Hiroki Akiyama (秋山 裕紀, Akiyama Hiroki; born 9 December 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a…Hiroki Akiyama (秋山 裕紀, Akiyama Hiroki; born 9 December 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for 2. Bundesliga club Darmstadt 98.
Shunta Gotoh (後藤 駿太, Gotō Shunta; born March 5, 1993 in Shibukawa, Gunma, Japan) also known as Shunta (駿太) is a former…Shunta Gotoh (後藤 駿太, Gotō Shunta; born March 5, 1993 in Shibukawa, Gunma, Japan) also known as Shunta (駿太) is a former Japanese professional baseball outfielder and current coach. He is currently the batting coach for the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He previously played for the Orix Buffaloes and Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Takahiro Fujioka (藤岡 貴裕; born July 17, 1989 in Kitagunma District, Gunma) is a Japanese former professional baseball…Takahiro Fujioka (藤岡 貴裕; born July 17, 1989 in Kitagunma District, Gunma) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, and Yomiuri Giants.
Keisuke Kanoh (狩野 恵輔, Kanoh Keisuke; born December 17, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He…Keisuke Kanoh (狩野 恵輔, Kanoh Keisuke; born December 17, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers from 2004 to 2017.
Haruchika Aoki (青木 治親, Aoki Haruchika; born March 28, 1976 in Gumma, Japan) is a Japanese former Grand Prix motorcycle…Haruchika Aoki (青木 治親, Aoki Haruchika; born March 28, 1976 in Gumma, Japan) is a Japanese former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was a two-time F.I.M. 125cc world champion. He is the youngest of three Aoki brothers who have competed in motorcycle Grand Prix races. Aoki began his Grand Prix career in 1993 with Honda. He won two consecutive 125cc world championships in 1995 and 1996 with Honda before moving up to the 250cc class in 1997. After two years in the 250cc class, Aoki made the move to the 500cc class in 1999. In 2000, he competed in the Superbike World Championship on a Ducati before returning to Grand Prix racing in 2001. Racing a V-twin, two-stroke Honda NSR500V, he finished the season as the top privateer. He almost pulled off an upset that year when he "won" the second half of the restarted Italian Grand Prix in torrential rain, but the race was decided on aggregate times from the first and second parts, meaning he was classified only fifth. Aoki retired after the 2002 season. Afterwards, Aoki participated in the Japanese Auto Race series. He returned to Road Racing in 2016, when he raced in the MFJ All-Japan Road Race JP250 Championship aboard a Yamaha YZF-R25. He is one of Valentino Rossi's best mentors.
Kiyohiko Shibukawa (渋川清彦, Shibukawa Kiyohiko; born 2 July 1974) is a Japanese fashion model actor. He debuted as a…Kiyohiko Shibukawa (渋川清彦, Shibukawa Kiyohiko; born 2 July 1974) is a Japanese fashion model actor. He debuted as a model under the name Kee, but changed his name to "Kiyohiko Shibukawa" in 2006. He has appeared in more than 60 films since 1998.
Takuma Aoki (青木 拓磨, Aoki Takuma; born February 24, 1974 in Tokyo) is a Japanese former road racer of motorcycles at…Takuma Aoki (青木 拓磨, Aoki Takuma; born February 24, 1974 in Tokyo) is a Japanese former road racer of motorcycles at Grand Prix level. He began his Grand Prix career in 1993. From 1994 to 1996, Aoki competed in the World Superbike Championship, winning one race in that series. In 1996, he won All Japan Championship Superbike class champion. He returned to Grand Prix racing with Honda in 1997, enjoying his best season when he finished fifth in the 500cc world championship. A spinal injury in a 1998 motorcycle crash left him paralyzed below the waist. Aoki has continued to work with Honda, helping them develop cars for disabled people. He is the brother of Grand Prix racers, Nobuatsu and Haruchika Aoki. Aoki has been involved in motorsports again. Using specially-modified 4-wheel drive vehicles, he has been involved in many cross country rallies, notably the Dakar Rally, the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy and the Asia Cross Country Rally. On July 10, 2019, Aoki took a test ride on the Team Honda Dream CBR1000 Suzuka 8 Hours machine. In 2021, Aoki competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of Frédéric Sausset's SRT41 team.
Nobuatsu Aoki (青木 宣篤, Aoki Nobuatsu; born August 31, 1971 in Sumaga) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Aoki…Nobuatsu Aoki (青木 宣篤, Aoki Nobuatsu; born August 31, 1971 in Sumaga) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Aoki began his Grand Prix career in 1990 and won his first and only Grand Prix at the 250cc Malaysian Grand Prix. His best season was in 1997, when he finished third in the 500cc world championship behind Mick Doohan and Tadayuki Okada. In 2009, he teamed with Daisaku Sakai and Kazuki Tokudome on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 to win the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race. He is the oldest of three Aoki brothers who have competed in motorcycle Grand Prix races.
Yutaka Mukaiyama (向山裕, Mukaiyama Yutaka; born December 15, 1966) is a Japanese pornographic actor and a former…Yutaka Mukaiyama (向山裕, Mukaiyama Yutaka; born December 15, 1966) is a Japanese pornographic actor and a former professional wrestler better known as Chocoball Mukai (チョコボール向井, Chokobōru Mukai). Beginning his career in 1990s, Mukai became one of the more well known JAV stars in all of Japan, and holds the record for being the highest paid AV actor ever, earning over ¥20 million JPY at the height of his fame. Initially wanting to be a professional wrestler, Mukai returned to his passion and joined Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling (FMW) in 1999, competing for the promotion as well as IWA Japan until his retirement.
Tsunoda Tasaku (角田 太作; born 1946) is a Japanese linguist, specializing in Australian Aboriginal languages. His…Tsunoda Tasaku (角田 太作; born 1946) is a Japanese linguist, specializing in Australian Aboriginal languages. His interests embrace linguistic typology and endangered languages.
Chūsei Sone (曽根 中生, Sone Chūsei; 1 October 1937 – 26 August 2014) was a Japanese film director known for his stylish…Chūsei Sone (曽根 中生, Sone Chūsei; 1 October 1937 – 26 August 2014) was a Japanese film director known for his stylish and popular Roman Porno films for Nikkatsu, particularly the first two installments of the Angel Guts series. Despite a somewhat uneven career, many mainstream critics consider Sone the best of Nikkatsu's Roman Porno directors.
Giichi Tsunoda (Japanese: 角田義一; Tsunoda Giichi; 9 June 1937 – 23 February 2024) was a Japanese lawyer and politician. A…Giichi Tsunoda (Japanese: 角田義一; Tsunoda Giichi; 9 June 1937 – 23 February 2024) was a Japanese lawyer and politician. A member of the Japan Socialist Party and the Democratic Party, he served in the House of Councillors from 1989 to 2007. Tsunoda died in Maebashi on 23 February 2024, at the age of 86.
Jiro Sato (佐藤 次郎, Satō Jirō; Japanese pronunciation: [sa.toː dʑi.ɾoː]; January 5, 1908 – April 5, 1934) was a Japanese…Jiro Sato (佐藤 次郎, Satō Jirō; Japanese pronunciation: [sa.toː dʑi.ɾoː]; January 5, 1908 – April 5, 1934) was a Japanese tennis player. He was ranked world No. 3 in 1933 but committed suicide in the Strait of Malacca during his trip to the Davis Cup in 1934. He received worldwide fame at Wimbledon in 1932, when he beat the defending champion Sidney Wood in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal, he lost to Bunny Austin. His peak came in 1933, when he beat Fred Perry in the French Open quarterfinal. He was ranked world No. 3 by A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph, behind Jack Crawford and Fred Perry. However, it got more and more difficult for him to endure the enormous pressure from Japan. It is believed that this pressure drove him to throw himself overboard into the Strait of Malacca on April 5, 1934, at 26 years of age.
Ryūsaku Tsunoda (角田 柳作, Tsunoda Ryūsaku; 8 September 1877 - 29 November 1964) was a Japanese scholar and is known as…Ryūsaku Tsunoda (角田 柳作, Tsunoda Ryūsaku; 8 September 1877 - 29 November 1964) was a Japanese scholar and is known as the "father of Japanese studies" at Columbia University. He was directly responsible for developing the Japanese language and literature collection at Columbia's library. Prominent among the former-students who credit his influence as formative is Donald Keene, who had himself become a later Dean of Japanese studies in the United States.
Takashi Inagaki (稲垣隆史, Inagaki Takashi; May 11, 1937 – March 12, 2025) was a Japanese actor and voice actor affiliated…Takashi Inagaki (稲垣隆史, Inagaki Takashi; May 11, 1937 – March 12, 2025) was a Japanese actor and voice actor affiliated with Mingei Theatre Company. Inagaki died on March 12, 2025, at the age of 87.