Gakuto Oshiro (大城 ガクト, Ōshiro Gakuto; born July 4, 1973), better known as Gackt (stylized in all caps), is a Japanese…
Gakuto Oshiro (大城 ガクト, Ōshiro Gakuto; born July 4, 1973), better known as Gackt (stylized in all caps), is a Japanese singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and actor. Born in Okinawa to a Ryukyuan family, Gackt learned the piano at a young age and was raised on classical music and enka before becoming interested in rock music while attending high school. He has been active since 1993, first as the frontman of the short-lived independent band Cains:Feel, and then from 1995 the now-defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer. Gackt started his solo career in 1999 with debut mini-album Mizérable and first full-length album Mars (2000). He has released nine studio albums and, with forty-eight singles released, holds the male soloist record for most top ten consecutive singles in Japanese music history. They are mostly conceived around two conceptual stories "Moon Saga" (Moon, Crescent, Diabolos, Last Moon) and "Requiem et Reminiscence" (Rebirth, Re:Born) which are performed live in uniquely elaborate concerts. His single "Returner (Yami no Shūen)" (2007), is his first and only single to reach the number one spot on the Oricon charts. As a solo artist, Gackt has sold over 10 million records. In 2007 became a founding member of S.K.I.N., a Japanese visual kei rock supergroup, and in 2010 formed his own band project Yellow Fried Chickenz. Besides being established in the modern entertainment industry and considered a pop icon, Gackt's music has been used as theme songs for video games (Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII), video game films (Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker), anime series/films (New Fist of the North Star, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Texhnolyze and Trickster) and television series (Kamen Rider Decade). In addition to his music career, Gackt has voice acted (including characters inspired by him in video games like in Bujingai and Genesis Rhapsodos in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII), and live acted in a few films, including a film he wrote, Moon Child, his international debut Bunraku, Japan Academy award nomination performance for Best Actor in Fly Me to the Saitama, and TV series most notably as Uesugi Kenshin in the NHK drama Fūrin Kazan. He also performed live in theatre stage plays, Nemuri Kyoshiro Buraihikae and a duology he has written, composed, and directed Moon Saga: Mysteries of Yoshitsune I & II. He also provided the voice samples for Internet Co., Ltd.'s first Vocaloid, Gackpoid.
Famous People Born in July
July: 1,965 people
Kenji Imaizumi (今泉 健司, Imaizumi Kenji; born July 3, 1973) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 5-dan.…
Kenji Imaizumi (今泉 健司, Imaizumi Kenji; born July 3, 1973) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 5-dan. Imaizumi (a former 3-dan professional shogi apprentice) was the first amateur to become a professional player via the Professional Admission Test (プロ編入試験 puro henyū shiken) in 2014.
Makoto Kosaka (小坂 誠, Kosaka Makoto; born July 2, 1973), nicknamed "Kosa", is a former Nippon Professional Baseball…
Makoto Kosaka (小坂 誠, Kosaka Makoto; born July 2, 1973), nicknamed "Kosa", is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder and the current coach of the Chiba Lotte Marines. Makoto Kosaka is well known for his fast running skills (50m in 5.6 seconds and 100m in 11.2 seconds.) Shinya Miyamoto cited Kosaka as the greatest defensive shortstop in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) history.
Takashi Okuhara (奥原 崇, Okuhara Takashi; born July 31, 1972) is a former Japanese football player.
Juichi Wakisaka (脇阪寿一, Wakisaka Juichi; born July 29, 1972 in Nara) is a Japanese former racing driver who was a 2002…
Juichi Wakisaka (脇阪寿一, Wakisaka Juichi; born July 29, 1972 in Nara) is a Japanese former racing driver who was a 2002, 2006 and 2009 champion in Japan's Super GT series in the GT500 category. Prior to the 1998 Formula One season he tested for the Jordan Grand Prix team. In 2002, Wakisaka raced the Toyota Supra GT with Akira Iida, in 2006 and 2009 Wakisaka raced the Lexus SC 430 with André Lotterer. He retired from driving after the conclusion of the 2015 Super GT Series season, becoming the team director of Lexus Team LeMans Wako's. Wakisaka was also a regular presenter of Best Motoring and is brother to Shigekazu, who also competes in Super GT.
Takashi Shimizu (清水 崇 Shimizu Takashi, born 27 July 1972) is a Japanese filmmaker. He is best known for being the…
Takashi Shimizu (清水 崇 Shimizu Takashi, born 27 July 1972) is a Japanese filmmaker. He is best known for being the creator of the Ju-On franchise, directing the first four installments, in addition to directing the first two installments in its American remake franchise, The Grudge. According to film scholar Wheeler Winston Dixon, Shimizu is "one of a new breed of Japanese horror directors" who prefers to "suggest menace and violence rather than directly depict it".
Yoshinori Okihara (沖原 佳典, born July 27, 1972, in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball…
Yoshinori Okihara (沖原 佳典, born July 27, 1972, in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.
Tomotaka Fukagawa (深川 友貴, Fukagawa Tomotaka; born July 24, 1972) is a former Japanese football player.
Kaname Yokoo (Japanese: 横尾要, born 24 July 1972) is a Japanese professional golfer.
Kaiō Hiroyuki (born 24 July 1972 as Hiroyuki Koga) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan.…
Kaiō Hiroyuki (born 24 July 1972 as Hiroyuki Koga) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan. He made his debut in 1988, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1993. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for eleven years from 2000 to 2011, and is the longest-serving ōzeki of all time in terms of number of tournaments fought. In his career, Kaiō won five top division yūshō or tournament championships, the last coming in 2004. This is the modern record for someone who has not ultimately made the top rank of yokozuna. He was a runner-up in eleven other tournaments, and also won 15 sanshō or special prizes, the third highest ever. In November 2009 he broke the record previously held by Takamiyama for the most tournaments ranked in the top division, and in January 2010 he surpassed Chiyonofuji's record of most top division bouts won. In the May 2010 tournament he became the only wrestler besides Chiyonofuji to reach one thousand career wins, and he surpassed Chiyonofuji's career wins record of 1045 in July 2011. He retired in the same tournament to become a coach at Tomozuna stable under the elder name Asakayama. In 2014, he established the latest incarnation of the Asakayama stable.
Masaki Tsuchihashi (土橋 正樹, Tsuchihashi Masaki; born July 23, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…
Masaki Tsuchihashi (土橋 正樹, Tsuchihashi Masaki; born July 23, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Shogo Arai (荒井 昭吾, Arai Shōgo; born July 21, 1972, Nerima Ward, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese former professional…
Shogo Arai (荒井 昭吾, Arai Shōgo; born July 21, 1972, Nerima Ward, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder. He played for the Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Pacific League from 1994 to 1998.
Shinjiro Otani (大谷晋二郎, Ōtani Shinjirō; born July 21, 1972) is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and the…
Shinjiro Otani (大谷晋二郎, Ōtani Shinjirō; born July 21, 1972) is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and the current acting president of Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1). He is currently inactive from pro-wrestling competition due to a cervical spine injury sustained in April 2022. A product of the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) dojo, Otani is best known for his longtime association with Zero1, a promotion he founded in 2001 along with Shinya Hashimoto. Starting his career in NJPW as a junior heavyweight, Otani gained a reputation as a gutsy underdog and would go on to hold several championships during his nine-year run with the promotion, including the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and the J-Crown, as well as forming a successful tag team with dojo classmate Tatsuhito Takaiwa, twice holding the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. After jumping to the heavyweight division in 2001, Otani would leave New Japan the same year, joining Shinya Hashimoto as one of the founders of Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1). Following the departure of Hashimoto in 2004, Otani was pushed as one of the promotions top stars, becoming a six time Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, a one time World Heavyweight Champion and a four-time winner of the Fire Festival. In addition to his role as a wrestler, Otani has also served as acting company president since 2007.
Ai Haruna (はるな 愛, Haruna Ai; born 21 July 1972) is a Japanese transgender TV personality and singer. In October 2009…
Ai Haruna (はるな 愛, Haruna Ai; born 21 July 1972) is a Japanese transgender TV personality and singer. In October 2009, Haruna won the "Miss International Queen 2009" transgender beauty pageant held in Pattaya, Thailand, becoming the first Japanese contestant to win the title. On 24 August 2021, she appeared at the beginning of the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympics held at the National Stadium, where she performed a dance performance. A biopic of Haruna, titled This Is I, was released on Netflix on 10 February 2026.
Naohito Fujiki (藤木 直人, Fujiki Naohito; born July 19, 1972) is a Japanese actor and singer.
Hikaru Tanaka (田中 光, Tanaka Hikaru; born 19 July 1972) is a Japanese gymnast. He finished in eighteenth place in the…
Hikaru Tanaka (田中 光, Tanaka Hikaru; born 19 July 1972) is a Japanese gymnast. He finished in eighteenth place in the all around at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Masahiro Shimmyo (新明 正広, Shimmyo Masahiro; born July 16, 1972) is a former Japanese football player.
Kazuya Kojima (児嶋 一哉, Kojima Kazuya; born 16 July 1972, in Hachiōji, Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian and actor. He…
Kazuya Kojima (児嶋 一哉, Kojima Kazuya; born 16 July 1972, in Hachiōji, Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian and actor. He performs boke (he can also perform Kire Gei or tsukkomi) in the comedy duo Unjash with his partner Ken Watabe. Kojima's most well known gag is the mispronunciation or mistake of his last name "Kojima", as he is frequently called other names on purpose such as "Ooshima" for comedic effects. He would then loudly respond to the mistake with "I'm Kojima!" as a part of the gag.
Atsushi Koga (古賀篤, Koga Atsushi; born 14 July 1972) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…
Atsushi Koga (古賀篤, Koga Atsushi; born 14 July 1972) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2012. From 2021 to 2022, he served as deputy minister of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. From 2021 to 2022, he served as chairman of the environment committee. From 2023 to 2024, he served as deputy minister of the Cabinet Office.
Kei Taniguchi (谷口 けい, Taniguchi Kei, 14 July 1972 – 22 December 2015) was a Japanese mountaineer. Her accomplishments…
Kei Taniguchi (谷口 けい, Taniguchi Kei, 14 July 1972 – 22 December 2015) was a Japanese mountaineer. Her accomplishments included climbing new technical routes on various mountains in Alaska, Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan and China. In 2009, she became the first female mountaineer to win the prestigious International Climbing award Piolet d'Or (Golden Ice Axe) after completing the first ascent of the Southeast Face of Kamet (7756 m) in India, sharing the award with her climbing partner Kazuya Hiraide. She was known for her fearless Alpinist climbing style with no Sherpa support and was considered a pioneer among her peers.
Moomin (むーみん) (born July 13, 1972) and styled as MOOMIN is a Japanese reggae artist. Along with a number of colleagues…
Moomin (むーみん) (born July 13, 1972) and styled as MOOMIN is a Japanese reggae artist. Along with a number of colleagues, he is responsible for the growth and popularity of Japan's reggae scene. He is originally from Chigasaki, Kanagawa, and is married with two children. He works at Overheat Studios, and keeps his real name secret. Moomin first appeared on the reggae scene in 1992, and traveled to Jamaica the following year. His official debut with a record label was in 1997 (under Kioon Records), and since 2003 he has been with Universal Music Group.
Keiichiro Yamamiya (born July 12, 1972) is a Japanese former professional mixed martial artist. A veteran of 90 fights…
Keiichiro Yamamiya (born July 12, 1972) is a Japanese former professional mixed martial artist. A veteran of 90 fights who began his career in 1996 and last competed in 2015, he fought in the UFC, Pancrase, DEEP, and World Victory Road. He was the inaugural King of Pancrase Light Heavyweight Champion.
Naomi Eto (江藤 直美, Etō Naomi; born (1972-07-12)12 July 1972) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. Eto helped the…
Naomi Eto (江藤 直美, Etō Naomi; born (1972-07-12)12 July 1972) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. Eto helped the Japan women's national volleyball team win the bronze medal at the 1994 Goodwill Games in Saint Petersburg. Eto competed with the national team at the 1998 FIVB World Championship in Japan, where she finished in eighth place.
Takeshi Kawakami (川上 猛, Kawakami Takeshi; born July 12, 1972) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who…
Takeshi Kawakami (川上 猛, Kawakami Takeshi; born July 12, 1972) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 7-dan.
Shōsuke Tanihara (谷原 章介, Tanihara Shōsuke; born July 8, 1972) is a Japanese actor probably best known outside Japan for…
Shōsuke Tanihara (谷原 章介, Tanihara Shōsuke; born July 8, 1972) is a Japanese actor probably best known outside Japan for his portrayal of Riki Fudoh in Fudoh: The New Generation and Hajime Kudo in Godzilla vs. Megaguirus. Tanihara hosts Tokyo Twenty-Four Living Supported by FLET'S Hikari, a podcast produced by TOKYO FM. The podcast began airing on January 7, 2006, with a guest appearance by the former Yokohama Bay Stars pitcher Takashi Saitō. He made the announcement at the 8th Best Formalist Award ceremony.
Takashi Manei (万永 貴司, Manei Takashi; born July 7, 1972 in Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…
Takashi Manei (万永 貴司, Manei Takashi; born July 7, 1972 in Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.
Kenichiro Arai (新井 健一郎, Arai Ken'ichirō; born July 7, 1972) is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for his time…
Kenichiro Arai (新井 健一郎, Arai Ken'ichirō; born July 7, 1972) is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for his time with the Japanese promotion Dragon Gate.
Shigeki Abe (阿部 茂樹, Abe Shigeki; born July 5, 1972 in Ogata, Akita) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball player.…
Shigeki Abe (阿部 茂樹, Abe Shigeki; born July 5, 1972 in Ogata, Akita) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Yakult Swallows in 1999.
Kazunori Ohara (小原 一典, Ohara Kazunori; born 5 July 1972) is a Japanese football manager of Cambodia national under-20…
Kazunori Ohara (小原 一典, Ohara Kazunori; born 5 July 1972) is a Japanese football manager of Cambodia national under-20 football team. He was the manager of the Bhutan national football team from 2012 to 2014. He became technical director of the Football Federation of Cambodia before taking over as Cambodia national team manager in 2015. The start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round was difficult as Cambodia lost big to Singapore, and Ohara could not settle with a squad right away. He left the Football Federation of Cambodia in January 2024, and was replaced as technical director by another Japanese, Shigeaki Ichikawa.
Satoru Tanigawa (谷川 聡, Tanigawa Satoru; born 5 July 1972 in Tokyo) is a retired Japanese athlete who specialised in the…
Satoru Tanigawa (谷川 聡, Tanigawa Satoru; born 5 July 1972 in Tokyo) is a retired Japanese athlete who specialised in the 110 metres hurdles. He represented his country at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics reaching the second round on both occasions. His personal best of 13.39 (+1.5 m/s), set in the heats of the 2004 Olympic Games, is the current national record.
Tatsuhito Takaiwa (高岩竜一, Takaiwa Tatsuhito; born Go Yong-Il; Korean: 고용일; July 5, 1972) is a Korean-Japanese…
Tatsuhito Takaiwa (高岩竜一, Takaiwa Tatsuhito; born Go Yong-Il; Korean: 고용일; July 5, 1972) is a Korean-Japanese professional wrestler. He has wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Pro Wrestling Zero1, All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), and Pro Wrestling Noah. Known for his work as a tag team specialist, Takaiwa has won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship a number of times alongside Shinjiro Otani.
Kendo Kobayashi (ケンドーコバヤシ, Kendō Kobayashi; born 4 July 1972) is a Japanese comedian and actor. His real and former…
Kendo Kobayashi (ケンドーコバヤシ, Kendō Kobayashi; born 4 July 1972) is a Japanese comedian and actor. His real and former stage name is Tomoharu Kobayashi (小林 友治, Kobayashi Tomoharu). He is nicknamed Ken Koba (ケンコバ), Koba (コバ), and Mr. Yaritai Hōdai (Mr.やりたい放題, Misutā Yaritai Hōdai). He is represented with Yoshimoto Creative Agency of Yoshimoto Kogyo in Tokyo. He graduated from the Yoshimoto New Star Creation (NSC) in Osaka. Kobayashi graduated from Osaka Municipal Higashitanabe Elementary School, Osaka Municipal Nakano Junior High School, and Hatsushiba Tondabayashi High School. He served as a captain of the rugby club in high school.
Tomio Okamura (岡村 富夫, Okamura Tomio; born 4 July 1972) is a Japanese-born Czech far-right politician and entrepreneur…
Tomio Okamura (岡村 富夫, Okamura Tomio; born 4 July 1972) is a Japanese-born Czech far-right politician and entrepreneur, serving as the president of the Chamber of Deputies since November 2025. Okamura was the founder of the political parties Dawn of Direct Democracy and Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD). He has been a member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2013. Okamura served in the Senate representing Zlín from 2012 to 2013.
Katsuhiro Minamoto (皆本 勝弘, Minamoto Katsuhiro; born 2 July 1972) is a former Japanese football player.
Rie Kimura (木村 理恵, Kimura Rie; born July 30, 1971) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national…
Rie Kimura (木村 理恵, Kimura Rie; born July 30, 1971) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Kazuki Inoue (井上 一樹, Inoue Kazuki; born July 25, 1971) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder and…
Kazuki Inoue (井上 一樹, Inoue Kazuki; born July 25, 1971) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder and current manager for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played 17 seasons in NPB from 1990 to 2009 for the Dragons.
Tetsuji Nakamura (中村 哲治, Nakamura Tetsuji; born 24 July 1971) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party…
Tetsuji Nakamura (中村 哲治, Nakamura Tetsuji; born 24 July 1971) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, who served as a member of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Noriko Mizoguchi (溝口 紀子, Mizoguchi Noriko; born 23 July 1971 in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan) is a retired judoka from Japan.
Naoki Soma (相馬 直樹, Sōma Naoki; born July 19, 1971) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He played for the…
Naoki Soma (相馬 直樹, Sōma Naoki; born July 19, 1971) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He played for the Japan national team until 1999. He is currently the manager of Tokyo Verdy.
Hitoshi Taneda (種田 仁, born July 18, 1971) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.
Takashi Otsuka (Japanese: 大塚 崇, Ōtsuka Takashi; born July 17, 1971), known by the ring name Alexander Otsuka, is a…
Takashi Otsuka (Japanese: 大塚 崇, Ōtsuka Takashi; born July 17, 1971), known by the ring name Alexander Otsuka, is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. Having competed for multiple pro wrestling organizations in his career, he is known for his work in the Battlarts promotion, as well as Dradition and the Japanese independent circuit. Otsuka made the move from a successful professional wrestling career to mixed martial arts competition in 1995. He earned a notable victory over Vale Tudo pioneer Marco Ruas in 1998. Though Otsuka finished his career in 2006 with a 4–13 record, he mostly faced very high-ranked opponents, including all-time greats Renzo Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Igor Vovchanchyn, Quinton Jackson, Wanderlei Silva, and Anderson Silva, all of whom defeated him. Otsuka was famous for his toughness in the ring.
Ritsuko Tanaka (田中 律子, 田中 理津子, Tanaka Ritsuko; born 17 July 1971, in Setagaya, Tokyo) is a Japanese actress, tarento…
Ritsuko Tanaka (田中 律子, 田中 理津子, Tanaka Ritsuko; born 17 July 1971, in Setagaya, Tokyo) is a Japanese actress, tarento and singer. She is formerly represented with Box Corporation. She is the president of the non-profit organization Aqua Planet. She is also the associated president of the Japan Sap Yoga and detoxification in Okinawa.
Koichi Togashi (冨樫 剛一, Togashi Kōichi; born 15 July 1971) is a former Japanese football player and manager he is the…
Koichi Togashi (冨樫 剛一, Togashi Kōichi; born 15 July 1971) is a former Japanese football player and manager he is the current manager of Japan U20.
Hidekazu Watanabe (渡辺 秀一, Watanabe Hidekazu; born July 13, 1971) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball…
Hidekazu Watanabe (渡辺 秀一, Watanabe Hidekazu; born July 13, 1971) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Akiko Kawase (born 13 July 1971 in Tokyo) is a Japanese former synchronized swimmer who competed in the 1996 Summer…
Akiko Kawase (born 13 July 1971 in Tokyo) is a Japanese former synchronized swimmer who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Oginishiki Yasutoshi (born 8 July 1971 as Yasutoshi Koiwai) is a former sumo wrestler from Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture…
Oginishiki Yasutoshi (born 8 July 1971 as Yasutoshi Koiwai) is a former sumo wrestler from Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. His father and brother were also sumo wrestlers. He is now a coach at Dewanoumi stable.
Makoto Akaho (赤穂 真, Akaho Makoto; born 6 July 1971) is a Japanese former basketball player.
Hamayoshi Masanori (born 5 July 1971) is a Japanese football manager who last was the manager of SV Horn.
Takayuki Ohnishi (大西 崇之, Ōnishi Takayuki; born July 2, 1971) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He…
Takayuki Ohnishi (大西 崇之, Ōnishi Takayuki; born July 2, 1971) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He currently serves as a major league team coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB from 1995 to 2006 for the Chunichi Dragons and Yomiuri Giants.
Mie Uehara (上原 三枝, Uehara Mie; born 1 July 1971) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics…
Mie Uehara (上原 三枝, Uehara Mie; born 1 July 1971) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics and the 1998 Winter Olympics.