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1-50 of 58
- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Japanese director/writer/actor whose often kinetic, cyberpunk style is much imitated. He expressed appreciation over the similarity of the international hit German film "Run Lola Run" (1998) to his first film as a director/writer, "Dangan Runner" (1996). When asked at the Chicago International Film Festival to recommend a film school, the black leather-jacketed Tanaka replied (via translator) "I've written and directed 5 award-winning movies and I didn't go to film school - so you shouldn't have to either !" At international film festivals, enjoys having his picture taken with audience members.
Acted in at least 5 films, before his first as director/writer. Acted in 1 movie each by cult auteurs Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Pulse (2001), aka Pulse) and Takashi Miike (Dead or Alive trilogy, Ishi the Killer). Has mostly used his birth name Hiroyuki Tanaka as an actor, often portraying cold-blooded gangsters, while mostly uses the name Sabu as director/writer.
His own films often involve yakuza and black comedy, but recent films are more stylistically diverse. Also wrote and directed "A1012K," a short science-fiction film (2002), about a robot gone berserk in a shopping mall. Older members of Japanese superstar pop/boy band V6 have appeared in several of Tanaka's movies.- Actor
- Music Department
Katsuyuki Konishi was born on 21 April 1973 in Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for Gurren Lagann (2007), Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle (2011) and Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998).- Stunts
- Actor
- Producer
Most recognized for his role as the host of MTV's hit show "Silent Library" and his part as the Yakuza weapons expert on Spike's "Deadliest Warrior". Zero was raised on Maui, Hawai'i after his parents moved there shortly after his birth in Japan. He grew up there for 20 years then moved to O'ahu where he lived for 4 years. After giving himself a deadline to leave, he moved to Los Angeles in 2007.
Apart from his career as an actor and stuntman, Zero is a capable director, dp and editor and has made over 50 videos/reels/short films since 2010.- Actress
- Soundtrack
The Tokyo-born Tabe Mikako, who has two older brothers, is an actress with roles on stage and the big and small screens. She began her career in 2002 at the age of thirteen by signing with a management office. She took up the role of Marina Moon in the Sailor Moon musicals. She was in movies by 2005 and garnered her first award for her role in Hinokio for which she won Newcomer Of The Year by the Japan Movie Critics and Blue Ribbon Awards. This role, featuring a robot, likely remains her more famous one although Fish Story has become a minor cult film since release. Like most Japanese celebrities she has done advertising for products like chips, chocolate, cider, etc. Makiko likes the colour pink, watching movies and jazz. She has stated that she would like to be married by age 30 and has been rumoured to have dated Masato Sakai (now married) and Kengo Kora (who was also in Fish Story) among others. She is handled by Hirata Office.- Animation Department
- Director
- Writer
Kôji Morimoto was born on 26 December 1959 in Wakayama, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for The Animatrix (2003), Akira (1988) and Genius Party Beyond (2008). He is married to Atsuko Fukushima.- Naoki Tatsuta was born on 8 September 1950 in Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013), Anime san jushi (1987) and Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (2005).
- Actor
- Writer
- Composer
Hyde was the guitarist in another band when he was "recruited" by Tetsuya in 1991 to form the band L'Arc~en~Ciel. Since then, Hyde became the main lyricist of the band, although he also composes music for the band, and for his solo work. In his solo work, Hyde started with singles such as "evergreen", "angel's tale" and "shallow sleep" in 2001, and then he released his first solo album "roentgen". This album was released with lyrics in Japanese and another album with lyrics in English. After that, Hyde released "666", an album with more rock sounds rather than the mellow ones on "roentgen". In 2005 he re-initiated his solo career with the album "faith" and a tour that went even to the U.S. In 2008, Hyde in his solo work from L'Arc~en~Ciel, formed the band "VAMPS" with K.A.Z., releasing a collection of singles and two albums to this date, the band also went on tour in 6 countries, including for the first time a Latin American Country.- Masaki Miura was born on 16 November 1975 in Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for The Outsider (2018), Outrage (2010) and Another (2012). He has been married to Ai Sasamine since 11 January 2012. They have one child.
- Writer
- Actor
- Director
Kazuo Umezu was born on 3 September 1936 in Koyasan, Wakayama, Japan. He is a writer and actor, known for Mother (2014), The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch (1968) and Drifting School (1995).- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yukio Noda was born on 2 February 1935 in Gobô, Wakayama, Japan. He was a director and writer, known for Gangster Cop (1970), Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (1974) and Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon (1977). He died on 27 August 1997 in Japan.- Takashi Nagasako was born on 24 February 1964 in Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002), The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) and Perfect Blue (1997).
- Kôji Ishii was born on 1 July 1960 in Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger (2011), Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle (2011) and Gatchaman (1994).
- Yûko Aoki was born on 30 June 1963 in Wakayama, Japan. She is an actress, known for High Noon Ripper (1984), Mitsu ni nureru onna (1984) and Hakui chokyo (1986).
- Yasushi Fuchikami was born on 30 April 1984 in Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for The Outsider (2018), Hirugao: Love Affairs in the Afternoon (2014) and Erased (2016).
- Writer
- Animation Department
- Actor
Lynn Okamoto is a Japanese mangaka and the author of manga series such as "Elfen Lied" and "Brynhildr in the Darkness". While he was a student, Okamoto worked for Arc Work Systems on a part-time job basis and participated in the development of various TV/Windows games based on the Sailor Moon series. After graduating, he joined Bandai, and while there, continued to take part in game development, but this time he helped plan puzzle games for Sailor Moon. Although it was his dream occupation since his high school days, Okamoto gave up on it when he graduated from university. He later resigned from Bandai at the age of 28 in order to become a professional manga writer, another dream of his.
He is known to be an intensely private individual. Residing in Tokyo, Japan, he is the creator, and artist for the Elfen Lied Manga series and was a consultant on its anime adaptation.
He made his debut into the manga world in January 2000 with his first short story manga titled "Elfen Lied," which bears almost no connection with his 2002-2005 work, Elfen Lied. He says that the first "Elfen Lied," a tsundere type of love story about young musicians, is the only manga he wrote before becoming professional.
His other major works include Nononono (2007-2010), a romantic drama about ski jumping, and Brynhildr in the Darkness (2012-2016), a spiritual successor to Elfen Lied that focuses on Norse Mythology. The only one of his stories not illustrated by him as well is Kimi wa Midara na Boku no Joou (2012), which was drawn by Mengo Yokoyari. Previously, all of his works have begun their serialization in Shueisha's seinen magazine Weekly Young Jump. However, his current work, Parallel Paradise, began serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine starting in 2017.
He also wrote a short story called MOL which seems to have served as a prototype story to both Elfen Lied and Brynhildr in the Darkness, focusing on a boy who came across a girl who was being experimented on. It is unknown when it was exactly made but it has his really early 2000s art style before his art evolved later on and was officially published a year after Elfen Lied finished.- Junpei Mizobata was born on 14 June 1989 in Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for Akai ito (2008), Detective Conan: Shinichi Kudo's Written Challenge (2006) and Hurricane Polymar (2017).
- Rei Okamoto was born on 18 June 1991 in Wakayama, Japan. She is an actress, known for Kamen Rider Kiva: King of the Castle in the Demon World (2008), The Ramen Girl (2008) and Ooku (2023).
- Yoshikazu Takeuchi was born on 27 February 1955 in Wakayama, Japan. He is a writer, known for Perfect Blue (1997), Perfect Blue (2024) and Manga Entertainment: The Art of Anime (2005).
- Actress
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Yuki Nakashima was born on 12 September 1997 in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. She is an actress, known for Dragon Emperor (2016), 13gatsu no Onna no Ko (2020) and Omega Five (2008).- Sawako Ariyoshi was born on 20 January 1931 in Wakayama, Japan. She was a writer, known for The Scent of Incense (1964), Utsukushii anju-san (1958) and Watashi wa wasurenai (1960). She died on 30 August 1984.
- Hiroyuki Konishi was born on 28 September 1959 in Tanabe, Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for Ressha Sentai ToQger (2014), Dekotora no Shu: Koino hanasaku shimizuko (2006) and Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends - The Movie (2009).
- Director
- Writer
- Editor
Yôichi Higashi was born on 14 November 1934 in Wakayama, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Village of Dreams (1996), Third Base (1978) and The River with No Bridge (1992).- Yuzumi Shintani was born on 20 July 2003 in Wakayama, Japan. She is an actress, known for Isekai Izakaya, Nobu (2020), One Day, You Will Reach the Sea (2022) and Farewell Song (2019).
- Rikiya Kurokawa was born on 17 January 1975 in Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for The Goddess of 1967 (2000), Tennis no oujisama (2006) and Kamen Rider Wizard (2012).
- Nenji Kobayashi was born on 7 February 1943 in Katsuragi, Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for Railroad Man (1999), The Twilight Samurai (2002) and The Drifting Classroom (1987).
- Takashi Okabe was born on 22 June 1972 in Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for Kamen Rider Zero-One (2019), In Love and Deep Water (2023) and Cursed in Love (2020).
- Ayu Higashi was born on 21 September 1990 in Hashimoto, Wakayama, Japan. She is an actress, known for Kamen Rider Amazons (2016), Alice in Borderland (2020) and Kamen Rider Drive (2014).
- Writer
- Animation Department
Minari Endo was born on 8 March 1978 in Wakayama, Japan. She is a writer, known for Hatenkô yûgi (2008) and Maria Holic (2009).- Actress
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
J-POP princess Nami Tamaki burst on the scene in early 2003 w/ her debut single "Believe." It was also the theme song to the anime Mobile Suit Gundam Seed. This anime gave her a head start w/ her music career, gaining her the title of J-POP Princess. "Believe" was a huge hit, ranking 5th place on Oricon & sustaining longevity on the charts. It even cracked the top 100 single rankings that year.
Her dream was to be a singer & dancer since she was a child. Her main goal nowadays 's to make people smile, not only in Japan, but all over the globe. She was noticed by many from dance training & for her unique dancing skills. Her dance training started in 1999, becoming the 1st step to achieving her goal. Singing was her 2nd major interest. Between 2001-2002, she applied for the Sony Music Audition & performed American pop hit "Survivor" by Destiny's Child. Sony Music choose Nami out of 1,000 participants. It knew it choose the right one as it was also impressed by her singing & dancing skills.- Kimiko Tachibana was born on 10 October 1921 in Wakayama, Japan. She is an actress, known for Sansho the Bailiff (1954), A Story from Chikamatsu (1954) and Phantom Castle Part 1 (1940).
- Actress
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Miki Inoue was born on 8 December 1967 in Wakayama, Japan. She is an actress, known for Engine Sentai Go-onger (2008), Samurai Sentai Shinkenger vs. Go-onger Ginmaku Bang! (2010) and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger (2011).- Yutaka Fujioka was born on 19 June 1927 in Wakayama, Japan. Yutaka was a producer and writer, known for Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979), Lupin III: Legend of the Gold of Babylon (1985) and Lupin the 3rd: The Mystery of Mamo (1978). Yutaka died on 30 March 1996.
- Yoshindo Yamaji was born in 1904 in Wakayama, Japan. He is known for The Tale of Zatoichi (1962), Tsukigata Hanpeita (1952) and Assassination (1964).
- Sanma Akashiya was born on 1 July 1955 in Kushimoto, Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor and producer, known for Sure Death! Brown, You Bounder! (1985), Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021) and Tanba Tetsurô no daireikai 2: Shindara odoroita!! (1990).
- Hiro was born on 20 April 1977 in Wakayama, Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for The Outsider (2018), Tomica Hero: Rescue Force (2008) and Princess Sakura: Forbidden Pleasures (2013).
- Writer
- Director
- Editor
Takashi Ujita was born on 2 February 1975 in Wakayama, Japan. He is a writer and director, known for Kanashiku naruhodo Fujitsu na Yozora ni (2001), Journey to the Shore (2015) and Furîjia (2007).- Director
- Cinematographer
- Animation Department
Seitarô Kitayama was born on 3 March 1888 in Wakayama, Wakayama, Japan. He was a director and cinematographer, known for Nogi shôgun Aa, Nogi Taîsyo (1918), Taro Urashima (1918) and Chokin no susume (1917). He died on 13 February 1945 in Takaishi, Osaka, Japan.- Jun Funato was born on 26 November 1938 in Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for Chushingura (1962), Samurai Pirate (1963) and Hana no serusuman Sanshiro (1960).
- Hidekatsu Maki was born on 10 June 1904 in Wakayama, Japan. He is known for Nîjugonemê no yoake (1931), Nani ga kanojo o sô saseta ka (1930) and Akai hakuchô (1930).
- Pole vault champion Shuhei Nishida was born on March 21, 1910 in Wakayama, Japan. Nishida first established himself in the world of competitive sports at both the Student World Championships and International University Games events: He won a silver medal in the men's pole vault in 1928 and gold medals in the same category in 1930 and 1935. Moreover, Shuhei not only won the pole vault at the Far East Championships in Tokyo, Japan in 1930, but also won the silver medal in the men's pole vault at both the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, California and the 1936 Olympic games held in Berlin, Germany. Nishida went on to win a bronze medal at age 41 in the men's pole vault at the 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi, India. Shuhei majored in engineering at Waseda University in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan and, following graduation from college, worked for the Hitachi Group. In addition, Nishida continued to serve as an international referee at sports events and was appointed president of the Japanese Athletics Federation in 1959 before eventually becoming Honorary Vice President and even was a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee. He was awarded the Olympic Order in Silver in 1989. Shuhei died at age 87 of heart failure on April 13, 1997 in Tokyo, Japan.
- Ikuji Nakamura was born on 21 December 1953 in Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for Death Note (2006), Shin Godzilla (2016) and Death Note: The Last Name (2006).
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Neko Oikawa was born on 10 February 1960 in Wakayama, Japan. She is known for Cobra the Animation (2008), Avataro Sentai Donbrothers (2022) and Shuriken Sentai Ninninger (2015).- Eisho Maki was born on 10 June 1904 in Wakayama, Japan. She is an actress, known for Kyoto kôshinkyoku (1931), Harâ tôkarazû (1931) and Bofû keiho (1931).
- Yuichi Komano is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for FC Imabari. He played for Japan national team.
Yuichi Komano played for his local junior high school team. He was invited for trials from several clubs including Gamba Osaka, JEF United Ichihara, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and local high school powerhouse Hatsushiba Hashimoto. He decided to join Sanfrecce Hiroshima youth team and entered Yoshida High School in Hiroshima. - Kenji Nakagami was born on 2 August 1946 in Shingû, Wakayama, Japan. He was a writer, known for Himatsuri (1985), The Egoists (2011) and The Millennial Rapture (2012). He died on 11 August 1992 in Kumano, Japan.
- Yoshito Yamaji was born on 28 September 1904 in Wakayama prefecture, Japan. He is known for Hi no bara (1948), Koga yashiki (1949) and Somersault on the Way (1950).
- Panasonic founder Konosuke Matsushita was born on November 27, 1894, in Wasamura, a farming village that is now part of Wakayama City. His father was a small landowner and prominent member of the community, and Konosuke, the youngest of eight children, enjoyed a comfortable early childhood. But the family's fortunes turned when his father lost his property as a result of poor speculation on the commodities market, and the family was forced to leave their farm and move to a small house in the city. To help support the family, Konosuke was apprenticed to a hibachi (charcoal brazier) store in Osaka a few months before he was to graduate from elementary school. Still only nine years old, Konosuke said goodbye to his mother at the train station and left on the long, lonely ride to the big city.
Konosuke's career continued to advance at the Osaka Electric Light Company as he was quickly promoted to higher-paying positions, until, at the age of 22, he became an inspector - the highest post a technician could hope for. Earlier, Konosuke had tried in vain to interest his supervisor in an improved electrical socket he had designed and built in his spare time. Now, dissatisfied by his job's lack of challenge, Konosuke's thoughts returned to the socket once again. Remembering his father's advice about the advantages of being an entrepreneur, he left the security of his well-paid job on June 15, 1917, to set up his own small manufacturing company. Konosuke's savings totalled less than 100 yen, scarcely enough for basic tools and supplies - power tools were, of course, out of the question. However, undaunted by his meagre resources, he set up a shop in his tiny dirt-floored tenement with two co-workers from Osaka Electric Light Company and Mumeno's youngest brother, Toshio. Sales of the socket were poor, and by the end of 1917, Konosuke's former co-workers pulled out, leaving only Konosuke, Mumeno and Toshio. Mumeno's pawnshop register tells the story of months of hand-to-mouth survival. On the brink of bankruptcy, the company was saved by an unexpected order for a thousand insulator plates for electric fans.
Konosuke had begun developing a second-generation battery-powered bicycle lamp - changing to a square-shaped design. While trying to think of a brand name for this new lamp, he came across the English word "international" in the newspaper. Looking up the definition in the dictionary, Konosuke saw that within "international" was the word "national", meaning "of or relating to the people of a nation". This struck him as perfect for a product that he believed every household in the country would one day be using. And, in 1927, the National brand was born. - Combat Toyoda was born on 26 October 1967 in Wakayama, Japan. She is an actress, known for Ningen kyôki: Ai to ikari no ringu (1992) and FMW: Legend Dawns (2000).
- Champion breaststroke swimmer Hideko Maehata was born on May 20, 1914 in Hashimoto, Wakayama, Japan. The daughter of a tofu producer, Hideko learned to swim as a child in the Kinokawa River. Maehata set an unofficial youth record for the 50-meter breaststroke while in the fifth grade of elementary school. Hideko went on to win numerous competitions and was slated to attend a woman's boarding school in Nagoya that specialized in swimming, but was forced to return home in 1931 after both of her parents died from strokes within a six month period. Maehata nonetheless was selected as part of the Japanese swimming team for the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, California and subsequently won a silver medal in the women's 200-meters breaststroke. After returning to Japan, Hideko underwent a strenuous training program and set a new world record of 3:00:4 in the 200-meters breaststroke on September 30, 1933. Maehata followed this triumphant feat by winning the gold medal in the women's 200-meters breaststroke at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
Hideko married professor of medicine Masahiko Hyodo in 1937 and eventually retired from competitive swimming. Maehata was awarded the Purple Ribbon of Merit by the Japanese government in 1964 and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1979. Hideko suffered from a stroke in 1983, but managed to recover from said stroke. Maehata was designated as a Person of Cultural Merit in 1990 and holds the distinction of being the first Japanese female athlete to receive this particular honor. Hideko died at age 80 from acute renal failure on February 24, 1995. - Eisaku Shindô was born on 28 November 1958 in Wakayama, Japan. He is an actor, known for Tonkô (1988), Ora Tôkyô sa iguda (1985) and Tomoko: Mottomo kiken'na on'na (2000).