Miina Inoue (井上 未唯奈, Inoue Miina; born 22 January 2006) is a Japanese professional volleyball player. She plays in the…Miina Inoue (井上 未唯奈, Inoue Miina; born 22 January 2006) is a Japanese professional volleyball player. She plays in the SV.League for Saga Hisamitsu Springs.
Megu Uyama (宇山芽紅, born 14 January 1996) is a Japanese gymnast specialised in synchronised trampoline, who has…Megu Uyama (宇山芽紅, born 14 January 1996) is a Japanese gymnast specialised in synchronised trampoline, who has represented her country at six World Championships, as well as the 2018 Asian Games. She is a three-time World champion, and she competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Hiroki Akino (秋野 央樹, Akino Hiroki; born October 8, 1994, in Inzai, Chiba) is a Japanese footballer who plays midfielder…Hiroki Akino (秋野 央樹, Akino Hiroki; born October 8, 1994, in Inzai, Chiba) is a Japanese footballer who plays midfielder and currently play for J1 League club, Avispa Fukuoka.
Naoki Kobayashi (小林 直己, Kobayashi Naoki; born 10 November 1984, in Inzai, Chiba Prefecture) is a Japanese actor…Naoki Kobayashi (小林 直己, Kobayashi Naoki; born 10 November 1984, in Inzai, Chiba Prefecture) is a Japanese actor, dancer, choreographer, and model. He is a performer of J-Pop dance and vocal group Exile, and is a leader and performer of J-Pop dance and vocal group Sandaime J Soul Brothers. He was also a member of Nidaime J Soul Brothers until their migration to Exile in 2009. As a member of Sandaime J Soul Brothers, he has received the Japan Record Awards twice, and has received the same award three times as a member of Exile. He choreographed the famous "Pocky Dance" (Pocky Sharehappi Dance) for Pocky's advertisement in 2015. Besides, he has also taken up acting and made his international debut in Netflix's original film Earthquake Bird. He has also worked as a model for the fashion brand "Yohji Yamamoto". With his fluent-spoken English and understanding of American culture, he serves as a creative career advisor in the Executive Management Team of LDH USA. He has a strong interest in traditional Japanese culture, which has motivated him to take part in a few projects focusing on promoting the art of samurai and Japanese swords.
Kota Fukatsu (深津 康太, Fukatsu Kōta; born 10 August 1984) is a Japanese football player who plays for Iwate Grulla…Kota Fukatsu (深津 康太, Fukatsu Kōta; born 10 August 1984) is a Japanese football player who plays for Iwate Grulla Morioka.
Yoshitaka Naito (内藤禎貴, Naito Yoshitaka) (born February 17, 1984) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist from Inzai…Yoshitaka Naito (内藤禎貴, Naito Yoshitaka) (born February 17, 1984) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist from Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He is a former two-time ONE Strawweight World Champion. Naito is furthermore a former Shooto World Flyweight (114 lb) Champion, where he holds the record for flyweight title defenses, and was voted Fighter of the Year for two consecutive years. He is regarded as one of the best strawweights in the world, and is ranked as the #2 all time strawweight by Fight Matrix.
Hiroki Yuhara (湯原祐希, Yuhara Hiroki) (21 January 1984 – 28 September 2020) was a Japanese rugby union player. Yuhara…Hiroki Yuhara (湯原祐希, Yuhara Hiroki) (21 January 1984 – 28 September 2020) was a Japanese rugby union player. Yuhara played 13 international matches for the Japan national rugby union team. Yuhara was born in Chiba, and was a member of the Japan team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, playing one match against eventual winners the All Blacks. Yuhara played for the Top League team Toshiba Brave Lupus.
Hiroaki Doi (土井宏昭, Doi Hiroaki; born December 2, 1978) is a Japanese hammer thrower. His personal best throw is 74.08…Hiroaki Doi (土井宏昭, Doi Hiroaki; born December 2, 1978) is a Japanese hammer thrower. His personal best throw is 74.08 metres, achieved in June 2007 in Inba.
Makiko Furukawa (古川 牧子, Furukawa Makiko; born January 22, 1947) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in…Makiko Furukawa (古川 牧子, Furukawa Makiko; born January 22, 1947) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics and in the 1972 Summer Olympics. She was born in Inzai, Chiba. In 1968 she was a squad member of the Japanese team which won the silver medal in the Olympic tournament. Four years later she won her second Olympic silver medal with the Japanese team. She played all five matches.
Yoshimi Ōsawa (大澤慶巳, Ōsawa Yoshimi; 6 March 1926 – 21 October 2022) was a Japanese judoka. Before his death, he was the…Yoshimi Ōsawa (大澤慶巳, Ōsawa Yoshimi; 6 March 1926 – 21 October 2022) was a Japanese judoka. Before his death, he was the only living Kodokan 10th dan (and one of only 15 to have attained this rank), having been promoted at the New Year Kagami Biraki Ceremony, 8 January 2006 along with Toshiro Daigo and Ichiro Abe.
Ōtori Tanigorō (Japanese: 鳳 谷五郎; April 3, 1887 – November 16, 1956) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from…Ōtori Tanigorō (Japanese: 鳳 谷五郎; April 3, 1887 – November 16, 1956) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Inzai, Chiba Prefecture. He was the sport's 24th yokozuna.
Yōko Maki (真木 よう子 Maki Yōko, born Yōko Kanamori on October 15, 1982) is a Japanese actress signed to Soyokaze. Maki has…Yōko Maki (真木 よう子 Maki Yōko, born Yōko Kanamori on October 15, 1982) is a Japanese actress signed to Soyokaze. Maki has appeared in several films including the 2004 film Infection and the 2004 American horror film The Grudge.
Sayaka Murata (村田沙耶香 Murata Sayaka; born August 14, 1979) is a Japanese writer. She is best known for the international…Sayaka Murata (村田沙耶香 Murata Sayaka; born August 14, 1979) is a Japanese writer. She is best known for the international bestseller Convenience Store Woman (2016) which has been translated into more than thirty languages worldwide. Murata has won many major literary prizes in Japan, including the Gunzo Prize for New Writers in 2003, the Noma Literary New Face Prize in 2009, the Mishima Yukio Prize in 2013, and the Akutagawa Prize for Convenience Store Woman in 2016. All the English translations of her work are done by Ginny Tapley Takemori. In addition to Convenience Store Woman, Murata's first book to be published in English, Takemori has translated the novels Earthlings and Vanishing World, the short-story collection Life Ceremony, the short stories "Faith", "Survival", and "A Clean Marriage", as well as the New York Times published opinion piece "The Future of Sex Lives in All of Us", among others. Murata's latest book to be published in English is the 2025 novel Vanishing World, originally published in Japan in 2015. Her latest work in Japanese has been the 2022 short-story collection Faith, of which two stories were translated by Takemori individually.