Midori Yajima (born 17 April 1979) is a Japanese sport shooter. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Men's 10…Midori Yajima (born 17 April 1979) is a Japanese sport shooter. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Men's 10 metre air rifle, finishing in 38th place, the men's 50 m rifle 3 positions, finishing in 39th place, and the men's 50 m rifle prone, finishing in 33rd place.
Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryūsuke; born April 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New…Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryūsuke; born April 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). He also makes appearances for DDT Pro Wrestling (DDT), where he is the current DDT Universal Champion in his first reign. Pursuing several sports in high school, Taguchi competed in 76 kg (168 lb) class amateur wrestling in college before entering the NJPW Dojo in March 2002 and debuting in November of that year at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, wrestling in New Japan's famous junior heavyweight division. Taguchi's best known gimmick is akin to a disco dancer, often sporting a short afro and colorful, flamboyant attire and celebrating victories with a post-match dance, encouraging his partners to join in during tag team matches. This earned Taguchi the nickname "Funky Weapon".
Tetsuya Matsunaga (松永 鉄也, Matsunaga Tetsuya; born 15 April 1979 in Kyoto) is a Japanese sailor, who specialized in…Tetsuya Matsunaga (松永 鉄也, Matsunaga Tetsuya; born 15 April 1979 in Kyoto) is a Japanese sailor, who specialized in two-person dinghy (470) class. He represented Japan, along with his partner Taro Ueno, at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and has also been training for Three Bond Sailing Team in Kyoto throughout most of his sporting career under his longtime coach and mentor Kenji Nakamura. As of September 2014, Matsunaga is ranked twenty-sixth in the world for two-person dinghy class by the International Sailing Federation, following his successes at the South American Championships, ISAF Sailing World Cup Series, and 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Santander, Spain. Matsunaga qualified as a skipper for the Japanese squad in the men's 470 class at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing by placing fifteenth and receiving a berth from the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Teaming with crew member Taro Ueno in the eleven-race series, the Japanese duo mounted a marvelous lead in the opening leg, but came up short for the medal with a net score of 97 and a seventh-place finish in a fleet of twenty-nine boats. At the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships, Matsunaga and his new partner Yugo Yoshida set a career record with a sixth-place finish in the men's 470 class to secure their spot on the Japanese sailing team for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Shota Takiya (Japanese: 瀧谷渉太, Takiya Shota; born April 15, 1989) is a retired Japanese kickboxer who competed in the…Shota Takiya (Japanese: 瀧谷渉太, Takiya Shota; born April 15, 1989) is a retired Japanese kickboxer who competed in the super bantamweight divisions of Krush, K-1, RISE and Rizin FF. A professional competitor since 2007, he is a former two-time Krush Super Bantamweight champion.
Kohichi Amano (天野 浩一, Amano Kōichi; born April 12, 1979) is a professional Japanese baseball player playing who has…Kohichi Amano (天野 浩一, Amano Kōichi; born April 12, 1979) is a professional Japanese baseball player playing who has played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Nippon Professional Baseball. After his short stint in NPB, he went on to play in the Shikoku Island League and the Baseball Challenge League.
Tsuyoshi Domoto (堂本 剛, Dōmoto Tsuyoshi; born April 10, 1979) is a Japanese idol, singer, songwriter, actor, and…Tsuyoshi Domoto (堂本 剛, Dōmoto Tsuyoshi; born April 10, 1979) is a Japanese idol, singer, songwriter, actor, and television personality. Along with Koichi Domoto (with whom he has no blood-relation), he is a member of Domoto, which is a Japanese duo under the management of Starto Entertainment (formerly of Johnny & Associates) and the record holder of Guinness World Records for having the record of the most consecutive number-one singles since their debut single.
Kei Satō (born 4 July 1979) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors since 2016…Kei Satō (born 4 July 1979) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors since 2016, representing Nara Prefecture.
Keiichi Hirano (平野 恵一, born April 7, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and current manager for…Keiichi Hirano (平野 恵一, born April 7, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and current manager for the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes and Hanshin Tigers from 2002 to 2015.
Kei Satō (born 4 July 1979) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors since 2016…Kei Satō (born 4 July 1979) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors since 2016, representing Nara Prefecture.
Michiyo Heike (平家みちよ, Heike Michiyo; born April 6, 1979) is a former Japanese pop singer-songwriter from Osaka…Michiyo Heike (平家みちよ, Heike Michiyo; born April 6, 1979) is a former Japanese pop singer-songwriter from Osaka Prefecture and raised in Nabari, Mie. She first become known after her appearance on the Japanese talent show Asayan in the late 1990s, becoming the first member of the future "Hello! Project". Heike currently goes by the simply Michiyo.
Mitsuo Ogasawara (小笠原 満男, Ogasawara Mitsuo; born 5 April 1979) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played…Mitsuo Ogasawara (小笠原 満男, Ogasawara Mitsuo; born 5 April 1979) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for Japan national team.
Noriko Miyagawa (Japanese: 宮川 典子, Hepburn: Miyagawa Noriko; April 5, 1979 – September 12, 2019) was a Japanese…Noriko Miyagawa (Japanese: 宮川 典子, Hepburn: Miyagawa Noriko; April 5, 1979 – September 12, 2019) was a Japanese politician. She was a member of the House of Representatives from 2012 until her death in 2019, and the Parliamentary Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in the Fourth Abe Cabinet.
Yumiko Abe (阿部 由美子, Abe Yumiko; born April 4, 1979), better known by her ring name Yumi Ohka (桜花 由美, Ōka Yumi), is a…Yumiko Abe (阿部 由美子, Abe Yumiko; born April 4, 1979), better known by her ring name Yumi Ohka (桜花 由美, Ōka Yumi), is a Japanese professional wrestler. Originally trained by the now defunct JDStar promotion, Ohka now works for Oz Academy and Pro Wrestling Wave. She is a former two-time Wave Single Champion, while also being a former Oz Academy Tag Team Champion and Wave Tag Team Champion. She is the managing director of Zabun Co., Ltd., which owns Pro Wrestling Wave.
Masato Watanabe (渡辺 正人, born April 3, 1979, in Osaka) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder. He played…Masato Watanabe (渡辺 正人, born April 3, 1979, in Osaka) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2001 to 2012.
Takahiro Suzuki (鈴木 尚広, Suzuki Takahiro; born April 27, 1978 in Sōma, Fukushima) is a Japanese retired Nippon…Takahiro Suzuki (鈴木 尚広, Suzuki Takahiro; born April 27, 1978 in Sōma, Fukushima) is a Japanese retired Nippon Professional Baseball player. After leaving his professional career, he worked as a baseball commentator and also was engaged in farming.
Risa Kazumi (born 24 April 1978) is a Japanese judoka. She competed in the women's middleweight event at the 1996…Risa Kazumi (born 24 April 1978) is a Japanese judoka. She competed in the women's middleweight event at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Saori Obata (Japanese: 小畑沙織, Obata Saori; born 23 April 1978) is a former tennis player from Japan. She turned…Saori Obata (Japanese: 小畑沙織, Obata Saori; born 23 April 1978) is a former tennis player from Japan. She turned professional in April 1996, and in February 2004, she achieved a career-high singles ranking of 39, and on the same day, she reached her best doubles ranking of 98.
Shinya Yoshihara (吉原 慎也, Yoshihara Shinya; born April 19, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is married to…Shinya Yoshihara (吉原 慎也, Yoshihara Shinya; born April 19, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is married to well-known professional Go player Yukari Yoshihara (née Yukari Umezawa), who is known for her work in spreading and teaching Go, especially in the worldwide-distributed manga and anime series Hikaru no Go.
Toshihide Matsui (松井 俊英, Matsui Toshihide; born 19 April 1978) is a professional Japanese tennis player. He has a…Toshihide Matsui (松井 俊英, Matsui Toshihide; born 19 April 1978) is a professional Japanese tennis player. He has a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 261 achieved on 12 June 2006 and a doubles ranking of No. 121 achieved on 27 May 2024. He is currently the oldest active singles player in the ATP world doubles rankings.
Ryota Tsuzuki (都築 龍太, Tsuzuki Ryōta; born April 18, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He played six times for…Ryota Tsuzuki (都築 龍太, Tsuzuki Ryōta; born April 18, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He played six times for Japan national team.
Miho Sato (佐藤 美保, Satō Miho; née Sugimori; born 14 April 1978) is a retired Japanese athlete specialising in…Miho Sato (佐藤 美保, Satō Miho; née Sugimori; born 14 April 1978) is a retired Japanese athlete specialising in middle-distance events. From Ise, Mie, she competed in the 800 metres at the 2004 Summer Olympics without reaching the semifinals. She is married to a long-distance runner, Atsushi Sato.
Tomoko Ogawa (尾川 智子, Ogawa Tomoko; born April 14, 1978) is a Japanese boulderer. In 2012, she sent Catharsis, a boulder…Tomoko Ogawa (尾川 智子, Ogawa Tomoko; born April 14, 1978) is a Japanese boulderer. In 2012, she sent Catharsis, a boulder route in Shiobara established by Dai Koyamada, and confirmed by Daniel Woods, to become the first-ever woman to climb an 8B+ (V14) route. Ogawa began climbing in 2000, at age 22. Her other notable ascents of boulders include Caramba 8A+ (V12), Mutante 8A+ (V12), Akugeki 8A/8A+ , Atomic Playboy 8A (V11), Hatchling 8A (V11), and No Late Tenders 8A (V11).
Kyohei Sakaguchi (坂口 恭平, Sakaguchi Kyōhei; born 13 April 1978) is a Japanese artist and architect who was born in…Kyohei Sakaguchi (坂口 恭平, Sakaguchi Kyōhei; born 13 April 1978) is a Japanese artist and architect who was born in Kumamoto. He graduated from Waseda University's department of architecture in 2001. He is most known for his Zero Yen Project, which involves studying structures built at no cost, such as shanties made by the homeless. The Zero Yen Project involved building dwellings after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant meltdowns following the March 2011 earthquake, and subsequent tsunami that devastated the Tohuku region. In response to the disaster, he created a suicide help line using his personal cell phone. Later he studied provisional dwellings made from scrap wood, discarded cardboard boxes and other scavenged materials. In 2004 is photographic book Zero Yen House was published. In 2013 his book, Build Your Own Independent Nation, was published. In 2014, he wrote a novel, Genjitsu Dasshutsuron (Thesis on Escaping Reality). In 2020 his book Kurushii Toki wa Denwa Shite (Call Me When You're in Pain) was published. Sakaguchi's work has been exhibited at the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, the Trax Gallery in Yamanashi Prefecture, the Vancouver Art Gallery, as well as exhibitions in Nairobi, Berkeley, California, Philadelphia, Tokyo, the Walter Phillips Gallery at Banff Centre, Canada, Museo Desafinado / Casa Endeble in Mexico City, among other international venues
Sakura Hirota (広田さくら, Hirota sakura) is a Japanese politician and professional wrestler. She is currently a freelancer…Sakura Hirota (広田さくら, Hirota sakura) is a Japanese politician and professional wrestler. She is currently a freelancer who is best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Gaea, Pro Wrestling Wave and Oz Academy. Hirota's later career is characterized by being a comedy wrestler who oft appears as a doppelgänger of other wrestlers, dressing up as and portraying their mannerisms in an exaggerated, poorly executed way for comedic effect. Hirota sometimes even ironically imitates her own opponent, examples include: Saki Akai and Asuka. She tentatively retired on June 2, 2025, due to her pursuing a career in politics; in the process, she left Pro Wrestling Wave. However she resumed full time activity in August 2025 as a result of having lost her local House of Councillors election. She became representative of the Katsushika Ward Assembly in Tokyo as of 2026, a result of winning the assembly election in November 2025.
Yasuji Ohagi (大萩康司, Ohagi Yasuji) is a Japanese classical guitarist. He has been named a "guitar poet" by Japanese…Yasuji Ohagi (大萩康司, Ohagi Yasuji) is a Japanese classical guitarist. He has been named a "guitar poet" by Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shinbun.
Akiko Sekiwa (Japanese: 関和 章子; born April 6, 1978, in Tokoro, Hokkaido, Japan as Akiko Katoh, Japanese: 加藤 章子) is a…Akiko Sekiwa (Japanese: 関和 章子; born April 6, 1978, in Tokoro, Hokkaido, Japan as Akiko Katoh, Japanese: 加藤 章子) is a Japanese curler and curling coach, a four-time Pacific-Asian champion (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998) and a four-time Japan women's champion (1997, 1998, 1999, 2001). She played for Japan at the 1998 Winter Olympics, where the Japanese team finished in fifth place. Also, she competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics, where the Japanese team finished in eighth place.
Brendan Neilson (born 5 April 1978) is a New Zealand-Japanese former rugby union player who played as a Centre in Japan…Brendan Neilson (born 5 April 1978) is a New Zealand-Japanese former rugby union player who played as a Centre in Japan for Coca-Cola Red Sparks, NEC Green Rockets and Kamaishi Seawaves. He studied in Japan at Sendai Ikuei High School, then Ryutsu Keizai University. On graduation he first joined NEC Green Rockets. He has a bachelor's degree in tourism and social studies. In 2006, he obtained Japanese citizenship, though at international level he has yet to represent the senior Japan squad, having played for the Japan A and Under-23 sides. In April 2015, he began working as IBDP World History Instructor & Rugby Head Coach at Sendai Ikuei High School and is still currently there.
Kazunori Yokota (横田 一則, Yokota Kazunori; born April 3, 1978) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka. Yokota…Kazunori Yokota (横田 一則, Yokota Kazunori; born April 3, 1978) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka. Yokota fought for the Japanese MMA promotions DEEP and WVR Sengoku.
Atsushi Kanazawa (金澤篤志, Kanazawa Atsushi) is the former head coach of the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka in the Japanese…Atsushi Kanazawa (金澤篤志, Kanazawa Atsushi) is the former head coach of the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka in the Japanese B.League.
Shintaro Ejiri (江尻 慎太郎, Ejiri Shintaro; born April 30, 1977 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Shintaro Ejiri (江尻 慎太郎, Ejiri Shintaro; born April 30, 1977 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Yuya Saito (斉藤 祐也, Saitō Yūya; born 28 April 1977) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as No. 8, currently for…Yuya Saito (斉藤 祐也, Saitō Yūya; born 28 April 1977) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as No. 8, currently for Toyota Jido Shokki. He graduated from Meiji University and used to play for Suntory Sungoliath before he went to play professional rugby in France for about one season. He's a regular at Japan national rugby union team, having played at the 2003 Rugby World Cup finals. He played at full back (No. 15) for the first time for the Steelers versus Suntory in a game on Christmas Day 2004. He married former Olympic gold medalist swimmer Kyoko Iwasaki.
Koji Homma (本間 幸司, Honma Kōji; born April 27, 1977) is a Japanese former football player. He last plays for J2 League…Koji Homma (本間 幸司, Honma Kōji; born April 27, 1977) is a Japanese former football player. He last plays for J2 League club Mito HollyHock until he retirement in 2024. He holds the ongoing record for playing in the most games in J2.
Takayuki Nishida (西田 隆維, Nishida Takayuki; born April 26, 1977) is a retired male long-distance runner from Japan who…Takayuki Nishida (西田 隆維, Nishida Takayuki; born April 26, 1977) is a retired male long-distance runner from Japan who mainly competed in the marathon race during his career. He set his personal best (2:08:45) in the classic distance on February 4, 2001 in Ōita. He has worked as an interpreter since his retirement.
Kosuke Fukudome (福留 孝介, Fukudome Kōsuke, [ɸɯ̥kɯdome koːsɯ̥ke]; born April 26, 1977) is a Japanese former professional…Kosuke Fukudome (福留 孝介, Fukudome Kōsuke, [ɸɯ̥kɯdome koːsɯ̥ke]; born April 26, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league from 1999 to 2007 and in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2008 to 2012 before returning to play in Japan from 2013 to 2022. He played primarily with the Chicago Cubs in MLB and had a long spanning career in the Nippon Professional Baseball with the Chunichi Dragons and Hanshin Tigers. Prior to arriving in MLB, Fukudome played nine seasons for the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Professional Baseball. He was also a member of the Japan national baseball team, winning a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics, a bronze medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics, and placing first in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and 2009 World Baseball Classic. He won the Central League MVP in 2006.
Daisuke Sudo (須藤 大輔, Sudō Daisuke; born April 25, 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player…Daisuke Sudo (須藤 大輔, Sudō Daisuke; born April 25, 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player, who is manager of J2 League club Yokohama FC.
Tomoko Sawada (澤田 知子, Sawada Tomoko; born 1977 in Kobe, Japan) is a Japanese contemporary feminist photographer and…Tomoko Sawada (澤田 知子, Sawada Tomoko; born 1977 in Kobe, Japan) is a Japanese contemporary feminist photographer and performance artist. She has been included in numerous group shows in Japan, Europe and the US. Her first solo exhibition was in 1997 at Japan's Gallery Chat. In 2004 she was awarded the prestigious Kimura Ihei Memorial Photography Award for Young Japanese Photographer as well as the International Center of Photography Infinity Award in the category of Young Photographer.
