Keiichi Hirano (平野 恵一, born April 7, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and current manager for…Keiichi Hirano (平野 恵一, born April 7, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and current manager for the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes and Hanshin Tigers from 2002 to 2015.
Daisuke Usami (宇佐美 大輔, Usami Daisuke; born March 29, 1979) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. He played as a…Daisuke Usami (宇佐美 大輔, Usami Daisuke; born March 29, 1979) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. He played as a setter and was one of the key players in the Japan men's national volleyball team in the 2000s. Usami was named Most Spectacular Player at the 2003 FIVB World Cup, where Japan ended in ninth place.
Aki Tonoike (外ノ池 亜希, Tonoike Aki; born 3 March 1979) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1998, 2002 and the…Aki Tonoike (外ノ池 亜希, Tonoike Aki; born 3 March 1979) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1998, 2002 and the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Kosei Inoue (井上 康生, Inoue Kōsei; born 15 May 1978) is a Japanese judoka. He won the gold medal in the under 100 kg…Kosei Inoue (井上 康生, Inoue Kōsei; born 15 May 1978) is a Japanese judoka. He won the gold medal in the under 100 kg class at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He is well known for his specialty throws, Uchi Mata (内股, inner thigh throw) and Ōuchi gari (大内刈, major inner reap). He is considered by the Judo community as one of the best competitive judoka. His notable accomplishments include three golds at the World Championships and All Japan Championships (one of four Judokas who have accomplished this). His older brother, Tomokazu Inoue is also judoka and former Asian champion. He is affiliated with Sohgo Security Services (Alsok), a security firm.
Shūhei Izumi (和泉 宗兵, Izumi Shūhei; born October 11, 1977, in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor…Shūhei Izumi (和泉 宗兵, Izumi Shūhei; born October 11, 1977, in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor who has appeared in a number of television series and stage plays. He is affiliated with Seinenza Theater Company. His real name and former stage name was Tomohide Koizumi (小泉 朋英, Koizumi Tomohide). His nickname was Dehi (デヒ). He graduated from Tokai University.
Akihiro Nakamura (中村 彰宏, Nakamura Akihiro; born August 23, 1977) is a retired Japanese football player who last play…Akihiro Nakamura (中村 彰宏, Nakamura Akihiro; born August 23, 1977) is a retired Japanese football player who last play for Singapore National Football League club, Eunos Crescent.
Hiroki Hajikano (初鹿野裕樹, Hajikano Hiroki, also known as Hiroki Hatsukano) is a Japanese politician and former Tokyo…Hiroki Hajikano (初鹿野裕樹, Hajikano Hiroki, also known as Hiroki Hatsukano) is a Japanese politician and former Tokyo Metropolitan Police officer. He is a member of the House of Councillors representing the Kanagawa at-large district, elected in 2025 as a candidate of Sanseito, a right-wing party.
Daisuke Sudo (須藤 大輔, Sudō Daisuke; born April 25, 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player…Daisuke Sudo (須藤 大輔, Sudō Daisuke; born April 25, 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player, who is manager of J2 League club Yokohama FC.
Ryota Aikawa (相川 良太, Aikawa Ryōta; born January 18, 1977 in Fukuoka City, Japan) is a professional Nippon Professional…Ryota Aikawa (相川 良太, Aikawa Ryōta; born January 18, 1977 in Fukuoka City, Japan) is a professional Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Orix Buffaloes.
Katsuhiro Shiratori (白鳥 勝浩, Shiratori Katsuhiro) (born October 29, 1976) is a beach volleyball player from Japan. He…Katsuhiro Shiratori (白鳥 勝浩, Shiratori Katsuhiro) (born October 29, 1976) is a beach volleyball player from Japan. He represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics with teammate Kentaro Asahi. He also participated in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Yugo Tsukita (附田雄剛, Tsukita Yūgo; born July 18, 1976 in Ishikari) is a Japanese freestyle skier, specializing in…Yugo Tsukita (附田雄剛, Tsukita Yūgo; born July 18, 1976 in Ishikari) is a Japanese freestyle skier, specializing in moguls. Tsukita competed at the 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics for Japan. His best performance came in 2002, when he qualified for the moguls final, finishing 16th. He also advanced to the final in 2010, finishing 17th. In 1998, he finished 18th in the qualifying round, and did not advance. In 2006, he finished 33rd in the qualifying round, and did not advance. As of February 2013, he has won one medal at the World Championships, a silver in the 2003 dual moguls event. Tsukita made his World Cup debut in January 1995. As of February 2013, he has won one World Cup event, a Dual Moguls competition at Madarao in 1999/00. Altogether, he has eleven World Cup medals, his first coming at Blackcomb in 1996/97. His best World Cup finish is 10th, in 2008/09.
Masayoshi Yokoyama (横山 昌義 Yokoyama Masayoshi, born June 30, 1976) is a Japanese game producer, director and writer for…Masayoshi Yokoyama (横山 昌義 Yokoyama Masayoshi, born June 30, 1976) is a Japanese game producer, director and writer for Sega, more specifically Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, a studio within Sega Development Division 1, where he's been the head of the division and studio since 2021. He is mainly known for his work on the Yakuza series, where he has been working since the very beginning as a writer, and later on as a producer.
Tomu Tanigawa (谷川とむ, Tanigawa Tomu; born 27 April 1976) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of…Tomu Tanigawa (谷川とむ, Tanigawa Tomu; born 27 April 1976) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2026, having previously served from 2014 to 2024. He is the son of Shuzen Tanigawa.
Hiroomi Fujita (藤田 博臣, Fujita Hiroomi; born 23 February 1976) is a Japanese judoka. Fujita is from Goshogawara, Aomori.…Hiroomi Fujita (藤田 博臣, Fujita Hiroomi; born 23 February 1976) is a Japanese judoka. Fujita is from Goshogawara, Aomori. He began judo at the junior high school days and won gold medal at World Junior Championships in 1994, World University Championships in 1996, East Asian Games in 1997, and so on. After graduation from Tokai University, He belonged to Asahi Kasei. Fujita retired in 2000.
Masatsugu Nakazawa (中澤 公胤, Nakazawa Masatsugu; born October 8, 1975), better known by the ring name Michael Nakazawa…Masatsugu Nakazawa (中澤 公胤, Nakazawa Masatsugu; born October 8, 1975), better known by the ring name Michael Nakazawa (中澤マイケル, Nakazawa Maikeru), is a Japanese professional wrestler and judoka signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Hidetsugu Shibata (柴田 英嗣, Shibata Hidetsugu; born 15 July 1975) is a Japanese comedian. Shibata was born in Shimizu-ku…Hidetsugu Shibata (柴田 英嗣, Shibata Hidetsugu; born 15 July 1975) is a Japanese comedian. Shibata was born in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture. He is a third grader at School JCA, a talent training school for Jinrikisha.
Shuhei Terada (寺田 周平, Terada Shuhei; born June 23, 1975) is a Japanese football manager and former player who is the…Shuhei Terada (寺田 周平, Terada Shuhei; born June 23, 1975) is a Japanese football manager and former player who is the current manager of J3 League club, Fukushima United.
Koichiro Katafuchi (片渕 浩一郎, Katafuchi Koichiro; born April 29, 1975) is a former Japanese football player and manager…Koichiro Katafuchi (片渕 浩一郎, Katafuchi Koichiro; born April 29, 1975) is a former Japanese football player and manager he is the current assistant manager of Sagan Tosu.
Eiichiro Oda (Japanese: 尾田 栄一郎, Hepburn: Oda Eiichirō; born January 1, 1975) is a Japanese manga artist and the creator…Eiichiro Oda (Japanese: 尾田 栄一郎, Hepburn: Oda Eiichirō; born January 1, 1975) is a Japanese manga artist and the creator of the series One Piece, the best-selling manga in history and the best-selling comic series printed in volume. With more than 600 million tankōbon copies of One Piece in circulation worldwide, Oda is one of the best-selling fiction authors. The series' popularity resulted in Oda being named one of the artists who changed the history of manga.
Manabu Satake (佐竹 学, Satake Manabu; born October 27, 1974) is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He was…Manabu Satake (佐竹 学, Satake Manabu; born October 27, 1974) is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He was the number 4 draft pick for the Orix BlueWave in 1997.
Teruyoshi Ito (伊東 輝悦, Itō Teruyoshi; born 31 August 1974) is a former Japanese professional footballer who played as a…Teruyoshi Ito (伊東 輝悦, Itō Teruyoshi; born 31 August 1974) is a former Japanese professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Tōki Susumu (born July 4, 1974 as Jun Tamaki) is a former sumo wrestler from Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His…Tōki Susumu (born July 4, 1974 as Jun Tamaki) is a former sumo wrestler from Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. He wrestled for Takasago stable and was a sumo coach at two other stables until his retirement in 2023.
Tatsuma Yoshida (吉田 達磨, Yoshida Tatsuma; born 9 June 1974) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He was…Tatsuma Yoshida (吉田 達磨, Yoshida Tatsuma; born 9 June 1974) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He was previously the head coach of the Singapore national team, serving from 2019 to 2021 which he was famously known in the country for enhancing Singapore fluidity football. As a player, Tatsuma spent the majority of his career with Montedio Yamagata.
Shin Nakamura (中村 伸, Nakamura Shin; born May 6, 1974) is a former Japanese football player. He is the current manager…Shin Nakamura (中村 伸, Nakamura Shin; born May 6, 1974) is a former Japanese football player. He is the current manager of WE League club of Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina.
Kazuhiko Tokuno (徳野 和彦, Tokuno Kazuhiko; born 1 May 1974) is a Japanese judoka. He is the current trainer of the…Kazuhiko Tokuno (徳野 和彦, Tokuno Kazuhiko; born 1 May 1974) is a Japanese judoka. He is the current trainer of the Turkmenistan National Judo team. Tokuno was born in Iyo, Ehime, and began judo at the age of 6. He entered the Kanagawa Prefectural Police after graduating from Tokai University. Tokuno was good at Seoinage and got medals of world championships twice. He was also known as a rival of three-time Olympic champion Tadahiro Nomura for long time. As of 2010, Tokuno coaches judo at Komatsu Limited and among his students are Mika Sugimoto, Ayumi Tanimoto, and Mina Watanabe. Since 2023 Tokuno has been coaching the Turkmenistan judo team.
Masao Morinaka (森中 聖雄, born April 9, 1974) is a former professional baseball player who played for the Yokohama…Masao Morinaka (森中 聖雄, born April 9, 1974) is a former professional baseball player who played for the Yokohama BayStars. He currently works as a batting pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants organization. Morinaka was drafted by the Yokohama BayStars in the second round of the 1996 amateur draft. He was a valuable left-handed reliever, but was dropped after only 7 seasons in 2003. He marked a 2.16 ERA in 41 appearances in 1999, and a 2.38 ERA in 53 appearances in 2000. He hit a home run at the Koshien baseball stadium in his final season. He won a silver medal playing for the Japanese national team in the 1996 Summer Olympics before entering the Japanese professional leagues.
Toranosuke "Tora" Takagi (高木 虎之介; born 12 February 1974) is a Japanese former racing driver, having notably competed in…Toranosuke "Tora" Takagi (高木 虎之介; born 12 February 1974) is a Japanese former racing driver, having notably competed in Formula One from 1998 to 1999 for Tyrrell and Arrows, having served as test driver for the former in 1997. Outside of Formula One, Takagi won the 2005 Super GT series in the GT500 class alongside Yuji Tachikawa, and the 2000 Formula Nippon Championship.
Kenzo Nakamura (中村兼三, Nakamura Kenzō; born 18 October 1973) is a retired judoka who won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer…Kenzo Nakamura (中村兼三, Nakamura Kenzō; born 18 October 1973) is a retired judoka who won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He is the younger brother of 1993 World Judo Championships gold medalist Yoshio Nakamura and 1996 Olympic silver medalist Yukimasa Nakamura.
Toshihiro Hattori (服部 年宏, Hattori Toshihiro; born 23 September 1973) is a Japanese professional manager and former…Toshihiro Hattori (服部 年宏, Hattori Toshihiro; born 23 September 1973) is a Japanese professional manager and former footballer who played as a midfielder or defender. He last played for the Japan national team until 2003. He last manager of FC Imabari for 2024 season.
Yū Suzunoki (Japanese: 鈴ノ木ユウ, Hepburn: Suzunoki Yū; born September 4, 1973 in Kōfu, Yamanashi, Japan) is a Japanese…Yū Suzunoki (Japanese: 鈴ノ木ユウ, Hepburn: Suzunoki Yū; born September 4, 1973 in Kōfu, Yamanashi, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist and singer-songwriter. His real name is Yūki Suzunoki (鈴木祐樹, Suzunoki Yūki). He is married to singer Reina Hayashi—a member of Mimizuguzu—and lives in Nakano, Tokyo. He won the 2016 Kodansha Manga Award for his manga Kōnodori.
Takashi Yoshida (吉田 敬, Yoshida Takashi; born 27 June 1973, in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture) is a Japanese comedian who…Takashi Yoshida (吉田 敬, Yoshida Takashi; born 27 June 1973, in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture) is a Japanese comedian who performs boke in the comedy duo Black Mayonnaise. His standing position is in the right. His partner is Ryuichi Kosugi. He is represented with Yoshimoto Kogyo.
Tomoo Torii (鳥居 智男, Torii Tomio) (born May 20, 1973) is a Japanese judoka. He won Asian silver medal in the…Tomoo Torii (鳥居 智男, Torii Tomio) (born May 20, 1973) is a Japanese judoka. He won Asian silver medal in the half-lightweight division in 1996 Asian Judo Championships. In November 2012 Torii took 5th in the World Sambo Championships in Minsk.
Nobutaka Hirano (born December 5, 1972) is a former volleyball player from Ama, Aichi, Japan, who played for the Men's…Nobutaka Hirano (born December 5, 1972) is a former volleyball player from Ama, Aichi, Japan, who played for the Men's National Team in the 1990s. Nicknamed Heita he ended up in sixteenth place at the 1998 World Championship.
Keiji Kaimoto (海本 慶治, Kaimoto Keiji; born November 26, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Keiji Kaimoto (海本 慶治, Kaimoto Keiji; born November 26, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team. His younger brother Kojiro Kaimoto is also a former footballer.
Yukimasa Nakamura (中村 行成, Nakamura Yukimasa; born 28 August 1972) is a Japanese judoka, Olympic medalist and world…Yukimasa Nakamura (中村 行成, Nakamura Yukimasa; born 28 August 1972) is a Japanese judoka, Olympic medalist and world champion. His older brother, Yoshio Nakamura and younger brother, Kenzo Nakamura are also former world champions. He is from Fukuoka, Fukuoka. After graduation from Tokai University, He belonged to Asahi Kasei. He received a silver medal in the half lightweight (65 kg) division at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He is world champion from 1993, and received a silver medal at the 1995 World Championships. As of 2008, He coaches judo at Asahi Kasei with his brothers. Among their pupil are world champion Hiroshi Izumi, Masato Uchishiba and so on.
Noriaki Kasai (葛西 紀明, Kasai Noriaki; born 6 June 1972) is a Japanese ski jumper. His career achievements include a gold…Noriaki Kasai (葛西 紀明, Kasai Noriaki; born 6 June 1972) is a Japanese ski jumper. His career achievements include a gold medal at the 1992 Ski Flying World Championships, winning the 1999 Nordic Tournament, individual silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics, and two individual bronze medals at the 2003 Ski Jumping World Championships. During his career, Kasai has broken numerous ski jumping records. In 2016, he was honoured with two Guinness World Records certificates for the most individual World Cup starts, not only in ski jumping, but in all World Cup disciplines organized by the International Ski Federation. At World Cup level, Kasai competed for a total of 35 seasons between 1988–89 and 2025–26.
Hiroaki Morishima (森島 寛晃, Morishima Hiroaki; born April 30, 1972) is a Japanese former professional footballer who…Hiroaki Morishima (森島 寛晃, Morishima Hiroaki; born April 30, 1972) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He currently is the president for Cerezo Osaka.
Yone Kamio (神尾 米, Kamio Yone; born November 22, 1971 in Yokohama) is a retired Japanese tennis player who competed on…Yone Kamio (神尾 米, Kamio Yone; born November 22, 1971 in Yokohama) is a retired Japanese tennis player who competed on the WTA Tour. She attained a career-best ranking of #24 in the world in October 1995. That year, she reached the third round of the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.
Chisato (千聖; stylized in all caps) (born on August 4, 1971) is a Japanese guitarist and singer. Originally known for…Chisato (千聖; stylized in all caps) (born on August 4, 1971) is a Japanese guitarist and singer. Originally known for being the guitarist of visual kei band Penicillin since 1992, in 1996 he started a solo career that has been successful in Japan. In 2003, he founded the solo project Crack6.
Kazuaki Tasaka (田坂 和昭, Tasaka Kazuaki; born August 3, 1971) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He last…Kazuaki Tasaka (田坂 和昭, Tasaka Kazuaki; born August 3, 1971) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He last played for Japan national team until 1999. He manager of Giravanz Kitakyushu from 2023.
Shigeru Toyama (藤山 茂, Tōyama Shigetu; born December 3, 1970) is a Japanese judoka. He was born in Ōbu, Aichi, and began…Shigeru Toyama (藤山 茂, Tōyama Shigetu; born December 3, 1970) is a Japanese judoka. He was born in Ōbu, Aichi, and began judo at the age of a first grader. After graduating from Tokai University, He entered the Sohgo Security Services. He won a gold medal at the -71 kg category of the Asian Championships in 1993 and silver medal at Asian Games in 1994. . Toyama retired in 1996 and as of 2009, Toyama coaches judo at his alma mater, Doho high school, where he previously studied as an undergraduate.