Hiroki Hirako (平子 裕基, Hirako Hiroki; born 6 August 1982) is a Japanese speed skater. He has competed for Japan at the…Hiroki Hirako (平子 裕基, Hirako Hiroki; born 6 August 1982) is a Japanese speed skater. He has competed for Japan at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He has also previously competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics. He won gold medal in the 2007 Asian Winter Games.
Yasuhiro Ichiba (一場 靖弘, Ichiba Yasuhiro; born July 5, 1982 in Agatsuma, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Yasuhiro Ichiba (一場 靖弘, Ichiba Yasuhiro; born July 5, 1982 in Agatsuma, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Hiroshi Izumi (Japanese: 泉浩; born June 22, 1982, in Shimokita District Aomori) is a Japanese judoka and mixed martial…Hiroshi Izumi (Japanese: 泉浩; born June 22, 1982, in Shimokita District Aomori) is a Japanese judoka and mixed martial artist. He has fought in World Victory Road and had a one-fight stint in the Dream promotion for the Dream Light Heavyweight Championship. Izumi also appeared in both Dynamite!! 2009 and Dynamite!! 2010 New Year's Eve events.
Osamu Mukai (向井 理, Mukai Osamu; born February 7, 1982) is a Japanese actor. He was born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.…Osamu Mukai (向井 理, Mukai Osamu; born February 7, 1982) is a Japanese actor. He was born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from Meiji University.
Masanao Takahashi (高橋 正直, Takahashi Masanao; born 18 January 1982) is a Japanese Olympic dressage rider. Representing…Masanao Takahashi (高橋 正直, Takahashi Masanao; born 18 January 1982) is a Japanese Olympic dressage rider. Representing Japan, he competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro where he finished 58th in the individual and 11th in the team competitions. Takahashi also competed at the 2006 Asian Games, where he won a bronze medal in team dressage.
Shigeki Ushida (牛田 成樹, Ushida Shigeki; born July 7, 1972 in Komatsushima, Tokushima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Shigeki Ushida (牛田 成樹, Ushida Shigeki; born July 7, 1972 in Komatsushima, Tokushima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Masashi Owada (大和田 真史, Owada Masashi; born July 28, 1981) is a former Japanese football player. he is the current…Masashi Owada (大和田 真史, Owada Masashi; born July 28, 1981) is a former Japanese football player. he is the current first-team coach J2 League club of JEF United Chiba.
Atsushi Okamoto (岡本 篤志, Okamoto Atsushi; born May 20, 1981) is a Japanese former professional Nippon Professional…Atsushi Okamoto (岡本 篤志, Okamoto Atsushi; born May 20, 1981) is a Japanese former professional Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played his entire career for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.
Yasuyuki Muneta (棟田 康幸, Muneta Yasuyuki; born 10 February 1981) is a Japanese judoka. He won two gold medals and a…Yasuyuki Muneta (棟田 康幸, Muneta Yasuyuki; born 10 February 1981) is a Japanese judoka. He won two gold medals and a silver medal at the World Judo Championships.
Yuki Sunaga (須長 由季, Sunaga Yuki; born 28 December 1980 in Sakado, Saitama) is a Japanese windsurfer, who specialized in…Yuki Sunaga (須長 由季, Sunaga Yuki; born 28 December 1980 in Sakado, Saitama) is a Japanese windsurfer, who specialized in Neil Pryde RS:X class. As of September 2013, Sunaga is ranked no. 53 in the world for the sailboard class by the International Sailing Federation. Sunaga competed in the women's RS:X class at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London by finishing thirty-third and receiving a berth from the ISAF World Championships in Perth, Western Australia. Struggling to attain a top position in the opening series, Sunaga accumulated a net score of 180 points for a twenty-first-place finish in a fleet of twenty-six windsurfers.
Manabu Ikezoe (Japanese: 池添 学一, born September 2, 1980) is a Japanese horse trainer affiliated with the Ritto Training…Manabu Ikezoe (Japanese: 池添 学一, born September 2, 1980) is a Japanese horse trainer affiliated with the Ritto Training Center of the Japan Racing Association, and the younger brother of jockey Kenichi Ikezoe.
Yuta Yazaki (矢嵜 雄大, Yazaki Yūta; born 8 April 1980) is a Japanese judoka. He won a gold medal at the -90 kg category of…Yuta Yazaki (矢嵜 雄大, Yazaki Yūta; born 8 April 1980) is a Japanese judoka. He won a gold medal at the -90 kg category of the 2002 Asian Games. He is from Toshima, Tokyo. He became famous with Keiji Suzuki and Yasuyuki Muneta, when he was a student of high school. After graduation from Meiji University, He belongs to Ryotokuji Gakuen.
Toshiro Ino (井野俊郎, Ino Toshiro; born 8 January 1980) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…Toshiro Ino (井野俊郎, Ino Toshiro; born 8 January 1980) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2012. From 2010 to 2012, he was a city councillor of Isesaki.
Takahiro Shoda (庄田 隆弘; born November 9, 1979) is a Japanese professional baseball player from Sakurai, Nara Prefecture…Takahiro Shoda (庄田 隆弘; born November 9, 1979) is a Japanese professional baseball player from Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, Japan. He was with the Hanshin Tigers from 2004 until 2010.
Kenichiro Teratsuji (寺辻健一郎; Teratsuji Kenichiro, born September 28, 1979, in Yokohama, Japan), better known by his…Kenichiro Teratsuji (寺辻健一郎; Teratsuji Kenichiro, born September 28, 1979, in Yokohama, Japan), better known by his stage names Kenchi Tachibana (橘ケンチ) or simply KENCHI, is a Japanese dancer and actor. He is a member of J-Pop groups Exile and Exile The Second. He was also member of J Soul Brothers' second generation Nidaime J Soul Brothers until their migration to Exile in 2009. He is represented with LDH and also acts as a representative of LDH Asia.
Yuji Matsubara (松原雄二, Matsubara Yūji; born 5 September 1979) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a…Yuji Matsubara (松原雄二, Matsubara Yūji; born 5 September 1979) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a hooker. He spent his whole career playing for Kobelco Steelers in Japan's domestic Top League, playing over 35 times. He was named in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, making 3 appearances in the tournament. He made a further 20 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring two tries.
Miho Adachi (安達美穂, Adachi Miho; born 19 June 1979) is a Japanese sprint canoer who competed in the mid-2000s. She…Miho Adachi (安達美穂, Adachi Miho; born 19 June 1979) is a Japanese sprint canoer who competed in the mid-2000s. She finished ninth in the K-4 500 m event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
Teruo Misawa (born 11 December 1978) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1998 to 2008. He held…Teruo Misawa (born 11 December 1978) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1998 to 2008. He held the Japanese mini-flyweight title from 2006 to 2007 and challenged for the WBC interim mini-flyweight title in 2008.
Hiroshi Takeshima (竹島 宏, Takeshima Hiroshi; born August 28, 1978) is a Japanese enka singer. He has one major hit with…Hiroshi Takeshima (竹島 宏, Takeshima Hiroshi; born August 28, 1978) is a Japanese enka singer. He has one major hit with "Sapporo Elegy" in 2001. On December 30, 2021, Takeshima won the Japan Composer's Association Award at the 63rd Japan Record Awards.
Daisuke Fukushima (福島 大輔, Fukushima Daisuke; born 20 September 1977) is a Japanese Olympic and an intern from an…Daisuke Fukushima (福島 大輔, Fukushima Daisuke; born 20 September 1977) is a Japanese Olympic and an intern from an unnamed tulpar show jumping rider. He competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he finished 13th in the team and was eliminated in the first round of the individual competition. Fukushima participated at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and the 2006 Asian Games.
Miyabiyama Tetsushi (born July 28, 1977 as Masato Takeuchi) is a former sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. A…Miyabiyama Tetsushi (born July 28, 1977 as Masato Takeuchi) is a former sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 1998. With the exception of two tournaments, he was ranked in the top division of professional sumo from 1999 until the end of his career in 2013, holding the second highest rank of ōzeki from 2000 to 2001. He won eight special prizes and was runner-up in four top division tournaments. He wrestled for Fujishima stable (formerly Musashigawa stable), where he worked as a coach until opening his own Futagoyama stable.
Naoya Tsukahara (Japanese:塚原 直也 Tsukahara Naoya, born June 25, 1977) is a former Japanese artistic gymnast and 2004…Naoya Tsukahara (Japanese:塚原 直也 Tsukahara Naoya, born June 25, 1977) is a former Japanese artistic gymnast and 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist now coaching and competing for Australia. He is the son of the former Japanese gymnast, Mitsuo Tsukahara, who was also a multiple gold medalist in the Olympic Games during the 1960s and 70s. He competed at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics as well as many World Championships for team Japan from 1996 until 2006. In 2009, he moved to Australia, gaining citizenship in 2012, and currently represents Australia's national gymnastics team, most recently competing at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Naoki Matoba (的場 直樹, Matoba Naoki; born May 9, 1977 in Osaka), nicknamed "Matton", is a Japanese former professional…Naoki Matoba (的場 直樹, Matoba Naoki; born May 9, 1977 in Osaka), nicknamed "Matton", is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks/Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2000, and from 2003 to 2008 and with the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2010 and 2011. Matoba is an ordained priest within the Ōtani-ha branch of Shin Buddhism.
Yuya Saito (斉藤 祐也, Saitō Yūya; born 28 April 1977) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as No. 8, currently for…Yuya Saito (斉藤 祐也, Saitō Yūya; born 28 April 1977) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as No. 8, currently for Toyota Jido Shokki. He graduated from Meiji University and used to play for Suntory Sungoliath before he went to play professional rugby in France for about one season. He's a regular at Japan national rugby union team, having played at the 2003 Rugby World Cup finals. He played at full back (No. 15) for the first time for the Steelers versus Suntory in a game on Christmas Day 2004. He married former Olympic gold medalist swimmer Kyoko Iwasaki.
Yu Aida (Japanese: 相田 裕, Hepburn: Aida Yū; born November 8, 1977) is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator, best…Yu Aida (Japanese: 相田 裕, Hepburn: Aida Yū; born November 8, 1977) is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator, best known as the creator of Gunslinger Girl. Aida has also done the character designs for the eroge visual novel Bittersweet Fools.
Shinji Fukuda (福田真嗣, Fukuda Shinji) is the Project Professor at the Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio…Shinji Fukuda (福田真嗣, Fukuda Shinji) is the Project Professor at the Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, in Tsuruoka, Japan. He is a leading researcher in the field of gut microbiome analysis and evaluation. Known for his efforts to raise awareness about the importance of gut health, he often refers to feces as "brown gems".
Takashi Ogasawara (小笠原 孝, born November 29, 1976) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who currently serves as…Takashi Ogasawara (小笠原 孝, born November 29, 1976) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who currently serves as the second squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Chunichi Dragons from 1999 to 2012.
Ryo Yuzawa (遊澤 亮, Yuzawa Ryō) is a former international table tennis player and coach from Japan. He won a bronze medal…Ryo Yuzawa (遊澤 亮, Yuzawa Ryō) is a former international table tennis player and coach from Japan. He won a bronze medal at the 2000 World Team Table Tennis Championships in the Swaythling Cup (men's team event) with Seiko Iseki, Kōji Matsushita, Hiroshi Shibutani and Toshio Tasaki for Japan. He competed in two Olympic Games in 1996 and 2004.
Masami Iwaki (born 29 August 1976) is a Japanese sports shooter. She competed in the women's 10 metre air rifle event…Masami Iwaki (born 29 August 1976) is a Japanese sports shooter. She competed in the women's 10 metre air rifle event at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Yoshiaki Oiwa (大岩 義明, Ōiwa Yoshiaki; born 19 July 1976) is a Japanese equestrian. "Yoshi", as he is known, began riding…Yoshiaki Oiwa (大岩 義明, Ōiwa Yoshiaki; born 19 July 1976) is a Japanese equestrian. "Yoshi", as he is known, began riding as a junior high school student and took up eventing at University. In 2001 Yoshi he moved to the UK in order to pursue eventing trained by Andrew Hoy and in 2009 he moved to Germany. He now trains with German rider Dirk Schrade. He earned Best Equestrian Athlete; award at the Japanese sports awards in 2005, ’07 and ’11. Yoshi comes from a family of Olympians; his aunt was an international figure skater and is now an Olympic judge and his uncle won a silver medal in swimming at the Rome Olympic Games.
Yoshinori Tashiro (Japanese: 田代 良徳, Tashiro Yoshinori), also known by his ring name or shikona of Tōōyama Katsunori…Yoshinori Tashiro (Japanese: 田代 良徳, Tashiro Yoshinori), also known by his ring name or shikona of Tōōyama Katsunori (Japanese: 東桜山 勝徳), is a Japanese retired sumo wrestler and actor from Hachiōji, Tokyo. While an active sumo wrestler (rikishi), he wrestled for the Tamanoi sumo stable and made his debut in January 1999. He won the championship of the lowest division of jonokuchi in March 1999. In November 2002 he was promoted to his highest career rank of makushita 7. He retired from active competition in September 2007.
Seiichi Suzuki (鈴木 誠一, Suzuki Seiichi; born July 8, 1976 in Tokyo) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. He…Seiichi Suzuki (鈴木 誠一, Suzuki Seiichi; born July 8, 1976 in Tokyo) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. He is the 1995 World Junior bronze medalist and Japanese national bronze medalist. Suzuki graduated from Meiji University. After retiring from competition, he skated for Prince Hotels and became a coach.
Noriko Anno (阿武 教子, born 23 May 1976, in Fukue, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese judoka who won the gold medal in the women's…Noriko Anno (阿武 教子, born 23 May 1976, in Fukue, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese judoka who won the gold medal in the women's –78 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She is a four times World Champion, having won the championships in 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003. Anno married judoka Ryuji Sonoda in 2010.
Kaidō Yasuhiro (魁道 康弘) (born October 24, 1975, as Yasuhiro Tanaka (田中 康弘, Tanaka Yasuhiro)) is a former sumo wrestler…Kaidō Yasuhiro (魁道 康弘) (born October 24, 1975, as Yasuhiro Tanaka (田中 康弘, Tanaka Yasuhiro)) is a former sumo wrestler from Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. His highest rank was jūryō 4. He was a member of the Tomozuna stable, and he was a tsukebito or personal attendant to ōzeki Kaiō for a number of years, as well as a frequent training partner of Sentoryū. He retired in 2006.
Kenshin Kawakami (川上 憲伸) (born June 22, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon…Kenshin Kawakami (川上 憲伸) (born June 22, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves.
Toshio Tasaki is a male former international table tennis player from Japan. He won a bronze medal at the 2000 World…Toshio Tasaki is a male former international table tennis player from Japan. He won a bronze medal at the 2000 World Team Table Tennis Championships in the Swaythling Cup (men's team event) with Seiko Iseki, Kōji Matsushita, Hiroshi Shibutani and Ryo Yuzawa for Japan. He competed in three Olympic Games in 1996, 2000 and 2004. He plays a traditional penhold style (utilizing only 1 face of the blade) with short pips and is known for his frequent and strong backhand attacks.
Sō Tsutsui (筒井 壮, Tsutsui Sō; born November 1, 1974) is a former professional baseball player from Ibaraki, Osaka…Sō Tsutsui (筒井 壮, Tsutsui Sō; born November 1, 1974) is a former professional baseball player from Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan.
Buyūzan Takeyoshi (born July 29, 1974 as Takeyoshi Tominaga in Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan) is a former sumo wrestler. His…Buyūzan Takeyoshi (born July 29, 1974 as Takeyoshi Tominaga in Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan) is a former sumo wrestler. His highest rank was maegashira 1. He is now a sumo coach.
Tamarikidō Hideki (born April 19, 1974) is a former sumo wrestler born in Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan. Though born in Japan…Tamarikidō Hideki (born April 19, 1974) is a former sumo wrestler born in Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan. Though born in Japan, he is a Zainichi Korean and a member of Mindan. His highest rank was maegashira 8. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 1997, reaching the top makuuchi division in 2001. He had many injury problems throughout his career, missing over 100 matches, and last fought in makuuchi in 2003. He announced his retirement in January 2010.
Ryuji Sonoda (園田 隆二, Sonoda Ryūji; born September 16, 1973) is a Japanese judoka. He was born in Ōmuta, Fukuoka, and…Ryuji Sonoda (園田 隆二, Sonoda Ryūji; born September 16, 1973) is a Japanese judoka. He was born in Ōmuta, Fukuoka, and began judo at the age of a first grader. He won a gold medal at the -60 kg category of the Junior World Championships in 1992 and World Championships in 1993. After graduating from Meiji University, he entered the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Sonoda retired from competition in 2004. By 2009, he coached All-Japan women's judo team before announcing his resignation on January 31, 2013, following accusations of physical abuse by team members. He married judoka Noriko Anno in 2010.
Hideki Tsukamoto (塚本 秀樹, Tsukamoto Hideki; born August 9, 1973) is a Japanese former football goalkeeper. He is…Hideki Tsukamoto (塚本 秀樹, Tsukamoto Hideki; born August 9, 1973) is a Japanese former football goalkeeper. He is currently the goalkeeper coach of J1 League club Avispa Fukuoka.