Keihan Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋 慶帆; Persian: کیهان تاکاهاشی; born 13 October 2003) is a Japanese volleyball player who…Keihan Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋 慶帆; Persian: کیهان تاکاهاشی; born 13 October 2003) is a Japanese volleyball player who currently plays for JTEKT Stings and the Japan men's national volleyball team.
Raito Ikeda (池田 来翔, Ikeda Raito; born December 11, 1999) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Chiba…Raito Ikeda (池田 来翔, Ikeda Raito; born December 11, 1999) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He was selected in the second round of the 2021 NPB draft from Kokushikan University.
Hayato Tsutsumi (堤駿斗, Shunto Tsutsumi; born 12 July 1999) is a Japanese professional boxer. As an amateur, Tsutsumi won…Hayato Tsutsumi (堤駿斗, Shunto Tsutsumi; born 12 July 1999) is a Japanese professional boxer. As an amateur, Tsutsumi won a gold medal at the 2016 World Youth Championships. Tsutsumi also competed at the 2021 World Championships.
Keisuke Nishimura (西村 慧祐, Nishimura Keisuke; born 19 February 1998) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a…Keisuke Nishimura (西村 慧祐, Nishimura Keisuke; born 19 February 1998) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a defender for Montedio Yamagata.
Ren Ikeda (池田 廉, Ikeda Ren; born 10 November 1997) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for J3 League…Ren Ikeda (池田 廉, Ikeda Ren; born 10 November 1997) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for J3 League club FC Ryukyu.
Kaya Kazuma (萱 和磨; born 19 November 1996) is a Japanese artistic gymnast. He competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics…Kaya Kazuma (萱 和磨; born 19 November 1996) is a Japanese artistic gymnast. He competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, winning silver with the Japanese team and bronze in the pommel horse. He again competed at the 2024 games as part of the Japanese team which won gold in the all-around competition. He is also a two-time World champion with the Japanese team (2015, 2023) and a two-time World medalist on the pommel horse (2021 silver, 2015 bronze). He is the 2019 Universiade team and all-around champion.
Dai Aoki (born 24 October 1994) is a Japanese judoka. He is the gold medallist of the 2016 Judo Grand Prix Budapest in…Dai Aoki (born 24 October 1994) is a Japanese judoka. He is the gold medallist of the 2016 Judo Grand Prix Budapest in the –60 kg category.
Shun Nakamura (中村 駿, Nakamura Shun; born February 24, 1994) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for FC…Shun Nakamura (中村 駿, Nakamura Shun; born February 24, 1994) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for FC Gifu.
Masayoshi Fukuda (福田 将儀, born April 17, 1992, in Sanmu, Chiba Prefecture) is a Japanese former professional baseball…Masayoshi Fukuda (福田 将儀, born April 17, 1992, in Sanmu, Chiba Prefecture) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles from 2015 to 2017.
Tatsuya Morita (守田 達弥, Morita Tatsuya; born August 3, 1990 in Wakaba-ku, Chiba) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a…Tatsuya Morita (守田 達弥, Morita Tatsuya; born August 3, 1990 in Wakaba-ku, Chiba) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for J1 League club, Machida Zelvia.
Ryosuke Iwasa (岩佐 亮佑, Iwasa Ryōsuke; born December 26, 1989) is a Japanese professional boxer. He held the IBF…Ryosuke Iwasa (岩佐 亮佑, Iwasa Ryōsuke; born December 26, 1989) is a Japanese professional boxer. He held the IBF super-bantamweight title from 2017 to 2018 and the interim version from 2019 to April 2021. He also challenged for the unified WBA (Super) and IBF super-bantamweight titles in April 2021.
Makoto Rindo (林堂 眞, Rindō Makoto; born 21 November 1989) is a former Japanese professional footballer who played as a…Makoto Rindo (林堂 眞, Rindō Makoto; born 21 November 1989) is a former Japanese professional footballer who played as a centre back.
Takahiro Ao (粟生 隆寛, Aō Takahiro; born 6 April 1984) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to…Takahiro Ao (粟生 隆寛, Aō Takahiro; born 6 April 1984) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2018. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title in 2009 and the WBC super-featherweight title from 2010 to 2012.
Yu Kimura (木村 悠, Kimura Yū; born 23 November 1983) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2006 to…Yu Kimura (木村 悠, Kimura Yū; born 23 November 1983) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2006 to 2016. He held the WBC light-flyweight title between 2015 and 2016.
Reiichi Ikegami (池上 礼一, Ikegami Reiichi; born 12 July 1983) is a former Japanese football player. Ikegami previously…Reiichi Ikegami (池上 礼一, Ikegami Reiichi; born 12 July 1983) is a former Japanese football player. Ikegami previously played for FC Tokyo in the J1 League.
Ryoichi Kurisawa (栗澤 僚一, Kurisawa Ryōichi; born 5 September 1982) is a Japanese football manager, he is the currently…Ryoichi Kurisawa (栗澤 僚一, Kurisawa Ryōichi; born 5 September 1982) is a Japanese football manager, he is the currently assistant manager for J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol and former player.
Tomoyuki Yoshino (吉野 智行, Yoshino Tomoyuki; born July 9, 1980) is a former Japanese soccer player. In 2023, he was…Tomoyuki Yoshino (吉野 智行, Yoshino Tomoyuki; born July 9, 1980) is a former Japanese soccer player. In 2023, he was appointed as the sporting director of Shonan Bellmare.
Akitoshi Tamura (born May 31, 1980) is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He competed almost exclusively in the Shooto…Akitoshi Tamura (born May 31, 1980) is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He competed almost exclusively in the Shooto organization, before making his debut in 2008 at the WEC 37. In 2007, he was the lightweight champion of Shooto. He was once ranked as the #5 Bantamweight in the world by the MMAWeekly Worldwide Ranking System. Tamura is a freestyle fighter. In 2004, Tamura became the first foreigner to beat a Burmese Lethwei fighter in an official match.
Keiji Tamada (玉田 圭司, Tamada Keiji; born 11 April 1980) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a…Keiji Tamada (玉田 圭司, Tamada Keiji; born 11 April 1980) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a forward. As of 2024, he is the manager of Shohei High School's football team, who plays in the Prince Takamado JFA U-18 Premier League.
Kenji Fukuda (福田 健二, Fukuda Kenji; born October 21, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He is a left-footed…Kenji Fukuda (福田 健二, Fukuda Kenji; born October 21, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He is a left-footed forward.
Hiroyuki Takaya (Japanese: 高谷裕之, Takaya Hiroyuki, born June 10, 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently…Hiroyuki Takaya (Japanese: 高谷裕之, Takaya Hiroyuki, born June 10, 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division. A professional competitor since 2003, Takaya has fought in the WEC, Strikeforce, DREAM, Shooto, K-1 HERO'S, Pancrase, RIZIN, Vale Tudo Japan, and Cage Force. Takaya is the former DREAM Featherweight Champion. He also competed at the Japanese MMA events Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011 and Dynamite!! 2010. Due to his experience in street fighting, Takaya is known as the "Streetfight Bancho".
Nozomi Hiroyama (廣山 望, Hiroyama Nozomi; born June 6, 1975) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a…Nozomi Hiroyama (廣山 望, Hiroyama Nozomi; born June 6, 1975) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder where he is currently the head coach of Japan U17. Hiroyama played over 400 games during his career which included spells in Japan, France, Portugal, Paraguay, Brazil and United States, as well as earning two caps with the Japan national team. Hiroyama was the first Japanese footballer to dispute the Copa Libertadores competition.
Shinji Otsuka (大塚 真司, Otsuka Shinji; born December 29, 1975) is a Japanese professional football manager and former…Shinji Otsuka (大塚 真司, Otsuka Shinji; born December 29, 1975) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who is the manager of J2 League club Ventforet Kofu.
Kazuya Fukuura (福浦 和也, born December 14, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball first baseman for the Chiba…Kazuya Fukuura (福浦 和也, born December 14, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball first baseman for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. His play and build drew comparisons to former Chicago Cubs player Mark Grace.
Ken Iwase (岩瀬 健, Iwase Ken; born July 8, 1975) is a former Japanese football player and current assistant manager of J2…Ken Iwase (岩瀬 健, Iwase Ken; born July 8, 1975) is a former Japanese football player and current assistant manager of J2 league team Oita Trinita.
Shuhei Yomoda (四方田 修平, Yomoda Shūhei; born March 14, 1973) is a Japanese professional football manager and former…Shuhei Yomoda (四方田 修平, Yomoda Shūhei; born March 14, 1973) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player.
Toshihiro Noguchi (野口 寿浩, Noguchi Toshihiro; born June 24, 1971) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher and coach.…Toshihiro Noguchi (野口 寿浩, Noguchi Toshihiro; born June 24, 1971) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher and coach. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball from 1991 to 2010. He was a catching coach for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Yoshihiro Natsuka (名塚 善寛, Natsuka Yoshihiro) is a Japanese football manager and former player. Natsuka was born in…Yoshihiro Natsuka (名塚 善寛, Natsuka Yoshihiro) is a Japanese football manager and former player. Natsuka was born in Funabashi on October 7, 1969. After graduating from high school, he joined Fujita Industries (later Bellmare Hiratsuka) in 1988. In 1994, the club won the Emperor's Cup and he was selected for the Best Eleven. In Asia, the club also won the 1995 Asian Cup Winners' Cup. However, he left the club at the end of the 1998 season due to financial constraints. In 1999, he moved to J2 League club Consadole Sapporo. The club won the championship in 2000 and was promoted to the J1 League. He retired in 2001.
Hiromichi Kageyama (蔭山 弘道, Kageyama Hiromichi; born 28 August 1967) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in the…Hiromichi Kageyama (蔭山 弘道, Kageyama Hiromichi; born 28 August 1967) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Kimio Sugimoto (杉本公雄, Sugimoto Kimio; born 15 October 1957) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the…Kimio Sugimoto (杉本公雄, Sugimoto Kimio; born 15 October 1957) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics and in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Junji Ogawa (小川 淳司, Ogawa Junji; born August 30, 1957) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played…Junji Ogawa (小川 淳司, Ogawa Junji; born August 30, 1957) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Yakult Swallows and Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Masayuki Kakefu (掛布 雅之, Kakefu Masayuki) (born May 9, 1955) is a Japanese former professional baseball third baseman.…Masayuki Kakefu (掛布 雅之, Kakefu Masayuki) (born May 9, 1955) is a Japanese former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers from 1974 to 1988. Known as “Mr. Tigers”, the popular slugger batted .292 lifetime for the Tigers in his career while hitting over 300 home runs and driving 1,019 runs batted in to go along with three home run titles and seven selections to the Best Nine Award. In 1985, he hit 40 home runs and batted .300 as the Tigers went all the way to the Japan Series and won it for the first time in team history. Kakefu took part in what has been called one of the most famous moments in Tiger history on the game played on April 17, 1985 when he hit the second of three consecutive home runs (Randy Bass hit the first while Akinobu Okada hit the third) against the Yomiuri Giants. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025.
Katsuko Kanesaka (金坂 克子, Kanesaka Katsuko) (born 1 March 1954) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion.…Katsuko Kanesaka (金坂 克子, Kanesaka Katsuko) (born 1 March 1954) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. Kanesaka was a member of the Japanese winning team at the 1976 Olympic games.
Norio Suzuki (鈴木 紀夫, Suzuki Norio; April 1949 – November 1986) was a Japanese explorer and adventurer. In 1974 he…Norio Suzuki (鈴木 紀夫, Suzuki Norio; April 1949 – November 1986) was a Japanese explorer and adventurer. In 1974 he searched for and found Hiroo Onoda, one of the last remaining Japanese holdouts who had refused to surrender after the end of World War II. Suzuki died in November 1986 in an avalanche while searching for the yeti.
Makiko Furukawa (古川 牧子, Furukawa Makiko; born January 22, 1947) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in…Makiko Furukawa (古川 牧子, Furukawa Makiko; born January 22, 1947) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics and in the 1972 Summer Olympics. She was born in Inzai, Chiba. In 1968 she was a squad member of the Japanese team which won the silver medal in the Olympic tournament. Four years later she won her second Olympic silver medal with the Japanese team. She played all five matches.
Hiroyuki Sonoda (園田 博之, Sonoda Hiroyuki; 19 February 1942 – 11 November 2018) was a Japanese politician who served in…Hiroyuki Sonoda (園田 博之, Sonoda Hiroyuki; 19 February 1942 – 11 November 2018) was a Japanese politician who served in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the House of Representatives for Kumamoto 4th district; following the 2017 general election when Kumamoto lost one seat due to reapportionment, he moved to the Kyūshū proportional representation block. He was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), previous party affiliations have been independent→LDP→New Party Sakigake→Independent→LDP→Sunrise Party of Japan→Sunrise Party→Japan Restoration Party→Party for Future Generations→Sunrise Party→Party for Future Generations→LDP.
Ayatsugu Yamashita (山下 斐紹, Yamashita Ayatsugu; born November 16, 1992) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher. He…Ayatsugu Yamashita (山下 斐紹, Yamashita Ayatsugu; born November 16, 1992) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and Chunichi Dragons.