Ren Kanechika (Japanese: 金近 廉, born 11 March 2003) is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Chiba Jets of…Ren Kanechika (Japanese: 金近 廉, born 11 March 2003) is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Chiba Jets of the B.League and the Japan men's national basketball team. A small forward, he played college basketball at Tokai University before leaving the university and joining the Chiba Jets as a practice player in 2023.
Shu Nakamura (中村 優, Nakamura Shū; born 7 September 1996) is a Japanese figure skater. He finished sixth at the 2012…Shu Nakamura (中村 優, Nakamura Shū; born 7 September 1996) is a Japanese figure skater. He finished sixth at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, after placing tenth in the short program and third in the free skate. He won the bronze medal at the 2014–15 Japan Junior Championships and finished 12th at the 2016 World Junior Championships in Debrecen, Hungary. In February 2017, he won his first senior international medal, bronze at the Bavarian Open.
Shohei Otsuka (大塚 翔平, Ōtsuka Shōhei; born 11 April 1990) is a Japanese football player currently playing for SC…Shohei Otsuka (大塚 翔平, Ōtsuka Shōhei; born 11 April 1990) is a Japanese football player currently playing for SC Sagamihara.
Naoki Matayoshi (又吉 直樹, Matayoshi Naoki; born June 2, 1980) is a Japanese comedian, screenwriter, and novelist who won…Naoki Matayoshi (又吉 直樹, Matayoshi Naoki; born June 2, 1980) is a Japanese comedian, screenwriter, and novelist who won the Akutagawa Prize in 2015 for his book Hibana (火花, Spark), which was adapted into the Netflix series Hibana: Spark. Matayoshi is the boke of his comedy duo Peace alongside his partner Yuji Ayabe. Ayabe left Japan for New York in 2016 to continue his comedic career overseas while Matayoshi stayed in Japan, effectively making the duo inactive since then. He is from Neyagawa City in Osaka Prefecture. He graduated from Hokuyo Senior High School (presently Kansai University Hokuyo Senior High School).
Toshihiro Yamaguchi (山口 敏弘, Yamaguchi Toshihiro; born November 19, 1971) is a former Japanese football player. He…Toshihiro Yamaguchi (山口 敏弘, Yamaguchi Toshihiro; born November 19, 1971) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Yoshiaki Sato (佐藤 慶明, Satō Yoshiaki; born June 19, 1969) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Yoshiaki Sato (佐藤 慶明, Satō Yoshiaki; born June 19, 1969) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Tsutomu Takahata (高畠 勉, Takahata Tsutomu; born June 16, 1968) is a Japanese football manager and former professional…Tsutomu Takahata (高畠 勉, Takahata Tsutomu; born June 16, 1968) is a Japanese football manager and former professional player.
Akira Maeda (前田 日明, Maeda Akira) (born Go Il-myeong (Hangul: 고일명, Hanja: 高日明), January 24, 1959) is a Japanese mixed…Akira Maeda (前田 日明, Maeda Akira) (born Go Il-myeong (Hangul: 고일명, Hanja: 高日明), January 24, 1959) is a Japanese mixed martial arts promoter, writer and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Maeda was also known by the ring name Kwik-kik-Lee during his time on the British wrestling's slot on the sports show World of Sport (WoS). Maeda helped develop the shoot-style of professional wrestling during the late 1980s. He founded Fighting Network RINGS in 1991 which would become one of the top MMA promotions before it folded in 2002.
Akihiro Nishimura (西村 昭宏, Nishimura Akihiro; born August 8, 1958) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He…Akihiro Nishimura (西村 昭宏, Nishimura Akihiro; born August 8, 1958) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Haruhisa Hasegawa (長谷川 治久, Hasegawa Haruhisa; born April 14, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Haruhisa Hasegawa (長谷川 治久, Hasegawa Haruhisa; born April 14, 1957) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Takayoshi Yamano (山野 孝義, Yamano Takayoshi; born April 5, 1955) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Takayoshi Yamano (山野 孝義, Yamano Takayoshi; born April 5, 1955) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Hiroaki Inoue (Japanese:井上弘昭; May 5, 1944 – December 8, 2025) was a Japanese baseball player. In 1966, Inoue was…Hiroaki Inoue (Japanese:井上弘昭; May 5, 1944 – December 8, 2025) was a Japanese baseball player. In 1966, Inoue was selected as a representative of Japan at the Amateur Baseball World Championship, contributing to Japan's championship and being selected as the best nine (outfielder) for working adults. During the 1967 draft, he was a first round pick for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. In 1973, in an exchange trade with Kazuto Kawabata, he transferred to the Chunichi Dragons. In 1981, in an exchange trade with Masaru Tomita and Hideaki Oshima, he transferred to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. After the end of the 1984 season, he retired from playing, and in 1985, he was appointed the defensive base running coach of the Seibu Lions. Due to the retirement of the right pinch hitter, he returned to playing (concurrently serving as a coach). However, he only played in 10 games, and after the end of the season, he left Seibu and officially retired, becoming the first professional baseball commentator on TV Aichi. Inoue was born May 5, 1944, in Osaka. He died on December 8, 2025, at the age of 81.
