Masaru Shiina (椎名 豪, Shiina Masaru; born May 16, 1974), known professionally as Go Shiina, is a Japanese music composer…Masaru Shiina (椎名 豪, Shiina Masaru; born May 16, 1974), known professionally as Go Shiina, is a Japanese music composer primarily known for his work in video games and anime. He joined Namco in 1997 and was best known during his time with the company for writing music for a number of games in the Tales, Mr. Driller, and God Eater franchises, He gained widespread recognition with his score for Tales of Legendia in 2005. Since then, he has also contributed music for several titles in the Tekken, Ace Combat, and The Idolmaster franchises. In addition to video games, Shiina has also composed soundtracks for various anime series and films, starting with the 2011 film Sakura no Ondo and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, as well as composing and arranging songs for bands and other artists. Shiina's works is known for having strong and heavy, orchestral sounds. He left Bandai Namco Entertainment in 2017, and is currently a freelance composer. Despite being freelance, he has continued to work with the company for various other projects, including the God Eater series, as well as other games such as Code Vein.
Kazuhiro Shoji (庄司和広, Shōji Kazuhiro; born April 26, 1974) is a current professional basketball head coach for Ehime…Kazuhiro Shoji (庄司和広, Shōji Kazuhiro; born April 26, 1974) is a current professional basketball head coach for Ehime Orange Vikings of the Japanese B.League.
Yasushi Hosaka (穂坂泰, Hosaka Yasushi; born 17 February 1974) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House…Yasushi Hosaka (穂坂泰, Hosaka Yasushi; born 17 February 1974) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2017. From 2016 to 2017, he was a city councillor of Shiki.
Atsuko Nagai (長井 淳子, Nagai Atsuko; born 14 January 1974) is a Japanese judoka. She was born in Ageo, Saitama, and began…Atsuko Nagai (長井 淳子, Nagai Atsuko; born 14 January 1974) is a Japanese judoka. She was born in Ageo, Saitama, and began judo at the age of a second grader. She entered Komatsu Limited after graduating from Saitama University in 1998. She was known as a rival of Ryoko Tamura. She fought with Tamura 10 times and was defeated 10 times, but never by Ippon. In 2000, after Tamura won gold medal at Olympic Games, Nagai retired. As of 2008, Nagai coaches judo at Komatsu Limited, and Ayumi Tanimoto, one of her pupil, inherits the skill of Uchimata that Nagai was good at.
Yumiko Takahashi (高橋 由美子, Takahashi Yumiko; born 7 January 1974, in Ōmiya-ku (formerly Ōmiya), Saitama, Saitama) is a…Yumiko Takahashi (高橋 由美子, Takahashi Yumiko; born 7 January 1974, in Ōmiya-ku (formerly Ōmiya), Saitama, Saitama) is a Japanese actress and singer. She is nicknamed "Good-P" short for Good Personality. She has had prominent roles in a number of television series, feature films and stage productions. As a singer she has released ten albums. Following the prominence of idols such as Momoe Yamaguchi in the 1970s, and Seiko Matsuda, Akina Nakamori, Kyoko Koizumi, and Yoko Minamino in the 1980s, the 1990s was characterized as the "Idol Winter" due to a decline in the genre's popularity. During this period, the media referred to Takahashi as "the last orthodox idol of the 20th century." She has been represented with several agencies, including Big Apple, Hirata Office, Toho Entertainment, and Konni.
Hiroko Kurumizawa (胡桃沢 ひろこ, Kurumizawa Hiroko) is a Japanese singer. In 1991, she became a member of Sakurakko Club…Hiroko Kurumizawa (胡桃沢 ひろこ, Kurumizawa Hiroko) is a Japanese singer. In 1991, she became a member of Sakurakko Club, together with Anza Oyama, Miki Nakatani, Miho Kanno, and Noriko Katō. Her real name is Hiroko Yamazaki (山崎 裕子, Yamazaki Hiroko).
Jin Katagiri (片桐 仁, Katagiri Jin; born November 27, 1973) is a comedian, actor, sculptor, and potter from Saitama…Jin Katagiri (片桐 仁, Katagiri Jin; born November 27, 1973) is a comedian, actor, sculptor, and potter from Saitama Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from Kasukabe High School and Tama Art University. Outside Japan, he is most well known for playing the PC (opposite Kentarō Kobayashi who plays the Mac) in the "Get A Mac" advertising campaign in Japan. He is a member of the Rahmens owarai comedy duo.
Hidetaka Tenjin (天神 英貴, Tenjin Hidetaka; born October 13, 1973) is a Japanese mecha anime artist, science fiction…Hidetaka Tenjin (天神 英貴, Tenjin Hidetaka; born October 13, 1973) is a Japanese mecha anime artist, science fiction illustrator, and voice actor.
Hiroyuki Gotō (後藤 裕之, Gotō Hiroyuki) recited pi from memory to 42,195 decimal places at NHK Broadcasting Centre, Tokyo…Hiroyuki Gotō (後藤 裕之, Gotō Hiroyuki) recited pi from memory to 42,195 decimal places at NHK Broadcasting Centre, Tokyo on 18 February 1995. This set the world record at the time, which was held for more than a decade until Lu Chao beat it in 2005. Goto was born in Tokyo, Japan. He is a game designer at Namco. He is the creator of word puzzle video game Kotoba no Puzzle Moji Pittan, which was released as an arcade game in 2001 and later become available for various console and portable gaming systems.
Ken Kadokura (門倉 健, Kadokura Ken; born March 9, 1973) is a retired Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played in…Ken Kadokura (門倉 健, Kadokura Ken; born March 9, 1973) is a retired Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (Chunichi Dragons, Yomiuri Giants) and the KBO League. He threw a four-seam fastball, a slider, and a fork ball.
Masaaki Taniai (谷合 正明, Taniai Masaaki; born 1973) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the…Masaaki Taniai (谷合 正明, Taniai Masaaki; born 1973) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Niiza, Saitama, he attended Kyoto University and received a master's degree in agricultural economy from it. He also studied at Uppsala University in Sweden. He was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004.
Osamu Shitara (設楽 統, Shitara Osamu; born 23 April 1973) is a Japanese comedian, actor, voice actor and television…Osamu Shitara (設楽 統, Shitara Osamu; born 23 April 1973) is a Japanese comedian, actor, voice actor and television presenter. He performs boke (he does not entirely do boke he is known for doing tsukkomi) and tells stories in the comedy duo Bananaman. His partner is Yūki Himura. He is also a former Seibu Railway employee.
Misae Watanabe (渡辺みさえ, Watanabe Misae) better known by her ring name Misae Genki is a Japanese retired professional…Misae Watanabe (渡辺みさえ, Watanabe Misae) better known by her ring name Misae Genki is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling, All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and JWP Joshi Puroresu.
Michiyo Nakajima (中嶋 美智代, Nakajima Michiyo; born 2 January 1973 in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese actress, voice…Michiyo Nakajima (中嶋 美智代, Nakajima Michiyo; born 2 January 1973 in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese actress, voice actress and former pop singer. Nakajima made her debut on 30 January 1991. Her final JPOP release was on 10 June 1998. She sang the ending theme for the animated (anime) version of Ranma ½, Season 5 (1991) - "Red Poppy" (Hinageshi). She also sang the opening and ending themes of Floral Magician Mary Bell (1992–93). The track 'Ano Subarashii Ai Wo Mou Ichido' from her 1992 Album 'Tanpopo' featured in the ending credits for Hideaki Anno's 1998 film Love & Pop. She played a role in the adventure game "Moon Cradle" released in 1995 for the Panasonic 3DO, which was later ported to the Sega Saturn in 1997.
Takeharu Yamanaka (山中 竹春, Yamanaka Takeharu; born 27 September 1972) is a Japanese politician and current mayor of…Takeharu Yamanaka (山中 竹春, Yamanaka Takeharu; born 27 September 1972) is a Japanese politician and current mayor of Yokohama, the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture. He defeated incumbent mayor Fumiko Hayashi in the 2021 Yokohama mayoral election. His independent campaign was supported by the Constitutional Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, and the Communist Party of Japan. Yamanaka's campaign focused on the opposition for a planned integrated resort development and casino for the city which was to be built on Yamashita Pier, criticism against the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and additional sister city relationship with San Francisco, California. Yamanaka formerly worked as a professor at Yokohama City University and as a data scientist. On 16 January 2026, Yamanaka issued a public apology after Yokohama's human resource chief, Jun Kubota, accused Yamanaka of using terms such as "idiot" and "human scum" to disparage staff. In July 2026, a third-party investigation confirmed these allegations and also Yamanaka saying things like "everyone over 55 is stubborn and useless", even telling an official to "disembowel" if he failed to secure a bid to host an international conference. On 28 August 2026, two weeks after some of Japan's major political parties urged him to step down from his post, Yamanaka announced his intention to resign as the mayor of Yokohama.
Teruyuki Tsuchida (土田 晃之, Tsuchida Teruyuki; born September 1, 1972 in Nerima, Tokyo and grew up in Omiya, Saitama) is…Teruyuki Tsuchida (土田 晃之, Tsuchida Teruyuki; born September 1, 1972 in Nerima, Tokyo and grew up in Omiya, Saitama) is a Japanese comedian, tarento and TV presenter. His talent agency is Ohta Production. He has been active as a solo comedian since 2001, but started in the entertainment industry in 1992 as a kombi called U-Turn with Morihiro Tsushima, which dissolved in 2001 when Tsushima retired from the industry.
Kazuyuki Atsuzawa (厚澤 和幸, Atsuzawa Kazuyuki; born August 11, 1972) is a retired Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…Kazuyuki Atsuzawa (厚澤 和幸, Atsuzawa Kazuyuki; born August 11, 1972) is a retired Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is the current pitching coach for the Orix Buffaloes.
Nako Hirasawa (平澤 奈古, Hirasawa Nako; born 1 August 1972) is a Japanese Paralympic archer. Hirasawa began archery in…Nako Hirasawa (平澤 奈古, Hirasawa Nako; born 1 August 1972) is a Japanese Paralympic archer. Hirasawa began archery in 1996 and she made her international debut in 2003. She completed at the Paralympic Games in 2004, where she won a bronze medal in the individual W1/W2 event, and in 2016.
Shiori Koseki (小関 しおり, Koseki Shiori) (born June 30, 1972) is a Japanese softball player who played in the 2000 Summer…Shiori Koseki (小関 しおり, Koseki Shiori) (born June 30, 1972) is a Japanese softball player who played in the 2000 Summer Olympics mostly as a Left field, but on one occasion played as a Pinch Runner in the game against New Zealand. She won the silver medal for Japan.
Yasuhiro Enoki (born May 22, 1972) is a former baseball player from Japan. He played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in the…Yasuhiro Enoki (born May 22, 1972) is a former baseball player from Japan. He played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in the Pacific League.
Masahiro Ando (安藤 正裕, Andō Masahiro; born April 2, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Masahiro Ando (安藤 正裕, Andō Masahiro; born April 2, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Minoru Furuya (古谷 実, Furuya Minoru; born March 28, 1972) is a Japanese manga artist from Saitama Prefecture. His debut…Minoru Furuya (古谷 実, Furuya Minoru; born March 28, 1972) is a Japanese manga artist from Saitama Prefecture. His debut work is The Ping Pong Club, published in Young Magazine. It was adapted into a 26-episode anime series in 1995. In 1996, he won the Kodansha Manga Award for The Ping Pong Club. In March 2021, Kodansha USA licensed Ciguatera. Two of his series have been adapted to the big screen, namely Himizu in 2011, and Himeanole in 2016.
Keijin Okuda (奥田啓人, Okuda Keijin; born January 27, 1972) is a Japanese voice actor from Saitama Prefecture affiliated…Keijin Okuda (奥田啓人, Okuda Keijin; born January 27, 1972) is a Japanese voice actor from Saitama Prefecture affiliated with Mausu Promotion.
Junichi Inoue (井上純一, Inoue Junichi; born 26 December 1971) is a Japanese speed skater who competed in the 1992 and 1994…Junichi Inoue (井上純一, Inoue Junichi; born 26 December 1971) is a Japanese speed skater who competed in the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. He was born in Arakawa, Saitama. In 1992 he won the bronze medal in the 500 metres event. Two years later he finished sixth in the 500 metres competition and eighth in the 1000 metres contest.
Takami Yoshimoto (吉本 多香美, Yoshimoto Takami; born October 13, 1971) is a Japanese actress known for her role as Rena…Takami Yoshimoto (吉本 多香美, Yoshimoto Takami; born October 13, 1971) is a Japanese actress known for her role as Rena Yanase in 1996 Ultraman Tiga series. She won the best actress award at the 9th Japan Movie Professional Awards in 1999. She also starred the 1992 edition of "Christmas Express" commercials for the Central Japan Railway Company.
Toshihiro Yashiba (矢柴 俊博, Yashiba Toshihiro; born October 2, 1971, in Sōka, Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese…Toshihiro Yashiba (矢柴 俊博, Yashiba Toshihiro; born October 2, 1971, in Sōka, Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor represented by JFCT.
Masahiro Nojima (野島正弘, Nojima Masahiro; born August 13, 1971 in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese baseball infielder…Masahiro Nojima (野島正弘, Nojima Masahiro; born August 13, 1971 in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese baseball infielder who won a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Kazuhiko Yamazaki (山崎 一彦, Yamazaki Kazuhiki; born 10 May 1971 in Yono) is a Japanese former athlete who specialised in…Kazuhiko Yamazaki (山崎 一彦, Yamazaki Kazuhiki; born 10 May 1971 in Yono) is a Japanese former athlete who specialised in the 400 metres hurdles. He competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics, in the 1996 Summer Olympics, and in the 2000 Summer Olympics. He also competed in the 1991 World Championships, in the 1995 World Championships, in the 1997 World Championships, and in the 1999 World Championships. He was a finalist at the 1995 World Championships and the first Japanese to reach the 400 metres hurdles final at the World Championships. He was the former Asian record holder in the 400 metres hurdles and a two-time Japanese Championships champion.
Chie Kanda (born (1971-04-12)12 April 1971) is a retired Japanese female volleyball player. Kanda was part of the Japan…Chie Kanda (born (1971-04-12)12 April 1971) is a retired Japanese female volleyball player. Kanda was part of the Japan women's national volleyball team at the 1998 FIVB World Championship in Japan.
Shinichi Hatori (羽鳥 慎一, Hatori Shin'ichi; born 24 March 1971 in Ageo, Saitama) is a Japanese free announcer, tarento…Shinichi Hatori (羽鳥 慎一, Hatori Shin'ichi; born 24 March 1971 in Ageo, Saitama) is a Japanese free announcer, tarento, and television presenter. He is a former Nippon TV announcer. He is currently represented with Take Off. He is nicknamed Bird (バード, Bādo) by Tatsunori Hara.
Satoru Asako (浅子覚, Asako Satoru; born March 2, 1971) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler who worked for All…Satoru Asako (浅子覚, Asako Satoru; born March 2, 1971) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler who worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah.
Yutaka Takenouchi (竹野内 豊 (hiragana:たけのうちゆたか), Takenouchi Yutaka; born January 2, 1971) is a Japanese actor. His…Yutaka Takenouchi (竹野内 豊 (hiragana:たけのうちゆたか), Takenouchi Yutaka; born January 2, 1971) is a Japanese actor. His on-screen acting debut was in the drama 「ボクの就職」 (Boku no Syūshoku) in 1994, after winning a modeling contest. He also appeared in commercials.
Takashi Itō (伊藤 隆, Itō Takashi; born September 22, 1970) is a Japanese former welterweight kickboxer fighting out of…Takashi Itō (伊藤 隆, Itō Takashi; born September 22, 1970) is a Japanese former welterweight kickboxer fighting out of Yamaki Gym in Setagaya, Tokyo. He is the owner of kickboxing gym "TARGET", and the manager of the kickboxing promotion company "R.I.S.E.". He won the world title of WMAF at Junior middleweight. He is Christian.
Hidetaka Yoshioka (吉岡 秀隆; born on August 12, 1970) is a Japanese actor known for his performance in several movies as a…Hidetaka Yoshioka (吉岡 秀隆; born on August 12, 1970) is a Japanese actor known for his performance in several movies as a child and the TV drama Dr. Coto's Clinic. He played the part of Tora-san's nephew in the Otoko wa Tsurai yo film series, and he appeared in Akira Kurosawa's Rhapsody in August and Madadayo. He won two Japan Academy Awards Best Actor for Always: Sunset on Third Street and its sequel Always: Sunset on Third Street 2.
Chiyako Shibahara (芝原 チヤコ, Shibahara Chiyako; born August 9, 1970 in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese voice actress.…Chiyako Shibahara (芝原 チヤコ, Shibahara Chiyako; born August 9, 1970 in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese voice actress. Previously affiliated with 81 Produce, she became a freelancer as of November 30, 2022.
Kiyoko Fukuda (born 4 August 1970) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed with the Japanese women's…Kiyoko Fukuda (born 4 August 1970) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed with the Japanese women's national volleyball team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. She helped Japan win the bronze medal at the 1994 Goodwill Games in Saint Petersburg.
Chiyomaru Shikura (志倉千代丸, Shikura Chiyomaru; born July 3, 1970) is a Japanese video game writer, lyricist and composer.…Chiyomaru Shikura (志倉千代丸, Shikura Chiyomaru; born July 3, 1970) is a Japanese video game writer, lyricist and composer. He is the executive producer and former chairman of Mages. He planned and wrote the 2008 visual novel Chaos;Head, and subsequently other works in the Science Adventure series including Steins;Gate. He has also been credited with composing the opening and ending songs of the Science Adventure series.
Tadaharu Sakai (酒井 忠晴, Sakai Tadaharu; born June 21, 1970 in Misato, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Tadaharu Sakai (酒井 忠晴, Sakai Tadaharu; born June 21, 1970 in Misato, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.
Wakaba Suzuki (鈴木 若葉, Suzuki Wakaba; born 13 June 1970) is a retired Japanese judoka. Suzuki was born in Fujimi…Wakaba Suzuki (鈴木 若葉, Suzuki Wakaba; born 13 June 1970) is a retired Japanese judoka. Suzuki was born in Fujimi, Saitama, and began judo in earnest at the age of a 5th grader. She entered the Saitama University after graduating from high-school. She was counted as a top in Japan by the proud skill, Seoinage and Newaza. In 1993, she participated World Championships held in Hamilton, Ontario but defeated by Almudena Muñoz at semi-final and won a bronze medal. She was also expected to get medal of Olympic Games in 1996 but retired in 1995 due to Overtraining. As of 2010, Suzuki coaches judo at Shukutoku University and among her students is former Asian champion Sae Nakazawa.
Takuya Jinno (神野 卓哉, Jinno Takuya; born June 1, 1970) is a Japanese football manager and former player who was most…Takuya Jinno (神野 卓哉, Jinno Takuya; born June 1, 1970) is a Japanese football manager and former player who was most recently manager of J3 League club Iwate Grulla Morioka.
Asa Higuchi (Japanese: ひぐち アサ, Hepburn: Higuchi Asa; born May 17, 1970) is a Japanese manga artist, born in Urawa…Asa Higuchi (Japanese: ひぐち アサ, Hepburn: Higuchi Asa; born May 17, 1970) is a Japanese manga artist, born in Urawa, Saitama Prefecture (now part of Saitama City). She graduated from Saitama Prefecture's prestigious Urawanishi High School and Hosei University's department of psychology, with a major in sports psychology. During her high school days, she was a member of her school's softball team, which would go on to be an inspiration in her work Big Windup! as well as her high school which is featured in detail (the school now advertising the manga and anime on their website). In 1998, Higuchi won noted seinen manga magazine Monthly Afternoon's Shiki competition with her work Yuku Tokoro. It was noted for the unique relationships shared by its characters and was subsequently published in the August issue of the magazine, thus marking her debut as a manga artist. She is currently working on Big Windup!, which has spanned 37 volumes to date and is serialized in Monthly Afternoon. It won the 10th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for best creative work in 2006, and the 31st Kodansha Manga Award for general manga in 2007.
Takehiko Orimo (折茂 武彦, Orimo Takehiko; born 14 May 1970) is a Japanese former professional basketball player. He became…Takehiko Orimo (折茂 武彦, Orimo Takehiko; born 14 May 1970) is a Japanese former professional basketball player. He became the first Japanese player to reach 10,000 points in the history of the men's top league.