Shinichi Mitsui (三井 進一, Mitsui Shin'ichi; born 12 December 1955), better known as Nakamura Baijaku II (二代目 中村 梅雀…
Shinichi Mitsui (三井 進一, Mitsui Shin'ichi; born 12 December 1955), better known as Nakamura Baijaku II (二代目 中村 梅雀, Nidaime Nakamura Baijaku), is a Japanese actor, bassist, and composer. He graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Ogikubo High School and later graduated from Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music. Nakamura also has relatives who are kabuki actors. Great-grandfather: Nakamura Kanemon II. Grandfather: Nakamura Kanemon III. Father: Nakamura Umenosuke IV. His trade name is Narikomaya (成駒屋) and debuted in 1965. Nakamura learned about kabuki and modern theater at the Zenshinza troupe. His initial name was Manabu Nakamura (中村 まなぶ, Nakamura Manabu). Nakamura took on the name of his great-grandfather Baijaku in 1980 during the 50th Anniversary Performance of Zenshinza and became "Baijaku II". At the final performance of Otose in 2007, Nakamura announced he was leaving Zenshinza and turning freelance.
Famous People Born in December
December: 1,876 people
Hiroyuki Watanabe (渡辺 裕之, Watanabe Hiroyuki; December 9, 1955 – May 3, 2022) was a Japanese actor. He primarily acted…
Hiroyuki Watanabe (渡辺 裕之, Watanabe Hiroyuki; December 9, 1955 – May 3, 2022) was a Japanese actor. He primarily acted in dramas, of which a handful are tokusatsu series. One of his latest roles was as Taiga Saejima in the tokusatsu series GARO. He also played Kamen Rider Gaoh in the Kamen Rider Den-O movie, Kamen Rider Den-O: I'm Born!.
Takeshi Masu (升毅, Masu Takeshi; born December 9, 1955) is a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 80 films since…
Takeshi Masu (升毅, Masu Takeshi; born December 9, 1955) is a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 80 films since 1981.
Shigeyuki Goto (後藤 茂之, Gotō Shigeyuki; born 9 December 1955) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of…
Shigeyuki Goto (後藤 茂之, Gotō Shigeyuki; born 9 December 1955) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives.
Admiral Eiichi Funada (鮒田英一, Funada Eiichi; born 6 December 1955) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as…
Admiral Eiichi Funada (鮒田英一, Funada Eiichi; born 6 December 1955) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as Commander of the Self Defense Fleet of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) from 2014 to 2015. He was the 47th Commander of the Self-Defense Fleet, succeeding Yasushi Matsushita, and was himself succeeded in 2015 by Yasuhiro Shigeoka.
Miyuki Kawanaka (川中 美幸, Kawanaka Miyuki; December 5, 1955) is a Japanese enka singer. Her singing career spanned over…
Miyuki Kawanaka (川中 美幸, Kawanaka Miyuki; December 5, 1955) is a Japanese enka singer. Her singing career spanned over four decades. She married Katsuo Yamada in 1991.
Yōjirō Takita (滝田 洋二郎 Takita Yōjirō, born December 4, 1955) is a Japanese filmmaker. Takita received an Oscar for Best…
Yōjirō Takita (滝田 洋二郎 Takita Yōjirō, born December 4, 1955) is a Japanese filmmaker. Takita received an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for his 2008 drama Departures. It marked the first time a Japanese film won the award after the category first became competitive in 1957.
Kimito Funatsu (船津 公人, Funatsu Kimito; born December 3, 1955) is a Japanese chemist specializing in chemoinformatics…
Kimito Funatsu (船津 公人, Funatsu Kimito; born December 3, 1955) is a Japanese chemist specializing in chemoinformatics and data-driven chemistry, a professor emeritus at University of Tokyo, and the research director of the Data Science Center at Nara Institute of Science and Technology.
William Marvin Bodiford (born December 3, 1955) is an American professor and author. He teaches Buddhist Studies and…
William Marvin Bodiford (born December 3, 1955) is an American professor and author. He teaches Buddhist Studies and religion in the cultures of Japan and East Asia at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Takashi Iwashige (いわしげ孝, Iwashige Takashi; 1954–2013) was a Japanese manga artist who wrote primarily martial-arts…
Takashi Iwashige (いわしげ孝, Iwashige Takashi; 1954–2013) was a Japanese manga artist who wrote primarily martial-arts manga celebrating individuality. He is best known for the judo series Hanamaru Legend and its sequel, New Hanamaru Legend. He received the 1986 Shogakukan Manga Award for seinen/general manga for Bokkemon. Iwashige died at age 58 on 6 March 2013.
Toshiaki Imai (今井 敏明, Imai Toshiaki; born 29 December 1954) is a Japanese football manager and former player.
Norihito, Prince Takamado (高円宮憲仁親王, Takamado-no-miya Norihito Shinnō; 29 December 1954 – 21 November 2002) was a…
Norihito, Prince Takamado (高円宮憲仁親王, Takamado-no-miya Norihito Shinnō; 29 December 1954 – 21 November 2002) was a Japanese member of the Imperial House of Japan and the third son of Takahito, Prince Mikasa and Yuriko, Princess Mikasa. He was a first cousin of Emperor Akihito, and was seventh in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne at the time of his death.
Jiro Kase (加瀬 次郎, Kase Jirō; born 27 December 1954) is a retired Japanese judoka. Kase is from Sumida, Tokyo and began…
Jiro Kase (加瀬 次郎, Kase Jirō; born 27 December 1954) is a retired Japanese judoka. Kase is from Sumida, Tokyo and began judo at Kodokan at the age of a 4th grader. He belonged to Keiyo Gas Co., Ltd after graduation from Meiji University in 1977. In 1981, he won a silver medal at the World Championships held in Maastricht. He also participated All-Japan Championships 5 times from 1977 to 1985. As of 2010, Kase coaches judo at Keiyo Gas.
Kazunori Itō (伊藤 和典, Itō Kazunori; born December 24, 1954) is a Japanese anime screenwriter and artist who is well…
Kazunori Itō (伊藤 和典, Itō Kazunori; born December 24, 1954) is a Japanese anime screenwriter and artist who is well known for his work in the .hack franchise and his writing for the 1995 Ghost in the Shell movie. Itō supervised the writing for the novel, .hack//Another Birth which was written by his student, Miu Kawasaki. He is a member of the artist group known as Headgear. Helen McCarthy in 500 Essential Anime Movies calls him "one of the best screenwriters in anime".
Yoichi Machishima (町島 洋一, Machishima Yōichi; born 23 December 1954) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the…
Yoichi Machishima (町島 洋一, Machishima Yōichi; born 23 December 1954) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the individual and team pursuit events at the 1976 Summer Olympics and 1974 Asian Games. He was mostly known in Japan as a professional keirin cyclist.
Hideshi Matsuda (松田 秀士, Matsuda Hideshi; born 22 December 1954) is a Japanese car racer and TV reporter. He is the…
Hideshi Matsuda (松田 秀士, Matsuda Hideshi; born 22 December 1954) is a Japanese car racer and TV reporter. He is the brother-in-law of Beat Takeshi.
Masayoshi Watanabe (渡邉 正義, Watanabe Masayoshi; born December 20, 1954) is a Japanese chemist and professor of Yokohama…
Masayoshi Watanabe (渡邉 正義, Watanabe Masayoshi; born December 20, 1954) is a Japanese chemist and professor of Yokohama National University.
Hideo Ohno (Japanese: 大野 英男; Hideo Ōno; born 18 December 1954, Tokyo) is a Japanese physicist. He is the 22nd president…
Hideo Ohno (Japanese: 大野 英男; Hideo Ōno; born 18 December 1954, Tokyo) is a Japanese physicist. He is the 22nd president of Tohoku University, succeeding Susumu Satomi in April 2018.
Norihiko Kitahara (北原 憲彦, Kitahara Norihiko; 11 December 1954 – 30 May 2026) was a Japanese basketball player. He…
Norihiko Kitahara (北原 憲彦, Kitahara Norihiko; 11 December 1954 – 30 May 2026) was a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Kitahara died on 30 May 2026, at the age of 71.
Hiroshi Yamamoto (山本 博司, Yamamoto Hiroshi; born 1954) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a former…
Hiroshi Yamamoto (山本 博司, Yamamoto Hiroshi; born 1954) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a former member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Yawatahama, Ehime and graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007 after working at IBM.
Ichiro Furutachi (古舘 伊知郎, Furutachi Ichirō; born December 7, 1954) is a Japanese announcer, tarento, television…
Ichiro Furutachi (古舘 伊知郎, Furutachi Ichirō; born December 7, 1954) is a Japanese announcer, tarento, television presenter, and newscaster represented by Furutachi-Project. He was an announcer for TV Asahi. He graduated from Kita Kuritsu Takinogawa Daini (No. 2) Elementary School, Chiyoda Kuritsu Kanda Hitotsubashi Junior High School, Rikkyo Niiza Junior and Senior High School, and Rikkyo University, where he studied Economics with a focus on Business Administration. Controversy erupted when he stepped down as the anchor of TV Asahi's evening news broadcast, Hōdō Station, a removal reportedly due to political pressure in response to the show's critical tone.
Akiko Tamei (溜井 昭子, Tamei Akiko; born 5 December 1954), better known by her former stage name as Aki Mizusawa (水沢 アキ…
Akiko Tamei (溜井 昭子, Tamei Akiko; born 5 December 1954), better known by her former stage name as Aki Mizusawa (水沢 アキ, Mizusawa Aki), is a Japanese actress, tarento, model, and singer.
Satoru Miyano (宮野 悟, Miyano Satoru; born December 5, 1954) is a professor and the director of the M&D Data Science…
Satoru Miyano (宮野 悟, Miyano Satoru; born December 5, 1954) is a professor and the director of the M&D Data Science Center at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. He was awarded fellowship of the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) in 2013 for outstanding contributions to the fields of computational biology and bioinformatics.
Amanoyama Shizuo (born Shizuo Ogata; December 28, 1953 – September 17, 1997) was a sumo wrestler from Taku Saga, Japan.…
Amanoyama Shizuo (born Shizuo Ogata; December 28, 1953 – September 17, 1997) was a sumo wrestler from Taku Saga, Japan. He was an amateur champion at Komazawa University and so was given makushita tsukedashi status upon entering professional sumo. He made his professional debut in March 1976, fighting under surname of Ogata, winning the third-division championship in September 1976, in an eight-way playoff, but following up with a losing record of six losses. In July 1977 he would win the third-division championship again, this time undefeated, and earning promotion to Jūryō. He then reached the top division in March 1978. In his top division debut he defeated ozeki Takanohana and scored 11 wins against 4 losses, winning the Fighting Spirit prize for the only time. He made his makuuchi debut in the same tournament as Kotowaka and as both were unusually tall, they were nicknamed "Jumbo Jet" and "Concorde". His highest rank was maegashira 1. Upon retirement from active competition, he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Tatsutayama. He died while an active oyakata in September 1997 at the age of 43. He had been suffering from diabetes and liver disease since his days as an active wrestler.
Tatsumi Fujinami (藤波 辰巳, Fujinami Tatsumi; ring name: 藤波 辰爾) (born December 28, 1953) is a Japanese professional…
Tatsumi Fujinami (藤波 辰巳, Fujinami Tatsumi; ring name: 藤波 辰爾) (born December 28, 1953) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is best known for his long tenure with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was a six-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and four-time IWGP Tag Team Champion. He is also the owner and founder of the Dradition wrestling promotion. Known for his fluid catch wrestling submission style, Fujinami is nicknamed "The Dragon"; he is credited with inventing moves such as the dragon sleeper and the dragon suplex. Other championships held by Fujinami include the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Champion and World Wrestling Federation (WWF) International Heavyweight Champion. He is an inductee of the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, and WWE Hall of Fame. Bret Hart said of Fujinami: "I always wanted to be the great wrestler that Tatsumi Fujinami was."
Yasurō Abe (阿部 泰郎, Abe Yasurō; born 1953), is a Japanese academic.
Eiji Ueda (上田 栄治, Ueda Eiji; born December 22, 1953) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He managed the…
Eiji Ueda (上田 栄治, Ueda Eiji; born December 22, 1953) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He managed the Japan women's national team.
Maria Anzai (安西 マリア, Anzai Maria, b. Mariko Shibasaki on December 16, 1953 - d. March 15, 2014) was a Japanese idol.
Nami Asada (麻田奈美, Asada Nami; born 1953–54) is a gravure model who was active in Japan in the 1970s. She became a star…
Nami Asada (麻田奈美, Asada Nami; born 1953–54) is a gravure model who was active in Japan in the 1970s. She became a star after a photograph known as the Apple Nude (りんごヌード, ringo nūdo), and was elevated to the status of an idol among young people of the time.
Teru Fukui (福井 照, Fukui Teru; born 14 December 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member…
Teru Fukui (福井 照, Fukui Teru; born 14 December 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Masahito Moriyama (盛山 正仁, Moriyama Masahito) is a Japanese politician. He is a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic…
Masahito Moriyama (盛山 正仁, Moriyama Masahito) is a Japanese politician. He is a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and a former member of the House of Representatives in the National Diet (national legislature). A native of Nishinomiya, Hyogo, and an alumnus of the University of Tokyo, he joined the Ministry of Transport in 1977. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2005 but lost his seat in the 2009 General Election, regaining it in 2012. During his time out of office, he matriculated as a postgraduate student and studied international law and business at Kobe University, which is located in his constituency. He earned a Master’s degree in Law in 2011, a PhD in International Law in 2013, and an additional PhD in Business Studies in 2014. In 2024, Moriyama won a no-confidence motion issued by the Constitutional Democratic Party after reports emerged that he received a letter of recommendation and campaign support from an organization linked to the Unification Church during the 2021 Japanese general election. On 10 April 2024, Moriyama was among the guests invited to the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden in honor of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House.
Hidanohana Shigeyoshi (born 13 December 1953 as Osamu Hirabayashi) is a former sumo wrestler from Asahi, Gifu, Japan.…
Hidanohana Shigeyoshi (born 13 December 1953 as Osamu Hirabayashi) is a former sumo wrestler from Asahi, Gifu, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1969 and reached the top division in September 1980. His highest rank was maegashira 1. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Onoe. He left the Sumo Association in March 1994.
Osao Chosei Funahara (born December 10, 1953) is a musician and film director and producer. Born in Hyōgo Prefecture of…
Osao Chosei Funahara (born December 10, 1953) is a musician and film director and producer. Born in Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan, Chosei Funahara was educated in both the United States and Japan. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Nihon University College of Art's Cinema department in Tokyo. While pursuing New York University's NYU Graduate School of Arts and Science (Cinema Studies), he performed as bassist and founding member of the cult punk rock group the Plasmatics.
Keiko Nagaoka (永岡 桂子, Nagaoka Keiko; born 8 December 1953) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of…
Keiko Nagaoka (永岡 桂子, Nagaoka Keiko; born 8 December 1953) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Tokyo and graduate of Gakushuin University she was elected for the first time in 2005. Her husband was politician Yoji Nagaoka, who committed suicide on 1 August 2005.
Shigeru Mukai (向井 茂, Mukai Shigeru; born 1953) is a Japanese mathematician at Kyoto University specializing in…
Shigeru Mukai (向井 茂, Mukai Shigeru; born 1953) is a Japanese mathematician at Kyoto University specializing in algebraic geometry.
Naka Bokunen (名嘉 睦稔; born 1953) is an artist from Okinawa, Japan, famous for his brightly coloured prints of Okinawan…
Naka Bokunen (名嘉 睦稔; born 1953) is an artist from Okinawa, Japan, famous for his brightly coloured prints of Okinawan landscapes. Many of these prints are of, or inspired by, the island of Izena in the north of Okinawa, where he was born. Naka Bokunen has been involved in collaborations with, among others, the novelist Banana Yoshimoto and the biologist James Lovelock.
Masami Kurumada (車田 正美, Kurumada Masami; born December 6, 1953) is a Japanese manga artist and writer, known for…
Masami Kurumada (車田 正美, Kurumada Masami; born December 6, 1953) is a Japanese manga artist and writer, known for specializing in fighting manga featuring bishōnen and magical boys. He is the founder of the manga studio Kurumada Productions or Kurumadapro for short. He achieved fame as the creator of popular manga, such as Ring ni Kakero, Fūma no Kojirō, Saint Seiya and B't X. The male characters in his works often display very masculine qualities and traits, and display courage through sacrifice, selflessness and true heroism. He has won the Best Success award with Saint Seiya and the Best Inspiration award with Ring ni Kakero.
Sachiko Kobayashi (小林 幸子, Kobayashi Sachiko; born December 5, 1953) is a female Japanese enka singer and occasional…
Sachiko Kobayashi (小林 幸子, Kobayashi Sachiko; born December 5, 1953) is a female Japanese enka singer and occasional voice actress and voice provider of VOCALOID 4 Sachiko developed by YAMAHA co. She previously worked alongside the Pokémon Company, under the alias "Garura Kobayashi".
Yoshikazu Sugata (菅田 順和, Sugata Yoshikazu; 4 December 1953) is a Japanese former track cyclist who won a silver medal…
Yoshikazu Sugata (菅田 順和, Sugata Yoshikazu; 4 December 1953) is a Japanese former track cyclist who won a silver medal in the sprint competition at the 1977 UCI Track Cycling World Championships and a bronze medal in the same event in 1976. He was also a professional keirin cyclist with over 500 wins.
Yasuhiro Oe (大江 康弘, Ōe Yasuhiro; born December 4, 1950) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a…
Yasuhiro Oe (大江 康弘, Ōe Yasuhiro; born December 4, 1950) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Shōgo Hamada (浜田 省吾, Hamada Shōgo; born December 29, 1952) is a legendary Japanese singer-songwriter and former member…
Shōgo Hamada (浜田 省吾, Hamada Shōgo; born December 29, 1952) is a legendary Japanese singer-songwriter and former member of the group Aido. He is a part of Sony Music Japan's SME Records division. He was born in Takehara City in Hiroshima Prefecture, and graduated from Kuremitsuta High School (where he was a member of the baseball team). He attended Kanagawa University, where he studied law, but left the school before graduating. In 1975, he made his professional debut as the drummer of the band Aido. Sunglasses have been his trademark ever since his debut, and he has never performed live without sunglasses of some sort (most commonly Ray-Ban Aviator or Ray-Ban Wayfarer). His solo debut came in 1976 with the album Umareta Tokoro o Tōku Hanarete. Though his exposure in the media has always been extremely low, relative to many performers with similar levels of mainstream popularity, he has acquired his many fans over the years through his steady series of live performances. Many of his early songs expressed his skepticism about how one should live their life. In addition to his well-known ballads, he was strongly influenced by his father's experience as a victim of radiation poisoning following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, and many of his songs have a very strong protest song tone. He has written music for many other artists, including Momoe Yamaguchi, and Akiko Wada. He is affectionately referred to as "Hamasho" by many of his fans.
Kumi Taguchi (田口久美, Taguchi Kumi) is a Japanese actress of mixed ancestry who is best known for her roles in Nikkatsu's…
Kumi Taguchi (田口久美, Taguchi Kumi) is a Japanese actress of mixed ancestry who is best known for her roles in Nikkatsu's Roman porno series in the 1970s.
Genichiro Sata (佐田 玄一郎, Sata Gen'ichirō; born 22 December 1952 in Maebashi, Gunma) is a former Japanese politician who…
Genichiro Sata (佐田 玄一郎, Sata Gen'ichirō; born 22 December 1952 in Maebashi, Gunma) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Mamoru Fukuyama (福山 守, Fukuyama Mamoru; born 19 December 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…
Mamoru Fukuyama (福山 守, Fukuyama Mamoru; born 19 December 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the Senate.
Kazuyuki Izutsu (井筒 和幸, Izutsu Kazuyuki; born 13 December 1952) is a Japanese film director, screenwriter and film…
Kazuyuki Izutsu (井筒 和幸, Izutsu Kazuyuki; born 13 December 1952) is a Japanese film director, screenwriter and film critic.
Hirohide Hamashima (浜島 裕英, Hirohide Hamashima; born 1952 in Tokyo), also known as Hammy, is the former director of the…
Hirohide Hamashima (浜島 裕英, Hirohide Hamashima; born 1952 in Tokyo), also known as Hammy, is the former director of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team Tyre Development. He previously worked for Bridgestone as the director of its Motorsport Tyre Development until 2011.
Osamu Akimoto (Japanese: 秋本 治, Hepburn: Akimoto Osamu; born December 11, 1952) is a Japanese manga artist from…
Osamu Akimoto (Japanese: 秋本 治, Hepburn: Akimoto Osamu; born December 11, 1952) is a Japanese manga artist from Katsushika, Tokyo. He is best known for his long-running comedy series KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops, which was continuously published in Weekly Shōnen Jump for 40 years from 1976 to 2016. With 1,960 chapters collected into 201 tankōbon volumes, it held the Guinness World Record for "Most volumes published for a single manga series" from September 2016 to July 2021. The series has sold over 155 million copies, making it one of the best-selling manga series in history. Akimoto's other works include the action comedy Mr. Clice, which has been published irregularly since 1985, and the Western series Black Tiger (2017–2023).
Yusuke Nakamura (中村 祐輔, Nakamura Yūsuke; born 8 December 1952) is a Japanese geneticist and cancer researcher best…
Yusuke Nakamura (中村 祐輔, Nakamura Yūsuke; born 8 December 1952) is a Japanese geneticist and cancer researcher best known for developing Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS). He is one of the world's pioneers in applying genetic variations (Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers) and whole genome sequencing, leading the research field of personalized medicine.
Koji Sekimizu (born 3 December 1952) is a Japanese official who was Secretary General of the International Maritime…
Koji Sekimizu (born 3 December 1952) is a Japanese official who was Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization between 2012 and 2015, as well as Chancellor of the World Maritime University.
Eri Kanuma (鹿沼 絵里, 鹿沼えり, Kanuma Eri; real name Toshie Furuoya (古尾谷登志江, Furuoya Toshie; née Suganuma (菅沼)); born 1…
Eri Kanuma (鹿沼 絵里, 鹿沼えり, Kanuma Eri; real name Toshie Furuoya (古尾谷登志江, Furuoya Toshie; née Suganuma (菅沼)); born 1 December 1952) is a Japanese actress. Her husband was actor Masato Furuoya.