Shinji Takashima (Japanese: 高島 紳司; born 13 October 2000) is a Japanese professional basketball player for Utsunomiya…Shinji Takashima (Japanese: 高島 紳司; born 13 October 2000) is a Japanese professional basketball player for Utsunomiya Brex of the B.League. A shooting guard, he has represented Japan at senior international level and won a silver medal in the men's tournament at the 2026 Asian Games.
Takuya Kuwahara (鍬原 拓也, Kuwahara Takuya; born March 26, 1996) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the…Takuya Kuwahara (鍬原 拓也, Kuwahara Takuya; born March 26, 1996) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Yomiuri Giants.
Kodai Iida (飯田 昴大, Iida Kodai; born 6 December 1994) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder…Kodai Iida (飯田 昴大, Iida Kodai; born 6 December 1994) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Polish III liga club Lipno Stęszew.
Kengo Nomoto (野本 建吾, Nomoto Kengo; born April 25, 1992), nicknamed Nomoken, is a Japanese professional basketball…Kengo Nomoto (野本 建吾, Nomoto Kengo; born April 25, 1992), nicknamed Nomoken, is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Gunma Crane Thunders of the B.League in Japan. The small forward also represented the Japan national basketball team in 2014 and 2016.
Kenjiro Maeda (前田健滋朗, Maeda Kenjirō; born October 18, 1990) is currently a professional basketball assistant coach for…Kenjiro Maeda (前田健滋朗, Maeda Kenjirō; born October 18, 1990) is currently a professional basketball assistant coach for Nagasaki Velca in Japan, and the former assistant coach for Melbourne United of the NBL. He is not good at speaking English.
Takato Ishida (Japanese: 石田 嵩人, Hepburn: Ishida Takato; born 5 February 1990) is a Japanese politician who has been the…Takato Ishida (Japanese: 石田 嵩人, Hepburn: Ishida Takato; born 5 February 1990) is a Japanese politician who has been the governor of Fukui Prefecture since 2026. He was previously a diplomat under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Zambia and Australia. He resigned his ministry post to run for governor after his predecessor’s resignation and won the January 2026 election, campaigning on child‑rearing support, crisis management and greater use of social media to engage voters.
Ryūsei Shinoyama (篠山 竜青, Shinoyama Ryūsei; born July 20, 1988 in Tokyo) is a Japanese professional basketball player…Ryūsei Shinoyama (篠山 竜青, Shinoyama Ryūsei; born July 20, 1988 in Tokyo) is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Kawasaki Brave Thunders of the B.League. He was a member of Japan's national basketball team at the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge in Tehran, Iran, where he recorded most assists for Japan. He is a member of Japan's national basketball team at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification (Asia).
Shouta Aoi (蒼井 翔太, Aoi Shōta; born August 11, 1987), is a Japanese singer and actor. Under the stage name Showta…Shouta Aoi (蒼井 翔太, Aoi Shōta; born August 11, 1987), is a Japanese singer and actor. Under the stage name Showta (stylized as "SHOWTA."), he debuted as a singer with the song "Negaiboshi" in 2006 and released his first studio album, Eve, in 2008. In 2009, he left his agency and briefly released music independently under the pseudonym Noboru Ryugaki (柳ヶ木 昇). After making his acting debut as Saki Hanajima in the Fruits Basket musical in 2009, Aoi has been involved in multiple musical theatre productions, including Sakuya Shiomi in Persona 3: The Weird Masquerade. In 2011, he began voice acting and gained media attention after voicing Ai Mikaze from Uta no Prince-sama. Since then, he has been recognized for roles such as Hideaki Tojo from Ace of Diamond, Monet Tsukushi in the Magic-kyun! Renaissance series, Rui Minazuki from the Tsukiuta series, Louis Kisaragi from King of Prism series, and Licht von Glanzreich from The Royal Tutor. In 2013, Aoi relaunched his singing career under his new stage name with the extended play Blue Bird, followed by the release of "Virginal" in 2014. In 2015, he released his first studio album, Unlimited. Since the relaunch of his music career, his music is produced by Elements Garden. Throughout his career, Aoi has been given titles such as "Archangel" and was praised for his "angelic" singing voice. He is known for his soft, high-pitched voice and androgynous appearance, allowing him to play female parts as well.
Edward Yamamoto (山本 エドワード, Yamamoto Edowādo; born December 2, 1986) is a Philippine-born Japanese professional…Edward Yamamoto (山本 エドワード, Yamamoto Edowādo; born December 2, 1986) is a Philippine-born Japanese professional basketball player who last played for the Kagawa Five Arrows in Japan. He moved to Yonago, Tottori, Japan at the age of seven. He was selected by the Shimane Susanoo Magic with the 14th overall pick in the 2010 bj League draft. He also plays for the 3storm Hiroshima.Exe.
Takumi Ishizaki (石崎 巧, Ishizaki Takumi; born July 6, 1984) is a Japanese retired professional basketball player who…Takumi Ishizaki (石崎 巧, Ishizaki Takumi; born July 6, 1984) is a Japanese retired professional basketball player who formerly played for the Riesen Ludwigsburg in the German Basketball Bundesliga and BV Chemnitz 99 of the German ProA. He has been a member of the Japan national basketball team.
Tomonobu Shimizu (清水 智信, Shimizu Tomonobu; born June 28, 1981) is a Japanese professional boxer who is a former WBA…Tomonobu Shimizu (清水 智信, Shimizu Tomonobu; born June 28, 1981) is a Japanese professional boxer who is a former WBA super flyweight champion. He is an alumnus of the Tokyo University of Agriculture.
Kei Igarashi (五十嵐 圭、born May 7, 1980 in Jōetsu, Niigata, Japan) is a Japanese professional basketball player. He plays…Kei Igarashi (五十嵐 圭、born May 7, 1980 in Jōetsu, Niigata, Japan) is a Japanese professional basketball player. He plays for the Gunma Crane Thunders of the B.League. He also was a member of the Japan national basketball team, playing for the team in the 2006 FIBA World Championship and both the FIBA Asia Championship 2007 and FIBA Asia Championship 2009. Igarashi averaged 9 points and 3 assists per game for the host Japanese at the 2006 FIBA World Championship. Igarashi scored a team-high 18 points and added three assists in Japan's lone win at the tournament, a 78-61 preliminary round victory over Panama. In his most recent, national team appearance, Igarashi had a team-leading 3.6 assists per game, good for third best overall in the tournament. Despite his performance, Japan stumbled to a disappointing tenth-place finish, its worst ever performance in 24 FIBA Asia Championship appearances. In the 2009-10 season, he entered the month-long winter break averaging 9.3 points and 2.9 assists per game for the Alvark. The popular Igarashi was also named to the JBL All-Star Game as the leading point guard vote-getter for the East.
Yōichirō Morikawa (森川 陽一郎, Morikawa Yōichirō; born 14 August 1979, Fukui, Fukui) is a Japanese Independent film…Yōichirō Morikawa (森川 陽一郎, Morikawa Yōichirō; born 14 August 1979, Fukui, Fukui) is a Japanese Independent film director, screenwriter, actor and calligrapher. He gained media attention when he was arrested and charged on suspicion of paying a 17-year-old girl for sexual services in March 2006.
He Xuemei (Chinese: 和雪梅; pinyin: Hé Xuěméi, born 6 February 1977) is a Chinese gymnast. She competed in six events at…He Xuemei (Chinese: 和雪梅; pinyin: Hé Xuěméi, born 6 February 1977) is a Chinese gymnast. She competed in six events at the 1992 Summer Olympics. She was the last female Olympic athlete to perform the Thomas salto in her routine. In 2006, she married Takaseki Takashi, a logistics manager from Japan, and changed her name to Takaseki Setsubai (高堰雪梅). She represented Japan at the 2006 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Kazuhiro Shoji (庄司和広, Shōji Kazuhiro; born April 26, 1974) is a current professional basketball head coach for Ehime…Kazuhiro Shoji (庄司和広, Shōji Kazuhiro; born April 26, 1974) is a current professional basketball head coach for Ehime Orange Vikings of the Japanese B.League.
Tomoya Higashino (東野智弥, Higashino Tomoya) is the former Head coach of the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix in the…Tomoya Higashino (東野智弥, Higashino Tomoya) is the former Head coach of the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix in the Japanese Bj League.
Kenichi Sako (佐古 賢一, born 17 July 1970) is a Japanese former basketball player and current coach. Nicknamed "Mr.…Kenichi Sako (佐古 賢一, born 17 July 1970) is a Japanese former basketball player and current coach. Nicknamed "Mr. Basketball", Sako played as point guard and is widely regarded as one of the best Japanese players in history, having won twelve Emperor's Cup titles and nine JBL championships. Representing the Japan national team, Sako played at one FIBA World Cup in 1998, and won one silver and one bronze medal at the FIBA Asia Cup. He was enshrined into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2020, becoming the first Japanese player to be inducted.
Ryoichi Yoshida (吉田 良一, Yoshida Ryōichi; born 2 March 1965) is a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 4 × 400…Ryoichi Yoshida (吉田 良一, Yoshida Ryōichi; born 2 March 1965) is a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 4 × 400 metres relay at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
