Kazuto Takezawa (武沢 一翔, Takezawa Kazuto; born 27 October 1999) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for…Kazuto Takezawa (武沢 一翔, Takezawa Kazuto; born 27 October 1999) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for Japan Football League club Verspah Oita.
Ryuichi Ichiki (一木 立一, Ichiki Ryuichi; born 24 November 1998) is a Japanese footballer who playing as a forward and…Ryuichi Ichiki (一木 立一, Ichiki Ryuichi; born 24 November 1998) is a Japanese footballer who playing as a forward and currently play for Vonds Ichihara.
Kairi Harayama (原山 海里, Harayama Kairi; born 1 November 1997) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder…Kairi Harayama (原山 海里, Harayama Kairi; born 1 November 1997) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Vanraure Hachinohe.
Seika Izawa (Japanese: 伊澤星花, Seika Izawa; born November 1, 1997) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently…Seika Izawa (Japanese: 伊澤星花, Seika Izawa; born November 1, 1997) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently competing in the atomweight division of Rizin Fighting Federation. She is the former Jewels Strawweight, Rizin Super Atomweight, and current Jewels Atomweight champion. As of January 3, 2022, Izawa is ranked as the best atomweight in the world by both Fight Matrix and Sherdog.
Shota Suzuki (鈴木 翔太, Suzuki Shota; born 21 November 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender…Shota Suzuki (鈴木 翔太, Suzuki Shota; born 21 November 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Fujieda MYFC.
Mifuyu Koide (小出 深冬, Koide Mifuyu; born December 21, 1995) is a Japanese rugby sevens player. She competed at the 2016…Mifuyu Koide (小出 深冬, Koide Mifuyu; born December 21, 1995) is a Japanese rugby sevens player. She competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics for the Japan women's national rugby sevens team. Japan finished in 10th place overall. She was named in the Sakura Sevens squad to compete at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.
Kosei Wakimoto (脇本晃成, Wakimoto Kōsei; born 8 January 1994 in Hiroshima) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Kataller…Kosei Wakimoto (脇本晃成, Wakimoto Kōsei; born 8 January 1994 in Hiroshima) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Kataller Toyama.
Yuki Sue (born 3 November 1993) is a Japanese rugby union player. She competed for Japan at the 2017 Women's Rugby…Yuki Sue (born 3 November 1993) is a Japanese rugby union player. She competed for Japan at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Noriko Taniguchi (谷口 令子, Taniguchi Noriko; born September 7, 1992) is a Japanese rugby sevens player. She was a member…Noriko Taniguchi (谷口 令子, Taniguchi Noriko; born September 7, 1992) is a Japanese rugby sevens player. She was a member of the Japan women's national rugby sevens team at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She won a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Games in rugby sevens.
Natsumi Tsunoda (Japanese: 角田夏実; born 6 August 1992) is a Japanese retired judoka. She won the gold medal at the…Natsumi Tsunoda (Japanese: 角田夏実; born 6 August 1992) is a Japanese retired judoka. She won the gold medal at the women's 48 kg event at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Yusuke Chajima (茶島雄介, Chajima Yūsuke; born July 20, 1991 in Aki-ku, Hiroshima) is a Japanese former footballer who…Yusuke Chajima (茶島雄介, Chajima Yūsuke; born July 20, 1991 in Aki-ku, Hiroshima) is a Japanese former footballer who played as a right winger or right back, most notably for Sanfrecce Hiroshima. He announced his retirement in June 2026.
Naoyuki Yamazaki (山崎 直之, Yamazaki Naoyuki; born 5 May 1991) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for…Naoyuki Yamazaki (山崎 直之, Yamazaki Naoyuki; born 5 May 1991) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for Taiwan Football Premier League club AC Taipei.
Hideto Takahashi (高橋 秀人; born 17 October 1987) is a Japanese football coach and former player who is a youth coach for…Hideto Takahashi (高橋 秀人; born 17 October 1987) is a Japanese football coach and former player who is a youth coach for Auckland United.
Au Nok-hin (Chinese: 區諾軒; born 18 June 1987) is a pro-democracy politician in Hong Kong. He is the former member of the…Au Nok-hin (Chinese: 區諾軒; born 18 June 1987) is a pro-democracy politician in Hong Kong. He is the former member of the Legislative Council for Hong Kong Island from 2018 to 2019 and member of the Southern District Council for Lei Tung I from 2012 to 2019. From 2016 to 2017, Au was the convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front. In the 2018 Legislative Council by-election triggered by oath-taking controversy, Au replaced Demosistō candidate Agnes Chow who was disqualified over her alleged pro-independence stance. He was elected with more than 130,000 votes. Au was a member of the Democratic Party until 2017. In December 2019, Chow's disqualification was ruled unlawful by a court, invalidating the by-election result and unseating Au.
Yoshimi Yamashita (山下良美, born 20 February 1986) is a Japanese football referee. She was an official at the 2019 FIFA…Yoshimi Yamashita (山下良美, born 20 February 1986) is a Japanese football referee. She was an official at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France and also refereed at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics.
Satomi Tanaka (田中冴美, born 13 August 1984), better known as Saemi Hanagata, is a Japanese professional boxer who…Satomi Tanaka (田中冴美, born 13 August 1984), better known as Saemi Hanagata, is a Japanese professional boxer who formerly held the IBF female atomweight title.
Kazunari Hosaka (保坂 一成, Hosaka Kazunari; born 24 March 1983 in Fuchū, Tokyo) is a Japanese former professional…Kazunari Hosaka (保坂 一成, Hosaka Kazunari; born 24 March 1983 in Fuchū, Tokyo) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Mei Yamaguchi (山口 芽生, yamaguchi mei; born (1983-02-03)February 3, 1983), formerly known by her ring name V Hajime (V一…Mei Yamaguchi (山口 芽生, yamaguchi mei; born (1983-02-03)February 3, 1983), formerly known by her ring name V Hajime (V一, vī hajime), is a Japanese female mixed martial artist and kickboxer. Her former nickname comes from the V1 armlock wrestling move. Yamaguchi currently fights as a Super Atomweight in the Rizin Fighting Federation promotion. She has a notable victory over Yuka Tsuji and was the final Valkyrie Featherweight Champion. She has also competed in Deep Jewels and ONE Championship. She is currently ranked #5 in the ONE Championship Women's Atomweight rankings. On February 5, 2011 (2011-02-05), Yamaguchi announced that she would begin competing as a freelance fighter and changed her ring name to V.V.
Daiki Iwamasa (岩政 大樹, Iwamasa Daiki; born 30 January 1982) is a Japanese professional football manager and former…Daiki Iwamasa (岩政 大樹, Iwamasa Daiki; born 30 January 1982) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player, who was most recently the manager of J2 League club, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. He also played for the Japan national team until 2011.
Jumpei Iida (飯田 淳平, Iida Junpei; born 14 August 1981 in Odawara, Kanagawa) is a Japanese football referee. He has…Jumpei Iida (飯田 淳平, Iida Junpei; born 14 August 1981 in Odawara, Kanagawa) is a Japanese football referee. He has officiated matches in numerous international tournaments including EAFF Championship and AFC Cup. Locally he has officiated regularly in the J. League. In 2012, he officiated in the English FA Cup and Professional Development League. He broke the world record for the fastest red card decision in a professional league match on 15 April 2009, when he sent off Tokyo Verdy midfielder Tomo Sugawara 9 seconds into the match between Tokyo Verdy and Sagan Tosu. Iida also officiated the pre season friendly between Melbourne Victory and Liverpool in front of over 95,000 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2013.
Miho Sato (佐藤 美保, Satō Miho; née Sugimori; born 14 April 1978) is a retired Japanese athlete specialising in…Miho Sato (佐藤 美保, Satō Miho; née Sugimori; born 14 April 1978) is a retired Japanese athlete specialising in middle-distance events. From Ise, Mie, she competed in the 800 metres at the 2004 Summer Olympics without reaching the semifinals. She is married to a long-distance runner, Atsushi Sato.
Chiaki Kusuhara (楠原千秋, Kusuhara Chiaki; born 1 November 1975 in Matsuyama, Ehime) is a retired Japanese Olympic beach…Chiaki Kusuhara (楠原千秋, Kusuhara Chiaki; born 1 November 1975 in Matsuyama, Ehime) is a retired Japanese Olympic beach volleyballer. She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics and was partnered with Mika Teru Saiki.
Miki Matsue Matheson (松江美季) is a three time Paralympic gold medalist in Ice sledge speed racing at the Winter…Miki Matsue Matheson (松江美季) is a three time Paralympic gold medalist in Ice sledge speed racing at the Winter Paralympics. A car accident led to her disability. Currently she lives in Canada with her husband, former Paralympic ice sledge hockey player Shawn Matheson.
Keijin Okuda (奥田啓人, Okuda Keijin; born January 27, 1972) is a Japanese voice actor from Saitama Prefecture affiliated…Keijin Okuda (奥田啓人, Okuda Keijin; born January 27, 1972) is a Japanese voice actor from Saitama Prefecture affiliated with Mausu Promotion.
Yoshino Aoki (青木 佳乃, Aoki Yoshino) (born August 19, 1971) is a Japanese video game music composer and lyricist. She…Yoshino Aoki (青木 佳乃, Aoki Yoshino) (born August 19, 1971) is a Japanese video game music composer and lyricist. She began her career with video game company Capcom, and later co-founded the music studio Unique Note with another ex-Capcom composer, Tetsuya Shibata.
Kōji Kakinuma (柿沼康二 Kakinuma Kōji, born July 16, 1970) is a Japanese calligrapher. Kakinuma was born in Yaita, Tochigi…Kōji Kakinuma (柿沼康二 Kakinuma Kōji, born July 16, 1970) is a Japanese calligrapher. Kakinuma was born in Yaita, Tochigi Prefecture. He began his calligraphy training at the age of five first under his father, Suiryū Kakinuma, and then under Yūkei Teshima, who is considered one of the Sanpitsu (“Three Brushes”) of the Shōwa Era, and Ichijō Uematsu. In 1993, Kakinuma graduated from the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, Tokyo Gakugei University, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Before becoming a full-time fine artist, he worked as a high-school teacher. From 2006 to 2007 he held a visiting fellowship at Princeton University. Two trademarks of his calligraphy work are oversized formats of up to 750 × 1100 cm painted with giant brushes, and the frequent repetition of the same character or phrase, which he calls "trance work". Kakinuma considers himself not only a calligrapher but also "a contemporary artist, using tools other than my brush or expressing something other than writing, happily working in genres outside calligraphy, such as performing art, installation, etc." For instance, he has used masking tape in the creation of some of his works. Kakinuma has held solo exhibitions at, among other places, the Tarō Okamoto Memorial Museum (in both 2010 and 2021/2022) and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (2013) where he was the first living calligrapher to do so. He has performed his calligraphy to live audiences around the world, at venues such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and the 2005 Earth Celebration festival at Sado island. He has won numerous awards including two Mainichi Calligraphy Exhibition awards in 1996 and 1999, the Dokuritsu Shojin-dan award in the "huge work" category in 2002, and the 4th Teshima Yukei Award in 2009. Kakinuma is one of twelve artists who are the subject of the 2018 documentary film Traces of the Soul about contemporary calligraphy worldwide. He also appears in the 2022 documentary The Colour of Ink, creating work using handmade ink from inkmaker Jason Logan. He was the only calligrapher besides Shōko Kanazawa to contribute to the Tokyo 2020 Official Art Posters Collection.
Yoko Takahagi (高萩 陽子, Takahagi Yōko; born April 17, 1969) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan…Yoko Takahagi (高萩 陽子, Takahagi Yōko; born April 17, 1969) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Akemi Morimoto (森本 朱美, Morimoto Akemi; born 22 February 1968) is a Japanese former cyclist. She competed in the women's…Akemi Morimoto (森本 朱美, Morimoto Akemi; born 22 February 1968) is a Japanese former cyclist. She competed in the women's points race at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Akio Haga (Japanese: 羽下 晃生, Hepburn: Haga Akio) is a Japanese Formula One engineer. He is currently the chief engineer…Akio Haga (Japanese: 羽下 晃生, Hepburn: Haga Akio) is a Japanese Formula One engineer. He is currently the chief engineer at Aston Martin Performance Technologies.
Akihiko Mori (森彰彦) born 1966, was a Japanese video game music composer who worked for Copya System Ltd., later becoming…Akihiko Mori (森彰彦) born 1966, was a Japanese video game music composer who worked for Copya System Ltd., later becoming a member of Mint Co., Ltd. where he worked with other composers. Mori died of stomach cancer on January 8, 1998.
Kei Shibata (柴田 峡, Shibata Kei; born 8 December 1965) is a Japanese former footballer and current manager Japan…Kei Shibata (柴田 峡, Shibata Kei; born 8 December 1965) is a Japanese former footballer and current manager Japan Football League club of ReinMeer Aomori
Hideki Kuriyama (栗山 英樹, Kuriyama Hideki; born April 26, 1961) is a Japanese former baseball manager and player. He…Hideki Kuriyama (栗山 英樹, Kuriyama Hideki; born April 26, 1961) is a Japanese former baseball manager and player. He managed the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball for ten seasons from 2012 to 2021, leading them to a Japan Series title in 2016. Kuriyama also managed for the Samurai Japan at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, leading the national team to its third Classic title and the first since 2009. Kuriyama also planned to be a teacher at Tokyo Gakugei University, but pursued a career in baseball instead, signing with the Yakult Swallows. His career came to a short end after an injury in 1990, and like other short careered baseball players, he pursued a career within sports media. He is also well known as the mentor of the two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who was drafted by the Fighters despite him wanting to pursue an MLB career instead. Kuriyama retired from management following the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Satoshi Fujimaru (藤丸 敏, Fujimaru Satoshi; born 19 January 1960) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Satoshi Fujimaru (藤丸 敏, Fujimaru Satoshi; born 19 January 1960) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Satoko Inoue (井上 郷子, Inoue Satoko; born January 29, 1958) is a Japanese musician. Inoue is a concert pianist whose…Satoko Inoue (井上 郷子, Inoue Satoko; born January 29, 1958) is a Japanese musician. Inoue is a concert pianist whose performance repertoire is mainly contemporary music. Inoue is also associate professor at the Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo.
Fumiko Takeshita (Japanese:竹下文子; February 18, 1957 – March 10, 2026) was a Japanese children's literature writer and…Fumiko Takeshita (Japanese:竹下文子; February 18, 1957 – March 10, 2026) was a Japanese children's literature writer and picture book author.
Kumiko Owada (大和田 久美子, Ōwada Kumiko; 23 August 1956 – 23 April 2020), née Okae (岡江), was a Japanese actress, voice…Kumiko Owada (大和田 久美子, Ōwada Kumiko; 23 August 1956 – 23 April 2020), née Okae (岡江), was a Japanese actress, voice actress, and television presenter. She was known for her work on television dramas, as well as hosting entertainment and variety shows, such as Renso Game on NHK. Okae also hosted the morning show Hanamaru Market on Tokyo Broadcasting System Television from 1996 to 2014.
Setsuko Shinoda (篠田 節子, Shinoda Setsuko; born 1955) is a Japanese writer of the fiction genre. She has won the Shōsetsu…Setsuko Shinoda (篠田 節子, Shinoda Setsuko; born 1955) is a Japanese writer of the fiction genre. She has won the Shōsetsu Subaru Literary Prize for Newcomers, the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize, the Naoki Prize, the Shibata Renzaburo Prize, a MEXT Award, and the Chuo Koron Literary Prize. Several of her works have been adapted for television.
Shusuke Kaneko (金子 修介, Kaneko Shūsuke; born June 8, 1955) is a Japanese filmmaker. He is best known for revitalizing…Shusuke Kaneko (金子 修介, Kaneko Shūsuke; born June 8, 1955) is a Japanese filmmaker. He is best known for revitalizing the kaiju genre with the critically acclaimed Heisei Gamera film trilogy (Gamera: Guardian of the Universe in 1995, Gamera 2: Attack of Legion in 1996, and Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris in 1999) and Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001). Kaneko has also worked across a wide range of genres throughout his career. He began directing in the early 1980s at Nikkatsu, with several entries in the studio's Roman Porno (pink film) series before transitioning to mainstream cinema. His other notable credits include Summer Vacation 1999 (1988), Necronomicon (1993), Pyrokinesis (2000), the action manga adaptation Azumi 2: Death or Love (2005), and the live-action adaptations of Death Note and its sequel Death Note 2: The Last Name (both 2006).
Nobuyuki Okumura (Japanese: 奥村信之, Hepburn: Okumura Nobuyuki; born August 6, 1953) is a Japanese figurative sculptor who…Nobuyuki Okumura (Japanese: 奥村信之, Hepburn: Okumura Nobuyuki; born August 6, 1953) is a Japanese figurative sculptor who has lived in Italy. He is known for bronze works created through the Italian lost-wax casting method and for creating sculptures of three successive Popes which were each installed in Vatican City. Almost all of his works have been displayed at churches, academies, museums, public institutions and private collections in both Italy and Japan.
Mamoru Oshii (押井 守, Oshii Mamoru; born 8 August 1951) is a Japanese filmmaker, television director and writer. Famous…Mamoru Oshii (押井 守, Oshii Mamoru; born 8 August 1951) is a Japanese filmmaker, television director and writer. Famous for his philosophy-oriented storytelling, Oshii has directed a number of acclaimed anime films, including Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer (1984), Angel's Egg (1985), Patlabor 2: The Movie (1993), and Ghost in the Shell (1995). He also holds the distinction of directing the first ever OVA, Dallos (1983). As a writer, Oshii has worked as a screenwriter, and occasionally as a manga writer and novelist. His most notable works as a writer include the manga Kerberos Panzer Cop (1988–2000) and its feature film adaptation Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999). For his work, Oshii has received and been nominated for numerous awards, including the Palme d'Or and Leone d'Oro (Golden Lion). He has also attracted praise from many directors, including James Cameron, Steven Spielberg and The Wachowskis, especially for his work on Ghost in the Shell.
Keiko Abe (安倍 圭子, Abe Keiko; born April 18, 1937) is a Japanese composer and marimba player. She has been a primary…Keiko Abe (安倍 圭子, Abe Keiko; born April 18, 1937) is a Japanese composer and marimba player. She has been a primary figure in the development of the marimba, in terms of expanding both technique and repertoire, and through her collaboration with the Yamaha Corporation, developed the modern five-octave concert marimba.