made his debut over the marathon distance in December 2011 and made a successful transition by taking the Fukuoka Marathon title in a time of 2:07:36 hours.
Leilani Yoshika Gaja (我謝 美佳 レイラニ, Gaja Yoshika Reirani; born February 12, 1985) is a Japanese model and actress from…Leilani Yoshika Gaja (我謝 美佳 レイラニ, Gaja Yoshika Reirani; born February 12, 1985) is a Japanese model and actress from Tokyo. Her stage name in Japan is Yoshika Katou (加藤 美佳, Katō Yoshika), and is used in nearly all of her appearances in drama and film. Her father is Taiwanese of Japanese descent and her mother is Hawaiian of Japanese descent, lending to her legal name Leilani (Hawaiian for 'heavenly lei'), and making her half-Japanese. Her first major role was as Yuka Osada, the Crane Orphnoch, in Kamen Rider 555.
Tomoyuki Kawabata (河端 朋之, Kawabata Tomoyuki; born 7 February 1985) is a Japanese professional racing cyclist. He rode…Tomoyuki Kawabata (河端 朋之, Kawabata Tomoyuki; born 7 February 1985) is a Japanese professional racing cyclist. He rode at the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. He is also a professional keirin cyclist. He also competed at the 2014 Asian Games and won a bronze medal in the team sprint.
Joji Kato (加藤条治, Katō Jōji) (born 6 February 1985) is a Japanese speedskater whose specialty is in the sprinting…Joji Kato (加藤条治, Katō Jōji) (born 6 February 1985) is a Japanese speedskater whose specialty is in the sprinting distance event of 500 metres. At the age of 17 he became the first junior speedskater to skate the 500 metres in less than 35 seconds. Until 9 March 2007 he was the world record holder with the 34.30 he skated in Salt Lake City on 19 November 2005. He lost the world record to Lee Kang-seok, who skated 34.25 in Salt Lake City. At the age of 20, he became the 500 metres world champion at the 2005 World Single Distance Championships, leaving behind Hiroyasu Shimizu and Jeremy Wotherspoon. After this achievement he was considered to be one of the favourites for achieving a medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Prior to that 500 metre race, he named three skaters as his toughest competition: Jeremy Wotherspoon of Canada, Joey Cheek of the United States, and Dmitry Dorofeyev of Russia. Cheek and Dorofeyev won gold and silver, respectively, while Kato finished in sixth place. He was also beaten by his own countryman, Yūya Oikawa, who was fourth. He represented Japan at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver where he won bronze at men's 500 metres. At the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, he again represented Japan and finished 5th in the 500 m with a combined time over two runs of 69.74 and a fastest single time of 34.77 behind the Mulder brothers (Michel and Ronald), Jan Smeekens and Mo Tae-bum. He is a member of the Nidec Sankyo speed skating team.
Keisuke Ishii (石井慧介, Ishii Keisuke; born February 6, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler trained by and signed to…Keisuke Ishii (石井慧介, Ishii Keisuke; born February 6, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler trained by and signed to DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT). Ishii also competes for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion.
Hiroaki Hiraoka (平岡 拓晃, Hiraoka Hiroaki; born 6 February 1985 in Hiroshima City) is a Japanese judoka. He won a silver…Hiroaki Hiraoka (平岡 拓晃, Hiraoka Hiroaki; born 6 February 1985 in Hiroshima City) is a Japanese judoka. He won a silver medal at the 2009 World Judo Championships and the 2011 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2010 World Judo Championships. Hiroka also won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics at London, in the men's under 60 kg extra-lightweight category.
Takayoshi Kawabata (川端 崇義, Kawabata Takayoshi; born February 4, 1985 in Yaizu, Shizuoka, Japan) is a Japanese…Takayoshi Kawabata (川端 崇義, Kawabata Takayoshi; born February 4, 1985 in Yaizu, Shizuoka, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Toshiyuki Tanaka (田中 利幸, Tanaka Toshiyuki; born 2 February 1985) is a Japanese equestrian. He competed in eventing at…Toshiyuki Tanaka (田中 利幸, Tanaka Toshiyuki; born 2 February 1985) is a Japanese equestrian. He competed in eventing at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2020 Summer Olympics. Tanaka was the travelling reserve for the 2024 Summer Olympics. When team member Ryuzo Kitajima withdrew his horse Cekatinka from the horse inspection on show jumping day, Tanaka rode for the Japanese team in the show jumping phase of the competition.
Daisuke Kanzaki (神崎 大輔, Kanzaki Daisuke; born February 2, 1985 in Ōita, Ōita) is a former Japanese football player who…Daisuke Kanzaki (神崎 大輔, Kanzaki Daisuke; born February 2, 1985 in Ōita, Ōita) is a former Japanese football player who last featured for Giravanz Kitakyushu.
Renn Kiriyama (桐山 漣, Kiriyama Ren; born February 2, 1985) is a Japanese stage and television actor from Yokohama. His…Renn Kiriyama (桐山 漣, Kiriyama Ren; born February 2, 1985) is a Japanese stage and television actor from Yokohama. His debut role was as Bunta Marui in The Prince of Tennis musical Absolute King Rikkai feat. Rokkaku ~ First Service. Kiriyama is also known for his role in Shotaro Hidari, the male lead and half of the eponymous hero of the television series Kamen Rider W.
Koyuki Higashi (東 小雪, Higashi Koyuki; born 1 February 1985) is a Japanese LGBT activist, stage actress and writer. From…Koyuki Higashi (東 小雪, Higashi Koyuki; born 1 February 1985) is a Japanese LGBT activist, stage actress and writer. From 2005 to 2006, she was an otokoyaku member of the Takarazuka Revue Hana-gumi under the name Aura Maki (あうら真輝). In the fall of 2010, she became involved in LGBT issues.
Rica Imai (今井 りか, Imai Rika; born February 29, 1984, in Ageo, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese model, entertainer, and…Rica Imai (今井 りか, Imai Rika; born February 29, 1984, in Ageo, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese model, entertainer, and actress.
Kiyoe Yoshioka (吉岡 聖恵, Yoshioka Kiyoe; born February 29, 1984) is a Japanese singer and vocalist. She is best known for…Kiyoe Yoshioka (吉岡 聖恵, Yoshioka Kiyoe; born February 29, 1984) is a Japanese singer and vocalist. She is best known for being the lead vocalist of the band Ikimonogakari since its founding in 1999. She has also been active as a solo singer, releasing her first album Utairo in 2018. In 2022 her song "Dekoboko" was used as the first opening theme to the anime series A Couple of Cuckoos.
Wakakōyū Masaya (born 24 February 1984 as Masaya Yakigaya) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Funabashi…Wakakōyū Masaya (born 24 February 1984 as Masaya Yakigaya) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Funabashi, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. The last two characters of his ring name were taken from his mentor and coach at Ōnomatsu, the former Masurao. He was only the second wrestler from his stable to reach the top division. He was runner-up in one tournament and earned one special prize, for Fighting Spirit. He is now a sumo coach.
Carlos Kenji Yoshimura (born February 22, 1984) is a Brazilian baseball pitcher. He attended Hakuoh University and has…Carlos Kenji Yoshimura (born February 22, 1984) is a Brazilian baseball pitcher. He attended Hakuoh University and has played for the Yamaha team in the Japanese Industrial League. He represented Brazil at the 2003 Pan American Games, 2003 Baseball World Cup and 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Yuki Sato (佐藤 祐基, Satō Yūki; also written as Yuuki Sato) is a Japanese actor from Shinagawa, Tokyo, best known for…Yuki Sato (佐藤 祐基, Satō Yūki; also written as Yuuki Sato) is a Japanese actor from Shinagawa, Tokyo, best known for portraying Arata Kagami/Kamen Rider Gatack in the tokusatsu series Kamen Rider Kabuto and a character named Mr. Shakedown in Yakuza 0. For a brief period, he performed under the names Tomohito Sato (佐藤 智仁, Satō Tomohito) and Jin Sato (佐藤 汛, Satō Jin).
Ayumi Shibata (柴田 あゆみ, Shibata Ayumi) (born February 22, 1984) is a Japanese female singer. She is a former member of…Ayumi Shibata (柴田 あゆみ, Shibata Ayumi) (born February 22, 1984) is a Japanese female singer. She is a former member of Melon Kinenbi, an all-girl J-pop group which is part of the Hello! Project. She joined the group Tanpopo with Morning Musume members Asami Konno and Risa Niigaki in 2002 until the group went into an indefinite hiatus after releasing one single. Shibata has been an active member of Hello! Project since 2000, participating in Hello! Project's futsal club Gatas Brilhantes H.P., many shuffle groups, concerts, and special events. After Melon Kinenbi disbanded in 2011, Shibata announced she was starting her own solo career, and she later released her first solo single, "believe", in November 2011. She later released her first solo album in 2014, "Kick start", which was largely a cover album. In 2016, Shibata announced she was marrying baseball pitcher Masaki Minami, and announced her retirement shortly afterwards as well.
Yuki Yamaguchi (山口 有希, Yamaguchi Yūki; born 22 February 1984 in Maizuru, Kyoto) is a former Japanese sprinter who…Yuki Yamaguchi (山口 有希, Yamaguchi Yūki; born 22 February 1984 in Maizuru, Kyoto) is a former Japanese sprinter who specialised in the 400 metres. His personal best time was 45.18 seconds, achieved in the 2003 National Sports Festival of Japan in Fukuroi. This is the current Japanese junior record.
Shingo Kunieda (国枝 慎吾, Kunieda Shingo; born February 21, 1984) is a Japanese former wheelchair tennis player. With four…Shingo Kunieda (国枝 慎吾, Kunieda Shingo; born February 21, 1984) is a Japanese former wheelchair tennis player. With four Paralympic gold medals, 28 major singles titles – an all-time record in singles of any tennis discipline – and 50 major titles overall, Kunieda is widely considered the greatest male wheelchair player of all time. Kunieda was the ITF World Champion from 2007 to 2010. He was also the year-end No. 1 in doubles in 2007. In 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014, and 2015, Kunieda won all three singles majors that hosted wheelchair singles events (Wimbledon did not do so until 2016). In 2007 and 2008, Kunieda also won three of the four Masters series events. Kunieda is the only male player to retain the men's singles title at the Paralympics – he took the gold medal in 2008, 2012 and 2020. In addition, Kunieda won the gold medal in the 2004 men's doubles, and has been part of two World Team Cup wins. He has 103 career titles over singles and doubles combined, including 50 majors. Kunieda had a three-year, 106-match consecutive win streak. The streak began after his loss at the 2007 Masters and ended to Stéphane Houdet in the semifinals of the 2010 Masters. In late 2012 to early 2013, Kunieda had a win streak of 44 matches. Between January 2014 and December 2015, Kunieda was on yet another winning streak of 77 matches, ending to Joachim Gérard in the round-robin phase of the 2015 NEC Masters tournament. Kunieda is a right-handed player whose favorite surface is hard court. He was coached by Hiromichi Maruyama. He announced his retirement in January 2023.
Karina Nose (能瀬 香里奈, Nose Karina; born February 21, 1984), known mononymously as Karina (香里奈), is a Japanese actress…Karina Nose (能瀬 香里奈, Nose Karina; born February 21, 1984), known mononymously as Karina (香里奈), is a Japanese actress and model. She was born in Shōwa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. She played the lead role in the 2008 TBS drama Daisuki!!
Keisuke Koide (小出 恵介, Koide Keisuke; born February 20, 1984) is a Japanese actor who starred in Kwak Jae-yong's film…Keisuke Koide (小出 恵介, Koide Keisuke; born February 20, 1984) is a Japanese actor who starred in Kwak Jae-yong's film Cyborg She and in Koizora.
Kenta Kamakari (鎌苅 健太, Kamakari Kenta; born on February 17, 1984, in Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese actor, voice actor…Kenta Kamakari (鎌苅 健太, Kamakari Kenta; born on February 17, 1984, in Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese actor, voice actor and singer, famous for his role as Ryo Shishido in the Prince of Tennis Musicals. He was hospitalized on April 21, 2007, and was unable to play the role of Minami Itsuki in Musical Air Gear vs. Bacchus Super Range Remix and appear in Dream Live 4 – Extra. As he mentioned in his blog, as of February 2008 he is completely recovered and will start working again. He is the leader and lead vocals for the rock band Cocoa Otoko that debuted on 2010, yet disbanded again. In 2017, he married model and actress Yuria Haga.
Yoshitaka Naito (内藤禎貴, Naito Yoshitaka) (born February 17, 1984) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist from Inzai…Yoshitaka Naito (内藤禎貴, Naito Yoshitaka) (born February 17, 1984) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist from Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He is a former two-time ONE Strawweight World Champion. Naito is furthermore a former Shooto World Flyweight (114 lb) Champion, where he holds the record for flyweight title defenses, and was voted Fighter of the Year for two consecutive years. He is regarded as one of the best strawweights in the world, and is ranked as the #2 all time strawweight by Fight Matrix.
Norio Suzuki (鈴木 規郎, Suzuki Norio; born February 14, 1984) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a…Norio Suzuki (鈴木 規郎, Suzuki Norio; born February 14, 1984) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a defender and midfielder.
Yusaku Obata (小幡優作, Obata Yusaku, born February 13, 1984) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently a freelancer.…Yusaku Obata (小幡優作, Obata Yusaku, born February 13, 1984) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently a freelancer. He's best known for his time in Pro Wrestling Zero1 (ZERO1), where is a former World Heavyweight Champion, a former two-time NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, a former NWA United National Heavyweight Champion, the winner of the 2013 and 2016 Furinkazan and the 2016 Fire Festival. He is also known for his work in Apache Pro Wrestling Army, where he was a former WEW Tag Team Champion alongside HIROKI. Obata was originally trained by Kaientai Dojo and left the promotion in 2006. After leaving K-Dojo, Obata had much better success after signing with ZERO1 in 2012.
Natsuki Obama (小濱なつき, Obama Natsuki; born February 12, 1984) is a Japanese fashion model and actor. She appeared in the…Natsuki Obama (小濱なつき, Obama Natsuki; born February 12, 1984) is a Japanese fashion model and actor. She appeared in the national "What should I do to coordinate tomorrow?" campaign for the fashion magazine Marisol in 2017 and 2018. While attending Kagoshima Girl's High School, she was a member of the volleyball team that went to the national finals. Obama was a finalist for the 3rd Cover Girl Prize given out by Magazine Summit, a national organization for magazine publishers in Japan. Obama has used her celebrity status to support products such as shōchū that are produced in Minamisatsuma. She gave birth to a daughter in 2019.
Shōhōzan Yūya (Japanese: 松鳳山 裕也; born February 9, 1984 as Yūya Matsutani (松谷 裕也)) is a Japanese former professional…Shōhōzan Yūya (Japanese: 松鳳山 裕也; born February 9, 1984 as Yūya Matsutani (松谷 裕也)) is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Chikujō, Fukuoka. Wrestling for Hanaregoma stable, he made his professional debut in March 2006 and reached the top makuuchi division in November 2011. His highest rank was komusubi, which he achieved on five occasions. He earned three Fighting Spirit prizes, five kinboshi or gold stars for defeating yokozuna, and was runner-up in one tournament before retiring from competition in June 2022.
Hiroki Sanada (真田 裕貴, born February 7, 1984) is a professional baseball player from Takasago, Hyōgo, Japan (though was…Hiroki Sanada (真田 裕貴, born February 7, 1984) is a professional baseball player from Takasago, Hyōgo, Japan (though was born in Osaka Prefecture). He began his career as a pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants and currently plays for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. In November 2011, the Stars announced that they would use the posting system and auction Sanada's negotiating rights to Major League Baseball teams.
Kimitoshi Nōgawa (直川 公俊, Nōgawa Kimitoshi; born 6 February 1984) is a Japanese former professional footballer who…Kimitoshi Nōgawa (直川 公俊, Nōgawa Kimitoshi; born 6 February 1984) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a striker. His birthday has also been reported as 27 June 1978.
Kyohei Morita (森田恭平) (born 6 February 1984) is a Japanese rugby union footballer who made his international debut as a…Kyohei Morita (森田恭平) (born 6 February 1984) is a Japanese rugby union footballer who made his international debut as a fly half with the Japan national rugby union team in 2004. He graduated from Hosei University and joined Kobelco Steelers in 2006.
Ryosuke Baba (馬場 亮輔, Baba Ryōsuke; born 4 February 1984) is a Japanese artistic gymnast. Baba was part of the Japanese…Ryosuke Baba (馬場 亮輔, Baba Ryōsuke; born 4 February 1984) is a Japanese artistic gymnast. Baba was part of the Japanese team that won the silver medal in the team event at the 2006 Asian Games as well as the 2010 Asian Games. Prior to his silver medal, he was thought of as the future of Japanese men's artistic gymnastics.
Akira Yaegashi (八重樫 東, Yaegashi Akira; born February 25, 1983) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed…Akira Yaegashi (八重樫 東, Yaegashi Akira; born February 25, 1983) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2019. He is a three-weight world champion, having held the World Boxing Association (WBA) mini-flyweight title from 2011 to 2012, the World Boxing Council (WBC) and Ring magazine flyweight titles from 2013 to 2014, and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight title from 2015 to 2016. He is an alumnus of the Takushoku University.
Wataru Mori (森 渉, Mori Wataru; born February 25, 1983, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor who is…Wataru Mori (森 渉, Mori Wataru; born February 25, 1983, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor who is represented by the talent agency, Sun Music Production. Mori graduated from Komazawa University High School and Nippon Sport Science University. His former wife is voice actress Tomoko Kaneda.
