Tatsuki Machida (町田 樹, Machida Tatsuki) (born March 9, 1990) is a Japanese retired figure skater. He is the 2014 World…Tatsuki Machida (町田 樹, Machida Tatsuki) (born March 9, 1990) is a Japanese retired figure skater. He is the 2014 World silver medalist, the 2010 Four Continents silver medalist, and the 2013–14 Japanese national silver medalist. Machida is the winner of four Grand Prix events — the 2012 Cup of China, 2013 Skate America, 2013 Rostelecom Cup, and 2014 Skate America.
Nagisa Sakurauchi (櫻内 渚, Sakurauchi Nagisa, born August 11, 1989) is a Japanese football player as a Right back for New…Nagisa Sakurauchi (櫻内 渚, Sakurauchi Nagisa, born August 11, 1989) is a Japanese football player as a Right back for New Taipei Hang Yuan.
Kim Chae-hwa (Korean: 김채화; born November 7, 1988), also known by her Japanese name Ayaka Nagase (長瀬彩華), is a South…Kim Chae-hwa (Korean: 김채화; born November 7, 1988), also known by her Japanese name Ayaka Nagase (長瀬彩華), is a South Korean former competitive figure skater. She is the 2007 South Korean national champion. Her best result at an ISU Championship was seventh at the 2006 World Junior Championships.
Hidetaka Kanazono (金園 英学, Kanazono Hidetaka; born 1 September 1988) is a Japanese association footballer who is…Hidetaka Kanazono (金園 英学, Kanazono Hidetaka; born 1 September 1988) is a Japanese association footballer who is currently contracted to AC Nagano Parceiro. He plays as a striker.
Noritaka Fujisawa (藤澤 典隆, Fujisawa Noritaka; born 23 August 1988) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Kagoshima…Noritaka Fujisawa (藤澤 典隆, Fujisawa Noritaka; born 23 August 1988) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Kagoshima United FC.
Yudai Tanaka (田中 雄大, Tanaka Yūdai; born August 8, 1988) is a Japanese former football player who last played for…Yudai Tanaka (田中 雄大, Tanaka Yūdai; born August 8, 1988) is a Japanese former football player who last played for Blaublitz Akita.
Tsuyoshi Kodama (児玉 剛, Kodama Tsuyoshi; born 28 December 1987) is a Japanese former footballer who played as a…Tsuyoshi Kodama (児玉 剛, Kodama Tsuyoshi; born 28 December 1987) is a Japanese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Hirokazu Usami (宇佐美 宏和, Usami Hirokazu; born June 18, 1987 in Osaka) is a Japanese football player who currently plays…Hirokazu Usami (宇佐美 宏和, Usami Hirokazu; born June 18, 1987 in Osaka) is a Japanese football player who currently plays for Fukushima United FC.
Kenta Nishioka (西岡 謙太, Nishioka Kenta; born April 15, 1987 in Ehime) is a Japanese former football player who last…Kenta Nishioka (西岡 謙太, Nishioka Kenta; born April 15, 1987 in Ehime) is a Japanese former football player who last played for Kagoshima United FC.
Emi Hirai (Japanese: 平井 絵己; born October 14, 1986) is a Japanese former ice dancer. With skating partner Marien de la…Emi Hirai (Japanese: 平井 絵己; born October 14, 1986) is a Japanese former ice dancer. With skating partner Marien de la Asuncion, she is a four-time Japanese national silver medalist and has competed at four Four Continents Championships.
Tsubasa Oya (大屋 翼, Ōya Tsubasa; born August 13, 1986) is a former Japanese football player who last played for Gainare…Tsubasa Oya (大屋 翼, Ōya Tsubasa; born August 13, 1986) is a former Japanese football player who last played for Gainare Tottori.
Daisuke Takahashi (高橋 大輔, Takahashi Daisuke; born March 16, 1986) is a Japanese figure skater (men's singles and ice…Daisuke Takahashi (高橋 大輔, Takahashi Daisuke; born March 16, 1986) is a Japanese figure skater (men's singles and ice dance), ice show producer and actor. As a singles skater, he is the 2010 Olympic bronze medalist, the 2010 World champion, the 2012–13 Grand Prix Final champion, a two-time (2008, 2011) Four Continents champion, and a five-time (2006–2008, 2010, 2012) Japanese national champion. Takahashi represented Japan at the 2006 Winter Olympics, 2010 Winter Olympics, and 2014 Winter Olympics. His bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics was the first Olympic medal for an Asian country in the men's singles event. He was also the first Asian man to win a World title at the 2010 World Championships. At the 2012–13 Grand Prix Final, Takahashi made history again as the first Asian man to win a gold medal in the event, an addition to his previous accomplishment of being the first Japanese man to medal at the event in 2005. Takahashi retired on October 14, 2014, but returned to competitive skating on July 1, 2018. After two seasons competing domestically in Japan, Takahashi began a career in ice dance partnered with Kana Muramoto beginning in the 2020–21 season. With Muramoto he is the 2022 Four Continents silver medalist, the 2022–23 Japanese national champion and the 2022 Denis Ten Memorial Challenge champion. Takahashi is the first and at present only competitor to have earned medals at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in two different disciplines. Although he has struggled with the lingering effects of an anterior cruciate ligament rupture since 2008, his senior career spanned 16 seasons in singles skating and ice dance combined, which is well above the average senior career length in any discipline in the era of the ISU Judging System. Takahashi, a pioneer of men's singles skating in Japan and Asia, is also known and admired for his unique style, and has been be cited as an inspiration by his peers including as Patrick Chan, Tatsuki Machida, Adam Rippon or Tomáš Verner as well as by skaters of younger generations such as Shoma Uno, Denis Ten, Cha Jun-hwan, Jason Brown, Deniss Vasiljevs, Misha Ge, Lewis Gibson, Jimmy Ma or Kazuki Tomono. Outside of the competitive field Takahashi has been a key individual in innovating the Japanese ice show market by headlining Hyoen, a new cross-genre show format, which combines figure skating and Japanese culture (incorporating several genres, such as kabuki, the Takarazuka Revue, musicals and literature) and by producing Kassouya, an ensemble show that provides performance opportunities for and nurtures young figure skaters. In addition to performing in ice shows, he has also appeared as a dancer in Cheryl Burke's stage production Love on the Floor. In July/August 2024 he made his acting debut in the movie Kura no Aru Machi (蔵のある街) (engl. The Tales of Kurashiki), written and directed by Emiko Hiramatsu. The movie is scheduled to be released in cinemas nationwide in the summer of 2025. For October 2025 he is scheduled to make his stage acting debut at the Nagoya Odori NEO festival.
Jun Ando (安藤 淳, Andō Jun; born 8 October 1984 in Shiga) is a retired Japanese footballer who last played for Kyoto…Jun Ando (安藤 淳, Andō Jun; born 8 October 1984 in Shiga) is a retired Japanese footballer who last played for Kyoto Sanga FC.
Keisuke Kimoto (木本 敬介, Kimoto Keisuke; born August 23, 1984 in Hita, Ōita) is a former Japanese football player, who…Keisuke Kimoto (木本 敬介, Kimoto Keisuke; born August 23, 1984 in Hita, Ōita) is a former Japanese football player, who played for all of his career with Kataller Toyama.
Tsukasa Hirano (Japanese: 平野司, born 28 April 1983 in Osaka) is a Japanese triathlete. He has represented Japan in ITU…Tsukasa Hirano (Japanese: 平野司, born 28 April 1983 in Osaka) is a Japanese triathlete. He has represented Japan in ITU world cup from 2001 to 2011. He won several triathlon races through domestic and international races such as 2005 Japan Cup and the 2010 Asia Cup Philippines. After he retired from professional sports in 2012, he became the head coach for the NAS triathlon club.
Sachiko Yamada (山田沙知子, Yamada Sachiko; born October 15, 1982) is an Olympic and former World-Record-holding freestyle…Sachiko Yamada (山田沙知子, Yamada Sachiko; born October 15, 1982) is an Olympic and former World-Record-holding freestyle swimmer from Japan. She swam for Japan at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. Yamada was born in Osaka, Japan.
Aya Shimokozuru (下小鶴 綾, Shimokozuru Aya; born 7 June 1982) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan…Aya Shimokozuru (下小鶴 綾, Shimokozuru Aya; born 7 June 1982) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Haro Aso (Japanese: 麻生羽呂, Hepburn: Asō Haro) is a Japanese manga artist. After his debut in 2005, he serialized Hyde &…Haro Aso (Japanese: 麻生羽呂, Hepburn: Asō Haro) is a Japanese manga artist. After his debut in 2005, he serialized Hyde & Closer from December 2007 to July 2009, and Alice in Borderland from November 2010 to March 2016. After retiring from illustrating, he did the story for Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead in October 2018 and Noyu Girl in August 2021.
Hitomi Yaida 矢井田瞳 (Yaida Hitomi, born July 28, 1978) is a Japanese pop/folk rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. She…Hitomi Yaida 矢井田瞳 (Yaida Hitomi, born July 28, 1978) is a Japanese pop/folk rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. She often goes by the nickname Yaiko. Yaida is an established musical artist in Japan and has also had minor club hits in the United Kingdom.
Yusuke Kawakita (川北 裕介, Kawakita Yusuke; born May 13, 1978) is a Japanese football coach and former football player…Yusuke Kawakita (川北 裕介, Kawakita Yusuke; born May 13, 1978) is a Japanese football coach and former football player, who is the goalkeeper coach of Thailand U23.
Sohei Kamiya (神谷 宗幣, Kamiya Sōhei; born 12 October 1977) is a Japanese politician who is the founder and leader of the…Sohei Kamiya (神谷 宗幣, Kamiya Sōhei; born 12 October 1977) is a Japanese politician who is the founder and leader of the right-wing populist political party Sanseitō. Kamiya has been serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2022 through the Proportional Representation Block. He advocates "Japanese first" and anti-globalism. A conspiracy theorist who promotes COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation among others, Kamiya gained international media attention while campaigning for the 2022 House of Councillors election due to his antisemitic rhetoric during public appearances and campaign rallies. He has been described as a controversial politician and his party a cult by his political opponents.
Kanako Nishi (西 加奈子, Nishi Kanako; born May 7, 1977) is a Japanese writer and artist. She has won the Oda Sakunosuke…Kanako Nishi (西 加奈子, Nishi Kanako; born May 7, 1977) is a Japanese writer and artist. She has won the Oda Sakunosuke Prize, the Kawai Hayao Literary Prize, and the Naoki Prize, and several of her books have been adapted for film.
Yoko Miyake (born 22 December 1973) is a Japanese snowboarder. She competed in the women's halfpipe event at the 2002…Yoko Miyake (born 22 December 1973) is a Japanese snowboarder. She competed in the women's halfpipe event at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Tetsuya Shibata (柴田徹也, Shibata Tetsuya; born October 24, 1973) is a Japanese video game music composer and sound…Tetsuya Shibata (柴田徹也, Shibata Tetsuya; born October 24, 1973) is a Japanese video game music composer and sound director. He is credited for over twenty musical scores produced for Capcom's video game releases including the Monster Hunter and Devil May Cry series, as well those in the Darkstalkers, Power Stone and Resident Evil Outbreak series. His later works with the company involved organizing orchestral recordings for Resident Evil 5 and Monster Hunter Tri. In 2009, Shibata left Capcom and began his own music studio, known as Unique Note, with colleague Yoshino Aoki.
Gō Zappa (雑破 業, Zappa Gō; born 1970) is a Japanese author and anime screenwriter. His manga series Chocotto Sister was…Gō Zappa (雑破 業, Zappa Gō; born 1970) is a Japanese author and anime screenwriter. His manga series Chocotto Sister was adapted into an animated television series.
Takae Itō (born January 13, 1968, in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of…Takae Itō (born January 13, 1968, in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2016. She represents the Hyogo at-large district and is a member of the Komeito party.
Ryutaro Nonomura (野々村 竜太郎, Nonomura Ryūtarō; born July 29, 1966) is a Japanese former politician and convicted…Ryutaro Nonomura (野々村 竜太郎, Nonomura Ryūtarō; born July 29, 1966) is a Japanese former politician and convicted fraudster known for his crying outburst during a press conference in 2014. Being elected to the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly in 2011, Nonomura had a short legislative career before resigning in 2014 due to a financing scandal. His press conference became a meme due to his hysterical crying after being asked to explain his finances. In 2016, he was sentenced to three years in prison and four years suspended sentence for expenses fraud and misuse of funding.
Kiyoshige Maekawa (前川 清成, Maekawa Kiyoshige; born December 22, 1962) is a Japanese politician and a former member of…Kiyoshige Maekawa (前川 清成, Maekawa Kiyoshige; born December 22, 1962) is a Japanese politician and a former member of both the House of Representatives and House of Councillors in the Diet. He joined the Japan Innovation Party in 2020, but had previously been a member of the Democratic Party of Japan.
Hiroki Kikuta (菊田 裕樹, Kikuta Hiroki; born August 29, 1962, as Yūki Kikuta) is a Japanese composer and game designer.…Hiroki Kikuta (菊田 裕樹, Kikuta Hiroki; born August 29, 1962, as Yūki Kikuta) is a Japanese composer and game designer. His major works are Secret of Mana, Trials of Mana, Soukaigi, and Koudelka, for which he also acted as producer and concept designer. He has composed music for seven other games, and worked as a concept designer in addition to composer for the unreleased MMORPG Chou Bukyo Taisen. He became interested in music at an early age, but earned a degree in Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Cultural Anthropology from Kansai University. He spent the next few years working first as a manga illustrator, then as a composer for anime series, before coming to work for Square in 1991. After composing the soundtracks for his first three best-known works, he formed his own video game production company, Sacnoth, for which he was the president and CEO. After producing and composing Koudelka in 1999, he left to become a freelance composer. Since his departure he has formed his own record label, Norstrilia, through which he produces albums of his own compositions and collaborations with other artists, as well as his previous scores. His music has been performed in concerts such as the Symphonic Fantasies concerts in Cologne, Germany in September 2009, and selections of his works have been published as piano arrangements in sheet music books.
Tsukasa Kobiki (木挽 司, Kobiki Tsukasa; born 18 October 1958) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Tsukasa Kobiki (木挽 司, Kobiki Tsukasa; born 18 October 1958) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Nishinomiya, Hyogo and graduate of Kansai University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2005 after serving in the city assembly of Itami, Hyogo.
Seiichi Yamamoto (山本 精一, Yamamoto Seiichi; born July 16, 1958) is a Japanese musician. He is the guitarist of…Seiichi Yamamoto (山本 精一, Yamamoto Seiichi; born July 16, 1958) is a Japanese musician. He is the guitarist of psychedelic rock band Rovo as well as a former guitarist for the noise rock band Boredoms, and has also released records as a solo artist. He has also composed the soundtracks to several films, as well as collaborating with various other musicians and bands.
Risu Akizuki (秋月 りす, Akizuki Risu; born September 16, 1957, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan) is the pen name of a Japanese…Risu Akizuki (秋月 りす, Akizuki Risu; born September 16, 1957, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan) is the pen name of a Japanese four-panel manga artist. She made her professional manga debut with Okusama Shinkaron in 1988. Her most famous work is OL Shinkaron. She won the 8th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2004.
Keiko Tobe (戸部 けいこ, Tobe Keiko; 30 July 1957 – 28 January 2010) was a Japanese manga artist who wrote primarily josei…Keiko Tobe (戸部 けいこ, Tobe Keiko; 30 July 1957 – 28 January 2010) was a Japanese manga artist who wrote primarily josei manga. She was best known for creating With the Light, which won an Excellence Prize in the Japan Media Arts Festival Awards in 2004 from the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs and inspired a television drama.
Tomokatsu Kitagawa (北川 知克, Kitagawa Tomokatsu; 8 November 1951 – 26 December 2018) was a Japanese politician from the…Tomokatsu Kitagawa (北川 知克, Kitagawa Tomokatsu; 8 November 1951 – 26 December 2018) was a Japanese politician from the Liberal Democratic Party, and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Hisaichi Ishii (いしい ひさいち or 石井 壽一, Ishii Hisaichi; born September 2, 1951, in Tamano, Okayama Prefecture, Japan) is a…Hisaichi Ishii (いしい ひさいち or 石井 壽一, Ishii Hisaichi; born September 2, 1951, in Tamano, Okayama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known outside Japan for his manga series Nono-chan, which was adapted into the Studio Ghibli anime film My Neighbors the Yamadas. Topics covered by Ishii's manga include baseball (in his debut work), politics, economics, current events and topics, philosophy, and so on. He is known for his extreme caricatures of well-known celebrities and well known people, including Kōichi Tabuchi (a pro baseball catcher in Japan), Kim Jong Il, and Tsuneo Watanabe (executive director of the Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings group, owner of the Yomiuri Shimbun). Ishii graduated with a degree in sociology at Kansai University.
Noriko Oda (織田 憲子, Oda Noriko; born May 27, 1947 in Osaka) is a Japanese figure skating coach and former competitor.…Noriko Oda (織田 憲子, Oda Noriko; born May 27, 1947 in Osaka) is a Japanese figure skating coach and former competitor. She is the mother and coach of Nobunari Oda who both are direct descendants of Oda Nobunaga.
Takashi Tanihata (谷畑 孝, Tanihata Takashi; born 10 January 1947) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House…Takashi Tanihata (谷畑 孝, Tanihata Takashi; born 10 January 1947) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Initiatives from Osaka party. A native of Osaka Prefecture and graduate of Kansai University he was elected for the first time in 1989 after an unsuccessful run in 1986.
Kumiko Sato (佐藤 久美子, Satō Kumiko), née Kumiko Okawa (大川 久美子, Ōkawa Kumiko; born February 22, 1946) is a Japanese figure…Kumiko Sato (佐藤 久美子, Satō Kumiko), née Kumiko Okawa (大川 久美子, Ōkawa Kumiko; born February 22, 1946) is a Japanese figure skating coach and former competitor. She is the 1968 Winter Universiade champion and a two-time (1966, 1967) Japan national champion. She represented Japan twice at the Winter Olympics, in 1964 and 1968. Her best finish at the World Championships was 5th, which she obtained in 1967 and 1968. After retiring from competition, she became one of the more successful coaches in Japan. She is married to Nobuo Sato, with whom she has a daughter, Yuka Sato. As of 2011, the couple live near Yokohama.
Fumio Ōtsubo (大坪文雄, Fumio Ōtsubo; born September 5, 1945) was the President of Panasonic. He also serves as a member of…Fumio Ōtsubo (大坪文雄, Fumio Ōtsubo; born September 5, 1945) was the President of Panasonic. He also serves as a member of the board of Teijin
Eizo Yuguchi (湯口 栄蔵, Yuguchi Eizō; July 4, 1945 – February 2, 2003) was a former Japanese football player. He played…Eizo Yuguchi (湯口 栄蔵, Yuguchi Eizō; July 4, 1945 – February 2, 2003) was a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Hirofumi Matsuda (松田 博文, Matsuda Hirofumi) is a Japanese judoka and world champion. Born in Fukuoka, Hirofumi is a…Hirofumi Matsuda (松田 博文, Matsuda Hirofumi) is a Japanese judoka and world champion. Born in Fukuoka, Hirofumi is a graduate of Kansai University. He received a gold medal in the lightweight class at the 1965 World Judo Championships in Rio de Janeiro, and a silver medal at the 1967 World Judo Championships in Salt Lake City.
Issei Kitagawa (北川 一成, Kitagawa Issei; December 1, 1942 in Higashiōsaka – September 7, 2021) was a Japanese politician…Issei Kitagawa (北川 一成, Kitagawa Issei; December 1, 1942 in Higashiōsaka – September 7, 2021) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A graduate of Kansai University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 after serving in the assembly of Osaka Prefecture for four terms.
Nobuo Satō (佐藤 信夫, Satō Nobuo; born January 3, 1942 in Osaka) is a Japanese figure skater and coach. He is a ten-time…Nobuo Satō (佐藤 信夫, Satō Nobuo; born January 3, 1942 in Osaka) is a Japanese figure skater and coach. He is a ten-time Japanese national champion. He represented Japan at the 1960 Winter Olympics, where he placed 14th, and at the 1964 Winter Olympics, where he placed 8th. His best finish at the World Championships was 4th in 1965. He is married to Kumiko Okawa, and as of 2011 the couple lives near Yokohama. Their daughter is Yuka Sato, the 1994 World Champion. Along with Machiko Yamada, he is one of the most successful coaches in Japan. His current and former students include Miki Ando, Mao Asada, Shoko Ishikawa, Hirokazu Kobayashi, Takahiko Kozuka, Yukari Nakano, Yuka Sato, Marin Honda, Kao Miura, Wun-Chang Shih, and Fumie Suguri. In February 2010, he was elected to the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
