Satoshi Yamazaki (山崎 敏, Yamazaki Satoshi; born in Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese professional Nippon Professional Baseball…Satoshi Yamazaki (山崎 敏, Yamazaki Satoshi; born in Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese professional Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) in height and currently with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.
Shūzō Oshimi (押見 修造, Oshimi Shūzō; born 1981) is a Japanese manga artist and writer based in Tokyo who publishes works…Shūzō Oshimi (押見 修造, Oshimi Shūzō; born 1981) is a Japanese manga artist and writer based in Tokyo who publishes works primarily for Kodansha. He made his debut with Superfly in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Magazine. He is best known for his manga Drifting Net Cafe (2009–2011), The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014), Happiness (2015–2019), and Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023). His works have been adapted into many different media including television drama, anime, and live action film. In 2001, he won the Tetsuya Chiba Award. Oshimi is particularly known to write stories to his manga that reflect his own experiences, often centered around gender, puberty or psychosexual development, and other coming-of-age themes that reflect adolescence.
Masato Kobayashi (小林 正人, Kobayashi Masato; born August 21, 1980 in Tsumagoi, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese former…Masato Kobayashi (小林 正人, Kobayashi Masato; born August 21, 1980 in Tsumagoi, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. Kobayashi played for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball from 2005 to 2014. He is currently a development coach for the Chunichi Dragons farm team.
Takashi Kogure (小暮卓史, Kogure Takashi; born 1 August 1980) is a Japanese racing driver who currently competes in Super…Takashi Kogure (小暮卓史, Kogure Takashi; born 1 August 1980) is a Japanese racing driver who currently competes in Super GT, driving the No. 88 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 for JLOC in the GT300 class. He is the reigning champion of Super GT's GT300 class alongside teammate Yuya Motojima. He previously competed in Super GT's flagship GT500 class, winning the championship in 2010 alongside Loïc Duval, making him one of only three drivers in Super GT history to win championship titles in both classes. He also competed in Super Formula (known as Formula Nippon until 2013) for fifteen seasons between 2003 and 2017.
Masaharu Yamada (山田 政晴, Yamada Masaharu; born May 1, 1980 in Gunma) is a Japanese weightlifter. He competed in…Masaharu Yamada (山田 政晴, Yamada Masaharu; born May 1, 1980 in Gunma) is a Japanese weightlifter. He competed in Weightlifting at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 56 kg division finishing ninth, with a new personal best of 259 kg. He beat his previous best by 6 kg. He is 5 ft 1 inches tall and weighs 130 lb.
Hideo Oshima (大島 秀夫, Ōshima Hideo; born March 7, 1980) is a Japanese football manager and former footballer who is the…Hideo Oshima (大島 秀夫, Ōshima Hideo; born March 7, 1980) is a Japanese football manager and former footballer who is the manager of J1 League club Yokohama F. Marinos.
Toshiro Ino (井野俊郎, Ino Toshiro; born 8 January 1980) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…Toshiro Ino (井野俊郎, Ino Toshiro; born 8 January 1980) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2012. From 2010 to 2012, he was a city councillor of Isesaki.
Masayuki Ino (Japanese: 井野 将之, Hepburn: Ino Masayuki; born 1979) is a Japanese fashion designer and businessman. He…Masayuki Ino (Japanese: 井野 将之, Hepburn: Ino Masayuki; born 1979) is a Japanese fashion designer and businessman. He founded the streetwear label Doublet in 2012 with patternmaker Takashi Murakami, and in 2018 became the first Asian designer to win the LVMH Prize.
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.
Kazue Ito (伊藤 良恵, Itō Kazue) (born 22 December 1977 in Kanagawa / grew up in Tatebayashi, Gunma) is a Japanese softball…Kazue Ito (伊藤 良恵, Itō Kazue) (born 22 December 1977 in Kanagawa / grew up in Tatebayashi, Gunma) is a Japanese softball player at first base. She won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and a bronze medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Naoki Matsuda (松田 直樹, Matsuda Naoki; 14 March 1977 – 4 August 2011) was a Japanese professional footballer who played…Naoki Matsuda (松田 直樹, Matsuda Naoki; 14 March 1977 – 4 August 2011) was a Japanese professional footballer who played as a central defender for the Japan national team.
Haruchika Aoki (青木 治親, Aoki Haruchika; born March 28, 1976 in Gumma, Japan) is a Japanese former Grand Prix motorcycle…Haruchika Aoki (青木 治親, Aoki Haruchika; born March 28, 1976 in Gumma, Japan) is a Japanese former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was a two-time F.I.M. 125cc world champion. He is the youngest of three Aoki brothers who have competed in motorcycle Grand Prix races. Aoki began his Grand Prix career in 1993 with Honda. He won two consecutive 125cc world championships in 1995 and 1996 with Honda before moving up to the 250cc class in 1997. After two years in the 250cc class, Aoki made the move to the 500cc class in 1999. In 2000, he competed in the Superbike World Championship on a Ducati before returning to Grand Prix racing in 2001. Racing a V-twin, two-stroke Honda NSR500V, he finished the season as the top privateer. He almost pulled off an upset that year when he "won" the second half of the restarted Italian Grand Prix in torrential rain, but the race was decided on aggregate times from the first and second parts, meaning he was classified only fifth. Aoki retired after the 2002 season. Afterwards, Aoki participated in the Japanese Auto Race series. He returned to Road Racing in 2016, when he raced in the MFJ All-Japan Road Race JP250 Championship aboard a Yamaha YZF-R25. He is one of Valentino Rossi's best mentors.
Hiromi Katsura (桂 宏美, Katsura Hiromi) (born December 8, 1975 ) is a female Japanese vocalist, lyricist, composer and…Hiromi Katsura (桂 宏美, Katsura Hiromi) (born December 8, 1975 ) is a female Japanese vocalist, lyricist, composer and violyre player, currently resides in Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.
Masato Shimizu (清水 真人, Shimizu Masato; born 26 February 1975) is a Japanese politician belonging to the Nikai Faction…Masato Shimizu (清水 真人, Shimizu Masato; born 26 February 1975) is a Japanese politician belonging to the Nikai Faction of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), serving his first term in the House of Councillors, representing Gumma Prefecture.
Masaumi Shimizu (清水 将海, Shimizu Masaumi; born January 9, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher, and…Masaumi Shimizu (清水 将海, Shimizu Masaumi; born January 9, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher, and current second squad battery coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Chiba Lotte Marines, Chunichi Dragons, and Hawks.
Reki Kawahara (川原 礫, Kawahara Reki; born August 18, 1974) is a Japanese novelist. He is best known as the creator of…Reki Kawahara (川原 礫, Kawahara Reki; born August 18, 1974) is a Japanese novelist. He is best known as the creator of Sword Art Online and Accel World, both of which have been adapted into anime series. He has been described as one of the most successful writers of light novels in the 2010s.
Kiyohiko Shibukawa (渋川清彦, Shibukawa Kiyohiko; born 2 July 1974) is a Japanese fashion model actor. He debuted as a…Kiyohiko Shibukawa (渋川清彦, Shibukawa Kiyohiko; born 2 July 1974) is a Japanese fashion model actor. He debuted as a model under the name Kee, but changed his name to "Kiyohiko Shibukawa" in 2006. He has appeared in more than 60 films since 1998.
Takuma Aoki (青木 拓磨, Aoki Takuma; born February 24, 1974 in Tokyo) is a Japanese former road racer of motorcycles at…Takuma Aoki (青木 拓磨, Aoki Takuma; born February 24, 1974 in Tokyo) is a Japanese former road racer of motorcycles at Grand Prix level. He began his Grand Prix career in 1993. From 1994 to 1996, Aoki competed in the World Superbike Championship, winning one race in that series. In 1996, he won All Japan Championship Superbike class champion. He returned to Grand Prix racing with Honda in 1997, enjoying his best season when he finished fifth in the 500cc world championship. A spinal injury in a 1998 motorcycle crash left him paralyzed below the waist. Aoki has continued to work with Honda, helping them develop cars for disabled people. He is the brother of Grand Prix racers, Nobuatsu and Haruchika Aoki. Aoki has been involved in motorsports again. Using specially-modified 4-wheel drive vehicles, he has been involved in many cross country rallies, notably the Dakar Rally, the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy and the Asia Cross Country Rally. On July 10, 2019, Aoki took a test ride on the Team Honda Dream CBR1000 Suzuka 8 Hours machine. In 2021, Aoki competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of Frédéric Sausset's SRT41 team.
Hiroyuki Miura (三浦 弘行, Miura Hiroyuki; born February 13, 1974) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan.…Hiroyuki Miura (三浦 弘行, Miura Hiroyuki; born February 13, 1974) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan. He is a former Kisei title holder and became the first active Class A professional to lose to a computer when he lost to the GPS Shogi program in April 2013. In October 2016, he was falsely accused of cheating in the 29th Ryūō challenger controversy, which resulted in him losing the chance to play for the Ryūō title. A third-party investigative panel was convened and eventually cleared Miura of all charges. The panel's findings led to the resignation of the Japan Shogi Association's president as well as the dismissal of several board members.
Yutaka Yoshie (Japanese: 吉江 豊, Hepburn: Yoshie Yutaka; January 5, 1974 – March 10, 2024) was a Japanese professional…Yutaka Yoshie (Japanese: 吉江 豊, Hepburn: Yoshie Yutaka; January 5, 1974 – March 10, 2024) was a Japanese professional wrestler, who worked as a freelancer in Japan, performing most notably for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he was a former World Tag Team Champion. He had previously worked for promotions such as New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was a former IWGP Tag Team Champion, Pro Wrestling Noah and Pro Wrestling Zero1.
Ryoko Shinohara (篠原 涼子, Shinohara Ryōko; born August 13, 1973) is a Japanese singer and actress. As a singer, she is…Ryoko Shinohara (篠原 涼子, Shinohara Ryōko; born August 13, 1973) is a Japanese singer and actress. As a singer, she is best known for the 1994 song "Itoshisa to Setsunasa to Kokoro Zuyosa to" with producer Tetsuya Komuro, which charted at number one and made her the first female artist in Japan to record a double million in CD single sales. It was followed by the number one album Lady Generation: Shukujo no Jidai (1995). Shinohara's musical output saw waning commercial reception in the latter half of the decade, at which she began concentrating on her acting career. Highlighted by the Japan Times for her "long reign as a TV drama queen", Shinohara's best known acting credits include detective Yukihira Natsumi in the drama series Unfair, which spawned three feature films and several specials; and temp worker Haruko Oomae in Haken no Hinkaku. She has starred in several acclaimed films, winning two Japan Academy Film Prizes for her roles in The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps and Sakura Guardian in the North, both in 2018.
Takayuki Morimura (森村隆行, Morimura Takayuki; born 20 July 1973) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the…Takayuki Morimura (森村隆行, Morimura Takayuki; born 20 July 1973) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly since 2017. He has served as president of Tomin First no Kai since 2022.
Hiromi Amada (Japanese: 天田 ヒロミ; born May 10, 1973) is a retired Japanese heavyweight kickboxer and boxer from Gunma…Hiromi Amada (Japanese: 天田 ヒロミ; born May 10, 1973) is a retired Japanese heavyweight kickboxer and boxer from Gunma, Japan. A staple in the K-1 heavyweight division from 1999 to 2007, the company considered him one of its most talented Japanese fighters, second only to Musashi. He is also the first-ever HEAT Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion and holds notable victories over Freddy Kemayo, Makoto Uehara, and Rene Rooze.
Tatsuo Kawai (川合 達夫, Kawai Tatsuo; born 2 May 1973) is a Japanese wrestler. He competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics and…Tatsuo Kawai (川合 達夫, Kawai Tatsuo; born 2 May 1973) is a Japanese wrestler. He competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Takashi Shimizu (清水 崇 Shimizu Takashi, born 27 July 1972) is a Japanese filmmaker. He is best known for being the…Takashi Shimizu (清水 崇 Shimizu Takashi, born 27 July 1972) is a Japanese filmmaker. He is best known for being the creator of the Ju-On franchise, directing the first four installments, in addition to directing the first two installments in its American remake franchise, The Grudge. According to film scholar Wheeler Winston Dixon, Shimizu is "one of a new breed of Japanese horror directors" who prefers to "suggest menace and violence rather than directly depict it".
Hideo Yoshizawa (吉澤 英生, Yoshizawa Hideo; born April 10, 1972) is a Japanese professional football manager and former…Hideo Yoshizawa (吉澤 英生, Yoshizawa Hideo; born April 10, 1972) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who was last the manager of J3 League club AC Nagano Parceiro.
Yoshihiko Saito (斎藤 嘉彦, Saitō Yoshihiko; born 12 February 1972 in Tomioka, Gunma) is a retired Japanese athlete who…Yoshihiko Saito (斎藤 嘉彦, Saitō Yoshihiko; born 12 February 1972 in Tomioka, Gunma) is a retired Japanese athlete who specialized in the 400 metres hurdles. He was the first Asian to run under 49 seconds in the event. With a personal best time of 48.64 seconds, achieved in October 1998 in Kumamoto, he is a former Asian record holder. The Asian record currently belongs to Hadi Soua'an Al-Somaily with 47.53 seconds, and the Japanese record to Dai Tamesue.
Narihiro Inamura (稲村 成浩, Inamura Narihiro; born 18 December 1971) is a Japanese cyclist. He competed in two events at…Narihiro Inamura (稲村 成浩, Inamura Narihiro; born 18 December 1971) is a Japanese cyclist. He competed in two events at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Kōki Harasawa (はらさわ 晃綺, Harasawa Kōki; born December 4, 1971) is a Japanese voice actor from Gunma Prefecture, Japan.…Kōki Harasawa (はらさわ 晃綺, Harasawa Kōki; born December 4, 1971) is a Japanese voice actor from Gunma Prefecture, Japan. He is affiliated with Ken Production.
Hiroko Ishikawa (石川 弘子, Ishikawa Hiroko; born Hiroko Kitazume (北爪 弘子, Kitazume Hiroko) on 8 September 1971) is a…Hiroko Ishikawa (石川 弘子, Ishikawa Hiroko; born Hiroko Kitazume (北爪 弘子, Kitazume Hiroko) on 8 September 1971) is a retired Japanese judoka. Ishikawa was born in Akabori, Gunma and began judo at the age of 12. She entered The Asahi Bank, Ltd after graduating from Saitama University in 1994. She excelled at Seoi nage and Ippon seoi nage. She won the medals in the Asian Championships in 1988 and 1991. In 1997, Ishikawa participated in the World Championships held in Paris but was defeated by Séverine Vandenhende in the second round and Jung Sung-Sook in the consolation round. She retired after the Championships. Ishikawa had coached judo at the Shukutoku Junior Highschool from 1996 to 2005. As of 2010, she don't have a relation with judo and lives in Ichihara, Chiba with her family.
Nobuatsu Aoki (青木 宣篤, Aoki Nobuatsu; born August 31, 1971 in Sumaga) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Aoki…Nobuatsu Aoki (青木 宣篤, Aoki Nobuatsu; born August 31, 1971 in Sumaga) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Aoki began his Grand Prix career in 1990 and won his first and only Grand Prix at the 250cc Malaysian Grand Prix. His best season was in 1997, when he finished third in the 500cc world championship behind Mick Doohan and Tadayuki Okada. In 2009, he teamed with Daisaku Sakai and Kazuki Tokudome on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 to win the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race. He is the oldest of three Aoki brothers who have competed in motorcycle Grand Prix races.
Miki Igarashi (五十嵐 美紀, Igarashi Miki; born August 22, 1971 in Gunma, Japan) is a retired Japanese female long-distance…Miki Igarashi (五十嵐 美紀, Igarashi Miki; born August 22, 1971 in Gunma, Japan) is a retired Japanese female long-distance runner. She represented Japan at the 1992 Summer Olympics, finishing in 14th place in the women's 10,000 metres. She set her personal best (31.45.82) in the event in 1994.
Nigö (ニゴー, Nigō; born Tomoaki Nagao (長尾 智明) on December 23, 1970) is a Japanese fashion designer, disc jockey (DJ)…Nigö (ニゴー, Nigō; born Tomoaki Nagao (長尾 智明) on December 23, 1970) is a Japanese fashion designer, disc jockey (DJ), record producer and entrepreneur. He is best known as the creator of the streetwear brand, A Bathing Ape (Bape), and currently serves as artistic director for Kenzo. Additionally, he is a member of the Japanese group Teriyaki Boyz, serving as their official in-house DJ since the group's 2005 debut.
Yutaka Aihara (相原 豊, Aihara Yutaka; born 18 December 1970) is a Japanese former gymnast who competed in the 1992 Summer…Yutaka Aihara (相原 豊, Aihara Yutaka; born 18 December 1970) is a Japanese former gymnast who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the team event. At the 1991 World Championships, he won a bronze medal on the vault.