Keito Mombetsu (門別 啓人, Mombetsu Keito; born July 10, 2004) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He is a pitcher…Keito Mombetsu (門別 啓人, Mombetsu Keito; born July 10, 2004) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He is a pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Haruka Kasai (Japanese: 葛西 春香, Hepburn: Kasai Haruka; born 4 February 2004) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier and ski…Haruka Kasai (Japanese: 葛西 春香, Hepburn: Kasai Haruka; born 4 February 2004) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier and ski jumper. She has won two bronze medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
Yuna Kasai (葛西 優奈, Kasai Yūna; born February 4, 2004) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier and ski jumper. At the 2025…Yuna Kasai (葛西 優奈, Kasai Yūna; born February 4, 2004) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier and ski jumper. At the 2025 World Championships, she won gold in the mass start. At the 2021 Nordic Combined World Cup, she won bronze in both mass start and individual Nordic combined.
Ryusei Nose (野瀬 龍世, Nose Ryusei; born 8 February 2000) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for…Ryusei Nose (野瀬 龍世, Nose Ryusei; born 8 February 2000) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for FC Osaka.
Yohei Komatsu (born 2 November 1997) is a Japanese long-distance runner. In 2019, he competed in the senior men's race…Yohei Komatsu (born 2 November 1997) is a Japanese long-distance runner. In 2019, he competed in the senior men's race at the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships held in Aarhus, Denmark. He finished in 92nd place.
Yuma Imagawa (今川優馬, Imagawa Yuma; born January 25, 1997 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Yuma Imagawa (今川優馬, Imagawa Yuma; born January 25, 1997 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He is an outfielder for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Naoki Nakamura (中村直幹, Nakamura Naoki; born 19 September 1996 in Rumoi) is a Japanese ski jumper. Team bronze medalist…Naoki Nakamura (中村直幹, Nakamura Naoki; born 19 September 1996 in Rumoi) is a Japanese ski jumper. Team bronze medalist at the 2016 Nordic Junior World Ski Championships. His younger sister, Anju Nakamura, competes in the Nordic Combined. His best individual result so far is 3rd place in the competition in Ruka in the season 2022–23.
Takuma Sato (佐藤 卓磨, Satō Takuma; born May 10, 1995) is a Japanese professional basketball player for Chiba Jets of the…Takuma Sato (佐藤 卓磨, Satō Takuma; born May 10, 1995) is a Japanese professional basketball player for Chiba Jets of the B.League in Japan. He played college basketball for Tokai University. On August 20, 2018, the Japanese Olympic Committee penalized Sato after he was found to have solicited prostitutes while in Jakarta for the 2018 Asian Games. He was ultimately suspended from official competition for a year.
Takanobu Nishikawa (born January 14, 1992) is a Japanese professional basketball player who last played for the Saga…Takanobu Nishikawa (born January 14, 1992) is a Japanese professional basketball player who last played for the Saga Ballooners of the B.League in Japan. He played college basketball for Meiji University. He represented his country for the 2018 William Jones Cup.
Tomohisa Sako (佐香 智久, Sakō Tomohisa; born December 26, 1991, Sapporo, Hokkaido) is a Japanese singer. He has several…Tomohisa Sako (佐香 智久, Sakō Tomohisa; born December 26, 1991, Sapporo, Hokkaido) is a Japanese singer. He has several singles and albums that have charted on the Oricon charts, including "Zutto", which reached at number 12 on the Oricon Singles Chart, and "Kimi Koi Calendar", which peaked at number 13, both in 2012. His album Hajimemashite reached at number 27 on the Oricon Albums Chart.
Torai Fushimi (伏見 寅威, Fushimi Torai; born May 12, 1990 in Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball…Torai Fushimi (伏見 寅威, Fushimi Torai; born May 12, 1990 in Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Orix Buffaloes and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Shōtarō Tashiro (田代 将太郎, Tashiro Shōtarō; born December 13, 1989 in Ishikari, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese…Shōtarō Tashiro (田代 将太郎, Tashiro Shōtarō; born December 13, 1989 in Ishikari, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions and Tokyo Yakult Swallows. On December 2, 2020, he become free agent.
Yuto Otsuka (大塚 裕土, Ōtsuka Yūto; born August 23, 1987) is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Altiri…Yuto Otsuka (大塚 裕土, Ōtsuka Yūto; born August 23, 1987) is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Altiri Chiba of the B.League in Japan. He was selected by the Miyazaki Shining Suns with the third overall pick in the 2012 bj League draft. His nicknames are "Prince" in Akita and "Come on" in Toyama.
Shinsuke Kashiwagi (柏木 真介、born December 22, 1981) is a Japanese professional basketball player. He plays for the…Shinsuke Kashiwagi (柏木 真介、born December 22, 1981) is a Japanese professional basketball player. He plays for the SeaHorses Mikawa of the B.League. Kashiwagi was a member of the Japan national basketball team. He played for the team in the 2006 FIBA World Championship and the FIBA Asia Championship 2007 and FIBA Asia Championship 2009. In the 2009-10 season, Kashiwagi entered the month-long winter break averaging 13.7 points and 3.5 assists per game for the Seahorses. He was named to the West squad for the 2009-10 JBL Super League All-Star game.
Manabu Satake (佐竹 学, Satake Manabu; born October 27, 1974) is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He was…Manabu Satake (佐竹 学, Satake Manabu; born October 27, 1974) is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He was the number 4 draft pick for the Orix BlueWave in 1997.
Noriaki Kasai (葛西 紀明, Kasai Noriaki; born 6 June 1972) is a Japanese ski jumper. His career achievements include a gold…Noriaki Kasai (葛西 紀明, Kasai Noriaki; born 6 June 1972) is a Japanese ski jumper. His career achievements include a gold medal at the 1992 Ski Flying World Championships, winning the 1999 Nordic Tournament, individual silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics, and two individual bronze medals at the 2003 Ski Jumping World Championships. During his career, Kasai has broken numerous ski jumping records. In 2016, he was honoured with two Guinness World Records certificates for the most individual World Cup starts, not only in ski jumping, but in all World Cup disciplines organized by the International Ski Federation. At World Cup level, Kasai competed for a total of 35 seasons between 1988–89 and 2025–26.
Casiopea (カシオペア, Kashiopea) is a Japanese jazz fusion band formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro and bassist Tetsuo…Casiopea (カシオペア, Kashiopea) is a Japanese jazz fusion band formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro and bassist Tetsuo Sakurai. After lineup changes the following year that added keyboardist Minoru Mukaiya, Casiopea made their major‑label debut with their self‑titled album in 1979, and drummer Akira Jimbo joined in 1980. During this period, they released more than a dozen albums before Sakurai and Jimbo left the band amid disputes over concurrent band memberships. In 1990, bassist Yoshihro Naruse and drummer Masaaki Hiyama joined, resulting in a second era marked by multiple drummer changes, with Jimbo returning as a supporting member in 1997. Noro suspended all band activities in 2006, leading to a six-year hiatus. In 2012, the band resumed activities with Mukaiya not rejoining and Kiyomi Otaka replacing him on keyboards. Renamed Casiopea 3rd for its third period, the group recorded its first album in eight years. After Jimbo left again in 2022, he was replaced by drummer Yoshinori Imai and the band entered its fourth period as Casiopea‑P4. Otaka left in 2025 and was replaced by keyboardist Jun Abe, and the band reverted to its original name.
Takashi Narita (成田 貴志, Narita Takashi) (born October 6, 1969) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who played as a…Takashi Narita (成田 貴志, Narita Takashi) (born October 6, 1969) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who played as a setter for the Men's National Team in the 1990s. He competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He also competed in the 1998 World Championship in Japan, where he placed 16th.
Iwao Ohmura (大村 巌, Ohmura Iwao; born May 31, 1969), nicknamed "Fisherman", is a former Nippon Professional Baseball…Iwao Ohmura (大村 巌, Ohmura Iwao; born May 31, 1969), nicknamed "Fisherman", is a former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder and the current coach of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Masahiko Harada (原田 雅彦, Harada Masahiko) (born 9 May 1968) is a Japanese former ski jumper. He is best remembered for a…Masahiko Harada (原田 雅彦, Harada Masahiko) (born 9 May 1968) is a Japanese former ski jumper. He is best remembered for a meltdown at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, which cost the Japanese national team a victory, and his subsequent redemption at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano; the latter of which led to him being affectionately called "Happy Harada".
Naoki Eiga (栄花直輝 Eiga Naoki, born 1967) is a Japanese kendoka who in 2000 won the individual event at World Kendo…Naoki Eiga (栄花直輝 Eiga Naoki, born 1967) is a Japanese kendoka who in 2000 won the individual event at World Kendo Championship (WKC) as well as the highest title in Kendo: All Japan Kendo Champion. His progress toward the championship was documented by the Japanese broadcaster NHK in a 2003 program named A Single Blow. He currently holds the rank of Kyoshi Hachidan (教士八段) and is the head of technical Instruction in the Hokkaido Police Educational Department and head instructor of the Hokkaido University Kendo Club. Naoki Eiga started kendo under the influence of his brother, Hideyuki. Both competed at the highest level of the sport. Eiga's wife Naomi was also a kendo practitioner. She was his younger classmate at Tokai University and a member of the same kendo dojo. Eiga joined the Hokkaido police force and became a member of the Hokkaido Police Kendo Team. From 1997 he was also a member of the Japanese national kendo team but as a substitute, and as such he was allowed to participate only in the preliminary bouts of the WKC team event in 1997. Feeling that he had to earn the respect of his fellow team members and coaches of the team, he decided to concentrate on the All Japan Kendo Champion tournament. At that time, the event had been dominated for years by Masahiro Miyazaki, one of the greatest kendoists of modern times. Eiga faced Miyazaki in the quarter-finals of the 1999 tournament, but lost. After his defeat in 1999, Eiga entered the All Japan tournament once more in 2000, and faced Miyazaki again in the finals. This time, he was able to win with the kote strike just before the match went into overtime. By winning the title of All Japan Kendo Champion of the year 2000, Eiga ended the Miyazaki era. He attributed his success to his teacher, Kazuo Furukawa. Based on his success in the AJKC in November 2000, Eiga was chosen as team captain of the Japanese national team for the World Kendo Championship 2003 in Glasgow, Scotland. On 21 April 2019, Eiga won the 17th All Japan 8 Dan Holder's Championship, defeating Matsumoto Masashi with a men strike in encho. On 16 April 2023, Eiga won his second title at the 23rd All Japan 8 Dan Holder's Championship, defeating Kazuhiko Aiko with a men strike in regulation time following a two year tournament hiatus due to COVID-19.
Masashi Abe (阿部 雅司, Abe Masashi) (born August 13, 1965) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed during the…Masashi Abe (阿部 雅司, Abe Masashi) (born August 13, 1965) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who competed during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He won the 3 x 10 km team event at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Abe also won three medals in the team event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships with golds in 1993 (3 x 10 km) and 1995 (4 x 5 km), and a bronze in 1991 (3 x 10 km).
Shinichi Sato (佐藤 真一, Satō Shin'ichi), born August 7, 1965, is a retired Japanese professional baseball player from…Shinichi Sato (佐藤 真一, Satō Shin'ichi), born August 7, 1965, is a retired Japanese professional baseball player from Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. Sato joined the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks at age 28, but did not live up to expectations with the team. He was traded to the Yakult Swallows in 1996, and played in 113 games in 1999, marking a .341 batting average. He also broke the team record with 25 consecutive game hits. He was relegated to pinch-hitting duty afterwards, and retired after the 2005 season at age 40. He currently works as a batting coach under Tokyo Yakult Swallows manager Junji Ogawa. He won a bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics before entering the Japanese professional leagues.
Ryō Ikuemi (Japanese: いくえみ綾, Hepburn: Ikuemi Ryō; born October 2, 1964 in Nayoro, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese shōjo…Ryō Ikuemi (Japanese: いくえみ綾, Hepburn: Ikuemi Ryō; born October 2, 1964 in Nayoro, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese shōjo manga artist.
Shuji Yamada (山田 修司, Yamada Shūji) (born 2 June 1956) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1984…Shuji Yamada (山田 修司, Yamada Shūji) (born 2 June 1956) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Tae Satoya (里谷 多英, Satoya Tae; born June 12, 1976, in Sapporo) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She won the Olympic title…Tae Satoya (里谷 多英, Satoya Tae; born June 12, 1976, in Sapporo) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She won the Olympic title in the moguls event at the 1998 Winter Olympics, and she finished third at the 2002 games.
