December: 1,876 people
Masafumi Makiyama (牧山 雅文, Makiyama Masafumi; born December 24, 1979 in Saga) is a Japanese archer. He competed in the…
Masafumi Makiyama (牧山 雅文, Makiyama Masafumi; born December 24, 1979 in Saga) is a Japanese archer. He competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Yukifumi Murakami (村上 幸史, Murakami Yukifumi; born 23 December 1979 in Kamijima, Ehime) is a Japanese javelin thrower.…
Yukifumi Murakami (村上 幸史, Murakami Yukifumi; born 23 December 1979 in Kamijima, Ehime) is a Japanese javelin thrower. He was the first Japanese athlete to win a World Championship medal in the javelin, taking bronze at the 2009 edition with a throw of 82.97 metres. He was successful as a junior athlete and won the bronze medal in the javelin at the 1998 World Junior Championships in Athletics. He established himself as one of Asia's top throwers in the following years, winning silver medals at the 2001 East Asian Games, 2002 Asian Games, and the 2003 Asian Athletics Championships. His first global appearance was at the 2004 Summer Olympics and he finished 18th overall in the final rankings. The 2005 World Championships in Athletics was his next major tournament where he could only finish in 27th place with a disappointing throw of 68.31 m. He was runner-up for a second time at the 2006 Asian Games and took part in the 2008 Summer Olympics two years later. Murakami was voted the Japanese athlete of the year for 2009 by both Rikujyo Kyougi Magazine (Track and Field Magazine of Japan) and the Japan Association of Athletics Federations. These awards capped a decade of national dominance – with ten consecutive wins, he won the javelin at every national championships in the 2000s. His performance at the 2009 World Championships included a personal best of 83.10 m to qualify for the final, and 82.97 m to win the bronze medal – his second best ever throw. He finished the year with a gold medal performance at the 2009 Asian Athletics Championships. He started 2010 with a throw of 82.49 m in Wakayama in April – his longest throw achieved in Japan. He extended his consecutive national title run to eleven in June, out-throwing Nobuhiro Sato by four metres. On April 29, 2013, he extended his personal best by more than 2 meters to 85.96, more than 1 meter longer than the London Olympic winning throw, and 2nd best by a Japanese javelin thrower after Kazuhiro Mizoguchi.
Naotake Hanyu (羽生 直剛, Hanyū Naotake; born December 22, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the…
Naotake Hanyu (羽生 直剛, Hanyū Naotake; born December 22, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.
Atom Shukugawa (夙川アトム; born December 22, 1979) is a Japanese comedian from Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture. His real name…
Atom Shukugawa (夙川アトム; born December 22, 1979) is a Japanese comedian from Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture. His real name is Hiroyuki Tanaka (田中 博之) and the screen name's "Shukugawa" derives from the name of a river running through Nishinomiya. As of August 2009, he belongs to the management company ASH & D corporation. Shukugawa won the 10th place in the R-1 Grand Prix 2008 and the second place in the "Owarai geinin utaga umai ohza ketteisen special" (singing competition for comedians) in August 2009.
Yusuke Komiyama (born 22 December 1979), is a Japanese futsal player. Japanese national futsal team.
Toshimasa Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋 利匡, born December 15, 1979) is a Japanese physician and medical researcher. He serves…
Toshimasa Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋 利匡, born December 15, 1979) is a Japanese physician and medical researcher. He serves as a visiting faculty member at the Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, and is working as Visiting Professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine since November 2024. His areas of expertise include geriatric medicine, diabetes, and gastroenterology, with a particular focus on autophagy (the cellular self-cleaning mechanism).
Kenji Sato (佐藤 賢次, Satō Kenji) is the Head coach of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders in the Japanese B.League.
Kazuya Yuasa (湯浅 和也, Yuasa Kazuya) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known for his ring names Gaina (stylized…
Kazuya Yuasa (湯浅 和也, Yuasa Kazuya) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known for his ring names Gaina (stylized in all capital letters) and Shisao (シーサー王, Shīsāō). He has worked in Michinoku Pro Wrestling, Osaka Pro Wrestling and Okinawa Pro Wrestling, having titles in all the three promotions.
Yūsuke Tōyama (遠山 雄亮, Tōyama Yūsuke; born December 10, 1979) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 6-dan.
Aiko Uemura (上村 愛子, Uemura Aiko) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She participates in moguls and dual moguls. Her family…
Aiko Uemura (上村 愛子, Uemura Aiko) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She participates in moguls and dual moguls. Her family moved to Hakuba town, Nagano Prefecture, Japan in 1986. She graduated from Hakuba High School in 1998, and works for the Kitano Construction Corporation in Nagano city, Japan. She is the first Japanese woman to win the 2007–08 World Cup in moguls, and also won two gold medals at FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships 2009. She took part in the Winter Olympic Games in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. In June 2009, she married alpine skier Kentaro Minagawa. At the 2014 Sochi Olympics, she was beaten for bronze by Hannah Kearney, the previous Olympic champion.
Takayoshi Toda (戸田 賢良, Toda Takayoshi; born December 8, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. His elder brother…
Takayoshi Toda (戸田 賢良, Toda Takayoshi; born December 8, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. His elder brother Mitsuhiro Toda is also a former footballer.
Hirokazu Otsubo (大坪 博和, Otsubo Hirokazu; born December 7, 1979) is a former Japanese football player who is currently a…
Hirokazu Otsubo (大坪 博和, Otsubo Hirokazu; born December 7, 1979) is a former Japanese football player who is currently a football referee.
Takuma Miyaji (宮路拓馬, Miyaji Takuma; born 6 December 1979) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…
Takuma Miyaji (宮路拓馬, Miyaji Takuma; born 6 December 1979) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2014. He is the son of Kazuaki Miyaji.
Miwa Yonetsu (米津 美和, Yonetsu Miwa; born December 4, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan…
Miwa Yonetsu (米津 美和, Yonetsu Miwa; born December 4, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Izumi Kazuto (かずと いずみ, Kazuto Izumi) is a Japanese manga artist.
Shinji Murai (村井 慎二, Murai Shinji; born December 1, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…
Shinji Murai (村井 慎二, Murai Shinji; born December 1, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Yumi Nakashima (中島優美, Nakashima Yumi; born December 1, 1979) is a Japanese vocalist, guitarist and singer-songwriter.…
Yumi Nakashima (中島優美, Nakashima Yumi; born December 1, 1979) is a Japanese vocalist, guitarist and singer-songwriter. She was the guitarist and main vocalist in the rock band GO!GO!7188 and is the founding member of Chirinuruwowaka. Nakashima has also released two solo albums since 2004.
Mitsuhiro Ishida (Japanese: 石田光洋, born December 29, 1978) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist who competed in…
Mitsuhiro Ishida (Japanese: 石田光洋, born December 29, 1978) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist who competed in Shooto, Strikeforce, PRIDE, DREAM, and DEEP. A professional competitor from 2001 until 2011, Ishida also participated in the Yarennoka event in the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
Shinya Nasu (奈須 伸也, Nasu Shinya; born December 29, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Kazuma Ieiri (家入 一真, Ieiri Kazuma; born December 28, 1978) is a Japanese entrepreneur recognized by Forbes as one of…
Kazuma Ieiri (家入 一真, Ieiri Kazuma; born December 28, 1978) is a Japanese entrepreneur recognized by Forbes as one of Japan’s leading figures in the startup ecosystem. He is the founder and former director (until 2011) of the web hosting company paperboy & co., and the founder of the crowdfunding platform studygift. In 2014, he ran as a candidate in the 2014 Tokyo gubernatorial election. In 2017, he co-founded NOW Venture Capital in Tokyo alongside investment bankers from Mizuho Financial Group and a certified public accountant with an MBA from the London Business School. The firm has since invested in over 63 companies.
Tomoya Asano (浅野 智也, born 24 December 1978) is a Japanese game producer working for Square Enix as Studio Head on…
Tomoya Asano (浅野 智也, born 24 December 1978) is a Japanese game producer working for Square Enix as Studio Head on Creative Studio 5. After graduating from Keio University Asano first joined Enix in 2001, before gaining a more prominent role within the company after its merger. He started off working on several titles before producing a few titles in the Final Fantasy series. After producing Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, Asano and several members on his team went on to create a spiritual successor in Bravely Default. In 2017 Asano was made head of his own business division in Square Enix, called Business Division 11 and focusing work on the Bravely series and new titles such as Octopath Traveler. The business division was later consolidated in 2019, following a restructure in the divisions of the company, with Business Division 6, 7 and 11 merging to create Creative Business Unit II. However, within Creative Business Unit II Asano and his team are known as Team Asano as they continue working on games similar to their previous creations. In 2024 Asano was promoted as Studio Head in Creative Studio 5 and as an Executive Officer in the company.
Nanae Takahashi (高橋 奈苗, Takahashi Nanae; ring name: 高橋奈七永) (born December 23, 1978) is a retired Japanese professional…
Nanae Takahashi (高橋 奈苗, Takahashi Nanae; ring name: 高橋奈七永) (born December 23, 1978) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, founder of Seadlinnng and co-founder of World Wonder Ring Stardom. She was signed to Dream Star Fighting Marigold, where she held her final match at Marigold Shine Forever. She has wrestled for prominent Japanese promotions All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Sun, and is a two-time women's world champion in major professional wrestling promotions.
Akiko Yada (矢田亜希子, Yada Akiko) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for Best Supporting Actress at the 6th Nikkan…
Akiko Yada (矢田亜希子, Yada Akiko) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for Best Supporting Actress at the 6th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Boku no Ikiru Michi.
Shuji Kashiwabara (柏原 収史, Kashiwabara Shūji; born December 23, 1978) is a Japanese actor.
Arashi Fujihara (藤原 あらし, Fujihara Arashi) is a Japanese kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter.
Ryoko Yano (矢野良子, born 20 December 1978) is a Japanese basketball player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Toshihiro Kaneishi (金石 年弘, Kaneishi Toshihiro; born December 19, 1978 in Osaka Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese racing…
Toshihiro Kaneishi (金石 年弘, Kaneishi Toshihiro; born December 19, 1978 in Osaka Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula Nippon and Super GT.
Shunsuke Kato (加藤 俊介, Katō Shunsuke; born December 18, 1978), known by his stage name Funky Kato (ファンキー加藤, Fankī Katō)…
Shunsuke Kato (加藤 俊介, Katō Shunsuke; born December 18, 1978), known by his stage name Funky Kato (ファンキー加藤, Fankī Katō), is a Japanese singer-songwriter. He is best known as the vocalist of the band Funky Monkey Babys, which disbanded in 2013.
Koji Ezumi (江角 浩司, Ezumi Kōji; born December 18, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Ryusuke Hamaguchi (濱口 竜介, Hamaguchi Ryūsuke; [hamaꜜɡɯtɕi ɾʲɯꜜːsɯ̥ke] ; born 16 December 1978) is a Japanese filmmaker.…
Ryusuke Hamaguchi (濱口 竜介, Hamaguchi Ryūsuke; [hamaꜜɡɯtɕi ɾʲɯꜜːsɯ̥ke] ; born 16 December 1978) is a Japanese filmmaker. An alumnus of the University of Tokyo and Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, he first gained international recognition for Happy Hour (2015), Asako I & II (2018) and Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (2021), which premiered in the main competitions of Locarno, Cannes, and Berlin respectively. For Drive My Car (2021), Hamaguchi was nominated at the 94th Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay; the film was the first Japanese production to be nominated for Best Picture, and it won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Following Drive My Car, Hamaguchi wrote and directed the critically acclaimed films Evil Does Not Exist (2023), which won the Grand Jury Prize at Venice, and All of a Sudden (2026), which won the award for Best Actress at Cannes.
Hiroki Konno (今野 浩喜, Konno Hiroki; born December 12, 1978 in Niiza, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese comedian and actor…
Hiroki Konno (今野 浩喜, Konno Hiroki; born December 12, 1978 in Niiza, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese comedian and actor who was a member of the comedy duo King of Comedy. Konno lives in Saitama, Saitama.
Tenn (stylized as TENN; 11 December 1978 – 25 September 2014) was a Japanese MC who was a member of the J-pop group…
Tenn (stylized as TENN; 11 December 1978 – 25 September 2014) was a Japanese MC who was a member of the J-pop group ET-King. He was from Osaka Prefecture. His real name was Takahiro Moriwaki (森脇 隆宏, Moriwaki Takahiro). His wife was Takako Uehara of Speed.
Teruo Misawa (born 11 December 1978) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1998 to 2008. He held…
Teruo Misawa (born 11 December 1978) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1998 to 2008. He held the Japanese mini-flyweight title from 2006 to 2007 and challenged for the WBC interim mini-flyweight title in 2008.
Shingo Morita (森田 真吾, Morita Shingo; born December 9, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Da Pump (ダパンプ, Da Panpu, stylized in all caps) is a Japanese boy band made up of lead vocalist, Issa Hentona and MCs…
Da Pump (ダパンプ, Da Panpu, stylized in all caps) is a Japanese boy band made up of lead vocalist, Issa Hentona and MCs Ken Okumoto, Yukinari Tamaki and Shinobu Miyara. The band formed as students at Okinawa Actors School in 1996. They made their debut on the Avex Trax subsidiary avex tune under the guidance of producer Akio Togashi on June 11, 1997, with "Feelin' Good - It's Paradise". As one of the few male bands unassociated with Johnny's Entertainment, they were the first to gain major popularity reaching their peak in 2001 with the release of Da Best of Da Pump. On April 7, 2006, Shinobu formally left the band following a hiatus due to a drunk driving incident in 2005. The band went on an unofficial hiatus at the end of 2006. On December 18, 2008, it was announced that Yukinari was leaving the band and that Ken and Issa were actively looking for his replacement. Within hours, their management company announced a brand new Da Pump with seven new members and a new concept as a multimedia entertainment group. The band will start their official comeback on July 15, 2009, with the new single, "Summer Rider" and a tour in the fall. It was announced on December 5, 2009, that Ken Okumoto had left Da Pump to pursue a solo career, leaving Issa the only original member left. Da Pump now consists of Issa, Kenzo, Tomo, Kimi, Yori, and U-Yeah. Da Pump made their comeback in May 2018 with the hit single, "U.S.A.", a song originally written by Italian singer Joe Yellow.
D'espairsRay (formerly stylized as DéspairsRay, D'ESPAIRSRAY or +DéspairsRay+) is a Japanese visual kei heavy metal…
D'espairsRay (formerly stylized as DéspairsRay, D'ESPAIRSRAY or +DéspairsRay+) is a Japanese visual kei heavy metal band active from 1999 to 2011. The lineup of Hizumi on vocals, Karyu on guitar, Zero on bass and Tsukasa on drums remained the same, with the group having released four full-length records, three EPs and thirteen singles. Outside Japan, D'espairsRay have toured Europe and North America and had domestic releases in those territories. They performed at the Wacken Open Air festival in 2006, to several thousand people, and a second album, titled Mirror was released on April 11, 2007. They also performed during Jrock Revolution 2007 held on Memorial Weekend in Los Angeles, California. In 2008 they performed at the Taste of Chaos tour in the United States. On March 11, 2009, their third album Redeemer was released. In the summer of 2010, the band had a world tour entitled Human-Clad Monsters in which they performed in Japan, the US, Canada and Europe. After the last show of the tour, on December 30, the band went on an indefinite hiatus so Hizumi could recover from a rare throat condition. However, on June 15, 2011, D'espairsRay announced that they had no choice but to disband, due to Hizumi's health having no recovery in sight. D'espairsRay reunited for a one-night performance on July 29, 2014.
Michinao Yamamura (山村 路直, born December 5, 1978) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who played in…
Michinao Yamamura (山村 路直, born December 5, 1978) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who played in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in 2005 and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2006 and 2007.
Kazuhiro Takahashi (高橋 和廣, shinjitai: 高橋 和広, Takahashi Kazuhiro; born 4 December 1978 in Hōya (now Nishitōkyō), Tokyo)…
Kazuhiro Takahashi (高橋 和廣, shinjitai: 高橋 和広, Takahashi Kazuhiro; born 4 December 1978 in Hōya (now Nishitōkyō), Tokyo) is a Japanese ice sledge hockey player. He was part of the Japanese sledge hockey team that won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Paralympics. He injured his spinal cord during a snowboarding accident when he was 21.
Koji Sakamoto (坂本 紘司, Sakamoto Koji; born December 3, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.
Yamato Kochi (河内 大和, Kōchi Yamato; born December 3, 1978) is a Japanese actor.
Hiroaki Doi (土井宏昭, Doi Hiroaki; born December 2, 1978) is a Japanese hammer thrower. His personal best throw is 74.08…
Hiroaki Doi (土井宏昭, Doi Hiroaki; born December 2, 1978) is a Japanese hammer thrower. His personal best throw is 74.08 metres, achieved in June 2007 in Inba.
Naoki Tanizaki (谷嵜 直樹, Tanizaki Naoki; ring name: 谷嵜 なおき) (born December 1, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler.…
Naoki Tanizaki (谷嵜 直樹, Tanizaki Naoki; ring name: 谷嵜 なおき) (born December 1, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is known for his work in Dragon Gate. He previously went under the ring name Mr. Kyu Kyu Naoki Tanizaki Toyonaka Dolphin (Mr.キューキュー“谷嵜なおき”豊中ドルフィン, Mr. Kyū Kyū Tanizaki Naoki Toyonaka Dorufin).
Naomi Yashiro (矢代直美, born 30 December 1977) is a Japanese former basketball player who competed in the 2004 Summer…
Naomi Yashiro (矢代直美, born 30 December 1977) is a Japanese former basketball player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics. She has been working as a cabin crew at the Japan Airlines and joined its team JAL Rabbits.
Kazuyuki Toda (戸田 和幸, Toda Kazuyuki; born 30 December 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former…
Kazuyuki Toda (戸田 和幸, Toda Kazuyuki; born 30 December 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder or defender. He played for the Japan national team until 2002.
Miho Hashiguchi (橋口美穂, Hashiguchi Miho; born 29 December 1977) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed at the 1996 Summer…
Miho Hashiguchi (橋口美穂, Hashiguchi Miho; born 29 December 1977) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics. She is also noted to have won a bronze team medal and silver team medal at the Summer Universiade in 1997 and at the Asian Games respectively.
Keiichi Arawi (Japanese: あらゐけいいち, Hepburn: Arai Keiichi; born December 29, 1977) is a Japanese manga artist. After…
Keiichi Arawi (Japanese: あらゐけいいち, Hepburn: Arai Keiichi; born December 29, 1977) is a Japanese manga artist. After publishing his debut work in early 2006, he launched Nichijou in the latter half of the year. Following its conclusion, he launched City. Nichijou resumed serialization in 2021.
Yūya Andō (安藤 優也, Andō Yūya; often Andoh, born December 27, 1977) is a professional baseball player from Ōita City…
Yūya Andō (安藤 優也, Andō Yūya; often Andoh, born December 27, 1977) is a professional baseball player from Ōita City, Japan. He is part of the starting rotation for the Hanshin Tigers baseball team.
Kiwa Ishii (石井 希和, Ishii Kiwa; real name Kiwa Shimada (島田 希和, Shimada Kiwa; née Ishii (石井)), born 26 December 1977) is…
Kiwa Ishii (石井 希和, Ishii Kiwa; real name Kiwa Shimada (島田 希和, Shimada Kiwa; née Ishii (石井)), born 26 December 1977) is a Japanese free announcer. She was an announcer for TV Asahi. She is currently freelance, having previously represented with Horipro.
Naoki Shigematsu (重松 直樹, Shigematsu Naoki; born December 24, 1977) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. He…
Naoki Shigematsu (重松 直樹, Shigematsu Naoki; born December 24, 1977) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. He is the 1994 World Junior silver medalist and placed 23rd at the 1995 World Championships. He retired from competitive skating following the 2000 Four Continents Championships. Shigematsu is a coach and choreographer who has worked with Takahito Mura, Rumi Suizu, Kento Nakamura, Risa Shoji, and Hirofumi Torii.
Oki Sato (佐藤 オオキ, Satō Ōki, born 24 December 1977) is a Japanese architect, designer, and the founder of the Nendo…
Oki Sato (佐藤 オオキ, Satō Ōki, born 24 December 1977) is a Japanese architect, designer, and the founder of the Nendo design studio. He was born in Toronto, Canada, attended Waseda University in Tokyo and graduated in 2002 with a Masters of Arts degree in architecture. He subsequently founded Nendo in his parents' garage in Tokyo. He has said that "Design is about making decisions. A person can only make a certain amount of decisions each day, and it's really important to keep your mind empty." Sato also mentions in several interviews that meeting Issey Miyake had a significant influence in his work and practice. His first exhibition, called "Streeterior", was introduced in Tokyo and then in Milan, Italy in 2003. Sato has received several prizes such as Good Design Award, German Design Award, Elle Deco International Design Award, and was named the "Designer of the Year" by Wallpaper magazine in 2012. He designed the cauldron for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.