Atsushi Nomi (能見 篤史, Nōmi Atsushi; born May 28, 1979) is a former Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played for…Atsushi Nomi (能見 篤史, Nōmi Atsushi; born May 28, 1979) is a former Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Hanshin Tigers in the Central League for most of his career. He ended his career as a player-coach for the Orix Buffaloes of the Pacific League.
Takaya Mutō is a Japanese politician and a former member of the National Diet where he sat in the House of…Takaya Mutō is a Japanese politician and a former member of the National Diet where he sat in the House of Representatives. Previously a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he resigned his party membership in 2015.
Kazuya Hiraide (平出和也, Hiraide Kazuya; May 25, 1979 – July 27, 2024) was a Japanese ski mountaineer, Alpine climber, and…Kazuya Hiraide (平出和也, Hiraide Kazuya; May 25, 1979 – July 27, 2024) was a Japanese ski mountaineer, Alpine climber, and professional mountain cameraman. Hiraide won the Piolet d'Or mountaineering award on four occasions.
Hideaki Sorachi (空知 英秋, Sorachi Hideaki; born May 25, 1979) is the pen name of a Japanese manga artist, most well known…Hideaki Sorachi (空知 英秋, Sorachi Hideaki; born May 25, 1979) is the pen name of a Japanese manga artist, most well known for his manga Gintama, which began serialization in 2003 and ended in 2019. He has also written numerous one-shots, including Dandelion, for which he won the Tenkaichi Honourable Mention Manga Award in 2002. Sorachi's distinctive sense of humour and writing style has been the subject of academic research papers. As of February 2018, the Gintama manga has sold 55 million units in Japan.
Ryuji Sueoka (末岡 龍二, Sueoka Ryuji; born May 22, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. He has played in Japan…Ryuji Sueoka (末岡 龍二, Sueoka Ryuji; born May 22, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. He has played in Japan, Singapore, Thailand and India at the top level.
Shinya Kumazaki (熊崎 信也, Kumazaki Shin'ya; born May 21, 1979) is a Japanese video game director, game designer, HAL…Shinya Kumazaki (熊崎 信也, Kumazaki Shin'ya; born May 21, 1979) is a Japanese video game director, game designer, HAL Laboratory employee, and painter who is the current general director of the Kirby series and voice of King Dedede.
Hideo Hashimoto (橋本 英郎, Hashimoto Hideo; born 21 May 1979) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a…Hideo Hashimoto (橋本 英郎, Hashimoto Hideo; born 21 May 1979) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Shunsuke Komamura (駒村 俊介, Komamura Shunsuke; born 20 May 1979) is a Japanese cross-country skier. He competed in the…Shunsuke Komamura (駒村 俊介, Komamura Shunsuke; born 20 May 1979) is a Japanese cross-country skier. He competed in the men's sprint event at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Tomoyuki Oda (小田 智之, Oda Tomoyuki; born May 19, 1979 in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional…Tomoyuki Oda (小田 智之, Oda Tomoyuki; born May 19, 1979 in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder and the current coach of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Rieko Matsunaga (Japanese: 松永 里絵子; born May 19, 1979) is a Japanese rhythmic gymnast. Matsunaga competed for Japan in…Rieko Matsunaga (Japanese: 松永 里絵子; born May 19, 1979) is a Japanese rhythmic gymnast. Matsunaga competed for Japan in the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around competition at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. There she was 16th in the qualification round and did not advance to the final of 10 competitors.
Ryosuke Yamamoto (山本 良介, Yamamoto Ryōsuke; born May 17, 1979 in Kyoto) is a Japanese triathlete, who has taken part in…Ryosuke Yamamoto (山本 良介, Yamamoto Ryōsuke; born May 17, 1979 in Kyoto) is a Japanese triathlete, who has taken part in numerous triathlon championships. At the peak of his career, he has won eight championship titles, including four from the ITC Triathlon Asian Cup. His best international result happened in 2010, when he finished third at the ITC World Cup in Ishigaki, Japan. Yamamoto was selected to the Japanese national triathlon team, along with his teammate Hirokatsu Tayama, at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He finished only in thirtieth place in men's triathlon, with a time of 1:52:11. Despite his disappointing finish at the Olympics, Yamamoto was able to complete a two-spot medal sweep for Japan at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, when he claimed silver in the men's triathlon, just behind his compatriot Yuichi Hosoda by twenty-six hundredths of a second.
Mayumi Ōuchi (大内麻由美, Ōuchi Mayumi; born 16 May 1979) is a Japanese professional darts player who plays in World Darts…Mayumi Ōuchi (大内麻由美, Ōuchi Mayumi; born 16 May 1979) is a Japanese professional darts player who plays in World Darts Federation (WDF) and other national events. She is a six-time Japan Open champion and she represented her country ten times at the World Masters, where she advanced to the semi-finals in 2022. One of the most successful darts players from Japan and the first WDF World Cup women medalist from this country.
Sōichirō Miyashita (宮下 宗一郎, Miyashita Sōichirō; born 12 May 1974) is a Japanese politician currently serving as the…Sōichirō Miyashita (宮下 宗一郎, Miyashita Sōichirō; born 12 May 1974) is a Japanese politician currently serving as the governor of Aomori Prefecture since 2023. Prior to being elected governor, he served as mayor of Mutsu for 3 terms from 2014 to 2023. Before his involvement in electoral politics, Miyashita worked for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and was employed at the Consulate General of Japan, New York City.
Hirokazu Nema (根間洋一, Nema Hirokazu) is a Japanese basketball coach and former player. He is currently the U15 coach of…Hirokazu Nema (根間洋一, Nema Hirokazu) is a Japanese basketball coach and former player. He is currently the U15 coach of the Shiga Lakestars in the Japanese B.League.
Matsuji Nakaizumi (中泉松司, Nakaizumi Matsuji; born 7 May 1979) is a Japanese politician from the Liberal Democratic…Matsuji Nakaizumi (中泉松司, Nakaizumi Matsuji; born 7 May 1979) is a Japanese politician from the Liberal Democratic Party. As of 2014 he served as member of the House of Councillors for Akita At-large district.
Shigeya Suzuki (鈴木茂也, Suzuki Shigeya, born May 5, 1979), more commonly known under his pseudonym Akihito Tsukushi…Shigeya Suzuki (鈴木茂也, Suzuki Shigeya, born May 5, 1979), more commonly known under his pseudonym Akihito Tsukushi (つくしあきひと, Tsukushi Akihito), is a Japanese illustrator, manga artist, and designer from Sagamihara, Kanagawa. Suzuki also goes by the name Ichimi Tokusa (とくさ一味, Tokusa Ichimi).
Okamoto Yukiko (岡元夕紀子, Okamoto Yukiko; born 5 May 1979 in Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese actress. She was given a…Okamoto Yukiko (岡元夕紀子, Okamoto Yukiko; born 5 May 1979 in Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese actress. She was given a Best New Talent award at the 1998 Yokohama Film Festival.
Jin Nakatani (中谷 仁, born May 5, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher in Nippon Professional…Jin Nakatani (中谷 仁, born May 5, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Hanshin Tigers in 2002, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2006, and from 2008 to 2011 and for the Yomiuri Giants in 2012. Following his retirement from the NPB, he managed at the Chiben Wakayama High School baseball team.
Junpei Fujita (藤田 淳平, Fujita Junpei) is a Japanese arranger and composer, and a founding member of Elements Garden. His…Junpei Fujita (藤田 淳平, Fujita Junpei) is a Japanese arranger and composer, and a founding member of Elements Garden. His work includes composition and arrangement of some tracks of singles and albums of Nana Mizuki including albums Hybrid Universe, Ultimate Diamond and Impact Exciter and singles "Wild Eyes", "Super Generation", "Junketsu Paradox", "Mugen" and Starcamp EP. He also composed music for a track on Mamoru Miyano album Wonder and Mamoru Miyano single Refrain. Along with other members of Elements Garden, he also worked on the soundtrack of the game Wild Arms XF, and composed and arranged music for the game G Senjō no Maō and franchise BanG Dream!. He also arranged music from the PC version of the visual novel Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka. He married singer Suara in 2009.
Takanori Kumagae (熊谷皇紀, Kumagai kōki; born 1 January 1978) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a…Takanori Kumagae (熊谷皇紀, Kumagai kōki; born 1 January 1978) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a lock. He spent his whole career playing for NEC Green Rockets in Japan's domestic Top League, playing a single season. He was named in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, making 1 appearance in the tournament. He made a further 25 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring one try.
Shogo Yamamoto (山本 省吾, Yamamoto Shōgo; born May 28, 1978 in Ishikawa, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional…Shogo Yamamoto (山本 省吾, Yamamoto Shōgo; born May 28, 1978 in Ishikawa, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Miwako Yamanaka (山中 美和子, Yamanaka Miwako; born 24 May 1978) is a retired Japanese long-distance runner. Her first and…Miwako Yamanaka (山中 美和子, Yamanaka Miwako; born 24 May 1978) is a retired Japanese long-distance runner. Her first and only international medal came at the 1997 Summer Universiade where she took the bronze in the 10,000 metres. She won the Kobe Women's Half Marathon in 2001, setting a personal best time of 1:08:54 for the event. Her greatest achievements came in 2002 when she won the Fukuoka International Cross Country and went on to finish in fourth in the long race at the 2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. She also won the Chiba International Cross Country competition in 2005.
Hideaki Kitajima (北嶋 秀朗, Kitajima Hideaki; born May 23, 1978) is a former Japanese football player and last play for…Hideaki Kitajima (北嶋 秀朗, Kitajima Hideaki; born May 23, 1978) is a former Japanese football player and last play for Japan national team. He's to set manager of JFL club, Criacao Shinjuku from 2024.
Yuji Yoshimi (吉見 祐治, born May 21, 1978, in Wakayama, Wakayama) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in…Yuji Yoshimi (吉見 祐治, born May 21, 1978, in Wakayama, Wakayama) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played with the Yokohama BayStars from 2001 to 2010 and for the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2010 to 2013. He also played for Team Japan at the 2000 Olympics.
Toru Yano (矢野 通, Yano Tōru; born May 18, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler, signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling…Toru Yano (矢野 通, Yano Tōru; born May 18, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler, signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He was one-third of the inaugural NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions. He is also a three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion and two-time GHC Tag Team Champion, and was the KOPW 2020 and the KOPW 2021 Provisional Champion. He is mainly known as a comic relief wrestler, often cheating in an attempt to secure quick wins in his matches. Though often positioned below NJPW's top wrestlers, Yano has gained a reputation as a spoiler, occasionally scoring upset wins over bigger names and feuding with other elite wrestlers.
Masasumi Kakizaki (Japanese: 柿崎正澄, Hepburn: Kakizaki Masasumi; born May 18, 1978) is a Japanese manga artist. He…Masasumi Kakizaki (Japanese: 柿崎正澄, Hepburn: Kakizaki Masasumi; born May 18, 1978) is a Japanese manga artist. He debuted in 2001 with the one-shot Two Tops prior to launching his first series, X-Gene, in 2002. Rainbow: Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin, which he illustrated, won the Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category in 2005.
Ryuji Hijikata (土方 隆司, Hijikata Ryūji) (born May 17, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler also known under the…Ryuji Hijikata (土方 隆司, Hijikata Ryūji) (born May 17, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler also known under the ring name Toshizo (歳三, Toshizō). Hijikata is best known for his tenure in Battlarts and All Japan Pro Wrestling since 2002 where he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion.
Takashi Aiki (相木 崇, Aiki Takashi; born May 16, 1978 in Kumamoto, Japan) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball…Takashi Aiki (相木 崇, Aiki Takashi; born May 16, 1978 in Kumamoto, Japan) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Orix Buffaloes and the Hanshin Tigers.
Hideki Sahara (佐原 秀樹, Sahara Hideki; born May 15, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is currently the…Hideki Sahara (佐原 秀樹, Sahara Hideki; born May 15, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is currently the assistant manager of J1 League club, Kawasaki Frontale.
Kosei Inoue (井上 康生, Inoue Kōsei; born 15 May 1978) is a Japanese judoka. He won the gold medal in the under 100 kg…Kosei Inoue (井上 康生, Inoue Kōsei; born 15 May 1978) is a Japanese judoka. He won the gold medal in the under 100 kg class at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He is well known for his specialty throws, Uchi Mata (内股, inner thigh throw) and Ōuchi gari (大内刈, major inner reap). He is considered by the Judo community as one of the best competitive judoka. His notable accomplishments include three golds at the World Championships and All Japan Championships (one of four Judokas who have accomplished this). His older brother, Tomokazu Inoue is also judoka and former Asian champion. He is affiliated with Sohgo Security Services (Alsok), a security firm.
Shingo Kawabata (川畑 伸吾, Kawabata Shingo; born 15 May 1978) is a Japanese former sprinter who competed in the 2000…Shingo Kawabata (川畑 伸吾, Kawabata Shingo; born 15 May 1978) is a Japanese former sprinter who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Yusuke Kawakita (川北 裕介, Kawakita Yusuke; born May 13, 1978) is a Japanese football coach and former football player…Yusuke Kawakita (川北 裕介, Kawakita Yusuke; born May 13, 1978) is a Japanese football coach and former football player, who is the goalkeeper coach of Thailand U23.
Takafumi Yoshimoto (吉本 岳史, Yoshimoto Takafumi; born May 13, 1978) is a Japanese football manager and former player who…Takafumi Yoshimoto (吉本 岳史, Yoshimoto Takafumi; born May 13, 1978) is a Japanese football manager and former player who play as a Defender. He currently manager of Tokushima Vortis.
Yūsuke Kozaki (Japanese: コザキユースケ, Hepburn: Kozaki Yūsuke; born May 12, 1978) is a Japanese manga artist and character…Yūsuke Kozaki (Japanese: コザキユースケ, Hepburn: Kozaki Yūsuke; born May 12, 1978) is a Japanese manga artist and character designer.
Masahiro Abe (阿部 真宏, Abe Masahiro; born May 12, 1978 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional…Masahiro Abe (阿部 真宏, Abe Masahiro; born May 12, 1978 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player.
Ushiomaru Motoyasu (born Motoyasu Sano; May 11, 1978 – December 13, 2019) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Shizuoka,.…Ushiomaru Motoyasu (born Motoyasu Sano; May 11, 1978 – December 13, 2019) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Shizuoka,. He began his professional career in 1994 and first reached the top division in 2002. His highest rank was maegashira 10. He retired in May 2009 to take over the Azumazeki stable.
Daisuke Yamai (山井 大介, Yamai Daisuke; born May 10, 1978) is a former Japanese professional baseball pitcher who played…Daisuke Yamai (山井 大介, Yamai Daisuke; born May 10, 1978) is a former Japanese professional baseball pitcher who played his entire career with the Chunichi Dragons. He is most noted for his combined perfect game with Hitoki Iwase in the 2007 Japan Series to clinch the title for the Dragons for the first time since 1954.