Yuriko Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 祐梨子; born 12 December 1988) is a Japanese professional middle- and long-distance runner…
Yuriko Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 祐梨子; born 12 December 1988) is a Japanese professional middle- and long-distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres. She represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She started out in middle-distance events, running in the 800 metres at the 2004 World Junior Championships and then winning a 1500 m silver medal at the World Youth Championships in Athletics the following year. She won the bronze medal in the 1500 m at the 2005 Asian Championships in Athletics and went one better at the 2006 Asian Games by taking the silver medal in Doha. Kobayashi moved up to specialise in longer distances and ran the 5000 m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after becoming the Japanese national champion in the event. She gave the best performance by an Asian runner in the women's 5000 m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, finishing in eleventh and beating her domestic rival Yurika Nakamura. Kobayashi ended her season with a 5000 m gold medal at the 2009 East Asian Games. She was selected to represent Asia/Pacific at the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup, but managed only eighth place in the 3000 m. The following January, she ran for Hyōgo at the 2011 Women's Inter-Prefectural Ekiden and set a new stage record in her section, although the team finished in ninth position overall. She was the bronze medalist in the 5000 m at the 2011 Asian Athletics Championships in Kobe, one place behind her compatriot Hitomi Niiya. At the International Chiba Ekiden in November she won the first women's stage for Japan, setting a race record for her leg, and the mixed team went on to finish a close second behind Kenya.
Famous Alumni of Okayama University
Okayama University: 23 people
Seiki Yoshioka (吉岡 世起, Yoshioka Seiki; born January 5, 1988), previously known as Seiki (stylized in all capital…
Seiki Yoshioka (吉岡 世起, Yoshioka Seiki; born January 5, 1988), previously known as Seiki (stylized in all capital letters), is a Japanese professional wrestler. Yoshioka is known for his time in Wrestle-1, where he was a three-time Wrestle-1 Cruiser Division Champion and UWA World Trios Champion and a one-time NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion in Pro Wrestling Zero1. In Wrestle-1, Yoshioka was a member of the #Stronghearts stable, led by Cima. In the past, Yoshioka has also toured Great Britain, as the former one-time All Star Wrestling British Mid-Heavyweight Champion.
Yasuhiro Nomoto (野本 安啓, Nomoto Yasuhiro; born June 25, 1983) is a former Japanese football player.
Rie Katayama (片山梨絵, Katayama Rie; born 13 September 1979) is a Japanese cross-country mountain biker. At the 2008…
Rie Katayama (片山梨絵, Katayama Rie; born 13 September 1979) is a Japanese cross-country mountain biker. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, she competed in the women's cross-country event, finishing in 20th place. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she competed in the Women's cross-country at Hadleigh Farm, finishing in 20th place again. In October 2012, she announced she would be retiring as a professional cyclist.
Susumu Kobayashi (小林 晋, Kobayashi Susumu; born June 27, 1973 in Okayama) is a Japanese sport shooter. Kobayashi…
Susumu Kobayashi (小林 晋, Kobayashi Susumu; born June 27, 1973 in Okayama) is a Japanese sport shooter. Kobayashi represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he competed in two pistol shooting events, along with his teammate Tomoyuki Matsuda. He scored a total of 577 targets in the preliminary rounds of the men's 10 m air pistol, by four points ahead of Poland's Wojciech Knapik from the final attempt, finishing only in twenty-third place. Three days later, Kobayashi placed tenth in his second event, 50 m rifle pistol, by one point behind Matsuda from the final attempt, with a total score of 558 targets.
Michiyoshi Yunoki (柚木 道義, Yunoki Michiyoshi; born 28 May 1972) is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of…
Michiyoshi Yunoki (柚木 道義, Yunoki Michiyoshi; born 28 May 1972) is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of Representatives for the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. A native of Kurashiki, Okayama and graduate of Okayama University, he worked at the publisher Yurindo from 1997 to 2002. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2005 for the DPJ after an unsuccessful run in 2003.
Naoko Matsumoto is a Professor in the Department of Archaeology at Okayama University. Her research covers the areas of…
Naoko Matsumoto is a Professor in the Department of Archaeology at Okayama University. Her research covers the areas of cognitive archaeology, gender archaeology and the Jomon period.
Katsuhito Noshi (野志 克仁, Noshi Katsuhito; born 31 July 1967) is a Japanese politician and the current mayor of…
Katsuhito Noshi (野志 克仁, Noshi Katsuhito; born 31 July 1967) is a Japanese politician and the current mayor of Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture, Japan.
Hiroaki Suga (菅 裕明, born February 21, 1963) is a Japanese biochemist and businessman. He is best known for his work on…
Hiroaki Suga (菅 裕明, born February 21, 1963) is a Japanese biochemist and businessman. He is best known for his work on artificial ribozymes (flexizymes) and their application in mRNA display (RaPID, random nonstandard peptide integrated discovery). Suga was awarded the 2023 Wolf Prize in Chemistry, jointly with Chuan He and Jeffery W. Kelly, "for pioneering discoveries that illuminate the functions and pathological dysfunctions of RNA and proteins and for creating strategies to harness the capabilities of these biopolymers in new ways to ameliorate human diseases."
Shinji Aramaki (荒牧 伸志, Aramaki Shinji; born 2 October 1960) is a Japanese anime director and mechanical designer from…
Shinji Aramaki (荒牧 伸志, Aramaki Shinji; born 2 October 1960) is a Japanese anime director and mechanical designer from Fukuoka Prefecture. He graduated from Fukuoka Prefectural Fukuoka High School and Okayama University. He was a member of Artmic and is currently the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) at Sola Digital Arts. He is a leading figure in 3DCG animation in Japan.
Yumiko Himei (姫井 由美子, Himei Yumiko; born February 14, 1959) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…
Yumiko Himei (姫井 由美子, Himei Yumiko; born February 14, 1959) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Okayama, she graduated from Okayama University with a master's degree. She was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007 after serving in the assembly of Okayama Prefecture for two terms since 1999. She was due to join a new political party, "Kaikaku Club", in 2008, but on August 28, 2008, she withdrew her membership in the new party and reaffirmed her loyalty to the Democratic Party of Japan.
Miki Fujimura (藤村 美樹, Fujimura Miki; born 15 January 1956 in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan, and raised in Fukushima) is a…
Miki Fujimura (藤村 美樹, Fujimura Miki; born 15 January 1956 in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan, and raised in Fukushima) is a Japanese singer, best known as Miki (ミキ), a member of the pop trio Candies.
Tadaaki Miyake (三宅 忠明, Miyake Tadaaki; born 7 March 1939) is a Japanese folklorist born in 1939 at Okayama Prefecture.
Shigeo Takaya (高谷 茂男, Takaya Shigeo; 1 January 1937 – 8 August 2024) was a Japanese politician who was the mayor of…
Shigeo Takaya (高谷 茂男, Takaya Shigeo; 1 January 1937 – 8 August 2024) was a Japanese politician who was the mayor of Okayama in Okayama Prefecture. A graduate of Okayama Prefectural University-Junior College, he was first elected in October 2005. Takaya died of kidney failure on 8 August 2024, at the age of 87.
Jun Isezaki (Japanese: 伊勢崎淳 Isezaki Jun; 20 February 1936 – 11 July 2026) was a Japanese ceramic artist and potter. A…
Jun Isezaki (Japanese: 伊勢崎淳 Isezaki Jun; 20 February 1936 – 11 July 2026) was a Japanese ceramic artist and potter. A graduate of Okayama University, his works ranged from traditional tea ceramics to modern sculptures. In 2004, he was designated a National Treasure for his works. Isezaki died on 11 July 2026, at the age of 90.
Kōjirō Akagi (赤木 曠児郎, Akagi Kōjirō) (3 January 1934 – 15 February 2021) was a Japanese painter. He was born in Okayama…
Kōjirō Akagi (赤木 曠児郎, Akagi Kōjirō) (3 January 1934 – 15 February 2021) was a Japanese painter. He was born in Okayama, Japan, but was based in France.
Motofumi Makieda (Japanese: 槙枝元文, 4 March 1921 – 4 December 2010) was a Japanese trade union leader. Makieda qualified…
Motofumi Makieda (Japanese: 槙枝元文, 4 March 1921 – 4 December 2010) was a Japanese trade union leader. Makieda qualified as a teacher during World War II, then taught at a junior high school. After the war, he was a founding member of the Japan Teachers' Union (JTU), and became its general secretary in 1962, and then president in 1971, in which role he promoted education for peace. In 1974, he led the union in a national strike. As it was illegal for teachers to strike, he was imprisoned, being released following an international campaign. From 1976, he was additionally president of the General Council of Trade Unions of Japan (Sohyo). In 1978, he was elected as president of the World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession, serving until 1982, during which time he built links between the federation and the rival International Federation of Free Teachers' Unions. Makieda retired in 1983, and thereafter devoted his time to the Japan-China Friendship Society. He also supported the merger of Sohyo into RENGO, a new trade union federation.
Michihiko Hachiya (蜂谷道彦, Hachiya Michihiko; 1903 in Okayama Prefecture - 1980) was a Japanese physician who survived…
Michihiko Hachiya (蜂谷道彦, Hachiya Michihiko; 1903 in Okayama Prefecture - 1980) was a Japanese physician who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in August 1945. He kept a personal diary of his experience in the aftermath of the bombing which was later published as Hiroshima Diary in 1955.
Motoki Tokieda (時枝 誠記, Tokieda Motoki; 1900– 27 October 1967) was a professor of Japanese linguistics at University of…
Motoki Tokieda (時枝 誠記, Tokieda Motoki; 1900– 27 October 1967) was a professor of Japanese linguistics at University of Tokyo. He is noted for developing the Process Theory of Language (言語過程説, gengo katei setsu) and his criticism of Ferdinand de Saussure.
Yoshio Nishina (仁科 芳雄, Nishina Yoshio; December 6, 1890 – January 10, 1951) was a Japanese physicist who was called…
Yoshio Nishina (仁科 芳雄, Nishina Yoshio; December 6, 1890 – January 10, 1951) was a Japanese physicist who was called "the founding father of modern physics research in Japan". He led the efforts of Japan to develop an atomic bomb during World War II.
Magosaburō Ōhara (大原 孫三郎, Ōhara Magosaburō; July 28, 1880 - January 18, 1943) was a Japanese businessman and…
Magosaburō Ōhara (大原 孫三郎, Ōhara Magosaburō; July 28, 1880 - January 18, 1943) was a Japanese businessman and philanthropist. He was born in Kurashiki, Okayama. He studied at Waseda University but left Waseda before graduation. Later he became the most influential person in Kansai business community.
Sahachirō Hata (秦 佐八郎, Hata Sahachirō; March 23, 1873 – November 22, 1938) was a prominent Japanese bacteriologist who…
Sahachirō Hata (秦 佐八郎, Hata Sahachirō; March 23, 1873 – November 22, 1938) was a prominent Japanese bacteriologist who researched the bubonic plague under Kitasato Shibasaburō and assisted in developing the antisyphilitic drug arsphenamine in 1909 in the laboratory of Paul Ehrlich. Hata received three unsuccessful nominations for the Nobel Prize, one from Swiss surgeon Emil Kocher for Chemistry in 1911 and two by Japanese colleagues Hayazo Ito and G Osawa for Physiology or Medicine in 1912 and 1913, respectively.
Sen Katayama (片山 潜, Katayama Sen; December 26, 1859 – November 5, 1933), born Yabuki Sugataro (藪木 菅太郎, Yabuki…
Sen Katayama (片山 潜, Katayama Sen; December 26, 1859 – November 5, 1933), born Yabuki Sugataro (藪木 菅太郎, Yabuki Sugatarō), was an early Japanese Marxist political activist and journalist, one of the original members of the CPUSA and co-founder, in 1922, of the Japanese Communist Party. After 1884, he spent most of his life abroad, especially in the United States and the Soviet Union, where he was very active in the international socialist community, and after 1920, the communist community. Katayama had a weak base inside Japan, and was little known there. However, in the rest of the world, he was widely hailed as a leading spokesman for the Japanese socialist and communist movements.