Takeru Kitazono (北園 丈琉, Kitazono Takeru; born 21 October 2002) is a Japanese male artistic gymnast. At the 2018 Youth…Takeru Kitazono (北園 丈琉, Kitazono Takeru; born 21 October 2002) is a Japanese male artistic gymnast. At the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he won five gold medals in the all-around, floor, rings, parallel bars, and horizontal bar competitions. He was the first artistic gymnast ever to achieve such a feat in a single Youth Olympic Games. He represented Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics where he won a silver medal in the team event.
Tomohiro Noda (野田 明宏, Noda Tomohiro; born 24 January 1996) is a Japanese racewalker. In 2019, he competed in the men's…Tomohiro Noda (野田 明宏, Noda Tomohiro; born 24 January 1996) is a Japanese racewalker. In 2019, he competed in the men's 50 kilometres walk at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar. He did not finish his race. In 2015, he competed in the men's 20 kilometres walk at the 2015 Summer Universiade held in Gwangju, South Korea. He finished in 8th place. In 2017, he competed in the men's 20 kilometres walk at the 2017 Summer Universiade held in Taipei, Taiwan. He finished in 7th place.
Kenya Kobayashi (小林 研也, Kobayashi Ken'ya; born 21 August 1983) is a Japanese gymnast. He was part of the Japanese team…Kenya Kobayashi (小林 研也, Kobayashi Ken'ya; born 21 August 1983) is a Japanese gymnast. He was part of the Japanese team that won the silver medal in the team event at the 2006 Asian Games. He won a team silver medal as part of Japan's delegation at the 2010 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships and 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Suguru Hashimoto (橋本 卓, Hashimoto Suguru; born June 16, 1982) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Azul Claro…Suguru Hashimoto (橋本 卓, Hashimoto Suguru; born June 16, 1982) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Azul Claro Numazu.
Ryohei Otani (大谷 亮平, Ōtani Ryōhei; born October 1, 1980) is a Japanese actor and model. He began his modeling career in…Ryohei Otani (大谷 亮平, Ōtani Ryōhei; born October 1, 1980) is a Japanese actor and model. He began his modeling career in Japan, then entered Korean entertainment by being featured in a commercial for Dunkin' Donuts in 2003, followed by Hyundai Motors, Olympus and SK Telecom. His popularity helped him land roles on television, beginning with the 2006 sitcom Soulmate. Otani's acting career continued to be active in South Korea, starring in television dramas such as The Road Home, Dear My Sister, Hero, The Chaser, and Gunman in Joseon that earned him Global Star Award in the 7th Korea Drama Awards as well as the period blockbusters War of the Arrows and The Admiral: Roaring Currents. He has currently been acting in Japan; starring in hit Japanese dramas like The Full-Time Wife Escapist as Ryota Kazami, Love Rerun as Ryosuke Sagisawa in 2018, and will be taking part in many more Japanese works later in 2018 as well.
Takehiro Kashima (鹿島 丈博, Kashima Takehiro; born July 16, 1980 in Osaka) is a Japanese gymnast, world champion and…Takehiro Kashima (鹿島 丈博, Kashima Takehiro; born July 16, 1980 in Osaka) is a Japanese gymnast, world champion and Olympic champion.
Takahiko Yamamura (山村 貴彦, Yamamura Takahiko; born 13 August 1979) is a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 400…Takahiko Yamamura (山村 貴彦, Yamamura Takahiko; born 13 August 1979) is a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 400 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Shinichi Terano (寺野 伸一, Terano Shin'ichi; born 10 July 1979) is a Japanese long jumper. His personal best jump is 8.20…Shinichi Terano (寺野 伸一, Terano Shin'ichi; born 10 July 1979) is a Japanese long jumper. His personal best jump is 8.20 metres, achieved in June 2004 in Tottori. He won the bronze medal at the 2003 Asian Championships. He also competed at the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2005 World Championships without reaching the final.
Tetsuya Matsunaga (松永 鉄也, Matsunaga Tetsuya; born 15 April 1979 in Kyoto) is a Japanese sailor, who specialized in…Tetsuya Matsunaga (松永 鉄也, Matsunaga Tetsuya; born 15 April 1979 in Kyoto) is a Japanese sailor, who specialized in two-person dinghy (470) class. He represented Japan, along with his partner Taro Ueno, at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and has also been training for Three Bond Sailing Team in Kyoto throughout most of his sporting career under his longtime coach and mentor Kenji Nakamura. As of September 2014, Matsunaga is ranked twenty-sixth in the world for two-person dinghy class by the International Sailing Federation, following his successes at the South American Championships, ISAF Sailing World Cup Series, and 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Santander, Spain. Matsunaga qualified as a skipper for the Japanese squad in the men's 470 class at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing by placing fifteenth and receiving a berth from the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Teaming with crew member Taro Ueno in the eleven-race series, the Japanese duo mounted a marvelous lead in the opening leg, but came up short for the medal with a net score of 97 and a seventh-place finish in a fleet of twenty-nine boats. At the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships, Matsunaga and his new partner Yugo Yoshida set a career record with a sixth-place finish in the men's 470 class to secure their spot on the Japanese sailing team for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Yusuke Kawakita (川北 裕介, Kawakita Yusuke; born May 13, 1978) is a Japanese football coach and former football player…Yusuke Kawakita (川北 裕介, Kawakita Yusuke; born May 13, 1978) is a Japanese football coach and former football player, who is the goalkeeper coach of Thailand U23.
Isao Yoneda (米田 功); (born August 20, 1977, in Hamburg, Germany) is a Japanese gymnast. He was raised in Tokyo. He is…Isao Yoneda (米田 功); (born August 20, 1977, in Hamburg, Germany) is a Japanese gymnast. He was raised in Tokyo. He is the 2004 Summer Olympics gold medalist in the team event and the bronze medalist in the high bar.
Satoshi Osaki (大崎悟史, Osaki Satoshi; born 4 June 1983) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the…Satoshi Osaki (大崎悟史, Osaki Satoshi; born 4 June 1983) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon.
Tomu Tanigawa (谷川とむ, Tanigawa Tomu; born 27 April 1976) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of…Tomu Tanigawa (谷川とむ, Tanigawa Tomu; born 27 April 1976) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2026, having previously served from 2014 to 2024. He is the son of Shuzen Tanigawa.
Yoshihiro Akiyama (Japanese: 秋山 成勲; born July 29, 1975), also known as Choo Sung-hoon (Korean: 추성훈) and by his nickname…Yoshihiro Akiyama (Japanese: 秋山 成勲; born July 29, 1975), also known as Choo Sung-hoon (Korean: 추성훈) and by his nickname Sexyama, is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka who won the gold medal at the 2001 Asian Championships for South Korea and for Japan at the 2002 Asian Games. He is the former K-1 HERO's Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament Champion.
Takashi Uchiyama (内山隆, Uchiyama Takashi; born 18 August 1974) is a Japanese gymnast. He competed at the 1996 Summer…Takashi Uchiyama (内山隆, Uchiyama Takashi; born 18 August 1974) is a Japanese gymnast. He competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Hikaru Tanaka (田中 光, Tanaka Hikaru; born 19 July 1972) is a Japanese gymnast. He finished in eighteenth place in the…Hikaru Tanaka (田中 光, Tanaka Hikaru; born 19 July 1972) is a Japanese gymnast. He finished in eighteenth place in the all around at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Kenta Matsunami (松浪 健太, Matsunami Kenta; born 17 August 1971) is a former Japanese politician of the Initiatives from…Kenta Matsunami (松浪 健太, Matsunami Kenta; born 17 August 1971) is a former Japanese politician of the Initiatives from Osaka party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Izumisano, Osaka and graduate of Waseda University, he joined Sankei Shimbun in 1997. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2002 for the Liberal Democratic Party in a by-election. After losing his seat in 2003, he was re-elected in 2005.
Daisuke Nishikawa (born 2 June 1970) is a retired Japanese gymnast who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics and in the…Daisuke Nishikawa (born 2 June 1970) is a retired Japanese gymnast who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics and in the 1992 Summer Olympics, where he won bronze medals in both team events.
Takemi Miyamae (宮前 岳巳, Miyamae Takemi; born November 1, 1968 in Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese conditioning coach for the…Takemi Miyamae (宮前 岳巳, Miyamae Takemi; born November 1, 1968 in Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese conditioning coach for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Koji Imada (今田 耕司, Imada Kōji; born March 13, 1966 in Osaka city) is a Japanese musician, comedian, tarento and TV…Koji Imada (今田 耕司, Imada Kōji; born March 13, 1966 in Osaka city) is a Japanese musician, comedian, tarento and TV presenter. His talent agency is Yoshimoto Kogyo. In the mid-1990s, Imada paired with the acclaimed Japanese record producer Towa Tei under the stage name Koji 1200. He released two albums and multiple hit singles, including Now Romantic and Blow Ya Mind. Imada is currently one of the most prominent figures in the Japanese television industry as an active TV presenter and comedian. Although they were not an official comedy duo, Imada along with Koji Higashino were known as the W Koji as they shared the same name and were both graduates of the Yoshimoto NSC Osaka Comedy School as the 4th generation. Among the shows he's presented for was Amazon Prime's Caligula.
Shigeki Kobayashi (小林 茂樹, Kobayashi Shigeki; born 9 October 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Shigeki Kobayashi (小林 茂樹, Kobayashi Shigeki; born 9 October 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Kenji Honnami (本並 健治, Honnami Kenji; born June 23, 1964) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played…Kenji Honnami (本並 健治, Honnami Kenji; born June 23, 1964) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
The Gainax employee Yasuhiro Takeda should not be confused with the professor of the same name at National Defense…The Gainax employee Yasuhiro Takeda should not be confused with the professor of the same name at National Defense Academy of Japan. Yasuhiro Takeda (武田 康廣, Takeda Yasuhiro; born 12 September 1957 in Tadaoka, Osaka) is a Japanese anime director and founding member of Gainax; for most of his career, he was General Manager. He is also a two-time chair of the Nihon SF Taikai (DAICON III and the 1988 Mig.Con). In April 1976, he enrolled in Kinki University for nuclear engineering, but began neglecting studies (repeating his sophomore year) when he joined the sci-fi club in April 1977 and became active in organizing clubs, founding the "Confederation of Kansai Student Sci-Fi Clubs". It was through these early activities that Takeda met many other fans, some who would become more involved: at his first convention, Seto-Con ("Sci-Fi Festival 78"), Takeda met Toshio Okada. In November 1990, he married the Japanese writer Hiroe Suga. In 2002, he published a memoir/autobiography about his life (particularly focusing on his college life, involvement in science fiction conventions, and his subsequent career) named The Notenki Memoirs; the name Notenki is an old nickname of Takeda's, derived from his part in Kaiketsu Noutenki. He is portrayed by actor Gitaro in the 2014 TV Drama Aoi Honō based on the autobiographical manga by Kazuhiko Shimamoto, which follows the college years of the future Gainax team.
Kōji Gushiken (具志堅 幸司, Gushiken Kōji) (born November 12, 1956, in Ōsaka) is an Olympic gymnast for Japan at the 1984…Kōji Gushiken (具志堅 幸司, Gushiken Kōji) (born November 12, 1956, in Ōsaka) is an Olympic gymnast for Japan at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, where he won a total number of five medals, including two gold. He broke an ankle in May 1985 which prevented him from training for 3 months and hindered his performances at the 1985 World Championships. Gushiken announced his retirement at the 1985 Chūnichi Cup. He currently coaches other Olympic contenders, including two-time Olympic individual all-around gold medallist Kōhei Uchimura.
Eizo Kenmotsu (監物永三, Kenmotsu Eizō; born February 13, 1948) is a former Japanese artistic gymnast, who won seven world…Eizo Kenmotsu (監物永三, Kenmotsu Eizō; born February 13, 1948) is a former Japanese artistic gymnast, who won seven world titles and three Olympic gold medals between 1968 and 1979. In retirement, he became a leading Japanese coach. He also served as sports director of the Nippon Sport Science University and vice president of the Japan Gymnastics Association. In 2006, Kenmotsu was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Kenmotsu was 20 years and 8 months old in October 1968 when he became the youngest Japanese artistic gymnast in history to win an Olympic gold medal after the team event finals at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He held on to that longstanding record for almost 48 years until recently when it was finally broken by Kenzō Shirai, who in August 2016 acquired the honour when only 19 years and 11 months old, at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro–also after the team event finals. Coincidentally, they had both similarly won one other Olympic medal, each an individual event bronze–Kenmotsu on the horizontal bar and Shirai on the vault–at their respective first Olympic Games.
Rome Kanda (神田 瀧夢, Kanda Romu) is a Japanese television personality (tarento), comedian, and actor based in the United…Rome Kanda (神田 瀧夢, Kanda Romu) is a Japanese television personality (tarento), comedian, and actor based in the United States. Kanda currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Born in Kishiwada, Kanda spent his early career as an actor with his debut movie, Tokyo Pop directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui and filmed in Japan and the USA in 1987. After deciding to be an actor and comedian, he moved to the USA in 1999 and made his first appearances on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide as a samurai. Kanda is also known for his hosting role on the "Majide" game on I Survived a Japanese Game Show in 2008 and 2009 and played host Kei Kato on the G4 broadcasts of Kinniku Banzuke. He has also appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Saturday Night Live, and in a commercial for the New York Mets as a sushi chef. Kanda has also starred in films such as Takeshi Kitano's film Sonatine. His most recent film appearance has been a supportive role (President of the Japanese corporation) in The Informant! (2009), a Matt Damon film directed by Steven Soderbergh. Kanda recently appeared as a spokesman and personality for Sun Drop. He appears in several TV commercials playing a soda sommelier named "The Taste Master". Kanda is familiar with a variety of Japanese traditional performing arts and martial arts such as Buyō, Karate, Kendo, Iaido, among which is samurai sword fighting, which he teaches, while he continues to perform at a comedy club in Hollywood as a comedian. Kanda was chosen to be one of the speakers at "TEDxTOKYO 2010 HIT RESET" held in Tokyo on May 15, 2010.
Kenichi Yamamoto (山本 健一, Yamamoto Ken'ichi; March 5, 1925 – February 4, 1982) was a Japanese yakuza boss who founded…Kenichi Yamamoto (山本 健一, Yamamoto Ken'ichi; March 5, 1925 – February 4, 1982) was a Japanese yakuza boss who founded the Yamaken-gumi, the largest and most powerful affiliate gang of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest crime syndicate. By the time of his death, Yamamoto had risen to the rank of wakagashira (the number-two boss) and was considered the heir apparent to the Yamaguchi-gumi's third godfather, Kazuo Taoka.
