Futaba Ito (伊藤 ふたば, Ito Futaba; born 25 April 2002) is a Japanese professional competition climber, sport climber and…Futaba Ito (伊藤 ふたば, Ito Futaba; born 25 April 2002) is a Japanese professional competition climber, sport climber and boulderer. She participates in both competition bouldering and competition lead climbing events. She won the IFSC Climbing Asian Youth Championships in lead and bouldering events in 2016, as well as Bouldering Japan Cup in 2017. She participated in combined and speed events at the 2018 Asian Games.
Keigo Nakamura (Japanese: 中村圭吾, Hepburn: Nakamura Keigo) (born July 10, 1999) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He…Keigo Nakamura (Japanese: 中村圭吾, Hepburn: Nakamura Keigo) (born July 10, 1999) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to DDT Pro Wrestling, where performs as the masked character Viento Levante (ビエント・レバンテ, Biento Rebante) and is a member of Strange Love Connection.
Kaina Tanimura (谷村海那, Tanimura Kaina; born 5 March 1998) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward…Kaina Tanimura (谷村海那, Tanimura Kaina; born 5 March 1998) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for J1 League club Yokohama F. Marinos and the Japan national team.
Hiroaki Sato (佐藤 洸彬, Satō Hiroaki; born December 6, 1995) is a Japanese retired figure skater. He was named in Japan's…Hiroaki Sato (佐藤 洸彬, Satō Hiroaki; born December 6, 1995) is a Japanese retired figure skater. He was named in Japan's team to the 2015 World Junior Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. Sato ranked 17th in the short program, 14th in the free skate, and 15th overall. He has won three senior international medals.
This is a list of J.League designated special players, picked by J.League clubs from universities and high schools all…This is a list of J.League designated special players, picked by J.League clubs from universities and high schools all over Japan.
Kenichi Tanimura (谷村 憲一, Tanimura Ken'ichi; born January 26, 1995) is a Japanese football player, who plays for Morioka…Kenichi Tanimura (谷村 憲一, Tanimura Ken'ichi; born January 26, 1995) is a Japanese football player, who plays for Morioka Zebra as a midfielder.
Kaito Kubo (久保海都, Kubo, Kaito; born 5 November 1993 in Morioka) is a former Japanese footballer who last played for…Kaito Kubo (久保海都, Kubo, Kaito; born 5 November 1993 in Morioka) is a former Japanese footballer who last played for Grulla Morioka.
Keita Fujimura (藤村 慶太, Fujimura Keita; born September 2, 1993 in Iwate) is a Japanese football player. He plays for…Keita Fujimura (藤村 慶太, Fujimura Keita; born September 2, 1993 in Iwate) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Kagoshima United.
Ryosuke Sasaki (佐々木 亮輔, Sasaki Ryōsuke; born 6 March 1993) is a Japanese handball player for Toyoda Gosei and the…Ryosuke Sasaki (佐々木 亮輔, Sasaki Ryōsuke; born 6 March 1993) is a Japanese handball player for Toyoda Gosei and the Japanese national team. He represented Japan at the 2019 World Men's Handball Championship.
Arata Nishikiori (錦織 新, Nishikiori Arata; born 7 September 1991) is a Japanese team handball player. She plays for the…Arata Nishikiori (錦織 新, Nishikiori Arata; born 7 September 1991) is a Japanese team handball player. She plays for the club Sony Semiconductor, and on the Japanese national team. She represented Japan at the 2013 World Women's Handball Championship in Serbia, where the Japanese team placed 14th.
Yusei Kikuchi (菊池 雄星, Kikuchi Yūsei; Japanese pronunciation: [ki̥kɯtɕi jɯꜜːseː], born June 17, 1991) is a Japanese…Yusei Kikuchi (菊池 雄星, Kikuchi Yūsei; Japanese pronunciation: [ki̥kɯtɕi jɯꜜːseː], born June 17, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions. Kikuchi has been named an All-Star in 2021 and 2025.
Yusuke Hayashi (林 勇介, Hayashi Yūsuke; born 23 January 1990) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for…Yusuke Hayashi (林 勇介, Hayashi Yūsuke; born 23 January 1990) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for Philippines Football League side Stallion Laguna.
Yusuke Yamagata (山形 雄介, Yamagata Yūsuke; born 14 July 1986) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a…Yusuke Yamagata (山形 雄介, Yamagata Yūsuke; born 14 July 1986) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Philippines Football League club Stallion Laguna.
Takuya Kawamura (川村 卓也, Kawamura Takuya; born 24 April 1986) is a Japanese professional basketball guard currently…Takuya Kawamura (川村 卓也, Kawamura Takuya; born 24 April 1986) is a Japanese professional basketball guard currently signed to the Nishinomiya Storks. In 2005, he skipped college and started playing professional basketball, following Kazuo Nakamura's advice. In 2009, he decided to leave the Japan Basketball League and try to earn a contract in the NBA. In the 2009 NBA Summer League, the Phoenix Suns added Kawamura to their roster. He has been dubbed "Offence Machine" and very talkative as he had a radio show on Tochigi's Radio Berry FM.
Shuto Yamamoto (山本 脩斗, Yamamoto Shūto; born June 1, 1985) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a…Shuto Yamamoto (山本 脩斗, Yamamoto Shūto; born June 1, 1985) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a full back or centre back. He played for Japanese top-flight clubs Júbilo Iwata, Kashima Antlers and Shonan Bellmare, making almost 400 career appearances in a career spanning 16 years. He has 1 cap for the Japan national football team.
Yota Sato (佐藤 洋太, Satō Yōta; born 1 April 1984) is a retired Japanese professional boxer who is a former WBC Super…Yota Sato (佐藤 洋太, Satō Yōta; born 1 April 1984) is a retired Japanese professional boxer who is a former WBC Super flyweight Champion.
Hiroki Tanabe (田辺 裕喜, Tanabe Hiroki; born December 13, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known by his…Hiroki Tanabe (田辺 裕喜, Tanabe Hiroki; born December 13, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known by his ring name Hi69 (pronounced as Hiroki). He is currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah. Since debuting in 2000, Tanabe has frequently worked for Kaientai Dojo, Michinoku Pro Wrestling, Apache Pro Wrestling and Freedoms.
Koji Ohmura (born June 1, 1981, in Morioka) is a Japanese Special make-up effects artist. He won the Emmy Award for…Koji Ohmura (born June 1, 1981, in Morioka) is a Japanese Special make-up effects artist. He won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Effects Costumes, Hair and Makeup for Disney Plus's The Quest. He was also nominated for Make-up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards for Best Make-up for Commercials and Music Videos for Katy Perry's "Swish Swish" (2018), Justin Timberlake's "Supplies" (2019) and The Weeknd's "In Your Eyes" (2021). His work includes Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, The Butler, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, The Big Bang Theory, and Hawaii Five-0.
Shiori Kamimachi (上町 史織, Kamimachi Shiori; born 1981) is a Japanese team handball player. She plays on the Japanese…Shiori Kamimachi (上町 史織, Kamimachi Shiori; born 1981) is a Japanese team handball player. She plays on the Japanese national team, and participated at the 2011 World Women's Handball Championship in Brazil.
Mitsuo Ogasawara (小笠原 満男, Ogasawara Mitsuo; born 5 April 1979) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played…Mitsuo Ogasawara (小笠原 満男, Ogasawara Mitsuo; born 5 April 1979) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for Japan national team.
Akihito Sawafuji (澤藤 章人, Sawafuji Akihito), born Akihito Terui (照井章仁, Terui Akihito; August 27, 1976), is a Japanese…Akihito Sawafuji (澤藤 章人, Sawafuji Akihito), born Akihito Terui (照井章仁, Terui Akihito; August 27, 1976), is a Japanese color commentator and retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Milano Collection A. T. (ミラノコレクションA.T., Mirano Korekushon Ē Tī). As Milano, Sawafuji adopted the gimmick of an Italian fashion aficionado/supermodel, reflected in his ring attire. Milano is also known for walking to the ring with an invisible dog known as Mikeru. After retiring from in-ring competition in 2010, Milano began working as a color commentator for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), a position he maintains to this day.
Masanori Murakawa (村川 政徳, Murakawa Masanori; born July 18, 1969), best known under his ring name The Great Sasuke…Masanori Murakawa (村川 政徳, Murakawa Masanori; born July 18, 1969), best known under his ring name The Great Sasuke (ザ・グレート・サスケ, Za Gurēto Sasuke), is a Japanese professional wrestler, professional wrestling promoter and politician. He is the founder of Michinoku Pro Wrestling (MPW). He currently wrestles in Japan and in the United States in various independent circuits. Aside from professional wrestling, he is also a former Iwate Prefectural Assembly legislator. He is said to have an incredible tolerance for pain, mainly in reference to the injuries he has had including a cracked skull on two occasions.
Takeshi Shina (階 猛, Shina Takeshi; born 7 October 1966) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the…Takeshi Shina (階 猛, Shina Takeshi; born 7 October 1966) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Representatives since 2007. A 1991 graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected for the first time in 2007. Shina was born and grew up in Morioka, Iwate before attending the University of Tokyo. After he graduated, he became a banker at both the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan and the SBI Shinsei Bank. Shina first ran for office in a 2007 by-election following the resignation of his High School and University senior, Takuya Tasso, in Iwate's 1st district. He won in 2009 and was tapped to become a Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, and served through the Kan Cabinet. Following his vote against the consumption tax raise launched by the Noda Cabinet, he was suspended by the DPJ for two months but declined to leave the party, and won in 2012 despite facing a candidate handpicked by Ichiro Ozawa to defeat him, and the strong national headwinds in favor of the LDP. Following the defeat, Shina was shuffled throughout various DPJ party positions, serving as a shadow minister in the NEXT Cabinets of varying leaders. He won in 2014 again and merged with the DP in merging with Kibō no Tō, holding onto his district in 2017. He joined the DPP before leaving the party following the Iwate's branch decision to endorse a candidate from Ichiro Ozawa's Liberal Party. He joined the CDP shortly thereafter and fought attempts by the Prefectural Branch controlled by Ozawa to replace him as the candidate in Iwate's 1st, winning in 2021. He was appointed the Shadow Minister of Finance in the Next Cabinet's of Kenta Izumi and Yoshihiko Noda until September 2025. He won his district in 2026 after joining the CRA, becoming one of the "seven samurai" to do so. He ran for party president in the 2026 CRA election, losing to Junya Ogawa by five votes. He was then appointed secretary-general of the CRA.
Megumi Hirose (広瀬 めぐみ, Hirose Megumi; born June 27, 1966) is a Japanese politician and lawyer who served in the House…Megumi Hirose (広瀬 めぐみ, Hirose Megumi; born June 27, 1966) is a Japanese politician and lawyer who served in the House of Councillors for Iwate Prefecture from 2022 to 2024. She is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. She is the first LDP member to represent Iwate as a councilor since Motoo Shiina left the party in 1993.
Keishi Ōtomo (Japanese: 大友啓史, Hepburn: Ōtomo Keishi; born May 6, 1966) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He…Keishi Ōtomo (Japanese: 大友啓史, Hepburn: Ōtomo Keishi; born May 6, 1966) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is known for psychological thrillers and historical dramas, as well as adapting a variety of manga and novels to film, including The Vulture (2009), Ryōmaden (2010), and the Rurouni Kenshin film series. Ōtomo’s awards include the Audience Award at the 18th Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal (2014), the Popularity Award at the 38th Japanese Academy Awards (2014), and Best Director at the 31st Japanese Critics Award (2022).
Takuya Tasso (達増 拓也, Tasso Takuya; born 10 June 1964) is a Japanese politician and the current governor of Iwate…Takuya Tasso (達増 拓也, Tasso Takuya; born 10 June 1964) is a Japanese politician and the current governor of Iwate Prefecture. He is a native of Morioka and graduate of the University of Tokyo.
Tatsuhiko Seta (瀬田 龍彦, Seta Tatsuhiko; born January 15, 1952) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Tatsuhiko Seta (瀬田 龍彦, Seta Tatsuhiko; born January 15, 1952) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Katsura Funakoshi (舟越 桂, Funakoshi Katsura; 25 May 1951 – 29 March 2024) was a Japanese sculptor. Funakoshi was…Katsura Funakoshi (舟越 桂, Funakoshi Katsura; 25 May 1951 – 29 March 2024) was a Japanese sculptor. Funakoshi was well-known in the field of visual arts in Japan. His father, Yasutake Funakoshi, was also a sculptor and soon he felt the same vocation. He studied at the Tokyo University of the Arts, from 1971 to 1975, and at the University of Fine Arts and Music, from 1975 to 1977. He started carving in camphor wood in 1980. His works, usually depicting human figures from the waist up, have a great poetical effect, and are striking and distinctive. Funakoshi worked this material in a personal way and left visible both the grain of the wood and the marks of carving. The artist carefully utilised the grain for modelling and left part of the head unpainted, normally the crown. Funakoshi exhibited his work at the Venice Biennale, the São Paulo Biennale, the Documenta IX, and the Shanghai Biennale, and his work is represented in several art museums in Japan and other countries. Funakoshi died from lung cancer on 29 March 2024, at the age of 72.
Mitsuru Komaeda (古前田 充, Komaeda Mitsuru; born April 14, 1950) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He…Mitsuru Komaeda (古前田 充, Komaeda Mitsuru; born April 14, 1950) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Shinji Sōmai (相米 慎二, Sōmai Shinji; 13 January 1948 – 9 September 2001) was a Japanese film director. He directed 13…Shinji Sōmai (相米 慎二, Sōmai Shinji; 13 January 1948 – 9 September 2001) was a Japanese film director. He directed 13 films between 1980 and 2000 and was noted for his work within seishun-eiga, which include films such as the successful Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (1981) and critically acclaimed Typhoon Club (1985).
Yōko Mihara (三原 葉子, Mihara Yōko) was an actress of Japanese exploitation cinema, erotic dancer and pin-up model who was…Yōko Mihara (三原 葉子, Mihara Yōko) was an actress of Japanese exploitation cinema, erotic dancer and pin-up model who was active from the 1950s to 1970s.
Hiroshi Kuwashima (Japanese: 桑島博 Kuwashima Hiroshi; 14 August 1932 – 16 December 2021) was a Japanese politician. He…Hiroshi Kuwashima (Japanese: 桑島博 Kuwashima Hiroshi; 14 August 1932 – 16 December 2021) was a Japanese politician. He served as mayor of Morioka from 1995 to 2003.
Tetsurō Fujiwara is a Japanese physician. In 1996 he was awarded the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine…Tetsurō Fujiwara is a Japanese physician. In 1996 he was awarded the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine together with Bengt Robertson for contributions to the understanding of neonatal medicine.
Sukenobu Kudō (工藤祐信, Kudō Sukenobu; 11 September 1927 – 17 April 2012) was a Japanese speed skater. He competed at the…Sukenobu Kudō (工藤祐信, Kudō Sukenobu; 11 September 1927 – 17 April 2012) was a Japanese speed skater. He competed at the 1952 Winter Olympics.
Okuro Oikawa (及川 奥郎, Oikawa Okurō; 1896–1970) was a Japanese astronomer and discoverer of minor planets. He is credited…Okuro Oikawa (及川 奥郎, Oikawa Okurō; 1896–1970) was a Japanese astronomer and discoverer of minor planets. He is credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovered 8 asteroids between 1927 and 1929. The outer main-belt asteroid 2667 Oikawa was named in his memory. Naming citation was published on 1 June 1996 (M.P.C. 27329).
Kyōsuke Kindaichi (金田一 京助, Kindaichi Kyōsuke; May 5, 1882 – November 14, 1971) was a Japanese linguist, chiefly known…Kyōsuke Kindaichi (金田一 京助, Kindaichi Kyōsuke; May 5, 1882 – November 14, 1971) was a Japanese linguist, chiefly known for his dictations of yukar, or sagas of the Ainu people, as well as his study of the Matagi dialect. He is the author of the dictionary Meikai Kokugo Jiten.
Mitsumasa Yonai (米内 光政, Yonai Mitsumasa; 2 March 1880 – 20 April 1948) was a Japanese navy officer and politician. He…Mitsumasa Yonai (米内 光政, Yonai Mitsumasa; 2 March 1880 – 20 April 1948) was a Japanese navy officer and politician. He served as admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, Minister of the Navy, and Prime Minister of Japan in 1940.
Katsuji Debuchi (出淵 勝次; July 25, 1878 – August 19, 1947) was a Japanese diplomat who served as ambassador to the United…Katsuji Debuchi (出淵 勝次; July 25, 1878 – August 19, 1947) was a Japanese diplomat who served as ambassador to the United States.
Ōshima Takatō (大島 高任, May 11, 1826–March 29, 1901) was a Japanese engineer who created the first reverberation blast…Ōshima Takatō (大島 高任, May 11, 1826–March 29, 1901) was a Japanese engineer who created the first reverberation blast furnace in Japan. Ōshima was born of samurai status in Morioka City, Nanbu Domain which is now Iwate Prefecture in 1826. Around this time, the feudal clans of Japan were competing to develop advanced Western-style guns. The government of Mito Domain hired Ōshima to make Western-style guns. In 1855, the first of two reverberation blast furnaces that he built in Mito was completed. This furnace was used to make four mortars over the next year. These mortars, however, failed due to the use of poor quality iron. Ōshima returned to Nanbu-han where he built a new Western-style blast furnace at Kamaishi to produce a higher quality pig iron from the local magnetite mined there. For this work he was assisted by an engineer on loan from the Satsuma Domain. They used a design from a Dutch book Het Gietwezen In's Rijks Ijzer-geschutgieterij Te Luik by Huguenin. Their efforts were rewarded with success on December 1, 1857 when they fired the new furnace for the first time. Returning to Mito the next year, Ōshima successfully produced three mortars and one cannon. In April, a large shipment of pig iron arrived from Kamaishi and he produced three more large cannons. After 1868, he helped in the development of Japan's mining operations.
Miu Sakamaki (坂巻美雨, Sakamaki Miu), under the ring name Misa Kagura (神姫楽ミサ, Kagura Misa) is a Japanese idol and…Miu Sakamaki (坂巻美雨, Sakamaki Miu), under the ring name Misa Kagura (神姫楽ミサ, Kagura Misa) is a Japanese idol and professional wrestler currently signed to the Japanese promotion Professional Wrestling Just Tap Out, where is a former one-time and inaugural JTO Girls Champion. She is a former member of the idol group Katamomi Joshi and is also known for her time in Ice Ribbon, where she is a former three-time International Ribbon Tag Team Champion.
Junki Tozuka (戸塚 純貴, Tozuka Junki; born July 22, 1992, in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor who is…Junki Tozuka (戸塚 純貴, Tozuka Junki; born July 22, 1992, in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor who is affiliated with Box Corporation. He is best known for his role as the character, Shunpei Nara, from the Kamen Rider series Kamen Rider Wizard.
Shintarō Asanuma (浅沼 晋太郎, Asanuma Shintarō; born January 5, 1976) is a Japanese screenwriter, director, actor…Shintarō Asanuma (浅沼 晋太郎, Asanuma Shintarō; born January 5, 1976) is a Japanese screenwriter, director, actor, copywriter and designer. He was affiliated with Office Osawa and currently attached under DANDELION.
Kaya Okuno (奥野 香耶, Okuno Kaya; born March 1, 1991) is a Japanese voice actress from Iwate Prefecture. She was…Kaya Okuno (奥野 香耶, Okuno Kaya; born March 1, 1991) is a Japanese voice actress from Iwate Prefecture. She was previously affiliated with 81 Produce and is currently freelance.
Mikoi Sasaki (佐々木未来, Sasaki Mikoi; born March 30, 1991) is a Japanese voice actress known for her role as Hercule…Mikoi Sasaki (佐々木未来, Sasaki Mikoi; born March 30, 1991) is a Japanese voice actress known for her role as Hercule Barton in Tantei Opera Milky Holmes, and her other major roles include Himeno Katsuragi in Da Capo III, Kuguru Uki in Future Card Buddyfight, and Neko in Recently, My Sister Is Unusual. Sasaki was chosen from thousands of people who auditioned for roles in Milky Holmes. She is a member of the singer group Milky Holmes, formed by the four main voice actresses in Tantei Opera Milky Holmes. In 2020, during a video on her shared YouTube channel, she stated that she would like for her display photo on Wikipedia (which is from 2010) to be changed to a more recent one. As of October 2026, this has yet to occur.
Haruka Chisuga (千菅 春香, Chisuga Haruka; born January 23, 1992) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Morioka…Haruka Chisuga (千菅 春香, Chisuga Haruka; born January 23, 1992) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Morioka, Iwate Prefecture affiliated with the agency Fortunerest. As a singer, she is signed to Victor Entertainment under their label Flying Dog.
Erika Yamakawa (山川 恵里佳, Yamakawa Erika; born 7 March 1982) is a fashion model from Japan. She is from Iwate. She…Erika Yamakawa (山川 恵里佳, Yamakawa Erika; born 7 March 1982) is a fashion model from Japan. She is from Iwate. She appeared in the show-business production Avant-gardes. She was a gravure idol.
Ōta Tokitoshi (太田 時敏, 16 January 1839 – 20 January 1915) was a samurai of Morioka and a Sanbongi Shinden Goyogakari…Ōta Tokitoshi (太田 時敏, 16 January 1839 – 20 January 1915) was a samurai of Morioka and a Sanbongi Shinden Goyogakari (new rice field affairs official in Sanbongi) of the late Edo period. He was Nitobe Inazō's uncle. He was named Renhachiro (練八郎) in his youth.