Yōsuke "Yōsukezan" Nishijima (西島 洋介, Nishijima Yōsuke; born May 15, 1973) is a Japanese professional boxer who has also…Yōsuke "Yōsukezan" Nishijima (西島 洋介, Nishijima Yōsuke; born May 15, 1973) is a Japanese professional boxer who has also competed in kickboxing and mixed martial arts.
Erika Haneda (羽田恵理香, Haneda Erika; born 7 March 1973) is a J-pop singer, and a member of the group CoCo. She was born…Erika Haneda (羽田恵理香, Haneda Erika; born 7 March 1973) is a J-pop singer, and a member of the group CoCo. She was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1973. Her solo debut was on 21 September 1991. She changed the spelling of her name to はねだえりか and はねだ・えりか.
Takahiro Kimino (君野 貴弘, Kimino Takahiro; born 19 February 1973 in Hachiōji) is a Japanese retired high jumper. His…Takahiro Kimino (君野 貴弘, Kimino Takahiro; born 19 February 1973 in Hachiōji) is a Japanese retired high jumper. His personal best jump is 2.32 metres, achieved in September 1993 in Fukuoka. This is the former Japanese record and current Japanese university record. He competed at the 1999 World Championships without reaching the final.
Yuka Sato (佐藤 有香, Satō Yuka; born February 14, 1973) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater and choreographer.…Yuka Sato (佐藤 有香, Satō Yuka; born February 14, 1973) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater and choreographer. She is the 1994 World champion, the 1990 World Junior champion and the 1993 & 1994 Japanese national champion. She placed 7th at the 1992 Winter Olympics and 5th at the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Maki Miyamae (宮前 真樹, Miyamae Maki; born 16 January 1973) is a Japanese pop singer, and the oldest member of the group…Maki Miyamae (宮前 真樹, Miyamae Maki; born 16 January 1973) is a Japanese pop singer, and the oldest member of the group Coco. She was born in Tōkamachi, Niigata, but grew up in Tokyo. Miyamae was a member of Coco from September 1989 until the group's dissolution in 1994. She worked as a solo singer for a while but she left the entertainment industry in 2004 to attend Le Cordon Bleu. She is now a professional chef and food education instructor, running her own restaurant, "CAFE RESTAURANT M.NATURE", in Aoyama, Tokyo.
Matsumoto Kōshirō X (十代目 松本幸四郎, Jūdaime Matsumoto Kōshirō; born January 8, 1973 in Tokyo) is a Japanese actor and…Matsumoto Kōshirō X (十代目 松本幸四郎, Jūdaime Matsumoto Kōshirō; born January 8, 1973 in Tokyo) is a Japanese actor and kabuki actor. His yagō is the Kōraiya. His mon is the Mitsu Ichō, and his kaemon (the alternative emblem) is Yotsu Hana-bishi. His buyō name is Matsumoto Kinshō (松本 錦升). His real name is Terumasa Fujima (藤間 照薫, Fujima Terumasa).
Kozo Takeda (Japanese: 武田幸三 Japanese pronunciation: [takeda koːzoː]; born December 27, 1972) is a Japanese actor and…Kozo Takeda (Japanese: 武田幸三 Japanese pronunciation: [takeda koːzoː]; born December 27, 1972) is a Japanese actor and former welterweight kickboxer who was competing in K-1 MAX. He won Rajadamnern Stadium champion at welterweight in Muay Thai on January 21, 2001. He has made both the Welterweight and Super Welterweight Rajadamnern Stadium rankings. He is currently a chief adviser of International Sohgoh Budo Federation (ISBF) and he was certified as black belt of the 5th dan in karate by ISBF.
Yuri Ichii (市井 由理, Ichii Yuri; born December 20, 1972) is a Japanese pop idol and rapper, best known for being a member…Yuri Ichii (市井 由理, Ichii Yuri; born December 20, 1972) is a Japanese pop idol and rapper, best known for being a member in the breakthrough Japanese hip hop trio, East End X Yuri. She was also a singer with the revolving-door group Tokyo Performance Doll (TPD) alongside Ryoko Shinohara. She was part of TPD for a while but sought to do something different, deciding to try rap. Ichii began practicing her rapping in preparation for a solo show with her friend Gaku, who was a part of the group East End. In February 1994 when Gaku performed with Yuri for part of her show, she was seen by File Records (the independent record label that signed East End). They were impressed with her and decided to sign them together for a mini-album. Ichii is a pioneer for women in Japanese hip hop.
Makiko Sanada (真田マキ子, Sanada Makiko; born 25 November 1972) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in six events at the…Makiko Sanada (真田マキ子, Sanada Makiko; born 25 November 1972) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in six events at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Mie Nanamori (七森 美江, Nanamori Mie; born 16 October 1972) is a Japanese former actress and tarento. She was represented…Mie Nanamori (七森 美江, Nanamori Mie; born 16 October 1972) is a Japanese former actress and tarento. She was represented with Sadeeca.
Claude Maki (真木蔵人, Maki Kurōdo) (born October 3, 1972) is a Japanese surfing and flight champion, actor and hip hop…Claude Maki (真木蔵人, Maki Kurōdo) (born October 3, 1972) is a Japanese surfing and flight champion, actor and hip hop singer, under the stage name A.K.T.I.O.N., from Akasaka, Tokyo. He is the eldest son of actor and singer Mike Maki. His mother is Bibari Maeda (前田 美波里, Maeda Bibari), a Japanese-American actress.
Ken Watabe (渡部建, Watabe Ken; born 23 September 1972), is a Japanese comedian and television presenter. He performs…Ken Watabe (渡部建, Watabe Ken; born 23 September 1972), is a Japanese comedian and television presenter. He performs tsukkomi in the comedy duo "Unjash" with his partner Kazuya Kojima. Watabe currently serves as a co-MC with Chisato Moritaka in the Fuji TV program Love Music.
Masataka Endoh (遠藤 政隆, Endō Masataka) is a former professional baseball player in Japan. He played for the Chunichi…Masataka Endoh (遠藤 政隆, Endō Masataka) is a former professional baseball player in Japan. He played for the Chunichi Dragons in the Japan Central League He was born in Tokyo, Japan.
Kenta Fukasaku (深作 健太, Fukasaku Kenta; born September 15, 1972) is a Japanese filmmaker and screenwriter. He is the son…Kenta Fukasaku (深作 健太, Fukasaku Kenta; born September 15, 1972) is a Japanese filmmaker and screenwriter. He is the son of film director Kinji Fukasaku and actress Sanae Nakahara.
Mikihiro Ogawa (小川 幹弘, Ogawa Mikihiro; born 14 September 1972), better known by the stage name Shidō Nakamura II (二代目…Mikihiro Ogawa (小川 幹弘, Ogawa Mikihiro; born 14 September 1972), better known by the stage name Shidō Nakamura II (二代目 中村 獅童, Nidaime Nakamura Shidō), is a Japanese kabuki and film actor.
Yasuyuki Saigo (西郷 泰之, Saigō Yasuyuki) (born August 30, 1972) is a Japanese former baseball outfielder who won a silver…Yasuyuki Saigo (西郷 泰之, Saigō Yasuyuki) (born August 30, 1972) is a Japanese former baseball outfielder who won a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Anna Umemiya (梅宮 アンナ, Umemiya Anna; born August 20, 1972) is a Japanese television personality and model. Born in…Anna Umemiya (梅宮 アンナ, Umemiya Anna; born August 20, 1972) is a Japanese television personality and model. Born in Tokyo, she is the daughter of a Japanese father and an American mother, herself a former model. Her father, Tatsuo Umemiya, was an actor, and former original Iron Chef judge. Umemiya has a daughter, Momoka, by her former husband, identified only as "Mr C", whom she divorced on 28 January 2003 after an 18-month marriage.
Takanohana Kōji (Japanese: 貴乃花 光司, Hepburn: Takanohana Kōji; born August 12, 1972, as Kōji Hanada (花田 光司, Hanada Kōji))…Takanohana Kōji (Japanese: 貴乃花 光司, Hepburn: Takanohana Kōji; born August 12, 1972, as Kōji Hanada (花田 光司, Hanada Kōji)) is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler and coach. He was the 65th man in history to reach sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, and he won 22 tournament championships between 1992 and 2001, the sixth highest total ever. The son of a popular ōzeki ranked wrestler from the 1970s, Takanohana's rise through the ranks alongside his elder brother Wakanohana and his rivalry with the foreign born yokozuna Akebono saw interest in sumo and attendance at tournaments soar during the early 1990s. Takanohana was the youngest ever to reach the top division at just 17, and he set a number of other age-related records. He had a solid but aggressive style, looking to get a right hand grip on his opponents' mawashi and move them quickly out of the ring. He won over half his bouts by a straightforward yorikiri, or force out. In his later career he suffered increasingly from injuries, and he retired in January 2003 at the age of 30. He became the head coach of Takanohana stable in 2004 and was on the board of directors of the Japan Sumo Association from 2010 until January 2018, when he was removed and demoted in the Sumo Association's hierarchy. He resigned from the Sumo Association in September 2018.
Tatsuya Murata (村田 達哉, Murata Tatsuya; born August 8, 1972) is a former Japanese football player and manager He is the…Tatsuya Murata (村田 達哉, Murata Tatsuya; born August 8, 1972) is a former Japanese football player and manager He is the currently assistant manager Japan Football League club Briobecca Urayasu.
Kazuya Kojima (児嶋 一哉, Kojima Kazuya; born 16 July 1972, in Hachiōji, Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian and actor. He…Kazuya Kojima (児嶋 一哉, Kojima Kazuya; born 16 July 1972, in Hachiōji, Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian and actor. He performs boke (he can also perform Kire Gei or tsukkomi) in the comedy duo Unjash with his partner Ken Watabe. Kojima's most well known gag is the mispronunciation or mistake of his last name "Kojima", as he is frequently called other names on purpose such as "Ooshima" for comedic effects. He would then loudly respond to the mistake with "I'm Kojima!" as a part of the gag.
Takeshi Kawakami (川上 猛, Kawakami Takeshi; born July 12, 1972) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who…Takeshi Kawakami (川上 猛, Kawakami Takeshi; born July 12, 1972) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 7-dan.
Kenichiro Arai (新井 健一郎, Arai Ken'ichirō; born July 7, 1972) is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for his time…Kenichiro Arai (新井 健一郎, Arai Ken'ichirō; born July 7, 1972) is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for his time with the Japanese promotion Dragon Gate.
Satoru Tanigawa (谷川 聡, Tanigawa Satoru; born 5 July 1972 in Tokyo) is a retired Japanese athlete who specialised in the…Satoru Tanigawa (谷川 聡, Tanigawa Satoru; born 5 July 1972 in Tokyo) is a retired Japanese athlete who specialised in the 110 metres hurdles. He represented his country at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics reaching the second round on both occasions. His personal best of 13.39 (+1.5 m/s), set in the heats of the 2004 Olympic Games, is the current national record.
Tomio Okamura (岡村 富夫, Okamura Tomio; born 4 July 1972) is a Japanese-born Czech far-right politician and entrepreneur…Tomio Okamura (岡村 富夫, Okamura Tomio; born 4 July 1972) is a Japanese-born Czech far-right politician and entrepreneur, serving as the president of the Chamber of Deputies since November 2025. Okamura was the founder of the political parties Dawn of Direct Democracy and Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD). He has been a member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2013. Okamura served in the Senate representing Zlín from 2012 to 2013.
Kyoko Seo (瀬尾京子, Seo Kyōko; born 28 June 1972) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in five events at the 1992 Summer…Kyoko Seo (瀬尾京子, Seo Kyōko; born 28 June 1972) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in five events at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Asako Tajimi (多治見麻子 Tajimi Asako, born 26 June 1972) is a Japanese former volleyball player and three-time Olympian.…Asako Tajimi (多治見麻子 Tajimi Asako, born 26 June 1972) is a Japanese former volleyball player and three-time Olympian. She competed with the Japanese women's national volleyball team at the 1992, 1996, and 2008 Olympics. Tajimi helped Japan win the bronze medal at the 1994 Goodwill Games in Saint Petersburg.
Yukari Kawamoto (Japanese: 川本 ゆかり, born June 13, 1970, Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan) is a retired Japanese individual rhythmic…Yukari Kawamoto (Japanese: 川本 ゆかり, born June 13, 1970, Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan) is a retired Japanese individual rhythmic gymnast. She was the first rhythmic gymnastics Asian Games champion in 1994, was a five-time national champion, and competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Hirofumi Suga (菅 宏文 Suga Hirofumi; born 31 May 1972) is a Japanese garden designer (called 庭師 “niwashi” in Japanese)…Hirofumi Suga (菅 宏文 Suga Hirofumi; born 31 May 1972) is a Japanese garden designer (called 庭師 “niwashi” in Japanese) and landscape architect, and is currently the CEO of 1moku Landscape Design and Research and 1moku Spain S.L. Some of his notable works include the rooftop garden design for Shanghai Grand Cinema, the Japanese Garden of Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, and the garden of Taiko-en.
Hikari Ishida (Japanese: 石田ひかり, Hepburn: Ishida Hikari) (born May 25, 1972) is a Japanese actress. She starred along…Hikari Ishida (Japanese: 石田ひかり, Hepburn: Ishida Hikari) (born May 25, 1972) is a Japanese actress. She starred along with Megumi Odaka and Natsuki Ozawa in the TV-series Hana no Asuka-gumi!. She also released several singles and six albums and she had one minor hit with the song "Emerald no Suna". Ishida also made numerous commercials for hair products and released several photobooks and videos. Ishida has had at least one song appear on the NHK program Minna no Uta. She is the younger sister of Yuriko Ishida, who is also an actress.
Izam (stylized as IZAM, born 23 April 1972, in Fuchū, Tokyo) is a Japanese musician, tarento, and actor. His real name…Izam (stylized as IZAM, born 23 April 1972, in Fuchū, Tokyo) is a Japanese musician, tarento, and actor. His real name is Yoshikazu Hine (日根 良和, Hine Yoshikazu). He is best known as the singer of the visual kei rock band Shazna. He graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Matsugatani High School. He is represented with Sun Music Production. He is the president of the Benibara Usagi-dan.
Kenichi Yoshizumi (吉住 健一, Yoshizumi Ken'ichi; born 22 April 1972) is a Japanese politician serving as the current mayor…Kenichi Yoshizumi (吉住 健一, Yoshizumi Ken'ichi; born 22 April 1972) is a Japanese politician serving as the current mayor of Shinjuku, one of the special wards of Tokyo, since 2014.
Natsuki Ozawa (Japanese: 小沢 なつき, Hepburn: Ozawa Natsuki) (born April 19, 1972) is a Japanese singer, actress and AV…Natsuki Ozawa (Japanese: 小沢 なつき, Hepburn: Ozawa Natsuki) (born April 19, 1972) is a Japanese singer, actress and AV actress who has appeared in mainstream films and adult videos.
Yuichi Nishimura (西村 雄一, Nishimura Yūichi; born 17 April 1972) is a Japanese football referee. He has refereed in the…Yuichi Nishimura (西村 雄一, Nishimura Yūichi; born 17 April 1972) is a Japanese football referee. He has refereed in the Japanese J. League Division 1 since 1999 and has been a full international referee for FIFA since 2004. He refereed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he was appointed to several prestigious matches, including as fourth official on the final. He also refereed the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup between hosts Brazil and Croatia, and the second leg of the 2014 AFC Champions League final between Al Hilal and Western Sydney Wanderers.
Kuniko Obinata (大日方 邦子, Obinata Kuniko) (born April 16, 1972) is a Paralympic alpine skier from Japan. She has competed…Kuniko Obinata (大日方 邦子, Obinata Kuniko) (born April 16, 1972) is a Paralympic alpine skier from Japan. She has competed at every Winter Paralympic Games since 1994, winning a total of two gold, three silver, and three bronze medals up to 2006. At the 2010 Winter Paralympics, she won two bronze medals in the women's sitting class of slalom and giant slalom.
Junichi Suwabe (諏訪部 順一, Suwabe Jun'ichi; born March 29, 1972) is a Japanese voice actor from Tokyo. He is affiliated…Junichi Suwabe (諏訪部 順一, Suwabe Jun'ichi; born March 29, 1972) is a Japanese voice actor from Tokyo. He is affiliated with Haikyō. His popular roles include Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez in Bleach, Omega Zero in Megaman Zero 3, Keigo Atobe in The Prince of Tennis, Victor Nikiforov in Yuri!!! on ICE, Freed Justine in Fairy Tail, Masataka Ninomiya in World Trigger, Yami Sukehiro in Black Clover, Sentinel Prime in Transformers: Animated and Transformers One, Ryomen Sukuna in Jujutsu Kaisen, Archer in Fate/stay night, Ren Jinguji in Uta no Prince-sama, Undertaker in Black Butler, Leone Abbacchio in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, Daiki Aomine in Kuroko's Basketball, Jurota Shishida and Shōta Aizawa in My Hero Academia, Dandy in Space Dandy, Bercouli Synthesis One in Sword Art Online, Akira Hayama in Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, Dark Choco Cookie in Cookie Run: Kingdom, Shoei Barou in Blue Lock, Oda Sakunosuke in Bungo Stray Dogs, and Ryoh Grantz in Mashle: Magic and Muscles. He was nominated for a Best Singing Award at the 6th Seiyu Awards, and received a Best Supporting Actor award at the 7th Seiyu Awards. He has also provided dubbing for Korean actor Gong Yoo. He is in a group called PHERO☆MEN (フェロ☆メン) with fellow voice actor Kohsuke Toriumi.
Junichi Yamamoto (山本 淳一, Yamamoto Jun'ichi; born 28 February 1972, in Hachiōji, Tokyo) is a Japanese singer, actor…Junichi Yamamoto (山本 淳一, Yamamoto Jun'ichi; born 28 February 1972, in Hachiōji, Tokyo) is a Japanese singer, actor, tarento, and professional wrestler. He is a former member of Hikaru Genji (later changed the name to Hikaru Genji Super 5). Yamamoto graduated from Hachioji-shi Linnan Middle School and Sumida Industrial High School. He is nicknamed Bungee (バンジー, Banjī) and Jun-kun (淳くん). Yamamoto is currently represented with Wing Run.
Akiko Suwanai (諏訪内 晶子, Suwanai Akiko; born February 7, 1972) is a Japanese classical violinist. At the age of 18, she…Akiko Suwanai (諏訪内 晶子, Suwanai Akiko; born February 7, 1972) is a Japanese classical violinist. At the age of 18, she became the youngest winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1990. In addition, she was awarded second prize in the Paganini Competition in 1988 and Queen Elisabeth Competition in 1989 and is a laureate of the Music Competition of Japan. She has studied with Toshiya Eto at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, with Dorothy DeLay and Cho-Liang Lin at the Juilliard School of Music while at Columbia University, and with Uwe-Martin Haiberg at the Universität der Künste Berlin. Until 2019 she played the 1714 Dolphin Stradivarius, on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation. After it was returned she received the "Charles Reade" Guarneri del Gesù on loan from Japanese collector Ryuji Ueno.
Sachiko Morimura (森村幸子, Morimura Sachiko; born 28 January 1972) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in six events at…Sachiko Morimura (森村幸子, Morimura Sachiko; born 28 January 1972) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in six events at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Terunori Masuho (増保輝則, Masuho Terunori) (born 29 January 1972 in Tokyo) is a former rugby union player who played as a…Terunori Masuho (増保輝則, Masuho Terunori) (born 29 January 1972 in Tokyo) is a former rugby union player who played as a wing and former Kobelco Steelers coach.
Shuntaro Furukawa (古川 俊太郎, Furukawa Shuntarō; born January 10, 1972) is a Japanese executive who currently serves as…Shuntaro Furukawa (古川 俊太郎, Furukawa Shuntarō; born January 10, 1972) is a Japanese executive who currently serves as the president of the video game company Nintendo. He succeeded Tatsumi Kimishima as the company's sixth president in June 2018.