Tomoko Yonemura (米村知子, Yonemura Tomoko; born 7 January 1982) is a Japanese former tennis player. On 4 May 2009, she…Tomoko Yonemura (米村知子, Yonemura Tomoko; born 7 January 1982) is a Japanese former tennis player. On 4 May 2009, she achieved her career-high singles ranking of world No. 148. On 11 April 2005, she peaked at No. 144 in the doubles rankings. Tomoko, the sister of Akiko Yonemura, won seven singles and eleven doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. Last match played in 2011, Yonemura retired from professional tennis 2015.
Takuma Ito (伊藤 拓摩, Itō Takuma) is the general manager of the Nagasaki Velca in the Japanese B.League. Ito is the former…Takuma Ito (伊藤 拓摩, Itō Takuma) is the general manager of the Nagasaki Velca in the Japanese B.League. Ito is the former head coach of the Alvark Tokyo and the Nagasaki Velca.
Yuji Adachi (安達悠司, Adachi Yuji; born 29 June 1982) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…Yuji Adachi (安達悠司, Adachi Yuji; born 29 June 1982) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2025. He was previously a candidate for the House of Councillors in the 2022 election, and a candidate for the House of Representatives in the 2024 election.
Kazumasa Kikuchi (菊地 和正, Kikuchi Kazumasa; born June 27, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He…Kazumasa Kikuchi (菊地 和正, Kikuchi Kazumasa; born June 27, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Kenzo Maeda (前田 顕蔵, Maeda Kenzō; born June 27, 1982) is a professional basketball coach who currently serves as a head…Kenzo Maeda (前田 顕蔵, Maeda Kenzō; born June 27, 1982) is a professional basketball coach who currently serves as a head coach for Chinese Taipei women's national basketball team in Taiwan and the former bench boss for the Takamatsu Five Arrows of the bj league. He also served as a support coach/translator for the Japan national basketball team. In April 2026, Maeda was named head coach of the Taiwan women's national basketball team.
Keiji Kuraishi (倉石 圭二, Kuraishi Keiji; born 26 June 1982) is a Japanese professional football manager and former…Keiji Kuraishi (倉石 圭二, Kuraishi Keiji; born 26 June 1982) is a Japanese professional football manager and former footballer who is manager of J2 League club Vanraure Hachinohe.
Masashi Chikazawa (近澤 昌志, Chikazawa Masashi; born June 26, 1982) is a former baseball player from Japan. Chikazawa…Masashi Chikazawa (近澤 昌志, Chikazawa Masashi; born June 26, 1982) is a former baseball player from Japan. Chikazawa played in the Japan Pacific League for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes. He later played for Reno.
Masaru Maeta (前田勝, Maeta Masaru), known by his shikona Maeta (前田), (24 June 1982 – 26 August 2020) was a Japanese sumo…Masaru Maeta (前田勝, Maeta Masaru), known by his shikona Maeta (前田), (24 June 1982 – 26 August 2020) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from the city of Tsuruoka in Yamagata Prefecture. He was a former amateur sumo competitor for Nihon University and made his professional debut in 2005. His sumo stable was Shibatayama and previously he belonged to Hanaregoma. His height was 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) and his peak weight was 213 kg (470 lb). His highest rank was makushita 3. He retired in 2018.
Tetsuya Naito (内藤哲也, Naitō Tetsuya; born June 22, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is working as a…Tetsuya Naito (内藤哲也, Naitō Tetsuya; born June 22, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is working as a freelancer, primarily for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is the leader of Los Tranquilos de Japon and the current GHC Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He is best known for his 21-year run in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) from 2004 to 2025, and is largely regarded as one of the greatest and most popular wrestlers in the company's history. Naito began training for a professional wrestling career in 2000, initially under Animal Hamaguchi before joining NJPW in 2004, where he underwent further training and progressively rose to main event status. Although NJPW aimed to establish him as a top star by 2014, his clean cut babyface persona caused significant fan backlash, leading to his planned main event match at Wrestle Kingdom, NJPW's biggest event, to be demoted. This, and a stay in the Mexican stable Los Ingobernables through NJPW's partnership with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), would lead Naito to reinvent himself as an antihero leading his own stable, Los Ingobernables de Japon. Despite its villainous tendencies, this new gimmick immediately led him to new heights of popularity, and he would win the company's top prize, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship five times, while finally main-eventing Wrestle Kingdom five separate times. He departed NJPW in 2025 and proceed to continue to work as a freelancer on the independent scene and for Pro Wrestling Noah, where formed the spin-off stable Los Tranquilos de Japon. In NJPW, Naito is also the winner of the 2013, 2017 and 2023 editions of the G1 Climax, NJPW's premier singles tournament, and of the 2016 New Japan Cup. Other accomplishments include being the first person to hold the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships at the same time, a feat he accomplished twice, and being together with partner Yujiro Takahashi as No Limit the first team to have held both the company's heavyweight and junior heavyweight tag titles. He was awarded Tokyo Sports's MVP Award, the publication's highest honor, in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2023.
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.
Yoohei Kawakami (Japanese: 川上 洋平, Hepburn: Kawakami Yōhei; pronounced [kawakami joːheː]; born June 22, 1982) is a…Yoohei Kawakami (Japanese: 川上 洋平, Hepburn: Kawakami Yōhei; pronounced [kawakami joːheː]; born June 22, 1982) is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and actor. He is the founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter of the Japanese rock band Alexandros, formerly known as Champagne. He also hosts the Tokyo FM radio show Oto, Okashi (おとをかし).
Mihoko Ishida (石田ミホコ, Ishida Mihoko; born June 19, 1982) is a retired Japanese footballer who played for Arsenal. Since…Mihoko Ishida (石田ミホコ, Ishida Mihoko; born June 19, 1982) is a retired Japanese footballer who played for Arsenal. Since retiring from professional football Ishida has become a professional singer. In 2022 Isidia was hired as the assistant coach of Yokohama FC Seagulls, and was made head coach the next season.
Sayaka Sasaki (佐咲 紗花) (born June 19, 1982) is a Japanese musician signed to Lantis. She started her music career after…Sayaka Sasaki (佐咲 紗花) (born June 19, 1982) is a Japanese musician signed to Lantis. She started her music career after winning the All-Japan Anison Grand Prix singing contest in 2009. Since then, Sasaki has performed theme songs for various anime television series, such as The Book of Bantorra, Nichijou, Garo: The Animation, So, I Can't Play H!, and Bakuon!!, among others.
Yuka Kanematsu (兼松 由香, Kanematsu Yuka; born June 17, 1982) is a Japanese rugby sevens player. She competed in the 2016…Yuka Kanematsu (兼松 由香, Kanematsu Yuka; born June 17, 1982) is a Japanese rugby sevens player. She competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics for the Japanese women's rugby sevens team. She was also part of the squad that won a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Suguru Hashimoto (橋本 卓, Hashimoto Suguru; born June 16, 1982) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Azul Claro…Suguru Hashimoto (橋本 卓, Hashimoto Suguru; born June 16, 1982) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Azul Claro Numazu.
Shoitsu Omatsu (大松 尚逸, born June 16, 1982, in Kanazawa, Ishikawa) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder…Shoitsu Omatsu (大松 尚逸, born June 16, 1982, in Kanazawa, Ishikawa) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played with the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2005 to 2015 and with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in 2017. He has been a coach since 2020.
Keita Sugimoto (杉本 恵太, Sugimoto Keita; born June 13, 1982) is a former Japanese football player. His profile was raised…Keita Sugimoto (杉本 恵太, Sugimoto Keita; born June 13, 1982) is a former Japanese football player. His profile was raised when he scored an overhead kick from a tight angle (on the volley) while playing against Al-Ittihad in the AFC Champions League semi-final second round. His third daughter, Riina Sugimoto joined the idol group SKE48 as the 11th Generation.
Kazuhiro Kawata (川田 和宏, Kawata Kazuhiro; born June 11, 1982 in Fukuoka) is a former Japanese football player who last…Kazuhiro Kawata (川田 和宏, Kawata Kazuhiro; born June 11, 1982 in Fukuoka) is a former Japanese football player who last appeared for Blaublitz Akita. Kamata previously played for Oita Trinita in J. League Division 1.
Keiko Tamai (born January 6, 1982) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter. She is known for her flamboyant ring…Keiko Tamai (born January 6, 1982) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter. She is known for her flamboyant ring attire and personality.
Yoshito Okubo (大久保 嘉人, Ōkubo Yoshito; born 9 June 1982) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a…Yoshito Okubo (大久保 嘉人, Ōkubo Yoshito; born 9 June 1982) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a forward. He played for the Japan national team, scoring six goals in 60 appearances. He was the J.League Top Scorer and J.League Best XI in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Tadatoshi Fujimaki (藤巻 忠俊, Fujimaki Tadatoshi; born June 9, 1982) is a Japanese manga artist, best known as the creator…Tadatoshi Fujimaki (藤巻 忠俊, Fujimaki Tadatoshi; born June 9, 1982) is a Japanese manga artist, best known as the creator of sports manga Kuroko's Basketball and Robot × LaserBeam, as well as Kill Blue, all of which have been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump.
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.
Kenichi Matsuoka (松岡 健一, Matsuoka Ken'ichi; born June 7, 1982) is a professional Japanese baseball player and coach. He…Kenichi Matsuoka (松岡 健一, Matsuoka Ken'ichi; born June 7, 1982) is a professional Japanese baseball player and coach. He pitched for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows from 2005 through 2018, and has been a pitching coach for the Swallows since the 2019 season. Matsuoka played the one season with the Waikiki BeachBoys of the now defunct Hawaii Winter Baseball league, an MLB off-season developmental league that sought to develop Japanese players much like the Arizona Fall League. Matsuoka was picked up by the Swallows in 2005 as a pre-round draft pick from Kyushu Tokai University.
Azusa Nojiri (野尻 あずさ, Nojiri Azusa; born 6 June 1982) is a Japanese long-distance runner who competes in marathon…Azusa Nojiri (野尻 あずさ, Nojiri Azusa; born 6 June 1982) is a Japanese long-distance runner who competes in marathon races. Her personal best for the distance is 2:24:57 hours. She represented Japan in the marathon at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, coming in 19th. Originally a cross-country skier, she participated at the 2005 Winter Universiade but switched to distance running instead. She competed at the 2010 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and shared in the team bronze medal. She formerly ran for the Dai-Ichi Life corporate team and won the ekiden corporate title with them in 2011.
Akihisa Makida (牧田 明久, born June 3, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder and currently second…Akihisa Makida (牧田 明久, born June 3, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder and currently second squad coach for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Golden Eagles from 2005 to 2007 and from 2009 to 2016. On October 14, 2019, Makita become second squad fielding coach for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of NPB.
Yoshihiro Ito (伊藤 義弘, Ito Yoshihiro; June 2, 1982 – October 6, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He…Yoshihiro Ito (伊藤 義弘, Ito Yoshihiro; June 2, 1982 – October 6, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2008 to 2015 for the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Tadashi Settsu (攝津 正, Settsu Tadashi; born 1 June 1982 in Sendai, Miyagi) is a Japanese baseball player. He has been…Tadashi Settsu (攝津 正, Settsu Tadashi; born 1 June 1982 in Sendai, Miyagi) is a Japanese baseball player. He has been with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks since 2009, and plays as pitcher, wearing number 50. In 2009, he was voted Most Valuable Rookie. The next year, he became the first pitcher ever to make 70 or more appearances in his first two seasons in the league. He won the 2012 Sawamura Award with a record of 17-5 and a 1.91 ERA, with 153 strikeouts in 193+1⁄3 innings, and 3 complete games with 2 shutouts. Settsu is a 5 ft 11 in, 200 lb right-handed pitcher. With an overhand delivery he throws a fastball that usually sits in 86-88 mph (tops out at 92 mph), curveball, slider, and a solid-average screwball around 80 mph. He also has decent command, posting a walks per nine innings rate of 2.38 in his career (until 2012 season).
Kazumasa Azuma (東 和政, Azuma Kazumasa; born June 1, 1982) is a retired Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher…Kazumasa Azuma (東 和政, Azuma Kazumasa; born June 1, 1982) is a retired Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.
Kentaro Tone (Japanese: 利根 健太朗, Hepburn: Tone Kentarō; born May 29, 1982) is a Japanese voice actor from Hiroshima…Kentaro Tone (Japanese: 利根 健太朗, Hepburn: Tone Kentarō; born May 29, 1982) is a Japanese voice actor from Hiroshima Prefecture, affiliated with I'm Enterprise. He made his voice acting debut in digital content made for a 2006 exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki, and he later starred as Akita Hattori in Bakuman, Tetsuo Kinoshita in Danchi Tomoo, Oshtor and Haku in Utawarerumono, the President in This Art Club Has a Problem!, and Zion Kunikida in Ingress.
Yōsuke Kataoka (片岡 洋介, Kataoka Yōsuke; born 26 May 1982 in Iruma District, Saitama) is a former Japanese football…Yōsuke Kataoka (片岡 洋介, Kataoka Yōsuke; born 26 May 1982 in Iruma District, Saitama) is a former Japanese football player who lastly featured for Gainare Tottori.
Yuko Miyamoto (宮本 裕向, Miyamoto Yūkō; born May 25, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He originally started his…Yuko Miyamoto (宮本 裕向, Miyamoto Yūkō; born May 25, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He originally started his career in Wrestling Marvelous Future in August 2003, but later left the promotion and in 2004, signed with Wrestling of Darkness 666 (Triple Six). Miyamoto has since appeared in Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) and All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). Miyamoto is a former one-time DDT Extreme Champion, two-time BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight and a two-time Dove Pro Heavyweight Champion and a one-time CZW Ultraviolent Underground Champion. He is also known as one half of the tag team Yankee Nichokenju (ヤンキー二丁拳銃, Yankī Nichōkenjū; "Yankee Pistols Akimbo") with Isami Kodaka, where they are one-time KO-D Tag Team Champions, three-time BJW Tag Team Champions, one-time Wave Tag Team Champions, two-time All Asia Tag Team Champions and have also won the Dai Nihon Saikyo Tag League three times. In 2016, Miyamto formed a tag team with Harashima, named Smile Yankees (スマイル・ヤンキース, Sumairu yankīsu), where they were one-time KO-D Tag Team Champions.
Kenichi Sakai (坂井 謙一, Sakai Kenichi), (born May 25, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to…Kenichi Sakai (坂井 謙一, Sakai Kenichi), (born May 25, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to Michinoku Pro Wrestling where he competes under the ring name Ken45° and is one half of the reigning Tohoku Tag Team Champions and UWA World Tag Team Champions with Kengo.
Hiroyasu Tanaka (Japanese:田中 浩康, born May 24, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He was the…Hiroyasu Tanaka (Japanese:田中 浩康, born May 24, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He was the number 1 draft pick for the Yakult Swallows in 2005.
Takahiro Shibasaki (柴崎 貴広, Shibasaki Takahiro; born May 23, 1982) is a Japanese football player who plays for Kataller…Takahiro Shibasaki (柴崎 貴広, Shibasaki Takahiro; born May 23, 1982) is a Japanese football player who plays for Kataller Toyama.
Masaki Okimoto (沖本 摩幸, Okimoto Masaki) (born May 21, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler from Neyagawa, Japan…Masaki Okimoto (沖本 摩幸, Okimoto Masaki) (born May 21, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler from Neyagawa, Japan; he's a current member of the Michinoku Pro Wrestling roster as Rasse (ラッセ). He mainly uses a high-flying style.
Kota Ibushi (飯伏幸太, Ibushi Kōta; born May 21, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler and martial artist. He is signed…Kota Ibushi (飯伏幸太, Ibushi Kōta; born May 21, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler and martial artist. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is currently inactive due to a broken femur, suffered during the October 11, 2025 AEW Collision taping. Ibushi began his career with DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) in 2004. Over the next 11 years, he became a three-time KO-D Openweight Champion, five-time KO-D Tag Team Champion, and two-time KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champion. Two of his KO-D Tag Team title reigns were with Kenny Omega as the Golden☆Lovers, and their combined total of 351 days is still a DDT record. In 2009, Ibushi started working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and eventually signed with them in 2013. In NJPW, he is a one-time NEVER Openweight Champion, three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, and a one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. He resigned from both DDT and NJPW in February 2016 and has performed in several different organizations as a freelancer, including both DDT and NJPW. He also participated in WWE's 2016 Cruiserweight Classic tournament. After continuing to perform as a freelancer for NJPW after 2016 (including as Tiger Mask W from 2016 to 2017), Ibushi signed a new full-time contract with NJPW in 2019, winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship for the first and only time in his career in 2021. he later unified it with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to become the inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. He is also a former IWGP Tag Team Champion. He has won several tournaments for NJPW, including the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors, the 2015 New Japan Cup, and the 2019 and 2020 editions of the G1 Climax; he is the only wrestler to have won all three tournaments. He is also one of only four wrestlers to win two consecutive G1 Climax tournaments, alongside Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Kazuchika Okada, as well as the only wrestler to reach the final stage of four consecutive G1 Climax tournaments.
Hiroki Yamada (山田 大禧, Yamada Hiroki) (born 19 May 1982) is a Japanese ski jumper. In the World Cup he finished four…Hiroki Yamada (山田 大禧, Yamada Hiroki) (born 19 May 1982) is a Japanese ski jumper. In the World Cup he finished four times among the top 10, his best results being two fourth places from Garmisch-Partenkirchen (1 January 2002) and Hakuba (24 January 2002). He participated in the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City, finishing 33rd in the normal hill and 5th in the team event.
Masaki Chugo (中後 雅喜, Chūgo Masaki; born May 16, 1982) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who…Masaki Chugo (中後 雅喜, Chūgo Masaki; born May 16, 1982) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who is the assistant manager of J1 League club Kashima Antlers.
Tatsuya Fujiwara (藤原 竜也, Fujiwara Tatsuya; born May 15, 1982) is a Japanese actor. Internationally, he is best known…Tatsuya Fujiwara (藤原 竜也, Fujiwara Tatsuya; born May 15, 1982) is a Japanese actor. Internationally, he is best known for his leading roles as Shuya Nanahara in the Battle Royale films, Light Yagami in the Death Note films, Kaiji Itō in the Kaiji films, and Rikuhiko Yuki in Hideo Nakata's The Incite Mill. In 2014, he portrayed the villain Shishio Makoto in the live action Rurouni Kenshin films.
Eiji Ando (安藤英次, Andō Eiji; born 14 May 1982) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a fly-half. He was…Eiji Ando (安藤英次, Andō Eiji; born 14 May 1982) is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a fly-half. He was named in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, but didn't make an appearance at the tournament. He did though make 13 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring 55 points.
Ai Shibata (柴田 亜衣, Shibata Ai; born May 14, 1982) is a Japanese former swimmer. At the 2004 Summer Olympics, she won…Ai Shibata (柴田 亜衣, Shibata Ai; born May 14, 1982) is a Japanese former swimmer. At the 2004 Summer Olympics, she won the gold medal in the 800 meter freestyle race. She was the first ever female gold medalist for Japan in a freestyle event. She attended the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya. In 2008 Shibata announced her retirement.