Airi Mitsui (三井 愛梨, Mitsui Airi; born 12 June 2004) is a Japanese competitive swimmer. At the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific…Airi Mitsui (三井 愛梨, Mitsui Airi; born 12 June 2004) is a Japanese competitive swimmer. At the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, she won the gold medal in the 200 metre butterfly and silver medals in the 100 metre butterfly and 4×100 metre medley relay. At the 2022 World Short Course Championships, she placed sixth in the final of the 200 metre butterfly.
Ayuto Matsushita (松下 歩叶, Matsushita Ayuto; born April 14, 2003) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the…Ayuto Matsushita (松下 歩叶, Matsushita Ayuto; born April 14, 2003) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Sanshiro Murao (村尾 三四郎, Murao Sanshirō; born 28 August 2000) is a Japanese judoka. He is a two-time world champion in…Sanshiro Murao (村尾 三四郎, Murao Sanshirō; born 28 August 2000) is a Japanese judoka. He is a two-time world champion in his weight category, having won consecutive gold medals at the World Judo Championships in 2025 and 2026, as well as a three-time world champion with the Japanese team. Murao has also won two silver medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics; one, individually, in his weight category, and the other with the Japanese team in the judo mixed team event.
Tomoki Hayakawa (早川 友基, Hayakawa Tomoki; born 3 March 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a…Tomoki Hayakawa (早川 友基, Hayakawa Tomoki; born 3 March 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for J1 League club Kashima Antlers and the Japan national team.
Miho Minei (born 16 September 1997) is a Japanese judoka. Minei is the silver medalist from the 2016 Judo Grand Slam…Miho Minei (born 16 September 1997) is a Japanese judoka. Minei is the silver medalist from the 2016 Judo Grand Slam Tokyo in the –63 kg category.
Kosuke Horikoshi (堀越 康介, Horikoshi Kosuke; born 2 June 1995) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as…Kosuke Horikoshi (堀越 康介, Horikoshi Kosuke; born 2 June 1995) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Japan Rugby League One club Tokyo Sungoliath and the Japan national team.
Anzu Yamamoto (山本 杏, Yamamoto Anzu; born 18 June 1994, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese judoka. Yamamoto…Anzu Yamamoto (山本 杏, Yamamoto Anzu; born 18 June 1994, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese judoka. Yamamoto competed at the 2013 World Judo Championships in Rio de Janeiro, where she placed fifth in the –57 kg class. Yamamoto was part of the Japanese women's team that won gold medals in the world championship team competitions in 2013 and 2015.
Kakeru Yamanobe (山野辺 翔, Yamanobe Kakeru; born May 24, 1994) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Tokyo…Kakeru Yamanobe (山野辺 翔, Yamanobe Kakeru; born May 24, 1994) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
An Chang-rim (Korean: 안창림; Hanja: 安昌林; born 2 March 1994) is a South Korean retired judoka. An was the world champion…An Chang-rim (Korean: 안창림; Hanja: 安昌林; born 2 March 1994) is a South Korean retired judoka. An was the world champion in the lightweight division in 2018, He began his rise as one of judo's top lightweights by becoming junior World Champion. It was followed by a two-year podium streak, including wins at the prestigious Grand Slam Abu Dhabi and Tokyo. He is known for his physical, aggressive style of fighting, and is a versatile stylist of seoi nage. An won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships. South Korea's premier lightweight, he represented Korea at the 2016 Olympics. He was also seeded first at the Olympics. He is currently ranked fourth in the world. In December 2021 he officially announced retirement.
Eigoro Mogi (茂木 栄五郎, Mogi Eigorō; born February 14, 1994) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Tokyo…Eigoro Mogi (茂木 栄五郎, Mogi Eigorō; born February 14, 1994) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Kotaro Munyaradzi Matsushima (松島 幸太朗, Matsushima Kōtarō; born 26 February 1993) is a professional rugby union player…Kotaro Munyaradzi Matsushima (松島 幸太朗, Matsushima Kōtarō; born 26 February 1993) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for Japan Rugby League One club Tokyo Sungoliath. Born in South Africa, he represents Japan at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.
Hajime Sono (宗野創, Sono Hajime; born 5 January 1993) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of…Hajime Sono (宗野創, Sono Hajime; born 5 January 1993) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2024 to 2026. From 2016 to 2020, he worked at the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
Jumpei Ogura (小倉順平, Ogura Jiyunpei; born 11 July 1992) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as a…Jumpei Ogura (小倉順平, Ogura Jiyunpei; born 11 July 1992) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for Japan Rugby League One club Canon Eagles and the Japan national team.
Tomofumi Takajo (born 7 December 1991) is a Japanese judoka. Takajo is the silver medalist of the 2017 Judo Grand Slam…Tomofumi Takajo (born 7 December 1991) is a Japanese judoka. Takajo is the silver medalist of the 2017 Judo Grand Slam Baku in the –66 kg category.
Daiki Nishiyama (西山 大希, Nishiyama Daiki; born 20 November 1990 in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima) is a Japanese judoka. He…Daiki Nishiyama (西山 大希, Nishiyama Daiki; born 20 November 1990 in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima) is a Japanese judoka. He won the silver medal in the middleweight (90 kg) division at the 2010 and 2011 World Judo Championships. Because of Nishiyama's ranking and recent form it has come as even more of a surprise that he was not included in the Japan squad for the 2012 Olympics. The Japanese judo association instead went with the more experienced Masashi Nishiyama in the –90 kg category.
Daigo Hasegawa (長谷川 大悟, Hasegawa Daigo; born 27 February 1990) is a Japanese athlete specialising in the triple jump.…Daigo Hasegawa (長谷川 大悟, Hasegawa Daigo; born 27 February 1990) is a Japanese athlete specialising in the triple jump. He represented his country at the 2016 Summer Olympics without qualifying for the final. His personal bests in the event are 16.88 metres outdoors (+1.3 m/s, Hiroshima 2016) and 15.81 metres indoors (Hangzhou 2014).
Keita Hidaka (日髙 慶太, Hidaka Keita; born 19 February 1990) is a Japanese footballer who currently plays as a midfielder…Keita Hidaka (日髙 慶太, Hidaka Keita; born 19 February 1990) is a Japanese footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for FC Osaka.
Masataka Iryo (井領 雅貴, Iryō Masataka; born November 4, 1989 in Yotsukaido, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese professional…Masataka Iryo (井領 雅貴, Iryō Masataka; born November 4, 1989 in Yotsukaido, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder. He is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Naoki Ozawa (小沢直樹, Ozawa Naoki; born 8 October 1988) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a Flanker. He…Naoki Ozawa (小沢直樹, Ozawa Naoki; born 8 October 1988) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a Flanker. He currently plays for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan's domestic Top League.
Yasuhiro Awano (粟野 靖浩, Awano Yasuhiro; born 27 September 1988 in Shimotsuma, Ibaraki) is a Japanese judoka. He won a…Yasuhiro Awano (粟野 靖浩, Awano Yasuhiro; born 27 September 1988 in Shimotsuma, Ibaraki) is a Japanese judoka. He won a bronze medal in the lightweight division (73 kg) at the 2010 World Judo Championships.
Toshifumi Takeshima (竹島 知郁, Takeshima Toshifumi; born October 28, 1986) is a Japanese television announcer for the…Toshifumi Takeshima (竹島 知郁, Takeshima Toshifumi; born October 28, 1986) is a Japanese television announcer for the Akita Television in Akita and the play-by-play broadcaster for the Akita Northern Happinets of the B.League in Japan. Born in Akita, Takeshima graduated from Toin Gakuen High School in Yokohama and earned his academic degree in communications from Meiji University. He likes kendo (third-dan grade) and rakugo.
Misa Amano (天野 美沙, Amano Misa; born October 15, 1986 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese swimmer, who specialized in individual…Misa Amano (天野 美沙, Amano Misa; born October 15, 1986 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese swimmer, who specialized in individual medley events. She is a 2004 Olympian, and a multiple-time Japanese record holder in both the 200 and 400 m individual medley. Amano qualified for the medley swimming events, as a 17-year-old, at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, by attaining an A-standard entry time of 4:43.72 from the Japanese Olympic trials. On the first day of the competition, Amano finished tenth in the preliminary heats of the women's 400 m individual medley with a time of 4:45.61, failing to qualify for the final by 0.45 of a second outside the top 8. In the 200 m individual medley, Amano continued her luck in the preliminary heats, as she missed again a spot for the semifinals by more than six tenths of a second (0.60) behind New Zealand's Helen Norfolk, in a time of 2:17.88.
Tateki Matsuda Japanese: 松田干城 (born February 7, 1986) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist, who most…Tateki Matsuda Japanese: 松田干城 (born February 7, 1986) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist, who most recently competed in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2008, Matsuda has also formerly competed for Bellator MMA and Pancrase.
Hiroyuki Akimoto (秋本 啓之, Akimoto Hiroyuki; born 31 January 1986 in Amakusa, Kumamoto) is a Japanese judoka. After…Hiroyuki Akimoto (秋本 啓之, Akimoto Hiroyuki; born 31 January 1986 in Amakusa, Kumamoto) is a Japanese judoka. After moving up from the –66 kg division to the –73 kg division, he won the gold medal in the lightweight division (73 kg) at the 2010 World Judo Championships.
Masayuki Kishida (岸田 真幸, Kishida Masayuki; born 24 November 1985) is a Japanese swimmer who competed in the 2008 Summer…Masayuki Kishida (岸田 真幸, Kishida Masayuki; born 24 November 1985) is a Japanese swimmer who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Yojiro Noda (Japanese: 野田洋次郎, Hepburn: Noda Yōjirō; born July 5, 1985) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, musician…Yojiro Noda (Japanese: 野田洋次郎, Hepburn: Noda Yōjirō; born July 5, 1985) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and actor. Noda is the lead vocalist, songwriter and guitarist of the Japanese rock band Radwimps and also began a solo project, illion, in 2012.
Renn Kiriyama (桐山 漣, Kiriyama Ren; born February 2, 1985) is a Japanese stage and television actor from Yokohama. His…Renn Kiriyama (桐山 漣, Kiriyama Ren; born February 2, 1985) is a Japanese stage and television actor from Yokohama. His debut role was as Bunta Marui in The Prince of Tennis musical Absolute King Rikkai feat. Rokkaku ~ First Service. Kiriyama is also known for his role in Shotaro Hidari, the male lead and half of the eponymous hero of the television series Kamen Rider W.
Masafumi Togano (栂野 雅史, Togano Masafumi; born October 19, 1984 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional…Masafumi Togano (栂野 雅史, Togano Masafumi; born October 19, 1984 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan's Pacific League.
Tomohiro Saitō (齋藤 智裕, Saitō Tomohiro; born 13 April 1984), known professionally as Hiro Mizushima (水嶋 ヒロ, Mizushima…Tomohiro Saitō (齋藤 智裕, Saitō Tomohiro; born 13 April 1984), known professionally as Hiro Mizushima (水嶋 ヒロ, Mizushima Hiro), is a Japanese actor, creative director, and writer. He appeared in a number of Japanese TV dramas, including Mei-chan no Shitsuji, Hanazakari no Kimitachi e and Zettai Kareshi. Additionally, he was well known as the protagonist Souji Tendo in the tokusatsu series Kamen Rider Kabuto. Mizushima serves as the co-producer, co-screenwriter and leading actor for the latest film Black Butler which is the live-action film adaptation of the popular manga. His birth name "Tomohiro Saito" is being credited as co-producer in the film. Under his pen name Satoshi Saitō (齋藤 智, Saitō Satoshi), he wrote his first novel, Kagerou, which was chosen as the winner of the 5th Popular Publishing Grand Prize for Fiction and was published in 2010.
Shota Goto (後藤翔太, Goto Shota; born 7 January 1983) is a Japanese politician and former rugby union player serving as a…Shota Goto (後藤翔太, Goto Shota; born 7 January 1983) is a Japanese politician and former rugby union player serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2025. From 2005 to 2006, he played for the Japan national rugby union team.
Masahiro Takamatsu (高松 正裕, Takamatsu Masahiro; born 27 February 1982) is a Japanese judoka. Takamatsu was born in…Masahiro Takamatsu (高松 正裕, Takamatsu Masahiro; born 27 February 1982) is a Japanese judoka. Takamatsu was born in Kamifukuoka, Saitama., and began judo at the age of 8. He entered the Asahi Kasei after graduating from Tsukuba University. Takamatsu is good at Seoi nage, Osotogari and Osaekomi-waza. and got gold medal of 2000 World Juniors Championships held at Nabeul. As of 2010, Takamatsu coaches judo at his alma mater, Toin Gakuen, where he previously studied as an undergraduate.
Shintaro Yoshida (由田 慎太郎, Yoshida Shintarō; born July 20, 1981) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the…Shintaro Yoshida (由田 慎太郎, Yoshida Shintarō; born July 20, 1981) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Ken the 390 (stylized as KEN THE 390; born Takeshi Sakuma on June 17, 1981) is a Japanese rapper, songwriter, and music…Ken the 390 (stylized as KEN THE 390; born Takeshi Sakuma on June 17, 1981) is a Japanese rapper, songwriter, and music director from Machida, Tokyo. He began performing in 1999 and built a reputation through club performances and freestyle MC battles before releasing his first solo album, Prologue, in 2006. He later established the independent label DREAM BOY in 2011. Beyond his solo recording career, KEN THE 390 has worked in television, anime, artist development, and stage productions.
Takashi Ono (小野 卓志, Ono Takashi; born 25 June 1980) is a Japanese judoka and the 2005 Asian Judo Championships gold…Takashi Ono (小野 卓志, Ono Takashi; born 25 June 1980) is a Japanese judoka and the 2005 Asian Judo Championships gold medalist in the −81 kg category. Ono is from Ishige, Ibaraki, and has studied Judo alongside Keiji Suzuki since childhood. After graduating from Tsukuba University, he joined Ryotokuji Gakuen, of which Yusuke Kanamaru, Tomoo Torii, and former Asian champion Yuta Yazaki are also members. He won the all Japanese championships from 2008 to 2010 and, although the favorite at the Tokyo 2010 World Championships, was eliminated in the 3rd round by former Olympic champion Ilias Iliadis. Ono is renowned for his uchi mata (inner thigh throw). He is also well known for his Ōuchi gari (大内刈 major inside leg reap). In 2009–2010, Ono was regarded as one of the most exciting judoka in the world. Despite his popularity, he lost his place in the 2012 Olympics; Japan instead chose Masashi Nishiyama for –90 kg.
Tsuyoshi Kawagishi (川岸 強, Kawagishi Tsuyoshi; born September 12, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball…Tsuyoshi Kawagishi (川岸 強, Kawagishi Tsuyoshi; born September 12, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who currently serves as the pitching coach for the Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Tomoyoshi Ono (小野 智吉, Ono Tomoyoshi; born August 12, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. he is the current…Tomoyoshi Ono (小野 智吉, Ono Tomoyoshi; born August 12, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. he is the current assistant manager J1 League club of Yokohama FC.
Ryo Asai (浅井 良, Asai Ryō) (born July 19, 1979) is a former baseball player in Japan. Asai primarily played with the…Ryo Asai (浅井 良, Asai Ryō) (born July 19, 1979) is a former baseball player in Japan. Asai primarily played with the Hanshin Tigers in the Central League. He also played baseball for the Waikiki BeachBoys.
Keiichi Hirano (平野 恵一, born April 7, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and current manager for…Keiichi Hirano (平野 恵一, born April 7, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and current manager for the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes and Hanshin Tigers from 2002 to 2015.
Takahiko Sato (佐藤 隆彦, Satō Takahiko; born August 9, 1978, in Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan), also known as G. G. Sato, is a…Takahiko Sato (佐藤 隆彦, Satō Takahiko; born August 9, 1978, in Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan), also known as G. G. Sato, is a former professional player for the Philadelphia Phillies organization, Saitama Seibu Lions, Chiba Lotte Marines, and Fortitudo Baseball Bologna.
Yoshiyuki Kobayashi (小林 慶行, Kobayashi Yoshiyuki; born January 27, 1978) is a Japanese football manager and former…Yoshiyuki Kobayashi (小林 慶行, Kobayashi Yoshiyuki; born January 27, 1978) is a Japanese football manager and former player who is the manager of J1 League club JEF United Chiba. His brother Ryo Kobayashi is also a former footballer.
Kazuyuki Toda (戸田 和幸, Toda Kazuyuki; born 30 December 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former…Kazuyuki Toda (戸田 和幸, Toda Kazuyuki; born 30 December 1977) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder or defender. He played for the Japan national team until 2002.
