Arisa Hoshiki (星輝ありさ, Hoshiki Arisa; born October 13, 1995) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, retired professional…
Arisa Hoshiki (星輝ありさ, Hoshiki Arisa; born October 13, 1995) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, retired professional wrestler, and former shoot boxer. In professional wrestling, she worked in the World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion, where she was Wonder of Stardom Champion, the promotion's secondary title. She vacated the championship on May 20, 2020, after she retired due to injury. Since 2018, Hoshiki had performed in the band Unlimited Dream Navigator, under the name Udon Sato (うどん佐藤), as part of which she performed her wrestling theme song. The band disbanded in 2021.
Famous People from Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture: 44 people
Yosuke Sugino (杉野 遥亮, Sugino Yōsuke; born September 18, 1995) is a Japanese actor and model. He is the winner of the…
Yosuke Sugino (杉野 遥亮, Sugino Yōsuke; born September 18, 1995) is a Japanese actor and model. He is the winner of the 12th Fine Boys Model Audition Grand Prix.
Misaki Iwasa (岩佐 美咲, Iwasa Misaki; born January 30, 1995 in Chiba Prefecture) is a Japanese idol. She is a former…
Misaki Iwasa (岩佐 美咲, Iwasa Misaki; born January 30, 1995 in Chiba Prefecture) is a Japanese idol. She is a former member of the Japanese idol group AKB48 and enka singer. Her nickname is Wasamin. Her talent agency is Nagara Productions. She was also a member of the sub-unit Watarirouka Hashiritai 7.
Ryosuke Hashimoto (橋本 良亮, Hashimoto Ryōsuke; born July 15, 1993 in Chiba Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese singer…
Ryosuke Hashimoto (橋本 良亮, Hashimoto Ryōsuke; born July 15, 1993 in Chiba Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese singer managed by the male idol talent agency Johnny and Associates. He is a member of the boyband A.B.C-Z.
Mana Sakura (Japanese: 紗倉まな, Hepburn: Sakura Mana; born March 23, 1993) is a Japanese AV idol, gravure model, novelist…
Mana Sakura (Japanese: 紗倉まな, Hepburn: Sakura Mana; born March 23, 1993) is a Japanese AV idol, gravure model, novelist and singer. Originally debuting as a model, she transitioned to AV in 2012, becoming an exclusive performer for Soft On Demand and starred over 150 adult films since her debut. Sakura is considered one of the most popular and recognizable contemporary AV idols as she managed to crossover into mainstream entertainment with regular appearances in television, films and even video games as well. She also became an accomplished author, publishing several novels, magazine essays and running columns.
Berryz Kobo (Berryz工房, Berryz Kōbō; lit. "Berryz Workshop") was a Japanese idol girl group formed by Up-Front Promotion…
Berryz Kobo (Berryz工房, Berryz Kōbō; lit. "Berryz Workshop") was a Japanese idol girl group formed by Up-Front Promotion in 2004 and associated with Hello! Project. The group's members consisted of Hello! Project Kids members Saki Shimizu, Momoko Tsugunaga, Miyabi Natsuyaki, Chinami Tokunaga, Maasa Sudo, Yurina Kumai, and Risako Sugaya; Maiha Ishimura left the group in 2005. Berryz Kobo debuted with their first single in March of the same year. In 2007, Berryz Kobo became the youngest act ever to give a solo concert at Saitama Super Arena. In 2008, the group received the Best Asian Newcomer Award at the Asia Song Festival and a Cable Music Award at the 41st Japan Cable Awards ceremony. As of December 2014, the group had released 36 singles, nine studio albums, one EP and one compilation album. Berryz Kobo's combined CD and DVD sales exceeded one million copies in Japan alone.
Rioka Kanda (神田 莉緒香 Kanda Rioka, born 26 March 1992) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, radio personality, and actress…
Rioka Kanda (神田 莉緒香 Kanda Rioka, born 26 March 1992) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, radio personality, and actress from Urayasu City in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
Daiki Arioka (有岡 大貴, Arioka Daiki; born April 15, 1991) is a Japanese singer, actor, tarento, and model as well as…
Daiki Arioka (有岡 大貴, Arioka Daiki; born April 15, 1991) is a Japanese singer, actor, tarento, and model as well as member of Hey! Say! JUMP. He is under the management of Starto Entertainment.
Natsuko (奈津子; born 18 August 1989 in Chiba Prefecture) is a Japanese actress, singer and columnist who is a former…
Natsuko (奈津子; born 18 August 1989 in Chiba Prefecture) is a Japanese actress, singer and columnist who is a former member of the female idol group SDN48. Her real name is Natsuko Oki (大木 奈津子, Ōki Natsuko). Natsuko is represented with Asia Business Partners. Her twin sister is Akiko, who is also an actress.
Aina Kusuda (楠田 亜衣奈, Kusuda Aina; born February 1, 1989) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Chiba Prefecture.…
Aina Kusuda (楠田 亜衣奈, Kusuda Aina; born February 1, 1989) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Chiba Prefecture. Kusuda is currently affiliated with Just Pro. Kusuda is best known as Nozomi Toujou in Love Live! School Idol Project series, and has worked with the other Love Live! girls in singing multiple songs that have charted on Oricon. Kusuda's other major roles include Suko in Million Doll and Rose in Rilu Rilu Fairilu. Her nickname is "Kussun".
Mai Oshima (大島 麻衣, Ōshima Mai; born September 11, 1987 in Noda, Chiba, Japan) is a singer and a former member of the…
Mai Oshima (大島 麻衣, Ōshima Mai; born September 11, 1987 in Noda, Chiba, Japan) is a singer and a former member of the Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48.
Koki Tanaka (田中 聖, Tanaka Kōki) is a Japanese singer–songwriter and actor. He was a member of Jpop idol boy band…
Koki Tanaka (田中 聖, Tanaka Kōki) is a Japanese singer–songwriter and actor. He was a member of Jpop idol boy band KAT-TUN from their debut until September 30, 2013, when his contract with Johnny & Associates (the company that manages KAT-TUN) was terminated. When he was a member of KAT-TUN, he was recognized as the rapper in the group and has a hip-hop-influenced style. Out of the other members, Tanaka was most often paired up with Yuichi Nakamaru and they even formed a comedy duo 'TaNaka'. After leaving Johnny & Associates, Tanaka formed his own indie rock band called INKT.
Tomohisa Yamashita (Japanese: 山下 智久, Hepburn: Yamashita Tomohisa; born April 9, 1985), also widely known as Yamapi (山P…
Tomohisa Yamashita (Japanese: 山下 智久, Hepburn: Yamashita Tomohisa; born April 9, 1985), also widely known as Yamapi (山P, YamaP), or Tomo, is a Japanese singer, actor, and TV host. Yamashita joined the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates as a trainee in 1996 and made his small acting debut for NHK's Shonentachi (1998). He made his musical debut as part of idol group NEWS in 2004 and later debuted as a soloist in 2006. He launched his acting career after portraying Kusano Akira in the hit drama Nobuta Wo Produce (2005). His first major role was in 2006 when he landed the title role in Kurosagi. In October 2011, Johnny & Associates announced that Yamashita would no longer be a member of NEWS, and he would be concentrating on his solo projects as an actor and solo singer. He released his solo music under Warner Music Japan until 2016. In mid-2018, Yamashita began releasing music under Sony Music Japan; however, Johnny & Associates continued to manage the rest of his activities, though he left the agency in October 2020. As early as 2019, he signed a brokerage contract with Westbrook Entertainment, a brokerage company opened by Will Smith, to reach global audiences. Yamashita is widely known for his many popular dramas such as Nobuta wo Produce (2005), Kurosagi (2006), Operation Love (2007), Buzzer Beat (2009), Code Blue, and 5→9 From Five to Nine (2015). His latest movie Code Blue: The Movie (2018) was the highest-grossing domestic movie in Japan that year and ranked 5th for all-time highest-grossing live action movies in Japan. In 2023, he began starring in the French-Japanese drama series Drops of God on Apple TV.
Sayaka Ichii (市井 紗耶香, Ichii Sayaka; born December 31, 1983) is a Japanese pop singer and former member for Japanese…
Sayaka Ichii (市井 紗耶香, Ichii Sayaka; born December 31, 1983) is a Japanese pop singer and former member for Japanese girl group Morning Musume. She is now a TV talent and actress.
Megumi Ohori (大堀 恵, Ōhori Megumi; born August 25, 1983) is a Japanese singer and tarento. She was born from…
Megumi Ohori (大堀 恵, Ōhori Megumi; born August 25, 1983) is a Japanese singer and tarento. She was born from Ōamishirasato-chō (now Ōamishirasato), Sanbu District, Chiba Prefecture. She is represented with Horipro. She is a former member of the female idol groups AKB48 and SDN48. She is also a former model. Her real name is Megumi Kanazawa (金沢 恵, Kanazawa Megumi), and her former stage name is Megumi Matsushima (松嶋 めぐみ, Matsushima Megumi).
Daisuke Yokoyama (横山 だいすけ, 横山 大介, Yokoyama Daisuke; born 29 May 1983, in Oyumino, Chiba, Chiba (now Oyumino, Midori-ku…
Daisuke Yokoyama (横山 だいすけ, 横山 大介, Yokoyama Daisuke; born 29 May 1983, in Oyumino, Chiba, Chiba (now Oyumino, Midori-ku, Chiba)) is a Japanese singer and actor. He is the 11th generation Uta no onīsan of NHK's programme Okaasan to Issho. He graduated from Kunitachi College of Music.
Mayumi Ono (小野 真弓, Ono Mayumi; born March 12, 1981 in Nagareyama, Chiba Prefecture) is a Japanese actress, entertainer…
Mayumi Ono (小野 真弓, Ono Mayumi; born March 12, 1981 in Nagareyama, Chiba Prefecture) is a Japanese actress, entertainer, gravure idol, and singer represented by Sun Music Production. She graduated from Jumonji Junior College.
Kei Yasuda (保田 圭, Yasuda Kei; born on December 6, 1980) is a Japanese singer, musician and actress under the Hello!…
Kei Yasuda (保田 圭, Yasuda Kei; born on December 6, 1980) is a Japanese singer, musician and actress under the Hello! Project. She was a member and co-leader of the Japanese girl group Morning Musume. Yasuda, along with Mari Yaguchi and Sayaka Ichii, were the second generation of singers to be recruited into Morning Musume. Morning Musume had only released one official single, Morning Coffee, prior to their joining. Yasuda was also a member of Japanese pop group Dream Morning Musume.
Takahiro Konagawa (小名川 高弘, Konagawa Takahiro; born November 30, 1979 in Ōita Prefecture), nicknamed Kona, is a Japanese…
Takahiro Konagawa (小名川 高弘, Konagawa Takahiro; born November 30, 1979 in Ōita Prefecture), nicknamed Kona, is a Japanese guitarist, singer, and musical composer from Kashiwa, Chiba. He came out as a guitarist of Charcoal Filter in November 1999. He has also performed as a solo artist since December 2003. His first solo album The first tears was released in July 2006. He played guitar on the Puffy AmiYumi song Tokyo I'm on My Way
Naoto Nakamura (中村 直人, Nakamura Naoto), better known by his stage name Naoto Inti Raymi (ナオト・インティライミ, Naoto Intiraymi)…
Naoto Nakamura (中村 直人, Nakamura Naoto), better known by his stage name Naoto Inti Raymi (ナオト・インティライミ, Naoto Intiraymi), is a Japanese singer-songwriter and composer. He was born in Mie Prefecture in Japan and later grew up in Chiba Prefecture. For two years from 2001, he used his given name Naoto as his stage name. In 2001, while he was still attending Chuo University, Naoto debuted into the major music scene with his single "Growing up!!" released by Sony Music Records. Then he kept releasing the total three singles and one album before graduating from his university in 2002. After the graduation, he went on to "the trip around the world through 28 countries", which took 515 days over two years from 2003 to 2004. Upon his return home, he began his professional music career with his new stage name, Naoto Inti Raymi meaning "the festival of the sun" in Quechuan language. Inti means the sun, while Raymi means festival. In 2001, From Universal Sigma, he released "Carnival?", the first single with a major label as Naoto Inti Raymi. The following hit singles "TAKARAMONO – KONO KOEGA NAKUNARUMADE – “ in 2010 and “IMANO KIMIWO WASURENAI" in 2011 both were downloaded more than one million times at multiple music download sites. In 2012, he was invited to perform at the most prestigious music TV show in Japan, KOUHAKU UTA GASSEN. After that, he continued releasing singles and albums while he toured around the nation for concerts. In 2015, his one-man show at KYOCERA DOME OSAKA successfully drew an audience of 40,000 to celebrate his 5th anniversary year of his career with a major record label. Not just a singer-songwriter, his wide range of musical talents is also allowing himself to actively write songs for the other artists. Besides in the music industry, he began his career in acting as well when he appeared in the 2015 movie "KAMISAMA WA BALINI IRU". Then he played the lead role of the musical "DNA-SHARAKU" in 2016 and appeared in the TV drama series "KOUNODORI" in 2017. Currently, he is working on making music in other languages besides Japanese with the intention of making a world tour "Inti Raymi" is Quechuan (Incan language) for "festival of the sun."
Hanako Oku (奥 華子, Oku Hanako; born March 20, 1978, in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan) is a pop singer famous in her native…
Hanako Oku (奥 華子, Oku Hanako; born March 20, 1978, in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan) is a pop singer famous in her native Japan for her piano ballads. She rose to fame after performing the end-title track "Garnet" for the Madhouse film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time in 2006. She was signed to a major record label the preceding year.
Tomomi Kahara (華原 朋美, Kahara Tomomi) (formerly Tomomi Kahala) born Tomomi Shimogawara (下河原 朋美, Shimogawara Tomomi) on…
Tomomi Kahara (華原 朋美, Kahara Tomomi) (formerly Tomomi Kahala) born Tomomi Shimogawara (下河原 朋美, Shimogawara Tomomi) on August 17, 1974 in Tokyo), is a Japanese pop singer. She is famous for working with Tetsuya Komuro who gave her much success in the 1990s, which led to her deep dip in popularity after 1999, the year in which she released her first non-TK produced album, One Fine Day. Tomomi Kahara and Tetsuya Komuro dated for a few years, but they suffered from personal problems which led to their breakup. After a period of sickness, Kahara's talent agency terminated her contract on June 29, 2007.
Masayo Sawada (澤田 雅世, Sawada Masayo), (born July 26, 1974) better known by her stagename Sister MAYO, is a Japanese…
Masayo Sawada (澤田 雅世, Sawada Masayo), (born July 26, 1974) better known by her stagename Sister MAYO, is a Japanese singer. She is a member of the Columbia Music Entertainment duo Cyber Nation Network, and a vocalist in Project.R which performs many theme songs for the Super Sentai series, some have reached the top ten in Oricon's charts. Her best-known songs as a soloist have been the opening theme of Haré+Guu and the ending theme of Mahou Sentai Magiranger. She is the younger sister of heavy metal musician Taiji, with whom she was in the rock band Otokaze. After attending vocational school, she got a job at a travel agency. After suffering from a herniated disc, she decided to pursue her dream of being a musician. She released her first single in 1997 under her own name. A producer gave her her stage name when she joined Cyber Nation Network. In appearances, she generally wears a baseball cap. Prior to the release of "Jumon Kōrin ~ Magical Force" (呪文降臨～マジカル・フォース, Jumon Kōrin ~ Majikaru Fōsu; "The Spell Advent ~ Magical Force"), she also wore glasses, out of shyness. Nippon Columbia asked her to take off one or the other, and she decided to keep the cap. In 2020, she started the unit Rainbow☆MAG!C with Hideyuki Takahashi and Natsuo.
Kumiko Yokote (横手 久美子, Yokote Kumiko; born April 21, 1973 in Chiba) is a Japanese voice actress and singer who works…
Kumiko Yokote (横手 久美子, Yokote Kumiko; born April 21, 1973 in Chiba) is a Japanese voice actress and singer who works for Power Rise under the alias Hyo-sei (氷青, Hyōsei). For adult works, she goes by the name Elena Kaibara (海原 エレナ, Kaibara Erena). Hyo-sei released her first album titled Fuyu Hanabi (冬花火) on April 21, 2010.
Naohito Fujiki (藤木 直人, Fujiki Naohito; born July 19, 1972) is a Japanese actor and singer.
Fumie Hosokawa (細川 ふみえ; born 2 September 1971) is a Japanese actress, singer, and model. She is often referred to as…
Fumie Hosokawa (細川 ふみえ; born 2 September 1971) is a Japanese actress, singer, and model. She is often referred to as the "original" kyonyu (huge breasts) idol.
Sadawo Abe (阿部 サダヲ, Abe Sadawo; born Abe Takashi (阿部 隆史); April 23, 1970) is a Japanese actor, stage actor, and…
Sadawo Abe (阿部 サダヲ, Abe Sadawo; born Abe Takashi (阿部 隆史); April 23, 1970) is a Japanese actor, stage actor, and musician from Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture. He started his acting career after joining a theater company/talent agency, Otona Keikaku, in around 1992 and gained his popularity after the drama series Team Medical Dragon and as being the lead singer of the Japanese comedy rock band Group Tamashii. His stage name is a pun on notorious geisha Sada Abe. Abe was nominated for best actor in the 31st Japanese Academy Award for Maiko Haaaan!!!.
Yukihiro (born November 24, 1968, in Ichikawa, Chiba) is a Japanese musician, best known as drummer of the rock band…
Yukihiro (born November 24, 1968, in Ichikawa, Chiba) is a Japanese musician, best known as drummer of the rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel since 1998. He also sings and plays bass for his solo project Acid Android, and drums for the supergroup Petit Brabancon. Before joining L'Arc-en-Ciel he was in the popular visual kei bands Zi:Kill and Die in Cries.
Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a…
Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, film director, and fashion designer. He is best known as the leader of the visual kei rock bands X Japan and the Last Rockstars, for which he is the drummer, pianist, and main songwriter. He has been described by Billboard as a "musical innovator" and named "one of the most influential composers in Japanese history" by Consequence. Time labeled Yoshiki as "an absolute force" and "one of Japan's most celebrated musicians". Yoshiki's solo career includes several classical studio albums and collaborations with artists such as George Martin, Bono, will.i.am, St. Vincent, the Chainsmokers, Skrillex, Ellie Goulding, Stan Lee, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Gene Simmons and Kiss, Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Brightman, Jonas Brothers, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Diana Ross, and Josh Groban. In 1999, at the request of the Japanese Imperial family, he composed and performed a classical song at a celebration in honor of the tenth anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement. Yoshiki also composed the theme for the 69th Golden Globe Awards as well as for several anime and film soundtracks including Attack on Titan and Saw IV. In 2023, he made his directorial debut with the feature documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Yoshiki the best drummer and the best keyboardist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election". In 2023, he was selected as the first Japanese artist to be honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in nearly 100 years. In 2024, Variety selected Yoshiki as the International Achievement in Music honoree. Time named Yoshiki one of the most influential people of 2025 in their Time 100 list.
Kanji Ishimaru (石丸 幹二, Ishimaru Kanji; born 15 August 1965 in Niihama, Ehime) is a Japanese musical actor and singer.…
Kanji Ishimaru (石丸 幹二, Ishimaru Kanji; born 15 August 1965 in Niihama, Ehime) is a Japanese musical actor and singer. Ishimaru is signed to Sony Music Entertainment Japan. He grew up in Ichihara, Chiba and graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts.
Meiko Obara (小原 明子, Obara Meiko), known publicly as Meiko Nakahara (中原 めいこ, Nakahara Meiko), (born May 8, 1959), is a…
Meiko Obara (小原 明子, Obara Meiko), known publicly as Meiko Nakahara (中原 めいこ, Nakahara Meiko), (born May 8, 1959), is a Japanese former singer and composer. Active from 1982 to 1992, she was known for her music in the city pop genre. She also created the opening and closing songs for the Dirty Pair and Kimagure Orange Road anime television series.
Izumi Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 泉美, Hepburn: Kobayashi Izumi; born 25 March 1957) is a Japanese musician, record…
Izumi Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 泉美, Hepburn: Kobayashi Izumi; born 25 March 1957) is a Japanese musician, record producer, and business executive. Originally working for a funk band at a US military base, she formed the band ASOCA and won the EastWest '76 Best Keyboardist award, and she performed as a keyboardist for other musicians and bands. Working for CBS/Sony, she released several solo albums, either with the Mimie-Chan Super Band and its later iteration Izumi Kobayashi & Flying Mimi Band or solely with her own name. She also worked as a composer for Japanese media, including "Lum's Love Song" (the theme song for the Urusei Yatsura anime), and hosted TV Tokyo late-night show Rock in Japan. She later moved to London in 1985 and worked as a record producer and industry executive in Europe, serving as president of Cisco Records London.
Kiyotaka Mitsugi (三ツ木 清隆, Mitsugi Kiyotaka; born May 30, 1953) is a Japanese actor and singer. His career has centered…
Kiyotaka Mitsugi (三ツ木 清隆, Mitsugi Kiyotaka; born May 30, 1953) is a Japanese actor and singer. His career has centered on television, in the genres of tokusatsu and jidaigeki.
Ichirō Tomita (富田 伊知郎, Tomita Ichirō; born August 24, 1952), known professionally as MoJo (モジョ), is a Japanese folk…
Ichirō Tomita (富田 伊知郎, Tomita Ichirō; born August 24, 1952), known professionally as MoJo (モジョ), is a Japanese folk singer and composer who has performed on the soundtracks of various anime and tokusatsu series and movies. He is perhaps best known as the vocalist for the theme songs for Battle Fever J, Dai Sentai Goggle V, Kagaku Sentai Dynaman, Seiun Kamen Machineman (星雲仮面マシンマン, Seiun Kamen Mashinman), Albegas, and performed image songs for various series. He also sang the theme song of the fictional character Segata Sanshiro (played by Hiroshi Fujioka) who appeared in Sega's commercials between 1997 and 1998 to advertise the Sega Saturn in Japan.
Masako Izumi (和泉 雅子, Izumi Masako; 31 July 1947 – 9 July 2025) was a Japanese actress, singer and adventurer.
Akiko Nakamura (Japanese: 中村晃子) is a Japanese singer and actress. Her song Nijiiro No Mizuumi (Japanese: 虹色の湖) (1967)…
Akiko Nakamura (Japanese: 中村晃子) is a Japanese singer and actress. Her song Nijiiro No Mizuumi (Japanese: 虹色の湖) (1967) reached number 3 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
Yuki Hide (ヒデ 夕樹, Hide Yūki; real name: Hideyuki Hirano (平野 英之, Hirano Hideyuki), November 5, 1940 – December 8, 1998)…
Yuki Hide (ヒデ 夕樹, Hide Yūki; real name: Hideyuki Hirano (平野 英之, Hirano Hideyuki), November 5, 1940 – December 8, 1998) often credited as Hideyuki or Yuuki Hide, was a Japanese singer best known for singing theme songs to various anime and tokusatsu shows. He died from heart failure on December 8, 1998. His biography, Hide Yuki and the Golden Age of TV Cartoon Theme Songs (ヒデ夕樹とテレビまんが主題歌の黄金期), written by Hikaru Kenmochi, was published in 2021.
Shinichi Chiba (Japanese: 千葉 真一, Hepburn: Chiba Shin'ichi; born Sadaho Maeda; 22 January 1939 – 19 August 2021) IPA…
Shinichi Chiba (Japanese: 千葉 真一, Hepburn: Chiba Shin'ichi; born Sadaho Maeda; 22 January 1939 – 19 August 2021) IPA: [tɕiꜜba ɕiɰ̃itɕi], known internationally as Sonny Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later to an international audience. Born in Fukuoka, Chiba played a variety of sports in high school, including baseball and volleyball. He also practiced gymnastics and participated at the National Sports Festival of Japan in his third year. When he was a university student, he learned martial arts, earning a black belt in Kyokushin Karate in 1965 and later receiving a fourth degree in 1984. Chiba's career began in the 1960s, when he starred in two tokusatsu superhero shows. In his first role, he replaced Susumu Wajima as the main character Kōtarō Ran/Seven Color Mask in Seven Color Mask (Nana-iro Kamen) in the second half of the series. However, his breakthrough role was in the 1974 film The Street Fighter. Before retiring, Chiba had also appeared in a number of English language American films, including Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006). Chiba died of COVID-19 complications at the hospital in Tokyo on 19 August 2021, at the age of 82.
Tetsurō Sagawa (瑳川 哲朗, Sagawa Tetsurō; January 22, 1937 – February 17, 2021) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from…
Tetsurō Sagawa (瑳川 哲朗, Sagawa Tetsurō; January 22, 1937 – February 17, 2021) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tateyama, Chiba. He was a graduate of Waseda University.
Haruo Oka (岡晴夫, Oka Haruo; January 12, 1916 – May 19, 1970), real name Tatsuo Sasaki (佐々木 辰夫, Sasaki Tatsuo), was a…
Haruo Oka (岡晴夫, Oka Haruo; January 12, 1916 – May 19, 1970), real name Tatsuo Sasaki (佐々木 辰夫, Sasaki Tatsuo), was a Japanese ryūkōka singer. He studied music as an enka-shi or a street musician. At that time, he was encouraged by Taro Shoji in Ginza. He signed with King Records in 1938. He debuted with song "Kokkyō no Haru" (国境の春, lit. "Spring at the Border") in 1939. He married Kiyoko Okuda in 1940. In 1944, during the Pacific War, he was dispatched to Ambon Island, but soon returned due to sickness. After the war, his popularity grew, and he starred in Akogare no Hawaii kōro with Hibari Misora. However, he never performed at the Kohaku Uta Gassen partly because he attached importance to live performances.
Eiko Ishibashi (石橋 英子, Ishibashi Eiko) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician. She composed the scores for the…
Eiko Ishibashi (石橋 英子, Ishibashi Eiko) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician. She composed the scores for the films Drive My Car (2021) and Evil Does Not Exist (2023).
Yōko Oginome (荻野目 洋子, Oginome Yōko; born December 10, 1968 in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan), married name Yōko…
Yōko Oginome (荻野目 洋子, Oginome Yōko; born December 10, 1968 in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan), married name Yōko Tsujino (辻野 洋子, Tsujino Yōko), is a former pop idol, actress and voice actress, who gained popularity in the mid-1980s. Her fans often call her Oginome-chan. Her husband is Ryuso Tsujino. Oginome is affiliated with Rising Production.
Mai Kuraki (倉木 麻衣, Kuraki Mai) (born October 28, 1982) is a Japanese pop and R&B singer. After releasing her US debut…
Mai Kuraki (倉木 麻衣, Kuraki Mai) (born October 28, 1982) is a Japanese pop and R&B singer. After releasing her US debut single "Baby I Like" in 1999, Kuraki signed with Giza Studio and released her Japanese debut single "Love, Day After Tomorrow" in 1999. In 2000, she released her debut album, Delicious Way, which debuted at number-one and sold over 2.2 million copies in its first week. The album has spawned four top-three singles, "Love, Day After Tomorrow", "Stay by My Side", "Secret of My Heart", and "Never Gonna Give You Up". Eventually, the album sold over 3.5 million copies nationwide and became the best-selling album in Japan of 2000, and has been the ninth best-selling album in Japan of all-time. Her second album, Perfect Crime (2001) debuted atop in Japan and has sold over 1.3 million copies nationwide. After the success in Japan, Kuraki targeted the American market again, with the English-language studio album Secret of My Heart (2002), however it failed to enter any charts in the United States. Her third Japanese album, Fairy Tale was released in 2002 and topped the Oricon albums chart. The album has spawned one number-one song, "Winter Bells". Her fourth album, If I Believe become her fourth consecutive number-one album in Japan. Her first compilation album, Wish You the Best (2004) sold nearly a million copies and became the seventh best-selling album of 2004 in Japan. Kuraki's succeeding albums, Fuse of Love (2005), Diamond Wave (2006), and One Life (2008) were released to less commercial success. In 2009, Kuraki saw a revival in her popularity with the increased television appearances and the promotion. Her eighth studio album, Touch Me!, debuted atop in Japan, becoming her first number-one album in five years. Her second compilation album, All My Best (2009) topped the chart in Japan, making her one of the two artists who sent two albums at the top spot on the chart in the year. Her next studio albums, Future Kiss (2010) and Over the Rainbow (2012) both reached top three in Japan. Her third compilation album, Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope (2014) managed to peak at number two in Japan and became the ninety-fifth best-selling album in Japan of the year. Her eleventh studio album, Smile (2017) sold less than her previous albums, partly due to the lack of the promotion. Released in 2017, the single "Togetsukyo (Kimi Omou)" peaked at number two in Japan and became the best-selling single for a solo female artist in 2017. The single marked Kuraki's second revival in charts, succeeded by the compilation album, Mai Kuraki x Meitantei Conan Collaboration Best 21: Shinjitsu wa Itsumo Uta ni Aru! (2017), which peaked at number four in Japan and charted on the year-end album chart in 2017 and 2018. Her twelfth and thirteenth albums, Kimi Omou: Shunkashūtō (2018) and Let's Goal!: Barairo no Jinsei (2019) were both moderate success, reaching top three in Japan. Her fifth compilation album, Mai Kuraki Single Collection: Chance for You was released in 2019, in celebration of her 20th anniversary. In 2021, Kuraki released her fourteenth studio album Unconditional Love, which peaked at number four in Japan and spawned a number-one single "Zero kara Hajimete". Her first extended play Forever for You was released in 2024 to commercial success, reaching number three in Japan. Kuraki is best known for singing theme songs for the Japanese television anime series, Case Closed aka detective conan. As of October 2020, she has recorded twenty-three songs for the series and earning her a Guinness World Record for singing the most theme songs for the same television series. Kuraki also holds the record for being the only female artist to have all of her singles consecutively debut in the Top 10 since her debut in 1999, and is the 38th best-selling Japanese music artist of all time. To date, Kuraki has seven number-one albums (five originals and two compilations) and two number-one singles.
Hinata Kashiwagi (柏木 ひなた, Kashiwagi Hinata; born March 29, 1999) is a Japanese singer, and a former member of the…
Hinata Kashiwagi (柏木 ひなた, Kashiwagi Hinata; born March 29, 1999) is a Japanese singer, and a former member of the female idol group Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku.