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1-50 of 137
- Born Tsuzaki Ayame in Kobe, Japan. She is fourth of five sisters. Her family was affected by the earthquake of 1995 and lived in a shelter for a year. She became active in the entertainment industry initially as a gravure model and variety show participant before receiving credited roles on the small and big screens. She won the 29th Horipro Tarento Scout Caravan and debuted in the gravure magazine, Weekly Young Sunday. She made audiences happy and excited showcasing her body in various productions. Naturally, she also began doing commercials and represented Sapporo beer among other things. She became famous in acting for the role of Miki in Cutey Honey Live. She was cast in Radiance, which was showcased at TIFF (Toronto international Film Festival) and Cannes in 2017. Her favourite phrase is 'I Will Do.' One of her favourite serials is Neon Genesis Evangelion. Ayame married a man, who also hailed from Hyogo, after meeting him at a game of mahjong in July of 2016 and obtained a divorce 16 months later. She remains managed by Horipro.
- Actor
- Production Designer
- Soundtrack
Born in Japan, Makoto Iwamatsu was living there with his grandparents while his parents studied art in the United States, when Japan and the U.S. went to war in 1941. His parents remained in the U.S., working for the Office of War Information, and, at the cessation of the conflict, were granted U.S. residency by Congress. "Mako", as he became known, joined his parents in New York and studied architecture.
He entered the U.S. Army in the early 1950s and acted in shows for military personnel, discovering a talent and love for the theatre. He abandoned his plans to become an architect and instead enrolled at the famed Pasadena Community Playhouse. Following his studies there, he appeared in many stage productions and on television. In 1966, he won an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his first film role, as the coolie "Po-Han" in The Sand Pebbles (1966). He worked steadily in feature films since.
He appeared on Broadway in the leading role in Stephen Sondheim's "Pacific Overtures", and co-founded and served as artistic director for the highly-acclaimed East-West Players theatre company in Los Angeles.
Following a long battle with cancer, Mako passed away on July 21, 2006, at the age of 72. He was survived by his wife, Shizuko Hoshi (who co-starred in episodes of M*A*S*H (1972)) as well, and his children and grandchildren.- Kae Alexander was born on 31 August 1985 in Kobe, Japan. She is an actress, known for Game of Thrones (2011), Fleabag (2016) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019).
- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Kiyoshi Kurosawa was born on 19 July 1955 in Kobe, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Tokyo Sonata (2008), Pulse (2001) and Cure (1997).- Keiko Kitagawa, very commonly known as Sailor Mars in the live action series of Sailor Moon, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (PGSM), is a seventeen magazine model turned actress and singer. Born on August 22nd 1986 in Hyogo Perfecture, Japan, Keiko has a lived an unexpected life. From growing up in Kobe and losing many friends in the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake to being uncertain about her childhood dream of being a doctor. Fortunately, fate had other plans for Keiko when she was scouted by a talent agency who recognized her as a born star. Approval from her parents was not an easy task because their main concern was her studies and having her graduate from a university. In the end, Keiko proved to be victorious winning Miss Seventeen 2003 and landing a modeling contract until 2006. During that time, Keiko won the role of Rei Hino aka Sailor Mars in the live action series of Sailor Moon, her first acting role. After that famous role, she starred in a numerous of movies. One in particular was Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, in which she had a small role but had a chance to come to the United States for filming and premiers. This journey to the US prompted her to study the English language and now she is fluent in English. Keiko continues her studies and is majoring in Commercial Science at Meiji University in Tokyo. In 2007 she is working on 5 new projects and one of them is a new drama series, Mop Girl now playing on Asahi TV.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Kazuya Nakai was born on 25 November 1967 in Kobe, Japan. He is an actor, known for One Piece (1999), Gintama (2005) and Samurai Champloo (2004).- Toda Erika was born in Kobe in central Japan on August 17th 1988. While her official first acting credit dates back to Audrey (Ôdorî ) in 2000 she truly began her career four years later. She used the intermediate period with gravure adult and other fashion modelling from age thirteen. She has been in many serials and films since perhaps most notably in the Death Note and SPEC series. She announced that actor actor Ryo Kase and her are dating in 2016. They had been dating and co-starring earlier, such as in Keizoku 2: SPEC of 2010. She cites calligraphy and the piano as favourite pastimes. She is managed by FLaMme.
- Michelle Ferre's first acting experience was opposite Jackie Chan in "Who am I?". Michelle is of French and Japanese origin, and is a former CNN correspondent in Japan, as well as being a former game show hostess.
- Born and raised in Japan, Sagawa took a degree in English literature from Wako University. A brilliant student, he was accepted to do post-graduate at the Sorbonne. In 1981, he killed and ate one of his fellow classmates, a beautiful woman named Renée Hartevelt. Once the murder was discovered, the judge declared Sagawa mentally deranged and unfit to stand trial. His wealthy father had him extradited to a Japanese psychiatric hospital, from which he was released after 15 months. Now a national celebrity, Sagawa spends his time doing talk show interviews, starring in movies, writing novels, and painting. He is happy to talk about his crime and remains completely unrepentant.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Director
Yoshi Oida was born in 1933 in Kobe, Japan. He is an actor and director, known for Silence (2016), Wasabi (2001) and Taxi 2 (2000).- Actor
- Soundtrack
Masato Sakai was born on 14 October 1973 in Kobe, Japan. He is an actor, known for Climbers High (2008), Afutâ sukûru (2008) and Hanzawa Naoki (2013). He has been married to Miho Kanno since 2 April 2013. They have two children.- Actress
Yûna Taira was born on 12 November 1998 in Kobe, Japan. She is an actress, known for ReLIFE (2017), Mumon: The Land of Stealth (2017) and Hanii (2018).- Takashi Kashiwabara was born on March 16, 1977 in Kobe, Japan. He has a mother, father, brother & sister. Some of his favorite artists are Boys 2 Men, Mr.Children, Oasis & Faye Wong. His line of work was mostly movies but he was also in a band in called No'Where. This band was popular in Japan w/ its hit single Another World. Hobbies include playing the guitar, playing football, playing mahjong & watching car races. He loves cats & owns 1 named Kite.
- Seina Nakata was born on 6 January 2000 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Meet Me After School (2018), My Hot Sexless Lover (2022) and Passion for Punchlines (2023).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Hidenobu Kiuchi was born on 5 February 1969 in Kobe, Japan. He is an actor, known for Monster (2004), Darker Than Black (2007) and Resonance of Fate (2010).- Actor
- Producer
- Composer
Yûjirô Ishihara was born on 28 December 1934 in Kobe, Japan. He was an actor and producer, known for Man Who Causes a Storm (1957), Arcadia of My Youth (1982) and The Eagle and the Hawk (1957). He was married to Mie Kitahara. He died on 17 July 1987 in Shinanomachi, Tokyo, Japan.- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Yûharu Atsuta was born on 1 January 1905 in Kobe, Japan. He was a cinematographer, known for An Autumn Afternoon (1962), Late Autumn (1960) and Early Summer (1951). He died on 7 December 1992 in Japan.- Writer
- Art Department
- Animation Department
Born in the Hyogo Prefecture capital city of Kobe, he studied oil painting at Osaka University of Arts. While in college, he developed an interest in manga, which led him to create his own complete work, Black Magic, which was published in the manga dojinshi Atlas. His work caught the eye of Seishinsha President Harumichi Aoki, who offered to publish him.
The result was best-selling manga Appleseed, a full volume of densely plotted drama taking place in an ambiguous future. The story was a sensation, and won the 1986 Seiun Award for Best Manga. After a professional reprint of Black Magic and a second volume of Appleseed, he released Dominion in 1986. Two more volumes of Appleseed followed before he began work on Ghost in the Shell.
In 2007, he collaborated again with Production I.G to co-create the original concept for the anime television series Ghost Hound, Production I.G's 20th anniversary project. A further original collaboration with Production I.G began airing in April 2008, titled Real Drive.- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tai Katô was born on 24 August 1916 in Kobe, Japan. Tai was a director and writer, known for Rashomon (1950), Nihon kyôka den (1973) and Jinsei gekijô (1972). Tai died on 17 June 1985.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Hizuru Takachiho was born on 10 October 1932 in Kobe, Japan. She is an actress, known for Haitoku no mesu (1961), Zero Focus (1961) and Mitsu-kubi-tou (1956).- Mari Hamada was born on 27 December 1968 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Shomuni (1998), The Cat Returns (2002) and Inuyashiki (2018). She was previously married to Maki Fujii.
- Chihiro Yamamoto was born on 29 August 1996 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Ultraman Geed (2017), Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Rider (2016) and Alice in Borderland (2020).
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Asakazu Nakai was born on 29 August 1901 in Kobe, Japan. He was a cinematographer, known for Ran (1985), Stray Dog (1949) and Seven Samurai (1954). He died on 28 February 1988.- Ryôta Takeuchi was born on 22 September 1982 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015), Overwatch (2016) and The Ancient Magus' Bride (2017).
- Actress
- Music Department
- Additional Crew
Yûko Miyamura was born on 4 December 1972 in Kobe, Japan. She is an actress, known for Battle Royale (2000), Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997) and Berserk (1997). She has been married to Takayuki Seki since March 2004. She was previously married to D. Nakatani.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Kichijirô Ueda was born on 10 March 1904 in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He was an actor, known for Rashomon (1950), The Hidden Fortress (1958) and Seven Samurai (1954). He died on 3 November 1972 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan.- Nao Asuka was born on 18 September 1961 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Lost in Translation (2003), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (1983) and Lonely Heart (1985).
- Yôji Ueda was born on 7 August 1971 in Kobe, Japan. He is an actor, known for Vinland Saga (2019), Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Border 2: Ghost Whispers (2013) and Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie (2015).
- Rena Matsui was born on 27 July 1991 in Kobe, Japan. She is an actress, known for Kamen Rider Build: Be the One (2018), The Nighthawk's First Love (2021) and Itosato (2018).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Tadao Takashima was born on 27 July 1930 in Kobe, Japan. He was an actor, known for King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963) and Son of Godzilla (1967). He was married to Hanayo Sumi. He died on 26 June 2019 in Tokyo, Japan.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Minako Kotobuki was born on 17 September 1991 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger (2016), Gekijôban Dôbutsu Sentai Jûôjâ Tai Ninninjâ Mirai kara no Messêji Furomu Sûpâ Sentai (2017) and Guilty Crown (2011).- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Toshio Masuda was born on 5 October 1927 in Kobe, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Shaso (1989), Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) and The Battle of Port Arthur (1980).- Jun Hashimoto was born on 25 February 1964 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Shin Godzilla (2016), Alice in Borderland (2020) and Library Wars (2013).
- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Takashige Ichise was born on 18 January 1961 in Kobe, Japan. He is a producer and writer, known for Dark Water (2002), Shutter (2008) and The Grudge (2004).- Actress
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Ai Maeda was born on 19 April 1975 in Kobe, Japan. She is an actress, known for Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), Digimon Adventure (2013) and Digimon Adventure (1999). She has been married to Ryôtarô Okiayu since January 2013.- Annu Mari was born on 20 May 1948 in Kobe, Japan. She is an actress, known for Branded to Kill (1967), Ultraman: A Special Effects Fantasy Series (1966) and Ultraseven (1967).
- Yoshifumi Tajima was born on August 4, 1918 in Kobe, Japan. His career in movies debuted in 1956, starring in a movie produced by Daiei Studios (known for making its "Gamera" movies) and directed by Ishirô Honda called Night School (1956). He joined Toho Studios the same year, playing "Izeki" in the sci-fi epic Rodan (1956). He became quite a fixture in Toho Studios' sci-fi films from then on, playing an assortment of characters from villains to detectives, and from generals to captains. However, he was probably most famous for his role as the delightfully villainous entrepreneur Kumayama in Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964). He also appeared as a regular cast member of the TV series Ultra Q (1965).
- Mistuteru Yokoyama was born on June 18, 1934 in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. As a boy, he loved reading magazine novels and manga. He got his first inspiration to draw manga after reading Osamu Tezuka's manga "Metropolis". In his own words, Tezuka's ability to write interesting stories, his graceful lines, and the fact that they were both from the city of Kobe, moved and inspired him to draw manga himself. Returning to Kobe from Tottori after the war (World War II), Tezuka's "Metropolis" and the burned-down city of Kobe gave him the impetus to draw. In his own words, he was not so good at drawing and had no confidence in his story or artwork, but from middle school through high school whenever he had time he drew manga and sent the drafts to the publishers. After graduating from high school, he worked for a bank in Kobe. Even then he was not so determined to be a manga writer, but he kept up his periodic submission of his work to the publishers. Around that time he realized that working for the bank left him little time to draw, so he quit his job after four months. Next, he worked as an advertising agent for one of the film distribution companies in the Hanshin District (i.e., Kobe - Osaka) of Japan. There he was doing art work for film fliers, but was only busy before the release of a new film. So he used his remaining time to draw and sent his work to the publishers. About half of his work was accepted and half was rejected. Around that time, Japan had publishers who specialized in rental books where book stores rented their books to customers and charged per diem. Japan's economy was still weak and people had little money to buy books so, especially for children, these books were in high demand. One such publisher, Tokoudo of Osaka, asked Yokoyama to write a feature-length manga. The manga he wrote for this publisher was "Otonashi no ken" ("The Silent Sword"). He was 20 at the time. The manga was well received by the audience and he soon got a follow-up order for a second manga. Next, he wrote a manga called "Shirayuri monogatari" ("The White Lily Story"). The third manga that he wrote was "Maken Reppu ken" ("Demonic Whirlwind Sword"), and the fourth manga that he was starting to write, "Tetsujin 28 go" ("Ironman #28" a.k.a. "Gigantor") was to change his life forever. His parents, who were against him for wanting to become a manga artist, slowly accepted his career choice as they saw money coming in from his artistic career. Having seen his work in Osaka Kobundo, a publisher from Tokyo, asked him to draw for one of their magazines targeted for girls titled "Shoujyo". His idol Osamu Tezuka was one of the contributing artists for this magazine, so this request was a dream come true for him. In this magazine a modified version of "Shirayuri Monogatari" was reprinted, and he was also asked to write for its sister magazine for boys titled "Shounen". He submitted "Tetsujin 28 go", which he was planning to write for Tokoudo. This was first published in July 1956 and was instantly ranked as the number 1 favorite story of the readers. Osamu Tezuka's "Tetsuwan Atom" ("Astro Boy") had started five years earlier also on "Shounen", and these two robot genre manga by Yokoyama and Tezuka, respectively, became the greatest science fiction/action manga of post-war era Japan. Yokoyama's veracity for drawing manga was well-known at the time, as he was able to draw a page in 30 minutes. He continued to expand into period manga like "Iga no Kage maru", which was featured in the weekly magazine "Shounen Sunday", followed by "Ninja Aka Kage", which became a TV series along with "Tetsujin 28 go". "Tetsujin 28 go" was syndicated in "Shounen" until May 1966 when it ended. Yokoyama's other works, such as "Mahotsukai Sally" ("Sally the Witch") which was targeted for girls, also became anime TV series. Today, Yokoyama is remembered as one of the two giants and founding fathers of the genre we now call "manga" along with Osamu Tezuka.
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Yûya Uchida was born on 17 November 1939 in Kobe, Japan. He was an actor and writer, known for Comic Magazine (1986), Black Rain (1989) and Erotic Liaisons (1992). He was married to Kirin Kiki. He died on 17 March 2019 in Tokyo, Japan.- Actress
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Kyôko Hikami was born on 11 January 1969 in Kobe, Japan. She is an actress, known for Witch Hunter Robin (2002), Evil Zone (1999) and Betterman (1999).- Director
- Art Department
- Animation Department
Yoshiaki Iwasaki was born on 6 October 1964 in Kobe, Japan. Yoshiaki is a director, known for Generator Gawl (1998), Battle Athletes Victory (1997) and Turn A Gundam (1999).- Shûhei Nomura was born on 14 November 1993 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Memoirs of a Murderer (2017), The Youngsters (2014) and Secret Unrequited Love (2019).
- Actor
- Director
Mirai Moriyama was born on 20 August 1984 in Kobe, Japan. He is an actor and director, known for Rage (2016), Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (2004) and The Drudgery Train (2012).- Writer
- Actor
- Director
Shintarô Ishihara was born on 30 September 1932 in Kobe, Japan. He was a writer and actor, known for Love at Twenty (1962), The Young Beast (1958) and I Am Waiting (1957). He was married to Noriko Ishida. He died on 1 February 2022 in Tokyo, Japan.- Kazuya Ichijô was born on 11 March 1966 in Kobe, Japan. He is an actor, known for Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001), The King of Fighters: Neowave (2004) and The King of Fighters 2003 (2003).
- Marijke Veugelers was born on 1 December 1952 in Kobe, Japan. She is an actress, known for Van geluk gesproken (1987), Ei (1988) and Spijkerhoek (1989).
- Eri Nakao was born on 15 May 1980 in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. She is an actress, known for Xenoblade Chronicles (2010), Project X Zone 2 (2015) and Witchblade (2006).
- Hisaya Itô was born on 7 August 1924 in Kobe, Japan. He was an actor, known for Destroy All Monsters (1968), The Mysterians (1957) and Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964). He died in 2005.
- Writer
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Seishi Yokomizo was born on 25 May 1902 in Kobe, Japan. He was a writer and actor, known for Inugami-ke no nazo: Akuma wa odoru (1954), Mitsu-kubi-tou (1956) and Yokomizo Seishi shirîzu (1977). He died on 28 December 1981.- Gorô Mutsumi was born on 11 September 1934 in Kobe, Japan. He was an actor, known for Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975), Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) and Space Adventure Cobra (1982). He died on 5 June 2021.