Hiroaki Morishima (森島 寛晃, Morishima Hiroaki; born April 30, 1972) is a Japanese former professional footballer who…Hiroaki Morishima (森島 寛晃, Morishima Hiroaki; born April 30, 1972) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He currently is the president for Cerezo Osaka.
Masahito Kakihara (Japanese: 垣原 賢人, Kakihara Masahito; born April 29, 1972) is a Japanese former professional wrestler…Masahito Kakihara (Japanese: 垣原 賢人, Kakihara Masahito; born April 29, 1972) is a Japanese former professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, who is known for his work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and UWF International (UWFI).
Koji Kondo (Japanese: 今藤 幸治, Hepburn: Kondō Kōji; April 28, 1972 – April 17, 2003) was a Japanese football player. He…Koji Kondo (Japanese: 今藤 幸治, Hepburn: Kondō Kōji; April 28, 1972 – April 17, 2003) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Eiji Maruo (丸尾 英司, born April 26, 1976) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon…Eiji Maruo (丸尾 英司, born April 26, 1976) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played with the Orix BlueWave in 1995 and from 1997 to 1998, and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes in 2000.
Osamu Suzuki (鈴木 おさむ, 鈴木 収, Suzuki Osamu; born 25 April 1972, in Chikura (now Minamibōsō), Awa District, Chiba) is a…Osamu Suzuki (鈴木 おさむ, 鈴木 収, Suzuki Osamu; born 25 April 1972, in Chikura (now Minamibōsō), Awa District, Chiba) is a Japanese television writer, screenwriter, lyricist, radio personality, and tarento. Since 2014, he has also been involved in organizing the Hakuhō Cup, a sumo tournament for children. Suzuki's pseudonym is Sumasuma Suzuki (すますま・すずき).
Yumiko Fujii (藤井 由宮子, Fujii Yumiko) (born April 24, 1972) is a Japanese softball player who played as a pitcher. She…Yumiko Fujii (藤井 由宮子, Fujii Yumiko) (born April 24, 1972) is a Japanese softball player who played as a pitcher. She won the silver medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Akihiro Yonekawa (米河 彰大, Yonekawa Akihiro) is a Japanese professional wrestler and singer, better known for his ring…Akihiro Yonekawa (米河 彰大, Yonekawa Akihiro) is a Japanese professional wrestler and singer, better known for his ring name Kesen Numajiro (気仙 沼二郎, Kesen Numajirō). He has had a long career in Michinoku Pro Wrestling, where he currently wrestles, being a three-time Tohoku Tag Team champion and a one-time Tohoku Junior Heavyweight champion.
Nobuyuki Ebisu (戎 信行, Ebisu Nobuyuki) is a former baseball player in Japan. He primarily played for the Orix BlueWave…Nobuyuki Ebisu (戎 信行, Ebisu Nobuyuki) is a former baseball player in Japan. He primarily played for the Orix BlueWave in the Pacific League He attended Spring Training with the Seattle Mariners.
Izam (stylized as IZAM, born 23 April 1972, in Fuchū, Tokyo) is a Japanese musician, tarento, and actor. His real name…Izam (stylized as IZAM, born 23 April 1972, in Fuchū, Tokyo) is a Japanese musician, tarento, and actor. His real name is Yoshikazu Hine (日根 良和, Hine Yoshikazu). He is best known as the singer of the visual kei rock band Shazna. He graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Matsugatani High School. He is represented with Sun Music Production. He is the president of the Benibara Usagi-dan.
Kenichi Yoshizumi (吉住 健一, Yoshizumi Ken'ichi; born 22 April 1972) is a Japanese politician serving as the current mayor…Kenichi Yoshizumi (吉住 健一, Yoshizumi Ken'ichi; born 22 April 1972) is a Japanese politician serving as the current mayor of Shinjuku, one of the special wards of Tokyo, since 2014.
Takashi Akai (赤 井貴, Akai Takashi; born April 20, 1972, in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan), better known as Dayu Koume (コウメ 太夫…Takashi Akai (赤 井貴, Akai Takashi; born April 20, 1972, in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan), better known as Dayu Koume (コウメ 太夫, Kōme Dayū), is a Japanese comedian represented by SMA Neet Project. He dropped out from Asahikawa University.
Natsuki Ozawa (Japanese: 小沢 なつき, Hepburn: Ozawa Natsuki) (born April 19, 1972) is a Japanese singer, actress and AV…Natsuki Ozawa (Japanese: 小沢 なつき, Hepburn: Ozawa Natsuki) (born April 19, 1972) is a Japanese singer, actress and AV actress who has appeared in mainstream films and adult videos.
Yuichi Nishimura (西村 雄一, Nishimura Yūichi; born 17 April 1972) is a Japanese football referee. He has refereed in the…Yuichi Nishimura (西村 雄一, Nishimura Yūichi; born 17 April 1972) is a Japanese football referee. He has refereed in the Japanese J. League Division 1 since 1999 and has been a full international referee for FIFA since 2004. He refereed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he was appointed to several prestigious matches, including as fourth official on the final. He also refereed the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup between hosts Brazil and Croatia, and the second leg of the 2014 AFC Champions League final between Al Hilal and Western Sydney Wanderers.
Kuniko Obinata (大日方 邦子, Obinata Kuniko) (born April 16, 1972) is a Paralympic alpine skier from Japan. She has competed…Kuniko Obinata (大日方 邦子, Obinata Kuniko) (born April 16, 1972) is a Paralympic alpine skier from Japan. She has competed at every Winter Paralympic Games since 1994, winning a total of two gold, three silver, and three bronze medals up to 2006. At the 2010 Winter Paralympics, she won two bronze medals in the women's sitting class of slalom and giant slalom.
Toshitaka Ōoka (Japanese: 大岡敏孝) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the…Toshitaka Ōoka (Japanese: 大岡敏孝) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives from Shiga Prefecture. First elected in 2014, he was most recently elected in the 2021 election defeating Alex Saito who ran as the candidate of Democratic Party for the People. In 2024, he lost a rematch against Saito who this time represented Nippon Ishin no Kai.
Fumiko Okuno (Japanese: 奥野史子 Okuno Fumiko; born April 14, 1972, in Kyoto) is a former competitor in synchronised…Fumiko Okuno (Japanese: 奥野史子 Okuno Fumiko; born April 14, 1972, in Kyoto) is a former competitor in synchronised swimming from Japan. She competed in both the women's solo and women's duet events at the 1992 Summer Olympics, and won two bronze medals.
Kunihiko Sakurai (桜井 邦彦, Sakurai Kunihiko; born 11 April 1972) is a Japanese former ice hockey right winger. He…Kunihiko Sakurai (桜井 邦彦, Sakurai Kunihiko; born 11 April 1972) is a Japanese former ice hockey right winger. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Mayumi Oiwa (大岩真由美, Ōiwa Mayumi) (born April 11, 1972, in Muroran, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese football referee. She became…Mayumi Oiwa (大岩真由美, Ōiwa Mayumi) (born April 11, 1972, in Muroran, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese football referee. She became a first class referee in 1999 and began officiating games in the L. League and was placed on the FIFA list of international referees in 2002. Her first international tournament was the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in which she officiated two games including the third place play-off. Following her performance in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship, in which she refereed a Quarter final match, Oiwa was promoted to the Japan Football League. She became the first female referee to officiate in the 84th Nationwide Highschool soccer championship conference on January 22, 2006, and then refereed the final at the 2006 AFC Women's Championship. Selected by FIFA to officiate in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, she refereed two games and was fourth official in the Final between Germany and Brazil.
Hideo Yoshizawa (吉澤 英生, Yoshizawa Hideo; born April 10, 1972) is a Japanese professional football manager and former…Hideo Yoshizawa (吉澤 英生, Yoshizawa Hideo; born April 10, 1972) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who was last the manager of J3 League club AC Nagano Parceiro.
Shingo Katsurayama (葛山 信吾, Katsurayama Shingo; born April 7, 1972, in Kameyama, Mie, Japan) is a Japanese actor who is…Shingo Katsurayama (葛山 信吾, Katsurayama Shingo; born April 7, 1972, in Kameyama, Mie, Japan) is a Japanese actor who is represented by the talent agency CES. He is known as Kaoru Ichijo in Kamen Rider Kuuga and Keisuke Okuni in Ju-On: The Grudge 2. Katsurayama's hobbies include recreational driving, collecting mini-cars, karaoke, outdoor sports, as well as playing the saxophone.
Kumiko Yokoyama (横山 久美子, Yokoyama Kumiko; born 7 April 1972) is a Japanese cross-country skier. She competed in five…Kumiko Yokoyama (横山 久美子, Yokoyama Kumiko; born 7 April 1972) is a Japanese cross-country skier. She competed in five events at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Rinko Kawauchi HonFRPS (川内 倫子, Kawauchi Rinko, born 1972) is a Japanese photographer. Her work is characterized by a…Rinko Kawauchi HonFRPS (川内 倫子, Kawauchi Rinko, born 1972) is a Japanese photographer. Her work is characterized by a serene, poetic style, depicting the ordinary moments in life.
Yasuhiro Takemoto (Japanese: 武本 康弘, Hepburn: Takemoto Yasuhiro; April 5, 1972 – July 18, 2019) was a Japanese animator…Yasuhiro Takemoto (Japanese: 武本 康弘, Hepburn: Takemoto Yasuhiro; April 5, 1972 – July 18, 2019) was a Japanese animator and television and film director. He worked at Kyoto Animation for almost his entire animation career after joining the company in 1996 until his death in 2019.
Hiromi Katayama (Japanese: 片山裕美, Hepburn: Katayama Hiromi; born April 5, 1972), known by the stage name Marina Ōno…Hiromi Katayama (Japanese: 片山裕美, Hepburn: Katayama Hiromi; born April 5, 1972), known by the stage name Marina Ōno (大野まりな, Ōno Marina), is a Japanese voice actress. She has also been known as Hiromi Matsumoto (松本裕美) and Hiromi Asō (麻生ひろみ). Some of her major roles in anime are: Faury Carat in Tristia of the Deep Blue Sea, Chiaki Nakahara in Dai-Guard, Aihara in Angel Links and Komoe Harumachi in Eiken. In video games, she voices Aki Nitta in Soul Link, Remit Marlena in Eternal Melody, Ayaka Nanase in First Kiss Story and Uriko in the Bloody Roar series.
Masahiro Ando (安藤 正裕, Andō Masahiro; born April 2, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Masahiro Ando (安藤 正裕, Andō Masahiro; born April 2, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Naoki Tanaka (田中 直樹, Tanaka Naoki; born 26 April 1971) is a Japanese comedian, actor and television presenter, who is…Naoki Tanaka (田中 直樹, Tanaka Naoki; born 26 April 1971) is a Japanese comedian, actor and television presenter, who is the leader and the boke of the owarai kombi Cocorico with his partner Shozo Endo. He has appeared in many television programmes and films. He is known for being a regular member of Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!, which he and Endo have worked on since 1997. Tanaka is also known for his love of animals, especially sea creatures, and on 24 June 2018, he became the Marine Stewardship Council ambassador for Japan.
Shigetoshi Hasebe (長谷部 茂利, Hasebe Shigetoshi; born April 23, 1971) is a former Japanese football player and manager, he…Shigetoshi Hasebe (長谷部 茂利, Hasebe Shigetoshi; born April 23, 1971) is a former Japanese football player and manager, he is the currently manager of J1 League club Kawasaki Frontale.
Daisuke Enomoto (榎本 大輔, Enomoto Daisuke; born April 22, 1971, nicknamed Dice-K) is a Japanese businessman and former…Daisuke Enomoto (榎本 大輔, Enomoto Daisuke; born April 22, 1971, nicknamed Dice-K) is a Japanese businessman and former livedoor executive who hoped to become the fourth space tourist. He had trained at Star City, Moscow in Russia to fly with two members of Expedition 14 on board Soyuz TMA-9, which was launched on September 18, 2006. However, on August 21, 2006, a Russian Federal Space Agency spokesman announced that Enomoto was "deemed not ready to fly for exclusively medical reasons", although he hinted that Enomoto might recover and join a later mission. His replacement on this particular flight was Iranian-American businesswoman Anousheh Ansari. Enomoto lodged a lawsuit against Virginia-based Space Adventures in which he hoped to reclaim the $21 million he paid the company over a two-year span. During the lawsuit, it was revealed that the "medical reason" was chronic kidney stones. Space Adventures claims it advised Enomoto to treat the kidney stones aggressively and when he did not, they had to disqualify him from spaceflight. Enomoto claims that he was misled about the kidney stones issue, and that the real reason for his disqualification was his refusal to provide additional funds to Space Adventures. Enomoto would have been the first self-funded space tourist from Japan and Asia (journalist Toyohiro Akiyama flew on Soyuz TM-11 in 1990, and could be regarded as the first space business traveller). Enomoto's flight would have taken him to the International Space Station (ISS) after lifting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the world's oldest spaceport. Enomoto made international news when it was revealed that he intended to go into space wearing a costume akin to that of Char Aznable, a character from the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam. His planned experiment was to put together one or more Gundam models in zero gravity.
Tatsuya Ide (井出 竜也, Ide Tatsuya; born October 1, 1971) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder, and…Tatsuya Ide (井出 竜也, Ide Tatsuya; born October 1, 1971) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder, and current first squad outfield defense and base running coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Nippon-Ham Fighters, Yomiuri Giants, and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Junya Ogawa (Japanese: 小川 淳也, Hepburn: Ogawa Jun'ya; born 18 April 1971) is a Japanese politician who has been the…Junya Ogawa (Japanese: 小川 淳也, Hepburn: Ogawa Jun'ya; born 18 April 1971) is a Japanese politician who has been the president of the Democratic Reform Party (DRP) since September, 2026 and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Takamatsu, Kagawa and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he joined the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1994. Leaving the ministry in 2003, he ran unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in the same year. Two years later, he ran again and lost for a second time. He ran for a third time in 2009 and was elected for Kagawa 1st district. After being elected, he became Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in the Hatoyama Cabinet. He left the office once Naoto Kan became Prime Minister and served as a backbencher for the rest of the DPJ government. He lost his district but won a proportional seat amidst the DPJ faltering in 2012, and continued to hold his proportional seat under the post-2012 DPJ and its successor, the DP. In 2017, amidst the DP dissolving into Kibō no Tō, he ran under Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's new party, but began to clash with her stances and policy of expulsion for dovish DP members from the party. He was elected in the PR block again in 2017. He later declined to join the DPP and joined the CDP instead. Amidst the release of Why You Can't Be Prime Minister in 2020, a documentary focused on Ogawa's political life, he gained popularity and name recognition across the country. After winning his district of Kagawa-1 for the first time since 2009 in the 2021 election, he ran in the leadership election to succeed Yukio Edano. After placing third and not making a run-off, he was appointed Chairman of the Policy Research Council by Kenta Izumi. He resigned from the position after the 2022 House of Councilors election. In the 2024 CDP leadership election, he declined to run himself, and backed Yoshihiko Noda. Noda appointed him Secretary-General of the party following his victory. Ogawa, alongside Ichirō Ozawa and Noda, led the CDP to gain over 50 seats in the 2024 election, ending in the CDP having the greatest number of seats for an opposition party since 2003. He resigned from the role after the 2025 Councillor elections, and was one of seven Centrist Reform Alliance members to win a first-past-the-post district in 2026. He was elected president of the CRA following the 2026 leadership election and subsequently the DRP, after the CRA's effective dissolution.
Tomohiro Katanosaka (片野坂 知宏, Katanosaka Tomohiro; born 18 April 1971) is a Japanese professional football manager and…Tomohiro Katanosaka (片野坂 知宏, Katanosaka Tomohiro; born 18 April 1971) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player. He's currently manage Roasso Kumamoto.
Tomoko Watanabe (渡辺伴子, Watanabe Tomoko; born 14 April 1971) is a Japanese softball player. She competed in the women's…Tomoko Watanabe (渡辺伴子, Watanabe Tomoko; born 14 April 1971) is a Japanese softball player. She competed in the women's tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Tomoko Matsunashi (松梨 智子, Matsunashi Tomoko) is a Japanese film director and actress. She was described in 2007 as one…Tomoko Matsunashi (松梨 智子, Matsunashi Tomoko) is a Japanese film director and actress. She was described in 2007 as one of the female Japanese directors who "have brought some needed originality and talent to contemporary Japanese cinema."
Kensuke Onishi (大西健介, Onishi Kensuke; born 13 April 1971) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House…Kensuke Onishi (大西健介, Onishi Kensuke; born 13 April 1971) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2026. From 2004 to 2009, he served as secretary to Sumio Mabuchi.
Tomomi Yamaki (八巻 智美, Yamaki Tomomi) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T52 sprint…Tomomi Yamaki (八巻 智美, Yamaki Tomomi) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T52 sprint events. She competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. There she won a silver medal in the women's 100 metres - T52 event and a silver medal in the women's 200 metres - T52 event
Chie Kanda (born (1971-04-12)12 April 1971) is a retired Japanese female volleyball player. Kanda was part of the Japan…Chie Kanda (born (1971-04-12)12 April 1971) is a retired Japanese female volleyball player. Kanda was part of the Japan women's national volleyball team at the 1998 FIVB World Championship in Japan.
Masakazu Kagiyama (鍵山 正和, Kagiyama Masakazu; born April 12, 1971) is a Japanese figure skating coach and former…Masakazu Kagiyama (鍵山 正和, Kagiyama Masakazu; born April 12, 1971) is a Japanese figure skating coach and former competitive figure skater. He is the 1989 World Junior bronze medalist and a three-time Japanese national champion. He placed 13th at the 1992 Winter Olympics and 12th at the 1994 Winter Olympics. After retiring from competition, Kagiyama became a coach. He is the father and coach of Japanese figure skater, Yuma Kagiyama.
Takeomi Ito (伊藤剛臣, Itō Takeomi) (born April 11, 1971 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union footballer. He plays…Takeomi Ito (伊藤剛臣, Itō Takeomi) (born April 11, 1971 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union footballer. He plays rugby as blindside flanker or no.8 for Kobelco Steelers in the Japanese Top League and also in the Japan national rugby union team. He played in both the 1999 and 2003 World Cups.
IGN is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of…IGN is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. Its headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former editor-in-chief, Peer Schneider. The IGN website was created by the media entrepreneur Chris Anderson and launched on September 29, 1996. IGN features articles on games, films, anime, television, comics, technology, and other media. Originally a network of desktop websites, IGN is also distributed on mobile platforms, console programs available on the Xbox and PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mobile, FireTV, Roku, and via YouTube, Twitch, Hulu, and Snapchat. Originally, IGN was the flagship website of IGN Entertainment, a website which owned and operated several other websites oriented towards players' interests, games, and entertainment, such as Rotten Tomatoes, GameSpy, GameStats, VE3D, TeamXbox, Vault Network, FilePlanet, and AskMen. IGN was sold to publishing company Ziff Davis in February 2013.
