Gakuto Wakabayashi (若林 楽人, Wakabayashi Gakuto; born April 13, 1998) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for…Gakuto Wakabayashi (若林 楽人, Wakabayashi Gakuto; born April 13, 1998) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Yomiuri Giants.
Hiromi Itoh (伊藤 大海, Itō Hiromi; born August 31, 1997) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for…Hiromi Itoh (伊藤 大海, Itō Hiromi; born August 31, 1997) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Taro Kondo (近藤 太郎) (born 8 September 1994) is a Japanese speed skater. Kondo competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics for…Taro Kondo (近藤 太郎) (born 8 September 1994) is a Japanese speed skater. Kondo competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics for Japan. In the 1000 metres he finished 35th overall and in the 1500 metres he finished 31st. Kondo won a bronze medal at the 2014 World Junior Speed Skating Championships, in the 1000 m. Kondo made his World Cup debut in December 2012. As of September 2014, Kondo's best World Cup finish is 4th in a 1000 m B race at the World Cup stop in Nagano in 2012–13. His best overall finish in the World Cup is 41st, in the 1500 metres in 2012–13.
Misaki Oshigiri (押切 美沙紀) (born 29 September 1992) is a Japanese speed skater. Oshigiri competed at the 2014 Winter…Misaki Oshigiri (押切 美沙紀) (born 29 September 1992) is a Japanese speed skater. Oshigiri competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics for Japan. In the 1500 metres she placed 22nd. She was also part of the Japanese team pursuit squad, which won their semi-final, before losing to the Netherlands in the semi-final and to Russia in the bronze medal final, ending up 4th overall. Oshigiri has won a pair of silver medals at the World Junior Speed Skating Championships, in two team pursuit events. Oshigiri made her World Cup debut in November 2012. As of December 2014, Oshigiri's top World Cup finish is 17th in a 1500 m race. Her best overall finish in the World Cup is 38th, in the 1500 m World Cup of 2012–13.
Susumu Ohrui (大累 進, Ohrui Susumu; born August 31, 1990 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball…Susumu Ohrui (大累 進, Ohrui Susumu; born August 31, 1990 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays infielder for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Takuya Onodera (小野寺卓也, Onodera Takuya; born April 30, 1990), best known by the ring name T-Hawk (shortened from…Takuya Onodera (小野寺卓也, Onodera Takuya; born April 30, 1990), best known by the ring name T-Hawk (shortened from Tomahawk T.T.), is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Gleat, where he is a former G-Rex Champion. He is best known for competing in Dragon Gate and Oriental Wrestling Entertainment, where, in both, he worked alongside Cima and El Lindaman; all three are now collective in the #StrongHearts stable in Gleat. He is also known for his work with Mexican promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG).
Masahiro Tanaka (田中 将大, Tanaka Masahiro; born November 1, 1988) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the…Masahiro Tanaka (田中 将大, Tanaka Masahiro; born November 1, 1988) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees. From 2007 through 2013, he played for the Eagles in NPB. Tanaka was posted by the Eagles after the 2013 season to be signed with the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball (MLB) and signed a seven-year, $155 million contract, the fifth-largest deal ever given to a pitcher at the time. He made his major league debut in 2014 and played for the Yankees through the 2020 season, before deciding to return to Japan. Tanaka has said that he decided to return to Japan partly due to anti-Asian racism in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tanaka was the Eagles' first-round pick in the 2006 NPB amateur player draft. From 2012 to 2013, he won 26 consecutive decisions, which set a new NPB record. In MLB, Tanaka was the Yankees' Opening Day starter for four seasons and was twice named an All-Star.
Shuhei Kuji (久慈 修平, Kuji Shūhei; born April 27, 1987) is a Japanese professional ice hockey forward who is currently…Shuhei Kuji (久慈 修平, Kuji Shūhei; born April 27, 1987) is a Japanese professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for the Oji Eagles in the Asia League Ice Hockey.
Shiho Ishizawa (石澤 志穂, Ishizawa Shiho; born 23 October 1986) is a Japanese speed skater. She was born in Hokkaido. She…Shiho Ishizawa (石澤 志穂, Ishizawa Shiho; born 23 October 1986) is a Japanese speed skater. She was born in Hokkaido. She won a bronze medal in the women's team pursuit at the 2011 Asian Winter Games. She competed at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, placing ninth in the 3000 meters in Sochi.
Masako Hozumi (Japanese: 穂積 雅子; born 11 September 1986 in Fukushima) is a Japanese speed skater from Hokkaido. In 2009…Masako Hozumi (Japanese: 穂積 雅子; born 11 September 1986 in Fukushima) is a Japanese speed skater from Hokkaido. In 2009, she finished fourth overall at the 2009 Allround. She competed for Japan at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. She is named after Masako Natsume, a famous Japanese actress.
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.
Masato Domeki (百目木政人), born December 29, 1983, is a Japanese professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the…Masato Domeki (百目木政人), born December 29, 1983, is a Japanese professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Hokkaido Red Eagles of the Asia League. Since 2003 he plays for the Hokkaido Red Eagles (formerly Oji Eagles). He also played in the Japan national team at junior level in 2003, and currently, for the seniors national team (since 2006).
Tetsuya Saito (斉藤 哲也, Saitō Tetsuya; born December 14, 1983) is a Japanese professional ice hockey center who currently…Tetsuya Saito (斉藤 哲也, Saitō Tetsuya; born December 14, 1983) is a Japanese professional ice hockey center who currently plays for the Nikkō Ice Bucks in the Asia League Saito previously played in 2001 to 2002, at amateur level, for the Komazawa Tomakomai before joining Oji Seishi in 2002 who changed their name to Oji Eagles one year later. He played for Oji until 2013 when he joined the Nikkō Ice Bucks. Saito has also played for the Japan national team (U18, U20 & Senior) since 2000. He played in the 2002 IIHF World Championship.
Daisuke Obara (小原 大輔, Obara Daisuke; born June 4, 1981) is a Japanese professional ice hockey center currently playing…Daisuke Obara (小原 大輔, Obara Daisuke; born June 4, 1981) is a Japanese professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Oji Eagles of the Asia League. He began his professional career in 2003–2004, at the American ECHL, playing for the Peoria Rivermen, Charlotte Checkers and Augusta Lynx; later he played for the Kokudo/Seibu Prince Rabbits between 2004 and 2009; for the Nippon Paper Cranes from 2009 to 2014; and since 2014, the (Oji Eagles. He also has played for the Japan national team since 2000 (Japan U20 and Senior).
Takahito Suzuki (鈴木 貴人), born August 17, 1975, is a Japanese retired professional ice hockey Right winger. He also…Takahito Suzuki (鈴木 貴人), born August 17, 1975, is a Japanese retired professional ice hockey Right winger. He also served as the head coach of the Japanese national team. Suzuki is noted for being the first Japanese ice hockey player to play for a professional team in the United States. A fan favorite, the Charlotte Checkers placed billboards around the city promoting Suzuki.
Maki Tabata (田畑 真紀, Tabata Maki; born 9 November 1974 in Mukawa, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese speed skater and track…Maki Tabata (田畑 真紀, Tabata Maki; born 9 November 1974 in Mukawa, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese speed skater and track cyclist. Maki Tabata won bronze at the World Allround Championships in 2000 and one month later, she won another bronze, this time on the 3000 m at the World Single Distance Championships. The next year (2001), she won silver on the 1500 m and bronze on the 5000 m at the World Single Distance Championships. In 2003, she won another World Single Distance silver on the 1500 m. In addition, Tabata has won numerous titles and medals at the Asian Championships that are used to qualify for the World Allround Championships, at the Asian Single Distance Championships, and at Japanese Championships (both in Allround and Single Distance). She also has a few World Cup victories, both in individual events and in the team pursuit. As a track cyclist she competed in four events at the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships and won medals in four disciplines at the 2012 Asian Cycling Championships, including a gold medal in the individual pursuit.
Kunihiko Sakurai (桜井 邦彦, Sakurai Kunihiko; born 11 April 1972) is a Japanese former ice hockey right winger. He…Kunihiko Sakurai (桜井 邦彦, Sakurai Kunihiko; born 11 April 1972) is a Japanese former ice hockey right winger. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Hiromi Yamamoto (later Yamanaka, 山本 宏美 later 山中, Yamamoto Hiromi, later Yamanaka; born 21 April 1970) is a Japanese…Hiromi Yamamoto (later Yamanaka, 山本 宏美 later 山中, Yamamoto Hiromi, later Yamanaka; born 21 April 1970) is a Japanese speed skater who competed in the 1994 Winter Olympics. She was born in Shiraoi, Hokkaido and is the wife of Takeshi Yamanaka. In 1994 she won the bronze medal in the 5000 metres event. In the 3000 metres competition she finished seventh and in the 1500 metres contest she finished 15th.
Ayako Tsubaki (椿 文子, Tsubaki Ayako; born 3 December 1969) is a Japanese short track speed skater. She competed at the…Ayako Tsubaki (椿 文子, Tsubaki Ayako; born 3 December 1969) is a Japanese short track speed skater. She competed at the 1994 Winter Olympics and the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Shiho Kusunose (楠瀬 志保, Kusunose Shiho; born 23 October 1969) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1994…Shiho Kusunose (楠瀬 志保, Kusunose Shiho; born 23 October 1969) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1994 Winter Olympics and the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Akihito Sugisawa (杉沢 明人, Sugisawa Akihito; born 20 July 1967) is a Japanese former ice hockey player. He competed in…Akihito Sugisawa (杉沢 明人, Sugisawa Akihito; born 20 July 1967) is a Japanese former ice hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Natsue Seki (関 ナツエ, Seki Natsue; born 10 June 1966) is a Japanese former athlete. She competed in the cycling at the…Natsue Seki (関 ナツエ, Seki Natsue; born 10 June 1966) is a Japanese former athlete. She competed in the cycling at the 1988 Summer Olympics and the speed skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Yasushi Suzuki (鈴木 靖, Suzuki Yasushi; born 15 May 1962) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the men's 500 metres…Yasushi Suzuki (鈴木 靖, Suzuki Yasushi; born 15 May 1962) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the men's 500 metres event at the 1984 Winter Olympics.
Yuko Yaegashi-Ota (born 26 April 1957) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1976 Winter Olympics and the…Yuko Yaegashi-Ota (born 26 April 1957) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed at the 1976 Winter Olympics and the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Seiko Hashimoto (Japanese: 橋本 聖子, Hepburn: Hashimoto Seiko; born 5 October 1964) is a Japanese politician, former speed…Seiko Hashimoto (Japanese: 橋本 聖子, Hepburn: Hashimoto Seiko; born 5 October 1964) is a Japanese politician, former speed skater and track cyclist. She has the most Olympic appearances of any Japanese athlete except Noriaki Kasai, representing her native country in four consecutive Winter Olympics from 1984 to 1994 and in three consecutive Summer Olympics from 1988 to 1996, making her a seven time Olympian. On top of her Olympic career, she is the mother of six children while working in politics and other leadership positions. She is currently a member of the House of Councillors from the Liberal Democratic Party, and served as the President of the Japan Skating Federation from 2006 to 2019. She served on the Japanese Cabinet as Minister of State for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games from September 2019 until February 2021, when she became the President of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee. She is only the second female in Olympic history to become president of a games' organizing committee after Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, President of the Athens 2004 organizing committee.