Yui Yabuta (藪田 裕衣, Yabuta Yui; born 4 March 1996) is a Japanese long-distance runner. She competed in the senior…Yui Yabuta (藪田 裕衣, Yabuta Yui; born 4 March 1996) is a Japanese long-distance runner. She competed in the senior women's race at the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. She finished in 95th place. In 2019, she also competed in the women's 3000 metres steeplechase event at the Asian Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar. She finished in 10th place.
Daisuke Uekado (born December 11, 1993) is a Japanese long-distance runner. Uekado won the 2016 Kyoto Marathon. He…Daisuke Uekado (born December 11, 1993) is a Japanese long-distance runner. Uekado won the 2016 Kyoto Marathon. He competed at the 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, where he finished 82nd. Uekado finished 8th at the 2018 Berlin Marathon. He has qualified for the Japan Olympic Trials for the 2020 Olympics.
Takanori Miyake (三宅貴憲, Miyake Takanori; born 15 February 1992) is a Japanese former footballer who last played for…Takanori Miyake (三宅貴憲, Miyake Takanori; born 15 February 1992) is a Japanese former footballer who last played for Ococias Kyoto AC.
Ikki Sasaki (佐々木一輝, Sasaki Ikki; born 19 February 1991 in Tokushima) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Kataller…Ikki Sasaki (佐々木一輝, Sasaki Ikki; born 19 February 1991 in Tokushima) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Kataller Toyama.
Aramitsu Kitazono (born 17 February 1991) is a Japanese visually impaired Paralympic judoka. He made his first…Aramitsu Kitazono (born 17 February 1991) is a Japanese visually impaired Paralympic judoka. He made his first Paralympic appearance during the 2012 Summer Paralympics. He was set to represent Japan at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in the judoka competition but had to withdraw from the event after being hit by a self driving bus.
Ryutaro Araga (荒賀 龍太郎, Araga Ryūtarō, born 16 October 1990) is a Japanese karateka. He won one of the bronze medals in…Ryutaro Araga (荒賀 龍太郎, Araga Ryūtarō, born 16 October 1990) is a Japanese karateka. He won one of the bronze medals in the men's +75 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan. He won the gold medal in the kumite 84 kg event at the 2016 World Karate Championships in Linz, Austria. At the Asian Games, he won the gold medal in this event both in 2014 and in 2018. He is also a three-time gold medalist in his event at the Asian Karate Championships.
Masaki Watanabe (渡邉 将基, born December 2, 1986) is a Japanese football player who plays as a defender for Terengganu FC…Masaki Watanabe (渡邉 将基, born December 2, 1986) is a Japanese football player who plays as a defender for Terengganu FC II.
Hiroshi Yamashita (born 1 January 1986) is a Japanese rugby union player. He was named in Japan's squad for the 2015…Hiroshi Yamashita (born 1 January 1986) is a Japanese rugby union player. He was named in Japan's squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and Chiefs in Super Rugby from 2016.
Emika Yoshida (吉田 恵美可, Yoshida Emika; born 10 December 1985) is a Japanese athletics competitor competing in the…Emika Yoshida (吉田 恵美可, Yoshida Emika; born 10 December 1985) is a Japanese athletics competitor competing in the javelin throw. In 2007, she competed in the women's javelin throw event at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics held in Osaka, Japan. She did not qualify to compete in the final. In 2004, she finished in 9th place in the women's javelin throw at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics held in Grosseto, Italy. She won the bronze medal in the women's javelin throw event at the 2009 East Asian Games held in Hong Kong.
Kazuki Sado (佐渡一毅, born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese dressage rider. He competed at the 2018 World Equestrian Games…Kazuki Sado (佐渡一毅, born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese dressage rider. He competed at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, at the Asian Games in 2014 and 2018. He won team gold during the Asian Games in 2018 and team silver during the Asian Games in 2014. He trained in the Netherlands with former Olympian Imke Schellekens-Bartels in preparation towards the 2020 Olympic Games. He participated in the 2020 Olympics.
Fumiaki Tanaka (田中 史朗, born 3 January 1985) is a Japanese retired rugby union player. He played as a scrum-half for…Fumiaki Tanaka (田中 史朗, born 3 January 1985) is a Japanese retired rugby union player. He played as a scrum-half for Japan on international level and for the NEC Green Rockets and the Sunwolves at domestic level.
Yoshihisa Hirano (平野 佳寿, Hirano Yoshihisa) (born March 8, 1984) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the…Yoshihisa Hirano (平野 佳寿, Hirano Yoshihisa) (born March 8, 1984) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners. Hirano is a right-handed pitcher with a three-quarters delivery. As a reliever, he throws a fastball topping out at mid-90s and a forkball as his primary pitches.
Aki Shibata (芝田安希 Shibata Aki, born January 6, 1981) was a Japanese volleyball player who played for Toray Arrows. She…Aki Shibata (芝田安希 Shibata Aki, born January 6, 1981) was a Japanese volleyball player who played for Toray Arrows. She served as captain of the team between 2008 and 2010. Toray announced that she retired in June 2010.
Shoji Ito (伊藤 鐘史, Itō Shōji; born 2 December 1980) is a coach and former Japanese rugby union player. He was named in…Shoji Ito (伊藤 鐘史, Itō Shōji; born 2 December 1980) is a coach and former Japanese rugby union player. He was named in Japan's squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He is currently the assist coach of the Japan national team.
Ryohei Iwatani (岩谷良平, Iwatani Ryohei; born 7 June 1980) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…Ryohei Iwatani (岩谷良平, Iwatani Ryohei; born 7 June 1980) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2021. He has served as secretary general of the Japan Innovation Party since 2024. From 2011 to 2015, he was a member of the Osaka Prefectural Assembly.
Ryosuke Shimizu (Shimizu Ryosuke; born 18 January 1980) is a Japanese instructor of Shotokan karate. He has won the JKA…Ryosuke Shimizu (Shimizu Ryosuke; born 18 January 1980) is a Japanese instructor of Shotokan karate. He has won the JKA All-Japan championships for kumite on 2 occasions. He is currently an instructor of the Japan Karate Association.
Daisuke Ohata (大畑大介, Ōhata Daisuke; born November 11, 1975) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He usually played…Daisuke Ohata (大畑大介, Ōhata Daisuke; born November 11, 1975) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He usually played on the wing, and sometimes at centre, for the Japanese national team. He made his name internationally as a speedy ace in the World Rugby Sevens Series (then known as the IRB World Sevens Series), and went on to become a regular member of the national team. He first played for Japan on November 9, 1996, and scored three tries that day. He is the leading rugby union test try scorer of all time. In November 2016, Ohata was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame at the opening ceremony for the Hall's first physical location in Rugby, Warwickshire.
Kenjiro Todoroki (轟 賢二郎, Todoroki Kenjirō; born September 1, 1975 in Chiba) is a sailing competitor from Japan. He won…Kenjiro Todoroki (轟 賢二郎, Todoroki Kenjirō; born September 1, 1975 in Chiba) is a sailing competitor from Japan. He won a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics with Kazuto Seki in the 470 (dinghy) class.
Yoshikazu Kura (倉 義和, Kura Yoshikazu; born July 27, 1975 in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball…Yoshikazu Kura (倉 義和, Kura Yoshikazu; born July 27, 1975 in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays catcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Chie "Rii" Seike (清家 ちえ, Seike Chie; born 4 May 1974) is a Japanese former beach volleyball player. She competed in the…Chie "Rii" Seike (清家 ちえ, Seike Chie; born 4 May 1974) is a Japanese former beach volleyball player. She competed in the women's tournament at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Ryota Nakano is a Japanese film director known for his films Her Love Boils Bathwater (2016), A Long Goodbye (2019)…Ryota Nakano is a Japanese film director known for his films Her Love Boils Bathwater (2016), A Long Goodbye (2019), and The Asadas (2020).
Keiji Hirose (廣瀬佳司, Hirose Keiji), born April 16, 1973, in Osaka) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as…Keiji Hirose (廣瀬佳司, Hirose Keiji), born April 16, 1973, in Osaka) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as a fly-half. His club team was Toyota Verblitz. He was nicknamed Golden Boots (ゴールデン・ブーツ, Gôruden Būtsu). Hirose was awarded 40 caps for Japan; he made his debut in a 26–11 1995 Rugby World Cup qualifier win over South Korea, October 29, 1994, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In his career, Hirose scored 5 tries, 77 conversions, 79 penalties and 2 drop goals, reaching a national record of 422 points in aggregate. He was the primary goalkicker for Japan during his international career. He played in a single game at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the infamous 145–17 defeat to New Zealand. Hirose scored 2 conversions and 1 penalty in the game. In the 44–17 win over Tonga, at 8 May 1999, in Tokyo, during the Pacific Rim Championship, he kicked a then record of 9 penalties from 9 attempts. He played in all three of Japan's games at the 1999 Rugby World Cup. His 5 penalties and 4 conversions (a total of 23 points) led his country in scoring. Hirose again played only once at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, in a 32–11 defeat to Scotland, at 12 October 2003, scoring 2 penalties. His last international game came was on 5 November 2005, a 44–29 win over Spain, in Tokyo. Hirose had a memorable farewell, scoring 19 points through 5 conversions, 2 penalties and 1 drop goal. He was 32 years old.
Akira Yoshida (吉田明, Yoshida Akira) (born Kyoto, 13 August 1971) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as…Akira Yoshida (吉田明, Yoshida Akira) (born Kyoto, 13 August 1971) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as centre.
Chiho Torii (鳥居 千穂, Torii Chiho) (born 29 July 1970) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1996…Chiho Torii (鳥居 千穂, Torii Chiho) (born 29 July 1970) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. In 1996, Torii was eliminated with the Japanese team in the preliminary round of the Olympic tournament.
Toshihide Narimoto (成本 年秀, Narimoto Toshihide; born September 11, 1968, in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese…Toshihide Narimoto (成本 年秀, Narimoto Toshihide; born September 11, 1968, in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Kazuhiro Mizoguchi (溝口 和洋, Mizoguchi Kazuhiro; born March 18, 1962) is a Japanese former javelin thrower. He set the…Kazuhiro Mizoguchi (溝口 和洋, Mizoguchi Kazuhiro; born March 18, 1962) is a Japanese former javelin thrower. He set the world best year performance in 1989, throwing 87.60 metres at a meet in San Jose, California, United States on May 27, 1989. Initially, it was announced as a new world record of 87.86m, 20cm further than the previous world record, but the measurer re-measured it with a plastic tape measure and announced it as 87.60m.
Tatsuya Maeda (前田 達也, Maeda Tatsuya; was born 22 August 1958 in Naha, Okinawa, USCAR) is a Japanese musician and singer…Tatsuya Maeda (前田 達也, Maeda Tatsuya; was born 22 August 1958 in Naha, Okinawa, USCAR) is a Japanese musician and singer from Japan. Maeda is best known as the singer and guitarist of the theme songs of Ultraman Dyna and Blue SWAT.
Yoshiyuki Matsuoka (松岡義之, Matsuoka Yoshiyuki; born on 6 March 1957, in Hyogo, Japan) is a retired judoka from Japan…Yoshiyuki Matsuoka (松岡義之, Matsuoka Yoshiyuki; born on 6 March 1957, in Hyogo, Japan) is a retired judoka from Japan, who represented Japan at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Matsuoka won the gold medal in the men's half-lightweight division (–65 kg), after having defeated South Korea's Hwang Jung-Oh in the final by Seoi Nage. He trained under 4 time world champion Shozo Fujii (1971–1979). As of 2007, Matsuoka coaches the Komatsu Limited judo club. Among his students are world champions & olympic medalists Ayumi Tanimoto, Miku Tashiro, and Tsukasa Yoshida.
Toshiki Yui (唯 登詩樹, Yui Toshiki) (born 1956 in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese seinen manga artist. Some of his…Toshiki Yui (唯 登詩樹, Yui Toshiki) (born 1956 in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese seinen manga artist. Some of his early work was published under the name Masaki Katō (加藤 雅基, Katō Masaki). He has been publishing since 1986. Yui is known for his computer-assisted drawings, manga, and web-images of pretty and sexy girls (bishōjo). He specializes in romantic comedies, sometimes supernatural and often sexually explicit, about these girls and their male and female friends. Three of his works have been translated into English, Misty Girl Extreme, Hot Tails, and Wingding Orgy. Writing about Kagome, Kagome, the French manga dictionary Dicomanga pointed to Yui's large usage of computer software which gives a particular yet slightly icy tone to his universe. Also writing about Kagome, Kagome, SplashComics noted that Yui used the technique of using photographs as backgrounds. Derek Guder, writing about Hot Tails, described Yui as "an adult manga king", enjoying his unique "mix of sex, humor, and bizarre imagination. He simply lets his id run wild, and we get stories that are as surreal as they are sexual". Guder found the artwork of Hot Tails "still a bit unpolished and busy in these older stories, but his style is undeniable. The art is gorgeous, the ladies are sexy, and the premises too bizarre not to enjoy", giving it a rating of four out of four stars. Yui's Hot Tails has been called the best known exponent of the futanari genre in the West.
Yasuo "Hasagi" Nashihara (Japanese: 梨原靖夫 (Nashihara Yasuo)), originally Yasuo Ikoma (Japanese: 生駒靖夫 (Ikoma Yasuo); born…Yasuo "Hasagi" Nashihara (Japanese: 梨原靖夫 (Nashihara Yasuo)), originally Yasuo Ikoma (Japanese: 生駒靖夫 (Ikoma Yasuo); born 12 July 1955) is a retired Japanese handball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Shofukutei Tsurube II (笑福亭 鶴瓶 (2代目), Shōfukutei Tsurube (Nidaime)), born Manabu Suruga (駿河 学, Suruga Manabu), is a…Shofukutei Tsurube II (笑福亭 鶴瓶 (2代目), Shōfukutei Tsurube (Nidaime)), born Manabu Suruga (駿河 学, Suruga Manabu), is a Japanese rakugo comedian and actor.
Jun Nishikawa (西川 純, Nishikawa Jun; born 8 August 1950) is a former member of the Japanese Red Army (JRA). He was a…Jun Nishikawa (西川 純, Nishikawa Jun; born 8 August 1950) is a former member of the Japanese Red Army (JRA). He was a member of the group that attacked the French embassy in The Hague in 1974. In April 1975 he was arrested in Stockholm before being released later that year as part of a deal with the Japanese government to free the hostages that JRA had taken in the AIA building siege in Kuala Lumpur. He has been linked with the Japan Airlines Flight 472 hijacking carried out by the JRA on September 28, 1977. As a demand they asked for the release of several JRA members, including Junzo Okudaira, and their demands were met by the Japanese government. Nishikawa remained at large during this time. Following an investigation co-ordinated by Interpol, and involving Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, he was located and arrested 20 years later in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. He was eventually deported to Japan in November 1997, where he was arrested and put on trial. Nishikawa was found guilty of violating the hijacking law, passport forgery, attempted murder and taking hostages. On 30 March 2007, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Japan's Supreme Court said on September 13, 2011, that it turned down an appeal by Nishikawa against his sentence of life imprisonment.
Takao Horiuchi (堀内孝雄, Horiuchi Takao; born October 27, 1949 in Abeno-ku, Osaka) is a Japanese pop and enka singer. He…Takao Horiuchi (堀内孝雄, Horiuchi Takao; born October 27, 1949 in Abeno-ku, Osaka) is a Japanese pop and enka singer. He won a 1990 Japan Record Award for enka.
Naoki Izumiya (born 9 August 1948) is a Japanese businessman and the president and CEO of Asahi Breweries. He joined…Naoki Izumiya (born 9 August 1948) is a Japanese businessman and the president and CEO of Asahi Breweries. He joined the company in 1972, became president in 2010, and was elevated to CEO and chairman in 2016.
Hideo Iwakuro (岩畔 豪雄, Iwakuro Hideo; 10 October 1897 – 22 November 1970) was a major general in the Imperial Japanese…Hideo Iwakuro (岩畔 豪雄, Iwakuro Hideo; 10 October 1897 – 22 November 1970) was a major general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. He is also known as one of the founders of the Kyoto Sangyo University.
