Kyuji Fujikawa (藤川 球児, Fujikawa Kyūji; born July 21, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball relief pitcher…
Kyuji Fujikawa (藤川 球児, Fujikawa Kyūji; born July 21, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball relief pitcher who currently serves as the manager for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Hanshin Tigers from 2000 to 2012 and 2016 to 2020, and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers from 2013 to 2015. As of 2026, Fujikawa ranks in NPB's top ten in both career saves and career holds, a distinction shared only with Naoya Masuda. Fujikawa was a member of the gold-medal Japanese teams in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, the 2007 Asian Baseball Championship, and the 2009 World Baseball Classic and represented Japan at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Known for the movement on his four-seam fastball and his success as a setup man and closer, he was elected to the Meikyukai, one of Japan's two baseball halls of fame, in 2022.
Famous Alumni of Kochi Commercial High School
Kochi Commercial High School: 11 people
Hiroshi Tsuno (津野浩, Tsuno Hiroshi; born August 6, 1965) is a retired Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played…
Hiroshi Tsuno (津野浩, Tsuno Hiroshi; born August 6, 1965) is a retired Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Nippon Ham Fighters, Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Chunichi Dragons, and Chiba Lotte Marines.
Yoshitaka Katori (鹿取 義隆, Katori Yoshitaka; born March 10, 1957 in Kami, Kōchi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional…
Yoshitaka Katori (鹿取 義隆, Katori Yoshitaka; born March 10, 1957 in Kami, Kōchi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Luiz Hiloshi Nishimori (born 9 April 1949) is a Brazilian politician and farmer. He has spent his political career…
Luiz Hiloshi Nishimori (born 9 April 1949) is a Brazilian politician and farmer. He has spent his political career representing Paraná, having served as a state deputy representative from 2005 to 2011 and as federal deputy representative from 2011.
Takenori Emoto (江本 孟紀, born July 22, 1947) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball.…
Takenori Emoto (江本 孟紀, born July 22, 1947) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Toei Flyers in 1971, the Nankai Hawks from 1972 to 1975, and the Hanshin Tigers from 1976 to 1981. Emoto was unusually non-confirmative for a player, once almost being released by the team for letting his hair grow over his ears. After complaining publicly about being shuttled between starting and relief in 1981, he was forced to retire by his team the Hanshin Tigers. Despite being only 34 years old, he was prevented from pitching professionally again. Emoto later went on to write a series of successful tell-all books about his experiences in professional baseball, drawing comparisons to pitcher-turned-author Jim Bouton. Turning to politics, in the late 1990s Emoto became a member of From Five, a political party that existed from December 1997 to January 1998. It was formed by former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa and four other legislators (Emoto, Yoriko Madoka, Shinji Tarutoko, and Kiyoshi Ueda) who left the New Frontier Party in June 1997. From Five merged into the Good Governance Party in January 1998, which became part of the Democratic Party of Japan in 1998. In 1998, Emoto, as a member of the DPJ, was elected to the Japanese House of Councillors.
Yutaka Sudō (須藤 豊, Sudō Yutaka; born April 21, 1937, in Aki, Kōchi, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional…
Yutaka Sudō (須藤 豊, Sudō Yutaka; born April 21, 1937, in Aki, Kōchi, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder. He played for the Mainichi Orions, Daimai Orions and Yomiuri Giants. He later managed the Yokohama Taiyō Whales from 1990 to 1992.
Akiko Kojima (児島 明子, Kojima Akiko; born October 29, 1936) is a Japanese model and beauty queen. She was crowned Miss…
Akiko Kojima (児島 明子, Kojima Akiko; born October 29, 1936) is a Japanese model and beauty queen. She was crowned Miss Universe 1959, making her the first Japanese and Asian woman to win the title, as well as the first Asian person to win a major beauty pageant title.
Yasuo Kitamura (北村 康雄, Kitamura Yasuo; born 14 October 1932) is a Japanese former swimmer. He competed in the men's…
Yasuo Kitamura (北村 康雄, Kitamura Yasuo; born 14 October 1932) is a Japanese former swimmer. He competed in the men's 1500 metre freestyle at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
Kusuo Kitamura (北村 久寿雄, Kitamura Kusuo; October 9, 1917 – June 6, 1996) was a Japanese swimmer who competed at the 1932…
Kusuo Kitamura (北村 久寿雄, Kitamura Kusuo; October 9, 1917 – June 6, 1996) was a Japanese swimmer who competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Kitamura was born in Kōchi, Japan. Selected as one of the youngest members of the Japanese swimming team in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, he won the gold medal in the Men's 1500 meter freestyle swimming event. He was 14 years and 309 days old at the time, setting a record for youngest ever swimmer to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games. This record lasted until the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, when Hungarian swimmer Krisztina Egerszegi won the gold in the Women's 200-meter backstroke event. However, Kitamaura still holds the record for the youngest male swimmer. After the 1932 Olympics, Kitamura retired from competitive sports, and eventually graduated from Tokyo Imperial University, and obtained a job at the Japanese Ministry of Labor. He rose through the bureaucratic ranks, eventually becoming a department head, before retiring in 1984 to become a director at Sumitomo Cement.
Takashi Yokoyama (横山 隆志, Yokoyama Takashi; 24 December 1913 – 1945) was a Japanese swimmer. He competed at the 1932…
Takashi Yokoyama (横山 隆志, Yokoyama Takashi; 24 December 1913 – 1945) was a Japanese swimmer. He competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics, where he won a gold medal in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay event. He died in Kōchi, Japan.
Sumi Koshikawa (越川 須美, Koshikawa Sumi; born December 8, 1954), known professionally as Sumi Shimamoto (島本 須美, Shimamoto…
Sumi Koshikawa (越川 須美, Koshikawa Sumi; born December 8, 1954), known professionally as Sumi Shimamoto (島本 須美, Shimamoto Sumi), is a Japanese actress and narrator. She is best known for having voice acted in Hayao Miyazaki's feature films Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, The Castle of Cagliostro, My Neighbor Totoro, Rumiko Takahashi's Maison Ikkoku, Fire Tripper and Princess Mononoke.