Ryūichi Yamamoto (山本 龍一, Yamamoto Ryūichi; born May 8, 1984), known by his shikona Yamamotoyama Ryūta (山本山 龍太), or…
Ryūichi Yamamoto (山本 龍一, Yamamoto Ryūichi; born May 8, 1984), known by his shikona Yamamotoyama Ryūta (山本山 龍太), or simply Yama, is a Japanese retired sumo wrestler from the city of Saitama in Saitama Prefecture. He made his professional debut in January 2007, and reached the top makuuchi division in January 2009. His highest rank was maegashira 9. At 265 kg (584 lb), Yamamotoyama is the heaviest Japanese-born sumo wrestler in history, and is also thought to be the heaviest Japanese person ever. In April 2011, he was told to retire by the Japan Sumo Association after he and several other wrestlers were found to be involved in match-fixing. He currently participates in sumo exhibitions and amateur tournaments, and has made a number of appearances in television shows, commercials and music videos.
Famous Alumni of Saitama Sakae High School
Saitama Sakae High School: 88 people
Masumi Hoshino (星野 真澄, born April 4, 1984, in Saitama, Saitama) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in…
Masumi Hoshino (星野 真澄, born April 4, 1984, in Saitama, Saitama) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played with the Yomiuri Giants from 2010 to 2012. Before joining the Giants in 2010, he pitched for the Shinano Grandserows of the Baseball Challenge League.
Atsushi Abe (安部 篤史, Abe Atsushi; born 30 August 1982) is a Japanese synchronised swimmer. He participated at the 2019…
Atsushi Abe (安部 篤史, Abe Atsushi; born 30 August 1982) is a Japanese synchronised swimmer. He participated at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships, winning a medal.
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.
Hiroyuki Ōshima (大島 裕行, Ōshima Hiroyuki; born June 15, 1981 in Saitama, Saitama) is a retired Japanese professional…
Hiroyuki Ōshima (大島 裕行, Ōshima Hiroyuki; born June 15, 1981 in Saitama, Saitama) is a retired Japanese professional outfielder.
Hōmashō Noriyuki (born April 16, 1981 as Yōsuke Yamamoto in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan), is a former sumo…
Hōmashō Noriyuki (born April 16, 1981 as Yōsuke Yamamoto in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan), is a former sumo wrestler. He turned professional in March 2004 and reached the top makuuchi division in May 2006 as the first sekitori from Shikoroyama stable, without any losing scores on his record. His highest rank was komusubi. He earned seven special prizes in his top division career and was a runner-up in three tournaments. In March 2014 he took the championship in the jūryō division. Hōmashō was a popular wrestler among sumo fans, and was noted for his deep and graceful bow at the end of a match. Upon his retirement in January 2015 he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name of Tatsutagawa.
Yasuyo Yamagishi (山岸 靖代, Yamagishi Yasuyo; born 28 November 1979) is a former Japanese football player. She played for…
Yasuyo Yamagishi (山岸 靖代, Yamagishi Yasuyo; born 28 November 1979) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Naomichi Marufuji (丸藤正道, Marufuji Naomichi; born September 26, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler, wrestling…
Naomichi Marufuji (丸藤正道, Marufuji Naomichi; born September 26, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler, wrestling executive, and restaurateur. He is signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where is the vice-president of CyberFight, the parent company of Noah (a role he has held since 2020). Known as the Genius of the Ark (方舟の天才, Hakobune no Tensai), Marufuji is the current GHC National Champion in his first reign and former four-time GHC Heavyweight Champion, as well as the first of two men to win Junior Heavyweight Championships in all three major Japanese promotions (Minoru Tanaka is the other). Marufuji is widely referred to as one of the most influential professional wrestlers of the modern era, inspiring many international and national wrestlers such as Seth Rollins, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, and others; his notes as an influential wrestler have garnered him the nickname "The Mastermind Behind Modern Wrestling". Marufuji made his wrestling debut in 1998 as part of All Japan Pro Wrestling and its dojo; after the 2000 Exodus, he joined his only surviving trainer and mentor, Mitsuharu Misawa, to join Pro Wrestling Noah, a promotion he has worked for consistently since its founding. He, along with Takashi Sugiura, are the only two members of the Noah roster who have remained in the company since its founding. After a successful run as a junior heavyweight wrestler in his early Noah run, he advanced to the heavyweight division, quickly winning the GHC Heavyweight Championship in an upset win against Jun Akiyama. He lost the title of Misawa later on, yet stayed as both as heavyweight and junior heavyweight wrestler. In May 2026, he won the GHC National Championship, becoming the first and only wrestler to win every single title in both the heavyweight and junior heavyweight divisions in Pro Wrestling Noah.
Yoshihiro Chiba (千葉 佳裕, Chiba Yoshiro; born 29 April 1979 in Saitama Prefecture) is a retired Japanese hurdler who…
Yoshihiro Chiba (千葉 佳裕, Chiba Yoshiro; born 29 April 1979 in Saitama Prefecture) is a retired Japanese hurdler who specialized in the 400 metres hurdles. He is the Asian best performer in the rarely-contested 300 metres hurdles. He is currently the director of track and field club at Josai University. He married Japanese hurdler Satomi Kubokura in April 2013.
Yukie Nakayama (中山 由起枝, Nakayama Yukie; born March 7, 1979 in Yūki, Ibaraki) is a Japanese trap shooter, who competed…
Yukie Nakayama (中山 由起枝, Nakayama Yukie; born March 7, 1979 in Yūki, Ibaraki) is a Japanese trap shooter, who competed at three Olympic games and won the silver medal at the 2013 ISSF World Championships. Nakayama made her official Olympic debut at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where she finished thirteenth in the women's double trap, with a score of 94 points, tying her position with Finland's Pia Julin. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Nakayama competed in trap shooting, where she scored a total of 67 points in the qualifying round. She added nineteen more shots to obtain a total of 86 points in the final, but missed out of the bronze medal triumph to United States' Corey Cogdell, after competing in a four-person shoot-out At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Nakayama, however, failed to qualify for the final, after hitting a total of sixty-five targets in women's trap shooting, finishing in fifteenth place, behind her former opponent and Olympic silver medalist Daina Gudzinevičiūtė of Lithuania Nakayama currently lives in Utsunomiya, Tochigi, with her daughter.
Ryuji Hijikata (土方 隆司, Hijikata Ryūji) (born May 17, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler also known under the…
Ryuji Hijikata (土方 隆司, Hijikata Ryūji) (born May 17, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler also known under the ring name Toshizo (歳三, Toshizō). Hijikata is best known for his tenure in Battlarts and All Japan Pro Wrestling since 2002 where he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion.
Kaori Niyanagi (original name: 二柳 かおり, born (1977-11-21)21 November 1977 in Shiga) was a Japanese female weightlifter…
Kaori Niyanagi (original name: 二柳 かおり, born (1977-11-21)21 November 1977 in Shiga) was a Japanese female weightlifter, competing in the 48 kg category and representing Japan at international competitions. She participated at the 2000 Summer Olympics in the 48 kg event. She competed at world championships, most recently at the 1999 World Weightlifting Championships.
Juri Takayama (高山 樹里, Takayama Juri; born October 21, 1976) is a Japanese softball player who played as a pitcher…
Juri Takayama (高山 樹里, Takayama Juri; born October 21, 1976) is a Japanese softball player who played as a pitcher between 1996 and 2004 in the Olympic Games. She won two medals for Japan.
Megumi Oshima (大島 めぐみ, Ōshima Megumi), née Tanaka (田中) (born 4 September 1975 in Kumagaya, Saitama) is a Japanese…
Megumi Oshima (大島 めぐみ, Ōshima Megumi), née Tanaka (田中) (born 4 September 1975 in Kumagaya, Saitama) is a Japanese long-distance runner, who specializes in the 10,000 metres and the marathon race.
Hayateumi Hidehito (born July 5, 1975 as Naohito Saitō) is a former sumo wrestler from Aomori, Japan. His highest rank…
Hayateumi Hidehito (born July 5, 1975 as Naohito Saitō) is a former sumo wrestler from Aomori, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. He is now a Liberal Democratic Party politician.
Tochisakae Atsushi (born June 27, 1974, as Atsushi Okamoto) is a former sumo wrestler from Saga Prefecture, Japan. He…
Tochisakae Atsushi (born June 27, 1974, as Atsushi Okamoto) is a former sumo wrestler from Saga Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1993, reaching the top division for the first time in 2000. His highest rank was maegashira 1. He suffered many illness and injury problems throughout his career. He retired in 2008 and is now an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name of Mihogaseki, working as a coach at Kasugano stable.
Kazue Kakinuma (柿沼 和恵, Kakinuma Kazue; born 16 June 1974 in Yorii, Saitama) is a retired Japanese sprinter. She…
Kazue Kakinuma (柿沼 和恵, Kakinuma Kazue; born 16 June 1974 in Yorii, Saitama) is a retired Japanese sprinter. She competed in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo and the 4 × 400 meters relay at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton. She is the first Japanese woman to run 200 metres in under 24 seconds and 400 metres in under 53 seconds, a former Japanese record holder for both events.
Hiroko Kurumizawa (胡桃沢 ひろこ, Kurumizawa Hiroko) is a Japanese singer. In 1991, she became a member of Sakurakko Club…
Hiroko Kurumizawa (胡桃沢 ひろこ, Kurumizawa Hiroko) is a Japanese singer. In 1991, she became a member of Sakurakko Club, together with Anza Oyama, Miki Nakatani, Miho Kanno, and Noriko Katō. Her real name is Hiroko Yamazaki (山崎 裕子, Yamazaki Hiroko).
Takehiko Orimo (折茂 武彦, Orimo Takehiko; born 14 May 1970) is a Japanese former professional basketball player. He became…
Takehiko Orimo (折茂 武彦, Orimo Takehiko; born 14 May 1970) is a Japanese former professional basketball player. He became the first Japanese player to reach 10,000 points in the history of the men's top league.
Hiroyuki Obata (born 31 March 1969) is a Japanese wrestler, who competed in the men's freestyle 130 kg at the 1988…
Hiroyuki Obata (born 31 March 1969) is a Japanese wrestler, who competed in the men's freestyle 130 kg at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Yua Shinkawa (新川 優愛, Shinkawa Yua; born December 28, 1993 in Saitama) is a Japanese actress and model.
Nana Suganuma (菅沼 菜々, Suganuma Nana) (born 10 February 2000) is a Japanese professional golfer. She plays on the LPGA…
Nana Suganuma (菅沼 菜々, Suganuma Nana) (born 10 February 2000) is a Japanese professional golfer. She plays on the LPGA of Japan Tour where she has four wins.
Daieishō Hayato (Japanese: 大栄翔 勇人; born November 10, 1993 as Hayato Takanishi (高西 勇人, Takanishi Hayato)) is a Japanese…
Daieishō Hayato (Japanese: 大栄翔 勇人; born November 10, 1993 as Hayato Takanishi (高西 勇人, Takanishi Hayato)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler. He began his professional career in 2012 at the age of eighteen and reached the top makuuchi division in September 2015. His highest rank to date has been sekiwake. He has five gold stars for defeating yokozuna, five special prizes for Outstanding Performance and two special prizes for Technique. He wrestles for the Oitekaze stable. In January 2021 he became the first wrestler from Saitama Prefecture to win the top-division championship. He was a runner-up in the May 2022 and March 2023 tournaments.
Ōhō Kōnosuke (Japanese: 王鵬 幸之介; born February 14, 2000, as Kōnosuke Naya (納谷 幸之介, Naya Kōnosuke)) is a Japanese…
Ōhō Kōnosuke (Japanese: 王鵬 幸之介; born February 14, 2000, as Kōnosuke Naya (納谷 幸之介, Naya Kōnosuke)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kōtō, Tokyo. He made his professional debut in January 2018, wrestling for Ōtake stable. He reached the second-highest division, jūryō, in January 2021 and reached the top division, makuuchi, in January 2022. His highest rank has been sekiwake. He has earned three gold stars for defeating a yokozuna and one special prize for Technique. He is a third generation makuuchi wrestler, the son of former sekiwake Takatōriki and the grandson of the 48th yokozuna Taihō.
Kitanowaka Daisuke (Japanese: 北の若 大輔; born 12 November 2000 as Daisuke Saitō (齋藤 大輔, Saitō Daisuke)) is a Japanese…
Kitanowaka Daisuke (Japanese: 北の若 大輔; born 12 November 2000 as Daisuke Saitō (齋藤 大輔, Saitō Daisuke)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture.
Gōnoyama Tōki (Japanese: 豪ノ山 登輝; born April 7, 1998 as Tōki Nishikawa (西川 登輝, Nishikawa Tōki)) is a Japanese…
Gōnoyama Tōki (Japanese: 豪ノ山 登輝; born April 7, 1998 as Tōki Nishikawa (西川 登輝, Nishikawa Tōki)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Neyagawa, Osaka. Wrestling for Takekuma stable, he made his professional debut in March 2021. He reached the second-highest jūryō division in July 2022, and has won one championship in both makushita and jūryō. He was promoted to the top makuuchi division in July 2023. His highest rank has been maegashira 2.
Kotoeihō Hiroki (Japanese: 琴栄峰 央起; born July 8, 2003 as Taiki Tebakari (手計 太希, Tebakari Taiki)) is a Japanese…
Kotoeihō Hiroki (Japanese: 琴栄峰 央起; born July 8, 2003 as Taiki Tebakari (手計 太希, Tebakari Taiki)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kashiwa, Chiba. He wrestles for Sadogatake stable and is the younger brother of stablemate Kotoshōhō.
Kotozakura Masakatsu (Japanese: 琴櫻 将傑; born 19 November 1997 as Masakatsu Kamatani (鎌谷 将且, Kamatani Masakatsu)) is a…
Kotozakura Masakatsu (Japanese: 琴櫻 将傑; born 19 November 1997 as Masakatsu Kamatani (鎌谷 将且, Kamatani Masakatsu)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Matsudo. He wrestles for Sadogatake stable, a sumo stable previously run by his grandfather, former yokozuna Kotozakura, and currently run by his father, former sekiwake Kotonowaka. He made his debut in November 2015 and reached the top makuuchi division in March 2020, reaching the san'yaku ranks in January 2023. His highest rank has been ōzeki. He has won one championship in the top division and five special prizes for Fighting Spirit, as well as one Technique prize. Long before his professional debut, Kotozakura's goal was to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and inherit his ring name if he was ever promoted to the rank of ōzeki, something he had been repeating regularly since his promotion to sekitori status. Following his ōzeki promotion at the end of the January 2024 tournament, he said that he planned to inherit the Kotozakura name starting in May 2024. Prior to taking the Kotozakura name, he was known professionally as Kotonowaka Masahiro (琴ノ若 傑太).
Kotoshōhō Yoshinari (Japanese: 琴勝峰 吉成; born August 26, 1999 as Toshiki Tebakari (手計 富士紀, Tebakari Toshiki)) is a…
Kotoshōhō Yoshinari (Japanese: 琴勝峰 吉成; born August 26, 1999 as Toshiki Tebakari (手計 富士紀, Tebakari Toshiki)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kashiwa, Chiba. He made his debut in November 2017 and reached the top makuuchi division in May 2020. He wrestles for Sadogatake stable. His highest rank has been sekiwake. In the July 2025 tournament, he went on an unbeaten run from Day 6 to win his first top-division championship 13–2, also winning the Fighting Spirit and Outstanding Performance awards. He was a runner-up in the January 2023 tournament, as well as the March 2026 tournament.
Tsurugishō Momotarō (Japanese: 剣翔 桃太郎; born 27 July 1991 as Kentarō Abiko (安彦 剣太郎, Abiko Kentarō)) is a Japanese former…
Tsurugishō Momotarō (Japanese: 剣翔 桃太郎; born 27 July 1991 as Kentarō Abiko (安彦 剣太郎, Abiko Kentarō)) is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Katsushika, Tokyo. He is a graduate of Nihon University. His highest rank was maegashira 6. He won a Fighting Spirit Prize in his debut tournament in the top makuuchi division in September 2019. He was a member of Oitekaze stable and retired in April 2026.
Tochitaikai Yū (Japanese: 栃大海 雄; born 12 October 1999 as Takaaki Tsukahara) is a professional sumo wrestler from…
Tochitaikai Yū (Japanese: 栃大海 雄; born 12 October 1999 as Takaaki Tsukahara) is a professional sumo wrestler from Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, who is currently affiliated with the Kasugano stable. He is the older brother of Tokotochi, a former fifth-class tokoyama who also trained at the same stable.
Tobizaru Masaya (翔猿 正也, born April 24, 1992, as Masaya Iwasaki (岩﨑 正也, Iwasaki Masaya)) is a professional sumo wrestler…
Tobizaru Masaya (翔猿 正也, born April 24, 1992, as Masaya Iwasaki (岩﨑 正也, Iwasaki Masaya)) is a professional sumo wrestler from Japan and wrestles for Oitekaze stable. He made his top division debut in September 2020 and his san'yaku debut in November 2022. As of August 2023, Tobizaru is also the smallest makuuchi wrestler and the third smallest sekitori-ranked wrestler overall. He is the brother of retired wrestler Hidenoumi of the Kise stable; they became the 18th pair of sekitori brothers in sumo history. Despite the fact that they are in different stables, Tobizaru will not face him in competition as Japan Sumo Association rules prevent close relatives from being matched against each other outside of playoff bouts.
Hidenoumi Takuya (Japanese: 英乃海 拓也; born 11 June 1989 as Iwasaki Takuya (岩崎 拓也)) is a former Japanese professional sumo…
Hidenoumi Takuya (Japanese: 英乃海 拓也; born 11 June 1989 as Iwasaki Takuya (岩崎 拓也)) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler for Kise stable. A former amateur sumo competitor at Nihon University, he made his professional debut in 2012 and was promoted to the top makuuchi division in July 2015. His highest rank to date is maegashira 6. He has one jūryō division yūshō or championship. He is the elder brother of Oitekaze stable wrestler Tobizaru. He retired following the March 2026 tournament.
Hitoshi Hidetada (Japanese: 日翔志 英忠; born August 14, 1997 as Hitoshi Sawada (沢田 日登志, Sawada Hitoshi)) is a Japanese…
Hitoshi Hidetada (Japanese: 日翔志 英忠; born August 14, 1997 as Hitoshi Sawada (沢田 日登志, Sawada Hitoshi)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tachikawa, Tokyo and wrestles for Oitekaze stable.
Fujinokawa Seigō (Japanese: 藤ノ川 成剛; born February 22, 2005 as Seigō Saitō (齋藤 成剛, Saitō Seigō)) is a Japanese…
Fujinokawa Seigō (Japanese: 藤ノ川 成剛; born February 22, 2005 as Seigō Saitō (齋藤 成剛, Saitō Seigō)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Edogawa, Tokyo and wrestles for the Isenoumi stable. He is the son of former maegashira wrestler Ōikari, who also wrestled for the same stable. He has won four gold stars for defeating yokozuna opponents as a maegashira, has a special prize for Technique, Fighting Spirit and Outstanding Performance. In July 2026, Fujinokawa tied the record for the most consecutive wins (four) against a yokozuna in the history of the sport, becoming the first to do so since the end of World War II. At that time, he had never lost a match against a yokozuna.
Hokutofuji Daiki (Japanese: 北勝富士 大輝; born 15 July 1992 as Daiki Nakamura (中村 大輝, Nakamura Daiki)) is a Japanese former…
Hokutofuji Daiki (Japanese: 北勝富士 大輝; born 15 July 1992 as Daiki Nakamura (中村 大輝, Nakamura Daiki)) is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Tokorozawa, Saitama. His debut in maezumō was in March 2015, and his first makuuchi division honbasho was the Kyūshū tournament in November 2016. His highest rank has been komusubi. He has seven kinboshi or gold stars for a defeat of a yokozuna and two special prizes for Technique and one for Fighting spirit. He wrestled for Hakkaku stable.
Yago Takanori (Japanese: 矢後 太規; born 8 July 1994) is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Memuro…
Yago Takanori (Japanese: 矢後 太規; born 8 July 1994) is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Memuro, Hokkaido. He was an amateur champion at Chuo University and won the amateur yokozuna title at the All-Japan Sumo Championships in December 2016. He made his professional debut in May 2017, joining Oguruma stable. He reached the jūryō division in September 2017 and the top makuuchi division in January 2019. His highest rank has been maegashira 10. Yago retired during the September 2026 tournament.
Wakanoshō Eidō (Japanese: 若ノ勝 栄道; born August 22, 2003 as Shōichirō Takeda (竹田 章一郎, Takeda Shōichirō)) is a Japanese…
Wakanoshō Eidō (Japanese: 若ノ勝 栄道; born August 22, 2003 as Shōichirō Takeda (竹田 章一郎, Takeda Shōichirō)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for Minatogawa stable, including when it was still called Tokiwayama, his highest rank is maegashira.