Chisato Moritaka (森高千里, Moritaka Chisato) (born 11 April 1969) is a Japanese pop singer who also is notable as a…
Chisato Moritaka (森高千里, Moritaka Chisato) (born 11 April 1969) is a Japanese pop singer who also is notable as a songwriter. She is affiliated with Up-Front Create, a subsidiary of the Up-Front Group. Moritaka's singing career as the unrivaled "Dance Queen" began in May 1987 with the release of her debut album New Season. She differed from many other female idol singers in Japan in that she wrote her own lyrics for majority of her albums. More than 60 of her songs were composed by Hideo Saitō. Moritaka also played drums on many of the tracks, as well as piano, guitar, recorder, clarinet, and other instruments. Her musical style was influenced by Pink Lady, Janet Jackson, Roger Taylor, and The Beatles. From 1987 to 1999, Moritaka sold over 6.4 million singles and 5.2 million albums. Moritaka's advertising jingles were hits into the mid-1990s in television commercials for goods and services such as consumer electronics, chocolate, beer, gin, and travel packages. She has also made numerous appearances on Japanese game and talent shows and is still a household name. In twelve years after her debut, she released 13 studio albums and created a strong following of devoted fans.
Famous People from Kumamoto Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture: 370 people
Koichi Ogata (緒方 耕一, Ogata Koichi; born September 2, 1968) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder.
Isao Yukisada (行定 勲, Yukisada Isao; born August 3, 1968) is a Japanese film director from Kumamoto. He served as…
Isao Yukisada (行定 勲, Yukisada Isao; born August 3, 1968) is a Japanese film director from Kumamoto. He served as assistant director on Shunji Iwai's Love Letter, April Story, and Swallowtail Butterfly.
Yui Natsukawa (夏川 結衣, Natsukawa Yui) is a Japanese actress. She co-starred with Hiroshi Abe in the 2006 Japanese drama…
Yui Natsukawa (夏川 結衣, Natsukawa Yui) is a Japanese actress. She co-starred with Hiroshi Abe in the 2006 Japanese drama The Man Who Can't Get Married and in Hirokazu Kore-eda's 2008 film Still Walking.
Jutaro Kimura (木村 重太郎, Kimura Jūtarō; born May 12, 1968) is a Japanese baseball pitcher who won a silver medal in the…
Jutaro Kimura (木村 重太郎, Kimura Jūtarō; born May 12, 1968) is a Japanese baseball pitcher who won a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Akemi Matsuno (松野 明美, Matsuno Akemi) (born April 27, 1968) is a retired female long-distance runner from Japan.
Sean K (ショーン K, Shōn Kei; born 21 March 1968) is a former Japanese radio personality, narrator and tarento. His…
Sean K (ショーン K, Shōn Kei; born 21 March 1968) is a former Japanese radio personality, narrator and tarento. His business name is Sean McArdle Kawakami (ショーン･マクアードル川上, Shōn Makuādoru Kawakami). His real name is Shinichiro Kawakami (川上 伸一郎, Kawakami Shin'ichirō). He is represented with Sunday. Sean K's career as a Japanese news and business commentator abruptly ended in 2016 after weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun exposed his fabricated academic background including claims of an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Daisuke Ikeda (池田 大輔, Ikeda Daisuke; born February 13, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is currently…
Daisuke Ikeda (池田 大輔, Ikeda Daisuke; born February 13, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is currently wrestling in the Independent circuit in Japan. Since debuting in 1993, Ikeda has worked for a number of promotions in Japan, including Battlarts, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling (FMW).
Ryuji Masuda (増田 龍治, Masuda Ryūji; born 1968) is a Japanese CGI animation director. His works include Popee the…
Ryuji Masuda (増田 龍治, Masuda Ryūji; born 1968) is a Japanese CGI animation director. His works include Popee the Performer, Mr. Stain on Junk Alley and Funny Pets. He has been known to be active in both his native Kumamoto and Okinawa.
Yoshiro Moriyama (森山 佳郎, Moriyama Yoshiro; born November 9, 1967) is a Japanese professional football manager and…
Yoshiro Moriyama (森山 佳郎, Moriyama Yoshiro; born November 9, 1967) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who played a defender. He is the manager of J2 League club Vegalta Sendai. He has been the manager of a number of teams in the Japan national football team youth set up, as well as the manager of the Sanfrecce Hiroshima U18 team.
Shinichi Taketa (武田 真一, Taketa Shin'ichi; born September 15, 1967 in Kumamoto) is a Japanese freelance journalist…
Shinichi Taketa (武田 真一, Taketa Shin'ichi; born September 15, 1967 in Kumamoto) is a Japanese freelance journalist, announcer, news anchor, and television personality. He previously worked for NHK, having served as anchor for NHK's evening newscast NHK News 7, and the host for documentary program Close-up Gendai Plus.
Kenichi Muraeda (村枝 賢一, Muraeda Ken'ichi) is a Japanese manga artist who is known for creating the manga series Kamen…
Kenichi Muraeda (村枝 賢一, Muraeda Ken'ichi) is a Japanese manga artist who is known for creating the manga series Kamen Rider Spirits. He is married to fellow manga artist Shinri Mori (森真理, Mori Shinri).
Shōji Tōyama (遠山 奨志, Tōyama Shōji; born July 21, 1967, in Ashikita, Kumamoto, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…
Shōji Tōyama (遠山 奨志, Tōyama Shōji; born July 21, 1967, in Ashikita, Kumamoto, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher and coach.
Kotaro Azuse (東瀬 耕太郎, Azuse Kotaro; born May 6, 1967) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He played…
Kotaro Azuse (東瀬 耕太郎, Azuse Kotaro; born May 6, 1967) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He played with the Yokohama Taiyo Whales.
Mikio Matsunaga (松永幹夫) is a Japanese former jockey and horse trainer. On June 20, 2021, his horse Gran Approuso came in…
Mikio Matsunaga (松永幹夫) is a Japanese former jockey and horse trainer. On June 20, 2021, his horse Gran Approuso came in first in the fifth race at Sapporo Racecourse, achieving his 400th JRA win.
Shinji Inoue (井上 真二, Inoue Shinji; born July 12, 1966 in Tamana District, Kumamoto, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…
Shinji Inoue (井上 真二, Inoue Shinji; born July 12, 1966 in Tamana District, Kumamoto, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder.
Seishi Baba (born November 30, 1964) is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Councillors of Japan.
Keiko Oginome (荻野目 慶子, Oginome Keiko) is a Japanese actress.
Teruyoshi Uchimura (内村 光良, Uchimura Teruyoshi), half of the Japanese comedy duo Ucchan Nanchan, is one of the most…
Teruyoshi Uchimura (内村 光良, Uchimura Teruyoshi), half of the Japanese comedy duo Ucchan Nanchan, is one of the most famous and influential comedians in the owarai community. His nickname is Ucchan ("Wutchan"), and his partner, Kiyotaka Nanbara, is known as Nanchan. He was born on July 22, 1964, in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto. Though he has worked for years as a comedian, he has also shown talent as an actor and dramatic performer. He is well known as the leader of the owarai band NO PLAN.
Tomonohana Shinya (born 23 June 1964 as Shinya Narimatsu) is a former sumo wrestler from Yatsushiro, Kumamoto…
Tomonohana Shinya (born 23 June 1964 as Shinya Narimatsu) is a former sumo wrestler from Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. He is now a sumo coach.
Kundō Koyama (小山薫堂) (born 1964) is a Japanese writer. He is best known for scripting the television series Iron Chef…
Kundō Koyama (小山薫堂) (born 1964) is a Japanese writer. He is best known for scripting the television series Iron Chef and the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film recipient Departures. Koyama has also worked under the pen name Udon Kumayakko, an anagram of his real name read backwards in Japanese.
Yoshifumi Matsumura (松村 祥史, Matsumura Yoshifumi; born April 22, 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal…
Yoshifumi Matsumura (松村 祥史, Matsumura Yoshifumi; born April 22, 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A graduate of Senshu University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004.
Kenzo Fujisue (藤末 健三, Fujisue Kenzō; born February 18, 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…
Kenzo Fujisue (藤末 健三, Fujisue Kenzō; born February 18, 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kumamoto, Kumamoto, he graduated from Tokyo Institute of Technology and received master's degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University in the United States. He was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 when he left an assistant professorship at the University of Tokyo.
Hiroshi Kōjina (神志那 弘志, Kōjina Hiroshi; born June 4, 1963) is a Japanese animator, character designer, and anime…
Hiroshi Kōjina (神志那 弘志, Kōjina Hiroshi; born June 4, 1963) is a Japanese animator, character designer, and anime director. His directorial works include Grenadier, Majin Tantei Nōgami Neuro, Kiba, Rainbow - Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin and the 2011 anime adaptation of Hunter × Hunter. He is a member of the Japanese Animation Creators Association. He joined Studio Live in 1982, and following the death of Toyoo Ashida, became the head of the company in 2011.
Kenji Ohmori (大森 賢治, Ōmori Kenji; born November 10, 1962 in Kumamoto City) is a Japanese physicist and chemist.…
Kenji Ohmori (大森 賢治, Ōmori Kenji; born November 10, 1962 in Kumamoto City) is a Japanese physicist and chemist. National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Japan (NIMS), Institute for Molecular Science (IMS)
Akitoshi Kawazu (河津 秋敏, Kawazu Akitoshi; born November 5, 1962) is a Japanese game designer, director, producer and…
Akitoshi Kawazu (河津 秋敏, Kawazu Akitoshi; born November 5, 1962) is a Japanese game designer, director, producer and writer. After joining Square (later Square Enix) in 1986, he went on to become a central developer for the first two Final Fantasy titles, then acted as creator and lead developer for the SaGa series. Interested in games since his high school days, his first project at Square was a graphic designer for Rad Racer; he then acted as battle designer for Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II. He has since worked on nearly every SaGa title, in addition to creating the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles subseries, smaller projects including The Last Remnant, and serving in an executive role on many Square Enix projects. Kawazu was inspired by role-playing titles such as Dungeons & Dragons, Wizardry and Dragon Quest, with a preference for sword and sorcery settings in his scenarios. A characteristic of his games is a non-linear design for storylines and exploration, and systems that are not actively explained to players. He also has a deep involvement in each project beyond his credited roles, and tries something new with each game he develops.
Tsutomu Itō (伊東 勤, Itō Tsutomu; born August 29, 1962) is the former manager of Nippon Professional Baseball's Seibu…
Tsutomu Itō (伊東 勤, Itō Tsutomu; born August 29, 1962) is the former manager of Nippon Professional Baseball's Seibu Lions. He was the number 1 draft pick for the Seibu Lions in 1982 and went on to play for them until 2003. He was talented at leading pitcher, and led his team to winning 12 Pacific League championships and 10 Japan Series winners. After his retirement, he managed and led his team to the 2004 Japan Series championship. On 30th October 2018, it was announced that Itō would be joining the Chunichi Dragons as head coach under new manager Tsuyoshi Yoda.
Koji Akiyama (秋山 幸二 Akiyama Kōji, born April 6, 1962) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player. He played for…
Koji Akiyama (秋山 幸二 Akiyama Kōji, born April 6, 1962) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player. He played for the Seibu Lions and the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (currently the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks) in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Reiko Shimizu (清水玲子, Shimizu Reiko; born March 26, 1963 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese shōjo manga writer and…
Reiko Shimizu (清水玲子, Shimizu Reiko; born March 26, 1963 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese shōjo manga writer and illustrator. She is noted for her works of science fiction and her art style, and is also known for her illustrations of tarot cards called the Miracle Tarot deck.
Haruo Urata (浦田 春生, Urata Haruo) (born 9 March 1962 in Kumamoto) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan, who…
Haruo Urata (浦田 春生, Urata Haruo) (born 9 March 1962 in Kumamoto) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan, who represented his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics. His personal best in the men's 10,000 metres was 28:18.15, achieved at the 1991 World Championships. Urata won four national titles during his career: in the 5000 metres (1988 and 1989) and in the 10,000 metres (1988 and 1989).
Yasushi Kaneko (金子 恭之, Kaneko Yasushi; born 27 February 1961) is a Japanese politician who served as Minister for…
Yasushi Kaneko (金子 恭之, Kaneko Yasushi; born 27 February 1961) is a Japanese politician who served as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from October 2021 to August 2022. He is serving in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Yorihisa Matsuno (松野 頼久, Matsuno Yorihisa; born 19 September 1960) is a former Japanese politician. He was a member of…
Yorihisa Matsuno (松野 頼久, Matsuno Yorihisa; born 19 September 1960) is a former Japanese politician. He was a member of the Japan Restoration Association (JRA), and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). On 3 October 2012, he was selected as the parliamentary leader of the JRA and held this position until the party dissolved in September 2014. He is the member for the Kumamoto No. 1 seat and has been elected four times.
Hiromitsu Takano (Japanese: 高野裕光, born 25 August 1959) is a Japanese judoka. He competed in the men's half-middleweight…
Hiromitsu Takano (Japanese: 高野裕光, born 25 August 1959) is a Japanese judoka. He competed in the men's half-middleweight event at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Yukari Fujimoto (藤本 由香里, Fujimoto Yukari) is a manga researcher and professor of global Japanese studies at Meiji…
Yukari Fujimoto (藤本 由香里, Fujimoto Yukari) is a manga researcher and professor of global Japanese studies at Meiji University. She was born in Kumamoto Prefecture. She was an editor for Chikuma Shobō. She is a manga critic, gender theorist, author, and liberal feminist. She is a member of the Agency for Cultural Affairs awards selection committee. She is also a member of the Japanese National Diet Library legal deposit deliberation committee.
Miki Tori (とり·みき, Tori Miki; born February 23, 1958 in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan), also known as Micky Bird…
Miki Tori (とり·みき, Tori Miki; born February 23, 1958 in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan), also known as Micky Bird or Mickey Bird, is a Japanese manga artist, character designer, essayist, and screenplay writer. Tori has won multiple awards for his work, including two Seiun Awards (in 1994 for Dai-Hon'ya, and in 1998 for SF Taishō) and one Bungeishunjū Manga Award (in 1995 for Tōku e Ikitai). His pen name was created by mixing up the pronunciation of the kanji making up his real name. He worked as a writer on WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3. Tori attended Meiji University, majoring in English literature, though he left his studies before receiving a degree. He was a member of the rakugo research club during his time there, and attended at the same time as owarai, tarento, and senpai Masayuki Watanabe. He made his professional debut in 1979 after winning an honorable mention for his story My Alien (ぼくの宇宙人, Boku no Uchūjin) at the 12th Shōnen Champion Rookie Manga Awards, after which he became known mainly for his gag manga such as Kuru Kuru Kurin and Tōku e Ikitai, as well as manga featuring science fiction elements. For many years, his manga appeared in the television guide "TV Bros."
Sayuri Ishikawa (石川 さゆり, Ishikawa Sayuri; born January 30, 1958) is a Japanese enka singer who made her professional…
Sayuri Ishikawa (石川 さゆり, Ishikawa Sayuri; born January 30, 1958) is a Japanese enka singer who made her professional debut in 1973. With a career nearing five decades, she is one of the most-recognized and successful enka singers in history. Ishikawa is a popular contestant on the annual NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen broadcast. Up till 2017, she has been invited to perform 40 times since 1977, the year she released her biggest hit, "Tsugaru Kaikyo-Fuyugeshiki". To date, she holds the record for the most appearances in the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen for a female artist. She has released over 100 albums (including compilation albums) and more than 120 singles, of which a few were not enka, but rock and jazz music instead. Another of her biggest hits, "Amagi-goe", which was released in 1986, won her many awards, and many believe that it was this song that made her an icon as an A-list enka singer. Ishikawa appears in the Wim Wenders film "Perfect Days", which won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
Kiyoto Inoue (井上 清登, Inoue Kiyoto; born December 10, 1957) is a Japanese sprint canoer who competed in the mid to late…
Kiyoto Inoue (井上 清登, Inoue Kiyoto; born December 10, 1957) is a Japanese sprint canoer who competed in the mid to late 1980s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he earned his best finish of sixth in the C-1 500 m event at Los Angeles in 1984.
Kozo Tashima (田嶋 幸三, Tashima Kōzō; born November 21, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the…
Kozo Tashima (田嶋 幸三, Tashima Kōzō; born November 21, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team. He is also the president of the Japan Football Association and the East Asian Football Federation.
Yasuhiro Yamashita (山下 泰裕, Yamashita Yasuhiro; born 1 June 1957) is a Japanese judoka. He currently works as an…
Yasuhiro Yamashita (山下 泰裕, Yamashita Yasuhiro; born 1 June 1957) is a Japanese judoka. He currently works as an instructor or advisor for numerous organizations, including Tokai University, the International Judo Federation, and the All Japan Judo Federation. He retired from competitive judo on 17 June 1985 after a remarkable career where he won five gold medals in international competitions and marked 203 consecutive victories (with 7 draws in-between) until his retirement where he went undefeated his entire career against non-Japanese wrestlers. He received the Japanese National Prize of Honor on 9 October 1984. He is considered by many to be the greatest judoka ever.
Sadanoumi Kōji (佐田の海 鴻嗣) (born 19 July 1956 as Kōji Matsumara (松村 宏司, Matsumura Kōji)) is a former sumo wrestler from…
Sadanoumi Kōji (佐田の海 鴻嗣) (born 19 July 1956 as Kōji Matsumara (松村 宏司, Matsumura Kōji)) is a former sumo wrestler from Sakai, Osaka, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1972, and reached the top division in November 1980. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in July 1988 and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Tagonoura. He left the Sumo Association in August 1999. He is the father of the current sekitori wrestler of the same name, Sadanoumi Takashi.
Toshio Toyota (豊田 敏夫, Toyota Toshio; born 19 July 1956) is a Japanese retired sprinter. He qualified for the 1980 Japan…
Toshio Toyota (豊田 敏夫, Toyota Toshio; born 19 July 1956) is a Japanese retired sprinter. He qualified for the 1980 Japan Olympic team but did not compete due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. He was the gold medallist in the 200 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1981 Asian Championships and the first Japanese to run under 21 seconds with electronic timing in the 200 metres.
Seiji Nishimura (西村誠司, Nishimura Seiji; born June 9, 1956), Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan) he is a Japanese karateka. He…
Seiji Nishimura (西村誠司, Nishimura Seiji; born June 9, 1956), Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan) he is a Japanese karateka. He has a 7th.Dan black belt in Wadō-ryū karate and is the national trainer of the Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF).
Hisashi Eguchi (江口 寿史, Eguchi Hisashi; born March 29, 1956) is a Japanese manga artist and one of Japan's most…
Hisashi Eguchi (江口 寿史, Eguchi Hisashi; born March 29, 1956) is a Japanese manga artist and one of Japan's most prominent illustrators of female characters. He made his professional manga debut with Susume!! Pirates in the manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1977. Other notable works include Stop!! Hibari-kun! (adapted into an anime television series in 1983), and the gag series Charamono. Eguchi married idol Mari Mizutani (ja:水谷麻里) in 1990.
Jun Kunimura (國村 隼, Kunimura Jun; born Yoshihiro Yonemura (米村 喜洋, Yonemura Yoshihiro); November 15, 1955) is a Japanese…
Jun Kunimura (國村 隼, Kunimura Jun; born Yoshihiro Yonemura (米村 喜洋, Yonemura Yoshihiro); November 15, 1955) is a Japanese actor who has acted in Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, and South Korea. He won Best Supporting Actor and the Popular Star Award at the 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards for his performance in the South Korean horror film The Wailing, directed by Na Hong-jin.
Eiko Nagashima (永島暎子, Nagashima Eiko) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best actress at the 5th Yokohama…
Eiko Nagashima (永島暎子, Nagashima Eiko) is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best actress at the 5th Yokohama Film Festival and the award for best supporting actress at the 8th Hochi Film Award for Ryuji.
Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃, Asahara Shōkō; March 2, 1955 – July 6, 2018), born as Chizuo Matsumoto (松本 智津夫, Matsumoto…
Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃, Asahara Shōkō; March 2, 1955 – July 6, 2018), born as Chizuo Matsumoto (松本 智津夫, Matsumoto Chizuo), was a Japanese cult leader and domestic terrorist who founded and led the doomsday cult known as Aum Shinrikyo. He was convicted of masterminding the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway which killed 14 people and injured thousands more, and was also involved in several other assassinations and terrorist attacks. Asahara was sentenced to death in 2004, and his final appeal failed in 2011. In June 2012, his execution was postponed due to further arrests of Aum members. He was executed along with other senior members of Aum Shinrikyo on July 6, 2018.
Yasutaka Okayama (岡山恭崇, Okayama Yasutaka; born November 29, 1954) is a Japanese former professional basketball player…
Yasutaka Okayama (岡山恭崇, Okayama Yasutaka; born November 29, 1954) is a Japanese former professional basketball player and coach. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors as the 171st pick of the eighth round of the 1981 NBA draft, although he did not sign with them. At 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m), he is the tallest player to be drafted in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. Okayama was the only player from Japan drafted into the NBA until Rui Hachimura was selected in the 2019 NBA draft. Okayama practiced judo at junior high and high school, and obtained a second degree black belt. He started playing basketball at Osaka University of Commerce when he was eighteen. In 1975, when his height was about 2.08 metres (6 ft 10 in), he was recruited by the University of Portland; he spent two years there, but a medical check revealed gigantism and he never played for the varsity team. After graduation, he joined the Sumitomo Metal Sparks basketball club. He represented Japan between 1979 and 1986 before retiring in 1996. After being selected in the 1981 NBA draft, Okayama opted to stay in Japan. As of 2005, he worked for Sumitomo Metal Industries and was active as a basketball coach. Okayama wrote a book for young basketball players in 1989.
Yoko Shimada (Japanese: 島田 陽子, Hepburn: Shimada Yōko; 17 May 1953 – 25 July 2022) was a Japanese actress, best known to…
Yoko Shimada (Japanese: 島田 陽子, Hepburn: Shimada Yōko; 17 May 1953 – 25 July 2022) was a Japanese actress, best known to Western audiences for her portrayal of Mariko in the 1980 miniseries Shōgun.
Mayumi Aoki (青木 まゆみ, Aoki Mayumi; born May 1, 1953) is a Japanese swimmer. She competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in…
Mayumi Aoki (青木 まゆみ, Aoki Mayumi; born May 1, 1953) is a Japanese swimmer. She competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in the 100 m and 200 m butterfly and 4 × 100 m medley relay and won a gold medal in the 100 m butterfly. She won a bronze medal in this event at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships. In 1972 she twice broke the world record in the 100 m butterfly. After retiring from competition she worked as a swimming coach and a high school teacher. In 1989 she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Yutaka Hara (原 ゆたか, Hara Yutaka; born April 28, 1953) is a Japanese writer and illustrator of children's literature. He…
Yutaka Hara (原 ゆたか, Hara Yutaka; born April 28, 1953) is a Japanese writer and illustrator of children's literature. He was born in Kumamoto in 1953, and is the winner of the 1974 KFS Contest Kodansha Children's Literature Award (KFSコンテスト・講談社児童図書部門賞受賞). He is the author of several series of children's illustrated books including the very popular Kaiketsu Zorori (Incredible Zorori), Chiisana Mori (Small Forest), Meimon furaido chiken shougakkou (the famous fried chicken primary school]) and Touyuuki (Journey to the East: the title is a homage to the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West).