Yasunori Mitsuda (光田 康典, Mitsuda Yasunori; born January 21, 1972) is a Japanese composer. He is best known for his work…
Yasunori Mitsuda (光田 康典, Mitsuda Yasunori; born January 21, 1972) is a Japanese composer. He is best known for his work in video games, primarily for the Chrono, Xeno, Shadow Hearts, and Inazuma Eleven franchises, among various others. Mitsuda founded a music production studio and record company, Procyon Studio and Sleigh Bells, in 2001. Mitsuda joined Square upon graduation in 1992. He worked there designing sound effects for two years before being assigned his debut project in Chrono Trigger (1995). Mitsuda went on to compose for several other games at Square, including Xenogears (1998) and Chrono Cross (1999). He left the company and became independent in 1998. Mitsuda has also worked on anime series, films, and television programs. His music in Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, and Chrono Cross has since been cited as among the best in video games.
Famous People from Yamaguchi Prefecture
Yamaguchi Prefecture: 296 people
Masahiro Kōmura (高村正大, Kōmura Masahiro; born 14 November 1970) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the…
Masahiro Kōmura (高村正大, Kōmura Masahiro; born 14 November 1970) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2017. He is the son of Masahiko Kōmura.
Kenichi Sako (佐古 賢一, born 17 July 1970) is a Japanese former basketball player and current coach. Nicknamed "Mr.…
Kenichi Sako (佐古 賢一, born 17 July 1970) is a Japanese former basketball player and current coach. Nicknamed "Mr. Basketball", Sako played as point guard and is widely regarded as one of the best Japanese players in history, having won twelve Emperor's Cup titles and nine JBL championships. Representing the Japan national team, Sako played at one FIBA World Cup in 1998, and won one silver and one bronze medal at the FIBA Asia Cup. He was enshrined into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2020, becoming the first Japanese player to be inducted.
Yoshihiko Fukuda (福田 良彦, Fukuda Yoshihiko; born 14 June 1970) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…
Yoshihiko Fukuda (福田 良彦, Fukuda Yoshihiko; born 14 June 1970) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who is a former member of the House of Representatives in the Diet. A native of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture and graduate of Hosei University, he was elected to the city assembly of Iwakuni in 1999, to the Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly in 2003, and to the House of Representatives in 2005. In 2008 he was elected the Mayor of Iwakuni.
Shinichi Takagi (高木真一, Takagi Shin'ichi; born 6 May 1970) is a Japanese professional racing driver. He won the GT300…
Shinichi Takagi (高木真一, Takagi Shin'ichi; born 6 May 1970) is a Japanese professional racing driver. He won the GT300 class Super GT championship in 2002 and 2019.
Tadaharu Ogawa (小川 忠晴, Ogawa Tadaharu) is the head coach of the Niigata Albirex BB Rabbits in the Women's Japan…
Tadaharu Ogawa (小川 忠晴, Ogawa Tadaharu) is the head coach of the Niigata Albirex BB Rabbits in the Women's Japan Basketball League.
Seiichi Tanabe (田辺誠一) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 24th Yokohama Film Festival for Hush!…
Seiichi Tanabe (田辺誠一) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 24th Yokohama Film Festival for Hush! and at the 27th Hochi Film Award for Hush! and Harmful Insect.
Hiroshi Kitadani (きただに ひろし, Kitadani Hiroshi; born August 24, 1968) is a Japanese singer, who primarily performs theme…
Hiroshi Kitadani (きただに ひろし, Kitadani Hiroshi; born August 24, 1968) is a Japanese singer, who primarily performs theme songs and other songs in anime. He also works behind the scenes of many songs. He currently works with JAM Project. He is most known for singing the first, fifteenth, nineteenth (with Kishidan), twenty-second and twenty-sixth opening themes of the popular anime series One Piece.
Yuka Harada (原田裕花, Harada Yuka; born 5 June 1968) is a Japanese former professional basketball player and sports…
Yuka Harada (原田裕花, Harada Yuka; born 5 June 1968) is a Japanese former professional basketball player and sports commentator who has served as the president of the Women's Japan Basketball League (WJBL) since 2023. She competed in the women's tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Hiroshi Sambuichi is a Hiroshima-based Japanese architect. He has been recognized and awarded for his buildings that…
Hiroshi Sambuichi is a Hiroshima-based Japanese architect. He has been recognized and awarded for his buildings that combine aesthetic appeal with environmental sustainability in regards to their material composition and functional operation. His projects span various prefectures of Japan, as well as other parts of the world, like Denmark. In 2017, the editorial team of Designwanted called Sambuichi's firm, Hiroshi Sambuichi Architects, one of ten top architecture firms in the world to know, citing his "unique design philosophy" of making architecture harmonize with nature.
Kunihiro Matsumura (松村 邦洋, Matsumura Kunihiro; born 11 August 1967) is a Japanese comedian and impressionist most known…
Kunihiro Matsumura (松村 邦洋, Matsumura Kunihiro; born 11 August 1967) is a Japanese comedian and impressionist most known for his impersonations of famous figures such as Beat Takeshi and Takanohana Kōji. He was also the original host of the hit comedy reality show Susume! Denpa Shonen. While originally making his obesity part of his jokes, Matsumura suffered a heart attack when he tried to run the Tokyo Marathon in 2009 as part of a TV show. He recovered and subsequently tried to maintain his weight.
Aoi Nanase (七瀬 葵, Nanase Aoi) is a Japanese manga artist.
Hirokazu Hisayuki (久行 宏和, Hisayuki Hirokazu) is a Japanese character designer and animation director for Sunrise. His…
Hirokazu Hisayuki (久行 宏和, Hisayuki Hirokazu) is a Japanese character designer and animation director for Sunrise. His major works include the Queen's Blade game series (which was later made into an anime adaptation), the My-Hime and My-Otome series, and numerous titles from the Brave mecha series.
Eiji Hirata (平田 英治, Hirata Eiji; born May 16, 1966) is a former Japanese football player.
Norihiro Akimura (秋村 謙宏, Akimura Norihiro; born February 26, 1966 in Yamaguchi, Japan) is a retired Japanese Nippon…
Norihiro Akimura (秋村 謙宏, Akimura Norihiro; born February 26, 1966 in Yamaguchi, Japan) is a retired Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Vice Admiral Natsue Kondo (近藤 奈津枝, Kondō Natsue; born 13 January 1966) is a Japanese naval officer.
Toshihiro Nagoshi (Japanese: 名越 稔洋, Hepburn: Nagoshi Toshihiro; born June 17, 1965) is a Japanese video game producer…
Toshihiro Nagoshi (Japanese: 名越 稔洋, Hepburn: Nagoshi Toshihiro; born June 17, 1965) is a Japanese video game producer, director, and designer. He was the chief creative officer for Sega until 2021 when he became creative director. He went on to be the general director of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, and later became a member of the board of directors for Atlus. He joined Sega in 1989 as a graphic artist and later transitioned into director and producer roles. After working at Sega for thirty years, Nagoshi became the owner of Nagoshi Studio in 2021. In 2026, Nagoshi Studio was supposedly gone and shut down according to sources.
Hiroki Totoki (十時 裕樹; born July 17, 1964) is a Japanese businessman. He is currently the president and CEO of Sony…
Hiroki Totoki (十時 裕樹; born July 17, 1964) is a Japanese businessman. He is currently the president and CEO of Sony Group Corporation, chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment, and co-founder of Sony Bank Inc. He is originally from Yamaguchi Prefecture. Totoki has built an extensive career spanning over three decades within Sony Group Corporation. His long tenure culminated in his appointment as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Sony Group Corporation, effective April 1, 2025. Throughout his career, Totoki has played a significant role in shaping Sony's direction, particularly its pivot towards entertainment businesses, including gaming, music, film, and television. Hiroki Totoki joined Sony in 1987 and became CEO in 2025, openly proposed by the outgoing CEO Kenichiro Yoshida and unanimously endorsed by the board of directors.
Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (貞本 義行, Sadamoto Yoshiyuki; born January 29, 1962, in Tokuyama (now Shunan), Yamaguchi Prefecture…
Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (貞本 義行, Sadamoto Yoshiyuki; born January 29, 1962, in Tokuyama (now Shunan), Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese character designer, manga artist, and one of the founding members of the Gainax anime studio.
Yoshimasa Hayashi (林 芳正, Hayashi Yoshimasa; born 19 January 1961) is a Japanese politician who has been serving as…
Yoshimasa Hayashi (林 芳正, Hayashi Yoshimasa; born 19 January 1961) is a Japanese politician who has been serving as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications since October 2025. Hayashi previously held six cabinet positions: Minister of Defence (August–September 2008), Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy (July–September 2009), Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (December 2012 – September 2014, February–October 2015), Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (August 2017 – October 2018), and Minister of Foreign Affairs (November 2021 – September 2023), and Chief Cabinet Secretary (December 2023 – October 2025). A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, Hayashi was first elected to the House of Councillors in 1995, where he served for five terms until 2021. He resigned from the House to stand in the 2021 general election and has been serving as a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Yamaguchi 3rd district, since October 2021.
Masaki Kito (紀藤 正樹, Kitō Masaki; b. November 21, 1960) is a Japanese attorney at law who specializes in consumer…
Masaki Kito (紀藤 正樹, Kitō Masaki; b. November 21, 1960) is a Japanese attorney at law who specializes in consumer affairs, investment frauds and cases involving religious cults, especially Aleph (formerly known as Aum Shinrikyo) and the Unification Church. He regularly appears as a commentator on Japanese TV news and current affairs programs.
Kazuaki Okazaki (岡崎一明, Okazaki Kazuaki; October 8, 1960 – July 26, 2018) was a Japanese convicted multiple murderer and…
Kazuaki Okazaki (岡崎一明, Okazaki Kazuaki; October 8, 1960 – July 26, 2018) was a Japanese convicted multiple murderer and former member of the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo who co-perpetrated the Sakamoto family murder and another murder in 1989. Immediately after the Sakamoto murders, he abandoned the cult and turned himself in to the police after the Tokyo subway sarin attack in 1995. He was tried and was sentenced to death for those crimes, for which he pleaded clemency. The petition was repeatedly dismissed by the courts and he was executed in July 2018.
Tsunemi Tsuda (津田 恒実, Tsuda Tsunemi; August 1, 1960 – July 20, 1993) was a Japanese baseball player of the Hiroshima…
Tsunemi Tsuda (津田 恒実, Tsuda Tsunemi; August 1, 1960 – July 20, 1993) was a Japanese baseball player of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Central League. He was one of the most famous Japanese right-handed pitchers. He was known as the "Stopper of Flame" (炎のストッパー, Honou-no-Stopper) because from his pitching style with the fastball. His nickname was "Tsune-Gon"(ツネゴン). He was born in Shūnan, Yamaguchi. He retired in 1991, and died of brain tumor in 1993, when he was 32 years old. His memorial plate, found at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, is inscribed with the words "We will never forget about his fastball, smile, courage and bravery". He led his team in two Japan Series and won one title (1984).
Hideaki Anno (Japanese: 庵野 秀明, Hepburn: Anno Hideaki; born May 22, 1960) is a Japanese animator, filmmaker, and actor.…
Hideaki Anno (Japanese: 庵野 秀明, Hepburn: Anno Hideaki; born May 22, 1960) is a Japanese animator, filmmaker, and actor. His most celebrated creation, the Evangelion franchise, has had a significant influence on the anime television industry and Japanese popular culture. Anno's style is defined by his postmodernist approach and the extensive portrayal of characters' thoughts and emotions. Anno began his career while attending Osaka University of Arts as an animator for the anime series The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982–1983), and produced the Daicon III and IV Opening Animations. He did not gain recognition until the release of his work on Hayao Miyazaki's 1984 film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Anno went on to become one of the co-founders of Gainax in December 1984. He worked as an animation director for their first feature-length film, Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise (1987), and ultimately became Gainax's premiere anime director, leading the majority of the studio's projects, including Gunbuster (1988) and Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990–1991). Anno's next project was the anime television series Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995–1996). Timing constraints at Gainax also forced Anno to replace the planned ending of Evangelion with two episodes set in the main characters' minds. In 1997, Gainax launched a project to re-adapt Evangelion's scrapped ending into a feature-length film. Budgeting issues left the film unfinished, and the completed 27 minutes of animation were included as the second act of Evangelion: Death and Rebirth. Eventually, the project culminated in The End of Evangelion, a two-act film that served as a finale to Neon Genesis Evangelion. Anno wrote and directed the Rebuild of Evangelion film series from 2007 to 2021, written to be more accessible to non-fans than the original anime series and films were. Anno's other directorial works include Daicon Film's Return of Ultraman (1983), Gunbuster (1988), Kare Kano (1998), Love & Pop (1998), Shiki-Jitsu (2000), Cutie Honey (2004), Re: Cutie Honey (2004), and Shin Godzilla (2016), with the latter film marking the beginning of the Shin trilogy of tokusatsu franchise reboots, followed by Shin Ultraman (2022) and Shin Kamen Rider (2023). Several of Anno's anime have won the Animage Anime Grand Prix award, including Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water in 1990, Neon Genesis Evangelion in 1995 and 1996, and The End of Evangelion in 1997.
U-Jin (遊人, Yūjin) is a Japanese manga artist specializing in lewd and pornographic manga. U-Jin has created many manga…
U-Jin (遊人, Yūjin) is a Japanese manga artist specializing in lewd and pornographic manga. U-Jin has created many manga over his career and is well known for his portrayals of cute pneumatic female figures.
Nobuo Kishi (岸 信夫, Kishi Nobuo; born 1 April 1959) is a Japanese politician. He sat in the House of Representatives…
Nobuo Kishi (岸 信夫, Kishi Nobuo; born 1 April 1959) is a Japanese politician. He sat in the House of Representatives from 2012 to 2023 representing Yamaguchi’s 2nd District as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. From September 2020 to August 2022 he served as the Minister of Defense. He is the younger brother of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.
Tetsunari Iida (飯田 哲也, Iida Tetsunari; born 1959, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan) is director of the Institute for…
Tetsunari Iida (飯田 哲也, Iida Tetsunari; born 1959, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan) is director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies in Japan. Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, he is calling for a decrease in Japan's reliance on nuclear power and an increase in renewable energy use. Iida started his career as a nuclear engineer, but he quit in 1992, and went to study renewable energy in Sweden. In September 2011, Iida launched the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation, which is backed by ¥1 billion (US$13 million) from Japan's richest man, Masayoshi Son. Solar power in Japan has been expanding since the late 1990s. The country is a leading manufacturer of photovoltaics (PV) and a large installer of domestic PV systems with most of them grid connected.
Atsuji Yamamoto (山本 貴嗣, Yamamoto Atsuji; born January 1, 1959) is a Japanese manga artist and character designer, best…
Atsuji Yamamoto (山本 貴嗣, Yamamoto Atsuji; born January 1, 1959) is a Japanese manga artist and character designer, best known for manga Ultimate Teacher, Elf-17 and Saber Cats, along with video game series Metal Max.
Admiral Yasuhiro Shigeoka (重岡康弘, Shigeoka Yasuhiro; born 13 November 1958) is a retired Japanese naval officer who…
Admiral Yasuhiro Shigeoka (重岡康弘, Shigeoka Yasuhiro; born 13 November 1958) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as Commander of the Self Defense Fleet of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) from 2015 to 2016. He was the 48th Commander of the Self-Defense Fleet, succeeding Eiichi Funada, and was himself succeeded in 2016 by Kazuki Yamashita.
Yutaka Takagi (高木 豊, Yutaka Takagi; born October 22, 1958 in Hōfu, Yamaguchi, Japan) is a professional Japanese…
Yutaka Takagi (高木 豊, Yutaka Takagi; born October 22, 1958 in Hōfu, Yamaguchi, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player.
Crea-Tech (Japanese: 有限会社クレアテック) was a Japanese video game developer based in Koto, Tokyo, Japan, which was founded by…
Crea-Tech (Japanese: 有限会社クレアテック) was a Japanese video game developer based in Koto, Tokyo, Japan, which was founded by Hiroshi Miyaoka in 1988. The company was best known for developing the role-playing video game series Metal Max. They also developed many board games. The company developed console games mainly, but also had some computer games and mobile games.
Kiyoshi Sasabe (佐々部清) (January 8, 1958 – March 31, 2020) was a Japanese film director.
Milk Morizono (Japanese: 森園 みるく, Hepburn: Morizono Miruku; born December 25, 1957) is the pen name of Hiroko Mizoguchi…
Milk Morizono (Japanese: 森園 みるく, Hepburn: Morizono Miruku; born December 25, 1957) is the pen name of Hiroko Mizoguchi (Japanese: 溝口 比呂子, Hepburn: Mizoguchi Hiroko), a Japanese manga artist and photographer. Noted for her works in the ladies' manga genre that feature ecchi themes and subject material, Morizono has been called the "Queen of Ladies' Manga" and noted by Rachel Matt Thorn as "the most popular and respected creator of erotic manga for women".
Tsutomu Kitagawa (喜多川2tom (Real name,喜多川 務), Kitagawa Tsutomu; born December 21, 1957) is a Japanese actor and stuntman…
Tsutomu Kitagawa (喜多川2tom (Real name,喜多川 務), Kitagawa Tsutomu; born December 21, 1957) is a Japanese actor and stuntman who is mostly known for playing Godzilla for the "Millennium" (or "Shinsei") series. He also played King Ghidorah for Rebirth of Mothra III. He also played the costumed actor for the Blue (and occasionally, Black) Ranger in many of Toei Company's Super Sentai Series in the 1980s, better known in the United States as Power Rangers. Kitagawa graduated from Sakuragaoka High School before joining Sonny Chiba's Japan Action Club in January 1975.
Satoru Sayama (佐山 聡, Sayama Satoru; born November 27, 1957), best known as the original Tiger Mask, is a Japanese…
Satoru Sayama (佐山 聡, Sayama Satoru; born November 27, 1957), best known as the original Tiger Mask, is a Japanese writer, retired professional wrestler, martial artist, mixed martial arts (MMA) and wrestling promoter, and trainer. He is the founder of Shooto, a pre-Ultimate Fighting Championship MMA promotion, and is widely considered to be one of the most influential masked Japanese wrestlers of all time (alongside his contemporaries Jushin Thunder Liger and Último Dragón). The only man to hold the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship and the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship simultaneously, Sayama became widely known in the wrestling world for his all-round prowess of high-flying, technical abilities, and martial combat skills (as he was a practitioner of judo and freestyle wrestling in his youth). Primarily trained under New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) founder Antonio Inoki and his mentor Karl Gotch, Sayama made his professional wrestling debut in 1976 at 18 years old. He was sent on an excursion to Europe for World of Sport Wrestling and Mexico for Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre, where he not only found his ground as a technical wrestler, but also found his niche in Lucha libre. Sayama became Tiger Mask in 1981, brought from Ikki Kajiwara's 1968 manga series of the same name and the popular anime of the decade. He became involved in highly publicized feuds with Black Tiger (portrayed by Mark Rocco), Dynamite Kid, and Yoshiaki Fujiwara, who was one of Sayama's own trainers. He left NJPW at the height of his popularity in 1983 due to political disenfranchisement, and later became a founding member of the UWF brand in Japan. He then became dissatisfied with wrestling as a whole, leading him to write Kay Fabe (1985), which detailed the kayfabe and secrets of puroresu at the time. After declaring retirement from professional wrestling in 1985 after the collapse of UWF, he founded Shooto, one of the first MMA organizations in the world. Sayama also started mixed martial arts training and developed his own Shooto syllabus for learning what could be considered the first put together MMA training of its kind, with a focus on striking from arts like boxing, muay thai, and karate, and grappling from wrestling, judo, and sambo. The curriculum would help produce the first well rounded fighters of MMA several years before the first UFC event. While on Shooto, Sayama promoted the Vale Tudo Japan events, more rules free events inspired by Brazilian Vale Tudo and early UFC, helping to popularize MMA in Japan. He retired from his post in Shooto in 1996, and returned to professional wrestling soon after. In 2005, Sayama founded his own promotion, Real Japan Pro-Wrestling (RJPW), which later became Strong Style Pro-Wrestling. Sayama likened the promotion to include wrestlers from the past, as well as martial artists, Sayama's students, and modern stars from the likes of Battlarts, Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJPW), and more. Although he hasn't officially declared retirement, Sayama last wrestled on December 7, 2016. It was announced in 2020 that he had several health problems, which linked him to Parkinson's disease and immobility.
Keiichi Nanba (難波 圭一, Nanba Keiichi; born on August 26, 1957) is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator under…
Keiichi Nanba (難波 圭一, Nanba Keiichi; born on August 26, 1957) is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator under Fujiga Office Inc. He is married to fellow voice actress Mayumi Shō.
Yoshimi Seki (Japanese: 関よしみ, Hepburn: Seki Yoshimi; born June 21, 1957) is a Japanese manga artist from Shimonoseki…
Yoshimi Seki (Japanese: 関よしみ, Hepburn: Seki Yoshimi; born June 21, 1957) is a Japanese manga artist from Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture. She is specialized in psychological horror. She won the 18th Nakayoshi and Shōjo Friend newcomer award in the April 1980 of Nakayoshi Deluxe with the short story Otome Tsubaki no Hana no Shita (乙女椿の花の下) with the pen name Itou Kayoko (いとうかよこ).
Kiyoshi Ejima (born April 2, 1957) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of…
Kiyoshi Ejima (born April 2, 1957) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2013. He represents the Yamaguchi at-large district as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Tomofumi Murata (村田 友文, Murata Tomofumi) (born August 17, 1955), better known by his ring name Takeshi Caesar (シーザー武志…
Tomofumi Murata (村田 友文, Murata Tomofumi) (born August 17, 1955), better known by his ring name Takeshi Caesar (シーザー武志, Shīzā Takeshi), is a Japanese actor, retired kickboxer and the founder of shoot boxing.
Saburo Tokura (戸倉 三郎, Tokura Saburo; born August 11, 1954) is a Japanese jurist who served as the 20th Chief Justice of…
Saburo Tokura (戸倉 三郎, Tokura Saburo; born August 11, 1954) is a Japanese jurist who served as the 20th Chief Justice of Japan from 2022 to 2024, having previously served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of Japan from 2017 to 2022.
Akinori Nakanishi (仲西 昭徳) (born 1954 in Japan) is the chief designer for Mitsubishi Motors, based at the company's…
Akinori Nakanishi (仲西 昭徳) (born 1954 in Japan) is the chief designer for Mitsubishi Motors, based at the company's design and research centre in Okazaki, Aichi. He was appointed to this position in June 2004, having previously worked as the General Manager for Mitsubishi Design Europe in Trebur, Germany. He began working for Mitsubishi in 1977 as soon as he graduated, and was responsible for both the 1991 and 2003 Colts, the HSR concept cars and the Mitsubishi Triton, among others. He cites fashion designers Issey Miyake and Giorgio Armani and movies such as The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings as inspirations, and names the original Mini and the Jaguar E-type as his personal favourite automotive designs. For his company's future, he has envisaged a sporty, wide-track look, saying "We are not a giant company, so we should be unique. This [look] gives them a wider stance. The bean counters don't like that. It is too expensive."
Tatsumi Nikamoto (二家本辰巳, Nikamoto Tatsumi) (born 1953) is a Japanese actor, sometimes credited as Tatsumi Fuyamoto.
Shinji Yamashita (山下 真司, Yamashita Shinji; born December 16, 1951 in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan) is a…
Shinji Yamashita (山下 真司, Yamashita Shinji; born December 16, 1951 in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor who is represented by the talent agency From First Production. He graduated from Shimonoseki Commercial High School and dropped out from Chuo University's Faculty of Letters.
Mitsuo Yoshida (Japanese: 吉田 光雄, romanized: Yoshida Mitsuo, born Kwak Kwang-Woong [Korean: 곽광웅]; December 3, 1951)…
Mitsuo Yoshida (Japanese: 吉田 光雄, romanized: Yoshida Mitsuo, born Kwak Kwang-Woong [Korean: 곽광웅]; December 3, 1951), better known by his ring name Riki Choshu (長州 力, Chōshū Riki), is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and amateur wrestler, who is best known for his longtime work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as both a performer and a booker. He is considered one of Japan’s most influential wrestlers for his work in the 1980s and 1990s and is known as the first wrestler to popularize the Sasori-Gatame, better known in English as the Scorpion Deathlock or Sharpshooter. A second-generation Zainichi Korean from Yamaguchi Prefecture, Choshu won titles in Freestyle wrestling at the National Sports Festival of Japan, before (under his birth name) representing South Korea at the 1972 Summer Olympics. He also won collegiate titles in Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling as captain of the Senshu University team. He made his professional wrestling debut for NJPW in 1974, becoming a major star as a heel during the following decade. After leaving NJPW in 2002, he formed Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling (WJ), but eventually returned to New Japan in October 2005 as a site foreman, booker and part-time wrestler. Choshu once again left NJPW in 2010 and primarily worked in Tatsumi Fujinami’s Dradition, as well as his own self-produced Power Hall events as a freelancer.
Keigo Masuya (桝屋 敬悟, Masuya Keigo; born 3 April 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a…
Keigo Masuya (桝屋 敬悟, Masuya Keigo; born 3 April 1951) is a former Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Abu District, Yamaguchi and graduate of the Soka University, he worked at the government of Yamaguchi Prefecture from 1975 to 1992. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1993.
Keiichi Hayashi (林 景一, Hayashi Keiichi; born 8 February 1951) is a Japanese diplomat. From 2011 to 2016, he served as…
Keiichi Hayashi (林 景一, Hayashi Keiichi; born 8 February 1951) is a Japanese diplomat. From 2011 to 2016, he served as the Japanese ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Tadaki Nishiyama (Japanese: 西山 忠来; 9 February 1950 – 24 November 2023), better known under the pen names Shizuka Ijūin…
Tadaki Nishiyama (Japanese: 西山 忠来; 9 February 1950 – 24 November 2023), better known under the pen names Shizuka Ijūin (Japanese: 伊集院静) and Ayumi Date (Japanese: 伊達 歩), was a Japanese writer and lyricist.
Yūsaku Matsuda (松田 優作, Matsuda Yūsaku; September 21, 1949 – November 6, 1989) was a Japanese actor. In Japan, he was…
Yūsaku Matsuda (松田 優作, Matsuda Yūsaku; September 21, 1949 – November 6, 1989) was a Japanese actor. In Japan, he was best known for roles in action films and a variety of television series in the 1970s as well as a switch to a wider range of roles in the 1980s. His final film appearance was as the villain Sato in Ridley Scott's Black Rain. He died in 1989 at the age of 40. He is considered one of Japan's most important film actors. Several manga, anime and video game characters are based on him, including Kenshiro in Fist of the North Star, Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop, Rikiya Busujima in Zombie Revenge, Aokiji in One Piece, Wabisuke in Summer Wars, and Jubei Yagyu in Onimusha 2.
Hiromi Yoshida (吉田 博美, Yoshida Hiromi; 17 June 1949 – 26 October 2019) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal…
Hiromi Yoshida (吉田 博美, Yoshida Hiromi; 17 June 1949 – 26 October 2019) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A graduate of Waseda University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2001 after serving in the assembly of Nagano Prefecture for five terms since 1983.
Masao Arai (荒井 政雄, Arai Masao; 6 June 1949 – 9 November 2024) was a Japanese wrestler who competed in the 1976 Summer…
Masao Arai (荒井 政雄, Arai Masao; 6 June 1949 – 9 November 2024) was a Japanese wrestler who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics. Arai died on 9 November 2024, at the age of 75.