Yuka Kagami (Japanese: 鏡 優翔, Hepburn: Kagami Yūka; born 14 September 2001) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. She won…Yuka Kagami (Japanese: 鏡 優翔, Hepburn: Kagami Yūka; born 14 September 2001) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. She won the gold medal in the women's 76 kg event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. In 2023, she won the gold medal in her event at the World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia. She is a two-time medalist, including gold, at the Asian Wrestling Championships.
Shunsuke Sato (佐藤 隼輔, Sato Shunsuke; born January 3, 2000, in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Shunsuke Sato (佐藤 隼輔, Sato Shunsuke; born January 3, 2000, in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He is a pitcher for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Yūta Kamiya (神谷 優太, Kamiya Yūta; born 24 April 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking…Yūta Kamiya (神谷 優太, Kamiya Yūta; born 24 April 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for J1 League club Fagiano Okayama.
Kenta Takanashi (高梨 健太, Takanashi Kenta; born 25 March 1997) is a Japanese male volleyball player. He plays in V.League…Kenta Takanashi (高梨 健太, Takanashi Kenta; born 25 March 1997) is a Japanese male volleyball player. He plays in V.League Division 1 for Wolf Dogs Nagoya and Japan men's national volleyball team. He was the captain of Japan U-21 national team.
Sewon Okazawa (岡澤 セオン) (born 21 December 1995) is a Japanese boxer. He competed in the men's welterweight event at the…Sewon Okazawa (岡澤 セオン) (born 21 December 1995) is a Japanese boxer. He competed in the men's welterweight event at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Takuya Otaki (大滝 拓也, Ōtaki Takuya; born 11 October 1995) is a Japanese racing driver currently racing for B-Max Racing…Takuya Otaki (大滝 拓也, Ōtaki Takuya; born 11 October 1995) is a Japanese racing driver currently racing for B-Max Racing Team in Super Formula Lights.
Shoma Doi (土居 聖真, Doi Shoma; born 21 May 1992) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking…Shoma Doi (土居 聖真, Doi Shoma; born 21 May 1992) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for J2 League club Montedio Yamagata. He has 2 caps for the Japan national football team.
Rikako Miura (三浦里佳子, Miura Rikako; born 13 October 1989) is a Japanese water polo player. She competed in the 2020…Rikako Miura (三浦里佳子, Miura Rikako; born 13 October 1989) is a Japanese water polo player. She competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Mitsuhiro Abiko (安孫子 充裕, Abiko Mitsuhiro; born October 25, 1988 in Yamagata Prefecture) is a Japanese sprinter, who…Mitsuhiro Abiko (安孫子 充裕, Abiko Mitsuhiro; born October 25, 1988 in Yamagata Prefecture) is a Japanese sprinter, who specialized in the 400 metres. Abiko competed in the men's 4 × 400 m relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, along with his teammates Kenji Narisako, Dai Tamesue, and Yoshihiro Horigome. He ran on the starting leg of the second heat, with an individual-split time of 46.70 seconds. Abiko and his team finished the relay in sixth place for a seasonal best time of 3:04.18, failing to advance into the final.
Yoshitaka Kuroda (黒田 吉隆, Kuroda Yoshitaka; born 10 January 1987 in Japan, Yamagata) is a Japanese former racing driver.…Yoshitaka Kuroda (黒田 吉隆, Kuroda Yoshitaka; born 10 January 1987 in Japan, Yamagata) is a Japanese former racing driver. After competing in the Auto GP series with Euronova Racing, he retired from motor racing and returned to Japan to work for S Medical, a business owned by his father.
Joji Kato (加藤条治, Katō Jōji) (born 6 February 1985) is a Japanese speedskater whose specialty is in the sprinting…Joji Kato (加藤条治, Katō Jōji) (born 6 February 1985) is a Japanese speedskater whose specialty is in the sprinting distance event of 500 metres. At the age of 17 he became the first junior speedskater to skate the 500 metres in less than 35 seconds. Until 9 March 2007 he was the world record holder with the 34.30 he skated in Salt Lake City on 19 November 2005. He lost the world record to Lee Kang-seok, who skated 34.25 in Salt Lake City. At the age of 20, he became the 500 metres world champion at the 2005 World Single Distance Championships, leaving behind Hiroyasu Shimizu and Jeremy Wotherspoon. After this achievement he was considered to be one of the favourites for achieving a medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Prior to that 500 metre race, he named three skaters as his toughest competition: Jeremy Wotherspoon of Canada, Joey Cheek of the United States, and Dmitry Dorofeyev of Russia. Cheek and Dorofeyev won gold and silver, respectively, while Kato finished in sixth place. He was also beaten by his own countryman, Yūya Oikawa, who was fourth. He represented Japan at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver where he won bronze at men's 500 metres. At the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, he again represented Japan and finished 5th in the 500 m with a combined time over two runs of 69.74 and a fastest single time of 34.77 behind the Mulder brothers (Michel and Ronald), Jan Smeekens and Mo Tae-bum. He is a member of the Nidec Sankyo speed skating team.
Manami Hosokawa (細川 愛実, Hosokawa Manami; born August 8, 1984), better known by her stagename Manami Hashimoto (橋本 マナミ…Manami Hosokawa (細川 愛実, Hosokawa Manami; born August 8, 1984), better known by her stagename Manami Hashimoto (橋本 マナミ, Hashimoto Manami), is a Japanese gravure model and actress represented by Irving and her business alliance is Harmony Promotion. Hashimoto is called by such unique catchphrases such as "Heisei no Danchi Tsuma," (The Apartment Complex Wife of the Heisei era), "Aijin ni Shitai Onna No. 1," (The Number-one Woman I Want as My Mistress), and "Kokumin no Aijin." (The Nation's Mistress) That is to say, she was one of the sex symbols in Japan during the 2010s.
Yukihiro Doi (土井 雪広, Doi Yukihiro; born 18 September 1983, in Yamagata Prefecture) is a Japanese former professional…Yukihiro Doi (土井 雪広, Doi Yukihiro; born 18 September 1983, in Yamagata Prefecture) is a Japanese former professional racing cyclist, who rode professionally between 2004 and 2018. After graduating from Hosei University, he joined the Shimano Racing team in 2004. After that, Doi mostly raced abroad, finishing second in the Tour of Siam (2007), eighth in the Tour de Langkawi (2007), fifth in the Tour de Hokkaido (2007), and sixth in the Tour of Turkey (2010). In 2011, he became the first Japanese to compete in the Vuelta a España, finishing in 150th place. In 2012, he won the Japanese National Road Race Championships. In November 2012, it was announced that in 2013 he would be riding for Team UKYO, a cycling team run by the racing driver Ukyo Katayama.
Yuko Oga (大神 雄子, Ōga Yūko; born October 17, 1982 in Yamagata city) is a Japanese basketball coach and former…Yuko Oga (大神 雄子, Ōga Yūko; born October 17, 1982 in Yamagata city) is a Japanese basketball coach and former professional basketball player who is the head coach for the Toyota Antelopes of the Women's Japan Basketball League (WJBL). A point guard, Oga played for the JX Sunflowers in the Women's Japan Basketball League and the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA. In 2023, she was inducted into the FIBA basketball Hall of Fame. Her nickname is Shin.
Ryo Saito (斎藤 了, Saitō Ryō) (born August 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestling personality and semi-retired…Ryo Saito (斎藤 了, Saitō Ryō) (born August 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestling personality and semi-retired professional wrestler primarily working in Dragongate, where he is their general manager. He is a former member of numerous stables within Dragongate as both a heel and a face, including Jimmyz (where he adopted "Jimmy" as a nickname), Real Hazard and Blood WARRIORS; he served as the second leader of Do FIXER (replacing Magnum TOKYO) from 2004 until its dissolution in February 2007. His name is sometimes abbreviated as SaiRyo, so as not to confuse him with Yoshiyuki Saito, who primarily wrestles as Super Shisa.
Ito Ogawa (小川 糸, Ogawa Ito) is a Japanese novelist, lyricist and translator. She was born in 1973 in Yamagata…Ito Ogawa (小川 糸, Ogawa Ito) is a Japanese novelist, lyricist and translator. She was born in 1973 in Yamagata, Yamagata. Several of her books have gained international recognition, such as The Restaurant of Love Regained (2008; Japanese Title: 食堂かたつむり - Shokudō Katatsumuri), described as a "foodie fable", which was made into a film in 2010 under the title "Shokudo Katatsumuri" ("Rinco's Restaurant").
Shoko Fujibayashi (藤林 聖子, Fujibayashi Shōko; born February 18, 1972) is a Japanese lyricist who has written the lyrics…Shoko Fujibayashi (藤林 聖子, Fujibayashi Shōko; born February 18, 1972) is a Japanese lyricist who has written the lyrics for several tokusatsu television series' theme songs. Most recently, Fujibayashi has worked with Shuhei Naruse on the soundtracks of Kamen Rider Den-O, Kamen Rider Kiva, and their films. She has also worked with Nana Mizuki, May'n, BoA, Ken Hirai, Sowelu, 2PM, Mikuni Shimokawa, Crystal Kay, Beni Arashiro, Daisuke Hasegawa, Issa of Da Pump, Lead, and Miho Kanno.
Hirohito Gotō (後藤 ひろひと, Gotō Hirohito; born February 23, 1969) is a Japanese director, playwright, and actor. Born in…Hirohito Gotō (後藤 ひろひと, Gotō Hirohito; born February 23, 1969) is a Japanese director, playwright, and actor. Born in Yamagata prefecture, he graduated from Yamagata Prefectural Yamagata East High School and dropped out of Hindi studies from Osaka University of Foreign Studies. In 1987 he joined the theater group Yūkisha. By 1989 he served as the second head of the group and handled nearly all productions. After retiring from Yūkisha in 1996, he worked as a free playwright, and in 1998 created Piper with Kawashita Taiyō of former Gekidan Sotoba Komachi fame. In 2001 he began the Royal Theater. His plays have a reputation for having a unique view of the world as well as for stories of a massive scale. Primary works include Ningen Fūsha (人間風車), Moldman the Bellringer in Dublin (ダブリンの鐘つきカビ人間), and the Big / Bigger / Biggest Biz trilogy.
Yoshiharu Abe (阿部 義晴, Abe Yoshiharu; born 30 July 1966 in Yamagata) is a Japanese popular music artist and producer.…Yoshiharu Abe (阿部 義晴, Abe Yoshiharu; born 30 July 1966 in Yamagata) is a Japanese popular music artist and producer. His 1992 single "+ OR -" hit the Billboard charts in Japan at number 5 in October 1992. After Unicorn dissolved in 1994, he started his solo career.
Ken Kiyoyuki Okuyama (奥山 清行, Okuyama Kiyoyuki; born 1959) is a Japanese industrial designer. He is the owner of the Ken…Ken Kiyoyuki Okuyama (奥山 清行, Okuyama Kiyoyuki; born 1959) is a Japanese industrial designer. He is the owner of the Ken Okuyama Design company. Okuyama formerly worked for Pininfarina, designing and supervising projects such as the Enzo Ferrari and Ferrari P4/5.
Hiroshi Saitō (斎藤 弘, Saitō Hiroshi; born 18 October 1957) is a Japanese politician who served as the governor of…Hiroshi Saitō (斎藤 弘, Saitō Hiroshi; born 18 October 1957) is a Japanese politician who served as the governor of Yamagata Prefecture. Saitō was born in Yamagata. After graduating from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 1981, he worked at the Bank of Japan. He received Master of International Public Policy and Master of Arts degrees from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University in 1989 and 1990, respectively. He was elected as governor of Yamagata in 2005, and then defeated for reelection in an upset by Mieko Yoshimura.
Ryōji Arai (荒井 良二) (born 1956) is a Japanese illustrator. For his career contribution to "children's and young adult…Ryōji Arai (荒井 良二) (born 1956) is a Japanese illustrator. For his career contribution to "children's and young adult literature in the broadest sense" he won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award from the Swedish Arts Council in 2005, one of the largest cash prizes in children's literature.
Eri Watanabe (渡辺 えり, Watanabe Eri), who was previously known as Eriko Watanabe (渡辺 えり子, Eriko Watanabe), is a Japanese…Eri Watanabe (渡辺 えり, Watanabe Eri), who was previously known as Eriko Watanabe (渡辺 えり子, Eriko Watanabe), is a Japanese actress. She won the award for Best Supporting Actress at the 21st Hochi Film Awards for Shall We Dance?.
Toshi Yoshida is a Japanese volleyball coach. He was the head coach of the United States women's national team from…Toshi Yoshida is a Japanese volleyball coach. He was the head coach of the United States women's national team from 2001 to 2004.
Zaōnishiki Toshimasa (3 September 1952 – 9 August 2020), birth name Toshimasa Adachi, was a sumo wrestler from…Zaōnishiki Toshimasa (3 September 1952 – 9 August 2020), birth name Toshimasa Adachi, was a sumo wrestler from Yamagata, Japan. He made his professional debut in September 1970, and reached the top division in November 1976. His highest rank was maegashira 1. He retired in January 1983 and served as an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under several successive names. He reached the retirement age for elders of 65 in September 2017, but stayed with the Sumo Association for an additional two years as a consultant.
Tetsuro Nariyama (成山 哲郎 born November 21, 1947) was born in Yamadera, Yamagata Prefecture and is a Japanese aikido…Tetsuro Nariyama (成山 哲郎 born November 21, 1947) was born in Yamadera, Yamagata Prefecture and is a Japanese aikido teacher, the technical director of the Shodokan Aikido Federation and chief instructor (Shihan) of the Shodokan Hombu Dojo in Osaka, Japan. He was appointed to the latter position by the creator of this style Kenji Tomiki, one of Morihei Ueshiba's early students. At 9th Dan he is the highest-ranking Shodokan instructor in the world and travels internationally to teach aikido. In addition to his studies with Kenji Tomiki he lived as uchideshi to Hirokazu Kobayashi for six years effectively learning aikido from the founder of aikido Morihei Ueshiba's first and last generation deshi. During that time he introduced Tomiki's randori method to university aikido clubs under Kobayashi's control. He has co-authored the book Aikido Tradition and the Competitive Edge with Fumiaki Shishida.
Kōichi Itagaki (Japanese: 板垣 公一, Hepburn: Itagaki Kōichi; born 12 November 1947) is an amateur astronomer based in…Kōichi Itagaki (Japanese: 板垣 公一, Hepburn: Itagaki Kōichi; born 12 November 1947) is an amateur astronomer based in Yamagata, the capital city of Yamagata Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of northern Honshu island, Japan. He is responsible for discovering many comets, and over 170 supernovae.
Michihiko Kano (鹿野道彦, Kano Michihiko; 24 January 1942 – 21 October 2021) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic…Michihiko Kano (鹿野道彦, Kano Michihiko; 24 January 1942 – 21 October 2021) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan who served as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries twice. He lost his seat in the 16 December 2012 general election. Kano was born in Yamagata. He graduated from Gakushuin University. After period of illness, Michihiko Kano died on 21 October 2021 in a hospital in Yamagata City; he was 79.
Shutaro Shoji (東海林 周太郎, 12 November 1933 – 15 January 2017) was a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's…Shutaro Shoji (東海林 周太郎, 12 November 1933 – 15 January 2017) was a Japanese basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Shozo Sasahara (笹原 正三, Sasahara Shōzō; July 28, 1929 – March 5, 2023) was a Japanese freestyle wrestler who won a world…Shozo Sasahara (笹原 正三, Sasahara Shōzō; July 28, 1929 – March 5, 2023) was a Japanese freestyle wrestler who won a world title in 1954 and an Olympics gold medal in 1956. He was the flag bearer for Japan at the 1956 Games. During his career Sasahara won approximately 200 bouts. After retiring from competitions he worked as a national coach. His trainees included Osamu Watanabe. Sasahara is credited with having designed "bound tennis" in 1980, which is a form of tennis played on a small-sized court. In 1981 he became the founding president of the Japan Bound Tennis Association. Between 1989 and 2003 Sasahara was president of Japan Wrestling Association. For many years he also served as Vice-President of United World Wrestling (FILA), and was later named its Honorary Vice-president. In 2006 he was inducted to the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame. Sasahara died on March 5, 2023, at the age of 93.
Kenjirō Azuma (吾妻 兼治郎, Azuma Kenjirō; March 12, 1926 – October 15, 2016) was a Japanese-born sculptor, painter and…Kenjirō Azuma (吾妻 兼治郎, Azuma Kenjirō; March 12, 1926 – October 15, 2016) was a Japanese-born sculptor, painter and teacher.
Taka Shibata (10 October 1916 – 1991) was a Japanese sprinter. She competed in the women's 100 metres at the 1932…Taka Shibata (10 October 1916 – 1991) was a Japanese sprinter. She competed in the women's 100 metres at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Yoshio Hattori (服部 敬雄, Hattori Yoshio; December 10, 1899 Yamagata Prefecture - March 14, 1991) was a Japanese…Yoshio Hattori (服部 敬雄, Hattori Yoshio; December 10, 1899 Yamagata Prefecture - March 14, 1991) was a Japanese businessman.
Iwahiko Tsumanuma, a.k.a. Thomas S. Rockrise, A.I.A., (1878 – February 5, 1936) was one of the earliest Japanese…Iwahiko Tsumanuma, a.k.a. Thomas S. Rockrise, A.I.A., (1878 – February 5, 1936) was one of the earliest Japanese immigrants to receive an architecture degree at an American university and was among the first Japanese architects to be licensed in the State of New York in 1916. His practice was based in New York City and included work in the United States as well as Asia.
Shirōta Kusakabe (Japanese: 日下部 四郎太, May 5 1875 – July 3 1924) was a Japanese geophysicist, doctor of Science. He was a…Shirōta Kusakabe (Japanese: 日下部 四郎太, May 5 1875 – July 3 1924) was a Japanese geophysicist, doctor of Science. He was a professor at Tohoku Imperial University. He won the Imperial Academy Prize for his work on rock elasticity. He has published numerous treatises, and a magazine published after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 contains a treatise on earthquake prediction by Shirota Kusakabe. Shirōta Kusakabe was born in Yamagata Prefecture in 1875. In 1900, he graduated from the Department of Physics, Tokyo Imperial University. From August 1907 to December 1910, he studied abroad in Europe and visited Germany, France and the United Kingdom. He studied under Hantaro Nagaoka and proceeded with research on rocks and seismic waves. In 1914, he won the Imperial Academy Prize for his work on rock elasticity.
Mio Satō (佐藤 澪, Satō Mio; born 12 February 1993) is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for the NEC Red Rockets. She…Mio Satō (佐藤 澪, Satō Mio; born 12 February 1993) is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for the NEC Red Rockets. She also played for the Japan women's national volleyball team.
Yuko Takeda (武田 祐子, Takeda Yūko; born 29 May 1970) is a former Fuji Television announcer (at the time of retirement…Yuko Takeda (武田 祐子, Takeda Yūko; born 29 May 1970) is a former Fuji Television announcer (at the time of retirement Deputy Director General of the announcement room). She was born in Yamagata, Yamagata. Her real name is Yuko Shimizu (清水祐子, Shimizu Yūko; née Takeda (武田)).
Miyuki Takahashi (高橋 みゆき Takahashi Miyuki, born 25 December 1978) is a Japanese volleyball player, who played for the…Miyuki Takahashi (高橋 みゆき Takahashi Miyuki, born 25 December 1978) is a Japanese volleyball player, who played for the NEC Red Rockets. Takahashi also played for the All-Japan women's volleyball team and participated at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. Her nickname is SHIN (心 Shin). Takahashi was the captain of the Japanese volleyball team during the 2002 FIVB World Championship.
