Tomoyuki Matsushita (Japanese: 松下知之, Hepburn: Matsushita Tomoyuki); born 1 August 2005) is a Japanese swimmer. He…Tomoyuki Matsushita (Japanese: 松下知之, Hepburn: Matsushita Tomoyuki); born 1 August 2005) is a Japanese swimmer. He competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal in the 400m individual medley event.
Rui Okubo (Japanese: 大久保 琉唯, Okubo Rui; born September 12, 2004) is a Japanese kickboxer. He is the former Krush…Rui Okubo (Japanese: 大久保 琉唯, Okubo Rui; born September 12, 2004) is a Japanese kickboxer. He is the former Krush Flyweight (-51kg) champion and the 2024 K-1 Super bantamweight (-55 kg) World Tournament runner-up. As of April 2024 he was the 10th ranked strawweight (-54 kg) kickboxer in the world by Combat Press.
Takumi Tsuchiya (土屋巧, Tsuchiya Takumi; born 25 October 2003) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a…Takumi Tsuchiya (土屋巧, Tsuchiya Takumi; born 25 October 2003) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for J2 League club FC Imabari.
Sora Kobori (小堀 空, Kobori Sora; born 17 December 2002) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for…Sora Kobori (小堀 空, Kobori Sora; born 17 December 2002) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for Tochigi SC.
Kyōsuke Mashiko (益子京右, Mashiko Kyoright; born December 27, 2000) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He is a…Kyōsuke Mashiko (益子京右, Mashiko Kyoright; born December 27, 2000) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He is a catcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Mashiko also played for the Brisbane Bandits of the Australian Baseball League (ABL).
Masato Igarashi (五十嵐 理人, Igarashi Masato; born 13 June 1999) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder…Masato Igarashi (五十嵐 理人, Igarashi Masato; born 13 June 1999) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for FC Basara Hyogo.
Meichi Narasaki (楢﨑 明智 Narasaki Meichi, born May 13, 1999) is a Japanese professional competition climber who…Meichi Narasaki (楢﨑 明智 Narasaki Meichi, born May 13, 1999) is a Japanese professional competition climber who specializes in competition bouldering. He has been active in professional competition climbing since 2013. His older brother Tomoa Narasaki is also a professional competition climber.
Randy Emeka Obi (小枇 ランディ エメカ, Obi Randy Emeka; born 30 April 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a…Randy Emeka Obi (小枇 ランディ エメカ, Obi Randy Emeka; born 30 April 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward. Currently a free agent, he most recently played for Campeonato de Portugal club Camacha, on loan from Oliveirense.
Seiya Katakura (片倉誠也, Katakura Seiya; born 5 December 1998) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a defender…Seiya Katakura (片倉誠也, Katakura Seiya; born 5 December 1998) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a defender for Zweigen Kanazawa.
Leo Isaka (井坂レオ, Isaka Reo) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to the Japanese promotion Marvelous…Leo Isaka (井坂レオ, Isaka Reo) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to the Japanese promotion Marvelous That's Women Pro Wrestling. He is also known for his tenure with Pro Wrestling Zero1 where he is a former one-time World Junior Heavyweight Champion and International Junior Heavyweight Champion with both titles.
Takahiro Akimoto (明本 考浩, Akimoto Takahiro; born 31 January 1998) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a…Takahiro Akimoto (明本 考浩, Akimoto Takahiro; born 31 January 1998) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a left-back for J1 League club, Machida Zelvia.
Seika Izawa (Japanese: 伊澤星花, Seika Izawa; born November 1, 1997) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently…Seika Izawa (Japanese: 伊澤星花, Seika Izawa; born November 1, 1997) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently competing in the atomweight division of Rizin Fighting Federation. She is the former Jewels Strawweight, Rizin Super Atomweight, and current Jewels Atomweight champion. As of January 3, 2022, Izawa is ranked as the best atomweight in the world by both Fight Matrix and Sherdog.
Yuta Koike (小池 裕太, Koike Yūta; born November 6, 1996) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a left back and currently…Yuta Koike (小池 裕太, Koike Yūta; born November 6, 1996) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a left back and currently plays for J2 League club Tochigi City.
Haruka Enomoto (榎本遼香, Enomoto Haruka; born 14 September 1996) is a Japanese diver. She competed in the 2017 Summer…Haruka Enomoto (榎本遼香, Enomoto Haruka; born 14 September 1996) is a Japanese diver. She competed in the 2017 Summer Universiade, 2017 FINA Diving Grand Prix, and 2021 FINA Diving World Cup. She qualified to represent Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Hayato Kurosaki (黒﨑 隼人, Kurosaki Hayato; born 5 September 1996) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a…Hayato Kurosaki (黒﨑 隼人, Kurosaki Hayato; born 5 September 1996) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a defender for FC Osaka.
Daiki Tajima (田嶋 大樹, Tajima Daiki; born August 3, 1996) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher…Daiki Tajima (田嶋 大樹, Tajima Daiki; born August 3, 1996) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes.
Kohei Tezuka (手塚 康平, Tezuka Kohei; born April 6, 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays primarily as a…Kohei Tezuka (手塚 康平, Tezuka Kohei; born April 6, 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays primarily as a defensive-midfielder for J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol. He is also capable of playing as a central-midfielder or occasionally as an attacking-midfielder.
Miki Sato (佐藤 美希, Satō Miki; born 26 June 1993, in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture) is a former Japanese tarento…Miki Sato (佐藤 美希, Satō Miki; born 26 June 1993, in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture) is a former Japanese tarento, actress and fashion model. Sato is formerly represented with Horipro. She won the Horipro Talent Scout Caravan Grand Prix. Sato is the second generation J.League female manager. She was an exclusive model for the magazine non-no. Sato is nicknamed Satomiki (サトミキ).
Kohei Yamakoshi (山越 康平, Yamakoshi Kōhei; born 4 May 1993) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender…Kohei Yamakoshi (山越 康平, Yamakoshi Kōhei; born 4 May 1993) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for the J2 League club Tokushima Vortis.
Keiya Nakami (中美 慶哉, Nakami Keiya; born September 23, 1991) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Matsumoto…Keiya Nakami (中美 慶哉, Nakami Keiya; born September 23, 1991) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Matsumoto Yamaga FC.
Naoki Yamamoto (山本尚貴, Yamamoto Naoki; born July 11, 1988) is a Japanese racing driver for Honda Racing Corporation…Naoki Yamamoto (山本尚貴, Yamamoto Naoki; born July 11, 1988) is a Japanese racing driver for Honda Racing Corporation, currently driving in Super GT with Team Kunimitsu. He is a three-time champion in Super Formula and a two-time champion in the GT500 class of Super GT. Yamamoto is also the only driver to have won both the Super Formula and GT500 championships in the same season multiple times, a feat which he accomplished in 2018 and 2020. He announced his retirement from Super Formula at the end of 2024.
Toshikazu Irie (入江 利和, Irie Toshikazu; born 11 November 1984) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played…Toshikazu Irie (入江 利和, Irie Toshikazu; born 11 November 1984) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Naoya Kondo (近藤 直也, Kondo Naoya; born 3 October 1983) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a…Naoya Kondo (近藤 直也, Kondo Naoya; born 3 October 1983) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a defender for Kashiwa Reysol, JEF United Chiba and Tokyo Verdy. He also made one appearance for the Japan national football team.
Tsuyoshi Kaneko (金子 剛, Kaneko Tsuyoshi; born April 8, 1983) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Tokyo Musashino…Tsuyoshi Kaneko (金子 剛, Kaneko Tsuyoshi; born April 8, 1983) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Tokyo Musashino City FC.
Yoshiaki Fujita (藤田 義明, Fujita Yoshiaki; born 12 January 1983) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played…Yoshiaki Fujita (藤田 義明, Fujita Yoshiaki; born 12 January 1983) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a defender for JEF United Chiba, Oita Trinita and most notably Júbilo Iwata.
Atsushi Yoneyama (米山 篤志, Yoneyama Atsushi; born November 20, 1976) is a former Japanese football player and manager who…Atsushi Yoneyama (米山 篤志, Yoneyama Atsushi; born November 20, 1976) is a former Japanese football player and manager who played once for the Japan national team.
Ryota Kuwakubo (born 1971) is a Japanese multimedia artist. Kuwakubo was born in Tochigi Prefecture. In 1998 he…Ryota Kuwakubo (born 1971) is a Japanese multimedia artist. Kuwakubo was born in Tochigi Prefecture. In 1998 he co-produced the project BITMAN with the art unit Maywa Denki. Kuwakubo works with varying mediums, most commonly utilizing digital or electronic aspects, and a typical theme his works center on is contrasting matter. In 2010 Kuwakubo exhibited at Cyber Arts Japan, a special media art exhibition hosted by the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo. A 2011 interactive art piece of his, The Tenth Sentiment, was displayed at the "Ways of Worldmaking" exhibit at the National Museum of Art, Osaka. In The Tenth Sentiment the viewers walk around a room as a model train with an LED light maneuvers along a set of tracks, focusing a light at commonplace objects on the ground which subsequently cast large shadows on the walls of the room. These shadows change from crowds of people, to cityscapes, to tunnels as the piece continues. The Tenth Sentiment was awarded a prize of excellence at the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival which described it as an "attractive work" which avoids the "cliché interactive art works that tend to depend too much on technology", and described by art critic for The Japan Times, Matthew Larking, as "arguably the most attractive work" of the exhibit.
Takako Tezuka (手塚 貴子, Tezuka Takako; born 6 November 1970) is a former Japanese football player and manager. She played…Takako Tezuka (手塚 貴子, Tezuka Takako; born 6 November 1970) is a former Japanese football player and manager. She played for Japan national team.
Yasushi Ishii (石井 妥師, Ishii Yasushi; born 10 March 1970) is a Japanese musician from Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture…Yasushi Ishii (石井 妥師, Ishii Yasushi; born 10 March 1970) is a Japanese musician from Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. He specializes in experimental, jazz fusion and hard rock. He is famous for his work with anime scores. He composed music for and scored the first Hellsing anime, with the music released as two separate soundtracks. He also was the voice for the Intelligencer in the video game Chaos Legion. In 1991, he debuted as a composer for Epic Records Japan, and started composing music for Misato Watanabe, Takashi Utsunomiya, and went on tour with the band T.utu with the Band. It was at this time that Ishii changed how he wrote his given name from (恭史) to (妥師), though the pronunciation stayed the same. In 1994, T.utu put out their first album, and Utsunomiya, as one of the members of the former members of T.utu, split off into another band named Boyo-Bozo which Ishii also helped compose music for. After Boyo-Bozo broke up, Ishii composed music for a number of other artists including Lazy Knack, Tomoe Shinohara, Masayuki Suzuki, and V6. He also helped produce Naoto Kine's album Liquid Sun, Crystal Kay's first album C.L.L～Crystal Lover Light, and Daisuke Asakura's Siren's Melody single. He also composed the soundtrack for Darker than Black: Origins OVA. In 2012 both he and Hayato Matsuo composed the music for the short anime adaptation of Drifters, a manga series by Hellsing creator Kouta Hirano, this was included as part of the Hellsing: The Dawn OVA series showing up at the end of the final episode and lasting only 150 seconds, later on he composed music for the 2016 anime television series adaptation of Drifters. He maintains a blog since 2007 where he shares new compositions on a monthly basis - some of which (SKY WALKER, BLUES OF FOREVER) are new renditions of songs from his work on Hellsing.
Hiroshi Takamura (髙村 祐, born September 2, 1969) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher, pitching…Hiroshi Takamura (髙村 祐, born September 2, 1969) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher, pitching coach. He previously played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Mari Hiki (比企 真理, Hiki Mari; born March 15, 1968), better known by her stage name Kahimi Karie (カヒミ・カリィ, Kahimi Karii)…Mari Hiki (比企 真理, Hiki Mari; born March 15, 1968), better known by her stage name Kahimi Karie (カヒミ・カリィ, Kahimi Karii), is a retired Japanese singer, songwriter and photographer. Her music is closely associated with the Shibuya-kei aesthetic. Karie sings in English, French and Japanese, among other languages. Karie began her music career in 1990 at the encouragement of fellow Shibuya-kei artist Cornelius, whom she collaborated with on many of her early works, and whose trendy Trattoria label released many of her EPs in the mid-1990s. Karie later moved to Paris and released several studio albums on the Crue-L and Polydor labels. She now lives in New York City.
Yukio Edano (枝野 幸男, Edano Yukio; born 31 May 1964) is a Japanese politician who served as the leader of the…Yukio Edano (枝野 幸男, Edano Yukio; born 31 May 1964) is a Japanese politician who served as the leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan from its formation in 2017 until 2021. He has served in various significant political roles, including the 3rd Policy Research Council Chairperson of the former Democratic Party of Japan, the 6th Policy Research Council Chairperson of the Democratic Party, the 140th Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs, the 16th Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Minister of State for the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation, the inaugural Secretary-General of the Democratic Party for the People, the inaugural leader of the former Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the inaugural leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and the Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Audit and Oversight of Administration. He was elected to parliament in the 1993 Japanese general election under the Japan New Party, and served briefly in the governments of Morihiro Hosokawa, Tsutomu Hata, Tomiichi Murayama, and the first Ryutaro Hashimoto cabinet before leaving the New Party Sakigake to join the Democratic Party in 1998. He then held various roles inside the party, and upon the group's landslide victory in the 2009 election, served roles in all three opposition cabinets. He was a major part of the response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Following the defeat of the Democratic Party in 2012, he held his seat in parliament, and joined the various opposition groups that formed around the time, including the 2016 form of the Democratic Party. With his attempt to join Kibō no Tō being blocked by Yuriko Koike's refusal to let liberal members of the former Democratic Party inside the group, he left to form the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan for liberal factions of the former party, which he led to a surprising second-place finish in the 2017 Japanese general election. Following the CDP's poor performance in the 2021 general election, Edano announced on 2 November his intention to resign as leader of the party, triggering a leadership election.
Toshimitsu Yoshida (吉田寿光, Yoshida Toshshimitsu; born 29 August 1963) is a Japanese football referee currently…Toshimitsu Yoshida (吉田寿光, Yoshida Toshshimitsu; born 29 August 1963) is a Japanese football referee currently officiating in the J.League. Yoshida was suspended at international level by the Asian Football Confederation for a controversial decision made during a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification match between Bahrain and Uzbekistan in which Uzbekistan should have retaken a penalty for encroachment but instead awarded a free-kick to Bahrain.
Beyblade, known in Japan as Bakuten Shoot Beyblade (Japanese: 爆転シュートベイブレード, Hepburn: Bakuten Shūto Beiburēdo; lit.…Beyblade, known in Japan as Bakuten Shoot Beyblade (Japanese: 爆転シュートベイブレード, Hepburn: Bakuten Shūto Beiburēdo; lit. 'Explosive-Spin Shoot Beyblade'), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takao Aoki, created to promote Takara's Beyblade spinning tops. The series focuses on a group of kids who form teams, which battle one another using Beyblades. It was serialized in Shogakukan's children's manga magazine CoroCoro Comic from August 1999 to June 2004, with its chapters collected and published in 14 tankōbon volumes. It was licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media and in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand by Chuang Yi. An anime adaptation by Madhouse aired in Japan on TV Tokyo from January to December 2001 and was followed by two sequel series, Beyblade V-Force and Beyblade G-Revolution, and the 2002 film Beyblade: Fierce Battle all three by Nippon Animedia, a partnership between Nippon Animation, Takara, Agatsuma and Epoch. Nelvana licensed and produced English-language adaptations of the anime series and the film.
Shinji Takamatsu (高松 信司, Takamatsu Shinji; born December 3, 1961) is a Japanese storyboard artist, screenwriter, and…Shinji Takamatsu (高松 信司, Takamatsu Shinji; born December 3, 1961) is a Japanese storyboard artist, screenwriter, and director.
Eiichi Sato (佐藤 栄一, Satō Eiichi; born 5 October 1961) is the mayor of Utsunomiya, Tochigi in Japan. A graduate of Meiji…Eiichi Sato (佐藤 栄一, Satō Eiichi; born 5 October 1961) is the mayor of Utsunomiya, Tochigi in Japan. A graduate of Meiji University, he has been serving his first term of mayor since 29 November 2004.
Michiko Ueno (上野 通子, Ueno Michiko; born April 21, 1958) is a Japanese politician. She is a member of the House of…Michiko Ueno (上野 通子, Ueno Michiko; born April 21, 1958) is a Japanese politician. She is a member of the House of Councillors, the upper house of the National Diet of Japan. She was first elected to the House of Councillors in 2010 and was re-elected in 2016. Prior to that, she was a member of the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly from 2003 to 2010. She belongs to the Liberal Democratic Party. Ueno is affiliated to the revisionist lobby Nippon Kaigi.
Toshio Nobe (野部 利雄, Nobe Toshio; born January 18, 1957 in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese manga…Toshio Nobe (野部 利雄, Nobe Toshio; born January 18, 1957 in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist. He graduated from Wako University in Machida, Tokyo. In 1979, Nobe won an honorable mention in the 18th Tezuka Award for his story Hana to Arashi ga Iku. Naoki Urasawa worked as an assistant for Toshio when he was starting out.
Hajime Funada (船田 元, Funada Hajime; born 22 November 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Hajime Funada (船田 元, Funada Hajime; born 22 November 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serve as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) and a former Minister of Economic Planning. A native of Utsunomiya, Tochigi he attended Keio University both as undergraduate and graduate. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1979.
Makoto Kitayama (born 1952) is a Japanese musician, active since the late '60s, most notably as vocalist and songwriter…Makoto Kitayama (born 1952) is a Japanese musician, active since the late '60s, most notably as vocalist and songwriter for the progressive rock band Shingetsu. After Shingetsu folded at the end of the seventies, Kitayama has released two solo albums: the instrumental, keyboard-dominated, "Doubutsukai No Chinou" in 1982 (re-released in 2004) and the progressive rock outing "Hikaru Sazanami" in 1998. "Practical Encyclopedia of Kingdom Plantae" was released in 2008, and is the second part of a planned trilogy that started with his debut solo album, inspired by a book series from 1932. He's helped here by Takashi HAYASHI, the leader and guitarist of Qui.
Tetsurō Kashibuchi (かしぶち 哲郎, Kashibuchi Tetsurō; November 9, 1950 – December 17, 2013) was a Japanese musician…Tetsurō Kashibuchi (かしぶち 哲郎, Kashibuchi Tetsurō; November 9, 1950 – December 17, 2013) was a Japanese musician, composer, and record producer.
Susumu Yanase (簗瀬 進, Yanase Susumu; born 23 April 1950) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a…Susumu Yanase (簗瀬 進, Yanase Susumu; born 23 April 1950) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Toshiji Fukuda (福田俊司, Fukuda Toshiji; born 1948) is a Japanese photographer. He has been taking pictures of wildlife in…Toshiji Fukuda (福田俊司, Fukuda Toshiji; born 1948) is a Japanese photographer. He has been taking pictures of wildlife in Japan and Russia. He spends 100 to 150 days every year in the Far East of Russia, photographing the endangered species and other wildlife. He has been working with the Russian Academy of Sciences since 1991 and is an honorary member of the Academy's Far East branch of the Institute of Marine Biology. In 2025, Fukuda was a winner of the national Crystal Compass Award.
Wahei Tatematsu (立松 和平, Tatematsu Wahei; December 15, 1947 – February 8, 2010) was a Japanese novelist. He wrote…Wahei Tatematsu (立松 和平, Tatematsu Wahei; December 15, 1947 – February 8, 2010) was a Japanese novelist. He wrote several novels including Enrai and Dogen-Zenji, about the devout Buddhist who founded the Soto Sect of Zen Buddhism in 1227. He was also known for his environmental work. In 1995 he founded the Ashio Green Growing Association, a non-profit organization that helps plant trees at the abandoned Ashio Copper Mine.
Ikuo Matsumoto (松本 育夫, Matsumoto Ikuo; born November 3, 1941) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He…Ikuo Matsumoto (松本 育夫, Matsumoto Ikuo; born November 3, 1941) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.
Yuriko Handa (半田 百合子, Handa Yuriko; born 31 March 1940) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. She was a member of…Yuriko Handa (半田 百合子, Handa Yuriko; born 31 March 1940) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. She was a member of the Japanese winning teams, Oriental Witches, at the 1962 World Championships and 1964 Summer Olympics.
Sadao Watanabe (渡辺 貞夫, Watanabe Sadao; born 1 February 1933) is a Japanese jazz musician who plays alto saxophone and…Sadao Watanabe (渡辺 貞夫, Watanabe Sadao; born 1 February 1933) is a Japanese jazz musician who plays alto saxophone and sopranino saxophone. He is known for his bossa nova recordings, although his work encompasses many styles, with collaborations from musicians all over the world.
