Takeo Watanabe (渡辺 岳夫, Watanabe Takeo; April 16, 1933 – June 2, 1989) was a Japanese musician and composer. In addition…
Takeo Watanabe (渡辺 岳夫, Watanabe Takeo; April 16, 1933 – June 2, 1989) was a Japanese musician and composer. In addition to composing the well known theme song for Cutie Honey he has also composed music for multiple anime television series and films including Lone Wolf and Cub, Candy Candy, and Mobile Suit Gundam. Tomei Tengu BGM written and performed by Takeo Watanabe was used in the soundtrack of the 2003 movie Lost in Translation fourteen years after his death. In 2008 Takeo Watanabe posthumously received an Award of Merit from the Tokyo International Anime Fair. He died at the age of 56.
Famous People Born in April
April: 2,006 people
Yoshio Aramaki (荒巻義雄, Aramaki Yoshio, born 12 April 1933) is a Japanese science fiction and mystery writer, critic and…
Yoshio Aramaki (荒巻義雄, Aramaki Yoshio, born 12 April 1933) is a Japanese science fiction and mystery writer, critic and art collector. His original given name was Kunio Aramaki (荒巻邦夫, Aramaki Kunio). He has changed his name to Yoshimasa Aramaki (荒巻義雅). Aramaki is well known by his so-called "Meta-SF" works which are characterized by their speculative and fantastic themes and depictions. He is also famous for his various series of "imaginary battle" novels and alternate history novels such as Konpeki no Kantai series. He is a member of the Japan Writers’ Association, and of the SFWJ (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan), and of the Contemporary Haiku Association. He was also a professor in the Seishū Women's University (now, Sapporo International University) from 1993 to 1997.
Rokusuke Ei (永 六輔, Ei Rokusuke; April 10, 1933 – July 7, 2016) was a Japanese lyricist, composer, author, essayist, and…
Rokusuke Ei (永 六輔, Ei Rokusuke; April 10, 1933 – July 7, 2016) was a Japanese lyricist, composer, author, essayist, and television personality of Chinese descent. Ei wrote the lyrics to the song "Ue o Muite Arukō", known internationally as "Sukiyaki", which has been used in several English language films. He also wrote the lyrics to the song "Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o" sung by Kyu Sakamoto in 1963. He was a graduate of Waseda University.
Takashi Negishi (根岸隆, Negishi Takashi; born 2 April 1933) is a Japanese neo-Walrasian economist.
Fujio Ishihara (石原藤夫, Ishihara Fujio; born in Tokyo in 1933) is a former professor of electronics at Tamagawa…
Fujio Ishihara (石原藤夫, Ishihara Fujio; born in Tokyo in 1933) is a former professor of electronics at Tamagawa University, and a Japanese science fiction author. He graduated Waseda University with a degree in electronics. He made his science fiction debut in 1965. During the 1970s and 1980s he has been an active hard SF advocate. In the first half of the 1980s, he coined the term "Kōseiki Sekai" (光世紀世界, Light Century Universe), defined as the sphere with a diameter of 100 light years (within 50 light years radius from the Sun). He also edited Kōseiki Seihyō (光世紀星表, Light Century Catalogue), the star catalogue of Light Century Universe (738 stars had been known at the time, include the Sun). Also he is known for bibliographies of Japanese science fiction. He received the Seiun Award best non-fiction book in 1985 for Kōseiki no Sekai, and Nihon SF Taisho Award special award in 1991 for his bibliography works.
Kazuko Nakamura (中村和子, Nakamura Kazuko; April 1, 1933 – August 3, 2019) was a Chinese-born Japanese animator. Nakamura…
Kazuko Nakamura (中村和子, Nakamura Kazuko; April 1, 1933 – August 3, 2019) was a Chinese-born Japanese animator. Nakamura has worked on Princess Knight, A Thousand and One Nights and Cleopatra.
Terumi Tanaka (田中 煕巳, Tanaka Terumi; born 29 April 1932) is a Japanese anti-nuclear and anti-war activist and former…
Terumi Tanaka (田中 煕巳, Tanaka Terumi; born 29 April 1932) is a Japanese anti-nuclear and anti-war activist and former professor. He is a hibakusha, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, and is the secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo, a Japan-wide organisation of atomic and hydrogen bomb sufferers. He lives in Niiza, Saitama. On October 11, 2024, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), which he represents, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Yuichi Takai (高井 有一, Takai Yūichi; April 27, 1932 – October 26, 2016) was a Japanese author. Takai won the 1965…
Yuichi Takai (高井 有一, Takai Yūichi; April 27, 1932 – October 26, 2016) was a Japanese author. Takai won the 1965 Akutagawa Prize for Kita no kawa (Northern Stream), the 1984 Tanizaki Prize for Kono kuni no sora (この国の空, This Country's Sky), and the 1989 Yomiuri Prize for Yoru no ari (夜 の 蟻).
Jun'ya Yano (矢野 絢也, Yano Junya; born 27 April 1932) is a retired Japanese politician and political commentator who…
Jun'ya Yano (矢野 絢也, Yano Junya; born 27 April 1932) is a retired Japanese politician and political commentator who served as the fourth leader of Komeito between 1986 and 1989. Over a decade after leaving politics, Yano has become a notable critic of the party and its religious partner Soka Gakkai.
Isao Tomita (冨田 勲, Tomita Isao; 22 April 1932 – 5 May 2016) (often known simply as Tomita) was a Japanese composer…
Isao Tomita (冨田 勲, Tomita Isao; 22 April 1932 – 5 May 2016) (often known simply as Tomita) was a Japanese composer regarded as one of the pioneers of electronic music and space music as well as one of the most famous producers of analog synthesizer arrangements. In addition to creating note-by-note realizations, Tomita made extensive use of the sound-design capabilities of his instrument, using synthesizers to create new sounds to accompany and enhance his electronic realizations of acoustic instruments. He also made effective use of analog music sequencers and the Mellotron, and featured futuristic science-fiction themes, while laying the foundations for synth-pop music and trance-like rhythms. Many of his albums are electronic versions and adaptations of familiar classical music pieces. He received four Grammy Award nominations for his 1974 album based on music by Claude Debussy, Snowflakes Are Dancing.
Nobuo Kawai (川合伸旺, Kawai Nobuo; 18 April 1932 – 24 June 2006) was a Japanese actor. He is most famous for playing…
Nobuo Kawai (川合伸旺, Kawai Nobuo; 18 April 1932 – 24 June 2006) was a Japanese actor. He is most famous for playing villains and appeared in many jidaigeki and detective television dramas as a guest. He was a member of Yukio Mishima's Roman Gekijo Theatre Company. He died of cerebral infarction at the age of 74.
Yoshie Takahashi (高橋 ヨシ江, Takahashi Yoshie; 15 April 1932 – 15 May 2022) was a Japanese track and field athlete. She…
Yoshie Takahashi (高橋 ヨシ江, Takahashi Yoshie; 15 April 1932 – 15 May 2022) was a Japanese track and field athlete. She competed in the women's long jump at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
Susumu Sugiyama (Japanese: 杉山進; 10 April 1932 – 10 April 2025) was a Japanese alpine skier. He competed in three events…
Susumu Sugiyama (Japanese: 杉山進; 10 April 1932 – 10 April 2025) was a Japanese alpine skier. He competed in three events at the 1956 Winter Olympics. Sugiyama died on 10 April 2025, his 93rd birthday.
Shigeru Tsuyuguchi (露口 茂, Tsuyuguchi Shigeru; 8 April 1932 – 28 April 2025) was a Japanese actor.
Toshiko Kobayashi (小林トシ子, Kobayashi Toshiko; 6 April 1932 – 29 December 2016) was a Japanese actress active from 1949…
Toshiko Kobayashi (小林トシ子, Kobayashi Toshiko; 6 April 1932 – 29 December 2016) was a Japanese actress active from 1949 to 1980. She joined the Nichigeki Dancing Team in 1946. In 1949, she was discovered by film director Keisuke Kinoshita and gave her film debut in his comedy Broken Drum. Under contract with the Shochiku film studios, she starred in many films of Kinoshita and Masaki Kobayashi. She was married to new wave film director Hiroshi Teshigahara from 1956 until his death in 2001, with whom she had three daughters: Kiri Teshigahara, Akane Teshigahara, and Sakura Teshigahara.
Motoo Fujii (藤井 基男, Fujii Motoo) is a former international table tennis player from Japan. He won a bronze medal at the…
Motoo Fujii (藤井 基男, Fujii Motoo) is a former international table tennis player from Japan. He won a bronze medal at the 1956 World Table Tennis Championships in the mixed doubles with Yoshiko Tanaka.
Kano Yukimitsu (27 March 1932 – 8 March 2020) was a senior administrator in judo, and was the fourth president of the…
Kano Yukimitsu (27 March 1932 – 8 March 2020) was a senior administrator in judo, and was the fourth president of the Kodokan and the President of the All Japan Judo Federation. He was the son of Kano Risei and grandson of the founder of Judo Kano Jigoro. He served from 1980 to 1995 as the President of the Judo Union of Asia. He was an advocate of Kodokan Judo over the International Judo Federation. On 9 March 2020, it was reported that he died at the age of 87.
Yasuo Segawa (瀬川 康男, Segawa Yasuo; 5 April 1932 – 18 February 2010) was a Japanese illustrator for children's books…
Yasuo Segawa (瀬川 康男, Segawa Yasuo; 5 April 1932 – 18 February 2010) was a Japanese illustrator for children's books, born in Okazaki, Aichi. He won the first grand prize in Biennial of Illustration Bratislava in 1967 for Taro and the Bamboo Shoot (ふしぎな たけのこ, Fushigina Takenoko) written by Masako Matsuno. Segawa died on 18 October 2010 of rectal cancer at a hospital in Obuse, Nagano.
Yoko Nagae Ceschina (チェスキーナ・永江洋子) (5 April 1932 – 10 January 2015) was a Japanese-born patron of the arts and noted…
Yoko Nagae Ceschina (チェスキーナ・永江洋子) (5 April 1932 – 10 January 2015) was a Japanese-born patron of the arts and noted patroness of classical music.
Meisei Gotō (後藤 明生, Gotō Meisei; April 4, 1932 – August 2, 1999), also known as Akio Gotō, was a Japanese author.
Yasuharu Hasebe (長谷部安春, Hasebe Yasuharu; April 4, 1932 – June 14, 2009) was a Japanese film director best known for his…
Yasuharu Hasebe (長谷部安春, Hasebe Yasuharu; April 4, 1932 – June 14, 2009) was a Japanese film director best known for his movies in the "Violent pink" subgenre of the Pink film, such as Assault! Jack the Ripper (1976), Rape! (1976), Rape! 13th Hour (1977) and Raping! (1978). Earlier genre films directed by Hasebe include Black Tight Killers (1966) and the Alleycat Rock series (1970).
Ineko Arima (有馬稲子, Arima Ineko; born 3 April 1932) is a Japanese stage and film actress. She has appeared in films of…
Ineko Arima (有馬稲子, Arima Ineko; born 3 April 1932) is a Japanese stage and film actress. She has appeared in films of directors such as Yasujirō Ozu, Mikio Naruse and Kon Ichikawa. In 1954, Arima co-founded Ninjin Club with Keiko Kishi and Yoshiko Kuga.
Yoichi Takabayashi (高林陽一, Takabayashi Yōichi; 29 April 1931 – 15 July 2012) was a Japanese film director.
Takashi Mizuno (水野 隆, Mizuno Takashi; born April 28, 1931) (former name; Takashi Tokuhiro, 徳弘 隆) is a Japanese former…
Takashi Mizuno (水野 隆, Mizuno Takashi; born April 28, 1931) (former name; Takashi Tokuhiro, 徳弘 隆) is a Japanese former football player. He played for Japan national team.
Hajime Tsuburaya (Japanese: 円谷 一, Hepburn: Tsuburaya Hajime; April 28, 1931 – February 9, 1973) was a Japanese film and…
Hajime Tsuburaya (Japanese: 円谷 一, Hepburn: Tsuburaya Hajime; April 28, 1931 – February 9, 1973) was a Japanese film and television director, producer, and cinematographer. The eldest son of Eiji Tsuburaya, he began his career on the 1954 film, Godzilla and its sequel, Godzilla Raids Again as an assistant special effects cinematographer.
Oniroku Dan (団 鬼六, Dan Oniroku; 16 April 1931 – 6 May 2011) was a Japanese author who has been called, "the most…
Oniroku Dan (団 鬼六, Dan Oniroku; 16 April 1931 – 6 May 2011) was a Japanese author who has been called, "the most celebrated writer of popular SM novels in Japan." Many of his stories have been filmed, most notably by Nikkatsu studio in their Roman Porno series. Dan had a close professional association with actress Naomi Tani throughout her career. He died on May 6, 2011.
Koichi Sugiyama (すぎやま こういち, Sugiyama Kōichi; April 11, 1931 – September 30, 2021) was a Japanese composer, conductor…
Koichi Sugiyama (すぎやま こういち, Sugiyama Kōichi; April 11, 1931 – September 30, 2021) was a Japanese composer, conductor, and orchestrator. He was best known for composing for the Dragon Quest franchise, along with several other video games, anime, film, television shows, and pop songs. Classically trained, Sugiyama was considered a major inspiration for other Japanese game music composers and was active from the 1960s until his death in 2021. Sugiyama was also a council member of the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers, and Publishers (JASRAC), board member of the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals, and honorary chairman of the Japanese Backgammon Society. Prior to his death, the Japanese government honored him with Order of the Rising Sun and named him a Person of Cultural Merit. Sugiyama was also active in politics and activism, promoting ideas such as Japanese nationalism while denying Japanese war crimes.
Heisuke Hironaka (広中 平祐, Hironaka Heisuke; April 9, 1931 – March 18, 2026) was a Japanese mathematician who was awarded…
Heisuke Hironaka (広中 平祐, Hironaka Heisuke; April 9, 1931 – March 18, 2026) was a Japanese mathematician who was awarded the Fields Medal in 1970 for his contributions to algebraic geometry.
Shigeki Tanaka (田中 茂樹, Tanaka Shigeki; 1931 – October 4, 2022) was a Japanese long-distance runner who won the 1951…
Shigeki Tanaka (田中 茂樹, Tanaka Shigeki; 1931 – October 4, 2022) was a Japanese long-distance runner who won the 1951 Boston Marathon.
Yoshitaka Uchikawa (内川 義高, Uchikawa Yoshitaka; born 4 April 1931) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in…
Yoshitaka Uchikawa (内川 義高, Uchikawa Yoshitaka; born 4 April 1931) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
Toshihito Ishimaru (石丸 利人, Ishimaru Toshihito; 4 April 1931 – 11 March 2000) was a Japanese boxer. He competed at the…
Toshihito Ishimaru (石丸 利人, Ishimaru Toshihito; 4 April 1931 – 11 March 2000) was a Japanese boxer. He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics and the 1956 Summer Olympics. At the 1952 Summer Olympics, he lost to Pedro Galasso of Brazil. Ishimaru died on 11 March 2000, at the age of 68.
Reizo Fukuhara (福原 黎三, Fukuhara Reizō; April 2, 1931 – February 27, 1970) was a Japanese football player. He made two…
Reizo Fukuhara (福原 黎三, Fukuhara Reizō; April 2, 1931 – February 27, 1970) was a Japanese football player. He made two appearances for the Japan national team. On February 27, 1970, Fukuhara died of stomach cancer at the age of 38.
Sengaku Mayeda (Japanese: 前田專學, romanized: Maeda Sengaku; 1 April 1931 – 22 August 2026) was a Japanese writer…
Sengaku Mayeda (Japanese: 前田專學, romanized: Maeda Sengaku; 1 April 1931 – 22 August 2026) was a Japanese writer, philosopher and teacher, known for his writings on Indian philosophy and Adi Shankara. He was honoured by the Government of India, in 2014, by bestowing on him the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for his services to the fields of literature and education. He is the fourth Japanese to be honoured with Padma Shri, after Taro Nakayama, Shoji Shiba and Prof. Noboru Karashima. He is also a recipient of the Third Order of Merit with the Middle Cordon of the Rising Sun of the Government of Japan, which he received in 2002.
Rokkō Toura (戸浦 六宏, Toura Rokkō; 30 April 1937 – 25 March 1993) was a Japanese stage and film actor active from 1960 to…
Rokkō Toura (戸浦 六宏, Toura Rokkō; 30 April 1937 – 25 March 1993) was a Japanese stage and film actor active from 1960 to 1993. He is mostly associated with the films of director Nagisa Ōshima.
Kyōko Kishida (岸田 今日子, Kishida Kyōko; 29 April 1930 – 17 December 2006) was a Japanese actress and writer.
Minoru Kubota (29 April 1930 – 20 August 2017) was a Japanese weightlifter. He competed in the men's light heavyweight…
Minoru Kubota (29 April 1930 – 20 August 2017) was a Japanese weightlifter. He competed in the men's light heavyweight event at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Kubota died on 20 August 2017, at the age of 87.
Sadame Kamakura (Japanese: 鎌倉節) (April 27, 1930 – October 25, 2014) was a Japanese official who served as Grand Steward…
Sadame Kamakura (Japanese: 鎌倉節) (April 27, 1930 – October 25, 2014) was a Japanese official who served as Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency (January 19, 1996 – April 2, 2001). He graduated from the University of Tokyo. He was a recipient of the Order of the Sacred Treasure.
Shuntarō Itō (伊東 俊太郎, Itō Shuntarō; April 25, 1930 – September 20, 2023) was a Japanese scholar of the history of…
Shuntarō Itō (伊東 俊太郎, Itō Shuntarō; April 25, 1930 – September 20, 2023) was a Japanese scholar of the history of science and the study of comparative civilization. Itō was an honorary professor of University of Tokyo and International Research Center for Japanese Studies, and a professor of Reitaku University, and the Chairman of Japan Seaology Promotion Organization. He was also a president of the International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations. Itō was born in Tokyo, and obtained his bachelor's degree in literature from Tokyo University in 1953, his master's in 1955, and Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1964. Itō taught at the University of Tokyo, as Professor, from 1978 to 1989, and in International Research Center for Japanese Studies from 1989 to 1995, and in Reitaku University from 1995. Itō died on September 20, 2023, at the age of 93.
Yumi Katsura (桂 由美, Katsura Yumi; 24 April 1930 – 26 April 2024) was a Japanese fashion designer, who is best known for…
Yumi Katsura (桂 由美, Katsura Yumi; 24 April 1930 – 26 April 2024) was a Japanese fashion designer, who is best known for designing wedding dresses. She was active in the fashion industry for over five decades, and her work has been featured in various fashion shows and events. Katsura's designs are known for their unique blend of traditional Japanese techniques and French savoir-faire.
Shun Akiyama (秋山駿, Akiyama Shun; April 23, 1930 – October 2, 2013) was a Japanese literary critic and member of the…
Shun Akiyama (秋山駿, Akiyama Shun; April 23, 1930 – October 2, 2013) was a Japanese literary critic and member of the Japan Art Academy. He was born in Tokyo, and graduated from Waseda University in 1953 with a degree in French literature. Between 1979 and 1993 he was a professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, and from 1997 at Musashino University. He died, aged 83, in Tokyo.
Shōichi Watanabe (Japanese: 渡辺省一) (April 21, 1930 – September 29, 2000) was a Japanese politician. He served in the…
Shōichi Watanabe (Japanese: 渡辺省一) (April 21, 1930 – September 29, 2000) was a Japanese politician. He served in the House of Representatives of Japan as part of the multi-member constituency Hokkaido's 4th district alongside Yukio Hatoyama and Tadamasa Kodaira. He was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan.
Yushu Kitano (北野 祐秀, Kitano Yūshū; 14 April 1930 – 27 February 2016) was a Japanese freestyle wrestler. In his weight…
Yushu Kitano (北野 祐秀, Kitano Yūshū; 14 April 1930 – 27 February 2016) was a Japanese freestyle wrestler. In his weight category of under 52 kg, he won silver medals at the 1952 Olympics, 1954 World Championships and 1954 Asian Games. In retirement he worked as a wrestling coach and in this capacity attended the 1960 Olympics. In 2016, he died of a heart attack, aged 85.
Hisahiko Okazaki (岡崎 久彦, Okazaki Hisahiko) (April 8, 1930 – October 26, 2014) was a Japanese diplomat, political…
Hisahiko Okazaki (岡崎 久彦, Okazaki Hisahiko) (April 8, 1930 – October 26, 2014) was a Japanese diplomat, political commentator, and director of the Okazaki Institute in Tokyo.
Yōko Katsuragi (桂木洋子, Katsuragi, Yōko; 6 April 1930 – March 2007) was a Japanese actress active from 1948 to 1963. She…
Yōko Katsuragi (桂木洋子, Katsuragi, Yōko; 6 April 1930 – March 2007) was a Japanese actress active from 1948 to 1963. She appeared mostly in films of the Shochiku film studios, often under the direction of Keisuke Kinoshita.
Yoshitaka Muroya (室矢 芳隆, Muroya Yoshitaka; 6 April 1930 – 23 March 2019) was a Japanese middle-distance runner who…
Yoshitaka Muroya (室矢 芳隆, Muroya Yoshitaka; 6 April 1930 – 23 March 2019) was a Japanese middle-distance runner who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics and in the 1956 Summer Olympics. Muroya died on 23 March 2019, at the age of 88.
Yukio Kurita (Japanese: 栗田幸雄 Kurita Yukio; 6 April 1930 – 17 May 2024) was a Japanese politician. An independent, he…
Yukio Kurita (Japanese: 栗田幸雄 Kurita Yukio; 6 April 1930 – 17 May 2024) was a Japanese politician. An independent, he served as governor of Fukui Prefecture from 1987 to 2003. Kurita died in Fukui on 17 May 2024, at the age of 94.
Chimako Tada (多田智満子, Tada Chimako; April 1, 1930 – January 23, 2003) was a Japanese poet renowned for her surreal style…
Chimako Tada (多田智満子, Tada Chimako; April 1, 1930 – January 23, 2003) was a Japanese poet renowned for her surreal style and evocation of women's experience in post-war Japan. She authored more than 15 books of Japanese poetry, and also translated prose and poetry from French. Tada wrote in traditional styles, such as tanka and haiku, as well as contemporary prose poetry.
Tsurugamine Akio (26 April 1929 – 29 May 2006), real name Akio Fukuzono, was a sumo wrestler from Aira, Kagoshima…
Tsurugamine Akio (26 April 1929 – 29 May 2006), real name Akio Fukuzono, was a sumo wrestler from Aira, Kagoshima, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. He was twice runner-up in a tournament and won 14 special prizes, including a record ten for Technique, and earned ten gold stars for defeating yokozuna. After his retirement he was the head of Izutsu stable and coached two of his sons, Sakahoko and Terao, to the top division.
Otohiko Kaga (加賀 乙彦, Kaga Otohiko; April 22, 1929 – January 12, 2023) was a Japanese author.
Toshio Masuda (増田 敏男, Masuda Toshio; born 20 April 1929) is a retired Japanese politician who served as a member of the…
Toshio Masuda (増田 敏男, Masuda Toshio; born 20 April 1929) is a retired Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives.