Atsushi Sato (佐藤 敦之, Satō Atsushi; born 8 May 1978) is a Japanese long-distance runner who competes in marathon races.…
Atsushi Sato (佐藤 敦之, Satō Atsushi; born 8 May 1978) is a Japanese long-distance runner who competes in marathon races. He is the Asian record holder in the half marathon with his time of 60:25 minutes. His marathon best of 2:07:13 hours is the fourth fastest by a Japanese athlete. He is married to Miho Sato (née Sugimori), who was a 2004 Japanese Olympian. At major championships, he has twice finished in the top ten in the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics, including sixth at the 2009 World Championships marathon. He has also had two top ten finishes at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. He represented Japan at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but was last in the marathon. He also competed for Japan in the 10,000 metres at the 2002 Asian Games.
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Tatsuya Kawajiri (Japanese: 川尻達也, Kawajiri Tatsuya; born May 8, 1978) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes…
Tatsuya Kawajiri (Japanese: 川尻達也, Kawajiri Tatsuya; born May 8, 1978) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division. He is a former Shooto Lightweight Champion, and has also competed in the UFC, PRIDE, DREAM, Strikeforce, ONE FC, and Rizin Fighting Federation. Kawajiri also participated in the Yarennoka! event as well as Dynamite!! 2009 and Dynamite!! 2010, representing DREAM in both events. Kawajiri's fight at PRIDE Bushido 9 with Takanori Gomi was voted as PRIDE Fighting Championship's Fight of the Year for 2005. In the same year, Kawajiri was considered by many mixed martial arts publications to be the #1 Lightweight fighter in the world.
Neko Nitta (新田猫子, Nitta Neko) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and is best known for her tenure with the…
Neko Nitta (新田猫子, Nitta Neko) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and is best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotion Ice Ribbon where she is a former Triangle Ribbon Champion.
Hitoshi Ono (大野均, Ōno Hitoshi; born May 6, 1978, in Kōriyama, Fukushima) is a retired Japanese rugby player. He plays…
Hitoshi Ono (大野均, Ōno Hitoshi; born May 6, 1978, in Kōriyama, Fukushima) is a retired Japanese rugby player. He plays at lock for the Japan national rugby union team. He is nicknamed the "Iron Man". Ono started playing rugby after converting from baseball at Nihon University where he was studying to become a firefighter. However, he changed careers and joined Toshiba Brave Lupus in 2001, with whom he has gone on to win the Top League four times. He made his international debut for Japan in 2004 against Korea. He became a regular member of the national team from there onwards and represented his country at both the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cup. Since Eddie Jones took over as Japan coach in 2012, he has not missed an international match, and has become the most capped player for Japan of all time. After the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, Ono's family dairy farm suffered greatly, and alongside prop Kensuke Hatakeyama who lost his home, he was named honorary captain for the Asian 5 Nations match with the UAE by coach John Kirwan to mark the team's solidarity for the cause. Ono is one of the 'Frontier Ambassadors' of his hometown Koriyama City. He retired from professional rugby in 2020
Dai Tamesue (為末大, Tamesue Dai; born May 3, 1978 in Hiroshima) is the first Japanese sprinter to win a medal in a track…
Dai Tamesue (為末大, Tamesue Dai; born May 3, 1978 in Hiroshima) is the first Japanese sprinter to win a medal in a track event at a World Competition. Current Japanese record holder for Men's 400 meter hurdle (as of July 2021). Bronze medalist of the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton and 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki. Tamesue represented Japan in the Sydney, Athens, and Beijing Olympics. He started running professionally in 2003 and retired after 25 years of competitive athletics in 2012. Pursuing ways to pass on the benefits of sports into society through associate organizations; Samurai Co., Ltd. (Representative Director), Athlete Society (Representative Director, Founded 2010), Xiborg (Founded 2014 ). Assigned to Bhutan's Olympic Committee (BOC) ambassador in April 2015. Continues to support countries that are limited in Olympic medal experiences. Other assignments include; Specially assigned researcher for the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology in Tokyo University (2014) Member of the evaluation committee for the New National Stadium reconstruction planning procedure of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (2015) Sports Legacy Project management committee member for the Tokyo Marathon Foundation. In 2006, He appeared as a celebrity contestant on Quiz $ Millionaire and won the ¥10,000,000 top prize.
Shingo Hoshino (星野 真悟, Hoshino Shingo; born May 2, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. Hoshino previously…
Shingo Hoshino (星野 真悟, Hoshino Shingo; born May 2, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. Hoshino previously played for Ehime FC in the J2 League.
Mitsuru Karahashi (唐橋 充, Karahashi Mitsuru; born May 30, 1977) is a Japanese actor and illustrator. He is known for…
Mitsuru Karahashi (唐橋 充, Karahashi Mitsuru; born May 30, 1977) is a Japanese actor and illustrator. He is known for having roles in various tokusatsu series, most notably as Naoya Kaido in Kamen Rider 555 and Juzo Fuwa in Samurai Sentai Shinkenger.
Kazunari Tsuruoka (鶴岡 一成, Tsuruoka Kazunari; born May 30, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He…
Kazunari Tsuruoka (鶴岡 一成, Tsuruoka Kazunari; born May 30, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He played catcher.
Sayaka Osakabe (小酒部 さやか, Osakabe Sayaka; born May 29, 1977) is a Japanese women's rights activist and politician. She…
Sayaka Osakabe (小酒部 さやか, Osakabe Sayaka; born May 29, 1977) is a Japanese women's rights activist and politician. She is known for popularizing the term: "matahara" (referring to the act of harassing pregnant employees and forcing them to quit their position at work) and raising awareness in Japan that acts of matahara are illegal. She was a 2015 winner of the US State Department's International Women of Courage Award. In April 2023, Osakabe was elected to the City Assembly of Yokohama, representing the Aoba Ward.
Masaharu Nishi (西 政治, Nishi Masaharu; born May 29, 1977) is a former Japanese football player.
Atsushi Inoue (井上 敦史, Inoue Atsushi; born May 28, 1977) is a Japanese former footballer.
Yukinori Suzuki (鈴木裕紀, Suzuki Yukinori) is a Japanese professional basketball coach and former player, currently…
Yukinori Suzuki (鈴木裕紀, Suzuki Yukinori) is a Japanese professional basketball coach and former player, currently serving as the head coach for the Iwate Big Bulls of the B.League. Prior to Iwate, he coached the Shimane Susanoo Magic. Suzuki played college basketball for Nippon Sport Science University. He was selected by the Oita Heat Devils with the 10th pick in the 2005 bj league draft.
Atsushi Yanagisawa (柳沢 敦, Yanagisawa Atsushi; born May 27, 1977) is a Japanese former professional footballer who…
Atsushi Yanagisawa (柳沢 敦, Yanagisawa Atsushi; born May 27, 1977) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a forward. He played for Japan national team. He is best known for playing the majority of his career at Kashima Antlers, in addition to his spells with Italian sides Sampdoria and Messina. Yanagisawa earned 58 caps for the Japan national team, and represented them at two FIFA World Cup, the 2000 Olympics and the 2000 AFC Asian Cup.
Satsuki Obata (小幡さつき, Obata Satsuki; born 24 May 1977) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in four events at the 1996…
Satsuki Obata (小幡さつき, Obata Satsuki; born 24 May 1977) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in four events at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Tomoyuki Hirase (平瀬 智行, Hirase Tomoyuki; born 23 May 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He played twice for…
Tomoyuki Hirase (平瀬 智行, Hirase Tomoyuki; born 23 May 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He played twice for the Japan national football team.
Daisuke Nakaharai (中払 大介, Nakaharai Daisuke; born May 22, 1977) is a former Japanese football player.
Junnosuke Schneider (シュナイダー 潤之介, Shunaidā Junnosuke; born 22 May 1977) is a Japanese former football player. He is…
Junnosuke Schneider (シュナイダー 潤之介, Shunaidā Junnosuke; born 22 May 1977) is a Japanese former football player. He is goalkeeper coach of J3 League club AC Nagano Parceiro.
Shoji Ikitsu (生津 将司, Ikitsu Shoji; born May 20, 1977) is a former Japanese football player.
Aki Miyashita (みやしたあき, Miyashita Aki; born May 18, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known as Danshoku…
Aki Miyashita (みやしたあき, Miyashita Aki; born May 18, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known as Danshoku Dino (男色ディーノ, Danshoku Dīno; lit. "Homosexual Dino", also transliterated as Danshoku Dieno). Miyashita has spent most of his career competing for DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT), where he plays an overly exaggerated homosexual character. His ring name comes from the character of Baron Dino (男爵ディーノ, Danshaku Dīno) from the manga series Sakigake!! Otokojuku and his gimmick itself is based on openly bisexual Japanese wrestler Men's Teioh.
Kentaro Minagawa (皆川 賢太郎, Minagawa Kentarō; born May 17, 1977) is a Japanese alpine skier. His first international…
Kentaro Minagawa (皆川 賢太郎, Minagawa Kentarō; born May 17, 1977) is a Japanese alpine skier. His first international successes were at the 1996 Junior World Championships in Schwyz, with a 5th rank in Slalom, and a 9th rank in Giant slalom. Since the 1997 Alpine Skiing World Cup he has been participating regularly in World Cup races, nine times ranking in the top ten. Shortly before the 2006 Winter Olympics he ranked 4th in Wengen, Switzerland. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy he also ranked 4th, the best result of a Japanese skier since Chiharu Igaya's silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics. In June 2009, he married Japanese popular freestyle skier, Aiko Uemura.
Jun Enomoto (榎本 潤, Enomoto Jun; born 13 May 1977) is a former Japanese football player.
Tomoko Ishida (石田 智子, Ishida Tomoko; born 12 May 1977 in Niiza, Saitama) is a retired Japanese sprinter who specialized…
Tomoko Ishida (石田 智子, Ishida Tomoko; born 12 May 1977 in Niiza, Saitama) is a retired Japanese sprinter who specialized in the 100 metres. She competed in the 4 × 100 meters relay at the 2003 World Championships and 2005 World Championships without qualifying for the final. She was the 2005 Japanese national champion in the 100 meters and former Japanese national record holder in the 4 × 100 meters relay. She currently coach for the Hasegawa Sports Facilities Athletic Club.
Shugo Fujii (藤井 秀悟, Fujii Shūgo; born May 12, 1977 in Iyo, Ehime, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball…
Shugo Fujii (藤井 秀悟, Fujii Shūgo; born May 12, 1977 in Iyo, Ehime, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Satoshi Hamada (浜田 聡, Hamada Satoshi; born 11 May 1977 in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture) is a Japanese politician and…
Satoshi Hamada (浜田 聡, Hamada Satoshi; born 11 May 1977 in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture) is a Japanese politician and radiologist. He served as a member of the House of Councillors from 2019 until his loss in 2025.
Takehiro Ōhira (大平 武洋, Ōhira Takehiro; born May 11, 1977) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 6-dan.
Makoto Hashi (橋 誠, Hashi Makoto) (born May 10, 1977) is a former Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his…
Makoto Hashi (橋 誠, Hashi Makoto) (born May 10, 1977) is a former Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in Pro Wrestling Noah.
Naoki Matoba (的場 直樹, Matoba Naoki; born May 9, 1977 in Osaka), nicknamed "Matton", is a Japanese former professional…
Naoki Matoba (的場 直樹, Matoba Naoki; born May 9, 1977 in Osaka), nicknamed "Matton", is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks/Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2000, and from 2003 to 2008 and with the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2010 and 2011. Matoba is an ordained priest within the Ōtani-ha branch of Shin Buddhism.
Shinya Sakoi (迫井 深也, Sakoi Shinya; born May 8, 1977) is a former Japanese football player.
Kanako Nishi (西 加奈子, Nishi Kanako; born May 7, 1977) is a Japanese writer and artist. She has won the Oda Sakunosuke…
Kanako Nishi (西 加奈子, Nishi Kanako; born May 7, 1977) is a Japanese writer and artist. She has won the Oda Sakunosuke Prize, the Kawai Hayao Literary Prize, and the Naoki Prize, and several of her books have been adapted for film.
Nozomi Hiroyama (廣山 望, Hiroyama Nozomi; born June 6, 1975) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a…
Nozomi Hiroyama (廣山 望, Hiroyama Nozomi; born June 6, 1975) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder where he is currently the head coach of Japan U17. Hiroyama played over 400 games during his career which included spells in Japan, France, Portugal, Paraguay, Brazil and United States, as well as earning two caps with the Japan national team. Hiroyama was the first Japanese footballer to dispute the Copa Libertadores competition.
Seigo Saito (齋藤 制剛, Saitō Seigō; born 4 May 1977) is a retired Japanese judoka. Saito is from Sapporo, Hokkaidō. He…
Seigo Saito (齋藤 制剛, Saitō Seigō; born 4 May 1977) is a retired Japanese judoka. Saito is from Sapporo, Hokkaidō. He belonged to Asahi Kasei after graduation from Kokushikan University in 2000. Saito was good at Uchimata and Newaza in high-school days and was expected to get medal of Olympic Games or World Championships in the future. But he was not able to use the skill of them by the trouble of knee like Anterior cruciate ligament injury since 2000. In 2005, he won a gold medal at the Asian Championships and All-Japan Selected Championships with the skill that he learned newly like Kata guruma, Ōuchi gari and Kuchiki taoshi. But he was not chosen as a Japanese representative at the World Championships held in Cairo. He has coached judo at Asahi Kasei since 2010. Among his students is Tatsuki Masubuchi Yohei Takai and so on. His younger brother, Masamichi (順道) is also famous judoka and won a gold medal at the Kodokan Cup in 2001.
Kan Kikuchi (菊池 完, Kikuchi Kan; born 3 May 1977) is a former Japanese football player.
Hiro Mashima (真島 ヒロ, Mashima Hiro; born May 3, 1977) is a Japanese manga artist. He gained success with his first…
Hiro Mashima (真島 ヒロ, Mashima Hiro; born May 3, 1977) is a Japanese manga artist. He gained success with his first serial Rave Master, published in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 1999 to 2005. His best-selling work, Fairy Tail, published in the same magazine from 2006 to 2017, became one of the best-selling manga series with over 72 million copies in print. Fairy Tail won the Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen manga in 2009, and Mashima was given the Harvey Awards International Spotlight award in 2017 and the Fauve Special Award at the 2018 Angoulême International Comics Festival.
Mina Kurobe (黒部三奈; born 2 May 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently fighting in the super atomweight…
Mina Kurobe (黒部三奈; born 2 May 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently fighting in the super atomweight division of Shooto, where she is the former and inaugural Shooto Super Atomweight champion. A professional competitor since 2012, Kurobe is also the former DEEP JEWELS Atomweight champion. In June 2021, she is the #9 ranked atomweight in the world according to Sherdog.
Takashi Umeda (梅田 高志, Umeda Takashi; born May 30, 1976) is a former Japanese football player.
Yusuke Iseya (伊勢谷 友介, Iseya Yūsuke; born 29 May 1976) is a Japanese actor, director, artist, and businessman.
Shinji Makino (牧野 真二, Makino Shinji; born May 29, 1976) is a former Japanese football player.
Noriko Anno (阿武 教子, born 23 May 1976, in Fukue, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese judoka who won the gold medal in the women's…
Noriko Anno (阿武 教子, born 23 May 1976, in Fukue, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese judoka who won the gold medal in the women's –78 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She is a four times World Champion, having won the championships in 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003. Anno married judoka Ryuji Sonoda in 2010.
Bushūyama Takashi (武州山 隆士; born May 21, 1976) is a Japanese former sumo wrestler from Aomori, Aomori Prefecture. He…
Bushūyama Takashi (武州山 隆士; born May 21, 1976) is a Japanese former sumo wrestler from Aomori, Aomori Prefecture. He made his professional debut in January 1999. At the age of 32, he was promoted to the top makuuchi division in the November 2008 tournament. His highest rank was maegashira 3. He is now a sumo coach.
Naoko Imoto (井本 直歩子, Imoto Naoko; born May 20, 1976) is a former freestyle swimmer from Japan, who competed for her…
Naoko Imoto (井本 直歩子, Imoto Naoko; born May 20, 1976) is a former freestyle swimmer from Japan, who competed for her native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. There she finished in fourth place in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay, alongside Aiko Miyake, Eri Yamanoi, and Suzu Chiba. In 2020, Imoto received the Olympic Flame in a ceremony in Greece to be transferred to Japan for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Tomoya Satozaki (里崎 智也, Satozaki Tomoya; born May 20, 1976, in Naruto, Tokushima, Japan) is a former Japanese…
Tomoya Satozaki (里崎 智也, Satozaki Tomoya; born May 20, 1976, in Naruto, Tokushima, Japan) is a former Japanese professional baseball catcher. He played his entire career in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines. He played for Japan in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, and made the 2006 All-World Baseball Classic team.
Yoshihiko Inohara (Japanese: 井ノ原快彦, Hepburn: Inohara Yoshihiko) (born May 17, 1976) is a Japanese actor, singer and…
Yoshihiko Inohara (Japanese: 井ノ原快彦, Hepburn: Inohara Yoshihiko) (born May 17, 1976) is a Japanese actor, singer and host. He is a former member of boy band V6 and a member of 20th Century. His nickname is "Inocchi". Born in Asakusa, Taitō, Tokyo and raised in Yashio, Shinagawa, Tokyo. He belongs to Starto Entertainment and formerly served as CMO (Chief marketing officer) until June 27, 2025. His wife is actress Asaka Seto.
Takamisakari Seiken (born May 12, 1976 as Seiken Katō) is a former sumo wrestler from Aomori Prefecture, Japan. A…
Takamisakari Seiken (born May 12, 1976 as Seiken Katō) is a former sumo wrestler from Aomori Prefecture, Japan. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 1999 and established himself in the top division in 2002 after a brief appearance in 2000. He received five special prizes for his achievements in tournaments and earned two gold stars for defeating yokozuna. The highest rank he reached was komusubi, which he held on two occasions. He was one of the most popular wrestlers in sumo in his time, largely due to his eccentric warm-ups before his matches. He retired in January 2013 to become a coach at Azumazeki stable, having taken the toshiyori-kabu Furiwake-oyakata. In January 2020 he became head coach of Azumazeki stable, following the death of the former Ushiomaru.
Youichi Imamura (今村陽一, Imamura Yôichi; 11 May 1976, Yamanashi) is a Japanese professional drifting driver, currently…
Youichi Imamura (今村陽一, Imamura Yôichi; 11 May 1976, Yamanashi) is a Japanese professional drifting driver, currently serving as a judge in Formula Drift Japan after he stopped competing in 2019. Besides driving and drifting, his other passion is flowers as his parents ran a florist business. When he is not drifting he is working as a florist in Yamanashi. His favourite time of the week is when he and his wife drive out to collect stock. Imamura has been competing in the D1 Grand Prix series since it began in October 2000. His first successful year was the 2003 season where he won the series title in his A'PEXi Mazda RX-7 (FD3S). After A'PEXi left the series he switched to ORC and has been working with the team to improve the performance of the Nissan Fairlady Z coming in sixth in the 2007 series. In 2008, he switched to the newly formed team Auto Produce Boss with Potenza D-1 Project, driving their Nissan Silvia S15 which was actually Yasuyuki Kazama's 2005 Championship car. He went on to win the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Series Championship in this car, making him the only driver with the most championship titles at four, the first driver to win titles in consecutive years, the second driver with the most wins at 16 after Daigo Saito. He remained compete in D1 driving for Nichiei Racing, OTG Motorsports and MMM Racing, he stopped competing after 2019 season and now became one of the judge for Formula Drift Japan. Like rival drifter who he was team mate to, Ryuji Miki, Imamura also competed in the Net'z Cup, a one make series for the Toyota Altezza between 2005 and its final season in 2006, his racing antics were documented twice on Video Option.
Yukihiko Sato (佐藤 由紀彦, Satō Yukihiko; born May 11, 1976) is a former Japanese football player and he is the currently…
Yukihiko Sato (佐藤 由紀彦, Satō Yukihiko; born May 11, 1976) is a former Japanese football player and he is the currently assistant coach J1 League club of FC Tokyo.
Hidenori Kuramoto (蔵本 英智, Kuramoto Hidenori; born May 9, 1976) also known as Hidenori (英智) is a Japanese former…
Hidenori Kuramoto (蔵本 英智, Kuramoto Hidenori; born May 9, 1976) also known as Hidenori (英智) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. Hidenori played for the Dragons from 2001 to 2012. He is currently employed with the Dragons as the second team outfield and base-running coach.
Daniel Njenga Muturi (born 7 May 1976) is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who specializes in the marathon. He had his…
Daniel Njenga Muturi (born 7 May 1976) is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who specializes in the marathon. He had his first successes in 1995 as he won the steeplechase gold medal at the 1995 Summer Universiade and also the Chiba International Cross Country meeting. He was based in Japan from early on in his early career and won the steeplechase at the Japanese Championships on three occasions. Njenga turned to marathon running and made his debut in 1995 at the Saitama Marathon in Ageo, Saitama, Japan, placing first, and then coming in tenth in his second marathon at the 1999 Fukuoka Marathon. His breakthrough year came in 2002 when he was the runner-up at the Beppu-Oita Marathon and Chicago Marathon. His time of 2:06:16 hours in Chicago made him the third fastest runner in the world for 2002, behind only Khalid Khannouchi and Paul Tergat. He is known for his consistent, close finishes in the Chicago Marathon, finishing as runner-up three times and third on two occasions, between 2003 and 2007. He was the 2006 winner of the Sendai Half Marathon. He won the Tokyo International Marathon in 2004 and then the reformed Tokyo Marathon in 2007. Njenga is a featured subject in the 2007 marathon documentary Spirit of the Marathon. Njenga was victorious at the 2009 Hokkaido Marathon and took consecutive runner-up spots at the Beppu-Ōita Marathon in 2010 and 2011.
Go Jibiki (Japanese: 地曵豪, Hepburn: Jibiki Gō) is a Japanese actor.
Mitsuru Mukojima (向島 満, Mukojima Mitsuru; born May 5, 1976) is a former Japanese football player.
Anza Ohyama (Japanese: 大山 アンザ, Hepburn: Ōyama Anza; born May 4, 1976), also known as simply Anza (stylized in all…
Anza Ohyama (Japanese: 大山 アンザ, Hepburn: Ōyama Anza; born May 4, 1976), also known as simply Anza (stylized in all caps), is a Japanese singer and theater actress best known as vocalist of the heavy metal band Head Phones President and for playing Sailor Moon in thirteen separate musical productions.