Taiki Miyabe (宮部 大己, Miyabe Taiki; born 16 October 1998) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a right-back for…Taiki Miyabe (宮部 大己, Miyabe Taiki; born 16 October 1998) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a right-back for Matsumoto Yamaga.
Yuya Takagi (高木 友也, Takagi Yuya; born 23 May 1998) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a left-back for J2…Yuya Takagi (高木 友也, Takagi Yuya; born 23 May 1998) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a left-back for J2 League club Tokushima Vortis.
Ryota Hayashi (林 遼太, Hayashi Ryōta; born 10 April 1995) is a Japanese professional footballer who currently plays as a…Ryota Hayashi (林 遼太, Hayashi Ryōta; born 10 April 1995) is a Japanese professional footballer who currently plays as a defender for Hong Kong Premier League club HKFC. Besides Japan, he has played in Cambodia and Sri Lanka.
Hiroki Ino (猪野広樹, Ino Hiroki; born September 11, 1992) is a Japanese actor associated with Stardust Promotion's Section…Hiroki Ino (猪野広樹, Ino Hiroki; born September 11, 1992) is a Japanese actor associated with Stardust Promotion's Section 2. Ino debuted as an actor in 2009 and has notably appeared in the films Demolition Girl (2017) and Touken Ranbu (2019). He has also starred in several stage play adaptations, such as Hyper Projection Engeki: Haikyu!!, Blood Blockade Battlefront, My Hero Academia: The "Ultra" Stage, and Persona 5: The Stage.
Wataru Yazawa (矢澤 航, Yazawa Wataru; born 2 July 1991 in Yokohama) is a Japanese track and field athlete who specialises…Wataru Yazawa (矢澤 航, Yazawa Wataru; born 2 July 1991 in Yokohama) is a Japanese track and field athlete who specialises in the 110 metres hurdles. He won the Bronze medal at the Asian Championships in Pune at the 110 m hurdles. His personal best is 13.47 seconds, set in Tottori on 5 June 2016.
Masakazu Ito (伊藤 雅和, Itō Masakazu; born 12 June 1988) is a Japanese cyclist, who currently rides for and manages…Masakazu Ito (伊藤 雅和, Itō Masakazu; born 12 June 1988) is a Japanese cyclist, who currently rides for and manages Japanese amateur team Ciel Bleu Kanoya.
Masao Tsuji (辻 正男, Tsuji, Masao; born 29 March 1987 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa) is a Japanese footballer who plays for YSCC…Masao Tsuji (辻 正男, Tsuji, Masao; born 29 March 1987 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa) is a Japanese footballer who plays for YSCC Yokohama.
Motohiro Hata (秦基博, Hata Motohiro; born 11 October 1980) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. He debuted under the major…Motohiro Hata (秦基博, Hata Motohiro; born 11 October 1980) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. He debuted under the major label BMG Japan in 2006 with the single "Synchro" (シンクロ, Shinkuro).
Naoya Okubo (大久保直弥, Ōkubo Naoya) (born 27 September 1975) is a former Japanese rugby union player. Okubo played 23…Naoya Okubo (大久保直弥, Ōkubo Naoya) (born 27 September 1975) is a former Japanese rugby union player. Okubo played 23 matches for the Japan national rugby union team from 1999 to 2004. His regular playing positions were Flanker and Lock. As of December 2013 Okubo is the coach of Top League team Suntory Sungoliath. In 2015, Okubo became the coach of NTT Communications Shining Arcs. He was named the first Non-Kiwi coach of the Sunwolves in their last year of Super Rugby in 2020.
Takeomi Ito (伊藤剛臣, Itō Takeomi) (born April 11, 1971 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union footballer. He plays…Takeomi Ito (伊藤剛臣, Itō Takeomi) (born April 11, 1971 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union footballer. He plays rugby as blindside flanker or no.8 for Kobelco Steelers in the Japanese Top League and also in the Japan national rugby union team. He played in both the 1999 and 2003 World Cups.
Seiichi Tanabe (田辺誠一) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 24th Yokohama Film Festival for Hush!…Seiichi Tanabe (田辺誠一) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 24th Yokohama Film Festival for Hush! and at the 27th Hochi Film Award for Hush! and Harmful Insect.
Aya Kamikawa (上川 あや, Kamikawa Aya; born January 25, 1968) is a Tokyo municipal official. With her election in April…Aya Kamikawa (上川 あや, Kamikawa Aya; born January 25, 1968) is a Tokyo municipal official. With her election in April 2003, she became the first openly transgender person to seek or win elected office in Japan.
Kenji Goto (後藤 健二, Gotō Kenji; 23 October 1967 – c. 31 January 2015) was a Japanese freelance video journalist covering…Kenji Goto (後藤 健二, Gotō Kenji; 23 October 1967 – c. 31 January 2015) was a Japanese freelance video journalist covering wars and conflicts, refugees, poverty, AIDS, and child education around the world. In October 2014, he was captured and held hostage by Islamic State (IS) militants after entering Syria in the hopes of rescuing Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa. On 31 January 2015, he was beheaded by his captors led by Kuwaiti-British militant Jihadi John following the breakdown of negotiations for his release.
Hideyuki Otake (大竹 秀之, Ōtake Hideyuki; born 16 July 1967) is a Japanese former volleyball player, who played as a…Hideyuki Otake (大竹 秀之, Ōtake Hideyuki; born 16 July 1967) is a Japanese former volleyball player, who played as a middle blocker for the Men's National Team in the 1990s. He competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, finishing in sixth place.
Koichi Oshima (大島 公一, Oshima Koichi; born June 17, 1967) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player from…Koichi Oshima (大島 公一, Oshima Koichi; born June 17, 1967) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player from Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan. He played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes, Orix Buffaloes, and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles during his professional career, and currently works as a minor league hitting coach for the Orix Buffaloes. Oshima was a valuable switch hitter and a solid fielder, winning three Japanese golden glove awards at second base, and two Best Nine awards. He dismissed an offer to work as a coach when the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes and Orix BlueWave merged, and played a season with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles before becoming a coach for the Orix Buffaloes in 2006. He won a bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics before entering the Japanese professional leagues.
Yasunori Kumada (born 18 March 1963) is a Japanese former volleyball player. Kumada competed in the men's tournament at…Yasunori Kumada (born 18 March 1963) is a Japanese former volleyball player. Kumada competed in the men's tournament at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, where he finished in tenth place. He competed at the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow and won a bronze medal.
Kazutomo Yoneyama (米山 一朋, Yoneyama Kazutomo; born 12 September 1961) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in…Kazutomo Yoneyama (米山 一朋, Yoneyama Kazutomo; born 12 September 1961) is a Japanese volleyball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Masahiro Hara (Japanese: 原 昌宏, Hepburn: Hara Masahiro, born on August 8, 1957) is a Japanese engineer and Hosei…Masahiro Hara (Japanese: 原 昌宏, Hepburn: Hara Masahiro, born on August 8, 1957) is a Japanese engineer and Hosei University graduate who is best known for inventing the QR code in 1994.
Mitsuaki Iwagō (岩合 光昭, Iwagō Mitsuaki; born November 27, 1950 in Tokyo) is a prominent Japanese wildlife photographer…Mitsuaki Iwagō (岩合 光昭, Iwagō Mitsuaki; born November 27, 1950 in Tokyo) is a prominent Japanese wildlife photographer and filmmaker.
Jun Kamiwazumi (神和住 純, Kamiwazumi Jun; born 1 October 1947) is a former Japan Davis Cup team player and tour tennis…Jun Kamiwazumi (神和住 純, Kamiwazumi Jun; born 1 October 1947) is a former Japan Davis Cup team player and tour tennis player. A native of Ishikawa Prefecture, Kamiwazumi competed in sixteen Grand Slam tennis events between 1972 and 1976. His best singles result was reaching the final 32 in the 1973 U.S. Open. His biggest grand slam tourney win was a first round defeat of No. 7 seed Stan Smith in the 1974 French Open. In doubles, he reached the round of 16 at the 1971 French Open, partnering compatriot Toshiro Sakai. Kamiwazumi's biggest grand prix result was reaching the semi-finals in Hilversum in 1971, where despite going up two sets he lost the match to Ross Case. The following year at the same event he reached the quarter-finals, as he did in Cincinnati in 1972, Cincinnati and Hilversum both in 1974, and the Tokyo Outdoor in 1979. He finished with a tour win–loss singles record of 55 and 93 and a career-high ranking of World No. 78, which he reached in February, 1975. The right-handed resident of Tokyo best doubles results were reaching the final of the Osaka Grand Prix in 1973, partnering Aussie legend Ken Rosewall, as well as the Denver WCT final in 1974, partnering Mark Cox. Kamiwazumi is tied for the most years played on the Japanese Davis Cup team, 12, a record he shares with Gouichi Motomura. He posted 12 wins against 8 losses in singles and went 8 and 8 in doubles, in a total of 20 ties played in. Kamiwazumi partnered Sakai against Mal Anderson and Geoff Masters in the 1972 Eastern Zone, Zone A final. Australia won the tie 4–1 in what turned out to be Japan's final appearance in a zonal final round until the format was changed to having a World Group, beginning in 1981. After retirement Kamiwazumi became a tennis television commentator, university lecturer, television personality, and Japanese Davis Cup coach.
Akira Terao (寺尾 聰, Terao Akira; born May 18, 1947) is a Japanese musician, singer and actor. As of 2012, he is the only…Akira Terao (寺尾 聰, Terao Akira; born May 18, 1947) is a Japanese musician, singer and actor. As of 2012, he is the only male actor to have received both the Japan Record Award and the Japan Academy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
Jun'ya Yokota (横田順彌, Yokota Jun'ya; 11 November 1945 - 4 January 2019) was a Japanese science fiction writer and a…Jun'ya Yokota (横田順彌, Yokota Jun'ya; 11 November 1945 - 4 January 2019) was a Japanese science fiction writer and a researcher of Meiji era cultural history. He is the winner of multiple Taisho Awards, the Ozaki Memorial Prize, and the Mystery Writers of Japan Award. He also used the pseudonyms 横田順弥 (same pronunciation) and Jun Masaki (真木じゅん, Masaki Jun).
Masanori Murakami (村上 雅則, Murakami Masanori, born May 6, 1944), nicknamed "Mashi", is a Japanese former baseball…Masanori Murakami (村上 雅則, Murakami Masanori, born May 6, 1944), nicknamed "Mashi", is a Japanese former baseball pitcher. He is notable for being the first Japanese player to play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Sent over to the United States by the Nankai Hawks, Murakami saw success as a reliever for the San Francisco Giants, debuting at the age of 20 in 1964. In 1965, he struck out over one batter per inning pitched, posted an ERA under 4 and earned eight saves. Following this season, however, Murakami headed back to the Nankai Hawks due to contractual obligations, where his success continued for another 17 years.
Tetsuo Narikawa (成川 哲夫, Narikawa Tetsuo; 15 April 1944 – 1 January 2010) was a Japanese actor who was famous for…Tetsuo Narikawa (成川 哲夫, Narikawa Tetsuo; 15 April 1944 – 1 January 2010) was a Japanese actor who was famous for playing the title role of Spectreman. He was also a specialist in karate and judo, and he was founder and president of the International Karate League in Japan.
Isao Shibata (柴田 勲, Shibata Isao) (born February 8, 1944) is a former professional baseball outfielder who played his…Isao Shibata (柴田 勲, Shibata Isao) (born February 8, 1944) is a former professional baseball outfielder who played his entire career with the Yomiuri Giants from 1962 to 1981. A speedy switch-hitter, he won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award in 1966, after he hit .565 with 13 hits in the 1966 Japan Series. With 579 career stolen bases, Shibata is third on the all-time Nippon Professional Baseball list. With more than 2,000 career hits, Shibata is a member of Meikyukai, otherwise known as the Golden Players Club.
Tokihiko Higuchi (樋口 時彦, Higuchi Tokihiko; born June 10, 1941) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in…Tokihiko Higuchi (樋口 時彦, Higuchi Tokihiko; born June 10, 1941) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics. In 1964 he was a squad member of the Japanese team which won the bronze medal in the Olympic tournament.
Nobuhira Takanuki (born 9 May 1938) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the team pursuit at the 1960 Summer…Nobuhira Takanuki (born 9 May 1938) is a Japanese former cyclist. He competed in the team pursuit at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Kanji Higuchi (樋口 寛治, Higuchi Kanji; January 19, 1929 – November 8, 2010), better known as Joe Higuchi (ジョー樋口, Jō…Kanji Higuchi (樋口 寛治, Higuchi Kanji; January 19, 1929 – November 8, 2010), better known as Joe Higuchi (ジョー樋口, Jō Higuchi) was a Japanese professional wrestler, road agent, on-air personality and referee best known for his tenures with the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) and All Japan Pro-Wrestling. The first official Japanese referee in the NWA, he was known as one of the best referees in the business and the most popular referee in Japanese Puroresu history. He was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum as a member of the Class of 2018.
Norihiro Inoue (Japanese: 井上 倫宏, Hepburn: Inoue Norihiro; March 7, 1958 – February 28, 2022) was a Japanese actor from…Norihiro Inoue (Japanese: 井上 倫宏, Hepburn: Inoue Norihiro; March 7, 1958 – February 28, 2022) was a Japanese actor from Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.