Shinichi Iwasaki (岩崎 伸一, Iwasaki Shin'ichi; born 21 August 1968) is a Japanese ice hockey player. He competed in the…Shinichi Iwasaki (岩崎 伸一, Iwasaki Shin'ichi; born 21 August 1968) is a Japanese ice hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Yukinori Miyabe (宮部 行範, Miyabe Yukinori; 18 July 1968 – 7 March 2017) was a Japanese speed skater who competed in the…Yukinori Miyabe (宮部 行範, Miyabe Yukinori; 18 July 1968 – 7 March 2017) was a Japanese speed skater who competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics and the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Keiichi Zaizen (財前 恵一, Zaizen Keiichi; born June 17, 1968) is a Japanese former football player and manager. His…Keiichi Zaizen (財前 恵一, Zaizen Keiichi; born June 17, 1968) is a Japanese former football player and manager. His younger brother Nobuyuki is also a former footballer.
Masahiko Harada (原田 雅彦, Harada Masahiko) (born 9 May 1968) is a Japanese former ski jumper. He is best remembered for a…Masahiko Harada (原田 雅彦, Harada Masahiko) (born 9 May 1968) is a Japanese former ski jumper. He is best remembered for a meltdown at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, which cost the Japanese national team a victory, and his subsequent redemption at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano; the latter of which led to him being affectionately called "Happy Harada".
Toru Aoyanagi (青柳 徹, Aoyanagi Tōru; born 12 April 1968 in Kushiro, Hokkaidō) is a former speed skater from Japan, who…Toru Aoyanagi (青柳 徹, Aoyanagi Tōru; born 12 April 1968 in Kushiro, Hokkaidō) is a former speed skater from Japan, who represented his native country in four consecutive Winter Olympics, starting in 1988 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Kuniyoshi Azuma (東 国幹, Kuniyoshi Azuma; born 17 February 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Kuniyoshi Azuma (東 国幹, Kuniyoshi Azuma; born 17 February 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Sakura Uchikoshi (born Sakura Muraki on January 6, 1968, in Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as…Sakura Uchikoshi (born Sakura Muraki on January 6, 1968, in Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2019. She represents the Niigata at-large district and is a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. She is a member of the following committees (as of 2021): Committee on Health, Welfare and Labour Committee on Budget Special Committee on North Korean Abduction Issue and Related Matters Commission on the Constitution
Shunpei Mizuno (水野俊平, Mizuno Shunpei; born 1968) is a Japanese academic who primarily writes on Korean culture. He has…Shunpei Mizuno (水野俊平, Mizuno Shunpei; born 1968) is a Japanese academic who primarily writes on Korean culture. He has also published instructional books for Korean learners of Japanese. He used to write under the pen name Shunsui Nohira (野平俊水, Nohira Shunsui).
Naoki Eiga (栄花直輝 Eiga Naoki, born 1967) is a Japanese kendoka who in 2000 won the individual event at World Kendo…Naoki Eiga (栄花直輝 Eiga Naoki, born 1967) is a Japanese kendoka who in 2000 won the individual event at World Kendo Championship (WKC) as well as the highest title in Kendo: All Japan Kendo Champion. His progress toward the championship was documented by the Japanese broadcaster NHK in a 2003 program named A Single Blow. He currently holds the rank of Kyoshi Hachidan (教士八段) and is the head of technical Instruction in the Hokkaido Police Educational Department and head instructor of the Hokkaido University Kendo Club. Naoki Eiga started kendo under the influence of his brother, Hideyuki. Both competed at the highest level of the sport. Eiga's wife Naomi was also a kendo practitioner. She was his younger classmate at Tokai University and a member of the same kendo dojo. Eiga joined the Hokkaido police force and became a member of the Hokkaido Police Kendo Team. From 1997 he was also a member of the Japanese national kendo team but as a substitute, and as such he was allowed to participate only in the preliminary bouts of the WKC team event in 1997. Feeling that he had to earn the respect of his fellow team members and coaches of the team, he decided to concentrate on the All Japan Kendo Champion tournament. At that time, the event had been dominated for years by Masahiro Miyazaki, one of the greatest kendoists of modern times. Eiga faced Miyazaki in the quarter-finals of the 1999 tournament, but lost. After his defeat in 1999, Eiga entered the All Japan tournament once more in 2000, and faced Miyazaki again in the finals. This time, he was able to win with the kote strike just before the match went into overtime. By winning the title of All Japan Kendo Champion of the year 2000, Eiga ended the Miyazaki era. He attributed his success to his teacher, Kazuo Furukawa. Based on his success in the AJKC in November 2000, Eiga was chosen as team captain of the Japanese national team for the World Kendo Championship 2003 in Glasgow, Scotland. On 21 April 2019, Eiga won the 17th All Japan 8 Dan Holder's Championship, defeating Matsumoto Masashi with a men strike in encho. On 16 April 2023, Eiga won his second title at the 23rd All Japan 8 Dan Holder's Championship, defeating Kazuhiko Aiko with a men strike in regulation time following a two year tournament hiatus due to COVID-19.
Shin Takahashi (高橋しん, originally 高橋 真, Takahashi Shin; born September 8, 1967) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best…Shin Takahashi (高橋しん, originally 高橋 真, Takahashi Shin; born September 8, 1967) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for his series Saikano (She, the Ultimate Weapon) and Kimi no Kakera. Inio Asano had a brief stint as his assistant during the creation of Saikano.
Akihito Sugisawa (杉沢 明人, Sugisawa Akihito; born 20 July 1967) is a Japanese former ice hockey player. He competed in…Akihito Sugisawa (杉沢 明人, Sugisawa Akihito; born 20 July 1967) is a Japanese former ice hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Masashi Arikura (有倉 雅史, born June 12, 1967) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the…Masashi Arikura (有倉 雅史, born June 12, 1967) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Nippon-Ham Fighters from 1990 to 1994, the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in 1996 and 1997, and the Hanshin Tigers in 1998.
Aya Goda (Goda Aya in Japanese family name-given name order) is a Japanese writer, and an artist. She has lived in…Aya Goda (Goda Aya in Japanese family name-given name order) is a Japanese writer, and an artist. She has lived in Japan since 1998. Aya's first book Tao: On the Road and on the Run in Outlaw China was awarded the Noma Prize for Non-Fiction from Kodansha in 1995. The English version of the novel was selected as one of the 50 books touted as the "most worth talking about" World Book Day 2009. Aya was born in Hokkaido, northern Japan. She traveled in West China, then she was a student of Musashino Art University, Tokyo in August 1988, and met Chinese artist Cao Yong in Kashi, Xinjiang. Cao Yong held his first one-man show in Beijing in February 1989. The exhibit was an instant success, and the event was covered by major international news agencies. However, this art show alarmed the Chinese authorities. But Cao Yong and Aya managed to escape. They set off on a perilous eight-month journey as fugitives. Finally, the couple married and got an espousal visa, escaped to Japan in October 1989. "TAO" recounts this eight-month journey in China in 1989. In Japan, Cao Yong and Aya had worked and lived as one until Cao Yong left for the US in 1994. Aya also left for the US after publishing "TAO" as Cao Yong's farewell gift to Japan in 1995. She did her best and went back to Japan in March, 1998.
Kazuhiro Sato (佐藤 和弘, Satō Kazuhiro; born 6 April 1967) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed at the 1992 Winter…Kazuhiro Sato (佐藤 和弘, Satō Kazuhiro; born 6 April 1967) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics and the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Yasushi Watanabe (渡辺 靖, Watanabe Yasushi) (born 1967) is a Japanese anthropologist and a full professor at Keio…Yasushi Watanabe (渡辺 靖, Watanabe Yasushi) (born 1967) is a Japanese anthropologist and a full professor at Keio University. He earned a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology at Harvard University in 1997. After post-doctoral fellowships at Cambridge and Oxford Universities, he joined Keio University's Graduate School of Media and Governance as well as Faculty of Environment and Information Studies in 1999. He attained the rank of full professor in 2005, and is one of Japan's most prominent experts on soft power, public diplomacy, cultural policy and American Studies. During the 2003–04 academic years, he was a recipient of an Abe Fellowship(Social Science Research Council and the Japan Foundation), which he held at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. He was awarded a prestigious Japan Academy Medal in 2005. He served as a Fellow at Downing College, Cambridge in 2007, a visiting professor at Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Science-Po) in 2013 and a Japan Scholar at the Wilson Center in 2018. He was a visiting scholar at the School of International Studies at Peking University in 2017 and at College of Europe in 2018. He has been selected for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) by the U.S. Department of State in 2018. In 2025, he was selected as an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He serves on the editorial boards of Anthem Studies in Soft Power and Public Diplomacy, Place Branding and Public Diplomacy and International Journal of Public Diplomacy Research. He is a director (program chair) at the International House of Japan, a co-chair of the Japan Advisory Council of the Salzburg Global Seminar, and an adjunct senior fellow at NIRA (Nippon Institute for Research Advancement). He is a member of Harvard Club of Japan. He has served on the executive board of the Japanese Association for American Studies, the advisory panel on the Japan Foundation, the advisory panel on public diplomacy of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the advisory panel (chair) on NHK World. He has also served as an editorial member of Gaiko (Diplomacy) magazine, a book reviewer for Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun, among others.
Hiroki Shibuya (渋谷 洋樹, Shibuya Hiroki; born November 30, 1966) is a Japanese football manager and former football…Hiroki Shibuya (渋谷 洋樹, Shibuya Hiroki; born November 30, 1966) is a Japanese football manager and former football player He is the currently manager for J2 League club Ventforet Kofu.
Takayuki Iizuka (飯塚 孝之, Iizuka Takayuki; born August 2, 1966), better known by his ring name Takashi Iizuka (飯塚 高史…Takayuki Iizuka (飯塚 孝之, Iizuka Takayuki; born August 2, 1966), better known by his ring name Takashi Iizuka (飯塚 高史, Iizuka Takashi), is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his 33-year career in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was a three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion. He has also worked for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he was a one-time GHC Tag Team Champion. Debuting in 1986 under his real name, Iizuka formed the tag team J-J-Jacks with fellow dojo trainee Akira Nogami in 1992. After changing his ring name to Takashi Iizuka (飯塚 高史, Iizuka Takashi) in 1995, he became a mainstay of the New Japan seikigun, and was a frequent tag team partner for Yuji Nagata during the early 2000s. In 2008, Iizuka underwent a drastic change to his look, character and wrestling style, turning heel, shaving his head bald, growing a sinister beard, and adapting a hardcore wrestling style. He was also given the gimmick of an uncontrollable madman, and nicknamed "The Great Traitor" for his betrayal of the New Japan roster. Iizuka competed for New Japan Pro-Wrestling over four separate decades before retiring from in ring competition in February 2019.
Natsue Seki (関 ナツエ, Seki Natsue; born 10 June 1966) is a Japanese former athlete. She competed in the cycling at the…Natsue Seki (関 ナツエ, Seki Natsue; born 10 June 1966) is a Japanese former athlete. She competed in the cycling at the 1988 Summer Olympics and the speed skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Yukihiro Mitani (born 22 April 1966) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the men's 1000 metres event at the 1988…Yukihiro Mitani (born 22 April 1966) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the men's 1000 metres event at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Tadanori Koshino (越野 忠則, Koshino Tadanori; born 3 April 1966 in Shiranuka, Hokkaidō, Japan) is a retired judoka who…Tadanori Koshino (越野 忠則, Koshino Tadanori; born 3 April 1966 in Shiranuka, Hokkaidō, Japan) is a retired judoka who competed in the –60 kg division.
Jiro Kamiharako (上原子 次郎, Kamiharako Jirō; born March 19, 1966) is a Japanese former ski jumper. In the World Cup his…Jiro Kamiharako (上原子 次郎, Kamiharako Jirō; born March 19, 1966) is a Japanese former ski jumper. In the World Cup his highest place was number 16 from December 1991 in Sapporo. He participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, where he finished 28th in the normal hill, 25th in the large hill and 4th in the team event.
Kenji Suda (須田 健仁, Suda Kenji) (born 26 February 1966) is a Japanese former ski jumper. In the World Cup, he finished…Kenji Suda (須田 健仁, Suda Kenji) (born 26 February 1966) is a Japanese former ski jumper. In the World Cup, he finished twelve times among the top 10, his best result being a second place from Örnsköldsvik in March 1994. He participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, where he finished 39th in the normal hill, 17th in the large hill and 4th in the team event.
Nobuyuki Hoshino (星野 伸之, Hoshino Nobuyuki; born January 31, 1966 in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese former…Nobuyuki Hoshino (星野 伸之, Hoshino Nobuyuki; born January 31, 1966 in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Kitakachidoki Hayato (born 1 January 1966 as Hayato Kuga) is a former sumo wrestler from Obihiro, Hokkaidō, Japan. He…Kitakachidoki Hayato (born 1 January 1966 as Hayato Kuga) is a former sumo wrestler from Obihiro, Hokkaidō, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1981, and reached the top division in 1989. His highest rank was maegashira 3. After retirement he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association. He took over as head coach at Isenoumi stable, when former head coach Fujinokawa reached mandatory retirement age in September 2011.
Kenji Ueda (上田ケンジ Ueda Kenji, nickname ウエケン UEKEN) is a Japanese rock musician and producer. He is known for his solo…Kenji Ueda (上田ケンジ Ueda Kenji, nickname ウエケン UEKEN) is a Japanese rock musician and producer. He is known for his solo work, as well as his work with Kenzi & the Trips and the Pillows.
Masashi Abe (阿部 雅司, Abe Masashi) (born August 13, 1965) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed during the…Masashi Abe (阿部 雅司, Abe Masashi) (born August 13, 1965) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He won the 3 x 10 km team event at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Abe also won three medals in the team event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships with golds in 1993 (3 x 10 km) and 1995 (4 x 5 km), and a bronze in 1991 (3 x 10 km).
Shinichi Sato (佐藤 真一, Satō Shin'ichi), born August 7, 1965, is a retired Japanese professional baseball player from…Shinichi Sato (佐藤 真一, Satō Shin'ichi), born August 7, 1965, is a retired Japanese professional baseball player from Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. Sato joined the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks at age 28, but did not live up to expectations with the team. He was traded to the Yakult Swallows in 1996, and played in 113 games in 1999, marking a .341 batting average. He also broke the team record with 25 consecutive game hits. He was relegated to pinch-hitting duty afterwards, and retired after the 2005 season at age 40. He currently works as a batting coach under Tokyo Yakult Swallows manager Junji Ogawa. He won a bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics before entering the Japanese professional leagues.
Kazuhiro "Kaz" Ayabe (綾部 和弘, Ayabe Kazuhiro; born 1965) is a Japanese video game developer. He is the founder of the…Kazuhiro "Kaz" Ayabe (綾部 和弘, Ayabe Kazuhiro; born 1965) is a Japanese video game developer. He is the founder of the video game company Millennium Kitchen and is best known as the creator of the video game series Boku no Natsuyasumi.
Kaori Maruya (丸谷 佳織, Maruya Kaori; born 6 June 1965) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the…Kaori Maruya (丸谷 佳織, Maruya Kaori; born 6 June 1965) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Sapporo, Hokkaido and graduate of Fuji Women's University, she was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1996.
Tetsuya Mizuguchi (水口 哲也, Mizuguchi Tetsuya; born May 22, 1965) is a Japanese video game designer, producer, and…Tetsuya Mizuguchi (水口 哲也, Mizuguchi Tetsuya; born May 22, 1965) is a Japanese video game designer, producer, and businessman. Along with ex-Sega developers he is one of the co-founders of the video game development firm Q Entertainment. He formerly worked for Sega as a producer in their Sega AM3 'arcade machines' team, developing games like Sega Rally Championship and Sega Touring Car Championship, before moving on to become the head of Sega's United Game Artists division, the team responsible for Rez and Space Channel 5. Mizuguchi is better known for creating video games that incorporate interactive synesthesia into his game design, regardless of genre, evidenced by Rez, Lumines, Child of Eden, and Tetris Effect. He left Q Entertainment in 2013. He is currently the CEO of Enhance, Inc., a company he founded in 2014. In 2009, he was chosen by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time.
Tetsuya Okabe (岡部哲也, Okabe Tetsuya; born 15 May 1965) is a Japanese former alpine skier who competed in the 1988 Winter…Tetsuya Okabe (岡部哲也, Okabe Tetsuya; born 15 May 1965) is a Japanese former alpine skier who competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics, and 1992 Winter Olympics.
Miwa Yoshida (吉田 美和, Yoshida Miwa; born 6 May 1965 in Ikeda, Hokkaido) is a Japanese musician, and the lead singer for…Miwa Yoshida (吉田 美和, Yoshida Miwa; born 6 May 1965 in Ikeda, Hokkaido) is a Japanese musician, and the lead singer for the band Dreams Come True. She is also a founding member with bassist Masato Nakamura and keyboardist Takahiro Nishikawa. Yoshida also fronts a Dreams Come True side-project, Funk the Peanuts, and has released two solo albums, Beauty and Harmony and Beauty and Harmony 2. Both albums took their name from the English translation of the name Miwa.
Hiroaki Gōda (合田 浩章) (born March 24, 1965), is an anime director, screenwriter, animator, and character designer. His…Hiroaki Gōda (合田 浩章) (born March 24, 1965), is an anime director, screenwriter, animator, and character designer. His most notable contributions as a screenwriter and director include the numerous Oh My Goddess! anime adaptations.
Sayaka Morohoshi (諸星清佳, Morohoshi Sayaka; born 24 February 1965) is a Japanese journalist. He is known for his books…Sayaka Morohoshi (諸星清佳, Morohoshi Sayaka; born 24 February 1965) is a Japanese journalist. He is known for his books and articles on modern China.
Yukinori Nemoto (根本幸典, Nemoto Yukinori; born 21 February 1965) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the…Yukinori Nemoto (根本幸典, Nemoto Yukinori; born 21 February 1965) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2012. From 2003 to 2011, he was a city councillor of Toyohashi.
Toshihito Bandō (坂東 齢人; born February 18, 1965), known by his pen name Hase Seishū (馳 星周), is a Japanese novelist known…Toshihito Bandō (坂東 齢人; born February 18, 1965), known by his pen name Hase Seishū (馳 星周), is a Japanese novelist known for his Yakuza crime novels. His pen name is based on the Chinese name of Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow, Chow Sing-chi (周星馳), written backwards and rendered in Japanese.
Naoki Sano (佐野 直喜, Sano Naoki) (born February 2, 1965) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and former mixed…Naoki Sano (佐野 直喜, Sano Naoki) (born February 2, 1965) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist most notable for being the generational rival of legendary Japanese pro wrestler Jushin Liger. During the last years of his career he went by the name Takuma Sano (佐野巧真, Sano Takuma).
Itaru Ishii (石井 至, Ishii Itaru; born 1965) is an international consultant. He is the President of Ishii Brothers' Co.…Itaru Ishii (石井 至, Ishii Itaru; born 1965) is an international consultant. He is the President of Ishii Brothers' Co., located in Tokyo, Japan, an independent consulting firm and licensed publisher.
Osamu Yamazaki (山崎 修, Yamazaki Osamu; born 25 December 1964) is a Japanese freestyle skier. He competed in the men's…Osamu Yamazaki (山崎 修, Yamazaki Osamu; born 25 December 1964) is a Japanese freestyle skier. He competed in the men's moguls event at the 1992 Winter Olympics.
Ayumu Saito (斎藤 歩, Saitō Ayumu; 20 December 1964 – 11 June 2025) was a Japanese playwright, director, actor and theatre…Ayumu Saito (斎藤 歩, Saitō Ayumu; 20 December 1964 – 11 June 2025) was a Japanese playwright, director, actor and theatre producer. He was represented by Knockout. Saito was also the director of the Japan Directors Association. Saito died on 11 June 2025, at the age of 60, following a struggle with urothelial carcinoma.
Tsuyohito Iwamoto (born October 19, 1964, in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a…Tsuyohito Iwamoto (born October 19, 1964, in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2019. He represents the Hokkaido at-large district and is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He is a member of the following committees (as of 2021): Committee on Land and Transport Committee on Rules and Administration Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Problems Special Committee on Political Ethics and Election System (Director)
Ryō Ikuemi (Japanese: いくえみ綾, Hepburn: Ikuemi Ryō; born October 2, 1964 in Nayoro, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese shōjo…Ryō Ikuemi (Japanese: いくえみ綾, Hepburn: Ikuemi Ryō; born October 2, 1964 in Nayoro, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese shōjo manga artist.
Nobuyuki Tawara (俵 信之, Tawara Nobuyuki; 22 September 1964) is a Japanese former track cyclist who won the sprint…Nobuyuki Tawara (俵 信之, Tawara Nobuyuki; 22 September 1964) is a Japanese former track cyclist who won the sprint competition at the 1987 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, along with bronze medals in the same event in 1986 and 1988. He was also a professional keirin cyclist with over 400 wins.
Akira Yasuda (安田 朗, Yasuda Akira) (born July 21, 1964) is a Japanese animator, character designer, game designer and…Akira Yasuda (安田 朗, Yasuda Akira) (born July 21, 1964) is a Japanese animator, character designer, game designer and mecha designer, who works under the pseudonym Akiman. Yasuda is a former employee of the video game company Capcom (joining in 1985) and has worked on many Capcom games, taking on various design roles for works such as the Final Fight series and Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (including their updates). He has also been involved in anime production, most notably Turn A Gundam, Overman King Gainer and Code Geass. He also went to the United States to work on Red Dead Revolver for Angel Studios. When the studio was bought by Rockstar Games, he returned to Japan, where he officially left Capcom in 2003 and started working as a freelance artist.
Akira Satō (佐藤 晃, Satō Akira) (born 19 July 1964) is a Japanese former ski jumper. He competed at the 1988 Winter…Akira Satō (佐藤 晃, Satō Akira) (born 19 July 1964) is a Japanese former ski jumper. He competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
