Kengo Suzuki (born 11 June 1995) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He won bronze in the half marathon at the 2017…Kengo Suzuki (born 11 June 1995) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He won bronze in the half marathon at the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei, where he finished in a time of 1:06:56. He also previously held the Japanese national record in the marathon with a time of 2:04:56, set at the Lake Biwa Marathon on 28 February 2021.
Jun Arima (Japanese: 有間 潤, Arima Jun; born 6 August 1992) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a…Jun Arima (Japanese: 有間 潤, Arima Jun; born 6 August 1992) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a Forward. He is currently a coach.
Akinori Iwamura (岩村 明憲, Iwamura Akinori; born February 9, 1979) is a former Japanese baseball infielder, who currently…Akinori Iwamura (岩村 明憲, Iwamura Akinori; born February 9, 1979) is a former Japanese baseball infielder, who currently is a manager for the Fukushima Red Hopes in Japan's Baseball Challenge League. He made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2007. He earned the nickname Aki while in MLB. His nickname is Gan-chan in NPB.
Masafumi Hirai (平井 正史, born April 21, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. Hirai played in Nippon…Masafumi Hirai (平井 正史, born April 21, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. Hirai played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix BlueWave/Buffaloes from 1994 to 2002 and from 2013 to 2014, and the Chunichi Dragons from 2003 to 2012.
Kazuyoshi Ishii (石井 和義, Ishii Kazuyoshi; born June 10, 1953) is a Japanese karateka, promoter, and businessman.. He was…Kazuyoshi Ishii (石井 和義, Ishii Kazuyoshi; born June 10, 1953) is a Japanese karateka, promoter, and businessman.. He was born in Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture. Graduated from Ehime Prefectural Uwajima Higashi High School. He is known as the founder of Seidokaikan, a karate organization, and the founder of K-1, a martial arts promotion which became a pioneer in mixed martial arts events. K-1 Founder and advisor/Director of Seimichi Kaikan/ARISF.GAISF. (IOC-recognized international federation of sports organizations, international sports federation) Kickboxing WAKO JAPAN/FIKA/Originally based on the manga "Dorukara".
Takayasu Okushima (奥島 孝康, Okushima Takayasu; 16 April 1939 – 1 May 2024) was a Japanese law professor, President of…Takayasu Okushima (奥島 孝康, Okushima Takayasu; 16 April 1939 – 1 May 2024) was a Japanese law professor, President of Hakuoh University, President of Waseda University, the 10th Chief Scout of the Scout Association of Japan since 1 April 2010, and served as the Camp Chief of the 23rd World Scout Jamboree. In addition, Okushima was the Japan High School Baseball Federation (JHBF) President and Japan Student Baseball Association (JSBA) Director, and served as Member at-large of the Baseball Federation of Japan. Okushima died of pneumonia in Tokyo on 1 May 2024, at the age of 85.
Haruhiro Yamashita (山下 治広, Yamashita Haruhiro; November 11, 1938 – June 19, 2026) was a Japanese gymnast, who competed…Haruhiro Yamashita (山下 治広, Yamashita Haruhiro; November 11, 1938 – June 19, 2026) was a Japanese gymnast, who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics. He won two gold medals, in the vault and team combined exercises. After marriage he changed his last name from Yamashita to Matsuda (松田), adopting his aunt's surname, who took care of him as a child. In 1961, he graduated from Nippon Sport Science University, where in 1983 he became professor and later professor emeritus. In the early 1970s he was an assistant gymnastics coach under Roger Council at the Indiana State University. There he began his research on biorhythms. Yamashita also trained the national gymnastics team, at the 1976 Summer Olympics and at the Asian Games in 1990, and held senior positions with the Japan Gymnastics Association. In 2000 Yamashita was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. He was an honorary citizen of his native town of Uwajima. Yamashita died on June 19, 2026, at the age of 87.
Masahiro Yoshimura (Japanese: 吉村 昌弘; 28 October 1936 – 27 September 2003) is a Japanese swimmer and Olympic medalist.…Masahiro Yoshimura (Japanese: 吉村 昌弘; 28 October 1936 – 27 September 2003) is a Japanese swimmer and Olympic medalist. He participated at the 1956 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in 200 metre breaststroke.
Akira Kono (河野昭, Konō Akira; 11 September 1929 – 25 December 1995) was a Japanese gymnast who competed in the 1956…Akira Kono (河野昭, Konō Akira; 11 September 1929 – 25 December 1995) was a Japanese gymnast who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics.
Noboru Iwamura (岩村 昇, Iwamura Noboru; May 26, 1927 – November 27, 2005) was a Japanese biologist, medical doctor and…Noboru Iwamura (岩村 昇, Iwamura Noboru; May 26, 1927 – November 27, 2005) was a Japanese biologist, medical doctor and professor of medicine. He was the only survivor, amongst eighty high school classmates, of the 1945 Hiroshima bombing. This experience led him to resolve to live his life for others. Under the UMN program, Iwamura was the first Japanese volunteer to arrive in Nepal, a nation struck with a pandemic of tuberculosis. He spent 22 years helping those living in deprivation and his efforts laid the foundation for the establishment of multiple medical facilities around the area. Back in Japan, Iwamura founded the Peace, Health, and Human Development Foundation in 1980, in an effort to provide technical training to grassroots leaders from Nepal and Southeast Asia. He went on to establish the International Human Resources Institute in 1985, as a means of sponsorship for rural workers to earn master's degrees in Community Development. Dr. Iwamura was awarded the 1993 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding in recognition of his life's calling. Iwamura died from leukemia in 2005. In 1998, the Dr. Iwamura Memorial Hospital and Research Center was established to carry on his name in Bhaktapur.
Hajime Hosokawa (細川 一, Hosokawa Hajime; 23 September 1901 – 13 October 1970) was director of the company hospital…Hajime Hosokawa (細川 一, Hosokawa Hajime; 23 September 1901 – 13 October 1970) was director of the company hospital attached to the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory in Minamata, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. He was the first doctor to discover and treat patients of the massive outbreak of mercury poisoning that occurred in the town, which became known as Minamata disease.
Takakura Teru (Japanese: 高倉 輝, Hepburn: Takakura Teru; born Takakura Terutaka, Japanese: 高倉 輝豊; 14 April 1891 – 2 April…Takakura Teru (Japanese: 高倉 輝, Hepburn: Takakura Teru; born Takakura Terutaka, Japanese: 高倉 輝豊; 14 April 1891 – 2 April 1986) was a Japanese novelist, playwright, politician and central committee member of the Japanese Communist Party from 1950 to 1951. Takakura graduated from Kyoto Imperial University and was a left-wing thinker of the Kyoto School. He was arrested several times under the Public Security Preservation Laws prior to the Allied occupation of Japan. In 1945 he fled parole to attend a funeral and was arrested along with Miki Kiyoshi, who he had gone to for clothes and money. This would inevitably lead to Miki's death in prison. Takakura however, following his release at the hands of the Allied Occupation, went on to become a politician for the Japanese Communist Party in 1946.
Masayoshi Ōishi (大石 昌良, Ōishi Masayoshi; born January 5, 1980) is a Japanese musician. His professional music career…Masayoshi Ōishi (大石 昌良, Ōishi Masayoshi; born January 5, 1980) is a Japanese musician. His professional music career began in 2001 as vocalist of the band Sound Schedule. Following the band's disbandment in 2006, he began a solo career, releasing his debut single "Honoka Terasu" in 2008. Sound Schedule reunited in 2011, with Ōishi returning as the band's vocalist. Ōishi is also vocalist of the musical group OxT, led by composer Tom Hack. In 2014, Ōishi's song "Kimi Ja Nakya Dame Mitai" was used as the opening theme to the anime series Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, and in 2018, his song "Otomodachi Film" was used as the opening theme to the anime series Tada Never Falls in Love. In 2023 his song "Megane Go Round" was used as the ending theme to the anime Suki na Ko ga Megane o Wasureta. He has also written songs for other artists, such as "Yōkoso Japari Park e" which was used as the opening theme to the anime series Kemono Friends.