Sara Saito (斎藤咲良, Saitō Sara; born 3 October 2006) is a Japanese tennis player. She has a career-high singles ranking…Sara Saito (斎藤咲良, Saitō Sara; born 3 October 2006) is a Japanese tennis player. She has a career-high singles ranking of 159 WTA, achieved on 16 December 2024. On 20 April 2026, she peaked at No. 215 in the WTA doubles rankings.
Haruto Inoue (井上 温大, Inoue Haruto; born May 13, 2001, in Maebashi, Gunma, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball…Haruto Inoue (井上 温大, Inoue Haruto; born May 13, 2001, in Maebashi, Gunma, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He is a pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Wakana Kabasawa (樺沢 和佳奈, Kabasawa Wakana; born 24 March 1999) is a Japanese athlete who specialises in Middle-distance…Wakana Kabasawa (樺沢 和佳奈, Kabasawa Wakana; born 24 March 1999) is a Japanese athlete who specialises in Middle-distance and Long-distance running. She represented her country at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Ayano Shimizu (清水 綾乃, Shimizu Ayano; born 11 April 1998) is a Japanese tennis player. Shimizu has a career-high singles…Ayano Shimizu (清水 綾乃, Shimizu Ayano; born 11 April 1998) is a Japanese tennis player. Shimizu has a career-high singles ranking of 175 by the WTA, reached on 13 May 2019, and a best doubles ranking of 106, achieved on 20 October 2025. Shimizu has won eight singles titles and 24 doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. She won her biggest title to date at the 2018 Kurume Cup, defeating Abbie Myers in the final.
Kenya Mitsuhashi (三橋 健也, Mitsuhashi Ken'ya; born 11 July 1997) is a Japanese badminton player. He was a silver medalist…Kenya Mitsuhashi (三橋 健也, Mitsuhashi Ken'ya; born 11 July 1997) is a Japanese badminton player. He was a silver medalist in the men's doubles at the 2017 Summer Universiade.
Yusuke Kawagishi (川岸 祐輔, Kawagishi Yūsuke; born 26 May 1992 in Maebashi) is a Japanese footballer who plays for…Yusuke Kawagishi (川岸 祐輔, Kawagishi Yūsuke; born 26 May 1992 in Maebashi) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Thespakusatsu Gunma.
Kengo Kitazume (北爪 健吾, Kitazume Kengo; born 30 April 1992) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a right back for…Kengo Kitazume (北爪 健吾, Kitazume Kengo; born 30 April 1992) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a right back for Matsumoto Yamaga FC, on loan from J1 League club Shimizu S-Pulse.
Takuto Kurabayashi (倉林 巧和, Kurabayashi Takuto; born 1 February 1992) is a Japanese former professional road and track…Takuto Kurabayashi (倉林 巧和, Kurabayashi Takuto; born 1 February 1992) is a Japanese former professional road and track cyclist. He won the gold medal in the scratch race at the 2016 Asian Cycling Championships.
Tomoyuki Oka (岡 倫之, Oka Tomoyuki; born June 12, 1991), better known by his ring name Great-O-Khan (グレート-O-カーン…Tomoyuki Oka (岡 倫之, Oka Tomoyuki; born June 12, 1991), better known by his ring name Great-O-Khan (グレート-O-カーン, Gurēto-Ō-Kān), is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the United Empire stable. In NJPW, O-Khan is a former one-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion with Henare and Will Ospreay, a former NJPW World Television Champion, the final official KOPW Champion and a five-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, (twice with Jeff Cobb, twice with Henare, and once with Callum Newman).
Takumi Oshima (Japanese: 大嶋 匠; born 2 February 1990) is a Japanese former professional baseball player who played for…Takumi Oshima (Japanese: 大嶋 匠; born 2 February 1990) is a Japanese former professional baseball player who played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. He made his debut in 2014, which turned out to be his only game of the season. In his one at-bat, he struck out.
Shunsuke Iwanuma (岩沼 俊介, Iwanuma Shunsuke; born June 2, 1988) is a Japanese football player who last played for Nagano…Shunsuke Iwanuma (岩沼 俊介, Iwanuma Shunsuke; born June 2, 1988) is a Japanese football player who last played for Nagano Parceiro.
Masato Matsui (松井 雅人, born November 19, 1987, in Japan) is a former Japanese professional baseball catcher. He…Masato Matsui (松井 雅人, born November 19, 1987, in Japan) is a former Japanese professional baseball catcher. He previously played for the Chunichi Dragons and Orix Buffaloes.
Mayuko Hagiwara (萩原麻由子, Hagiwara Mayuko; born 16 October 1986) is a Japanese racing cyclist, who most recently rode for…Mayuko Hagiwara (萩原麻由子, Hagiwara Mayuko; born 16 October 1986) is a Japanese racing cyclist, who most recently rode for UCI Women's Continental Team Eneicat–RBH Global.
Hajime Hosogai (細貝 萌, Hosogai Hajime; born 10 June 1986) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for Thespa…Hajime Hosogai (細貝 萌, Hosogai Hajime; born 10 June 1986) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for Thespa Gunma. He is a flexible player, able to play as a full-back or defensive midfielder. He made 30 appearances for the Japan national team scoring once.
Keiki Shimizu (清水 慶記, Shimizu Keiki; born December 10, 1985) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as…Keiki Shimizu (清水 慶記, Shimizu Keiki; born December 10, 1985) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Suguru Ino (井野 卓, Ino Suguru; born November 23, 1983) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher. He has played…Suguru Ino (井野 卓, Ino Suguru; born November 23, 1983) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, Yomiuri Giants and Tokyo Yakult Swallows. On November 2, Ino announced his retirement.
Kazumi Sakai (酒井 かづみ, Sakai Kazumi) is a paralympic athlete from Japan competing mainly in category F20 high jump…Kazumi Sakai (酒井 かづみ, Sakai Kazumi) is a paralympic athlete from Japan competing mainly in category F20 high jump events. Kazumi competed in the F20 high jump at the 2000 Summer Paralympics winning the silver medal.
Satoshi Yamazaki (山崎 敏, Yamazaki Satoshi; born in Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese professional Nippon Professional Baseball…Satoshi Yamazaki (山崎 敏, Yamazaki Satoshi; born in Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese professional Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) in height and currently with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.
Masayuki Ino (Japanese: 井野 将之, Hepburn: Ino Masayuki; born 1979) is a Japanese fashion designer and businessman. He…Masayuki Ino (Japanese: 井野 将之, Hepburn: Ino Masayuki; born 1979) is a Japanese fashion designer and businessman. He founded the streetwear label Doublet in 2012 with patternmaker Takashi Murakami, and in 2018 became the first Asian designer to win the LVMH Prize.
Yutaka Yoshie (Japanese: 吉江 豊, Hepburn: Yoshie Yutaka; January 5, 1974 – March 10, 2024) was a Japanese professional…Yutaka Yoshie (Japanese: 吉江 豊, Hepburn: Yoshie Yutaka; January 5, 1974 – March 10, 2024) was a Japanese professional wrestler, who worked as a freelancer in Japan, performing most notably for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he was a former World Tag Team Champion. He had previously worked for promotions such as New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was a former IWGP Tag Team Champion, Pro Wrestling Noah and Pro Wrestling Zero1.
Takashi Shimizu (清水 崇 Shimizu Takashi, born 27 July 1972) is a Japanese filmmaker. He is best known for being the…Takashi Shimizu (清水 崇 Shimizu Takashi, born 27 July 1972) is a Japanese filmmaker. He is best known for being the creator of the Ju-On franchise, directing the first four installments, in addition to directing the first two installments in its American remake franchise, The Grudge. According to film scholar Wheeler Winston Dixon, Shimizu is "one of a new breed of Japanese horror directors" who prefers to "suggest menace and violence rather than directly depict it".
Narihiro Inamura (稲村 成浩, Inamura Narihiro; born 18 December 1971) is a Japanese cyclist. He competed in two events at…Narihiro Inamura (稲村 成浩, Inamura Narihiro; born 18 December 1971) is a Japanese cyclist. He competed in two events at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Nigö (ニゴー, Nigō; born Tomoaki Nagao (長尾 智明) on December 23, 1970) is a Japanese fashion designer, disc jockey (DJ)…Nigö (ニゴー, Nigō; born Tomoaki Nagao (長尾 智明) on December 23, 1970) is a Japanese fashion designer, disc jockey (DJ), record producer and entrepreneur. He is best known as the creator of the streetwear brand, A Bathing Ape (Bape), and currently serves as artistic director for Kenzo. Additionally, he is a member of the Japanese group Teriyaki Boyz, serving as their official in-house DJ since the group's 2005 debut.
Makiko Kuno (クノ真季子, Kuno Makiko; born February 21, 1967 in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actress.…Makiko Kuno (クノ真季子, Kuno Makiko; born February 21, 1967 in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actress. Her early stage name was Shōko Kuno (久野翔子, Kuno Shōko); she changed it to Makiko Kuno (久野 真紀子, Kuno Makiko), and switched to writing her surname in katakana in 2005. Kuno has been active as a model since senior high school, and as an actress made her debut in 1987. In 1986, she participated in the first Pocari Sweat Image Girl Contest, but lost to 17-year-old Chisato Moritaka in the finals. Kuno was the image girl of the JR East kiosks from 1988 to 1994. In 1994, she released a collection of photographs, Mitsu, and appeared nude in an original video, XX: Utsukushiki Karyūdo. In 1998, Kuno played the part of Sunday in the Chunsoft sound novel Machi to a favorable reception. In addition, she qualified as a sommelier in 1998.
Mamoru Kuroiwa (黒岩 守, Kuroiwa Mamoru; born December 16, 1962) is a retired boxer from Japan, who twice competed for his…Mamoru Kuroiwa (黒岩 守, Kuroiwa Mamoru; born December 16, 1962) is a retired boxer from Japan, who twice competed for his native country at the Summer Olympics: 1984 and 1988. He lost in the quarterfinals of the light flyweight division to Zambia's eventual bronze medalist Keith Mwila at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California. In the light flyweight division at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, he lost his opening bout to Ochiryn Demberel of Mongolia by knockout in the third round.
Tetsuya Ota (太田 哲也, Ōta Tetsuya; born 6 November 1959) is a retired racing driver from Maebashi in the Gunma…Tetsuya Ota (太田 哲也, Ōta Tetsuya; born 6 November 1959) is a retired racing driver from Maebashi in the Gunma Prefecture, Japan. He survived a fiery multi-car pileup he was involved in during a JGTC race at Fuji Speedway on May 3, 1998, caused by a safety car which was driven at twice the recommended speed in torrential rain during a parade lap. Ota was seriously injured and, as a result, he brought a lawsuit against the race organizers.
Genichiro Sata (佐田 玄一郎, Sata Gen'ichirō; born 22 December 1952 in Maebashi, Gunma) is a former Japanese politician who…Genichiro Sata (佐田 玄一郎, Sata Gen'ichirō; born 22 December 1952 in Maebashi, Gunma) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Hiroaki Hamada (浜田 広秋, Hamada Hiroaki), better known by his ring name Gran Hamada (グラン浜田, Guran Hamada; November 27…Hiroaki Hamada (浜田 広秋, Hamada Hiroaki), better known by his ring name Gran Hamada (グラン浜田, Guran Hamada; November 27, 1950 – February 15, 2025), was a Japanese professional wrestler, the first to adopt the high-flying Mexican lucha libre style. He wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, the Universal Wrestling Federation, Michinoku Pro, and All Japan Pro Wrestling and was the founder of Universal Lucha Libre. He also had stints with the World Wrestling Federation and Extreme Championship Wrestling in the United States. His daughters Xóchitl Hamada and Ayako Hamada are professional Japanese-Mexican wrestlers.
Mitsunori Fujiguchi (藤口 光紀, Fujiguchi Mitsunori; born August 17, 1949) is a former Japanese football player. He played…Mitsunori Fujiguchi (藤口 光紀, Fujiguchi Mitsunori; born August 17, 1949) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Shigesato Itoi (糸井 重里, Itoi Shigesato; born November 10, 1948) is a Japanese copywriter, essayist, lyricist, game…Shigesato Itoi (糸井 重里, Itoi Shigesato; born November 10, 1948) is a Japanese copywriter, essayist, lyricist, game designer, and actor. Itoi is the editor-in-chief of his website and company Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun ("Almost Daily Itoi Newspaper") where he is currently the chairman and CEO. He is best known outside Japan for his work on Nintendo's Mother series of games, a series in which he co-owns with the game company, as well as his self-titled bass fishing video game.
Kōhei Oguri (小栗康平, Oguri Kōhei; born October 29, 1945 in Maebashi, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese film director and…Kōhei Oguri (小栗康平, Oguri Kōhei; born October 29, 1945 in Maebashi, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter.
Isao Kuwabara (Japanese: 桑原功 Kuwabara Isao; 4 February 1945 – 10 July 2023) was a Japanese politician. A member of the…Isao Kuwabara (Japanese: 桑原功 Kuwabara Isao; 4 February 1945 – 10 July 2023) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Democratic Party of Japan, he served in the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2012. Kuwabara died of liver cancer in Maebashi on 10 July 2023, at the age of 78.
Kanji Kubomura (久保村 寛, Kubomura Kan; born 11 May 1943) is a former Japanese cyclist. He competed in the team pursuit at…Kanji Kubomura (久保村 寛, Kubomura Kan; born 11 May 1943) is a former Japanese cyclist. He competed in the team pursuit at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Akio Mimura (三村明夫, Mimura Akio; born 2 November 1940) AC is a prominent Japanese businessman notable for his positions…Akio Mimura (三村明夫, Mimura Akio; born 2 November 1940) AC is a prominent Japanese businessman notable for his positions at the head of Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corporation, and as Chairman of the Japan-Australia Business Cooperation Committee, for which the Australian government awarded him their highest civilian award for a foreigner, Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia. Mimura is 19th Chairman of Japan Chamber of Commerce of Industry(JCCI) since 2013, which is the largest small and medium business association with 1,250,000 corporate members in Japan.
Toshiko Hayashi (Japanese: 林 紀子, Hepburn: Hayashi Toshiko; 27 February 1940 - 25 January 2022) was a member of the…Toshiko Hayashi (Japanese: 林 紀子, Hepburn: Hayashi Toshiko; 27 February 1940 - 25 January 2022) was a member of the Japanese Communist Party and former member of the House of Councillors. She was educated at Gunma University. In 1989, she was elected to the House of Councillors, and she took office in 1990. Hayashi died on 25 January 2022 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Kumiharu Shigehara (born 5 February 1939) is a Japanese economist, who was a central banker and an international civil…Kumiharu Shigehara (born 5 February 1939) is a Japanese economist, who was a central banker and an international civil servant. He is the author of The Bank of Japan, the OECD, and Beyond: Reflections from a lifetimes' work (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024), and the editor of The Limits of Surveillance and Financial Market Failure: Lessons from the Euro-Area Crisis (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014). Shigehara is currently president of the International Economic Policy Studies Association in Paris, and is also a columnist at the Japan Times.
Jinzaburo Takagi (高木 仁三郎, Takagi Jinzaburō; 18 July, 1938 – 8 October, 2000) was a Japanese assistant professor in…Jinzaburo Takagi (高木 仁三郎, Takagi Jinzaburō; 18 July, 1938 – 8 October, 2000) was a Japanese assistant professor in nuclear chemistry. He wrote several books on environment protection, and on the threat of nuclear waste. He was given the Yoko Tada Human Rights Award in 1992, and the Ihatobe Award in 1994. He was awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 1997, jointly with Mycle Schneider. He was a prolific author on the subject of nuclear technology and issues surrounding nuclear power. Just before his death in 2000, he wrote a book called "Why There Will Be Another Nuclear Disaster", which was widely read after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011.
Toshio Naka (中 利夫, Naka Toshio; 28 April 1936 – 10 October 2023) was a Japanese baseball outfielder and manager. Naka…Toshio Naka (中 利夫, Naka Toshio; 28 April 1936 – 10 October 2023) was a Japanese baseball outfielder and manager. Naka played with the Chunichi Dragons from 1955 to 1972, and later managed the team from 1978 to 1980. He led the Central League with a .343 batting average in 1967.
Yoshie Takahashi (高橋 ヨシ江, Takahashi Yoshie; 15 April 1932 – 15 May 2022) was a Japanese track and field athlete. She…Yoshie Takahashi (高橋 ヨシ江, Takahashi Yoshie; 15 April 1932 – 15 May 2022) was a Japanese track and field athlete. She competed in the women's long jump at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
Jun-ichi Igusa (井草 凖一, Igusa Jun’ichi; 30 January 1924 – 24 November 2013) was a Japanese mathematician who for over…Jun-ichi Igusa (井草 凖一, Igusa Jun’ichi; 30 January 1924 – 24 November 2013) was a Japanese mathematician who for over three decades was on the faculty at Johns Hopkins University. He is known for his contributions to algebraic geometry and number theory. The Igusa zeta-function, the Igusa quartic, Igusa subgroups, Igusa curves, and Igusa varieties are named after him. He was an invited speaker for the 1962 International Congress of Mathematicians in Stockholm. He was awarded Japan's Order of the Sacred Treasure. In 2012 he became a fellow of the American Mathematical Society.
Makoto Tanabe (田邊 誠; 25 February 1922 – 2 July 2015) was the chairman of the former Japan Socialist Party, now known as…Makoto Tanabe (田邊 誠; 25 February 1922 – 2 July 2015) was the chairman of the former Japan Socialist Party, now known as the Social Democratic Party of Japan. He was elected to the position in 1991. Tanabe was from the right wing of the party and was a reformer. He served in the Japanese House of Representatives 11 times. Tanabe was a supporter of giving Japanese aide to deal with the lack of food in North Korea. He was also supportive of apologizing for Japan's behaviour during World War II and of giving reparations to those in Asian countries. He died on 2 July 2015, at the age of 93.
Nobuzo Tohmatsu (等松 農夫蔵, Tōmatsu Nobuzō; 25 April 1896 – 28 December 1980) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy…Nobuzo Tohmatsu (等松 農夫蔵, Tōmatsu Nobuzō; 25 April 1896 – 28 December 1980) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II who went on to become an accountant and a namesake of the global auditing firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, today the world's largest professional services company.
Motokichi Takahashi (高橋 元吉, Takahashi Motokichi; 6 March 1893 – 28 January 1965), was a poet during the Taishō and…Motokichi Takahashi (高橋 元吉, Takahashi Motokichi; 6 March 1893 – 28 January 1965), was a poet during the Taishō and Shōwa periods of Japan. He was born in Maebashi city Gunma Prefecture.
Sakutarō Hagiwara (萩原 朔太郎, Hagiwara Sakutarō; 1 November 1886 – 11 May 1942) was a Japanese writer of free verse…Sakutarō Hagiwara (萩原 朔太郎, Hagiwara Sakutarō; 1 November 1886 – 11 May 1942) was a Japanese writer of free verse, active in the Taishō and early Shōwa periods of Japan. He liberated Japanese free verse from the grip of traditional rules, and he is considered the "father of modern colloquial poetry in Japan". He published many volumes of essays, literary and cultural criticism, and aphorisms over his long career. His unique style of verse expressed his doubts about existence, and his fears, ennui, and anger through the use of dark images and unambiguous wording. He died from pneumonia aged 55.
Motoyuki Takabatake (Japanese: 高畠素之, Hepburn: Takabatake Motoyuki; 1886 – 1928) was a Japanese journalist and political…Motoyuki Takabatake (Japanese: 高畠素之, Hepburn: Takabatake Motoyuki; 1886 – 1928) was a Japanese journalist and political activist who completed the first full Japanese translation of Karl Marx's Das Kapital. In his youth he became a member of the small Japanese anarchist movement. During the Russian Revolution however, he began to lean in support of state socialism. Where prominent Marxists saw the state in Soviet Russia as a temporary and necessary evil needed to construct communist society, Takabatake welcomed the revolution precisely because it would lead to a strong centralized state. This led to tensions between him and other Japanese Marxists, with Takabatake becoming one of the first theoreticians of socialist nationalism in Japan. He completed the first Japanese translation of Das Kapital in 1924, though by 1926 he had left Marxism entirely, establishing the fascist Kenkokukai organization, and had prepared to establish a National Socialist Party before his abrupt death in 1928.
Nobutaka Shiōden (四王天 延孝, Shiōden Nobutaka; 2 September 1878 – 8 August 1962) was a lieutenant general in the Imperial…Nobutaka Shiōden (四王天 延孝, Shiōden Nobutaka; 2 September 1878 – 8 August 1962) was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army, propagandist of a Jewish conspiracy theory during and after World War II and a legislator in the Diet of Japan.
