Saori Kitakaze (北風 沙織, Kitakaze Saori; born April 3, 1985 in Kushiro) is a Japanese track and field sprint athlete who…
Saori Kitakaze (北風 沙織, Kitakaze Saori; born April 3, 1985 in Kushiro) is a Japanese track and field sprint athlete who specializes in the 100 metres. She is the joint Japanese record holder in the 4×100 m relay, having run a time of 43.39 seconds alongside Momoko Takahashi, Chisato Fukushima and Kana Ichikawa at the 2011 Seiko Golden Grand Prix. He first international competitions came in 2004, when she took the bronze medal over 60 metres at the 2004 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships and reached the 100 m semi-finals at that year's World Junior Championships in Athletics. The following year she came fourth at the 2005 East Asian Games before helping the Japanese women to the 4×100 m relay title. An appearance on the continental stage followed at the 2006 Asian Games (where she was seventh in the 100 m final) and a relay silver medal came at the 2007 Asian Athletics Championships. Kitakaze earned her first global level selection for Japan that year, but her relay team was disqualified in the preliminary rounds of the 2007 World Championships in Athletics.
Famous People Born in the Year of the Ox
Ox: 2,035 people
Atsushi Mekaru (銘苅 淳, Mekaru Atsushi; born 3 April 1985) is a Japanese handball player for Puente Genil and the…
Atsushi Mekaru (銘苅 淳, Mekaru Atsushi; born 3 April 1985) is a Japanese handball player for Puente Genil and the Japanese national team. He participated at the 2017 World Men's Handball Championship.
Yugo Ichiyanagi (一柳 夢吾, Ichiyanagi Yūgo; born 2 April 1985) is a Japanese football player who plays for Taiwanese…
Yugo Ichiyanagi (一柳 夢吾, Ichiyanagi Yūgo; born 2 April 1985) is a Japanese football player who plays for Taiwanese football club AC Taipei.
Hiroyuki Hisataka (久高 寛之, Hisataka Hiroyuki; born April 2, 1985 in Osaka) is a Japanese professional boxer.
Kōichirō Morioka (森岡 紘一朗, Morioka Kōichirō; born 2 April 1985) is a Japanese race walker. He has enjoyed success at…
Kōichirō Morioka (森岡 紘一朗, Morioka Kōichirō; born 2 April 1985) is a Japanese race walker. He has enjoyed success at University and regional levels, having won two bronze medals at both the Summer Universiade (2005, 2007) and the Asian Games (2006, 2010). Morioka has competed at the four World Championships in Athletics (2005 to 2011) and has represented Japan at three Summer Olympics (2008, 2012, 2016). He also won a silver medal at the 2009 East Asian Games. He walked an Asian record of 39:07.84 minutes for the 10,000 km track walk in 2010, which was broken two years later by Wang Zhen. He also set a new personal best at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Kunihiro Shibazaki (柴崎 邦博, Shibazaki Kunihiro; born April 1, 1985) is a former Japanese football player.
Akiko Suzuki (鈴木 明子, Suzuki Akiko) (born March 28, 1985) is a Japanese figure skating choreographer and retired…
Akiko Suzuki (鈴木 明子, Suzuki Akiko) (born March 28, 1985) is a Japanese figure skating choreographer and retired competitive figure skater. She is the 2012 World Championships bronze medalist, a three-time Grand Prix Final medalist (2011 silver, 2009 & 2012 bronze), a two-time Four Continents silver medalist (2010, 2013), the 2007 Winter Universiade champion, and the 2013 Japanese national champion. She placed eighth at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
Tomoki Ikemoto (池元 友樹, Ikemoto Tomoki; born 27 March 1985 in Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka) was a Japanese footballer who played…
Tomoki Ikemoto (池元 友樹, Ikemoto Tomoki; born 27 March 1985 in Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka) was a Japanese footballer who played for Giravanz Kitakyushu before his retirement at the end of the 2020 season.
Shio Fujii (藤井 紫緒, Fujii Shio; born 27 March 1985) is a Japanese handball player who has been captain of the Japan…
Shio Fujii (藤井 紫緒, Fujii Shio; born 27 March 1985) is a Japanese handball player who has been captain of the Japan women's national handball team. She is currently playing for the Japanese club of Osaka Lovvits. She was listed among the top ten goalscorers at the 2009 World Women's Handball Championship in China.
Kantoku (カントク; born March 26, 1985) is a Japanese illustrator and character designer. He was born in Hyogo Prefecture…
Kantoku (カントク; born March 26, 1985) is a Japanese illustrator and character designer. He was born in Hyogo Prefecture and lives in Saitama Prefecture.
Ken Takakuwa (高桑 健, Takakuwa Ken; born 25 March 1985) is a Japanese swimmer. He was born in Shizuoka. He competed in…
Ken Takakuwa (高桑 健, Takakuwa Ken; born 25 March 1985) is a Japanese swimmer. He was born in Shizuoka. He competed in the 200 m individual medley event at the 2012 Summer Olympics, advanced to the final and finished sixth. Takakuwa also took part in the 200m IM at the 2008 Summer Olympics and placed fifth. In that same event at the Asian games, he won gold in 2010 and silver in 2006. He also won bronze in the 400m IM at the 2010 Asian Games.
Sayaka Hirano (平野 早矢香, Hirano Sayaka; born 24 March 1985) is a Japanese five-time national table tennis champion. She…
Sayaka Hirano (平野 早矢香, Hirano Sayaka; born 24 March 1985) is a Japanese five-time national table tennis champion. She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics, reaching the third round of the singles competition. She also competed in the team competition, reaching the bronze medal final but losing to South Korea. At the 2012 London Olympics Women's Team Event semi-finals, she helped Japan overcome Singapore to reach their historic first final by winning her doubles match with Kasumi Ishikawa over Wang Yuegu and Li Jiawei (11–3, 13-11 and 11–4). Japan failed to beat China in the final, but won the first ever silver medal for their country in table tennis. In March 2016, it was announced that she would be retiring after the Japanese Table Tennis League Big Tournament in April. She was beaten in the first round by Yuko Fujii and after the match, she said, "I feel I've done everything, I might have wanted to play a little better match. I've gone into each match thinking as if it were the last, and managed to end without any regrets". After her retirement as a professional table tennis player, she has become a familiar face in Japanese households as a TV presenter and table tennis sportscaster. She is also an adviser for table tennis club MIKI House.
Masaru Matsuhashi (松橋 優, Matsuhashi Masaru; born March 22, 1985, in Isahaya, Nagasaki) is a former Japanese football…
Masaru Matsuhashi (松橋 優, Matsuhashi Masaru; born March 22, 1985, in Isahaya, Nagasaki) is a former Japanese football player who mostly played for Ventforet Kofu. His older brother Shota is also a professional football player.
Azusa Kishimoto (Japanese: 岸本 梓, Hepburn: Kishimoto Azusa; 20 March 1985 – 24 February 2025) was a Japanese tarento and…
Azusa Kishimoto (Japanese: 岸本 梓, Hepburn: Kishimoto Azusa; 20 March 1985 – 24 February 2025) was a Japanese tarento and model. She was born on 20 March 1985, and died of cancer on 24 February 2025, at the age of 39.
Tomonobu Yokoyama (横山 知伸, Yokoyama Tomonobu; 18 March 1985 – 4 January 2024) was a Japanese professional footballer who…
Tomonobu Yokoyama (横山 知伸, Yokoyama Tomonobu; 18 March 1985 – 4 January 2024) was a Japanese professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder or centre-back.
Jumpei Yoshizawa (吉澤 純平, Yoshizawa Junpei; born (1985-03-16)March 16, 1985 in Nagano) is a Japanese former short-track…
Jumpei Yoshizawa (吉澤 純平, Yoshizawa Junpei; born (1985-03-16)March 16, 1985 in Nagano) is a Japanese former short-track speed-skater. Yoshizawa competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics for Japan. In the 500 metres, he advanced to the quarterfinals, where he finished 4th, failing to advance. In the 1500 metres, he placed 5th in his opening heat, advancing to the semifinals, where he finished 6th, again failing to advance. His best overall finish was in the 500, where he placed 14th. Yoshizawa's best performance at the World Championships came in 2004, when he placed 5th as a member of the Japanese 5000 metre relay team. He also won a bronze medal at the 2004 World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships for Japan. Yoshizawa's top World Cup ranking in short track speed skating is 30th, in the 1500 metres in 2009–10.
Yūsuke Minato (湊 祐介, Minato Yūsuke; born May 13, 1985) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who has been competing since…
Yūsuke Minato (湊 祐介, Minato Yūsuke; born May 13, 1985) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who has been competing since 2002. He won a gold medal in the 4 x 5 km team event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec and earned his best individual finish of sixth in the 10 km individual normal hill event at those same championships. Minato's best World Cup finish was 12th twice (2008, 2009). His lone victory was in the 7.5 km sprint event at Pragelato in 2007. He competed for Japan at the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2014 Winter Olympics.
Yūichi Tanaka (田中 悠一, Tanaka Yūichi; born March 14, 1985) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 6-dan.
Takahiro Fujimoto (藤本 貴大, Fujimoto Takahiro; born March 13, 1985 in Nishigoshi) is a Japanese short track speed skater.…
Takahiro Fujimoto (藤本 貴大, Fujimoto Takahiro; born March 13, 1985 in Nishigoshi) is a Japanese short track speed skater. Fujimoto competed at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics for Japan. In 2006, he was a member of the 5000 metre relay team, which was disqualified in the semifinal. In 2010, in both the 500 metres and 1000 metres, he placed fourth in his heat, failing to advance. In the 1500 metres, he placed 3rd in his opening heat, advancing to the semifinals, where he finished 6th, again failing to advance. His best overall finish was in the 1500, where he placed 17th. As of 2013, Fujimoto's best performance at the World Championships came in 2009, when he won a bronze medal as a member of the Japanese 5000 metre relay team. His best individual finish is 11th, in the 2009 1000 metres As of 2013, Fujimoto has two podium finishes on the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup. His best finish is a silver, in the 500 metres at Jeonju in 2006–07. His top World Cup ranking is 13th, in the 1000 metres in 2008–09.
Masaaki Nishimori (西森 正明, Nishimori Masaaki; born March 12, 1985) is a Japanese former football player.
Yoshiaki Fujioka (藤岡 好明, Fujioka Yoshiaki; born March 12, 1985 in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese former…
Yoshiaki Fujioka (藤岡 好明, Fujioka Yoshiaki; born March 12, 1985 in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who is currently a pitching coach for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and BayStars.
Tosayutaka Yūya (born 10 March 1985) is a former sumo wrestler from Tosa City, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. He made his…
Tosayutaka Yūya (born 10 March 1985) is a former sumo wrestler from Tosa City, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 2007, reaching the top makuuchi division in July 2009. His highest rank was maegashira 1. After a long hiatus due to injury, he worked his way back up the ranks, logging several lower division championships on the way. In January 2015 he finally reached the top division again after an 18 tournament absence. His comeback from sandanme 84 was the lowest any wrestler since World War II has fallen and still managed to again reach the top division, until surpassed by Terunofuji. After further injury setbacks he announced his retirement in January 2016. He became stablemaster of Tokitsukaze stable in February 2021 after the Japan Sumo Association asked the previous stablemaster to retire.
Nae Udaka (宇高 菜絵, Udaka Nae; born 6 March 1985 in Saijō, Ehime) is a female Japanese judoka.
Kenichi Matsuyama (松山 ケンイチ, Matsuyama Ken'ichi; born March 5, 1985) is a Japanese actor. He is known for his affinity…
Kenichi Matsuyama (松山 ケンイチ, Matsuyama Ken'ichi; born March 5, 1985) is a Japanese actor. He is known for his affinity for strange character roles, and he is best known internationally for playing L in the 2006 films Death Note, Death Note 2: The Last Name, and L: Change the World in 2008. He played the main character Toru Watanabe in the film adaptation of Haruki Murakami's novel Norwegian Wood. His stage name uses the katakana spelling of his first name (ケンイチ) instead of the usual kanji (研一).
Ai Kawanaka (河中 あい, Kawanaka Ai; born 3 March 1985) is a Japanese tarento and former gravure idol. Her real name is Ai…
Ai Kawanaka (河中 あい, Kawanaka Ai; born 3 March 1985) is a Japanese tarento and former gravure idol. Her real name is Ai Hakamada (袴田 麻系, Hakamada Ai; née Kawanaka (河中)).
Naoya Ishigami (石神 直哉, Ishigami Naoya; born 2 March 1985 in Kamisu, Ibaraki) is a Japanese footballer who is currently…
Naoya Ishigami (石神 直哉, Ishigami Naoya; born 2 March 1985 in Kamisu, Ibaraki) is a Japanese footballer who is currently playing for FC Tiamo Hirakata.
Miss Universe Japan (Japanese: ミス・ユニバース・ジャパン) is a national Beauty pageant in Japan that selects a candidate for Miss…
Miss Universe Japan (Japanese: ミス・ユニバース・ジャパン) is a national Beauty pageant in Japan that selects a candidate for Miss Universe. Since 2018, the national director of Miss Universe Japan is Hiroko Mima.
Ryuichi Moriya (守屋 龍一, Moriya Ryūichi) (born February 28, 1985, in Kishiwada, Osaka) is an athlete from Japan, who…
Ryuichi Moriya (守屋 龍一, Moriya Ryūichi) (born February 28, 1985, in Kishiwada, Osaka) is an athlete from Japan, who competes in archery.
Asami Abe (安倍 麻美, Abe Asami; born February 27, 1985) is a former Japanese singer and actress, also known as the younger…
Asami Abe (安倍 麻美, Abe Asami; born February 27, 1985) is a former Japanese singer and actress, also known as the younger sister of Japanese singer and actress Natsumi Abe. She started her career doing commercials for Nintendo Puzzle Collection, and she has also appeared in a few TV dramas.
Saki Kagami (加賀美早紀, Kagami Saki; born February 26, 1985) is a Japanese actress. Her acting career began in early 2001…
Saki Kagami (加賀美早紀, Kagami Saki; born February 26, 1985) is a Japanese actress. Her acting career began in early 2001, when she was cast for the lead role in the movie Platonic Sex among 12,083 applicants. Now she is probably best known for roles in various TV Dramas and tokusatsu shows such as Ultraseven X and Kamen Rider Kiva. She was represented by Watanabe Entertainment.
Miki Shōji (庄司 美貴, Shōji Miki) (born February 26, 1985), professionally known by her birth name of Miki Fujimoto (藤本…
Miki Shōji (庄司 美貴, Shōji Miki) (born February 26, 1985), professionally known by her birth name of Miki Fujimoto (藤本 美貴, Fujimoto Miki), and nicknamed Mikitty, is a Japanese actress, singer and YouTuber. After failing the audition to join girl group Morning Musume with the fourth generation members, Fujimoto debuted as a solo artist within Hello! Project in 2002 with the single "Aenai Nagai Nichiyōbi". Fujimoto later joined Morning Musume in 2003 along with the sixth generation and eventually became the leader of the group in 2007.
Misaki Onishi (尾西 美咲, Onishi Misaki; born 24 February 1985) is a Japanese long-distance runner competing primarily in…
Misaki Onishi (尾西 美咲, Onishi Misaki; born 24 February 1985) is a Japanese long-distance runner competing primarily in the 5000 metres. She represented her country at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships in Athletics reaching the final on the second occasion.
Takumi Kobe (神戸 拓光, born February 23, 1985, in Ushiku, Ibaraki) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder…
Takumi Kobe (神戸 拓光, born February 23, 1985, in Ushiku, Ibaraki) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder who played from 2008 to 2013 with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Kazue Akita (穐田和恵; born February 23, 1985 in Ikeda, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese singer. She graduated from SDN48 as a…
Kazue Akita (穐田和恵; born February 23, 1985 in Ikeda, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese singer. She graduated from SDN48 as a 1st generation member.
Shintaro Ishiwatari (Japanese: 石渡伸太郎, Ishiwatari Shintarō; born February 21, 1985) is a retired Japanese mixed martial…
Shintaro Ishiwatari (Japanese: 石渡伸太郎, Ishiwatari Shintarō; born February 21, 1985) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and former Pancrase Bantamweight Champion. A professional competitor since 2006, he has also competed in Shooto, RIZIN, Vale Tudo Japan, DEEP, and World Victory Road.
Kanae Aoki (Japanese: 青木香奈枝, Hepburn: Aoki Kanae; born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese retired ice hockey player…
Kanae Aoki (Japanese: 青木香奈枝, Hepburn: Aoki Kanae; born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese retired ice hockey player, currently serving as assistant coach to the Japanese women's national under-18 ice hockey team.
Kazuki Sado (佐渡一毅, born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese dressage rider. He competed at the 2018 World Equestrian Games…
Kazuki Sado (佐渡一毅, born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese dressage rider. He competed at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, at the Asian Games in 2014 and 2018. He won team gold during the Asian Games in 2018 and team silver during the Asian Games in 2014. He trained in the Netherlands with former Olympian Imke Schellekens-Bartels in preparation towards the 2020 Olympic Games. He participated in the 2020 Olympics.
Yasuo Yamaji (山路泰生, Yamaji Yasuo; born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a…
Yasuo Yamaji (山路泰生, Yamaji Yasuo; born 20 February 1985) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a prop. He currently plays for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Canon Eagles in Japan's domestic Top League.
Memeco Sakata (坂田米米子, Sakata Memeko; born February 17, 1985), formerly known as Hiroko Sato (佐藤 寛子, Satō Hiroko), is a…
Memeco Sakata (坂田米米子, Sakata Memeko; born February 17, 1985), formerly known as Hiroko Sato (佐藤 寛子, Satō Hiroko), is a Japanese actress, singer and gravure idol.
Yōsuke Nozaki (野崎 陽介, Nozaki Yōsuke; born February 16, 1985 in Tsu, Mie) is a Japanese retired football player.
Masato Nakazawa (中澤 雅人, Nakazawa Masato; born February 16, 1985 in Toyama, Toyama, Japan) is a Japanese former…
Masato Nakazawa (中澤 雅人, Nakazawa Masato; born February 16, 1985 in Toyama, Toyama, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Yuki Yatomi (矢富 勇毅, Yatomi Yūki; born 16 February 1985 in Kyoto) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as a…
Yuki Yatomi (矢富 勇毅, Yatomi Yūki; born 16 February 1985 in Kyoto) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as a scrum-half. Yatomi is currently a player for Yamaha Jubilo, from Iwata. He has 15 caps for Japan, with 2 tries scored, 10 points in aggregate, since 2006. His debut was at a 50-14 win over South Korea, in Tokyo, in a 2007 Rugby World Cup qualifier, where he played as a substitute. He was present at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, playing two games.
Maiko Nakaoka (中岡 麻衣子, Nakaoka Maiko; born February 15, 1985) is a former Japanese football player. She played for…
Maiko Nakaoka (中岡 麻衣子, Nakaoka Maiko; born February 15, 1985) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Tomohisa Ōtani (大谷 智久, born February 14, 1985, in Hyōgo Prefecture) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher…
Tomohisa Ōtani (大谷 智久, born February 14, 1985, in Hyōgo Prefecture) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who is currently a coach for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Marines from 2010 to 2020.
Josephat Muchiri Ndambiri (born 12 February 1985) is a Kenyan long-distance runner. He represented his country at the…
Josephat Muchiri Ndambiri (born 12 February 1985) is a Kenyan long-distance runner. He represented his country at the World Championships in Athletics in 2007. He is based in Japan and trains with PACE Sports Management. He moved to Japan as a teenager on an athletic scholarship and specialised in long-distance track running, including the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres. He competed for, and graduated from, Ryutsu Keizai University. At the 2005 Sapporo Half Marathon, he led for the first half of the race but had faded to fourth by the finish point. At the end of the year he represented Kenyan in the International Chiba Ekiden. Running the marathon distance with a relay team of Martin Mathathi, Daniel Mwangi, Mekubo Mogusu, Onesmus Nyerere and John Kariuki, he helped set a world record time of 1:57:06 hours for the popular Japanese event. Ndambiri won a second Chiba Ekiden title with Kenya the following year, where he won his 5-kilometre leg by a margin of over twenty seconds. He won the 10,000 metres at the Kenyan Championships in 2007 and in his major international debut he finished fifth in the event at the 2007 World Championships. A month after his world appearance, he took a 5000/10,000 m double at the Japan Corporate Team Track & Field Championships. He attempted to gain selection for the 2008 Summer Olympics, but ended the trials in seventh and was not picked for the squad. Representing the Komori Corporation, he ran in the New Year Ekiden and won his 8.3 km stage. In the 2009 track season he became the first athlete to run the 10,000 m under 27 minutes on Japanese soil, taking the win at the Shizuoka International in an all-comers record of 26:57.36 minutes. He came seventh at the RAK Half Marathon in 2010, setting a personal best of 1:01:07 hours. The following year he came fourth over 10,000 m at the Hyogo Relays and then claimed third place at the Sapporo Half Marathon in June. He made his debut over the marathon distance in December 2011 and made a successful transition by taking the Fukuoka Marathon title in a time of 2:07:36 hours.
Leilani Yoshika Gaja (我謝 美佳 レイラニ, Gaja Yoshika Reirani; born February 12, 1985) is a Japanese model and actress from…
Leilani Yoshika Gaja (我謝 美佳 レイラニ, Gaja Yoshika Reirani; born February 12, 1985) is a Japanese model and actress from Tokyo. Her stage name in Japan is Yoshika Katou (加藤 美佳, Katō Yoshika), and is used in nearly all of her appearances in drama and film. Her father is Taiwanese of Japanese descent and her mother is Hawaiian of Japanese descent, lending to her legal name Leilani (Hawaiian for 'heavenly lei'), and making her half-Japanese. Her first major role was as Yuka Osada, the Crane Orphnoch, in Kamen Rider 555.
Tomoyuki Kawabata (河端 朋之, Kawabata Tomoyuki; born 7 February 1985) is a Japanese professional racing cyclist. He rode…
Tomoyuki Kawabata (河端 朋之, Kawabata Tomoyuki; born 7 February 1985) is a Japanese professional racing cyclist. He rode at the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. He is also a professional keirin cyclist. He also competed at the 2014 Asian Games and won a bronze medal in the team sprint.
Joji Kato (加藤条治, Katō Jōji) (born 6 February 1985) is a Japanese speedskater whose specialty is in the sprinting…
Joji Kato (加藤条治, Katō Jōji) (born 6 February 1985) is a Japanese speedskater whose specialty is in the sprinting distance event of 500 metres. At the age of 17 he became the first junior speedskater to skate the 500 metres in less than 35 seconds. Until 9 March 2007 he was the world record holder with the 34.30 he skated in Salt Lake City on 19 November 2005. He lost the world record to Lee Kang-seok, who skated 34.25 in Salt Lake City. At the age of 20, he became the 500 metres world champion at the 2005 World Single Distance Championships, leaving behind Hiroyasu Shimizu and Jeremy Wotherspoon. After this achievement he was considered to be one of the favourites for achieving a medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Prior to that 500 metre race, he named three skaters as his toughest competition: Jeremy Wotherspoon of Canada, Joey Cheek of the United States, and Dmitry Dorofeyev of Russia. Cheek and Dorofeyev won gold and silver, respectively, while Kato finished in sixth place. He was also beaten by his own countryman, Yūya Oikawa, who was fourth. He represented Japan at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver where he won bronze at men's 500 metres. At the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, he again represented Japan and finished 5th in the 500 m with a combined time over two runs of 69.74 and a fastest single time of 34.77 behind the Mulder brothers (Michel and Ronald), Jan Smeekens and Mo Tae-bum. He is a member of the Nidec Sankyo speed skating team.
Keisuke Ishii (石井慧介, Ishii Keisuke; born February 6, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler trained by and signed to…
Keisuke Ishii (石井慧介, Ishii Keisuke; born February 6, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler trained by and signed to DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT). Ishii also competes for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion.
Hiroaki Hiraoka (平岡 拓晃, Hiraoka Hiroaki; born 6 February 1985 in Hiroshima City) is a Japanese judoka. He won a silver…
Hiroaki Hiraoka (平岡 拓晃, Hiraoka Hiroaki; born 6 February 1985 in Hiroshima City) is a Japanese judoka. He won a silver medal at the 2009 World Judo Championships and the 2011 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2010 World Judo Championships. Hiroka also won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics at London, in the men's under 60 kg extra-lightweight category.