Kyosuke Kajikawa (梶川喬介, Kajikawa Kyōsuke; born 5 September 1987) is a Japanese international rugby union player who…Kyosuke Kajikawa (梶川喬介, Kajikawa Kyōsuke; born 5 September 1987) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a lock or flanker. He currently plays for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan's domestic Top League.
Teppei Tomioka (冨岡鉄平 Tomioka Teppei, born March 1, 1977) is the captain of the Toshiba Brave Lupus rugby team. He plays…Teppei Tomioka (冨岡鉄平 Tomioka Teppei, born March 1, 1977) is the captain of the Toshiba Brave Lupus rugby team. He plays at centre. Originally from Fukuoka Prefecture, he was educated at Fukuoka Institute of Technology (Fukuoka Kougyou Daigaku). He is considered to be a powerful runner and leader of his team. He was voted the MVP of the Top League in 2007.
Misato Michishita (道下 美里, Michishita Misato; born 19 January 1977 in Shimonoseki City) is a visually impaired Japanese…Misato Michishita (道下 美里, Michishita Misato; born 19 January 1977 in Shimonoseki City) is a visually impaired Japanese long distance and marathon runner. She silver medalled at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, and won the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo. She won the bronze medal the 2024 Summer Paralympics with a time of 3:04:23 in Paris, after Elena Congost from Spain was controversially disqualified with a time of 3:00:48 despite a human reflex when her companion almost fell.
Minoru Okidoi (沖土居稔, Okidoi Minoru) (born 7 February 1965 in Fukuoka) is a former Japanese rugby union player who…Minoru Okidoi (沖土居稔, Okidoi Minoru) (born 7 February 1965 in Fukuoka) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a winger.
Ichirō Matsui (松井一郎, Matsui Ichirō; born 31 January 1964) is a Japanese businessman and politician who is formerly the…Ichirō Matsui (松井一郎, Matsui Ichirō; born 31 January 1964) is a Japanese businessman and politician who is formerly the mayor of Osaka, leader of the Osaka Restoration Association (ORA) and Nippon Ishin no Kai alongside Nobuyuki Baba.
Isamu Sonoda (園田 勇, Sonoda Isamu; 4 November 1946 – 16 July 2026) was a Japanese Olympic champion judoka who competed…Isamu Sonoda (園田 勇, Sonoda Isamu; 4 November 1946 – 16 July 2026) was a Japanese Olympic champion judoka who competed in the middleweight division (–80 kg) at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Ryōichi Sasakawa (笹川 良一, Sasakawa Ryōichi; May 4, 1899 – July 18, 1995) was a Japanese businessman, far-right…Ryōichi Sasakawa (笹川 良一, Sasakawa Ryōichi; May 4, 1899 – July 18, 1995) was a Japanese businessman, far-right politician, suspected class A war criminal, and philanthropist. In the 1930s and during the Second World War, he was active both in finance and in politics, actively supporting the Japanese war effort. He served in the House of Representatives from 1942 to 1945. After Japan's defeat he was accused of war crimes and imprisoned for a time. After his release, he found financial success in various business ventures, including motorboat-racing gambling events (Kyōtei) and ship building. He supported anti-communist activities, including the World Anti-Communist League. In 1962 he founded the Nippon Foundation and became its first chairman. The foundation has done charitable work around the world, for which it and Sasakawa have received many official honors.
