Hiroshi Nakatsuka (中司 宏, Nakatsuka Hiroshi; born 11 March 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Japan Innovation Party…Hiroshi Nakatsuka (中司 宏, Nakatsuka Hiroshi; born 11 March 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Japan Innovation Party, who serves as the Minister of State for Regulatory Reform since September 2026. He has also served a member of the House of Representatives since 2021. He is the first member of his party to enter the cabinet of the government.
Iwao Taka (高 巌, Taka Iwao) is a professor of business administration and noted scholar of business ethics in Japan. He…Iwao Taka (高 巌, Taka Iwao) is a professor of business administration and noted scholar of business ethics in Japan. He was born in 1956 in Ōita Prefecture, Japan. Taka graduated the College of Foreign Language, Reitaku University and completed a Ph.D. in 1985 at the Graduate School of Commerce, Waseda University. He taught at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1994, and is now a professor at Reitaku University and guest professor at the Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University. He is also a member of the Business Ethics and Compliance Research Center at Reitaku. Taka, who frequently publishes with Nikkei Business Publications, has written books on business ethics, specifically on corporate social responsibility and regulatory compliance.
Arimasa Osawa (大沢在昌, Ōsawa Arimasa; born 8 March 1956) is a Japanese writer of hardboiled fiction and thrillers. He…Arimasa Osawa (大沢在昌, Ōsawa Arimasa; born 8 March 1956) is a Japanese writer of hardboiled fiction and thrillers. He served as the 12th President of the Mystery Writers of Japan from 2005 to 2009.
Tadatomo Yoshida (吉田 忠智, Yoshida Tadatomo; born 7 March 1956 in Usuki, Ōita Prefecture) is a Japanese politician…Tadatomo Yoshida (吉田 忠智, Yoshida Tadatomo; born 7 March 1956 in Usuki, Ōita Prefecture) is a Japanese politician currently serving as a member of the House of Councillors for Ōita at-large district; he previously represented the National PR block, having been elected on two separate occasions in 2010 and in 2019. He previously served as a member of the Ōita Prefectural Assembly from 2000 to 2010.
Takehiko Nakao (中尾 武彦, Nakao Takehiko; born 5 March 1956) is a Japanese former civil servant who served as the ninth…Takehiko Nakao (中尾 武彦, Nakao Takehiko; born 5 March 1956) is a Japanese former civil servant who served as the ninth president of the Asian Development Bank between 2013 and early 2020. He is Adviser, Sumitomo Corporation and Chairman, Center for International Economy and Strategy. He is also a board member (external) of the Daiichi Life Insurance Ltd. He teaches international economic policies and development economics as visiting professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at Tokyo University and National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (Tokyo).
Tadayuki Takahashi (高橋 忠之, Takahashi Tadayuki; born March 1, 1956 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese figure skating coach…Tadayuki Takahashi (高橋 忠之, Takahashi Tadayuki; born March 1, 1956 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese figure skating coach and former ice dancer. He competed with Noriko Sato from 1979. They placed 17th in the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. They were the first ice dancers from Japan to compete in olympics, also the first ice dancers from Japan to win an international competition (1984 Prague Skate). He was seven-time Japanese national champions from 1979 to 1985. Currently he coaches in KOSÉ Shin-Yokohama Skate Center.
Akemi Takada (高田明美, Takada Akemi; born March 31, 1955) is a Japanese manga artist and anime character designer born in…Akemi Takada (高田明美, Takada Akemi; born March 31, 1955) is a Japanese manga artist and anime character designer born in Tokyo, Japan. Her character-design work is one of the more recognizable styles of the 1980s, when she worked on series like Creamy Mami and Kimagure Orange Road. She is also noted for her long collaboration with director Mamoru Oshii. She graduated from Tama Art University, after which she worked for Tatsunoko Pro. She is currently a freelance manga artist with her own studio, though she is also a member of the creative group Headgear. She also has her own designer jewelry store called Diakosmos. Takada began working for Tatsunoko productions after visiting the production office as a fan during the broadcast of Gatchaman.
Buichi Terasawa (Japanese: 寺沢 武一, Hepburn: Terasawa Buichi; March 30, 1955 – September 8, 2023) was a Japanese manga…Buichi Terasawa (Japanese: 寺沢 武一, Hepburn: Terasawa Buichi; March 30, 1955 – September 8, 2023) was a Japanese manga artist. His most famous works include Goku Midnight Eye and Cobra.
Tadashi Mihara (三原 正, Mihara Tadashi; born 30 March 1955) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed as a…Tadashi Mihara (三原 正, Mihara Tadashi; born 30 March 1955) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed as a light middleweight throughout his career. Mihara began his boxing career when he was a third grader of the high school. He won the title of the All-Japan Amateur Boxing Championships in the light middleweight division in 1977. He also got the group title of the university league as a captain of the Nihon University boxing club. He experienced 38 matches during his amateur career; winning 28 (15 by knockout) and losing 10. After that, as a professional, Mihara fought 25 times between 1978 and 1985; winning 24 (15 by knockout) and losing 1. He won his first title in his fifth contest as a professional, beating Jae-Keum Lim for the OPBF title, a belt that he defended six times until he returned it. In June 1981, he won via a fifth-round knockout, in the undercard of Ayub Kalule vs. Sugar Ray Leonard, at the Reliant Astrodome, Houston. Since Leonard vacated the title after this, Mihara fought against Rocky Fratto for the vacant WBA world junior middleweight title in Rochester, New York on November 7, 1981. Mihara knocked him down by his right cross in the fourth round, and won the title via a majority decision. Judge Harold Lederman scored the fight a draw. Afterwards he said of Mihara, "There's no doubt that he's got a good jaw. He really got tagged a couple of times. I thought Fratto was going to knock him out." He lost his title after suffering a knockout during his first defence, against Davey Moore at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on February 2, 1982. His lumbago became chronic from these days. Following this loss, Mihara won the Japanese junior middleweight title and defended it six times until June 1984, then returned it. He fought for a final time in March 1985, beating Tricky Kawaguchi by a unanimous decision.
Kōji Tosa (土佐 浩司, Tosa Kōji; March 30, 1955) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of…Kōji Tosa (土佐 浩司, Tosa Kōji; March 30, 1955) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 8-dan.
Jun Murai (村井 純, Murai Jun; born March 29, 1955 in Tokyo) is a Japanese researcher known for being the founder of…Jun Murai (村井 純, Murai Jun; born March 29, 1955 in Tokyo) is a Japanese researcher known for being the founder of influential computer network projects in Japan such as the JUNET and founder of the WIDE Project. He is called by some the "Father of Internet in Japan" and "Internet Samurai." Murai is currently a professor and Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies at Keio University, as well as President of the Japan Network Information Center. Murai has received domestic and international awards and recognitions such as the 2011 IEEE Internet Award and entry to the Internet Hall of Fame in 2013.
Ōyutaka Masachika (born 29 March 1955 as Eiji Suzuki) is a former sumo wrestler from Horinouchi, Niigata, Japan. He…Ōyutaka Masachika (born 29 March 1955 as Eiji Suzuki) is a former sumo wrestler from Horinouchi, Niigata, Japan. He made his professional debut in November 1973, and reached the top division in May 1982. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in January 1987, and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Arashio. He opened Arashio stable in 2002. His son fought for the stable under the shikona Chikarayama, retiring in January 2017. Arashio-oyakata reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in March 2020, and was replaced as head coach of the stable by his most successful wrestler, maegashira Sōkokurai. Sōkokurai had been expelled from sumo in 2011 for alleged match-fixing, but Arashio always stood by his wrestler, and Sōkokurai was re-admitted to sumo in 2013 after winning a court case.
Nahomi Azuma (Japanese: 東菜穂美), known professionally as Nahomi Edamoto (Japanese: 枝元なほみ; March 22, 1955 – February 27…Nahomi Azuma (Japanese: 東菜穂美), known professionally as Nahomi Edamoto (Japanese: 枝元なほみ; March 22, 1955 – February 27, 2025), was a Japanese culinary expert. She wrote various cookbooks and frequently appeared on Japanese cooking shows.
Hiroshi Nishihara (西原寛, Nishihara Hiroshi), born 21 March 1955, is a Japanese chemist and Professor of Chemistry at The…Hiroshi Nishihara (西原寛, Nishihara Hiroshi), born 21 March 1955, is a Japanese chemist and Professor of Chemistry at The University of Tokyo in Japan. Currently heading the department of Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory in The University of Tokyo, he is a distinguished professor, researcher and pioneer in the field of synthesis and electrochemistry of conductive metal complex polymers. His research is focused on creation of new electro- and photo-functional materials comprising both transition metals and π-conjugated chains, and invention of unidirectional electron transfer systems utilizing molecular layer interfaces. He is presently a Vice President of The Electrochemical Society of Japan, and the regional representative of Japan for International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE).
Mariya Takeuchi (竹内 まりや, Takeuchi Mariya; born 20 March 1955) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and record producer.…Mariya Takeuchi (竹内 まりや, Takeuchi Mariya; born 20 March 1955) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and record producer. Regarded as the "Queen of City Pop", Takeuchi is one of the best-selling music artists in Japan with over 16 million records sold. Internationally, her 1985 song "Plastic Love" became a sleeper hit and the catalyst of the 21st century revival of city pop. Takeuchi was born in Taisha, Hikawa district, now the city of Izumo, Shimane, and attended Keio University. She signed with RCA in 1978, releasing five albums under the label which appeared on the Oricon Charts, including her chart-topping third effort Love Songs (1980). She terminated her contract with RCA in 1981 and announced a temporary hiatus. In 1982, she married singer and songwriter Tatsuro Yamashita. She signed with Moon Records in 1984, and internationally released her sixth studio album Variety that same year to commercial success. She has since released seven more studio albums and one live album. All of her works have continued to appear on the Oricon Charts, and since 2001, each one of her albums have topped it. Takeuchi has stayed with the Moon record label, working with the different branches since signing in 1984; since 1998, she has also been signed with Warner Music Japan. Her single "Inochi no Uta" (いのちの歌; Song of Life), when re-recorded in 2020, made her the oldest Japanese singer to have a single top the Oricon Charts.
Mikiyasu Tanaka (田中幹保, Tanaka Mikiyasu; born 18 March 1955) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed at the…Mikiyasu Tanaka (田中幹保, Tanaka Mikiyasu; born 18 March 1955) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Tanaka competed at the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow and won a bronze medal.
Jiro Watanabe (渡辺二郎, Watanabe Jirō; born 16 March 1955) is a Japanese former boxer. Watanabe, who fought only in Japan…Jiro Watanabe (渡辺二郎, Watanabe Jirō; born 16 March 1955) is a Japanese former boxer. Watanabe, who fought only in Japan and South Korea, was one of the first World super flyweight champions, as the division was relatively new when he was crowned.
Tsuneo Niijima (新島 恒男, Niijima Tsuneo; born 1955) is a Japanese farmer and amateur astronomer. He is a prolific…Tsuneo Niijima (新島 恒男, Niijima Tsuneo; born 1955) is a Japanese farmer and amateur astronomer. He is a prolific discoverer of minor planets, credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovery and co-discovery of 32 numbered minor planets between 1986 and 1996. He also co-discovered 112P/Urata-Niijima, a periodic comet of the Jupiter family in 1986. The main-belt asteroid 5507 Niijima, discovered by Takeshi Urata and Kenzo Suzuki, was named in his honor. Naming citation was published on 1 September 1993 (M.P.C. 22510).
Chieko Kikkawa (吉川 智恵子, Kikkawa Chieko; born 16 March 1955) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in six events at the…Chieko Kikkawa (吉川 智恵子, Kikkawa Chieko; born 16 March 1955) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in six events at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Yangji Lee (March 15, 1955 – May 22, 1992) was a Japanese-Korean novelist. She won the Akutagawa Prize for her work…Yangji Lee (March 15, 1955 – May 22, 1992) was a Japanese-Korean novelist. She won the Akutagawa Prize for her work Yuhi, becoming the second Zainichi Korean to win the prize.
Juri Yokoyama (横山 樹理 Yokoyama Juri, born 9 March 1955) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who was a member of…Juri Yokoyama (横山 樹理 Yokoyama Juri, born 9 March 1955) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who was a member of the Japan Women's National Team that won the gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Atsuko Seta (瀬田 敦子, Seta Atsuko) (born March 4, 1955) is a Japanese classical pianist. She is particularly successful…Atsuko Seta (瀬田 敦子, Seta Atsuko) (born March 4, 1955) is a Japanese classical pianist. She is particularly successful in Poland, especially in the southwest of the country, regularly performing with the Sudecka Philharmonic orchestra in Wałbrzych and in her native Japan and in Bulgaria. Seta is living in Poland as an Honorable Citizen of Szczawno-Zdroj city. Artistic Director of Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Festival. Honorary Professor of Payap University Thailand. Honorary Chairman of Japan Ginastera Association.
Tomoko Sasaki (佐々木 知子, Sasaki Tomoko; born 2 March 1955) is a Japanese lawyer, politician, novelist and former…Tomoko Sasaki (佐々木 知子, Sasaki Tomoko; born 2 March 1955) is a Japanese lawyer, politician, novelist and former prosecutor. She became a prosecutor in 1983, and worked at the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders from 1993 to 1996. Elected to the House of Councillors in 1998, Sasaki was engaged in introducing the Stalker Regulation Law of 2000. She served as the director of the Women's Affairs Division of the Liberal Democratic Party. She did not run for the election in 2004, but remains a member of the Party Ethics Committee of the LDP. She is a leading advocate of capital punishment in the party. She set up a law firm in 2004 and became a professor of law at Teikyo University in 2005.
Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃, Asahara Shōkō; March 2, 1955 – July 6, 2018), born as Chizuo Matsumoto (松本 智津夫, Matsumoto…Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃, Asahara Shōkō; March 2, 1955 – July 6, 2018), born as Chizuo Matsumoto (松本 智津夫, Matsumoto Chizuo), was a Japanese cult leader and domestic terrorist who founded and led the doomsday cult known as Aum Shinrikyo. He was convicted of masterminding the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway which killed 14 people and injured thousands more, and was also involved in several other assassinations and terrorist attacks. Asahara was sentenced to death in 2004, and his final appeal failed in 2011. In June 2012, his execution was postponed due to further arrests of Aum members. He was executed along with other senior members of Aum Shinrikyo on July 6, 2018.
Naonori Kohira (小平 尚典, Kohira Naonori) is a Japanese photojournalist and media producer who was one of the first…Naonori Kohira (小平 尚典, Kohira Naonori) is a Japanese photojournalist and media producer who was one of the first exclusive photographers for the Japanese magazine Focus when it was launched. In 1985, he was the first photojournalist to reach the crash site of the Japan Airlines' jumbo jet crash, which resulted in the deaths of 520 people.
Kōtarō Iizawa (飯沢 耕太郎, Iizawa Kōtarō; born March 26, 1954) is a Japanese photography critic, historian of photography…Kōtarō Iizawa (飯沢 耕太郎, Iizawa Kōtarō; born March 26, 1954) is a Japanese photography critic, historian of photography, and magazine editor. Born in Sendai, Miyagi in 1954, Iizawa studied photography in Nihon University, graduating in 1977. He obtained his doctorate at University of Tsukuba. Iizawa founded Déjà-vu in 1990 and was its editor in chief until 1994. He coedited the 41-volume series Nihon no Shashinka with Shigeichi Nagano and Naoyuki Kinoshita.
Yasuichi Oshima (大島 やすいち, Ōshima Yasuichi; born 24 March 1954 in Kyoto) is a Japanese manga artist. In 1984, he won the…Yasuichi Oshima (大島 やすいち, Ōshima Yasuichi; born 24 March 1954 in Kyoto) is a Japanese manga artist. In 1984, he won the Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen for Bats & Terry. He is the father of manga artist Towa Oshima.
Radomir Kovačević (20 March 1954 in Drvar — 14 June 2006 in Belgrade) was a Serbian and Yugoslav Olympic judoka and…Radomir Kovačević (20 March 1954 in Drvar — 14 June 2006 in Belgrade) was a Serbian and Yugoslav Olympic judoka and coach. He participated in three Olympic Games (Montreal 1976, Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984) and was an Olympic medalist. He was well known in judo circles and was close friends with world-famous Japanese judo champion Yasuhiro Yamashita. He was a member of the NYC 2012 Olympic Bid Committee.
Tomiko Yoshikawa (吉川とみ子, Yoshikawa Tomiko; born 10 May 1954) is a Japanese racing driver who competed in junior…Tomiko Yoshikawa (吉川とみ子, Yoshikawa Tomiko; born 10 May 1954) is a Japanese racing driver who competed in junior open-wheel racing and sports car categories. She entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times, the 24 Hours of Daytona once and also raced in her native Japan in such series as the All-Japan Formula Three Championship and the Fuji Grand Champion Series. In 1991 she was part of the first all-female LeMans driving team, driving with Lyn St. James and Desiré Wilson.
Ryosuke Otani (大谷 亮介, Ōtani Ryōsuke; born March 18, 1954) is a Japanese actor and voice actor represented by the talent…Ryosuke Otani (大谷 亮介, Ōtani Ryōsuke; born March 18, 1954) is a Japanese actor and voice actor represented by the talent agency Fathers Corporation. He graduated from Rokko Junior and Senior High School and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.
Takeshi Itō (伊東 毅, Itō Takeshi; born March 15, 1954) is a Japanese jazz fusion saxophonist and flute player. He is…Takeshi Itō (伊東 毅, Itō Takeshi; born March 15, 1954) is a Japanese jazz fusion saxophonist and flute player. He is currently a part of the jazz fusion band T-Square.
Hiroshi Inomata (猪俣 弘司, Inomata Hiroshi) is a Japanese diplomat and Japan's current ambassador to The Netherlands…Hiroshi Inomata (猪俣 弘司, Inomata Hiroshi) is a Japanese diplomat and Japan's current ambassador to The Netherlands, after a previous mission in Pakistan.
Tatsuhiko Yamamoto (山本達彦, Yamamoto Tatsuhiko; born March 4, 1954) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and composer born in…Tatsuhiko Yamamoto (山本達彦, Yamamoto Tatsuhiko; born March 4, 1954) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and composer born in Shinjuku, Tokyo. He is considered to have helped pioneer the city pop genre.
Akira Uchiyama (内山 晃, Uchiyama Akira; born 3 March 1954) is a former Japanese politician who served as a member of the…Akira Uchiyama (内山 晃, Uchiyama Akira; born 3 March 1954) is a former Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet national legislature.
Katsuko Kanesaka (金坂 克子, Kanesaka Katsuko) (born 1 March 1954) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion.…Katsuko Kanesaka (金坂 克子, Kanesaka Katsuko) (born 1 March 1954) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. Kanesaka was a member of the Japanese winning team at the 1976 Olympic games.
Yoshinori Tokura (十倉 好紀, Tokura Yoshinori; born March 1, 1954) ForMemRS is a Japanese physicist, Professor at…Yoshinori Tokura (十倉 好紀, Tokura Yoshinori; born March 1, 1954) ForMemRS is a Japanese physicist, Professor at University of Tokyo and Director of Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) at RIKEN. He is a specialist in physics of strongly correlated electron systems and known for his work in high-temperature superconductivity, Mott transition, colossal magnetoresistance, Multiferroics, and magnetic skyrmions.
Masayoshi Takanaka (born March 27, 1953) is a Japanese musician and record producer. Known for his virtuosic guitar…Masayoshi Takanaka (born March 27, 1953) is a Japanese musician and record producer. Known for his virtuosic guitar playing and skilled musicianship, Takanaka rose to fame and achieved commercial success during the 1970s and 1980s. He composes and performs across various different music genres. In a career spanning over 50 years, Takanaka has released more than 20 albums and continues to perform.
Yoshihiro Yonezawa (米澤 嘉博, Yonezawa Yoshihiro; March 21, 1953 – October 1, 2006) was a Japanese manga critic and…Yoshihiro Yonezawa (米澤 嘉博, Yonezawa Yoshihiro; March 21, 1953 – October 1, 2006) was a Japanese manga critic and author. He is also known for being Comiket's co-founder and president. He died of lung cancer at 53. He won the 2007 Seiun Award in the special category and 2010 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Special Award.
Kenji Kitahashi (北橋 健治, Kitahashi Kenji; born 19 March 1953, in Nishinomiya) is a Japanese politician and a former…Kenji Kitahashi (北橋 健治, Kitahashi Kenji; born 19 March 1953, in Nishinomiya) is a Japanese politician and a former mayor of Kitakyushu, Japan. A graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected to the House of Representatives in Diet of Japan (parliament) for the first time in 1986 as a member of Democratic Socialist Party, which later became part of Democratic Party of Japan. After losing his seat in 1990, he was re-elected in 1993. In February 2007 he was elected mayor of Kitakyushu and went on to serve four terms, until 2023.
Takashi Yoshimatsu (吉松 隆, Yoshimatsu Takashi; born March 18, 1953) is a Japanese classical music composer. He is well…Takashi Yoshimatsu (吉松 隆, Yoshimatsu Takashi; born March 18, 1953) is a Japanese classical music composer. He is well known for composing the score for the 2003 remake of Astro Boy.
Kazuyuki Hamada (浜田 和幸, Hamada Kazuyuki; born 17 March 1953) is a Japanese politician. He has served one term in the…Kazuyuki Hamada (浜田 和幸, Hamada Kazuyuki; born 17 March 1953) is a Japanese politician. He has served one term in the House of Councillors for the Tottori At-large district. After being elected in 2010 as a candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party, he changed parties three times before unsuccessfully seeking re-election as an independent candidate in 2016.
Kei Akagi (ケイ 赤城/赤城 恵, Akagi Kei; born March 16, 1953) is a Japanese American jazz pianist. In particular, he is known…Kei Akagi (ケイ 赤城/赤城 恵, Akagi Kei; born March 16, 1953) is a Japanese American jazz pianist. In particular, he is known for his work with the Airto Moreira/Flora Purim group and in Miles Davis's band in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was born in Japan, but lived in Cleveland, Ohio, for part of his childhood, until he moved back to Japan at the age of 12. He later returned to the United States at 22. He is associated with the Californian jazz scene at present. He is the Chancellor Professor of Music at the University of California, Irvine.
Kirinji Kazuharu, real name Kazuharu Tarusawa (9 March 1953 – 1 March 2021) was a sumo wrestler from Kashiwa, Chiba…Kirinji Kazuharu, real name Kazuharu Tarusawa (9 March 1953 – 1 March 2021) was a sumo wrestler from Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1967, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1974. His highest rank was sekiwake. During his long career he won several awards and set a number of longevity records. Upon his retirement in 1988 he became a sumo coach and elder of the Japan Sumo Association, until reaching 65 years of age in 2018.