Nao Shikata (四方 菜穂, Shikata Nao; born November 5, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan…Nao Shikata (四方 菜穂, Shikata Nao; born November 5, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Akira Nishio (西尾 明, Nishio Akira; born September 30, 1979) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan. He is…Akira Nishio (西尾 明, Nishio Akira; born September 30, 1979) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan. He is a former executive director of the Japan Shogi Association. Nishio introduces shogi theory in the English language through his blog Shogi Openings and his occasional posts on Facebook.
Takumi Beppu (別府匠, Beppu Takumi; born September 9, 1979 in Chigasaki, Kanagawa) is a Japanese former racing cyclist…Takumi Beppu (別府匠, Beppu Takumi; born September 9, 1979 in Chigasaki, Kanagawa) is a Japanese former racing cyclist, who currently works as a directeur sportif for UCI Continental team Aisan Racing Team. His younger brother Fumiyuki Beppu is also former professional cyclist.
Kenichiro Teratsuji (寺辻健一郎; Teratsuji Kenichiro, born September 28, 1979, in Yokohama, Japan), better known by his…Kenichiro Teratsuji (寺辻健一郎; Teratsuji Kenichiro, born September 28, 1979, in Yokohama, Japan), better known by his stage names Kenchi Tachibana (橘ケンチ) or simply KENCHI, is a Japanese dancer and actor. He is a member of J-Pop groups Exile and Exile The Second. He was also member of J Soul Brothers' second generation Nidaime J Soul Brothers until their migration to Exile in 2009. He is represented with LDH and also acts as a representative of LDH Asia.
Tsuyoshi Kawagishi (川岸 強, Kawagishi Tsuyoshi; born September 12, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball…Tsuyoshi Kawagishi (川岸 強, Kawagishi Tsuyoshi; born September 12, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who currently serves as the pitching coach for the Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Tomoyoshi Ono (小野 智吉, Ono Tomoyoshi; born August 12, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. he is the current…Tomoyoshi Ono (小野 智吉, Ono Tomoyoshi; born August 12, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. he is the current assistant manager J1 League club of Yokohama FC.
Ryo Asai (浅井 良, Asai Ryō) (born July 19, 1979) is a former baseball player in Japan. Asai primarily played with the…Ryo Asai (浅井 良, Asai Ryō) (born July 19, 1979) is a former baseball player in Japan. Asai primarily played with the Hanshin Tigers in the Central League. He also played baseball for the Waikiki BeachBoys.
Mayumi Ōuchi (大内麻由美, Ōuchi Mayumi; born 16 May 1979) is a Japanese professional darts player who plays in World Darts…Mayumi Ōuchi (大内麻由美, Ōuchi Mayumi; born 16 May 1979) is a Japanese professional darts player who plays in World Darts Federation (WDF) and other national events. She is a six-time Japan Open champion and she represented her country ten times at the World Masters, where she advanced to the semi-finals in 2022. One of the most successful darts players from Japan and the first WDF World Cup women medalist from this country.
Shigeya Suzuki (鈴木茂也, Suzuki Shigeya, born May 5, 1979), more commonly known under his pseudonym Akihito Tsukushi…Shigeya Suzuki (鈴木茂也, Suzuki Shigeya, born May 5, 1979), more commonly known under his pseudonym Akihito Tsukushi (つくしあきひと, Tsukushi Akihito), is a Japanese illustrator, manga artist, and designer from Sagamihara, Kanagawa. Suzuki also goes by the name Ichimi Tokusa (とくさ一味, Tokusa Ichimi).
Okamoto Yukiko (岡元夕紀子, Okamoto Yukiko; born 5 May 1979 in Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese actress. She was given a…Okamoto Yukiko (岡元夕紀子, Okamoto Yukiko; born 5 May 1979 in Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese actress. She was given a Best New Talent award at the 1998 Yokohama Film Festival.
Yusuke Kamiji (上地 雄輔, Kamiji Yūsuke; born April 18, 1979 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan as the first born) is…Yusuke Kamiji (上地 雄輔, Kamiji Yūsuke; born April 18, 1979 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan as the first born) is a Japanese actor, singer, and tarento. In the music world, he is known simply as Yusuke (遊助, Yūsuke).
Keiichi Hirano (平野 恵一, born April 7, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and current manager for…Keiichi Hirano (平野 恵一, born April 7, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and current manager for the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes and Hanshin Tigers from 2002 to 2015.
Ryusuke Hamaguchi (濱口 竜介, Hamaguchi Ryūsuke; [hamaꜜɡɯtɕi ɾʲɯꜜːsɯ̥ke] ; born 16 December 1978) is a Japanese filmmaker.…Ryusuke Hamaguchi (濱口 竜介, Hamaguchi Ryūsuke; [hamaꜜɡɯtɕi ɾʲɯꜜːsɯ̥ke] ; born 16 December 1978) is a Japanese filmmaker. An alumnus of the University of Tokyo and Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, he first gained international recognition for Happy Hour (2015), Asako I & II (2018) and Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (2021), which premiered in the main competitions of Locarno, Cannes, and Berlin respectively. For Drive My Car (2021), Hamaguchi was nominated at the 94th Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay; the film was the first Japanese production to be nominated for Best Picture, and it won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Following Drive My Car, Hamaguchi wrote and directed the critically acclaimed films Evil Does Not Exist (2023), which won the Grand Jury Prize at Venice, and All of a Sudden (2026), which won the award for Best Actress at Cannes.
Tomoya Nagase (長瀬 智也, Nagase Tomoya; born November 7, 1978) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, and model. He was a…Tomoya Nagase (長瀬 智也, Nagase Tomoya; born November 7, 1978) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, and model. He was a member of Tokio, a Johnny & Associates musical group. He was the primary vocalist, in addition to playing the guitar alongside Tokio's leader, Shigeru Joshima.
Keitaro Konnai (近内 圭太郎, Konnai Keitarō; born August 5, 1978 in Kanagawa) is a retired male backstroke swimmer from…Keitaro Konnai (近内 圭太郎, Konnai Keitarō; born August 5, 1978 in Kanagawa) is a retired male backstroke swimmer from Japan. He represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
Masamichi Yamamoto (山本 雅道, Yamamoto Masamichi; born August 4, 1978 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa) is a Japanese former…Masamichi Yamamoto (山本 雅道, Yamamoto Masamichi; born August 4, 1978 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa) is a Japanese former professional cyclist.
Masahiko Morino (森野 将彦, Morino Masahiko; born July 28, 1978 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture) is a former Japanese…Masahiko Morino (森野 将彦, Morino Masahiko; born July 28, 1978 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture) is a former Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He also played for Team Japan at the 2008 Olympics. Morino retired in 2017 and served as the Dragons' second team batting coach until the end of the 2019 season.
Takashi Miki (三木 隆司, Miki Takashi; born July 23, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is the current…Takashi Miki (三木 隆司, Miki Takashi; born July 23, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is the current assistant manager of Nagoya Grampus.
Kotaro Koizumi (小泉 孝太郎, Koizumi Kōtarō; born July 10, 1978) is a Japanese actor and the eldest son of the 56th Japanese…Kotaro Koizumi (小泉 孝太郎, Koizumi Kōtarō; born July 10, 1978) is a Japanese actor and the eldest son of the 56th Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, and Kayoko Miyamoto, he is the older brother of Japanese Defense Minister Shinjirou Koizumi. Born in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, he studied economics at night classes of Nihon University, but dropped out.
Yoshio Akeboshi (明星嘉男, Akeboshi Yoshio), mononymously known as Akeboshi (アケボシ), is a Japanese folk singer. He is mainly…Yoshio Akeboshi (明星嘉男, Akeboshi Yoshio), mononymously known as Akeboshi (アケボシ), is a Japanese folk singer. He is mainly known for the song "Wind", used as an ending theme for the first season of the anime Naruto. Akeboshi was born on July 1, 1978, in Yokohama. He learned to play the piano when he was three years old, later learning to play the guitar. He studied music in Liverpool, and his time there has heavily influenced his music. Before his major debut, he produced two of the songs on Matsu Takako's fourth album, A piece of life.
Shunsuke Nakamura (Japanese: 中村 俊輔, Hepburn: Nakamura Shunsuke; born 24 June 1978) is a Japanese former professional…Shunsuke Nakamura (Japanese: 中村 俊輔, Hepburn: Nakamura Shunsuke; born 24 June 1978) is a Japanese former professional footballer. He is currently working as an assistant coach of the Japan national football team. He is the only person to have been named J.League Most Valuable Player more than once, receiving the award in 2000 and 2013. Renowned as one of Japan's greatest ever footballers, Nakamura was known for his free-kicks; Steve Perryman once remarked that Nakamura "could open a tin of beans with his left foot". Nakamura began his professional career with J1 League club Yokohama Marinos in 1997, eventually making 338 league appearances during two spells at the club totalling just over twelve seasons. In between his spells at Marinos, Nakamura played in Europe with Espanyol, Celtic, and Reggina. During his time at Celtic, he became one of the best Asian players to have ever played in Europe; he was nominated for the 2007 Ballon d'Or, was named Scottish Player of the Year and SFWA Footballer of the Year in 2007, and became the first Japanese player to score in the UEFA Champions League. His team accomplishments at Celtic include winning the Scottish Premier League in 2006, 2007, and 2008, the Scottish League Cup in 2006 and 2009, and the Scottish Cup in 2007. Nakamura has 98 caps and 24 goals for the Japan national football team, including appearances in the FIFA World Cup finals in 2006 and 2010 and winning the AFC Asian Cup in 2000 and 2004; he was named Most Valuable Player of the 2004 competition. He also appeared in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship as a member of the Japan under-20 team and the 2000 Summer Olympics as a member of the Japan under-23 team.
Tomoaki Satoh (佐藤 友亮, Satō Tomoaki; born in Fujisawa, Kanagawa) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He is…Tomoaki Satoh (佐藤 友亮, Satō Tomoaki; born in Fujisawa, Kanagawa) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He is currently with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. In 2008, he was selected Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Asia Series.
Hideki Sahara (佐原 秀樹, Sahara Hideki; born May 15, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is currently the…Hideki Sahara (佐原 秀樹, Sahara Hideki; born May 15, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is currently the assistant manager of J1 League club, Kawasaki Frontale.
Yūsuke Kozaki (Japanese: コザキユースケ, Hepburn: Kozaki Yūsuke; born May 12, 1978) is a Japanese manga artist and character…Yūsuke Kozaki (Japanese: コザキユースケ, Hepburn: Kozaki Yūsuke; born May 12, 1978) is a Japanese manga artist and character designer.
Kazuyuki Toda (戸田 和幸, Toda Kazuyuki; born 30 December 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former…Kazuyuki Toda (戸田 和幸, Toda Kazuyuki; born 30 December 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder or defender. He played for the Japan national team until 2002.
Shūhei Izumi (和泉 宗兵, Izumi Shūhei; born October 11, 1977, in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor…Shūhei Izumi (和泉 宗兵, Izumi Shūhei; born October 11, 1977, in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor who has appeared in a number of television series and stage plays. He is affiliated with Seinenza Theater Company. His real name and former stage name was Tomohide Koizumi (小泉 朋英, Koizumi Tomohide). His nickname was Dehi (デヒ). He graduated from Tokai University.
Atsushi Tsutsumishita (堤下 敦, Tsutsumishita Atsushi; born 9 September 1977, in Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa…Atsushi Tsutsumishita (堤下 敦, Tsutsumishita Atsushi; born 9 September 1977, in Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese comedian. He performs tsukkomi in the double act Impulse. His partner is Toshiyuki Itakura. Tsutsumishita is represented with Yoshimoto Creative Agency.
Chinatsu Matsui (松井千夏, Matsui Chinatsu; born 8 August 1977 in Kawasaki) is a professional squash player who represents…Chinatsu Matsui (松井千夏, Matsui Chinatsu; born 8 August 1977 in Kawasaki) is a professional squash player who represents Japan. She reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 50 in September 2007.
Hiroki Hajikano (初鹿野裕樹, Hajikano Hiroki, also known as Hiroki Hatsukano) is a Japanese politician and former Tokyo…Hiroki Hajikano (初鹿野裕樹, Hajikano Hiroki, also known as Hiroki Hatsukano) is a Japanese politician and former Tokyo Metropolitan Police officer. He is a member of the House of Councillors representing the Kanagawa at-large district, elected in 2025 as a candidate of Sanseito, a right-wing party.
Yukiya Yokoyama (横山 道哉, Yokoyama Yukiya; born June 1, 1977 in Ebina, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Yukiya Yokoyama (横山 道哉, Yokoyama Yukiya; born June 1, 1977 in Ebina, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Sayaka Osakabe (小酒部 さやか, Osakabe Sayaka; born May 29, 1977) is a Japanese women's rights activist and politician. She…Sayaka Osakabe (小酒部 さやか, Osakabe Sayaka; born May 29, 1977) is a Japanese women's rights activist and politician. She is known for popularizing the term: "matahara" (referring to the act of harassing pregnant employees and forcing them to quit their position at work) and raising awareness in Japan that acts of matahara are illegal. She was a 2015 winner of the US State Department's International Women of Courage Award. In April 2023, Osakabe was elected to the City Assembly of Yokohama, representing the Aoba Ward.
Yukinori Suzuki (鈴木裕紀, Suzuki Yukinori) is a Japanese professional basketball coach and former player, currently…Yukinori Suzuki (鈴木裕紀, Suzuki Yukinori) is a Japanese professional basketball coach and former player, currently serving as the head coach for the Iwate Big Bulls of the B.League. Prior to Iwate, he coached the Shimane Susanoo Magic. Suzuki played college basketball for Nippon Sport Science University. He was selected by the Oita Heat Devils with the 10th pick in the 2005 bj league draft.
Daisuke Sudo (須藤 大輔, Sudō Daisuke; born April 25, 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player…Daisuke Sudo (須藤 大輔, Sudō Daisuke; born April 25, 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player, who is manager of J2 League club Yokohama FC.
Hirokazu Ueno (上野 裕和, Ueno Hirokazu; April 13, 1977) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the…Hirokazu Ueno (上野 裕和, Ueno Hirokazu; April 13, 1977) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 6-dan, and a former executive director of the Japan Shogi Association (JSA).
