Shigeru Miyamoto (Japanese: 宮本 茂, Hepburn: Miyamoto Shigeru; born November 16, 1952) is a Japanese video game designer…
Shigeru Miyamoto (Japanese: 宮本 茂, Hepburn: Miyamoto Shigeru; born November 16, 1952) is a Japanese video game designer, producer, game director and filmmaker at Nintendo, where he has served as one of its representative directors as an executive since 2002. Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential designers in video games, he is the creator of some of the most acclaimed and best-selling game franchises of all time, including Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Star Fox and Pikmin. More than 1 billion copies of games featuring franchises created by Miyamoto have been sold. Born in Sonobe, Kyoto, Miyamoto graduated from Kanazawa Municipal College of Industrial Arts. He originally sought a career as a manga artist, until developing an interest in video games. With the help of his father, he joined Nintendo in 1977 after impressing the president, Hiroshi Yamauchi, with his toys. He helped create art for the arcade game Sheriff, and was later tasked with designing a new arcade game, leading to the 1981 game Donkey Kong. Miyamoto's games Super Mario Bros. (1985) and The Legend of Zelda (1986) helped the Nintendo Entertainment System dominate the console game market. His games have been flagships of every Nintendo video game console, from the arcade machines of the late 1970s to the present day. He managed Nintendo's Entertainment Analysis & Development software division, which developed many Nintendo games, and he played an important role in the creation of other influential games such as Pokémon Red and Blue (1996) and Metroid Prime (2002). Following the death of Nintendo president Satoru Iwata in July 2015, Miyamoto became acting president alongside Genyo Takeda until he was formally appointed "Creative Fellow" a few months later.
Famous People Born in November
November: 1,764 people
Shigeru Kobayashi (小林 繁, Kobayashi Shigeru; November 14, 1952 – January 17, 2010) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He…
Shigeru Kobayashi (小林 繁, Kobayashi Shigeru; November 14, 1952 – January 17, 2010) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He played for the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball. His trade to the Tigers gave the Giants Suguru Egawa, as he had been drafted by the Tigers, despite him signing with the Giants in secrecy. Kobayashi coached two other NPB teams, the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, and also spent a season in the Korea Baseball Organization as a coach for the SK Wyverns. He died of heart failure in 2010 at the age of 57.
Yoshi Ikuzō (吉幾三; born 11 November 1952, Goshogawara, Aomori) is the stage name of Yoshihito Kamata (鎌田 善人, Kamata…
Yoshi Ikuzō (吉幾三; born 11 November 1952, Goshogawara, Aomori) is the stage name of Yoshihito Kamata (鎌田 善人, Kamata Yoshihito), a Japanese enka singer-songwriter. He has released several popular albums of enka music, a genre akin to Japanese folk or blues music in the Western world. Amongst his most famous hits are "Sake yo", "Suika", and "Yuki Guni". Additionally, he is self-described as the "first popular hip hop artist in Japan" due to the 1984 release of "Ora Tōkyō sa Iguda" (lit. "I'm going to Tokyo"), sung in his native Tsugaru dialect of Japanese. He has been on tour with fellow Japanese star Fukui Kodai. Ikuzō is married. His wife is named Hisako, and they have a daughter, Ikumi. His stage name is a pun for the common Japanese phrase "Yoshi, ikuzo!" (よし、いくぞー！, Alright, let's go!).
Tsutomu Aragaki (新垣 勉, Aragaki Tsutomu; born 1952 in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture) is a Japanese tenor. He was born in…
Tsutomu Aragaki (新垣 勉, Aragaki Tsutomu; born 1952 in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture) is a Japanese tenor. He was born in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture. He was blinded shortly after birth when a midwife put overly-strong drops in his eyes. When he was a year old, his parents divorced and his Mexican-American father went back to the United States. His mother, who was Okinawan, remarried when he was still a child, and Tsutomu was sent to live with his maternal grandmother. His grandmother raised him until he was 14, when she died, leaving him without relatives in Japan. One day Tsutomu heard a hymn on the radio. This led him to visit a church, where he told the minister about his life. Sympathetic to Tsutomu's loss, the minister took him in and raised him as family. It was this meeting that led Tsutomu both to sing and to become a Baptist minister. The song, "Sugar Cane Field", was top three in classical CD sales in Japan in 2002. The Fuji TV movie Mada Minu Chichi e, Haha e [まだ見ぬ父へ母へ] (To the Father and Mother I Still Haven't Seen) is a dramatization of his life.
Takao Ito (伊藤 高男, Itō Takao; born 5 November 1952) is a Japanese former ski jumper. He competed in the normal hill and…
Takao Ito (伊藤 高男, Itō Takao; born 5 November 1952) is a Japanese former ski jumper. He competed in the normal hill and large hill events at the 1976 Winter Olympics.
Keiji Furuya (古屋 圭司, Furuya Keiji; born 1 November 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…
Keiji Furuya (古屋 圭司, Furuya Keiji; born 1 November 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, serving as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet of Japan.
Shizue Abe (あべ静江, Abe Shizue, born November 28, 1951, in Matsusaka, Mie, Japan) is a Japanese actress and singer.
Michio Jimbo (神保 道夫, Jimbō Michio; born November 28, 1951) is a Japanese mathematician working in mathematical physics.…
Michio Jimbo (神保 道夫, Jimbō Michio; born November 28, 1951) is a Japanese mathematician working in mathematical physics. He is known for his introduction of quantum groups (independently of Vladimir Drinfeld), his contributions to the theory of integrable systems and their correlation functions, and his work with Mikio Sato and Tetsuji Miwa on holonomic quantum fields and isomonodromic deformation theory.
Toru Matsuoka (松岡 徹, Matsuoka Tōru; born November 26, 1951) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan…
Toru Matsuoka (松岡 徹, Matsuoka Tōru; born November 26, 1951) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Osaka, Osaka and high school graduate, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 after serving in the assembly of Osaka Prefecture for three terms since 1991.
Tōru Toida (戸井田 徹, Toida Tōru; born 25 November 1951) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of…
Tōru Toida (戸井田 徹, Toida Tōru; born 25 November 1951) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Yasuo Daichi (大地 康雄, Daichi Yasuo; born 25 November 1951) is a Japanese actor. He has appeared in more than 50 films…
Yasuo Daichi (大地 康雄, Daichi Yasuo; born 25 November 1951) is a Japanese actor. He has appeared in more than 50 films since 1979.
Masataka Matsutoya (松任谷 正隆, Matsutōya Masataka; born November 19, 1951) is a Japanese arranger, composer, music…
Masataka Matsutoya (松任谷 正隆, Matsutōya Masataka; born November 19, 1951) is a Japanese arranger, composer, music producer, and motor journalist. He currently resides in Setagaya, Tokyo. He is a graduate of Keio Senior High School and Keio University (literature department). His wife is singer-songwriter, composer, and lyricist Yumi Matsutoya (née Arai). His mother, Kazuko, is the auditor of Kirarasha, the firm Masataka established after his marriage to Arai.
Tōru Yasunaga (安永 徹, Yasunaga Tōru; born November 14, 1951, in Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese violinist. Yasunaga is…
Tōru Yasunaga (安永 徹, Yasunaga Tōru; born November 14, 1951, in Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese violinist. Yasunaga is an active chamber musician and soloist, and was a member of the Berlin Philharmonic from 1977, serving as concertmaster from 1983 until his retirement from the orchestra in March 2009.
Keibun Ōta (おおた慶文, Ōta Keibun), real name Yoshifumi Ōta (太田慶文, Ōta Yoshifumi), is a painter and illustrator born on…
Keibun Ōta (おおた慶文, Ōta Keibun), real name Yoshifumi Ōta (太田慶文, Ōta Yoshifumi), is a painter and illustrator born on November 10, 1951, in Haboro, Hokkaidō Prefecture, Japan. He is best known for his watercolor paintings of young girls and children. Ōta has multiple books in print which collect his works, and he has created illustrations for magazines, books, calendars, and posters, and has had multiple one-man exhibitions. He currently lives in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Hitoshi Nagai (永井 均, Nagai Hitoshi; born November 10, 1951) is one of the most influential Japanese philosophers, who…
Hitoshi Nagai (永井 均, Nagai Hitoshi; born November 10, 1951) is one of the most influential Japanese philosophers, who taught philosophy at Chiba University and later at Nihon University. His main research fields are metaphysics and metaethics. His books include "Philosophy for Kids!" and "A Transfer Student and Black Jack: A Seminar on Solipsity," which interpret solipsism from a unique metaphysical point of view. Nagai's philosophy has been heavily influenced by Wittgenstein, however, his philosophy successfully elucidates an important aspect of solipsism which Wittgenstein could not fully express in his philosophical works. Nagai stresses that the solipsistic subject (such as "I!") can be pointed to by using the public language, but the trial of this pointing ought to be failed every time because of the unique function of our public language. He calls this characteristic "solipsity".
Tomokatsu Kitagawa (北川 知克, Kitagawa Tomokatsu; 8 November 1951 – 26 December 2018) was a Japanese politician from the…
Tomokatsu Kitagawa (北川 知克, Kitagawa Tomokatsu; 8 November 1951 – 26 December 2018) was a Japanese politician from the Liberal Democratic Party, and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Mari Amachi (天地 真理, Amachi Mari; born November 5, 1951) is a Japanese female singer and actress, who was famous in…
Mari Amachi (天地 真理, Amachi Mari; born November 5, 1951) is a Japanese female singer and actress, who was famous in 1970s' Japan. On October 1, 1971, she debuted with the single "Mizuiro no Koi." She was born as Mari Saito in Omiya, Saitama Prefecture. She got five Oricon No.1 songs, a record as a female singer which was later broken by Seiko Matsuda. She started the era of Japanese idols in the 1970s and 1980s. Mari Amachi was the top female vocalist of Sony Music Entertainment in Japan.
Keizo Takemi (武見 敬三, Takemi Keizō; born 5 November 1951) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who…
Keizo Takemi (武見 敬三, Takemi Keizō; born 5 November 1951) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan.
Itsumichi Isomura (磯村一路, Isomura Itsumichi) is a Japanese film director. He won the award for Best Director at the 20th…
Itsumichi Isomura (磯村一路, Isomura Itsumichi) is a Japanese film director. He won the award for Best Director at the 20th Yokohama Film Festival for Give It All. Isomura co-founded the Japanese film studio Altamira Pictures with fellow director Masayuki Suo, as well as producers Shoji Masui and Yuji Ogata.
Hōdō Nakamura (中村 法道, Nakamura Hōdō; born 29 November 1950) is a Japanese politician and a former governor of Nagasaki…
Hōdō Nakamura (中村 法道, Nakamura Hōdō; born 29 November 1950) is a Japanese politician and a former governor of Nagasaki Prefecture located in the Kyushu region of Japan. He was re-elected for another four-year term as governor in both 2014 and 2018. Nakamura ran for a fourth term in 2022, but lost the elections.
Michiyo Inaoka (稲岡 美千代, Inaoka Michiyo; born 28 November 1950) is a Japanese athlete. She competed in the women's high…
Michiyo Inaoka (稲岡 美千代, Inaoka Michiyo; born 28 November 1950) is a Japanese athlete. She competed in the women's high jump at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Hiroshi Oguchi (大口 広司, Ōguchi Hiroshi; sometimes spelled as Ohguchi) was born in Kawaguchi, Japan, on November 28…
Hiroshi Oguchi (大口 広司, Ōguchi Hiroshi; sometimes spelled as Ohguchi) was born in Kawaguchi, Japan, on November 28, 1950. He died on January 25, 2009, in Tokyo, Japan, of cancer. A Tokyo-based conceptual artist, musician and scene maker, Hiroshi Oguchi had for decades been influential in the changing attitudes of Japan's youth. As a drummer, he was in the bands The Tempters, Pyg, and Vodka Collins, recording many albums. He also owned and ran his own fashion company, Practice of Silence. Oguchi was also an actor in a number of films, including Strange Circus (2006), Freesia :Icy Tears (2006),The Sinking Of Japan (2006) and Silk (2007). He was married to the popular actress Kimie Shingyoji; they had one son, Gento Oguchi, who is a musician and artist.
Hiroaki Hamada (浜田 広秋, Hamada Hiroaki), better known by his ring name Gran Hamada (グラン浜田, Guran Hamada; November 27…
Hiroaki Hamada (浜田 広秋, Hamada Hiroaki), better known by his ring name Gran Hamada (グラン浜田, Guran Hamada; November 27, 1950 – February 15, 2025), was a Japanese professional wrestler, the first to adopt the high-flying Mexican lucha libre style. He wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, the Universal Wrestling Federation, Michinoku Pro, and All Japan Pro Wrestling and was the founder of Universal Lucha Libre. He also had stints with the World Wrestling Federation and Extreme Championship Wrestling in the United States. His daughters Xóchitl Hamada and Ayako Hamada are professional Japanese-Mexican wrestlers.
Mitsuaki Iwagō (岩合 光昭, Iwagō Mitsuaki; born November 27, 1950 in Tokyo) is a prominent Japanese wildlife photographer…
Mitsuaki Iwagō (岩合 光昭, Iwagō Mitsuaki; born November 27, 1950 in Tokyo) is a prominent Japanese wildlife photographer and filmmaker.
Daisaku Kadokawa (門川 大作, Kadokawa Daisaku) is a Japanese politician and former mayor of Kyoto City, the capital city of…
Daisaku Kadokawa (門川 大作, Kadokawa Daisaku) is a Japanese politician and former mayor of Kyoto City, the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture.
Shūji Kataoka (片岡 修二, Kataoka Shūji) a.k.a. Yasui Shūchi is a Japanese director and screenwriter primarily known for…
Shūji Kataoka (片岡 修二, Kataoka Shūji) a.k.a. Yasui Shūchi is a Japanese director and screenwriter primarily known for his work in pink films but who has also worked in adult videos (AV) and in mainstream film.
Takashi Hiraide (平出 隆, Hiraide Takashi; born 21 November 1950 in moji, now a part of Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka) is a Japanese…
Takashi Hiraide (平出 隆, Hiraide Takashi; born 21 November 1950 in moji, now a part of Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka) is a Japanese poet, critic, book designer, and professor. Hiraide's most celebrated work, published in English, is The Guest Cat (2014). The Guest Cat made the New York Times best-seller list in the same year it was published in English, 2014 and has reached international acclaim.
Keizo Imai (今井 敬三, Imai Keizō; born November 19, 1950) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…
Keizo Imai (今井 敬三, Imai Keizō; born November 19, 1950) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Keiko Itoh is a Japanese writer and historian in the United Kingdom.
Yoshiaki Kawajiri (川尻 善昭, Kawajiri Yoshiaki; born November 18, 1950) is a Japanese writer, director, storyboard artist…
Yoshiaki Kawajiri (川尻 善昭, Kawajiri Yoshiaki; born November 18, 1950) is a Japanese writer, director, storyboard artist and animator. A co-founder of the anime studio Madhouse, he is best known as the director of Wicked City, Ninja Scroll, and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.
Takao Kisugi (来生 たかお, Kisugi Takao), born November 16, 1950, in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. In…
Takao Kisugi (来生 たかお, Kisugi Takao), born November 16, 1950, in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. In 1974, he debuted as a songwriter and in 1976 made his solo debut as a singer. He often collaborates on songs with his sister, Etsuko Kisugi, who is a lyricist. In 1982, on the third Japan Composition Award, he received the "Best Composer" music award for the song Second Love. In his career, spanning over 45 years, he composed over 400 songs.
Hachiya Toshiyuki (蜂矢敏行) (16 November 1950 – 27 January 2001) was a sumo wrestler from Motosu, Gifu, Japan. He made his…
Hachiya Toshiyuki (蜂矢敏行) (16 November 1950 – 27 January 2001) was a sumo wrestler from Motosu, Gifu, Japan. He made his professional debut in September 1968. He holds the record jointly with Oshio for the most tournaments fought in the juryo division, at 55. He spent four tournaments in the top makuuchi division, peaking at maegashira 6 in November 1984. At around 108 kg (238 lb) he was one of the lightest sekitori. He retired in 1987 and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Onogawa until his death in 2001.
Michiro Endo (Japanese: 遠藤 ミチロウ, Hepburn: Endō Michirō; November 15, 1950 – April 25, 2019) was a Japanese musician…
Michiro Endo (Japanese: 遠藤 ミチロウ, Hepburn: Endō Michirō; November 15, 1950 – April 25, 2019) was a Japanese musician, author and socialist activist. He was best known as frontman of the influential punk rock band The Stalin. He gained notoriety for his stage antics, having once thrown a severed pig's head into the audience.
Kaoru Yumi (由美 かおる, Yumi Kaoru; born November 12, 1950) is a Japanese actress.
Tetsurō Kashibuchi (かしぶち 哲郎, Kashibuchi Tetsurō; November 9, 1950 – December 17, 2013) was a Japanese musician…
Tetsurō Kashibuchi (かしぶち 哲郎, Kashibuchi Tetsurō; November 9, 1950 – December 17, 2013) was a Japanese musician, composer, and record producer.
Yasuhisa Shiozaki (塩崎 恭久, Shiozaki Yasuhisa; born 7 November 1950) is a Japanese politician who served as Chief Cabinet…
Yasuhisa Shiozaki (塩崎 恭久, Shiozaki Yasuhisa; born 7 November 1950) is a Japanese politician who served as Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe until August 2007.
Sega Corporation is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It…
Sega Corporation is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It produces several multi-million-selling game franchises for arcades and consoles including Sonic the Hedgehog, Angry Birds, Football Manager, Phantasy Star, Puyo Puyo, Super Monkey Ball, Bayonetta, Total War, Virtua Fighter, Megami Tensei, Sakura Wars, Persona, and Yakuza. From 1983 until 2001, Sega also developed its own consoles. Sega was founded by Martin Bromley and Richard Stewart as Nihon Goraku Bussan on June 3, 1960. Shortly after, it acquired the assets of its predecessor, Service Games of Japan. In 1965, it became known as Sega Enterprises, Ltd., after acquiring Rosen Enterprises, an importer of coin-operated games. Sega developed its first coin-operated game, Periscope, in 1966. Sega was sold to Gulf and Western Industries in 1969. Following a downturn in the arcade business in the early 1980s, Sega began to develop video game consoles, starting with the SG-1000 and Master System, but struggled against competitors such as the Nintendo Entertainment System. In 1984, Sega executives David Rosen and Hayao Nakayama led a management buyout, with backing from CSK Corporation. In 1988, Sega released the Mega Drive (the "Genesis" in North America). The Mega Drive struggled against competition in Japan, but the Genesis found success overseas after the release of Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991 and briefly outsold its main competitor, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, in the US. In 2001, after several commercial failures such as the 32X, Saturn, and Dreamcast, Sega stopped manufacturing consoles to become a third-party developer and publisher, and was acquired by Sammy Corporation in 2004. Sega Holdings Co., Ltd. was established in 2015; Sega Corporation was renamed to Sega Games Co., Ltd., and its arcade division was split into Sega Interactive. In 2020, Sega Games and Sega Interactive merged to become Sega Corporation. Sega's international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California, and London. Its development studios include its internal research and development divisions (which utilize the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sonic Team brands for several core franchise entries), Sega Sapporo Studio which mainly provides support for the Tokyo-based development teams as well as handling partial game development, and Atlus (including its R&D divisions) and five development studios in the UK and Europe: Creative Assembly, Sports Interactive, Sega Hardlight, Two Point Studios, and Rovio Entertainment (including Ruby Games). Sega is one of the world's most prolific arcade game producers and its mascot, Sonic, is internationally recognized. Sega is recognized for its video game consoles, creativity and innovations. In more recent years, it has been criticized for its business decisions and the quality of its creative output. Being the entertainment contents division of Sega Sammy Holdings, forming one half of the Sega Sammy Group, Sega also owns a toy and amusement machine company, Sega Fave, which comprises its arcade development and manufacturing divisions and two animation studios: TMS Entertainment, which animates, produces, and distributes anime, and Marza Animation Planet, which specializes in CG animation.
Yoshio Hoshino (星野 好男, Hoshino Yoshio; born 2 November 1950) is a Japanese ice hockey player. He competed in the men's…
Yoshio Hoshino (星野 好男, Hoshino Yoshio; born 2 November 1950) is a Japanese ice hockey player. He competed in the men's tournaments at the 1972 Winter Olympics, the 1976 Winter Olympics and the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Tarisa Watanagase (Thai: ธาริษา วัฒนเกส, RTGS: Tharisa Watthanaket, [tʰāːrísǎː wáttʰánákèːt]; born 30 November 1949) is…
Tarisa Watanagase (Thai: ธาริษา วัฒนเกส, RTGS: Tharisa Watthanaket, [tʰāːrísǎː wáttʰánákèːt]; born 30 November 1949) is a former governor of the Bank of Thailand (2006–2010). She succeeded Pridiyathorn Devakula, who was appointed finance minister in the interim government. Tarisa was an assistant governor of the BoT and is the first female governor in the bank's 64-year history.
Miyazawa Goro (宮沢吾朗, Miyazawa Goro; born November 29, 1949) is a professional Go player. Miyazawa turned professional…
Miyazawa Goro (宮沢吾朗, Miyazawa Goro; born November 29, 1949) is a professional Go player. Miyazawa turned professional in 1966 and reached 9 dan in 1993. He currently resides in the Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan. He is the father of Sakana-kun, an illustrator, ichthyologist and television personality.
Kyoko Mizuki (水木 杏子, Mizuki Kyōko) is one of the pen names of Keiko Nagita (名木田 恵子, Nagita Keiko; born November 28…
Kyoko Mizuki (水木 杏子, Mizuki Kyōko) is one of the pen names of Keiko Nagita (名木田 恵子, Nagita Keiko; born November 28, 1949), a Japanese writer who is best known for being the author of the manga and anime series Candy Candy. Kyoko Mizuki won the Kodansha Manga Award for Best Shōjo Manga for Candy Candy in 1977 with Yumiko Igarashi. Keiko Nagita won the Japan Juvenile Writers Association Prize for Rainette, Kin Iro no Ringo (Rainette - The Golden Apples) in 2007. Her short story Akai Mi Haziketa is printed in Japanese Primary School Textbook for 6th grade (Mitsumura Tosho Publishing Co., Ltd.). Her picture book Shampoo Ōji series (art by Makoto Kubota) was adapted into an anime television series in October 2007.
Masanori Sekiya (関谷 正徳, Sekiya Masanori; born 27 November 1949) is a Japanese former racing driver, most famous for…
Masanori Sekiya (関谷 正徳, Sekiya Masanori; born 27 November 1949) is a Japanese former racing driver, most famous for being the first Japanese driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1995. Sekiya drove in single-seaters in his early career, contesting the Japanese Formula 3000 Championship and Formula Nippon from 1987 to 1993, mostly for the Leyton House team. He never achieved any victories, but finished fourth in the standings in 1988 and 1989, scoring three and four podiums, respectively. A long-time works Toyota driver, Sekiya drove in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, All Japan Grand Touring Championship and Japanese Touring Car Championship, a series which he won in 1994, driving a Toyota Chaser for the Tom's team. He was also runner-up the following year. As Sekiya is rather fond of Le Mans, in 1987, he got married in the town prior to the race. His best result in international sports car racing was winning the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the wheel of a McLaren F1 GTR for Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing. He became the first Japanese-born driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was also fourth in the 1993 edition. He competed in the JGTC until the 2000 season and now works as team manager for the Super GT division of the Toyota Team TOM'S and also runs a racing school at Fuji Speedway. In 1998, Sekiya also appeared in a TV commercial in Japan driving a JZA80 Supra promoting its handling package. Sekiya retired from professional motorsports in October 2000 and is now involved in team management.
Choji Murata (村田 兆治, 27 November 1949 – 11 November 2022) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He…
Choji Murata (村田 兆治, 27 November 1949 – 11 November 2022) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He played for the Tokyo/Lotte Orions over the period 1968 to 1990. Murata led the Pacific League in Earned run average in 1975 and 1976. In 1976 he won 21 games, the only time he won 20 games or more in his career. Overuse of Murata's pitching arm led to extreme pain and injury, and ultimately Murata was forced to undergo Tommy John elbow surgery, performed in 1982 by Dr. Frank Jobe in California. (Murata was the first Japanese pitcher to undergo the procedure.) As a result, Murata missed much of the 1982 season, all of the 1983 season, and most of the 1984 season during his recovery. Rebounding in 1985 with a 17–5 record, Murata won the Nippon Professional Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award. In 1989 he again led the Pacific League in ERA. Retiring in 1990 with 200+ career wins, Murata became a member of Meikyukai. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, Murata served on the Eiji Sawamura Award selection committee. On 23 September 2022, Murata was arrested at Haneda airport for allegedly assaulting a customs agent. On 11 November 2022, Murata's house in Seijo, Setagaya, Tokyo, caught on fire during the early morning. Subsequently, he was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead due to carbon monoxide poisoning at age 72.
Kazumasa Hirai (平井 一正, Hirai Kazumasa) (born November 21, 1949) is a Japanese weightlifter and Olympic medalist. He won…
Kazumasa Hirai (平井 一正, Hirai Kazumasa) (born November 21, 1949) is a Japanese weightlifter and Olympic medalist. He won a bronze medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Shigeyuki Matsuzaki (Japanese: 松崎 茂幸, Hepburn: Matsuzaki Shigeyuki; born November 19, 1949), known professionally as…
Shigeyuki Matsuzaki (Japanese: 松崎 茂幸, Hepburn: Matsuzaki Shigeyuki; born November 19, 1949), known professionally as Shigeru Matsuzaki (松崎 しげる, Matsuzaki Shigeru) is a Japanese singer and actor. He is most known in the West for his contributions to the Katamari Damacy soundtracks, performing the theme songs of Nerima Daikon Brothers and acting as its lead character, and voicing the title character in the film adaptation of Space Adventure Cobra. Matsuzaki is left-handed, as seen whenever he plays bass or guitar, his string instruments are usually tuned with the lower E string at the bottom. He has also collaborated with the popular music group Momoiro Clover Z. Matsuzaki is also a baseball fan, having sung the theme song of the Saitama Seibu Lions of the NPB that began to be used when they moved to Tokorozawa in 1979. In an interview with Weekly Baseball, he said that he "loved drinking whiskey behind the net at the Seibu Dome." In Thailand, his song Kimiga ireba sorede ii (君がいればそれでいい), which was used in a Glico almond commercial in 1987, was very well-known and many local singers covered it. However, this song is not well-known in Japan.
Ryo Hayami (速水 亮, Hayami Ryō) (born (1949-11-14) November 14, 1949 in Kimitsu, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese actor known…
Ryo Hayami (速水 亮, Hayami Ryō) (born (1949-11-14) November 14, 1949 in Kimitsu, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese actor known for playing the hero Keisuke Jin in the tokusatsu superhero series Kamen Rider X. On December 18, 2019, he suffered a heart attack from a collapse. He has been recovering.
Shuji Ikeguchi (池口 修次, Ikeguchi Shūji; born November 10, 1949) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…
Shuji Ikeguchi (池口 修次, Ikeguchi Shūji; born November 10, 1949) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kiso, Nagano and graduate of Waseda University, he joined Honda in 1972 and was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2001.
Michio Yasuda (保田 道夫, Yasuda Michio; born November 10, 1949) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…
Michio Yasuda (保田 道夫, Yasuda Michio; born November 10, 1949) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Garo Aida (会田 我路, Aida Garo; born November 4, 1949) is a Japanese photographer known widely for his erotic work. He has…
Garo Aida (会田 我路, Aida Garo; born November 4, 1949) is a Japanese photographer known widely for his erotic work. He has also worked in advertising, contributing his photographs to various Japanese companies' commercial ads, such as those by Fujitsu and Nippon Oil.