Takayuki Matsumiya (Japanese: 松宮隆行; born 21 February 1980 in Akita) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes…
Takayuki Matsumiya (Japanese: 松宮隆行; born 21 February 1980 in Akita) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in marathon races. He holds the Asian record and Japanese record over 25 km and 30 km. He has a twin brother, Yuko, who is also a top-level marathon runner. He made his debut over the marathon distance at the Nobeoka Marathon, which he finished in a time of 2:18:48. He also made his global championship debut that year, competing at the 2001 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and taking 53rd place overall. He was eleventh at the 2005 World Half Marathon Championships, which was good enough to help Japan finish third in the team competition. He won the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon in 2006, breaking a run of wins by Kenyan runners. He improved his marathon best at the Lake Biwa Marathon the month after, taking second place to José Ríos with a run of 2:10:20. In February 2007 he broke the 30 kilometres road running world record in Kumamoto. The time was 1:28:00 hours – a mark which stood for over two years, eventually being beaten by Haile Gebrselassie in September 2009, en route to his marathon world record run in Berlin. Matsumiya competed at the 2007 Rotterdam Marathon and was pleased despite being defeated by Joshua Chelanga as the Japanese set a personal best of 2:10:04 to finish in the runner-up spot. He represented Japan in the 5000 metres at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics but did not manage to progress into the event final. He made his Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and ran in both the 5000 m and 10,000 metres. He was knocked out in the qualifiers over the shorter distance and placed 31st in the 10,000 m. He aimed to qualify for the marathon at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu. He missed the necessary time at a hot Fukuoka Marathon, but his run of 2:10:54 still got him third place on the podium. He returned to the marathon distance in 2012 and ran a personal best of 2:09:28 hours to claim seventh place at the Tokyo Marathon.
Famous People Born in February
February: 1,821 people
Natsuko Imamura (今村 夏子, Imamura Natsuko; born February 20, 1980) is a Japanese writer. She has been nominated three…
Natsuko Imamura (今村 夏子, Imamura Natsuko; born February 20, 1980) is a Japanese writer. She has been nominated three times for the Akutagawa Prize, and won the prize in 2019. She has also won the Dazai Osamu Prize, the Mishima Yukio Prize, the Kawai Hayao Story Prize, and the Noma Literary New Face Prize.
Friedia Niimura is a Japanese businessperson. Born in Germany, she lived in the USA until she was 13, then moved to…
Friedia Niimura is a Japanese businessperson. Born in Germany, she lived in the USA until she was 13, then moved to Japan for approximately 10 years, working as a tarento under the stage name Rin Kozue (こずえ 鈴, Kozue Rin), but returned to the United States in 2005. As of 2022, she is the owner of a Los Angeles stationery shop called Paper Plant.
Kaori Fujino (藤野 可織, Fujino Kaori) is a Japanese writer from Kyoto. Her work has won the 103rd Bungakukai Prize and the…
Kaori Fujino (藤野 可織, Fujino Kaori) is a Japanese writer from Kyoto. Her work has won the 103rd Bungakukai Prize and the 149th Akutagawa Prize.
Satoshi Yokoyama (横山 聡, Yokoyama Satoshi; born February 14, 1980) is a former Japanese football player.
Sayaka Yamaguchi (山口 紗弥加, Yamaguchi Sayaka; born 14 February 1980 in Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese actress.
Akiko Noma (野間 亜紀子, born February 13, 1980), best known as Akko, was the bassist, back-up vocalist, and lyricist of…
Akiko Noma (野間 亜紀子, born February 13, 1980), best known as Akko, was the bassist, back-up vocalist, and lyricist of GO!GO!7188. She has also released two solo albums under her maiden name Akiko Hamada (浜田 亜紀子). She sings, writes lyrics, and composes music. After getting married in October 2006, she changed her surname from Hamada to Noma (野間).
Takuya Mikami (三上 卓哉, Mikami Takuya; born February 13, 1980) is a former Japanese football player. His older brother…
Takuya Mikami (三上 卓哉, Mikami Takuya; born February 13, 1980) is a former Japanese football player. His older brother Kazuyoshi is also a former football player.
Yūmao (ゆうまお; born on February 11, 1980) is a female Japanese singer-songwriter from Tokyo, Japan. She is a graduate of…
Yūmao (ゆうまお; born on February 11, 1980) is a female Japanese singer-songwriter from Tokyo, Japan. She is a graduate of Kunitachi College of Music. She sometimes performs as an indie singer under the stage name Mayuko. Her music is produced by FlagShip and Lantis. Yūmao is a pseudonym that she assumed in late 2002, which she uses primarily when writing and composing songs for anime and games such as Galaxy Angel and D.C.: Da Capo, as well as voice actresses such as Mai Nakahara and Ryoko Shintani. The name originated from yūmaō (優魔王), which in turn was formed from yasashii maō (優しい魔王; lit. kind devil); the long "o" sound at the end was dropped due to excessiveness. Her two singles, "Michishirube" and "Sweet Home Song," have both been ending themes for the anime Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl and Asatte no Houkou respectively. Additionally, her song "Kimi no Tame ni Dekiru Koto" was played in episode twelve of Kashimashi and her song "Omoide ga Hoshikatta" was released on the Please Twins! vocal album Esquisse.
Koji Yoshimoto (Japanese: 吉本光志, Yoshimoto Koji; born February 6, 1980) is a Japanese retired kickboxer and mixed…
Koji Yoshimoto (Japanese: 吉本光志, Yoshimoto Koji; born February 6, 1980) is a Japanese retired kickboxer and mixed martial artist. A professional competitor between 2000 and 2016, Yoshimoto held the RISE super lightweight title and was the 2007 Pancrase Neo Blood Featherweight Tournament winner.
Yasutaka Nakata (中田 ヤスタカ, Nakata Yasutaka; born February 6, 1980) is a Japanese music producer and DJ. He formed the…
Yasutaka Nakata (中田 ヤスタカ, Nakata Yasutaka; born February 6, 1980) is a Japanese music producer and DJ. He formed the group CAPSULE in 1997 with vocalist Toshiko Koshijima and himself as composer and record producer. The group debuted in 2001 with the song "Sakura". He is known for being the music producer of Japanese girl group Perfume and Japanese model-turned-singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu since 2003 and 2011, respectively. These artists have gained commercial success for the songs that Nakata wrote and produced, such as "Chocolate Disco", "Polyrhythm", "Fashion Monster", and "Ninja Re Bang Bang". Nakata has worked with several other Japanese pop singers, including MEG, Ami Suzuki, and SMAP, and has also remixed songs by other artists, including m-Flo and Leah Dizon. He ran his own label, Contemode, in association with Yamaha. After Towa Tei, he was the second Japanese artist to officially remix Kylie Minogue, contributing a version of her single "Get Outta My Way". He also formed Coltemonikha with singer, model, and fashion designer Kate Sakai. In July 2012, he won the "Creator" award for the "Change Maker of the Year 2012" event. The Japan Record Awards also awarded Nakata the Best Music Arrangement Award twice, the first for the songs "Tsukema Tsukeru" by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and "Spice" by Perfume in 2012, and the second one for Kyary's songs "Harajuku Iyahoi" and "Easta" in 2017. Nakata released his first solo album, Digital Native, on February 7, 2018. As of September 25, 2019, Nakata has put out a total of ten number-one albums, most as part of his production with Perfume (six albums and two compilations) and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (two albums).
Mamiko Noto (能登 麻美子, Noto Mamiko; born February 6, 1980) is a Japanese actress and singer. Some of her prominent anime…
Mamiko Noto (能登 麻美子, Noto Mamiko; born February 6, 1980) is a Japanese actress and singer. Some of her prominent anime roles include Kotomi Ichinose in Clannad, Rin in Inuyasha, Warrior Priestess Tomoe in Queen's Blade, Kotori Monou in X, Aoi Kannazuki in Kaitō Tenshi Twin Angel, Durandal in Honkai Impact 3rd, Ishmael in Punishing: Gray Raven, Haruka Nogizaka in Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu, UMP9 in Girls' Frontline, Fiel Nirvalen in No Game No Life, Sawako Kuronuma in Kimi ni Todoke, and Satellizer L. Bridget in Freezing. Noto was nominated in the 1st Seiyu Awards for her work as Yakumo Tsukamoto in School Rumble and as Masane Amaha in Witchblade, and she was one of the recipients of the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 18th Seiyu Awards. Noto has released several character songs and albums which have charted in Oricon and was a guest at the Otakon and Anime Expo conventions held in the United States.
Shinya Tanoue (田ノ上 信也, Tanoue Shinya; born February 5, 1980) is a former Japanese football player.
Kazuhiro Tamura (田村和宏, Tamura Kazuhiro; born February 5, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working…
Kazuhiro Tamura (田村和宏, Tamura Kazuhiro; born February 5, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for freelancer and Pro Wrestling Heat Up where he is the owner of the company and the former Heat Up Universal Champion. Tamura also works for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) where he is a former Gaora TV Champion. Tamura is also known for the time at Style-E Pro Wrestling, holding the Style-E Openweight Championship three times and won the E-1 Climax 2010.
Kenta Kiritani (桐谷 健太, Kiritani Kenta; born February 4, 1980) is a Japanese actor and singer.
Kosuke Suda (須田 興輔, Suda Kosuke; born February 4, 1980) is a former Japanese football player.
Satoru Kitaoka (Japanese: 北岡悟, Kitaoka Satoru; born 4 February 1980), is a Japanese shoot wrestler and mixed martial…
Satoru Kitaoka (Japanese: 北岡悟, Kitaoka Satoru; born 4 February 1980), is a Japanese shoot wrestler and mixed martial artist who most recently competed for RIZIN. A professional competitor since 2000, he has also competed for DREAM, Pancrase, DEEP, and World Victory Road. Kitaoka is renowned for his catch wrestling abilities which he learned studying under two of Japan's most respected catch wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. He is also a Brazilian jiu jitsu blackbelt under Yuki Nakai. A master of the guillotine choke and leg lock submissions, Kitaoka holds notable wins over Takanori Gomi, Paul Daley, and Carlos Condit.
Kentaro Yabuki (Japanese: 矢吹 健太朗, Hepburn: Yabuki Kentarō; born February 4, 1980) is a Japanese manga artist, best…
Kentaro Yabuki (Japanese: 矢吹 健太朗, Hepburn: Yabuki Kentarō; born February 4, 1980) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for his series Black Cat (2000–2004) and for illustrating To Love Ru (2006–2009) and To Love Ru Darkness (2010–2017) alongside author Saki Hasemi. Yabuki also wrote and illustrated the series Ayakashi Triangle (2020–2023). His mentor was Takeshi Obata, the illustrator of Hikaru no Go, Death Note and Bakuman.
Miho Yoshioka (吉岡 美穂, Yoshioka Miho; born 3 February 1980) is a Japanese tarento, actress, and former gravure idol who…
Miho Yoshioka (吉岡 美穂, Yoshioka Miho; born 3 February 1980) is a Japanese tarento, actress, and former gravure idol who has appeared in a number of television series and variety shows as well as feature films. Her real name is Miho Hine (日根 美穂, Hine Miho). She was born in Higashiōsaka, Osaka Prefecture. She is represented with the agency One Eight Promotion.
Myco (born February 27, 1979, in Shinjuku, Tokyo) is a Japanese singer, voice actress, and radio personality. She was…
Myco (born February 27, 1979, in Shinjuku, Tokyo) is a Japanese singer, voice actress, and radio personality. She was the vocalist for the band Changin' My Life, which was formed in 2001 and disbanded in 2003. She was the voice actor for the main character of the hit anime Full Moon o Sagashite, Mitsuki Kouyama, and the band did the music for the show. She has released one full solo album. She was on a hiatus between 2004 and 2007. On January 12, 2008, she joined a rock band called Quintillion Quiz with Ju-ken (bass) and Masanori Mine (guitar).
Keita Masuda (舛田圭太; born 27 February 1979 in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan) is a male badminton player from Japan.
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.
Kazuya Narita (成田 和也, born (1979-02-25)25 February 1979) is a Japanese male track cyclist, and part of the national…
Kazuya Narita (成田 和也, born (1979-02-25)25 February 1979) is a Japanese male track cyclist, and part of the national team. He competed in the 2007 and 2009 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. He is also a professional keirin cyclist.
Yasunori Takada (高田 保則, Takada Yasunori; born February 22, 1979) is a former Japanese football player.
Kazuhiro Nakamura (Japanese: 中村和裕 , born July 16, 1979) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist who competed as a…
Kazuhiro Nakamura (Japanese: 中村和裕 , born July 16, 1979) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist who competed as a middleweight in DREAM, and is a former DEEP middleweight champion. He fought out of the Yoshida Dojo and also competed in the Pride Fighting Championships, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Sengoku Raiden Championship. His primary style was judo, in which he holds a third dan black belt under Hidehiko Yoshida.
Lena Okajima (岡島 礼奈, Okajima Lena) is the founder and chief executive officer of ALE Co., Ltd.
Makoto Oishi (大石 真翔, Ōishi Makoto; born February 16, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler working for Dramatic…
Makoto Oishi (大石 真翔, Ōishi Makoto; born February 16, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler working for Dramatic Dream Team (DDT). Oishi started his career in Kaientai Dojo, where he became a Strongest-K Tag Team, Independent World Junior Heavyweight and UWA World Middleweight Champion, at one time holding all three titles simultaneously. In 2010, Oishi left Kaientai Dojo to become a freelancer, before making DDT his new home promotion in September 2011.
Yuichiro Nagai (永井 雄一郎, Nagai Yūichirō; born 14 February 1979) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played…
Yuichiro Nagai (永井 雄一郎, Nagai Yūichirō; born 14 February 1979) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a forward. He made four appearances for the Japan national team scoring once.
Yoko Kondo (近藤 陽子, Kondō Yōko; born February 13, 1979) is a Japanese ice hockey player, and is considered one of her…
Yoko Kondo (近藤 陽子, Kondō Yōko; born February 13, 1979) is a Japanese ice hockey player, and is considered one of her country's best defenseman. She is the only player to qualify for both the 1998 and 2014 Winter Olympics. Kondo was the oldest player on the 2014 team, for which she switched to the forward position.
Sakio Chiba (千葉 幸生, Chiba Sakio; born February 11, 1979) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan. He is…
Sakio Chiba (千葉 幸生, Chiba Sakio; born February 11, 1979) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan. He is also an executive director of the Japan Shogi Association.
Toshiaki Kasuga (春日 俊彰, Kasuga Toshiaki; born February 9, 1979) is a Japanese comedian best known as the boke half of…
Toshiaki Kasuga (春日 俊彰, Kasuga Toshiaki; born February 9, 1979) is a Japanese comedian best known as the boke half of the comedy duo Audrey alongside Masayasu Wakabayashi. On stage, he usually wears a pink vest and white pants. Aside from comedy, he is also known for his participation in sporting events such as kickboxing, bodybuilding, and finswimming. He was also a YouTuber under the name Hideo Furui.
Maki Kawamura (川村真樹 Kawamura Maki, born in Iwate Prefecture on February 9, 1979) is a Japanese ballerina for New…
Maki Kawamura (川村真樹 Kawamura Maki, born in Iwate Prefecture on February 9, 1979) is a Japanese ballerina for New National Theatre Tokyo. She became a contract dancer with the New National Theatre Ballet Company in the fall of 1999. In her first season, she was selected to play the lead role of Viola in Ishii Jun's Twelfth Night. In 2007, she danced Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, her first leading role in a full-length ballet. After this she played leading roles mainly in classical works, such as Swan Lake and Raymonda. She achieved the rank of principal dancer in May 2011, and retired two years later in June 2013, after playing the role of Kitri in a production of Don Quixote.
Akinori Iwamura (岩村 明憲, Iwamura Akinori; born February 9, 1979) is a former Japanese baseball infielder, who currently…
Akinori Iwamura (岩村 明憲, Iwamura Akinori; born February 9, 1979) is a former Japanese baseball infielder, who currently is a manager for the Fukushima Red Hopes in Japan's Baseball Challenge League. He made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2007. He earned the nickname Aki while in MLB. His nickname is Gan-chan in NPB.
Sawa Ishige (石毛 佐和, Ishige Sawa; born February 7, 1979 in Chiba) is a Japanese voice actress.
Yuichi Tsuchiya (土屋 裕一, Tsuchiya Yūichi; born February 6, 1979 in Minami-Alps, Yamanashi) is a Japanese actor and…
Yuichi Tsuchiya (土屋 裕一, Tsuchiya Yūichi; born February 6, 1979 in Minami-Alps, Yamanashi) is a Japanese actor and full-time member of the 4-man theatre troupe *pnish*. His nickname is "Tuti". He is best known for his stage roles as Shuichiro Oishi of the Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, and as Gin Ichimaru in the rock musical Bleach.
Akira Kawashima (川島 明, Kawashima Akira; born February 3, 1979, in Uji, Kyoto) is a Japanese comedian, tarento and actor…
Akira Kawashima (川島 明, Kawashima Akira; born February 3, 1979, in Uji, Kyoto) is a Japanese comedian, tarento and actor who has featured in films, television, and radio. He performs boke and writes all the material in his comedy duo Kirin. His partner is Hiroshi Tamura. Kawashima is represented by Yoshimoto Kogyo and is mainly active in Tokyo and Osaka.
Motoki Kawasaki (川崎 元気, Kawasaki Motoki; born February 2, 1979) is a former Japanese football player.
Yuki Miyazaki (宮崎有妃, Miyazaki Yuki) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her tenures with the…
Yuki Miyazaki (宮崎有妃, Miyazaki Yuki) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her tenures with the Japanese professional wrestling promotions Pro Wrestling Wave, NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling (NEO) and JWP Joshi Puroresu (JWP) and All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling.
Yoshinobu Ohira (Japanese: 大平 喜信, Hepburn: Ōhiro Yoshinobu; 28 February 1978) is a member of the Japanese Communist…
Yoshinobu Ohira (Japanese: 大平 喜信, Hepburn: Ōhiro Yoshinobu; 28 February 1978) is a member of the Japanese Communist Party serving in the House of Representatives as a representative of the Chūgoku region's proportional block. He is against a reinterpretation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution to allow for collective self defence. Ohira is also against nuclear weapons and thinks that the world should cooperate in the goal of eliminating them.
Mitsuru Nakamura (中村 満, Nakamura Mitsuru) is a Japanese artist and poet who also goes by the name 326. This name is…
Mitsuru Nakamura (中村 満, Nakamura Mitsuru) is a Japanese artist and poet who also goes by the name 326. This name is pronounced the same as his first name, Mitsuru, coming from the Japanese pronunciations of the numbers 3, 2, and 6 in Japanese.
Takashi Miyazawa (宮澤崇史, Miyazawa Takashi) (born 27 February 1978 in Nagano City) is a Japanese former professional…
Takashi Miyazawa (宮澤崇史, Miyazawa Takashi) (born 27 February 1978 in Nagano City) is a Japanese former professional racing cyclist, who competed as a professional between 2003 and 2014.
Yuji Nakazawa (中澤 佑二, Nakazawa Yūji; born 25 February 1978) is a Japanese former professional footballer who most…
Yuji Nakazawa (中澤 佑二, Nakazawa Yūji; born 25 February 1978) is a Japanese former professional footballer who most notably played as a centre back for J1 League sides Tokyo Verdy and Yokohama F. Marinos. He was the formerly the captain of the Japan national team. His nickname is "The Bomber" because of his distinctive hairstyle and heading ability. Nakazawa is one of only seven Japanese players to reach 100 caps for his national team and he is the third highest number of J.League all-time appearances in history with 593 appearances. Nakazawa also played for 178 consecutive matches for Yokohama F. Marinos from July 2013 to August 2018.
Shintarō Tokita (常田真太郎, Tokita Shintarō) is a member of the J-pop band, Sukima Switch. He was born February 25, 1978…
Shintarō Tokita (常田真太郎, Tokita Shintarō) is a member of the J-pop band, Sukima Switch. He was born February 25, 1978, in Midori-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture Japan. He has also produced Chitose Hajime's comeback single "Kataritsugu Koto", ending theme to Blood+. He enjoys soccer, judo and skiing. He especially loves music. He is usually identified with his large afro and wispy goatee. In 2008, Tokita produced the winner of the second annual Animax Anison Grand Prix competition, Catherine St. Onge's debut theme song for the anime adaptation of Valkyria Chronicles.
Miyako Miyazaki (宮崎 京, Miyazaki Miyako; born 25 February 1978) is a Japanese fashion model and beauty pageant…
Miyako Miyazaki (宮崎 京, Miyazaki Miyako; born 25 February 1978) is a Japanese fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder who the winner of the Miss Universe Japan 2003.
Masataka Sakamoto (坂本 將貴, Sakamoto Masataka; born February 24, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.He currently…
Masataka Sakamoto (坂本 將貴, Sakamoto Masataka; born February 24, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.He currently works as an individual coach for the Japan national team.
Yuka Motohashi (本橋 由香, Motohashi Yuka; February 23, 1978 – May 31, 2024) was a Japanese actress who was affiliated with…
Yuka Motohashi (本橋 由香, Motohashi Yuka; February 23, 1978 – May 31, 2024) was a Japanese actress who was affiliated with Office Matsuda. She came to prominence for starring in the 1996–97 Super Sentai franchise, Gekisou Sentai Carranger.
Keisuke Hada (羽田 敬介, Hada Keisuke; born February 20, 1982) is a former Japanese football player.
Toshihito Kumagai (熊谷俊人, Kumagai Toshihito; born 18 February 1978) is a Japanese politician who has served as governor…
Toshihito Kumagai (熊谷俊人, Kumagai Toshihito; born 18 February 1978) is a Japanese politician who has served as governor of Chiba Prefecture since 2021. Governor Kumagai was re-elected as the governor of Chiba Prefecture for a second term on the 16th of March 2025.
Shiori Asahi (旭 志織, Asahi Shiori; born February 17, 1978) is a Japanese wrestler, currently working for Active Advance…
Shiori Asahi (旭 志織, Asahi Shiori; born February 17, 1978) is a Japanese wrestler, currently working for Active Advance Pro Wrestling (2AW). He also appears sporadically for Big Japan Pro Wrestling and 666.
Chizuru Soneta (曽根田 千鶴, Soneta Chizuru; born 15 February 1978) is a Japanese cross-country skier, who competed in two…
Chizuru Soneta (曽根田 千鶴, Soneta Chizuru; born 15 February 1978) is a Japanese cross-country skier, who competed in two events at the 2006 Winter Olympics.