Junnosuke Suzuki (鈴木 淳之介, Suzuki Junnosuke; born 12 July 2003) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a…Junnosuke Suzuki (鈴木 淳之介, Suzuki Junnosuke; born 12 July 2003) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Danish Superliga club Copenhagen and the Japan national team.
Akari Omori (大森朱莉, Omori Akari; born 3 September 2002) is a Japanese judoka. She won a gold medal at the 2026 World…Akari Omori (大森朱莉, Omori Akari; born 3 September 2002) is a Japanese judoka. She won a gold medal at the 2026 World Judo Championships.
Carlos Edriel Poquiz Yulo (born February 16, 2000) is a Filipino artistic gymnast. He is the 2024 Olympic floor…Carlos Edriel Poquiz Yulo (born February 16, 2000) is a Filipino artistic gymnast. He is the 2024 Olympic floor exercise and vault champion. Yulo is the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win multiple gold medals in the history of the Olympic Games. He is the first Filipino and the first male Southeast Asian gymnast to medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships with his floor exercise bronze medal finish in 2018, as well as the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to achieve a gold medal finish for the same criteria in 2019 at the same event. With multiple medals on the international stage, Yulo is the second person to win an Olympic gold medal for the Philippines. Yulo is a two-time Olympic champion, a three-time World champion, an eleven-time Asian champion, and a nine-time SEA Games champion. He is noted for his short stature compared to other male gymnasts, his precision in form, and the difficulty of his routines, especially in the floor exercise, vault, and parallel bars.
Miho Miyahara (宮原 美穂, Miyahara Miho, born 3 September 1996) is a Japanese karateka. She is a two-time gold medalist in…Miho Miyahara (宮原 美穂, Miyahara Miho, born 3 September 1996) is a Japanese karateka. She is a two-time gold medalist in the women's kumite 50 kg event at the World Karate Championships (2018 and 2021). She also won the gold medal in this event at the 2018 Asian Karate Championships. Miyahara represented Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan in karate. She competed in the women's 55 kg event.
Funa Tonaki (渡名喜 風南 Tonaki Fūna, born 1 August 1995) is a Japanese retired judoka. She won a silver medal in Women's…Funa Tonaki (渡名喜 風南 Tonaki Fūna, born 1 August 1995) is a Japanese retired judoka. She won a silver medal in Women's Judo 48 kg, at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan.
Stefannie Arissa Koyama (born 30 June 1995) is a Japanese-born Brazilian judoka. Koyama had won bronze at the All-Japan…Stefannie Arissa Koyama (born 30 June 1995) is a Japanese-born Brazilian judoka. Koyama had won bronze at the All-Japan Judo Championships at Fukuoka in 2016, followed by the East Asian title at 2016 East Asian Judo Championships at Hong Kong. While representing Japan, Koyama's teamed with Funa Tonaki at Teikyo University but later switched to Brazil in 2017. She is the gold medallist of the 2017 Judo Grand Prix Tbilisi and the 2017 Judo Grand Slam Baku in the -48 kg category.
Rikiya Matsuda (松田 力也, Matsuda Rikiya; born 3 May 1994) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who typically…Rikiya Matsuda (松田 力也, Matsuda Rikiya; born 3 May 1994) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who typically plays as a fly-half. Most recently contracted to the Japan Rugby League One club Saitama Wild Knights, Matsuda is a free agent. Matsuda also plays for the Japan national team.
Keisuke Moriya (森谷 圭介, Moriya Kei kai; born 4 March 1994) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a Fullback. He…Keisuke Moriya (森谷 圭介, Moriya Kei kai; born 4 March 1994) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a Fullback. He currently plays for Sunwolves in Super Rugby.
Kohei Asahori (朝堀浩平, Asa Hori Kōhei; born 3 February 1994) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a prop. He…Kohei Asahori (朝堀浩平, Asa Hori Kōhei; born 3 February 1994) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a prop. He previously played for Toyota Verblitz in Japan's domestic Top League. He represented the Sunwolves in the 2017 Super Rugby season.
Ai Shishime (志々目 愛, Shishime Ai; born 25 January 1994) is a Japanese retired judoka. She is a two-time gold medalist in…Ai Shishime (志々目 愛, Shishime Ai; born 25 January 1994) is a Japanese retired judoka. She is a two-time gold medalist in the women's 52 kg event at the World Judo Championships.
Kōyō Aoyagi (青柳 晃洋, Aoyagi Kōyō; born December 11, 1993) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Tokyo…Kōyō Aoyagi (青柳 晃洋, Aoyagi Kōyō; born December 11, 1993) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Hanshin Tigers.
Atsushi Sakate (坂手 淳史, Sakate Atsushi; born 21 June 1993) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as a…Atsushi Sakate (坂手 淳史, Sakate Atsushi; born 21 June 1993) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Japan Rugby League One club Saitama Wild Knights and the Japan national team.
Yasutaka Shiomi (塩見 泰隆, Shiomi Yasutaka; born June 12, 1993 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese professional…Yasutaka Shiomi (塩見 泰隆, Shiomi Yasutaka; born June 12, 1993 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Kouki Arai (新井康植, Arai Kōki; born 14 May 1993) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half. He currently…Kouki Arai (新井康植, Arai Kōki; born 14 May 1993) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half. He currently plays for the Canon Eagles in Japan's domestic Top League.
Takahiro Nishimura (西村 天裕, Nishimura Takahiro; born May 5, 1993, in Wakayama, Wakayama, Japan) is a professional…Takahiro Nishimura (西村 天裕, Nishimura Takahiro; born May 5, 1993, in Wakayama, Wakayama, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played in NPB for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Kanta Higashionna (東恩納寛太, Higashionna Kanta; born 26 November 1992) is a Japanese international rugby union player who…Kanta Higashionna (東恩納寛太, Higashionna Kanta; born 26 November 1992) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a prop. He currently plays for Canon Eagles in Japan's domestic Top League.
Yutaka Nagare (流 大, Nagare Yutaka; born 4 September 1992) is a Japanese professional rugby union coach and former…Yutaka Nagare (流 大, Nagare Yutaka; born 4 September 1992) is a Japanese professional rugby union coach and former player who currently coaches with the Tokyo Sungoliath in the Japan Rugby League One (JRLO). Nagare formerly played for the Tokyo Sungoliath between 2015 and 2026, and the Sunwolves in the Super Rugby competition in 2018, as well as the Japan national team.
Roland (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese host, fashion model, TV personality, and entrepreneur. He is the…Roland (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese host, fashion model, TV personality, and entrepreneur. He is the representative director of Roland Group HD, Inc. As the Kabukicho host club sales record holder, he has been nicknamed "King of the Hosts". His income amounts to 42 million yen per month; his cosmetic surgery costs have incurred more than 10 million yen, with touch-up procedures costing 200 thousand yen per month.
Ayumi Uekusa (植草 歩, Uekusa Ayumi; born July 25, 1992) is a Japanese karateka. Competing in the +68 kg kumite division…Ayumi Uekusa (植草 歩, Uekusa Ayumi; born July 25, 1992) is a Japanese karateka. Competing in the +68 kg kumite division she won gold medals at the World Karate Federation's 2016 World Championships, 2017 and 2022 Asian Championships, and at the 2018 Asian Games. She has also won several bronze and silver medals at the World Championships, Asian Championships, and Asian Games. She won a gold medal at the 2023 Karate 1-Premier League Cairo in January, and after taking gold in the 2023 Karate 1-Premier League Dublin that September, she was awarded the title of "Grand Winner" in her weight division for the year — her fourth such award after 2017, 2018, and 2020.
Naoto Sago (佐合尚人, Sagō Naoto, is a Japanese karateka. He won the silver medal in the men's kumite −60 kg event at the…Naoto Sago (佐合尚人, Sagō Naoto, is a Japanese karateka. He won the silver medal in the men's kumite −60 kg event at the 2018 World Karate Championships held in Madrid, Spain. He represented Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics in karate. He competed in the men's 67 kg event where he did not advance to compete in the semifinals.
Naohiro Kotaki (小瀧尚弘, Kotaki Naohiro; born 13 June 1992) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays in…Naohiro Kotaki (小瀧尚弘, Kotaki Naohiro; born 13 June 1992) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays in the lock position. He currently plays for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and the Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan's domestic Top League.
Tomoya Hosoda (細田 智也, Hosoda Tomoya; born 14 November 1991) is a Japanese politician who, on 17 March 2017, became the…Tomoya Hosoda (細田 智也, Hosoda Tomoya; born 14 November 1991) is a Japanese politician who, on 17 March 2017, became the first transgender man politician to be elected to office when he was elected to the city council of Iruma, Saitama. He was re-elected on 17 March 2025. He underwent gender confirmation surgery in 2015 at the age of 23. After graduating from Teikyo University, he had worked as medical technologist at a hospital in Shizuoka before he was elected.
Naeko Maeda (born 12 July 1991) is a Japanese judoka. Maeda is the gold medalist of the 2017 Judo Grand Prix Hohhot in…Naeko Maeda (born 12 July 1991) is a Japanese judoka. Maeda is the gold medalist of the 2017 Judo Grand Prix Hohhot in the –70 kg category.
Ryota Okada (岡田亮太, Okada Ryōta; born 9 September 1988 in Tokyo) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Fukushima United…Ryota Okada (岡田亮太, Okada Ryōta; born 9 September 1988 in Tokyo) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Fukushima United FC.
Chihiro Noda (野田 智裕, Noda Chihiro; born August 17, 1988) is a Japanese soccer player who plays as a striker or…Chihiro Noda (野田 智裕, Noda Chihiro; born August 17, 1988) is a Japanese soccer player who plays as a striker or midfielder. In 2015, he got the Golden boot (Top Goal Scorer) in the Philippines.
Atsushi Shimono (下野 淳, Shimono Atsushi; born April 27, 1988) is a Japanese football player. He has played for Albirex…Atsushi Shimono (下野 淳, Shimono Atsushi; born April 27, 1988) is a Japanese football player. He has played for Albirex Niigata Singapore FC, Woodlands Wellington and Hougang United FC in the S.League, primarily as a defensive midfielder. He can also operate effectively as a deep-lying playmaker. Shimono is known for his distribution of the ball and technical ability. In recognition of his talent, he was named in the starting lineup of The New Paper's 2012 S.League team of the year.
Futoshi Mori (森太志, Mori Futoshi; born 25 April 1988) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays in the…Futoshi Mori (森太志, Mori Futoshi; born 25 April 1988) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays in the hooker position. He currently plays for the Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan's domestic Top League.
Hideyoshi Kagawa (born 14 August 1987) is a Japanese karateka. He won the silver medal in the men's kumite +84 kg event…Hideyoshi Kagawa (born 14 August 1987) is a Japanese karateka. He won the silver medal in the men's kumite +84 kg event at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. In the final, he lost against Rashed Al-Mutairi of Kuwait. In 2017, he won the gold medal in the men's kumite +84 kg event at the World Games held in Wrocław, Poland. In the final, he defeated Sajjad Ganjzadeh of Iran. At the 2019 Asian Karate Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, he won the silver medal in the men's kumite +84 kg event. In the final, he lost against Tareg Hamedi of Saudi Arabia.
Shinichiro Tominaga (冨永真一郎, Tominaga Shinichiro) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Ganbare Pro-Wrestling…Shinichiro Tominaga (冨永真一郎, Tominaga Shinichiro) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Ganbare Pro-Wrestling where he is one half of the current Spirit of Ganbare World Tag Team Champions alongside Yumehito Imanari. He is also known for his time in various promotions from the Japanese independent scene.
Shōta Horie (堀江 翔太, Horie Shōta; born 21 January 1986) is a Japanese former professional rugby union player who played…Shōta Horie (堀江 翔太, Horie Shōta; born 21 January 1986) is a Japanese former professional rugby union player who played as a hooker for Japan Rugby League One club Saitama Wild Knights and the Japan national team.
Yuki Sato (佐藤 祐基, Satō Yūki; also written as Yuuki Sato) is a Japanese actor from Shinagawa, Tokyo, best known for…Yuki Sato (佐藤 祐基, Satō Yūki; also written as Yuuki Sato) is a Japanese actor from Shinagawa, Tokyo, best known for portraying Arata Kagami/Kamen Rider Gatack in the tokusatsu series Kamen Rider Kabuto and a character named Mr. Shakedown in Yakuza 0. For a brief period, he performed under the names Tomohito Sato (佐藤 智仁, Satō Tomohito) and Jin Sato (佐藤 汛, Satō Jin).
Yoshihiro Kamegai (亀海喜寛 Kamegai Yoshihiro, born November 12, 1982) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed…Yoshihiro Kamegai (亀海喜寛 Kamegai Yoshihiro, born November 12, 1982) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2018. affiliated with the Teiken Boxing Gym and Golden Boy Promotions. He secured the Japanese super lightweight title in 2010 as the 33rd champion and defended it once before vacating it. He made his U.S. boxing debut in 2011, securing a victory over Hector Munoz at the MGM Grand. He became the 38th OPBF welterweight champion, securing the title in 2013 before vacating it after one defense. He fought Miguel Cotto for the vacant WBO light middleweight world title.
Atsushi Abe (安部 篤史, Abe Atsushi; born 30 August 1982) is a Japanese synchronised swimmer. He participated at the 2019…Atsushi Abe (安部 篤史, Abe Atsushi; born 30 August 1982) is a Japanese synchronised swimmer. He participated at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships, winning a medal.
Kazuto Ishido (石堂和人, Ishido Kazuto; born 1 April 1982) is a retired Japanese footballer who played for Fukushima United…Kazuto Ishido (石堂和人, Ishido Kazuto; born 1 April 1982) is a retired Japanese footballer who played for Fukushima United as a midfielder.
Kenji Ishijima (石島健至, Ishijima Kenji; born January 3, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known under the…Kenji Ishijima (石島健至, Ishijima Kenji; born January 3, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known under the ring name Guts Ishijima (ガッツ石島, Gattsu Ishijima). He is currently working as a freelancer and is best known for having founded the Japanese promotions Guts World Pro-Wrestling and Total Triumph Team Pro-Wrestling (TTT).
Kazuki Hoshino (星野一樹 - Hoshino Kazuki; born October 13, 1977) is a semi-retired Japanese professional racing driver and…Kazuki Hoshino (星野一樹 - Hoshino Kazuki; born October 13, 1977) is a semi-retired Japanese professional racing driver and current team principal (team director) of Team Impul in the Super GT Series and Super Formula Championship. He is the son of former racing driver and Impul co-founder, Kazuyoshi Hoshino. He is a two-time Super GT GT300 class champion (2008, 2010), a four-time Super Taikyu Series champion (2004 ST-3 class, 2014, 2018, and 2019 ST-X class), and a former Nissan factory GT500 driver with his father's team from 2006 to 2007 where he won the 2006 Suzuka 1000km. He also raced in the Formula Nippon (now Super Formula) Championship for Impul in 2006. Hoshino announced his retirement from racing in Super GT after the 2021 season, and became the Technical Director at Team Impul in 2022. That season, Impul won its first GT500 class championship in 27 years. In 2023, Hoshino succeeded his father as the team director of Impul's Super GT and Super Formula teams. Hoshino also announced the creation of a new team in Super Taikyu, which would compete in the ST-Z (GT4) class with a new Nissan Z GT4. Outside of Japan, Hoshino competed in the Nürburgring 24 Hours on several occasions, finishing ninth overall in 2015 alongside Michael Krumm, Lucas Ordoñez, and Alex Buncombe. In 2013, Hoshino participated in the Blancpain Endurance Series (now GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup with JRM Motorsport alongside Steven Kane and Peter Dumbreck.
Mitsumasa Yoda (依田 光正, Yoda Mitsumasa; born August 7, 1977) is a Japanese football manager and former footballer who is…Mitsumasa Yoda (依田 光正, Yoda Mitsumasa; born August 7, 1977) is a Japanese football manager and former footballer who is manager of J3 League club Thespa Gunma.
Tomokazu Soma (相馬朋和, Sōma Tomokazu) (born 5 June 1977 in Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Soma has…Tomokazu Soma (相馬朋和, Sōma Tomokazu) (born 5 June 1977 in Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Soma has played 24 matches for the Japan national rugby union team. Soma played three games for Japan at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Hisashi Aikyoh (愛敬 尚史, Aikyō Hisashi; born December 4, 1976) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played…Hisashi Aikyoh (愛敬 尚史, Aikyō Hisashi; born December 4, 1976) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, and was also previously with the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes.
Ryoko Tani (谷 亮子, Tani Ryōko; née Tamura (田村), born September 6, 1975) is a Japanese politician and retired female…Ryoko Tani (谷 亮子, Tani Ryōko; née Tamura (田村), born September 6, 1975) is a Japanese politician and retired female judoka. Competing in the extra-lightweight (48 kg) class, she won a record seven world titles and five Olympic medals including two golds at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. After her retirement, the International Judo Federation named her "best female judoka ever". In 2010, she was elected to the House of Councillors, the upper house of the Japanese parliament.
Masayoshi Shintani is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan. He was a medical…Masayoshi Shintani is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan. He was a medical doctor before he was elected in 2012, 2014, 2017, and 2021.
Harashima (stylised in all capital letters) (born July 6, 1974) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently…Harashima (stylised in all capital letters) (born July 6, 1974) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently working in DDT Pro-Wrestling (formally Dramatic Dream Team), where he is a ten-time KO-D Openweight Champion and a former eleven-time KO-D Tag Team Champion.
Shinya Makabe (真壁 伸也, Makabe Shin'ya; born September 29, 1972), better known by his ring name Togi Makabe (真壁 刀義…Shinya Makabe (真壁 伸也, Makabe Shin'ya; born September 29, 1972), better known by his ring name Togi Makabe (真壁 刀義, Makabe Tōgi) is a Japanese professional wrestler, trained by and performing for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, two-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, two-time NEVER Openweight Champion and one-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion. Debuting in 1997, Makabe originally wrestled under his birthname as a junior heavyweight (100 kilograms (220 lb), before gaining several kilograms during a global excursion in 2001 and 2002. He changed his given name to "Togi" during the 2004 G1 Climax tournament. His status in New Japan rose significantly in 2007, making it to the finals of the New Japan Cup and the semifinals of the G1 Climax, and challenging Yuji Nagata for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. After a number of unsuccessful challenges at the title, Makabe finally won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on May 3, 2010, by defeating Shinsuke Nakamura. Makabe's wrestling style and character is heavily influenced by the late Bruiser Brody. Known as the "Unchained Gorilla", Makabe is known for his violent, bloody style of wrestling, often illegally employing steel chairs and chains into his offense, including a lariat with a chain wrapped around his arm (like Brody). He also uses Brody's Japan theme "Immigrant Song" (albeit a cover made by Tomoyasu Hotei) as his own.
Shouji Saeki (Japanese: 佐伯 昭志, Hepburn: Saeki Shōji; born December 17, 1971) is a Japanese director, storyboard artist…Shouji Saeki (Japanese: 佐伯 昭志, Hepburn: Saeki Shōji; born December 17, 1971) is a Japanese director, storyboard artist, writer, and animator known for directing and writing several series for studios Gainax and Shaft.
