Yukinori Suzuki (鈴木裕紀, Suzuki Yukinori) is a Japanese professional basketball coach and former player, currently…Yukinori Suzuki (鈴木裕紀, Suzuki Yukinori) is a Japanese professional basketball coach and former player, currently serving as the head coach for the Iwate Big Bulls of the B.League. Prior to Iwate, he coached the Shimane Susanoo Magic. Suzuki played college basketball for Nippon Sport Science University. He was selected by the Oita Heat Devils with the 10th pick in the 2005 bj league draft.
Satsuki Obata (小幡さつき, Obata Satsuki; born 24 May 1977) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in four events at the 1996…Satsuki Obata (小幡さつき, Obata Satsuki; born 24 May 1977) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed in four events at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Kentaro Minagawa (皆川 賢太郎, Minagawa Kentarō; born May 17, 1977) is a Japanese alpine skier. His first international…Kentaro Minagawa (皆川 賢太郎, Minagawa Kentarō; born May 17, 1977) is a Japanese alpine skier. His first international successes were at the 1996 Junior World Championships in Schwyz, with a 5th rank in Slalom, and a 9th rank in Giant slalom. Since the 1997 Alpine Skiing World Cup he has been participating regularly in World Cup races, nine times ranking in the top ten. Shortly before the 2006 Winter Olympics he ranked 4th in Wengen, Switzerland. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy he also ranked 4th, the best result of a Japanese skier since Chiharu Igaya's silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics. In June 2009, he married Japanese popular freestyle skier, Aiko Uemura.
Satoko Shinashi (しなし さとこ, Shinashi Satoko; legal name 尻無 智子, born January 29, 1977) is a female Japanese mixed martial…Satoko Shinashi (しなし さとこ, Shinashi Satoko; legal name 尻無 智子, born January 29, 1977) is a female Japanese mixed martial artist. She is a former DEEP Flyweight champion and former Smackgirl Flyweight champion. She is tied second for the most bouts among women and is considered as one of the pioneers of women's mixed martial arts.
Yoshihiro Murakami (村上 佳宏, Murakami Yoshihiro; born November 28, 1976, in Shizuoka) is a Japanese modern pentathlete.…Yoshihiro Murakami (村上 佳宏, Murakami Yoshihiro; born November 28, 1976, in Shizuoka) is a Japanese modern pentathlete. Murakami represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he finished thirty-first in the men's event, with a score of 4,744 points.
Juri Takayama (高山 樹里, Takayama Juri; born October 21, 1976) is a Japanese softball player who played as a pitcher…Juri Takayama (高山 樹里, Takayama Juri; born October 21, 1976) is a Japanese softball player who played as a pitcher between 1996 and 2004 in the Olympic Games. She won two medals for Japan.
Chieko Sugawara (Japanese: 菅原 千恵子; born 15 August 1976) is a Japanese fencer. She represented Japan and competed in the…Chieko Sugawara (Japanese: 菅原 千恵子; born 15 August 1976) is a Japanese fencer. She represented Japan and competed in the women's individual foil events at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
Akihiro Kasamatsu (笠松 昭宏, Kasamatsu Akihiro; born 22 July 1976) is a Japanese gymnast. In the 1998 Asian Games, he won…Akihiro Kasamatsu (笠松 昭宏, Kasamatsu Akihiro; born 22 July 1976) is a Japanese gymnast. In the 1998 Asian Games, he won a bronze medal in the team event. He competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Miho Ninomiya (二宮 美穂, Ninomiya Miho; born August 22, 1975 in Kikuchi District, Kumamoto) is a female Japanese judoka.…Miho Ninomiya (二宮 美穂, Ninomiya Miho; born August 22, 1975 in Kikuchi District, Kumamoto) is a female Japanese judoka. She started Judo at the age of 14. She won All-Japan judo championships 2 times（1997–1998. She has also won silver and bronze medals at the 1997 and 1999 World Judo Championships. However, she was defeated at the Olympic trials so she could not participate in the 2000 Olympics.
Chikara Tanabe (田南部 力, Tanabe Chikara; born April 20, 1975) is a Japanese wrestler who competed in the Men's Freestyle…Chikara Tanabe (田南部 力, Tanabe Chikara; born April 20, 1975) is a Japanese wrestler who competed in the Men's Freestyle 55 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the bronze medal.
Yoko Hunnicutt, née Ota (born 14 January 1975 in Amagasaki, Hyōgo and raised in Kamakura, Kanagawa) is a Japanese high…Yoko Hunnicutt, née Ota (born 14 January 1975 in Amagasaki, Hyōgo and raised in Kamakura, Kanagawa) is a Japanese high jumper. Her personal best jump is 1.95 metres, achieved in July 2002 in Sapporo. She finished fifth at the 1992 World Junior Championships and eleventh at the 2000 Olympics. At the regional level she won the 1991 Asian Championships and the 1998 Asian Games and finished second at the 1998 Asian Championships.
Fumiaki Kobayashi (小林 史明, Kobayashi Fumiaki; born 10 December 1974) is a pole vaulter from Japan. His personal best…Fumiaki Kobayashi (小林 史明, Kobayashi Fumiaki; born 10 December 1974) is a pole vaulter from Japan. His personal best jump is 5.71 metres, achieved in July 2002 in Ichihara.
Hiroyuki Noake (born 24 August 1974) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics and the 2002…Hiroyuki Noake (born 24 August 1974) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics and the 2002 Winter Olympics. He participated in the 1,000 metres and the 1,500 metres team events in the 2002 Games and in the 1,000 metres, the 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres in the 1998 Games.
Takashi Uchiyama (内山隆, Uchiyama Takashi; born 18 August 1974) is a Japanese gymnast. He competed at the 1996 Summer…Takashi Uchiyama (内山隆, Uchiyama Takashi; born 18 August 1974) is a Japanese gymnast. He competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Hitomi Akano (赤野 仁美, Akano Hitomi; born 27 July 1974) is a retired Japanese female mixed martial artist. She announced…Hitomi Akano (赤野 仁美, Akano Hitomi; born 27 July 1974) is a retired Japanese female mixed martial artist. She announced her formal retirement from MMA on 1 August 2013. Akano used a song she penned herself called "Between the Sky" as her entrance music. She is a former Smackgirl Middleweight Champion at 128 pounds (58 kg).
Yasunori Watanabe (渡辺泰憲, Watanabe Yasunori) (2 July 1974 – 3 April 2010) was a Japanese rugby player, who played for…Yasunori Watanabe (渡辺泰憲, Watanabe Yasunori) (2 July 1974 – 3 April 2010) was a Japanese rugby player, who played for Japan in three Rugby World Cups from 1999 to 2007.
Masahide "Masa" Kobayashi (小林 雅英, Kobayashi Masahide; born May 24, 1974 in Ōtsuki, Yamanashi, Japan) is a former…Masahide "Masa" Kobayashi (小林 雅英, Kobayashi Masahide; born May 24, 1974 in Ōtsuki, Yamanashi, Japan) is a former professional baseball pitcher and pitching coach. From 1997 to 2007, Kobayashi played in the Nippon Professional Baseball league for the Chiba Lotte Marines. From 2008 to 2009, he played for Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians. He was a member of the Japanese Olympic baseball team for the 2004 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal. Kobayashi led the Pacific League in saves in 2005, with 29. He earned his 200th career save in 2006, becoming the third player in Japanese baseball to reach the mark, after Kazuhiro Sasaki and Shingo Takatsu. In 2007, his final season with the Marines, Kobayashi finished 2–7 with 27 saves and a 3.61 ERA in 49 relief appearances. He became the only Japanese professional pitcher to record 20 or more saves seven straight years. On November 2, 2007, Kobayashi declared free agency and expressed his interest in playing for a major league club for the 2008 season. On November 20, Kobayashi signed a two-year, $6.25 million deal with the Cleveland Indians. The deal included a $3.25 million club option for a third year. During the 2008 season, Kobayashi had an average season, going 4–5 with six saves and a 4.53 ERA in 57 relief appearances. He had a 3.05 ERA in the first half, but regressed in the second half, posting a 10.32 ERA in 15 games after the All-Star break. In 2009, Kobayashi made 10 appearances (9+2⁄3 innings) with no decisions or saves, and an ERA of 8.38. On May 16, he was removed from Cleveland's 40-man roster. He later cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. He was released on July 18, 2009. Kobayashi signed a one-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants for the 2009 season. He made 16 appearances with the Giants, posting a 2.25 ERA. He later joined the Orix Buffaloes for the 2011 season.
Daisuke Nakata (中田 大輔, Nakata Daisuke; born March 2, 1974 in Mikawa, Ishikawa, Japan) is a trampoline gymnast who…Daisuke Nakata (中田 大輔, Nakata Daisuke; born March 2, 1974 in Mikawa, Ishikawa, Japan) is a trampoline gymnast who competed for Japan in the 2000 Summer Olympics. Daisuke also performs on SASUKE (known in America as Ninja Warrior), where he is one of the most well-known competitors. On the trampoline, Nakata can jump as high as 26 feet.
Rumina Sato (佐藤 ルミナ, Satō Rumina; born December 29, 1973) (Japanese pronunciation: [satoː ɾɯmina], kanji for given…Rumina Sato (佐藤 ルミナ, Satō Rumina; born December 29, 1973) (Japanese pronunciation: [satoː ɾɯmina], kanji for given name: 留美奈) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist, famous for his career in the Shooto organization. In the past he fought mostly in the 155 lb division, but he moved down to the 145 lb division.
Katsuhiko Nagata (Japanese: 尾形克彦, Nagata Katsuhiko; born on October 31, 1973, in Tōgane, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese…Katsuhiko Nagata (Japanese: 尾形克彦, Nagata Katsuhiko; born on October 31, 1973, in Tōgane, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese wrestler and mixed martial arts, who won the silver medal in the 69 kg Greco-Roman wrestling event at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He is also the brother of professional wrestler Yuji Nagata, who works for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
Shuichi Mase (間瀬 秀一, Mase Shūichi; born October 22, 1973) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He…Shuichi Mase (間瀬 秀一, Mase Shūichi; born October 22, 1973) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He currently manager of Japan Football League club, Veertien Mie.
Nobuharu Saito (齋藤 信治, Saitō Nobuharu; born 29 September 1973) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in the…Nobuharu Saito (齋藤 信治, Saitō Nobuharu; born 29 September 1973) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Hiroyuki Tanuma (田沼 広之, Tanuma Hiroyuki; born 24 May 1973 in Kanagawa) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He…Hiroyuki Tanuma (田沼 広之, Tanuma Hiroyuki; born 24 May 1973 in Kanagawa) is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as lock.
Tatsuo Kawai (川合 達夫, Kawai Tatsuo; born 2 May 1973) is a Japanese wrestler. He competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics and…Tatsuo Kawai (川合 達夫, Kawai Tatsuo; born 2 May 1973) is a Japanese wrestler. He competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Yasuyuki Yamauchi (山内 泰幸, Yamauchi Yasuyuki; born March 16, 1973, in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan) is a…Yasuyuki Yamauchi (山内 泰幸, Yamauchi Yasuyuki; born March 16, 1973, in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player.
Yoshiaki Hatakeda (畠田 好章, Hatakeda Yoshiaki; born 12 May 1972) is a Japanese former gymnast who competed in the 1992…Yoshiaki Hatakeda (畠田 好章, Hatakeda Yoshiaki; born 12 May 1972) is a Japanese former gymnast who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics and in the 1996 Summer Olympics. He is the father of Hitomi Hatakeda and Chiaki Hatakeda, members of Japan's women's national team and candidates for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Megumi Sakata (坂田 恵, Sakata Megumi; born 18 October 1971) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan…Megumi Sakata (坂田 恵, Sakata Megumi; born 18 October 1971) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Takamitsu Katayama (片山 貴光, Katayama Takamitsu; born 21 September 1971) is a Japanese former amateur Greco-Roman…Takamitsu Katayama (片山 貴光, Katayama Takamitsu; born 21 September 1971) is a Japanese former amateur Greco-Roman wrestler, who competed in the men's middleweight category. Katayama wrestled for the Japanese squad in two editions of the Summer Olympics (1996 and 2000), finishing eighth in Atlanta and seventeenth in Sydney, respectively. Outside the Games, Katayama produced a career tally of seven medals in a major international competition, two of which were awarded at the Asian Games (1994 and 1998). Katayama was also a member of the national wrestling squad under coach and three-time Olympian Yasutoshi Moriyama, while training full time at the Sports Club of Self-Defense Forces in Saitama Prefecture. Katayama came to prominence in international wrestling, when his country Japan hosted the 1994 Asian Games held in Hiroshima. There, he rounded off the podium with a bronze over Iranian wrestler and 1992 Olympian Ahad Javansalehi in the 74-kg division. At his maiden Olympics in Atlanta 1996, Katayama started the competition in the men's welterweight category (74 kg) with a powerful 13–2 triumph over Algeria's Youcef Bouguerra, before falling behind Finland's eventual silver medalist Marko Asell in his next bout by a 2–4 verdict. Facing German opponent Erik Hahn on the losers' circle, Katayama could not hold him tightly on the mat and lost the match 2–5. Originally placed tenth, Katayama upgraded his position to eighth, as two other wrestlers decided to forfeit the final consolation round. Katayama reached the peak of his wrestling career by winning the gold medal at the 1997 Asian Championships in Tehran, Iran. When he entered the 1998 Asian Games with the best chance to top the podium in the 76 kg category, Katayama narrowly missed a single point to subdue his Kazakh opponent Bakhtiyar Baiseitov (4–5) for gold in the final match, ending his second Asiad with a silver. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Katayama qualified for his second Japanese team in the men's middleweight division (76 kg) by placing seventh and securing a berth at the third Olympic Qualification Tournament in Alexandria, Egypt. Unlike his previous Games, Katayama lost his opening match 0–4 to the eventual champion Murat Kardanov of Russia and could not rally for points to break a 2–2 draw against Hungary's Tamás Berzicza upon the referee's decision, dropping him to the bottom of the prelim pool and seventeenth overall in the final standings. Shortly after the Games, Katayama retired from competitive wrestling to serve in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
Mie Uehara (上原 三枝, Uehara Mie; born 1 July 1971) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics…Mie Uehara (上原 三枝, Uehara Mie; born 1 July 1971) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics and the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Toshiyuki Notomi (納富 俊行, Nōtomi Toshiyuki; born 15 June 1971) is a Japanese weightlifter. He competed in the men's…Toshiyuki Notomi (納富 俊行, Nōtomi Toshiyuki; born 15 June 1971) is a Japanese weightlifter. He competed in the men's flyweight event at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Masayuki Izumikawa (泉川 正幸, Izumikawa Masayuki) (born 22 January 1971) is a Japanese former volleyball player who…Masayuki Izumikawa (泉川 正幸, Izumikawa Masayuki) (born 22 January 1971) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He also competed in the Summer Universiade in 1993 as the main outside hitter of his national squad, winning a gold medal.
Masako Asada (浅田雅子, Asada Masako; born 8 January 1971) is a Japanese diver. She competed in two events at the 1988…Masako Asada (浅田雅子, Asada Masako; born 8 January 1971) is a Japanese diver. She competed in two events at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Yutaka Aihara (相原 豊, Aihara Yutaka; born 18 December 1970) is a Japanese former gymnast who competed in the 1992 Summer…Yutaka Aihara (相原 豊, Aihara Yutaka; born 18 December 1970) is a Japanese former gymnast who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the team event. At the 1991 World Championships, he won a bronze medal on the vault.
Yoshitaka Ito (伊藤 喜剛, Itō Yoshitaka; born 23 June 1970) is a retired Japanese athlete who specialised in sprinting…Yoshitaka Ito (伊藤 喜剛, Itō Yoshitaka; born 23 June 1970) is a retired Japanese athlete who specialised in sprinting events. He represented his country at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics. He won a gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games in the 4 × 100 m relay, while his best individual success was winning bronze at the 1995 Asian Athletics Championships in the 100 m.
Shigeru Kurihara (栗原茂, Kurihara Shigeru; born 7 April 1970) is a Japanese gymnast. He competed at the 1996 Summer…Shigeru Kurihara (栗原茂, Kurihara Shigeru; born 7 April 1970) is a Japanese gymnast. He competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Takuya Ōta (太田 拓弥, Ōta Takuya; born 2 January 1970) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1996 Summer…Takuya Ōta (太田 拓弥, Ōta Takuya; born 2 January 1970) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Shiho Kusunose (楠瀬 志保, Kusunose Shiho; born 23 October 1969) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1994…Shiho Kusunose (楠瀬 志保, Kusunose Shiho; born 23 October 1969) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1994 Winter Olympics and the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Hideaki Motoyama (本山 秀昭, Motoyama Hideaki)(25 July 1969 – 29 July 2009) was a Japanese badminton player. He competed in…Hideaki Motoyama (本山 秀昭, Motoyama Hideaki)(25 July 1969 – 29 July 2009) was a Japanese badminton player. He competed in the men's singles tournament at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Yayoi Urano (浦野 弥生, Urano Yayoi; born 30 March 1969) is a retired Japanese Wrestler and Judoka. She won six gold medals…Yayoi Urano (浦野 弥生, Urano Yayoi; born 30 March 1969) is a retired Japanese Wrestler and Judoka. She won six gold medals and one silver medal in three weight classes (65, 70, and 75 kg) at the World Wrestling Championships from 1990 to 1996.
Makihiro Motomiya (本宮万記弘, Motomiya Makihiro; born 31 December 1968) is a Japanese water polo coach. He was the head…Makihiro Motomiya (本宮万記弘, Motomiya Makihiro; born 31 December 1968) is a Japanese water polo coach. He was the head coach of the Japan women's national water polo team at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Keiji Okuyama (奥山 恵二, Okuyama Keiji; born 18 December 1968) is a Japanese wrestler. He competed in the men's freestyle…Keiji Okuyama (奥山 恵二, Okuyama Keiji; born 18 December 1968) is a Japanese wrestler. He competed in the men's freestyle 57 kg at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Tetsu Nishikawa (西川 哲, Nishikawa Tetsu; born 2 May 1968) is a Japanese professional golfer and ex-husband of singer and…Tetsu Nishikawa (西川 哲, Nishikawa Tetsu; born 2 May 1968) is a Japanese professional golfer and ex-husband of singer and actress Momoko Kikuchi.
Yuji Nagata (永田 裕志, Nagata Yūji; born April 24, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestler, and former mixed martial…Yuji Nagata (永田 裕志, Nagata Yūji; born April 24, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestler, and former mixed martial artist and amateur wrestler signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is the fifth longest-reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion with a reign of 392 days, and formerly held the record for most successful title defenses with 10, until Hiroshi Tanahashi broke the record at Wrestle Kingdom VI. He is the only wrestler to have won Japanese professional wrestling's three biggest singles tournaments; New Japan Pro-Wrestling's G1 Climax (in 2001), All Japan Pro Wrestling's Champion Carnival (in 2011) and Pro Wrestling Noah's Global League (in 2013). Nagata debuted and has worked for NJPW since 1992, where he was recognised as company ace in the early 2000s and is a two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, a two-time IWGP Tag Team Champion and a one-time NEVER Openweight Champion in addition to having won the New Japan Cup in 2007 and 2011, the G1 Tag League in 2000 and 2010, and the G1 Climax in 2001. Outside of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, he has held the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship in All Japan Pro Wrestling and the GHC Heavyweight Championship in Pro Wrestling Noah, making him a four-time world champion in major professional wrestling promotions and one of five men to have held all three major heavyweight championships in Japanese professional wrestling. He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2018.
