Kakeru Narita (成田 翔, Narita Kakeru; born February 3, 1998) is a Japanese baseball pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows…
Kakeru Narita (成田 翔, Narita Kakeru; born February 3, 1998) is a Japanese baseball pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball. Narita attended Akita Commerce and Business High School, and first represented Japan in international competition during the 2015 U-18 Baseball World Cup. After the tournament, Narita was selected by the Chiba Lotte Marines in the 2015 Nippon Professional Baseball draft as the team's third pick. He pitched in the Eastern League for the Marines affiliate team during the 2016 season, and made his Nippon Professional Baseball debut the next year, splitting the 2017 season between NPB and the Eastern League. From 2017 to 2021, with the exception of the 2019 season, Narita has spent time in the Eastern League as well as with the Marines at the NPB level. In 2018, Narita played in the U-23 Baseball World Cup and MLB Japan All-Star Series for Japan.
Famous Alumni of Akita Commercial High School
Akita Commercial High School: 15 people
Kohei Shimoda (下田 光平, Shimoda Kōhei; born April 8, 1989) is a former Japanese football player who last played for…
Kohei Shimoda (下田 光平, Shimoda Kōhei; born April 8, 1989) is a former Japanese football player who last played for Blaublitz Akita.
Kenichi Kaga (加賀 健一, Kaga Kenichi; born 30 September 1983) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for J2…
Kenichi Kaga (加賀 健一, Kaga Kenichi; born 30 September 1983) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for J2 League club Blaublitz Akita.
Tomoaki Seino (清野 智秋, Seino Tomoaki; born 29 September 1981) is a former Japanese football player.
Shingo Kumabayashi (熊林 親吾, Kumabayashi Shingo; born June 23, 1981) is a former Japanese football player. He is the…
Shingo Kumabayashi (熊林 親吾, Kumabayashi Shingo; born June 23, 1981) is a former Japanese football player. He is the support coach J2 League club of Blaublitz Akita.
Masanori Ishikawa (石川 雅規, Ishikawa Masanori; born January 22, 1980) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the…
Masanori Ishikawa (石川 雅規, Ishikawa Masanori; born January 22, 1980) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). As of the 2025 season, he is the oldest active NPB player.
Takamitsu Katayama (片山 貴光, Katayama Takamitsu; born 21 September 1971) is a Japanese former amateur Greco-Roman…
Takamitsu Katayama (片山 貴光, Katayama Takamitsu; born 21 September 1971) is a Japanese former amateur Greco-Roman wrestler, who competed in the men's middleweight category. Katayama wrestled for the Japanese squad in two editions of the Summer Olympics (1996 and 2000), finishing eighth in Atlanta and seventeenth in Sydney, respectively. Outside the Games, Katayama produced a career tally of seven medals in a major international competition, two of which were awarded at the Asian Games (1994 and 1998). Katayama was also a member of the national wrestling squad under coach and three-time Olympian Yasutoshi Moriyama, while training full time at the Sports Club of Self-Defense Forces in Saitama Prefecture. Katayama came to prominence in international wrestling, when his country Japan hosted the 1994 Asian Games held in Hiroshima. There, he rounded off the podium with a bronze over Iranian wrestler and 1992 Olympian Ahad Javansalehi in the 74-kg division. At his maiden Olympics in Atlanta 1996, Katayama started the competition in the men's welterweight category (74 kg) with a powerful 13–2 triumph over Algeria's Youcef Bouguerra, before falling behind Finland's eventual silver medalist Marko Asell in his next bout by a 2–4 verdict. Facing German opponent Erik Hahn on the losers' circle, Katayama could not hold him tightly on the mat and lost the match 2–5. Originally placed tenth, Katayama upgraded his position to eighth, as two other wrestlers decided to forfeit the final consolation round. Katayama reached the peak of his wrestling career by winning the gold medal at the 1997 Asian Championships in Tehran, Iran. When he entered the 1998 Asian Games with the best chance to top the podium in the 76 kg category, Katayama narrowly missed a single point to subdue his Kazakh opponent Bakhtiyar Baiseitov (4–5) for gold in the final match, ending his second Asiad with a silver. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Katayama qualified for his second Japanese team in the men's middleweight division (76 kg) by placing seventh and securing a berth at the third Olympic Qualification Tournament in Alexandria, Egypt. Unlike his previous Games, Katayama lost his opening match 0–4 to the eventual champion Murat Kardanov of Russia and could not rally for points to break a 2–2 draw against Hungary's Tamás Berzicza upon the referee's decision, dropping him to the bottom of the prelim pool and seventeenth overall in the final standings. Shortly after the Games, Katayama retired from competitive wrestling to serve in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
Kazushi Sakuraba (Japanese: 桜庭 和志, Sakuraba Kazushi; born July 14, 1969) is a Japanese professional wrestler…
Kazushi Sakuraba (Japanese: 桜庭 和志, Sakuraba Kazushi; born July 14, 1969) is a Japanese professional wrestler, submission wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is performing as a freelancer, primarily appearing for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he was formerly one-half of the former GHC Tag Team Champions with Takashi Sugiura. He has also competed in traditional puroresu for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and shoot-style competition for UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling (KPW). He has fought in MMA competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride Fighting Championships, Hero's, Dream and most recently Rizin Fighting Federation. He is known as the Gracie Hunter or the Gracie Killer due to his wins over four members of the famed Gracie family: Royler Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Ryan Gracie, and Royce Gracie. Sakuraba is famous for beating 15 champions of different top MMA organizations; opponents who were often many weight-classes above him. Known for his excellent skills in catch wrestling and unorthodox fighting style, he is considered one of the greatest mixed martial art fighters of all time, and holds notable victories over seven UFC champions, three Pancrase Champions, a DREAM champion, a King of the Cage champion and Battlecade Extreme Fighting champion; former Welterweight Champion Carlos Newton, two former Light heavyweight champions Vitor Belfort and Quinton Jackson, former Heavyweight Champion Kevin Randleman, three-time UFC Tournament champion Royce Gracie, former Superfight champion and King of Pancrase Ken Shamrock, former UFC Tournament champion and King of Pancrase Guy Mezger, former King of Pancrase Masakatsu Funaki, DREAM Super Hulk Tournament Champion Ikuhisa Minowa, former King of the Cage Light Heavyweight champion Vernon White, and former Battlecade Extreme Fighting champion Marcus Silveira. He is also the first of only two Japanese UFC champions. Sakuraba's Pride fights routinely drew over 20 million viewers in Japan. Sakuraba is the founder of the submission wrestling promotion Quintet, where he has competed since 2018.
Taka Kato (加藤鷹, Katō Taka) or Taka Katou is a Japanese male former adult video (AV) actor.
Akira Ōta (born 8 April 1957 in Akita) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics, in the…
Akira Ōta (born 8 April 1957 in Akita) is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics, in the 1988 Summer Olympics, and in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Mitsuhisa Taguchi (田口 光久, Taguchi Mitsuhisa; February 14, 1955 – November 12, 2019) was a Japanese footballer. A…
Mitsuhisa Taguchi (田口 光久, Taguchi Mitsuhisa; February 14, 1955 – November 12, 2019) was a Japanese footballer. A Japanese international, he spent his entire career with Mitsubishi Motors.
Michio Ashikaga (足利 道夫, Ashikaga Michio; born May 22, 1950) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…
Michio Ashikaga (足利 道夫, Ashikaga Michio; born May 22, 1950) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Setsurō Wakamatsu (若松節朗, Wakamatsu Setsurō) is a Japanese film director. His film Shizumanu Taiyō won the Japan Academy…
Setsurō Wakamatsu (若松節朗, Wakamatsu Setsurō) is a Japanese film director. His film Shizumanu Taiyō won the Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year at the 33rd Japan Academy Prize.
Shusaku Hirasawa (平沢 周策, Hirasawa Shusaku; born March 5, 1949) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…
Shusaku Hirasawa (平沢 周策, Hirasawa Shusaku; born March 5, 1949) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Hideaki Yanagida (柳田 英明, Yanagida Hideaki; born 1 January 1947) is a retired Japanese bantamweight freestyle wrestler.…
Hideaki Yanagida (柳田 英明, Yanagida Hideaki; born 1 January 1947) is a retired Japanese bantamweight freestyle wrestler. He won his event at the 1970 Asian Games, 1970 and 1971 world championships and 1972 Summer Olympics.