Jumpei Takahashi (高橋 純平, Takahashi Junpei; born May 8, 1997) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He…Jumpei Takahashi (高橋 純平, Takahashi Junpei; born May 8, 1997) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2016 to 2023 for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Rie Matsubara (松原 梨恵, Matsubara Rie; born 21 October 1993) is a Japanese former group rhythmic gymnast. She is a World…Rie Matsubara (松原 梨恵, Matsubara Rie; born 21 October 1993) is a Japanese former group rhythmic gymnast. She is a World champion and a 10-time Asian champion. She is also a three-time Olympian (2012, 2016, 2020).
Tomoya Mikami (三上 朋也, Mikami Tomoya; born April 10, 1989 in Tajimi, Gifu, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball…Tomoya Mikami (三上 朋也, Mikami Tomoya; born April 10, 1989 in Tajimi, Gifu, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Oisix Niigata Albirex.
Masanori Fujihara (藤原 正典, Fujihara Masanori; born January 14, 1988 in Ibigawa, Gifu) is a Japanese former professional…Masanori Fujihara (藤原 正典, Fujihara Masanori; born January 14, 1988 in Ibigawa, Gifu) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball from 2010 to 2013.
Sayaka Aoki (青木 沙弥佳, Aoki Sayaka; born 15 December 1986 in Gifu Prefecture) is a Japanese track and field sprinter and…Sayaka Aoki (青木 沙弥佳, Aoki Sayaka; born 15 December 1986 in Gifu Prefecture) is a Japanese track and field sprinter and hurdler, who specializes in the 400 metres sprint and 400 metres hurdles. She competed for her country as part of the Japanese women's 4 × 400 metres relay team at the Summer Olympics in 2008 and the World Championships in Athletics three times (2007, 2009, 2015). She has been a four-time medallist in the relay at the Asian Athletics Championships (2007, 2011, 2013, 2017), including a gold medal in 2011. She won her first major international medal in the hurdles – a bronze – at the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships. Aoki competed for the women's 4 × 400 m relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, along with her teammates Mayu Kida, Satomi Kubokura, and Asami Tanno. She ran on the anchor leg of the first heat, with an individual-split time of 52.64 seconds. Aoki and her team finished the relay in last place for a seasonal best time of 3:30.52, failing to advance into the final. Born in Gifu Prefecture, she attended Fukushima University and represented her country as a student-athlete at the 2007 Universiade.
Kana Yamawaki (山脇 佳奈, Yamawaki Kana; born 1 September 1984) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed at the 2000 Summer…Kana Yamawaki (山脇 佳奈, Yamawaki Kana; born 1 September 1984) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Ai Goto (後藤 愛, Gotō Ai; born 20 October 1983) is a Japanese badminton player who is a singles specialist. Now she works…Ai Goto (後藤 愛, Gotō Ai; born 20 October 1983) is a Japanese badminton player who is a singles specialist. Now she works at the human resources department NTT East badminton club. She was the women's singles champion at the 2009 Osaka International tournament. At the BWF Grand Prix tournament, she was a semifinalist at the 2010 Dutch Open, 2011 Russian Open, and at the 2011 Indonesia Masters. Goto also competed at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
Takahiro Aoki (青木 高広, Aoki Takahiro; born November 26, 1981 in Gifu, Japan) is a Nippon Professional Baseball player.…Takahiro Aoki (青木 高広, Aoki Takahiro; born November 26, 1981 in Gifu, Japan) is a Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League.
Yoshiyuki Ishihara is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball…Yoshiyuki Ishihara is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Hidenori Kuramoto (蔵本 英智, Kuramoto Hidenori; born May 9, 1976) also known as Hidenori (英智) is a Japanese former…Hidenori Kuramoto (蔵本 英智, Kuramoto Hidenori; born May 9, 1976) also known as Hidenori (英智) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. Hidenori played for the Dragons from 2001 to 2012. He is currently employed with the Dragons as the second team outfield and base-running coach.
Kazuhiro Wada (和田 一浩, Wada Kazuhiro; born June 19, 1972) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player. He played…Kazuhiro Wada (和田 一浩, Wada Kazuhiro; born June 19, 1972) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player. He played mostly as an outfielder for the Chunichi Dragons and the Seibu Lions of the Nippon Professional Baseball league in a career spanning 18 years. Following retirement in 2015, he has become a color commentator for Dragons broadcasts for the NHK.
Naoko Takahashi (高橋 尚子, Takahashi Naoko; born May 6, 1972) is a Japanese retired long-distance runner and Olympic gold…Naoko Takahashi (高橋 尚子, Takahashi Naoko; born May 6, 1972) is a Japanese retired long-distance runner and Olympic gold medal-winning marathoner. She won the gold medal in the marathon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and at the 2001 Berlin Marathon she became the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Hajime Itoi (糸井 統, Itoi Hajime) (born June 22, 1971, in Gifu) is a retired Olympic backstroke swimmer from Japan. He…Hajime Itoi (糸井 統, Itoi Hajime) (born June 22, 1971, in Gifu) is a retired Olympic backstroke swimmer from Japan. He represented his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1992. He is best known for winning a silver medal at the 1995 Summer Universiade in Fukuoka. He competed for the Waseda University.
Shunzo Ohno (大野 俊三, Ōno Shunzō; born 22 March 1949) is a Japanese trumpeter, composer and arranger. In 1974 Ohno…Shunzo Ohno (大野 俊三, Ōno Shunzō; born 22 March 1949) is a Japanese trumpeter, composer and arranger. In 1974 Ohno accepted Art Blakey's offer and went to the U.S. He made recordings in cooperation with famous musicians, and some of his songs sold very well. He played active parts as a member of MACHITÖ Y SUS AFROCUBANAS and became known in Europe and South America. In 1984, he won a Grammy Award for his album Machito and His Salsa Big Band. Four years later, he also won for Live at Sweet Basil. Ohno was a passenger in an automobile accident in 1988 severing his lip, concussion, and broke teeth. He had to take months to re establish his embouchure to play trumpet 3 months later he played on the Buster Williams 'Something More" album with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Al Foster. In 2014, he won the Grand Prize in the International Songwritting Competition. The first Jazz artist to win the Grand Prize and became the first Japanese composer/musician to win the Grand Prize The song is one of his most well known compositions, "Musashi".
Morimichi Takagi (高木 守道, Takagi Morimichi; July 17, 1941 – January 17, 2020) was a Japanese baseball player known for…Morimichi Takagi (高木 守道, Takagi Morimichi; July 17, 1941 – January 17, 2020) was a Japanese baseball player known for his long affiliation with the Chunichi Dragons. He played with the Dragons from 1960 to 1980, accumulating 2,274 hits and 236 home runs. A speedy second baseman, he was a seven-time Central League Best Nine Award-winner (the most for his position in NPB history), a three-time Central League Golden Glove Award-winner and led the Central League in stolen bases three times. He was an NPB All-Star four separate times. He finished with 369 career stolen bases. Takagi began as a player-coach for the Dragons in 1978, staying in that role through his retirement as a player in 1980. He stayed on as coach through 1986, returning to the team as manager from 1992 to 1995, and also from 2012 to 2013.
Nobuo Oshima (大島 信雄, Ōshima Nobuo; October 2, 1921 – January 8, 2005) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for…Nobuo Oshima (大島 信雄, Ōshima Nobuo; October 2, 1921 – January 8, 2005) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for Shochiku Robins and the Chunchi Dragons. His professional career record was 64 wins and 41 losses. In 1940, he pitched shutouts in all 4 games at the Senbatsu Baseball Tournament, helping Gifu Prefectural Commercial High School win. He attended Keio University.
Takeshi Nomura (野村 武史, Nomura Takeshi; born Kiyoshi Nomura, April 5, 1919 – January 29, 1985) was a Nippon Professional…Takeshi Nomura (野村 武史, Nomura Takeshi; born Kiyoshi Nomura, April 5, 1919 – January 29, 1985) was a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.