Japanese musicians born in 1951
Here are 22 famous musicians from Japan were born in 1951:
Ryūsei Nakao
Ryūsei Nakao (February 5, 1951 Tokyo-) otherwise known as Takanori Nakao, Tomoharu Takeo, Ryuusei Nakao, Tomoharu Minamitani, Tomo-chan, Tomoharu Minamiya, Nakao Ryūsei, Takeo Tomoharu, Minamiya Tomoharu or Ryûsei Nakao is a Japanese actor, singer and voice actor. He has one child, Takeo Kazuma.
Ryūsei Nakao first started his career in entertainment as a rock singer in the early 1970s. However, he became more known for his work as a voice actor, providing the voices for a variety of characters in both anime and video games. Some of his most famous roles include Frieza in "Dragon Ball Z", Baikinman in "Anpanman", and Mayuri Kurotsuchi in "Bleach".
Aside from voice acting, Nakao has also appeared in live-action films and TV dramas. He has won several awards for his voice acting, including the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 4th Seiyu Awards.
In addition to his work in entertainment, Nakao is also known for his charity work. He is an ambassador for the Shizuoka Guide Dog Association and has helped raise funds for organizations such as the Japanese Red Cross.
Nakao has also lent his vocal talents to numerous character songs and drama CDs, including those for popular anime series like "Sailor Moon" and "Naruto". He has also been a part of several musical groups throughout his career, including "Streak", "566" and "Dragon Soul".
Beyond his accomplished career, Nakao has also been recognized by the Japanese government for his contributions to the arts. He was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2010 and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in 2019.
In his personal life, Nakao is known to be a private individual. He rarely discusses his personal affairs in interviews, preferring to let his work speak for itself. Despite this, he has remained a beloved figure in the world of anime and entertainment and continues to inspire fans with his talent and kindness.
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Unshō Ishizuka
Unshō Ishizuka (May 16, 1951 Katsuyama-) a.k.a. Unsyo Ishizuka, Unsyou Ishizuka, Ishizuka Yukinori, Yukinori Ishizuka, Ishizuka Unshō, Unsho Ishizuka, Unshô Ishizuka, Unshou Ishizuka or Unsyo Ishzuka is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He started his career as an actor in the 1970s but later became very famous as a voice actor for anime and video games. He provided his voice for some iconic characters in Japanese animation, such as Professor Oak in the "Pokémon" series, Jet Black in "Cowboy Bebop," Joseph Joestar in "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," and Zabuza Momochi in "Naruto." He was also the official dubbing actor for Hollywood stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone in Japanese language versions of their movies. Ishizuka pass away at the age of 67 in August 2018 due to esophageal cancer.
Ishizuka was born in Katsuyama, Fukui, Japan. After graduating from the Japan Narration Acting Institute, he began his career in the entertainment industry in 1974 as a stage actor. He then transitioned to television, appearing in dramas such as "Sukeban Deka" and "Kamen Rider."
It wasn't until the 1990s that Ishizuka's voice acting career really took off. He became a staple in the anime industry, lending his voice to beloved characters such as Captain Hook in "One Piece," Mr. Satan in "Dragon Ball Z," and Heihachi Mishima in "Tekken." He was also known for his deep, authoritative voice, which led to him being cast as narrators in various documentaries and commercials.
In addition to his voice acting work, Ishizuka also lent his talents to video games. He voiced characters in popular franchises such as "Final Fantasy," "Kingdom Hearts," and "Metal Gear Solid."
Ishizuka was highly respected in the industry and was recognized for his work with numerous awards, including the "Best Supporting Actor" award at the 10th Seiyu Awards in 2016.
Despite his passing, Ishizuka's legacy lives on through his iconic characters and the impact he had on the anime and voice acting communities.
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Shigeru Umebayashi
Shigeru Umebayashi (February 19, 1951 Kitakyushu-) otherwise known as Umebayashi Shigeru, UME or Mei Linmao is a Japanese musician, film score composer and composer.
His albums include House of Flying Daggers, Curse of the Golden Flower, Jet Li's Fearless, and The Grandmaster. Genres: Film score.
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Keiko Fuji
Keiko Fuji (July 5, 1951 Ichinoseki-August 22, 2013 Shinjuku) otherwise known as Fuji Keiko, Junko Abe, Abe Junko, Junko Utada or Utada Junko was a Japanese singer. She had one child, Hikaru Utada.
Discography: . Genres she performed include Enka and Pop music.
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Minoru Inaba
Minoru Inaba (November 8, 1951 Shizuoka Prefecture-) also known as Masami Kawaguchi or Inaba Minoru is a Japanese voice actor.
He is affiliated with the talent agency Aoni Production, and has voiced a number of notable characters across various media. Inaba got his start in the voice acting industry in the mid-1970s with roles in anime series such as "Getter Robo", "Space Battleship Yamato II", and "Captain Harlock". He gained further recognition over the years for his performances in "Dragon Ball Z" as Emperor Pilaf, "Mobile Suit Gundam" as Char Aznable, and "One Piece" as Doc Q. In addition to his voice acting work, Inaba is also a trained theatrical actor, having performed in numerous stage productions. He is known for his versatility as a voice actor, being able to portray characters of various ages and personality types.
Inaba Minoru has won several awards for his exceptional voice acting skills. He won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 11th Seiyu Awards in 2017 for his role as Doc Q in "One Piece". He was also recognized at the 2nd Seiyu Awards for his performance in "Mobile Suit Gundam" as Char Aznable. In addition to his voice acting work, Inaba has also lent his voice to video games, including "Resident Evil 5" as Excella Gionne and "Dynasty Warriors 5" as Cao Cao. In his personal life, Inaba enjoys playing golf and watching baseball. He is known for his calm and reserved personality, which is reflected in some of the characters he portrays. He continues to be a prominent and respected figure in the Japanese voice acting industry.
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Ikuya Sawaki
Ikuya Sawaki (August 25, 1951 Kashiwa-) also known as Yoshinobu Mikami, Mikami Yoshinobu or Sawaki Ikuya is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He initially started his career as a stage actor and made his way into the world of voice acting in the 1980s. Sawaki has lent his voice to numerous characters in anime and video games, including Ziggurat 8 in "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam," Sōjirō Kusaka in "Bleach the Movie: The DiamondDust Rebellion," and Gōzaburō Kaiba in "Yu-Gi-Oh!" He is also known for his portrayals of live-action characters, such as Detective Tokuda in the Japanese drama series "Keishichou Sousa Ikkachou" and Shinsuke Takasugi in the live-action adaptation of the manga series "Gintama." Outside of his acting career, Sawaki is also a professor at Waseda University's School of Social Sciences.
In addition to his prolific career in voice acting and live-action, Ikuya Sawaki has also contributed to the world of theatre, having founded the theatrical group Gekidan Shinkansen in 1985. Sawaki has directed and acted in several plays under the group's banner, which has produced works ranging from classic plays to contemporary works. Additionally, Sawaki has served as a voice acting coach and mentor, having established the voice acting school "Seinenza Theater Company" in the 1990s. His contributions to the entertainment industry have earned him recognition and numerous accolades, including the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 4th Seiyu Awards in 2010.
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Yuhki Kuramoto
Yuhki Kuramoto (September 10, 1951 Japan-) a.k.a. Yukhi Kuramoto is a Japanese , .
His albums: Romance Collection: 10th Anniversary and Time For Journey.
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Masayuki Tanaka
Masayuki Tanaka (June 30, 1951 Imari-) also known as 田中昌之, 田中雅之 or Tanaka, Masayuki is a Japanese singer.
He is best known for being the lead vocalist of the Japanese rock band "Kokusho no Machi" which was active from 1983 to 1988. In addition to his work with the band, Tanaka has also released several solo albums throughout his career. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of the Japanese rock scene and has inspired many artists in Japan and beyond. Tanaka is known for his powerful and emotional voice, as well as his ability to convey deep, introspective lyrics. Beyond his music career, he has also been involved in various humanitarian causes, including the promotion of education and conservation efforts. Tanaka continues to perform and record music to this day.
He began his musical career in his 20s, singing for a folk song club in his hometown before moving to Tokyo to pursue music professionally. After several years of performing in small venues, he formed Kokusho no Machi and quickly gained popularity with their socially conscious lyrics and powerful performances. Tanaka's solo work often features a more introspective and personal tone than his work with the band, and he has been praised for his ability to connect with audiences through his music.
Tanaka has also been involved in numerous philanthropic efforts throughout his career, including founding a music school for underprivileged children in rural Japan and donating proceeds from his concerts to various environmental causes. He is known for his dedication to making a positive impact through his music and activism.
Although Tanaka and the members of Kokusho no Machi went their separate ways in 1988, their music continues to be celebrated by fans and musicians alike. Tanaka's influence on the Japanese rock scene is still felt today, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures in Japanese music history.
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Katsumi Chō
Katsumi Chō (August 11, 1951 Gunma Prefecture-) also known as Katsumi Chou, Katsumi Chô or Katsumi Cho is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He is best known for his roles in various anime series and films, including as Iemitsu Tokugawa in "Gintama," Captain Hook in "Peter Pan no Bouken," and Kenshiro in "Fist of the North Star." In addition to voice acting, Chō has also appeared in live-action films and television dramas such as "Kagero-za" and "Sukeban Deka." He has won several awards for his voice acting, including the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 4th Seiyu Awards in 2010. Chō is considered one of the most prominent and respected Japanese voice actors of his generation.
Chō began his career in voice acting in the 1970s and has since voiced a wide variety of characters in anime, video games, and dramas. Some of his notable roles include Brook in "One Piece," Geronimo in "Shaman King," and William Birkin in the "Resident Evil" series of games. He is also known for dubbing foreign films and television shows into Japanese, including the voice of Dr. House in "House M.D." and Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Outside of acting, Chō is an accomplished DJ and has released several music albums. He also enjoys playing golf and is a frequent charity event participant.
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Kōsei Hirota
Kōsei Hirota (February 12, 1951 Fukuoka Prefecture-) also known as Kosei Hirota, Yukio Hiroda or Kousei Hirata is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He has lent his voice to various anime and video game characters including Daisuke Jigen in "Lupin III", Snake in "Black Lagoon", and Rezo the Red Priest in the "Slayers" series. Hirota has also appeared in numerous Japanese films and dramas, such as "Yakuza Weapon" and "Shinzanmono". In addition to his voice acting and acting work, Hirota is also a musician, playing the drums for the band "The Screaming Frogs." He is affiliated with the talent agency 81 Produce.
Hirota started his career as a voice actor in the early 1980s, and his first major role was in the anime series "Mighty Orbots" as Rob Simmons. He then went on to voice numerous other characters, becoming well-known for his deep and distinctive voice. His role as Daisuke Jigen in "Lupin III" is considered one of his most iconic roles.
Aside from his voice acting work, Hirota has also been active in live-action productions. He has appeared in a variety of TV dramas, including "Kamen Rider W" and "Doctor-X", as well as several films, such as "Wild 7" and "Japan Organized Crime Boss".
In addition to his work as an actor, Hirota is an accomplished musician. He has been playing drums since he was a teenager and has performed with several bands over the years. In 2015, he formed his own band, "The Screaming Frogs", with whom he has released several albums.
Despite his long and successful career, Hirota remains a relatively private person and is known for his low-key personality. He continues to be active in the entertainment industry and is highly regarded by fans and colleagues alike.
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Masataka Matsutoya
Masataka Matsutoya (November 19, 1951 Suginami-) also known as Masataka Matsutouya, U.Kon or Matsutoya Masataka is a Japanese record producer, composer, journalist, actor, music arranger and film score composer.
Discography: .
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Hideki Matsutake
Hideki Matsutake (August 12, 1951 Japan-) a.k.a. Matsutake, Hideki is a Japanese , .
His discography includes: .
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Masao Urino
Masao Urino (February 22, 1951 Ashikaga-) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter.
Urino graduated from Waseda University in 1973 and then began working as a film director for Nikkatsu Corporation. He directed his first film "13 Steps of Maki: The Young Aristocrats" in 1975 which was a commercial success and led to him directing several more films with Nikkatsu. In the 1980s, Urino started to work on more personal projects and gained critical acclaim for his work in the Pink film genre which is characterized by its sensual and sexual themes.
Urino has been recognized for his work with several awards including the Grand Prize at the Mainichi Film Awards for his film "The Crazy Family" in 1984. He has also been a frequent collaborator with writer Atsushi Yamatoya, who worked on several of his films. Some of Urino's notable films include "I Love You" (1986), "The Most Beautiful Night in the World" (1989), and "The Wow-Choten Hotel" (2006). Despite retiring from filmmaking in the early 2010s, Urino's work continues to be appreciated for its unique take on Japanese cinema of the 20th century.
In addition to his work in film, Masao Urino has also been a professor of film studies at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music since 2002. In 2013, he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese government for his contributions to the arts as a film director and educator. Urino is known for his distinct visual style and use of unconventional narrative structures in his films, often incorporating surreal and experimental elements. His films have been screened at numerous international film festivals, including at Cannes and Berlin. Today, he is considered one of the leading figures of the Pink film genre and a key contributor to the development of Japanese cinema.
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Linda Yamamoto
Linda Yamamoto (March 4, 1951 Kitakyushu-) a.k.a. Yamamoto Linda is a Japanese singer.
Her most well known albums: 夢はどこへいった, , and 踊れる歌える.
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松尾清憲
松尾清憲 (December 5, 1951-) a.k.a. Kiyonori Matsuo or Matsuo, Kiyonori is a Japanese singer.
His albums include Spin.
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Yukijirô Hotaru
Yukijirô Hotaru (August 27, 1951 Saitama Prefecture-) also known as Hotaru Yukijirō or Yukijirō Hotaru is a Japanese actor.
He is well-known for his roles in Japanese television dramas and films, primarily in the yakuza genre. Hotaru began his acting career in the late 1970s and has since appeared in over 270 movies and television shows. He is also a voice actor, lending his voice to characters in anime series and films. In addition to his acting career, Hotaru is also a singer and has released several albums. He is often recognized for his unique and charismatic persona, as well as his iconic facial scar. Outside of his entertainment career, Hotaru is known for his passion for cars and racing.
Hotaru started building race cars in the 1980s and has since become an accomplished race car driver. He has participated in many races throughout Japan and has even won a few championships. In 2013, he founded the racing team "Hotaru Racing" and has since coached and mentored young drivers. Despite being in his 70s, Hotaru continues to race and shows no signs of slowing down. He is also known for his dedication to his fans and often interacts with them at events, even going as far as giving out his personal phone number to stay in touch with them. Hotaru's contributions to the entertainment industry and racing world have made him a beloved figure in Japan.
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Yumi Takigawa
Yumi Takigawa (February 16, 1951 Suginami-) also known as Ouchi Kaoru, Kaoru Ouchi, Takigawa Yumi or Takigawa, Yumi is a Japanese actor. She has one child, Hanako Takigawa.
Takigawa began her career as a singer and gained popularity in the 1970s with hits such as "Koi no Kisetsu" and "Taiyou no Kisetsu". She later transitioned to acting and has appeared in numerous TV dramas and films, including the popular series "Five Star Stories" and "Beach Boys". In addition to her entertainment career, Takigawa has also been involved in various philanthropic activities, including serving as an ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme. She has received several awards and honors for her contributions to both the entertainment industry and social causes, including the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2013.
Takigawa was born in Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan. She got her first big break in the entertainment industry when she won the grand prize at the Yamaha Music Festival in 1968. She then released her debut single "Koi no Kisetsu" in 1970, which went on to become a hit and established her as a popular singer.
In 1975, Takigawa made her acting debut in the film "Tokyo Love Story". She continued to act in various TV dramas and films throughout the 1980s and 1990s, earning critical acclaim for her performances in the TV dramas "Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari" and "Agri".
Aside from her successful entertainment career, Takigawa has also devoted time to humanitarian efforts. In 2005, she was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme, and has since visited countries such as Cambodia and Kenya to raise awareness about global hunger.
In recognition of her contributions to both the entertainment industry and philanthropy, Takigawa was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon by the Japanese government in 2013. She continues to act and advocate for social causes, and remains a beloved figure in Japanese entertainment.
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Masatoshi Nakamura
Masatoshi Nakamura (February 1, 1951 Onagawa-) also known as Nakamura Masatoshi is a Japanese actor and singer. His children are Shunta Nakamura and .
Discography: Stepping Stones, , , , , , , , and .
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Mayumi Itsuwa
Mayumi Itsuwa (January 24, 1951 Tokyo-) also known as ÎåÂÖÕæ¹, Itsuwa Mayumi, 五轮真弓 or Itsuwa, Mayumi is a Japanese keyboard player, composer, lyricist and singer.
Her most important albums: Now & Forever, Anthology, Volume 2, MAYUMI CLASSICS, Mayumity うつろな愛, 真弓傳 THE LEGENDARY COLLECTION, Anthology, Volume 1, 恋人よ, , and . Genres she performed: Folk music, Pop music and Kayōkyoku.
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Kiyoshiro Imawano
Kiyoshiro Imawano (April 2, 1951 Nakano, Tokyo-May 2, 2009 Tokyo) also known as Kiyoshirou Imawano, KIYOSHIRO , Imawano, Kiyoshiro or Kiyoshirô Imawano was a Japanese singer, musician and actor. He had one child, Tappei Kurihara.
Related albums: Have Mercy!, , , , , , , RAZOR SHARP, and . Genres related to him: Rock music, Rhythm and blues and Folk rock.
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Mari Amachi
Mari Amachi (November 5, 1951 Japan-) is a Japanese , .
Her albums include , , , , , , , , and .
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Takanori Arisawa
Takanori Arisawa (April 2, 1951 Tokyo-November 26, 2005 Japan) also known as Arisawa Takanori or 有澤 孝紀 was a Japanese film score composer and music arranger.
His albums: Orgel Fantasia, Pretty Soldier SAILORMOON Series Memorial Music Box, Sailormoon Another Story, Sailormoon Music Fantasy, Sailormoon PC Engine Theme, Sailormoon S Music Fantasy, Sailor Moon Piano Fantasia, , and 「美少女戦士セーラームーン」音楽集.
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