Asahi Miyashita (宮下 朝陽, Miyashita Asahi; born January 26, 2004 in Kuromatsunai, Hokkaido, Japan) is a professional…Asahi Miyashita (宮下 朝陽, Miyashita Asahi; born January 26, 2004 in Kuromatsunai, Hokkaido, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He is an infielder for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Nagisa Muraki (村木汀, Muraki Nagisa; born 14 February 2000) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…Nagisa Muraki (村木汀, Muraki Nagisa; born 14 February 2000) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2026. She was the youngest member elected in the 2026 general election.
Kōsuke Sakaguchi (阪口 皓亮, Sakaguchi Kōsuke; born August 15, 1999 in Osaka, Osaka, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Kōsuke Sakaguchi (阪口 皓亮, Sakaguchi Kōsuke; born August 15, 1999 in Osaka, Osaka, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Yuto Kawamura (川村 友斗, Kawamura Yūto; born August 13, 1999) is a Japanese professional baseball Outfielder for the…Yuto Kawamura (川村 友斗, Kawamura Yūto; born August 13, 1999) is a Japanese professional baseball Outfielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Ryūsei Satō (佐藤 龍世, Satō Ryūsei; born January 15, 1997) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Chunichi…Ryūsei Satō (佐藤 龍世, Satō Ryūsei; born January 15, 1997) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Saitama Seibu Lions and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Ayumu Nedefuji (子出藤 歩夢, Nedefuji Ayumu; born 7 April 1994, in Otaru) is a Japanese snowboarder. He was a participant at…Ayumu Nedefuji (子出藤 歩夢, Nedefuji Ayumu; born 7 April 1994, in Otaru) is a Japanese snowboarder. He was a participant at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Seiji Kawagoe (川越 誠司, Kawagoe Seiji; born June 30, 1993) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the…Seiji Kawagoe (川越 誠司, Kawagoe Seiji; born June 30, 1993) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Yohei Kagiya (鍵谷 陽平, Kagiya Yōhei) (born September 9, 1990) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He…Yohei Kagiya (鍵谷 陽平, Kagiya Yōhei) (born September 9, 1990) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Yomiuri Giants. He debuted in 2013 for the Fighters.
Atsushi Ichimura (市村 篤司, Ichimura Atsushi; born November 18, 1984) is a Japanese former football player who last played…Atsushi Ichimura (市村 篤司, Ichimura Atsushi; born November 18, 1984) is a Japanese former football player who last played for Kamatamare Sanuki.
Jun Tonosaki (外崎潤), born January 9, 1984, is a Japanese professional ice hockey Defenceman currently playing for the…Jun Tonosaki (外崎潤), born January 9, 1984, is a Japanese professional ice hockey Defenceman currently playing for the Nippon Paper Cranes of the Asia League. Since 2005 (the beginning of his professional career), he plays for the Nippon Paper Cranes. He also has played for the Japan national team since the year 2006.
Koji Yamase (山瀬 功治, Yamase Kōji; born 22 September 1981) is a Japanese football player who plays for Renofa Yamaguchi…Koji Yamase (山瀬 功治, Yamase Kōji; born 22 September 1981) is a Japanese football player who plays for Renofa Yamaguchi FC. His father Isao Yamase participated in the 1984 Winter Olympics as a biathlete. His brother Yukihiro Yamase is also a footballer.
Seigo Saito (齋藤 制剛, Saitō Seigō; born 4 May 1977) is a retired Japanese judoka. Saito is from Sapporo, Hokkaidō. He…Seigo Saito (齋藤 制剛, Saitō Seigō; born 4 May 1977) is a retired Japanese judoka. Saito is from Sapporo, Hokkaidō. He belonged to Asahi Kasei after graduation from Kokushikan University in 2000. Saito was good at Uchimata and Newaza in high-school days and was expected to get medal of Olympic Games or World Championships in the future. But he was not able to use the skill of them by the trouble of knee like Anterior cruciate ligament injury since 2000. In 2005, he won a gold medal at the Asian Championships and All-Japan Selected Championships with the skill that he learned newly like Kata guruma, Ōuchi gari and Kuchiki taoshi. But he was not chosen as a Japanese representative at the World Championships held in Cairo. He has coached judo at Asahi Kasei since 2010. Among his students is Tatsuki Masubuchi Yohei Takai and so on. His younger brother, Masamichi (順道) is also famous judoka and won a gold medal at the Kodokan Cup in 2001.
Yoshinori Sunahara (砂原 良徳, Sunahara Yoshinori; born September 13, 1969) is a Japanese record producer and DJ from…Yoshinori Sunahara (砂原 良徳, Sunahara Yoshinori; born September 13, 1969) is a Japanese record producer and DJ from Sapporo, Hokkaido. He is a former member of Denki Groove. He was also a member of Metafive.
The Pillows (Japanese: ザ・ピロウズ, Hepburn: Za Pirōzu) were a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Hokkaido in 1989.…The Pillows (Japanese: ザ・ピロウズ, Hepburn: Za Pirōzu) were a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Hokkaido in 1989. Originally a quartet, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Sawao Yamanaka, lead guitarist Yoshiaki Manabe and drummer Shinichiro Sato continued the band as a trio for another 33 years, following the departure of bassist Kenji Ueda in 1992. They are best known in the West for providing the soundtrack for the anime series FLCL. The Pillows announced their disbandment at the end of January 2025, and Sato died from cancer in March 2026.
Masashi Arikura (有倉 雅史, born June 12, 1967) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the…Masashi Arikura (有倉 雅史, born June 12, 1967) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Nippon-Ham Fighters from 1990 to 1994, the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in 1996 and 1997, and the Hanshin Tigers in 1998.
Katsushi Tao (田尾 克史, Tao Katsushi; born 1 May 1963) is a Japanese ski jumper. He competed in the normal hill and large…Katsushi Tao (田尾 克史, Tao Katsushi; born 1 May 1963) is a Japanese ski jumper. He competed in the normal hill and large hill events at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Koji Okajima (岡島功治, Okajima Koji; born March 23, 1957) is a retired Japanese competitive pair skater and figure skating…Koji Okajima (岡島功治, Okajima Koji; born March 23, 1957) is a retired Japanese competitive pair skater and figure skating coach. With pair partner, Naoko Asano, he is the 1976–77 Japanese National bronze medalist and with pair partner, Mutsumi Takezaki, he is the 1978–79 Japanese National silver medalist.
Takao Ito (伊藤 高男, Itō Takao; born 5 November 1952) is a Japanese former ski jumper. He competed in the normal hill and…Takao Ito (伊藤 高男, Itō Takao; born 5 November 1952) is a Japanese former ski jumper. He competed in the normal hill and large hill events at the 1976 Winter Olympics.
Katsunari Takahashi (高橋勝成, Takahashi Katsunari) (born Go Seung-Seong (高勝成, 고승성) 5 August 1950) is a Japanese…Katsunari Takahashi (高橋勝成, Takahashi Katsunari) (born Go Seung-Seong (高勝成, 고승성) 5 August 1950) is a Japanese professional golfer of Korean ancestry.
Kongō Masahiro (18 November 1948 - 12 August 2014) was a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank…Kongō Masahiro (18 November 1948 - 12 August 2014) was a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake and he won a top division tournament championship in 1975. He was a sumo coach and head of the Nishonoseki stable from 1976 until 2013.
Toshimasa Furukawa (born 11 May 1947) is a Japanese alpine skier. He competed in the men's slalom at the 1972 Winter…Toshimasa Furukawa (born 11 May 1947) is a Japanese alpine skier. He competed in the men's slalom at the 1972 Winter Olympics.
Tsutomu Wakamatsu (若松 勉, Wakamatsu Tsutomu; born April 17, 1947) is a Japanese former baseball player, coach, and…Tsutomu Wakamatsu (若松 勉, Wakamatsu Tsutomu; born April 17, 1947) is a Japanese former baseball player, coach, and manager for the Yakult Swallows in Nippon Professional Baseball. He batted left-handed, and threw right-handed. His number 1 is honoured by the Swallows.
Akitsugu Konno (金野 昭次, Konno Akitsugu; September 1, 1944 – September 5, 2019) was a Japanese ski jumper who competed in…Akitsugu Konno (金野 昭次, Konno Akitsugu; September 1, 1944 – September 5, 2019) was a Japanese ski jumper who competed in the early 1970s. His best finish was a silver medal in the Individual Normal Hill at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo.
Wakio Mitsui (三井 辨雄, Mitsui Wakio; 24 November 1942 – 1 April 2021) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party…Wakio Mitsui (三井 辨雄, Mitsui Wakio; 24 November 1942 – 1 April 2021) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Sapporo, Hokkaido and graduate of Showa Pharmaceutical University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000 after an unsuccessful run in 1996.
Osamu Tada (多田 修, Tada Osamu; born 16 May 1935) is a Japanese alpine skier. He competed in three events at the 1960…Osamu Tada (多田 修, Tada Osamu; born 16 May 1935) is a Japanese alpine skier. He competed in three events at the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Rinichi Yamamoto (山本 麟一, Yamamoto Rin'ichi) was a Japanese actor from Hokkaido. In 1953, he signed to the Toei Company…Rinichi Yamamoto (山本 麟一, Yamamoto Rin'ichi) was a Japanese actor from Hokkaido. In 1953, he signed to the Toei Company and made his film debut in Gakusei Goninotoko. He is most famous for playing villains, and appeared more than 200 films. He also had many guest appearances as a villain in television dramas. His final role was Yoshinaka in the 1980 miniseries Shōgun.
Minoru Chiaki (Japanese: 千秋 実, Hepburn: Chiaki Minoru; April 28, 1917 – November 1, 1999) was a Japanese actor who…Minoru Chiaki (Japanese: 千秋 実, Hepburn: Chiaki Minoru; April 28, 1917 – November 1, 1999) was a Japanese actor who appeared in eleven of Akira Kurosawa's films, including Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood, and The Hidden Fortress. He was also one of Kon Ichikawa's favourite actors. He attended, but did not graduate from, Chuo University. Later in his career, he appeared as a secondary actor in many Toei films. In 1986, he won the Best Actor at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony for his performance in Gray Sunset (1985). He died of cardiac and pulmonary failure at age 82. His son Katsuhiko Sasaki is also an actor.
Fumio Hayasaka (早坂 文雄, Hayasaka Fumio; August 19, 1914 – October 15, 1955) was a Japanese composer of classical music…Fumio Hayasaka (早坂 文雄, Hayasaka Fumio; August 19, 1914 – October 15, 1955) was a Japanese composer of classical music and film scores.
Isao Ko Abe (阿部 功, February 18, 1912 – February 15, 1980) was a Japanese hammer thrower. He competed at the 1936 Summer…Isao Ko Abe (阿部 功, February 18, 1912 – February 15, 1980) was a Japanese hammer thrower. He competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics and finished in 13th place. After his athletic retirement, he joined the Ministry of Railways.
Yoshie Wada (和田 芳恵, Wada Yoshie; April 6, 1906 - October 5, 1977) was a Japanese novelist and critic. Wada was born in…Yoshie Wada (和田 芳恵, Wada Yoshie; April 6, 1906 - October 5, 1977) was a Japanese novelist and critic. Wada was born in Oshamambe, Hokkaidō, and graduated from Chuo University with a law degree. In addition to his novels in the naturalist tradition, he edited the diaries of Ichiyō Higuchi and Fumiko Hayashi. He received one of the 13th Japan Art Academy Prizes (1956) for Diary of Ichiyō Higuchi (一葉の日記, Ichiyō no nikki), the 50th Naoki Prize (1963下) for Chiri no Naka (塵の中), and the 26th Yomiuri Prize (1974) for Tsugiki no dai (接木の台).
Katsumi Yamada (6 June 1905 – 1970) was a Japanese ski jumper. He competed in the individual event at the 1932 Winter…Katsumi Yamada (6 June 1905 – 1970) was a Japanese ski jumper. He competed in the individual event at the 1932 Winter Olympics.
Chūhei Nambu (南部 忠平, Nanbu Chūhei; May 27, 1904 – July 23, 1997) was a Japanese track and field athlete. As of 2024, he…Chūhei Nambu (南部 忠平, Nanbu Chūhei; May 27, 1904 – July 23, 1997) was a Japanese track and field athlete. As of 2024, he is the only person to have held world records in both the long jump and the triple jump.
Kensaku Shimaki (島木 健作, Shimaki Kensaku; 7 September 1903 – 17 August 1945) was the pen name of Asakura Kikuo (朝倉 菊雄)…Kensaku Shimaki (島木 健作, Shimaki Kensaku; 7 September 1903 – 17 August 1945) was the pen name of Asakura Kikuo (朝倉 菊雄), a Japanese author active during the Shōwa period in Japan. He had an interest in leftist ideology and was arrested in 1928 due to his ties to the Japanese Communist Party. Throughout his literary career, Shimaki wrote multiple novels and stories with a common theme being proletariat life. Some of his works were published by magazines and journals. He associated with Nobel laureate Kawabata Yasunari.
Subaru Takahashi (高橋 昴, Takahashi Subaru; 31 August 1902 – 4 July 1992) was a Japanese cross-country skier. He competed…Subaru Takahashi (高橋 昴, Takahashi Subaru; 31 August 1902 – 4 July 1992) was a Japanese cross-country skier. He competed in the men's 18 kilometre event at the 1928 Winter Olympics.
Eitaro Noro (野呂 榮太郎, Noro Eitarō; 1900–1934) was a Japanese economic historian. Noro was born in Hokkaido in 1900. He…Eitaro Noro (野呂 榮太郎, Noro Eitarō; 1900–1934) was a Japanese economic historian. Noro was born in Hokkaido in 1900. He studied at Keio Gijuku University, where he first became involved in radical politics. He worked for a labour research institute following graduation. In 1930 he joined the Japanese Communist Party. He was instrumental in laying the foundations for the Koza school, a branch of Japanese Marxist thought. Noro was arrested in November 1933. He died on 19 February 1934, in Shinagawa Police Station. His death was the result of police torture.
Ryūichi Inamura (稲村 隆一, Inamura Ryūichi, 7 March 1898 – 20 November 1990) was a Japanese peasant movement activist and…Ryūichi Inamura (稲村 隆一, Inamura Ryūichi, 7 March 1898 – 20 November 1990) was a Japanese peasant movement activist and politician who served four terms in the House of Representatives. Active in the prewar agrarian and leftist movements, he belonged successively to the Japanese Communist Party, the Labour-Farmer Party, the Social Masses Party, and the Tōhōkai, before joining the Japan Socialist Party after the war. He was purged from public office during the Allied occupation and later returned the Order of the Sacred Treasure in protest against its award to Ryōichi Sasakawa. His younger brother was politician Junzō Inamura and his nephew was Toshio Inamura.
Kan Shimozawa (子母澤 寛, Shimozawa Kan; sometimes spelled Shimosawa; February 1, 1892 – July 19, 1968) was a Japanese…Kan Shimozawa (子母澤 寛, Shimozawa Kan; sometimes spelled Shimosawa; February 1, 1892 – July 19, 1968) was a Japanese novelist and historical writer best known for originating the character Zatoichi. He was awarded the Kikuchi Kan Prize in 1962 for a series of works set at the end of the Tokugawa period and the Meiji era.
Naohide Yatsu (September 8, 1877 – October 2, 1947) was a Japanese biologist, geneticist, and embryologist. Yatsu…Naohide Yatsu (September 8, 1877 – October 2, 1947) was a Japanese biologist, geneticist, and embryologist. Yatsu received his Ph.D. from Columbia University and was a pioneer in embryonic induction and laid the foundations for zoology research in Japan.
Rika Nakagawa (中川 梨花, Nakagawa Rika; born April 21, 1998) is a Japanese actress and singer who is affiliated with Sun…Rika Nakagawa (中川 梨花, Nakagawa Rika; born April 21, 1998) is a Japanese actress and singer who is affiliated with Sun Music Production. Starting her career as a member of a Hokkaido-based idol group, she also appeared in various television shows and events in Hokkaido before moving to Tokyo to continue her career while studying at Keio University. She portrayed Momiji Itō in the mixed-media project Shine Post, as well as Kanata Misora, the protagonist of the anime series Narenare: Cheer for You!
Mana Watanabe (渡部 愛, Watanabe Mana; born June 26, 1993) is a Japanese women's professional shogi player ranked 3-dan.…Mana Watanabe (渡部 愛, Watanabe Mana; born June 26, 1993) is a Japanese women's professional shogi player ranked 3-dan. She is a former Women's Ōi title holder. She is also the first women's professional to come out of the Ladies Professional Shogi-players' Association of Japan (LSPA) and subsequently be recognized as such by the Japan Shogi Association.
