Fujiryōga Masaharu (Japanese: 藤凌駕 雅治; born February 27, 2003 as Masaharu Goshima (五島 雅治, Goshima Masaharu)) is a…Fujiryōga Masaharu (Japanese: 藤凌駕 雅治; born February 27, 2003 as Masaharu Goshima (五島 雅治, Goshima Masaharu)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kasugai, Aichi. Wrestling for Fujishima stable, his highest rank is maegashira 1.
Hiroki Sekine (関根 大輝, Sekine Hiroki; born 11 August 2002) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a right…Hiroki Sekine (関根 大輝, Sekine Hiroki; born 11 August 2002) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a right back for 2. Bundesliga club Holstein Kiel, on loan from Ligue 2 club Reims, and the Japan national team.
Ryoji Yamashita (山下 諒時, Yamashita Ryōji; born May 11, 2000) is a Japanese football player who plays for FC Osaka from…Ryoji Yamashita (山下 諒時, Yamashita Ryōji; born May 11, 2000) is a Japanese football player who plays for FC Osaka from 2025.
Yuto Nagamine (長峰 祐斗, Nagamine Yuto; born 28 March 2000) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for Zweigen…Yuto Nagamine (長峰 祐斗, Nagamine Yuto; born 28 March 2000) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for Zweigen Kanazawa
Akira Akasaki (赤﨑暁, Akasaki Akira, born 21 January 1998) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He finished sixth in the…Akira Akasaki (赤﨑暁, Akasaki Akira, born 21 January 1998) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He finished sixth in the marathon at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Ren Ikeda (池田 廉, Ikeda Ren; born 10 November 1997) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for J3 League…Ren Ikeda (池田 廉, Ikeda Ren; born 10 November 1997) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for J3 League club FC Ryukyu.
Yudai Shigeoka (Japanese: 重岡優大, Shigeoka Yudai; born 16 April 1997) is a Japanese former professional boxer who held…Yudai Shigeoka (Japanese: 重岡優大, Shigeoka Yudai; born 16 April 1997) is a Japanese former professional boxer who held the World Boxing Council (WBC) mini-flyweight title from 2023 to 2024. As of November 2023, he is ranked as the world's best active mini-flyweight by BoxRec.
Isami Nomura (野村 勇, Nomura Isami; born December 1, 1996) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Fukuoka…Isami Nomura (野村 勇, Nomura Isami; born December 1, 1996) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Motoaki Miura (三浦 基瑛, Miura Motoaki; born May 28, 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who playing as a…Motoaki Miura (三浦 基瑛, Miura Motoaki; born May 28, 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who playing as a goalkeeper and currently play for J3 League club, SC Sagamihara.
Daichi Takatani (高谷大地, Takatani Daichi; born 22 November 1994) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. He won the silver…Daichi Takatani (高谷大地, Takatani Daichi; born 22 November 1994) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. He won the silver medal in the 65 kg event at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. In the same year, he also won the silver medal in the 65 kg event at the 2018 Asian Wrestling Championships held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He competed in the 74 kg event at the 2022 World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia.
Koo Ji-won (具智元, Gu Jiwon; born 20 July 1994) is a Korean-Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as a prop…Koo Ji-won (具智元, Gu Jiwon; born 20 July 1994) is a Korean-Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Japan Rugby League One club Kobelco Kobe Steelers. Born in South Korea, he represents Japan at international level after qualifying on residency grounds. He also changed his nationality to Japan after the 2019 World Cup.
Masahiro Narita (成田 正弘, Narita Masahiro; born April 13, 1994) is a Japanese former professional basketball player who…Masahiro Narita (成田 正弘, Narita Masahiro; born April 13, 1994) is a Japanese former professional basketball player who last played for the Akita Northern Happinets of the B.League in Japan. He also played college basketball for Takushoku University.
Ryosuke Sagawa (佐川 亮介, Sagawa Ryosuke; born 17 July 1993) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a goalkeeper…Ryosuke Sagawa (佐川 亮介, Sagawa Ryosuke; born 17 July 1993) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a goalkeeper for YSCC Yokohama.
Kota Kawase (川瀬浩太, Kawase Kota; born 8 November 1992) is a Japanese professional footballer who currently plays as a…Kota Kawase (川瀬浩太, Kawase Kota; born 8 November 1992) is a Japanese professional footballer who currently plays as a centre back for Hong Kong Premier League club Southern.
Junna Villanueva Tsukii (月井 隼南, Tsukii Junna) (born September 30, 1991) is a Filipino-Japanese mixed martial artist and…Junna Villanueva Tsukii (月井 隼南, Tsukii Junna) (born September 30, 1991) is a Filipino-Japanese mixed martial artist and former karateka. Representing the Philippines in karate, she won the gold medal in the women's kumite 50 kg event at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, United States.
Tauate Valu Uwe Helu (ヘル ウヴェ, Heru Uvu~e; born 12 July 1990) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a lock…Tauate Valu Uwe Helu (ヘル ウヴェ, Heru Uvu~e; born 12 July 1990) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Japan Rugby League One club Kubota Spears. Born in Tonga, he represents Japan at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.
Takumi Hasegawa (長谷川 技, Hasegawa Takumi; born July 21, 1989) is a Japanese professional basketball player the Kawasaki…Takumi Hasegawa (長谷川 技, Hasegawa Takumi; born July 21, 1989) is a Japanese professional basketball player the Kawasaki Brave Thunders of the Japanese B.League.
Sohsuke Takatani (高谷 惣亮, Takatani Sōsuke; born 5 April 1989) is an amateur Japanese freestyle wrestler, who competes in…Sohsuke Takatani (高谷 惣亮, Takatani Sōsuke; born 5 April 1989) is an amateur Japanese freestyle wrestler, who competes in the middleweight category (under 74 kg). Takatani represented Japan at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, but was eliminated in the qualifying round. At the 2016 Olympics he reached the quarterfinals, beating Talgat Ilyasov and Zelimkhan Khadjiev before losing to Galymzhan Userbayev. Takatani also competed for Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics. He competed in the 92 kg event at the 2022 World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia.
Seiya Takano (Japanese: 髙野 征也; born 9 January 1989) is a Japanese sepak takraw player who plays as a tosā (setter). He…Seiya Takano (Japanese: 髙野 征也; born 9 January 1989) is a Japanese sepak takraw player who plays as a tosā (setter). He represents Japan internationally and has competed at multiple editions of the Asian Games.
Mucha Mori (森 ムチャ, Mori Mucha; born November 1, 1988 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese basketball player, who…Mucha Mori (森 ムチャ, Mori Mucha; born November 1, 1988 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese basketball player, who plays center for the Toyota Antelopes in the Women's Japan Basketball League.
Yasuhiro Suzuki (鈴木 康弘, Suzuki Yasuhiro; born September 13, 1987 in Sapporo, Hokkaido) is a Japanese boxer who competed…Yasuhiro Suzuki (鈴木 康弘, Suzuki Yasuhiro; born September 13, 1987 in Sapporo, Hokkaido) is a Japanese boxer who competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the welterweight division (– 69 kg).
Makoto Sugimoto (杉本 真, Sugimoto Makoto; born October 27, 1987 in Nagano) is a Japanese football player who currently…Makoto Sugimoto (杉本 真, Sugimoto Makoto; born October 27, 1987 in Nagano) is a Japanese football player who currently plays for Vonds Ichihara.
Tatsuya Onodera (小野寺 達也, Onodera Tatsuya; born August 4, 1987 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese football player. He currently…Tatsuya Onodera (小野寺 達也, Onodera Tatsuya; born August 4, 1987 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese football player. He currently plays for Giravanz Kitakyushu.
Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu (米満 達弘, Yonemitsu Tatsuhiro; born August 5, 1986 in Yamanashi Prefecture) is a Japanese wrestler.…Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu (米満 達弘, Yonemitsu Tatsuhiro; born August 5, 1986 in Yamanashi Prefecture) is a Japanese wrestler. He won a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, beating Sushil Kumar of India in the first two rounds of the three-round finals of the 66 kg Men's Freestyle Wrestling. Yonemitsu is a second lieutenant in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
Tamao Ozawa (小沢珠緒, Ozawa Tamao; born 16 May 1985) is a Japanese retired professional boxer who is a former WBO female…Tamao Ozawa (小沢珠緒, Ozawa Tamao; born 16 May 1985) is a Japanese retired professional boxer who is a former WBO female super-flyweight champion.
Shin'ichi Yumoto (湯元進一, Yumoto Shin'ichi) (born 4 December 1984 in Wakayama) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. He…Shin'ichi Yumoto (湯元進一, Yumoto Shin'ichi) (born 4 December 1984 in Wakayama) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. He competed in the 2009 World Wrestling Championships, reaching the round of 16. He competed in the 2011 World Wrestling Championships, reaching the quarterfinals. He competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he lost to Vladimer Khinchegashvili in the semi-final. In the repechage, he defeated Radoslav Velikov in his bronze medal match. Yumoto's twin brother Kenichi is also an Olympic medal winner in wrestling.
Takeshi Hasegawa (長谷川 武, Hasegawa Takeshi; born August 1, 1984) is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays…Takeshi Hasegawa (長谷川 武, Hasegawa Takeshi; born August 1, 1984) is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Koshigaya Alphas of the B.League in Japan. He played for Japan national 3x3 team in 2013.
Maiko Fujino (藤野 舞子, Fujino Maiko; born May 25, 1983) is a Japanese swimmer, who specialized in long-distance freestyle…Maiko Fujino (藤野 舞子, Fujino Maiko; born May 25, 1983) is a Japanese swimmer, who specialized in long-distance freestyle and individual medley events. She represented her nation Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and has won a career total of six medals (one silver and five bronze) in a major international competition, spanning the Pan Pacific Championships and three editions of the Asian Games (2002 to 2010). Fujino was also a student at Takushoku University in Tokyo. Fujino made her own swimming history at the 2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Yokohama, quickly claiming the bronze medal in the 400 m individual medley with a time of 4:45.79. The following year, Fujino picked up two more medals in the same stroke (silver in the 400, and bronze in the 200) at the 2003 Summer Universiade in Daegu, South Korea, posting respective marks of 2:17.41 and 4:48.44. Five years later, Fujino competed in two swimming events at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Leading up to the Games, she cleared FINA A-standard entry times of 8:34.17 (800 m freestyle) and 4:40.14 (400 m individual medley) at the Olympic trials in Tokyo to earn an outright selection on the Japanese team. On the first day of the Games, Fujino posted her personal best of 4:37.35 in the preliminary heats of the 400 m individual medley, but missed out the final by less than 0.21 of a second in eleventh place. In her second event, 800 m freestyle, Fujino challenged seven other swimmers on the third heat, including former Olympic champion Camelia Potec of Romania, 14-year-old Li Xuanxu of China, and top medal favorite Katie Hoff of the United States. She raced to sixth place by five seconds behind Venezuela's Andreina Pinto in 8:35.60. For the second time, Fujino failed to advance to the top 8 final, placing herself in twenty-first overall on the evening prelims. Fujino also became the first female Japanese swimmer to dip under 4:30 barrier in the 400 m individual medley, smashing a Japanese record and her own tech suit best of 4:29.77 at the 2009 Japan Open in Tokyo.
Sione Talikavili Vatuvei (born 14 March 1983), also known by his middle name Talikavili or Kavili, is a Tongan-born…Sione Talikavili Vatuvei (born 14 March 1983), also known by his middle name Talikavili or Kavili, is a Tongan-born Japanese rugby union footballer. He represented Japan at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. His preferred position is blindside flanker. He plays in the Top League for Toyota Industries Shuttles in Kariya Aichi where he currently resides. Vatuvei was educated at Nelson College in New Zealand between 1999 and 2001. He is the youngest brother of former Japanese Rugby union footballer Luatangi Vatuvei. He is also the cousin of former Tongan-New Zealand Rugby league player Manu Vatuvei.
Akira Yaegashi (八重樫 東, Yaegashi Akira; born February 25, 1983) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed…Akira Yaegashi (八重樫 東, Yaegashi Akira; born February 25, 1983) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2019. He is a three-weight world champion, having held the World Boxing Association (WBA) mini-flyweight title from 2011 to 2012, the World Boxing Council (WBC) and Ring magazine flyweight titles from 2013 to 2014, and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight title from 2015 to 2016. He is an alumnus of the Takushoku University.
Kimi Onoda (Japanese: 小野田 紀美, Hepburn: Onoda Kimi; born 7 December 1982) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal…Kimi Onoda (Japanese: 小野田 紀美, Hepburn: Onoda Kimi; born 7 December 1982) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party. She has been Minister in charge of Economic Security and Minister in charge of a Society of Well-Ordered and Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals since 2025 within Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet while being the youngest minister within the cabinet. She is a member of the House of Councillors representing Okayama. She had previously served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense from 2022 to 2023 under Second Kishida Cabinet and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Justice from 2020 to 2021 under the Suga Cabinet.
Kentaro Nakamoto (Japanese: 中本 健太郎, Hepburn: Nakamoto Kentarō; born 7 December 1982) is a Japanese long-distance runner…Kentaro Nakamoto (Japanese: 中本 健太郎, Hepburn: Nakamoto Kentarō; born 7 December 1982) is a Japanese long-distance runner who competes in marathon races. He represented Japan in the marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2011, 2013 and 2017 World Championships in Athletics, finishing in the top ten on all four occasions. His personal best for the distance is 2:08:35 hours.
Hironori Saruta (猿田 浩得, Saruta Hironori; born October 28, 1982) is a Japanese retired football player. Saruta made 10…Hironori Saruta (猿田 浩得, Saruta Hironori; born October 28, 1982) is a Japanese retired football player. Saruta made 10 appearances in the J2 League with Ehime FC during 2006.
Gen Fukuda (福田玄, Fukuda Gen; born 6 December 1981) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of…Gen Fukuda (福田玄, Fukuda Gen; born 6 December 1981) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2024 to 2026. From 2014 to 2018, he was a city councillor of Asakuchi. He is married to Haruko Miyaguchi.
Arata Fujiwara (藤原 新, Fujiwara Arata; born 12 September 1981) is a Japanese marathon runner. At the 2009 World…Arata Fujiwara (藤原 新, Fujiwara Arata; born 12 September 1981) is a Japanese marathon runner. At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics held in Berlin, Germany, Fujiwara finished 61st in the men's marathon in a time of two hours, thirty-one minutes and ten seconds. He represented Japan at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the men's marathon, finishing in 45th place. He qualified for the Games by finishing second in the 2012 Tokyo Marathon.
Ryuzo Anzai (安齋竜三, Anzai Ryūzō; born November 10, 1980) is a Japanese professional basketball coach and former player…Ryuzo Anzai (安齋竜三, Anzai Ryūzō; born November 10, 1980) is a Japanese professional basketball coach and former player, who is the head coach for the Koshigaya Alphas of the B.League. He played college basketball for Takushoku University. He was selected by the Saitama Broncos with the second overall pick in the 2005 bj League draft.
Takashi Uchiyama (内山 高志, Uchiyama Takashi; born November 10, 1979) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed…Takashi Uchiyama (内山 高志, Uchiyama Takashi; born November 10, 1979) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2016, having held the WBA (Super) super-featherweight title from 2010 to 2016.
Batara Eto (衛藤バタラ, Etō Batara), formerly known as Batara Kesuma, is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (as of…Batara Eto (衛藤バタラ, Etō Batara), formerly known as Batara Kesuma, is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (as of 2007) of mixi, a Japanese social networking site. He is currently co-founder and managing partner of East Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on Japan and Southeast Asia. He proposed mixi in December 2003, and was responsible for creating the corporation. He was born on 27 July 1979 in Medan, Indonesia. He graduated from the Engineering division of Takushoku University. Batara changed his citizenship to Japanese in March 2007, hence changing his last name to Eto, which is passed down from his grandfather who was originally from Japan.
Fumikazu Kobayashi (小林 史和, Kobayashi Fumikazu; born 21 March 1978) is a Japanese athlete who competes primarily in the…Fumikazu Kobayashi (小林 史和, Kobayashi Fumikazu; born 21 March 1978) is a Japanese athlete who competes primarily in the 1500 metres. He competed at 2005 and 2007 World Championships reaching the semifinals stage the second time. He holds national records at several distances.
Masatoshi Toyota (豊田 雅俊, Toyota Masatoshi; born October 25, 1976) is a retired amateur Japanese Greco-Roman wrestler…Masatoshi Toyota (豊田 雅俊, Toyota Masatoshi; born October 25, 1976) is a retired amateur Japanese Greco-Roman wrestler, who competed in the men's featherweight category. He represented his nation Japan at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and then finished eighth in the 55-kg division at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. Having worked as a police officer in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Toyota also served as a member of its wrestling squad under head coach Masakazu Hijikata. Toyota qualified for the Japanese squad in the men's 55 kg class at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Earlier in the process, he defeated Russia's Geidar Mamedaliyev in the final match and received a berth from the second Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He lost his opening match 3–5 to Hungarian wrestler and eventual Olympic champion István Majoros, but wrestled his stretch to score a 10–0 technical fall over Dominican Republic's Jansel Ramírez to close the prelim pool. Placing behind Majoros in the pool and tenth in the final standings, Toyota failed to advance further into the quarterfinals.
Kazuhiro Shoji (庄司和広, Shōji Kazuhiro; born April 26, 1974) is a current professional basketball head coach for Ehime…Kazuhiro Shoji (庄司和広, Shōji Kazuhiro; born April 26, 1974) is a current professional basketball head coach for Ehime Orange Vikings of the Japanese B.League.
Tochinonada Taiichi (栃乃洋 泰一 born February 26, 1974, as Taiichi Gotō) is a former sumo wrestler from Ishikawa…Tochinonada Taiichi (栃乃洋 泰一 born February 26, 1974, as Taiichi Gotō) is a former sumo wrestler from Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. An amateur sumo champion, he turned professional in 1996 and reached the top makuuchi division in 1997. He earned twelve kinboshi or gold stars for defeating yokozuna, the second highest ever, and he was a runner-up in two tournaments. His highest rank was sekiwake. He is now a coach at Kasugano stable under the name Takenawa Oyakata.
Kazunari Murakami (村上 一成, Murakami Kazunari; ring name: 村上 和成) (born November 29, 1973) is a Japanese professional…Kazunari Murakami (村上 一成, Murakami Kazunari; ring name: 村上 和成) (born November 29, 1973) is a Japanese professional wrestler and retired mixed martial artist currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Murakami is best known for his work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) during the late 1990s and early 2000s, where he primarily competed as a member of the villainous Makai Club stable. Aside from pro wrestling, Murakami was also part of the first fight in PRIDE history, defeating John Dixson by submission in 1997. After leaving NJPW in the fall of 2004, Murakami subsequently competed for Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX (ZERO1-MAX) and Big Mouth LOUD, of which he was a founding member. Murakami has also made sporadic appearances in Dramatic Dream Team (DDT), Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah) and Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW (FMW).
