Hiroshi Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木浩, Hepburn: Suzuki Hiroshi; born 5 June 1961) is a Japanese diplomat who has served as…Hiroshi Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木浩, Hepburn: Suzuki Hiroshi; born 5 June 1961) is a Japanese diplomat who has served as Ambassador of Japan to the United Kingdom since September 2024. He previously served as Ambassador of Japan to India and Bhutan from 2022 to 2024.
Koichi Hashiratani (柱谷 幸一, Hashiratani Koichi; born 1 March 1961) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He…Koichi Hashiratani (柱谷 幸一, Hashiratani Koichi; born 1 March 1961) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team. His younger brother Tetsuji Hashiratani is also a former footballer.
Naoyuki Uchida (内田 直行, Uchida Naoyuki; born December 23, 1960), known by his pen name Yukito Ayatsuji (綾辻 行人, Ayatsuji…Naoyuki Uchida (内田 直行, Uchida Naoyuki; born December 23, 1960), known by his pen name Yukito Ayatsuji (綾辻 行人, Ayatsuji Yukito), is a Japanese writer of mystery and horror. He is one of the founders of Honkaku Mystery Writers Club of Japan and one of the representative writers of the new traditionalist movement in Japanese mystery writing. His wife is Fuyumi Ono, a Japanese fantasy and horror writer who is known for her fantasy series The Twelve Kingdoms. His first novel The Decagon House Murders was ranked as the No. 8 novel on the Top 100 Japanese Mystery Novels of All Time. In 2018, a minor planet (2001 RG46) was named as Yukito Ayatsuji.
Yuji Nakae (中江 裕司, Nakae Yūji) is a Japanese film director who specializes in films set in Okinawa, featuring Okinawan…Yuji Nakae (中江 裕司, Nakae Yūji) is a Japanese film director who specializes in films set in Okinawa, featuring Okinawan music, language, themes and atmosphere. He shared the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award for his debut film, Pineapple Tours, which was an omnibus film co-directed with Tsutomu Makiya and Hayashi Tōma. He won the award for Best Director at the 25th Hochi Film Award for Nabbie's Love.
Momiji Yamamura (山村 紅葉, Yamamura Momiji; born 27 October 1960) is a Japanese actress. Her real name is Momiji Yoshikawa…Momiji Yamamura (山村 紅葉, Yamamura Momiji; born 27 October 1960) is a Japanese actress. Her real name is Momiji Yoshikawa (吉川 紅葉, Yoshikawa Momiji; née Yamamura (山村)). Yamamura is represented by Misa Yamamura Office and Toho Entertainment. She is a graduate of Kyoto University of Education Kindergarthen, Elementary School, Junior High, and High School and Waseda University Political Science and Economics. Yamamura's mother was Misa Yamamura and her husband is a former Ministry of Finance bureaucrat. Her uncle is Hiroshi Kimura. Yamamura's hobby is ice skating. Her skills are speaking English, German, and Kyoto words and playing the piano. Yamamura is nicknamed Momi-chan (もみちゃん) and Momiji-san (紅葉さん).
Fumio Iwai (Japanese: 岩井文男) (born 17 July 1960), is a Japanese politician who currently serves as the ambassador of…Fumio Iwai (Japanese: 岩井文男) (born 17 July 1960), is a Japanese politician who currently serves as the ambassador of Japan to Saudi Arabia, and previously served as the Ambassador of Japan to Iraq.
Kazuyoshi Katayama (片山 一良, Katayama Kazuyoshi) is a Japanese animator and director who directed The Big O and the King…Kazuyoshi Katayama (片山 一良, Katayama Kazuyoshi) is a Japanese animator and director who directed The Big O and the King of Thorn film.
Kimiko Ikegami (池上季実子, Ikegami Kimiko; born January 16, 1959) is an American-born Japanese actress. She is best known…Kimiko Ikegami (池上季実子, Ikegami Kimiko; born January 16, 1959) is an American-born Japanese actress. She is best known for playing the lead role of Gorgeous in the 1977 film House.
Yosuke Tagawa (太川 陽介, Tagawa Yōsuke; born 13 January 1959, in Ōmiya, Naka (now Kyōtango), Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a…Yosuke Tagawa (太川 陽介, Tagawa Yōsuke; born 13 January 1959, in Ōmiya, Naka (now Kyōtango), Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor, tarento, and former idol singer. His real name is Ikuo Tsubokura (坪倉 育生, Tsubokura Ikuo). Tagawa is a resident of Chōfu, Tokyo. He is represented by Sun Music Production. Tagawa's wife is actress Kumiko Fujiyoshi.
Naomi Fujiyama (藤山 直美, Fujiyama Naomi; born December 28, 1958) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best…Naomi Fujiyama (藤山 直美, Fujiyama Naomi; born December 28, 1958) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best actress at the 25th Hochi Film Award and at the 22nd Yokohama Film Festival for Face. She is the daughter of leading Japanese comedian Kanbi Fujiyama.
Shoji Nishida (西田 昌司, Nishida Shōji; born September 19, 1958) is a conservative Japanese politician of the Liberal…Shoji Nishida (西田 昌司, Nishida Shōji; born September 19, 1958) is a conservative Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Reiko Terashima (寺島令子, Terashima Reiko) is a Japanese yonkoma manga artist and illustrator born on 8 September 1958 in…Reiko Terashima (寺島令子, Terashima Reiko) is a Japanese yonkoma manga artist and illustrator born on 8 September 1958 in Kyoto, Japan. She graduated from Ritsumeikan University with a degree in psychology, and was a member of the manga club while there. Terashima made her professional debut in 1979 with Children Play (チルドレンプレイ, Chirudoren Purei), published in the manga magazine Young Magazine. She has illustrated multiple cards for the Japanese edition of Magic: The Gathering. Terashima is divorced. She has a close friendship with manga artist and illustrator Naoko Kanazawa, and her younger sister is manga artist Yoshiko Terakawa.
Ryoichi Kawakatsu (川勝 良一, Kawakatsu Ryōichi; born April 5, 1958) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He…Ryoichi Kawakatsu (川勝 良一, Kawakatsu Ryōichi; born April 5, 1958) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Kimie Morita (Japanese: 森田 貴美枝; born 27 February 1958) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1984…Kimie Morita (Japanese: 森田 貴美枝; born 27 February 1958) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Kaizo Hayashi (林 海象, Hayashi Kaizō; born July 15, 1957) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He made his…Kaizo Hayashi (林 海象, Hayashi Kaizō; born July 15, 1957) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He made his directorial debut with To Sleep so as to Dream (1986). He is best known for his neo-noir Maiku Hama trilogy, The Most Terrible Time in My Life (1994), Stairway to the Distant Past (1995) and The Trap (1996). In addition to film, Hayashi served as creative director on the 2000 Konami video game 7 Blades for the PlayStation 2, and was director for two episodes of Power Rangers: Time Force.
Yoshizumi Ishino (石野 良純, Ishino Yoshizumi) is a Japanese molecular biologist, known for discovering the DNA sequence of…Yoshizumi Ishino (石野 良純, Ishino Yoshizumi) is a Japanese molecular biologist, known for discovering the DNA sequence of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR).
Ken'ichi Yamamoto (山本兼一, Yamamoto Ken'ichi; July 23, 1956 – February 13, 2014) was a Japanese writer. After first being…Ken'ichi Yamamoto (山本兼一, Yamamoto Ken'ichi; July 23, 1956 – February 13, 2014) was a Japanese writer. After first being employed by a publisher, Yamamoto, himself, became a full-time writer. In 2004, he won the Seichō Matsumoto Award for Katen no shiro, and in 2009 the Naoki Prize for Rikyū ni Tazune yo. Both books were made into movies. Yamamoto died on February 13, 2014, from lung cancer at the age of 57.
Junichi Ihara (伊原 純一, Ihara Jun'ichi, born 18 April 1956) is a Japanese diplomat who served as Grand Master of…Junichi Ihara (伊原 純一, Ihara Jun'ichi, born 18 April 1956) is a Japanese diplomat who served as Grand Master of Ceremonies for the Imperial Household from 2023 to 2026. He previously served as Ambassador to France and as Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Geneva.
Mikishi Daimon (大門 実紀史, Daimon Mikishi; born January 10, 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Japanese Communist…Mikishi Daimon (大門 実紀史, Daimon Mikishi; born January 10, 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Japanese Communist Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kyoto, Kyoto and dropout of Kobe University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2001 after an unsuccessful run in 1998.
Ichiro Kishimi (岸見 一郎, Kishimi Ichirō) is a Japanese philosopher and psychologist specializing in Western ancient…Ichiro Kishimi (岸見 一郎, Kishimi Ichirō) is a Japanese philosopher and psychologist specializing in Western ancient philosophy and Adlerian psychology. Born in Kyoto Prefecture, he studied at Kyoto University but withdrew from the doctoral program in 1987 to care for his mother. Kishimi has taught at various institutions, including Kyoto University of Education, Konan University, and Nara Women's University. He co-authored the bestseller The Courage to Be Disliked with Fumitake Koga, which has sold over one million copies since its publication in 2013. Since 2017, he has been writing for Courrier Japon and overseeing special features on Adlerian psychology.
Jun Sawada (澤田 純, Sawada Jun, born 30 July 1955) is a Japanese businessman, the Chairman (and former CEO) of Nippon…Jun Sawada (澤田 純, Sawada Jun, born 30 July 1955) is a Japanese businessman, the Chairman (and former CEO) of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), the sixth largest telecommunications company in the world in terms of revenue, since June 2022.
Hideki Maeda (前田 秀樹, Maeda Hideki; born May 13, 1954) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for…Hideki Maeda (前田 秀樹, Maeda Hideki; born May 13, 1954) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Yasuichi Oshima (大島 やすいち, Ōshima Yasuichi; born 24 March 1954 in Kyoto) is a Japanese manga artist. In 1984, he won the…Yasuichi Oshima (大島 やすいち, Ōshima Yasuichi; born 24 March 1954 in Kyoto) is a Japanese manga artist. In 1984, he won the Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen for Bats & Terry. He is the father of manga artist Towa Oshima.
Nobuo Ikeda (池田 信夫, Ikeda Nobuo; born 1953) is a Japanese economist originally from Kyoto Prefecture. He used to be a…Nobuo Ikeda (池田 信夫, Ikeda Nobuo; born 1953) is a Japanese economist originally from Kyoto Prefecture. He used to be a professor at Jobu University until 2012. His current appointments are a visiting professor at SBI Graduate School in Yokohama, Kanagawa, a lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University, and the Chief Executive Officer of Agora Institute.
Kaoru Takamura (髙村 薫, Takamura Kaoru; born 1953) is a Japanese writer from Osaka. She has won numerous Japanese…Kaoru Takamura (髙村 薫, Takamura Kaoru; born 1953) is a Japanese writer from Osaka. She has won numerous Japanese literary awards, including the Mystery Writers of Japan Award, the Japan Adventure Fiction Association Prize, the Naoki Prize, the Yomiuri Prize, and the Noma Literary Prize, and her work has been adapted for film and television.
Takashi Yamaguchi (山口 隆, Takashi Yamaguchi; born February 20, 1953) is a Japanese architect, born in Kyoto. He…Takashi Yamaguchi (山口 隆, Takashi Yamaguchi; born February 20, 1953) is a Japanese architect, born in Kyoto. He graduated from Kyoto University and worked for Tadao Ando and Associates. He founded his own architectural firm, Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates, in 1996. Yamaguchi served as a visiting professor at the Osaka University of Arts in 2005, and in 2009 served as visiting professor at Columbia University and visiting scholar at Harvard. He is a professor at Osaka Sangyo University and a member of the Japan Institute of Architects and the Architectural Institute of Japan. He is an elite member of the Supporters of Romania Research at the Academy of Romanian Scientists. He is also a Regional President of Asia Designer Communication Platform.
Shigeru Miyamoto (Japanese: 宮本 茂, Hepburn: Miyamoto Shigeru; born November 16, 1952) is a Japanese video game designer…Shigeru Miyamoto (Japanese: 宮本 茂, Hepburn: Miyamoto Shigeru; born November 16, 1952) is a Japanese video game designer, producer, game director and filmmaker at Nintendo, where he has served as one of its representative directors as an executive since 2002. Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential designers in video games, he is the creator of some of the most acclaimed and best-selling game franchises of all time, including Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Star Fox and Pikmin. More than 1 billion copies of games featuring franchises created by Miyamoto have been sold. Born in Sonobe, Kyoto, Miyamoto graduated from Kanazawa Municipal College of Industrial Arts. He originally sought a career as a manga artist, until developing an interest in video games. With the help of his father, he joined Nintendo in 1977 after impressing the president, Hiroshi Yamauchi, with his toys. He helped create art for the arcade game Sheriff, and was later tasked with designing a new arcade game, leading to the 1981 game Donkey Kong. Miyamoto's games Super Mario Bros. (1985) and The Legend of Zelda (1986) helped the Nintendo Entertainment System dominate the console game market. His games have been flagships of every Nintendo video game console, from the arcade machines of the late 1970s to the present day. He managed Nintendo's Entertainment Analysis & Development software division, which developed many Nintendo games, and he played an important role in the creation of other influential games such as Pokémon Red and Blue (1996) and Metroid Prime (2002). Following the death of Nintendo president Satoru Iwata in July 2015, Miyamoto became acting president alongside Genyo Takeda until he was formally appointed "Creative Fellow" a few months later.
Masaki Yokotani (横谷 政樹, Yokotani Masaki; born May 10, 1952) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Masaki Yokotani (横谷 政樹, Yokotani Masaki; born May 10, 1952) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Mitsuo Sawamoto (澤本 光男 Sawamoto Mitsuo, December 12, 1954) is a Japanese chemist specializing in the field of polymer…Mitsuo Sawamoto (澤本 光男 Sawamoto Mitsuo, December 12, 1954) is a Japanese chemist specializing in the field of polymer chemistry, Emeritus Professor at Kyoto University, professor at Chubu University. He is co-recipient of the Franklin Institute Award in Chemistry in 2017 with Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, for their independent discover of Atom-transfer radical-polymerization (ATRP).
Yasuhiro Nakagawa (中川 泰宏, Nakagawa Yasuhiro; born 19 September 1951) is a former Japanese politician who served in the…Yasuhiro Nakagawa (中川 泰宏, Nakagawa Yasuhiro; born 19 September 1951) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Yagi, Kyoto and high school graduate he was elected to the Diet for the first time in 2005 after serving as mayor of his hometown Yagi from 1992 to 2002.
Kaoru Kobayashi (小林 薫, Kobayashi Kaoru; born on September 4, 1951) is a Japanese actor born in Kyoto. He won best actor…Kaoru Kobayashi (小林 薫, Kobayashi Kaoru; born on September 4, 1951) is a Japanese actor born in Kyoto. He won best actor at the 30th Yokohama Film Festival and best-supporting actor at the 8th Yokohama Film Festival for Sorobanzuku.
Kazuhide Ishiyama or Song Il-soo (石山 一秀、いしやま かずひで、born December 23, 1950) is the former manager of the Doosan Bears of…Kazuhide Ishiyama or Song Il-soo (石山 一秀、いしやま かずひで、born December 23, 1950) is the former manager of the Doosan Bears of the KBO League.
Daisaku Kadokawa (門川 大作, Kadokawa Daisaku) is a Japanese politician and former mayor of Kyoto City, the capital city of…Daisaku Kadokawa (門川 大作, Kadokawa Daisaku) is a Japanese politician and former mayor of Kyoto City, the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture.
Keizo Imai (今井 敬三, Imai Keizō; born November 19, 1950) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Keizo Imai (今井 敬三, Imai Keizō; born November 19, 1950) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Yoshinori Shimizu (清水良規, Shimizu Yoshinori) is a Japanese professional basketball executive and former player…Yoshinori Shimizu (清水良規, Shimizu Yoshinori) is a Japanese professional basketball executive and former player, currently serving as the general manager of the Osaka Evessa of the Japanese B.League.
Kazuhiro Koizumi (小泉 和裕, Koizumi Kazuhiro; born 16 October 1949) is a Japanese conductor who has had an active…Kazuhiro Koizumi (小泉 和裕, Koizumi Kazuhiro; born 16 October 1949) is a Japanese conductor who has had an active international career since the 1970s. Koizumi was one among the founding conductors of the New Japan Philharmonic established in July 1972. He has appeared as a guest conductor throughout Europe and the United States, appearing with such ensembles as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He is the current principal conductor of both the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, a post he has held since 2008, and the Century Orchestra Osaka (2003). Since 2006 he has been a current principal guest conductor with the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra.
Tetsuo Asano (浅野哲夫 (Asano Tetsuo), born 1949 in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese computer scientist, the…Tetsuo Asano (浅野哲夫 (Asano Tetsuo), born 1949 in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese computer scientist, the president of the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. His main research interest is in computational geometry.
Jiro Dan (団 時朗, Dan Jirō; January 30, 1949 – March 22, 2023) was a Japanese actor, singer, and model best known for his…Jiro Dan (団 時朗, Dan Jirō; January 30, 1949 – March 22, 2023) was a Japanese actor, singer, and model best known for his role as Hideki Go/Ultraman Jack in The Return of Ultraman, making guest appearances in subsequent Ultraman productions as well. His real name was Hideo Murata (村田 秀雄). He was born in Kyoto and graduated from Heian High School.
Kyōko Takada (高田恭子) is a Japanese singer and actress who is best known for her March 1969 song, Minna Yume no Naka…Kyōko Takada (高田恭子) is a Japanese singer and actress who is best known for her March 1969 song, Minna Yume no Naka, which sold over half a million copies by July 1969.
Naoki Izumiya (born 9 August 1948) is a Japanese businessman and the president and CEO of Asahi Breweries. He joined…Naoki Izumiya (born 9 August 1948) is a Japanese businessman and the president and CEO of Asahi Breweries. He joined the company in 1972, became president in 2010, and was elevated to CEO and chairman in 2016.
Harumi Miyako (都 はるみ, Miyako Harumi; born 22 February 1948), born Harumi Kitamura (北村春美, Kitamura Harumi) in Kyoto, is…Harumi Miyako (都 はるみ, Miyako Harumi; born 22 February 1948), born Harumi Kitamura (北村春美, Kitamura Harumi) in Kyoto, is a Japanese enka singer. She made her debut in 1964. She has appeared on the annual television special Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Haruhiko Jō (壤晴彦, Jō Haruhiko; born January 25, 1948) is a Japanese actor, theatre director, and voice actor, currently…Haruhiko Jō (壤晴彦, Jō Haruhiko; born January 25, 1948) is a Japanese actor, theatre director, and voice actor, currently affiliated with Engekikurabu Za.
