Shota Ishimine (伊志嶺 翔大, born May 12, 1988) is a professional baseball outfielder for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the…Shota Ishimine (伊志嶺 翔大, born May 12, 1988) is a professional baseball outfielder for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Pacific League in Nippon Professional Baseball. Ishimine attended Tokai University. He competed for the Japanese national baseball team in the 2010 World University Baseball Championship, being named an All-Tournament outfielder, along with Mikie Mahtook and Yoenis Céspedes.
Kenta Ishii (石井健太, Ishii Kenta; born 8 December 1987 in Shizuoka), is a Japanese former footballer who played as a…Kenta Ishii (石井健太, Ishii Kenta; born 8 December 1987 in Shizuoka), is a Japanese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He last played for Tegevajaro Miyazaki and FC Nobeoka Agata.
Yuto Otsuka (大塚 裕土, Ōtsuka Yūto; born August 23, 1987) is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Altiri…Yuto Otsuka (大塚 裕土, Ōtsuka Yūto; born August 23, 1987) is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Altiri Chiba of the B.League in Japan. He was selected by the Miyazaki Shining Suns with the third overall pick in the 2012 bj League draft. His nicknames are "Prince" in Akita and "Come on" in Toyama.
Kozue Akimoto (秋元 梢, Akimoto Kozue; born July 27, 1987, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese fashion model represented by…Kozue Akimoto (秋元 梢, Akimoto Kozue; born July 27, 1987, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese fashion model represented by LesPros entertainment. Her father was 58th yokozuna Chiyonofuji Mitsugu. Her husband is actor Shota Matsuda.
Akihiro Fukatsu (深津 旭弘, Fukatsu Akihiro; born (1987-07-23)23 July 1987) is a Japanese male volleyball player. He was…Akihiro Fukatsu (深津 旭弘, Fukatsu Akihiro; born (1987-07-23)23 July 1987) is a Japanese male volleyball player. He was part of the Japan men's national volleyball team. On club level, he plays for Tokyo Great Bears.
Yuya Hashiuchi (橋内 優也, Hashiuchi Yūya; born July 13, 1987, in Rittō, Shiga) is a Japanese footballer who plays for…Yuya Hashiuchi (橋内 優也, Hashiuchi Yūya; born July 13, 1987, in Rittō, Shiga) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Matsumoto Yamaga FC, as a centre back.
Shizuka Sugiyama (杉山 しずか, sugiyama shizuka), occasionally nicknamed Shiiyan (しぃやん) is an American-born Japanese female…Shizuka Sugiyama (杉山 しずか, sugiyama shizuka), occasionally nicknamed Shiiyan (しぃやん) is an American-born Japanese female mixed martial artist. She previously fought in the MMA promotion Jewels and now competes for Deep.
Yuki Sato (佐藤 悠基, Satō Yūki; born 26 November 1986 in Shimizu, Shizuoka) is a Japanese long-distance runner. At the…Yuki Sato (佐藤 悠基, Satō Yūki; born 26 November 1986 in Shimizu, Shizuoka) is a Japanese long-distance runner. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he competed in the Men's 5000 metres, finished 26th overall in Round 1, and thus failed to qualify for the final. He also competed in the men's 10000 metres, finishing in 22nd place.
Rin Nakai (中井 りん, also なかい りん, Nakai Rin; born October 22, 1986) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist.…Rin Nakai (中井 りん, also なかい りん, Nakai Rin; born October 22, 1986) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist. Starting her MMA career in 2006, she has participated in the organizations Pancrase, Smackgirl, Valkyrie and the UFC. Nakai has been rated amongst top ten of Women's Flyweight and Bantamweight fighters between 2006 and 2018.
Kunihiro Shimizu (清水邦広, Shimizu Kunihiro; born (1986-08-11)11 August 1986) is a Japanese former professional volleyball…Kunihiro Shimizu (清水邦広, Shimizu Kunihiro; born (1986-08-11)11 August 1986) is a Japanese former professional volleyball player who played for the Japan national team. A one-club man, he spent his entire professional career with Osaka Bluteon. He announced his retirement from the national team after finishing seventh place in 2020 Summer Olympics, total of 14 years in the team. Shimizu was crowned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in Asian Championship 2015.
Tatsuya Satoh (佐藤 達也, Satō Tatsuya; born July 26, 1986 in Ōmiya, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball…Tatsuya Satoh (佐藤 達也, Satō Tatsuya; born July 26, 1986 in Ōmiya, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.
Kyohei Iwasaki (岩崎 恭平, born April 4, 1986) is a Japanese professional baseball second baseman. Iwasaki played for…Kyohei Iwasaki (岩崎 恭平, born April 4, 1986) is a Japanese professional baseball second baseman. Iwasaki played for Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball in 2009, 2010, and 2013.
Atsushi Kobayashi (小林 敦, born February 24, 1986) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Nippon…Atsushi Kobayashi (小林 敦, born February 24, 1986) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2011.
Sahel Rosa (Japanese: サヘル・ローズ; Persian: ساحل رز, born 21 October 1985 in Iran), also sometimes known as Sahel Rose, is…Sahel Rosa (Japanese: サヘル・ローズ; Persian: ساحل رز, born 21 October 1985 in Iran), also sometimes known as Sahel Rose, is a Japanese actress of Kurdish origin, working in Japan. She was orphaned in the Iran-Iraq War at age four, and then was adopted, and later moved to Japan with her adopted mother.
Hirofumi Yamanaka (山中 浩史, Yamanaka Hirofumi; born September 9, 1985) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher. He has…Hirofumi Yamanaka (山中 浩史, Yamanaka Hirofumi; born September 9, 1985) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Tokyo Yakult Swallows. On November 2, 2020, Yamanaka announced his retirement.
Takayuki Kanamori (金森 敬之, born July 24, 1985, in Fujiidera, Osaka) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher.…Takayuki Kanamori (金森 敬之, born July 24, 1985, in Fujiidera, Osaka) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters from 2007 to 2010 and the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2013 to 2016.
Naoki Tsukahara (塚原 直貴; born 10 May 1985) is a Japanese track and field sprinter who specialises in the 100 metres. He…Naoki Tsukahara (塚原 直貴; born 10 May 1985) is a Japanese track and field sprinter who specialises in the 100 metres. He was seventh in 100 m at the 58th National Sports Festival of Japan in 2003. After coming sixth over 200 m at the 2004 Japan Student Athletics Championships, he returned two years later to place runner-up in both short sprints. The 2006 Japan Championships in Athletics saw him with the 100 m title and take third in the 200 m. Tsukahara represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing where he competed at the 100 metre sprint and placed second in his first heat after Churandy Martina in a time of 10.39 seconds. He qualified for the second round in which he improved his time to 10.23 seconds, finishing third behind Martina and Michael Frater. In the 100 m semi-finals Tsukahara achieved a time of 10.16 seconds, his best of the season, but finished in seventh place, failing to qualify for the final. Together with Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira and Nobuharu Asahara, Tsukahara also competed in the 4 × 100 metres relay final at the 2008 Summer Olympics. In their qualification heat, the team placed second behind Trinidad and Tobago, ahead of the teams from the Netherlands and Brazil. Their time of 38.52 s was the third fastest out of sixteen participating nations in the first round and they qualified for the final. There they sprinted to a time of 38.15 seconds, placing third after the Jamaican and Trinidad teams, winning the bronze medal. However, in January 2017, Jamaica's gold medal was revoked after one of their athletes was found to have been doping, meaning that the Japanese team received silver. The achievement was a historic one in terms of Japanese olympians; it is the first track medal won by Japanese athletes in 80 years, as well as being the first medal won by male Japanese athletes. Tsukahara had a strong start to the 2009 season, improving his 200 m best in early May to 20.61 s. He also set a new 100 m personal best at the 2009 Osaka Grand Prix. He easily won with a time of 10.13 seconds but still felt that he was capable of running faster.
Ryuichi Kajimae (加治前 竜一, Kajimae Ryuichi; born April 6, 1985 in Nara, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…Ryuichi Kajimae (加治前 竜一, Kajimae Ryuichi; born April 6, 1985 in Nara, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. Since becoming a professional in 2008, he has played with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League.
Joji Takeuchi (竹内 譲次、born January 29, 1985, in Suita, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese professional basketball player. He…Joji Takeuchi (竹内 譲次、born January 29, 1985, in Suita, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese professional basketball player. He plays for the Osaka Evessa of the B.League. Takeuchi also is a member of the Japan national basketball team, playing for the team in the 2006 FIBA World Championship and both the FIBA Asia Championship 2007 and FIBA Asia Championship 2009. Takeuchi's twin brother Kosuke is also a member of the Japanese national basketball team. As a 21-year-old, Takeuchi averaged 6.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for the host Japanese at the 2006 FIBA World Championship. Takeuchi has earned a bigger role with the Japanese team over the past four years; his best tournament performance to date was at the FIBA Asia Championship 2009, in which he averaged 9.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Despite his performance, Japan stumbled to a disappointing tenth-place finish, its worst ever performance in 24 FIBA Asia Championship appearances. Takeuchi played professionally with the Hitachi SunRockers of the JBL Super League. In the 2009–10 season, Takeuchi entered the month-long winter break averaging 16.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for the third-place Seahorses. He was also named to the JBL All-Star Game as the leading power forward vote-getter for the East.
Masaki Fujita (藤田 征樹, Fujita Masaki; born 17 January 1985) is a Japanese para-cyclist who competes in road and track…Masaki Fujita (藤田 征樹, Fujita Masaki; born 17 January 1985) is a Japanese para-cyclist who competes in road and track events.
Sayuri Yoshii (吉井 小百合, Yoshii Sayuri; born 28 November 1984) is a Japanese speed skater. She won silver in the 1000 m…Sayuri Yoshii (吉井 小百合, Yoshii Sayuri; born 28 November 1984) is a Japanese speed skater. She won silver in the 1000 m and bronze in the 500 m during the 2008–09 World Cup season. She competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics and placed 5th in the 500 m of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The biggest success of Sayuri Yoshii's career occurred in 2010, when she won the silver medal at the world sprint championships in Obihiro. In these competitions two others took the podium alongside her, Lee Sang-hwa of South Korea and a Jenny Wolf of Germany. This was the only medal won by Sayuri Yoshii at an international event of this magnitude. She was also fourth in women's 500 meters at the distance world championships in Inzell in 2005, where Lee Sang-hwa defeated her by only a matter of seconds. Sayuri Yoshii has, on numerous occasions, been on the podium of the World Cup, with 500 m victories on February 20, 2005 and March 3, 2006 in Heerenveen. Her top results were achieved in the 2004/2005 season, when she was fourth in the final standings on 500 m and 1000 m. In 2006, she took part in the Olympics in Turin, taking ninth place in the race for 500 m and fifteenth place in the 1000 meters. Then, four years later, the Olympics in Vancouver allowed for her best result, a fifth place at the 500 m race.
Takaaki Tomimatsu (富松 崇彰, Tomimatsu Takaaki; born (1984-07-20)20 July 1984) is a Japanese male volleyball player. He…Takaaki Tomimatsu (富松 崇彰, Tomimatsu Takaaki; born (1984-07-20)20 July 1984) is a Japanese male volleyball player. He was part of the Japan men's national volleyball team at the 2010 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship in Italy. He currently plays for Toray Arrows.
Takumi Ishizaki (石崎 巧, Ishizaki Takumi; born July 6, 1984) is a Japanese retired professional basketball player who…Takumi Ishizaki (石崎 巧, Ishizaki Takumi; born July 6, 1984) is a Japanese retired professional basketball player who formerly played for the Riesen Ludwigsburg in the German Basketball Bundesliga and BV Chemnitz 99 of the German ProA. He has been a member of the Japan national basketball team.
Norio Sassa (佐々宜央, Sassa Norio) is the former Head coach of the Utsunomiya Brex in the Japanese B.League. He spent his…Norio Sassa (佐々宜央, Sassa Norio) is the former Head coach of the Utsunomiya Brex in the Japanese B.League. He spent his childhood in America for eight years.
Shingo Utsumi (born April 28, 1984) is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Kyoto Hannaryz of…Shingo Utsumi (born April 28, 1984) is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Kyoto Hannaryz of the B.League in Japan.
Yuki Yamaguchi (山口 有希, Yamaguchi Yūki; born 22 February 1984 in Maizuru, Kyoto) is a former Japanese sprinter who…Yuki Yamaguchi (山口 有希, Yamaguchi Yūki; born 22 February 1984 in Maizuru, Kyoto) is a former Japanese sprinter who specialised in the 400 metres. His personal best time was 45.18 seconds, achieved in the 2003 National Sports Festival of Japan in Fukuroi. This is the current Japanese junior record.
Naoki Yuasa (湯浅 直樹, Yuasa Naoki; born 24 April 1983) is a World Cup alpine ski racer from Japan. Yuasa made his World…Naoki Yuasa (湯浅 直樹, Yuasa Naoki; born 24 April 1983) is a World Cup alpine ski racer from Japan. Yuasa made his World Cup debut in Shigakogen in 2003. He attained his first podium in World Cup in December 2012, a third place in slalom at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. Yuasa represented Japan at the 2006 Winter Olympics, when he finished 7th in slalom.
Takayuki Ono (尾野 貴之, Ono Takayuki; born February 11, 1983 in Tomakomai, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese ice hockey defenceman…Takayuki Ono (尾野 貴之, Ono Takayuki; born February 11, 1983 in Tomakomai, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese ice hockey defenceman for the Nikkō Ice Bucks of the Asia League Ice Hockey. Ono debuted in Asia League with HC Nikkō Ice Bucks on 2005 and spent his first four season with the club. In April 2009, Ono signed with Anyang Halla (Asia League) for a two-year deal. Ono becomes the third Japanese player in the club's history. Forwards Setaka Tetsuo (05-07’) and Sato Masakazu (07-08’) were the previous two Japanese natives, but Ono would be the first Japanese defenseman in team history. After spending 2 years with Anyang Halla, where he won his first two championships, he returned to the Nikkō Ice Bucks for the 2011-2012 season.
Tatsuro Yoshino (吉野 達郎, Yoshino Tatsurō; born 11 September 1982) is a retired Japanese sprinter. He competed in the 4 ×…Tatsuro Yoshino (吉野 達郎, Yoshino Tatsurō; born 11 September 1982) is a retired Japanese sprinter. He competed in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the 2005 World Championships finishing eighth.
Shoitsu Omatsu (大松 尚逸, born June 16, 1982, in Kanazawa, Ishikawa) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder…Shoitsu Omatsu (大松 尚逸, born June 16, 1982, in Kanazawa, Ishikawa) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played with the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2005 to 2015 and with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in 2017. He has been a coach since 2020.
Genki Imamura (今村 元気, Imamura Genki; born March 17, 1982) is a Japanese swimmer who won a bronze medal in the 200 m…Genki Imamura (今村 元気, Imamura Genki; born March 17, 1982) is a Japanese swimmer who won a bronze medal in the 200 m breaststroke at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships. He finished 11th in the same event at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Tomoki Yoshida (吉田朋生, Yoshida Tomoki; born 22 February 1982 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union footballer. He…Tomoki Yoshida (吉田朋生, Yoshida Tomoki; born 22 February 1982 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union footballer. He plays as a scrum-half. He plays for the Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan's Top League. He had 25 caps for Japan, from 2007 to 2011, scoring 2 tries, 10 points on aggregate. He was called for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, playing in three games but without scoring. He played again for his country at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, in a single game, once again remaining scoreless.
Yusuke Kawasaki (川崎 雄介, Kawasaki Yūsuke) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He was born on February 17, 1982…Yusuke Kawasaki (川崎 雄介, Kawasaki Yūsuke) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He was born on February 17, 1982, in Miyazaki, Japan. He is currently playing for the Saitama Seibu Lions of the NPB.
Hisashi Miyazaki (宮崎 久, Miyazaki Hisashi; born 19 March 1981 in Unzen) is a Japanese retired bobsledder and track and…Hisashi Miyazaki (宮崎 久, Miyazaki Hisashi; born 19 March 1981 in Unzen) is a Japanese retired bobsledder and track and field sprinter.
Naoyuki Daigo (醍醐 直幸, Daigo Naoyuki; born 18 January 1981 in Tokyo) is a retired male high jumper from Japan. His…Naoyuki Daigo (醍醐 直幸, Daigo Naoyuki; born 18 January 1981 in Tokyo) is a retired male high jumper from Japan. His personal best jump is 2.33 metres, achieved in July 2006 in Kobe. This was the Japanese record until February 2019, when Naoto Tobe broke it by two centimetres.
Daito Takahashi (高橋 大斗, Takahashi Daito) (born December 16, 1980) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who has competed…Daito Takahashi (高橋 大斗, Takahashi Daito) (born December 16, 1980) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who has competed since 2000. Competing in three Winter Olympics, he earned his best finish of sixth twice (7.5 km sprint event: 2002, 4 x 5 km team: 2006). Takahashi's best finish at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships was tenth twice (2003: 15 km individual, 2005: 7.5 km sprint). At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2007 in Sapporo, Takahashi was involved in a serious crash during the ski jumping part of the 7.5 km sprint that resulted in him being sent to the hospital and not competing for the rest of the championships. He has two individual victories in his career, both earned the same weekend in Finland in 2004 (7.5 km sprint, 15 km individual).
Masato Kobayashi (小林 正人, Kobayashi Masato; born August 21, 1980 in Tsumagoi, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese former…Masato Kobayashi (小林 正人, Kobayashi Masato; born August 21, 1980 in Tsumagoi, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. Kobayashi played for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball from 2005 to 2014. He is currently a development coach for the Chunichi Dragons farm team.
Shingo Suetsugu (末續 慎吾, Suetsugu Shingo; born 2 June 1980 in Kumamoto) is a Japanese sprinter. He is a former Asian…Shingo Suetsugu (末續 慎吾, Suetsugu Shingo; born 2 June 1980 in Kumamoto) is a Japanese sprinter. He is a former Asian record holder in the 200 metres and 4×100 metres relay.
Ryo Saito (斎藤 了, Saitō Ryō) (born August 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestling personality and semi-retired…Ryo Saito (斎藤 了, Saitō Ryō) (born August 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestling personality and semi-retired professional wrestler primarily working in Dragongate, where he is their general manager. He is a former member of numerous stables within Dragongate as both a heel and a face, including Jimmyz (where he adopted "Jimmy" as a nickname), Real Hazard and Blood WARRIORS; he served as the second leader of Do FIXER (replacing Magnum TOKYO) from 2004 until its dissolution in February 2007. His name is sometimes abbreviated as SaiRyo, so as not to confuse him with Yoshiyuki Saito, who primarily wrestles as Super Shisa.
Toshiyuki Fujimoto (藤本 俊之, Fujimoto Toshiyuki; born 25 June 1979 in Hyogo Prefecture) is a Japanese sprinter who…Toshiyuki Fujimoto (藤本 俊之, Fujimoto Toshiyuki; born 25 June 1979 in Hyogo Prefecture) is a Japanese sprinter who specialized in the 200 metres. He finished fourth in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the 2001 World Championships, together with teammates Ryo Matsuda, Shingo Suetsugu and Nobuharu Asahara.
Kazuya Hiraide (平出和也, Hiraide Kazuya; May 25, 1979 – July 27, 2024) was a Japanese ski mountaineer, Alpine climber, and…Kazuya Hiraide (平出和也, Hiraide Kazuya; May 25, 1979 – July 27, 2024) was a Japanese ski mountaineer, Alpine climber, and professional mountain cameraman. Hiraide won the Piolet d'Or mountaineering award on four occasions.
Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryūsuke; born April 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New…Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryūsuke; born April 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). He also makes appearances for DDT Pro Wrestling (DDT), where he is the current DDT Universal Champion in his first reign. Pursuing several sports in high school, Taguchi competed in 76 kg (168 lb) class amateur wrestling in college before entering the NJPW Dojo in March 2002 and debuting in November of that year at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, wrestling in New Japan's famous junior heavyweight division. Taguchi's best known gimmick is akin to a disco dancer, often sporting a short afro and colorful, flamboyant attire and celebrating victories with a post-match dance, encouraging his partners to join in during tag team matches. This earned Taguchi the nickname "Funky Weapon".