Yuta Watanabe (渡邊 雄太, Watanabe Yūta; born October 13, 1994) is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Chiba…
Yuta Watanabe (渡邊 雄太, Watanabe Yūta; born October 13, 1994) is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Chiba Jets Funabashi of the B.League. He played college basketball in the United States for the George Washington Colonials (now Revolutionaries), becoming the first Japanese-born student athlete to secure an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship. He was named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. He has also represented the Japan national team, helping them win the bronze medal at the 2013 East Asia Basketball Championship. Before moving to the collegiate level, Watanabe attended Jinsei Gakuen High School in Zentsūji, Kagawa. He later transferred to St. Thomas More Preparatory School in Oakdale, Connecticut in 2013. Watanabe rose to fame in his high school program, and was one of their most valuable players in the National Prep School Invitational as a senior in 2014. In college, he became the fourth-ever Japanese-born Division I basketball player.
Famous Alumni of Jinsei Gakuen High School
Jinsei Gakuen High School: 11 people
Kohei Mihara (三原 向平, Mihara Kōhei; born December 8, 1989) is a Japanese football player for Nankatsu SC.
Misako Wakamiya (若宮三紗子, Wakamiya Misako; born 23 May 1989) is a table tennis player. Her highest career ITTF ranking…
Misako Wakamiya (若宮三紗子, Wakamiya Misako; born 23 May 1989) is a table tennis player. Her highest career ITTF ranking was 24.
Hiroyuki Oze (小瀬 浩之, Oze Hiroyuki; September 2, 1985 – February 5, 2010) was a Japanese baseball outfielder from Daitō…
Hiroyuki Oze (小瀬 浩之, Oze Hiroyuki; September 2, 1985 – February 5, 2010) was a Japanese baseball outfielder from Daitō, Osaka who played professionally for the Orix Buffaloes. He played two seasons for the club, hitting .262 in his rookie year in 2008 and .303 in 2009, his final professional season. Before joining the Buffaloes, he played at Jinsei Gakuen High School and Kinki University, where he was drafted in 2007. Oze received the memorable nickname "José" from Orix alum Ichiro Suzuki during the latter's visit to Buffaloes spring training. Oze died on February 5, 2010, in an apparent suicide by jumping from the tenth floor of his hotel during spring training in Miyakojima, Okinawa.
Hiroyasu Tanaka (Japanese:田中 浩康, born May 24, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He was the…
Hiroyasu Tanaka (Japanese:田中 浩康, born May 24, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He was the number 1 draft pick for the Yakult Swallows in 2005.
Shogo Kimura (木村 昇吾, Kimura Shōgo; born April 16, 1980 in Osaka, Osaka, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball…
Shogo Kimura (木村 昇吾, Kimura Shōgo; born April 16, 1980 in Osaka, Osaka, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player and cricketer. He plays infielder for the Saitama Seibu Lions. He took up cricket with the Japan Cricket Association after going unsigned following his release by the Seibu Lions. In September 2022, he was named in Japan's T20I squad for the 2022–23 ICC Men's T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier. Kimura was part of Japan's squad against the Indonesia cricket team that toured Japan in October 2022 to play a three-match Twenty20 International series. He made his T20I debut on 10 October 2022, in the second T20I of the series against Indonesia.
Koji Onuma (大沼 幸二, Ōnuma Kōji; born July 3, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who most recently…
Koji Onuma (大沼 幸二, Ōnuma Kōji; born July 3, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who most recently played in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan's Central League.
Yoshitomo Tani (谷 佳知, born February 9, 1973) is a former Japanese professional baseball player from Higashiōsaka…
Yoshitomo Tani (谷 佳知, born February 9, 1973) is a former Japanese professional baseball player from Higashiōsaka, Osaka, Japan. He played as an outfielder for the Orix Buffaloes and Yomiuri Giants. He holds the Pacific League record for hits in a single season by a right-handed batter with 189 hits in 2003 for Orix. He also holds the Japanese NPB record for doubles in a single season with 52 in 2001. Tani emerged as a recurrent Best Nine award winner in the late 90s and early 2000s for Orix, and played a large role in carrying the Blue Wave/Buffaloes following Ichiro Suzuki's departure to play with the Seattle Mariners in MLB
Katsuhiko Miyaji (宮地 克彦, born August 28, 1971) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder.
Takahiro Saeki (佐伯 貴弘, born April 18, 1970, in Osaka, Osaka, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.…
Takahiro Saeki (佐伯 貴弘, born April 18, 1970, in Osaka, Osaka, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder. Under former manager Motonobu Tanishige he was a fielding coach for the Chunichi Dragons, but with Tanishige's dismissal as manager on 10 August 2016, Saeki was also relieved from his position.
Hideki Irabu (伊良部 秀輝, Irabu Hideki; 5 May 1969 – 27 July 2011) was a Japanese professional baseball player. He played…
Hideki Irabu (伊良部 秀輝, Irabu Hideki; 5 May 1969 – 27 July 2011) was a Japanese professional baseball player. He played professionally in both Japan and North America. Irabu played for the Lotte Orions / Chiba Lotte Marines and Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and for the New York Yankees, Montreal Expos, and Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Irabu debuted in NPB in 1988 and played for the Marines through the 1996 season. Desiring to play in MLB, the Marines sold Irabu's contract to the San Diego Padres, with whom they had a working arrangement, despite Irabu's desire to play for the Yankees. When Irabu refused to play for San Diego, they traded him to the Yankees, and the aftermath of the deal led to the development of the posting system. Irabu was a member of the Yankees' World Series-winning teams in 1998 and 1999, becoming the first Japanese-born player to win a World Series. Irabu pitched in the major leagues through 2002 and returned to Japan with the Tigers in 2003 and retired after the 2004 season. Irabu died by suicide in 2011.