Yamato Naito (内藤 大和, Naito Yamato; born 14 July 2004) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for…Yamato Naito (内藤 大和, Naito Yamato; born 14 July 2004) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for Ventforet Kofu.
Sōta Kawasaki (川﨑 颯太, Kawasaki Sōta; born 30 July 2001) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defensive…Sōta Kawasaki (川﨑 颯太, Kawasaki Sōta; born 30 July 2001) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for German Bundesliga club Mainz 05.
Yōichi Naganuma (長沼 洋一, Naganuma Yōichi; born 14 April 1997) is a Japanese-Filipino professional footballer who plays…Yōichi Naganuma (長沼 洋一, Naganuma Yōichi; born 14 April 1997) is a Japanese-Filipino professional footballer who plays as a winger for J1 League club, Urawa Red Diamonds.
Iwana Kobayashi (小林 岩魚, Kobayashi Iwana; born 17 October 1997) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a…Iwana Kobayashi (小林 岩魚, Kobayashi Iwana; born 17 October 1997) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Ventforet Kofu of J2 League.
Shusuke Ota (太田 修介, Ōta Shūsuke; born February 23, 1996) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a forward for J2 League…Shusuke Ota (太田 修介, Ōta Shūsuke; born February 23, 1996) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a forward for J2 League club Shonan Bellmare.
Tori Koana (小穴 桃里, Koana Tōri) is a Japanese curler. She was the skip of Team Fujikyu, and now focuses on mixed doubles…Tori Koana (小穴 桃里, Koana Tōri) is a Japanese curler. She was the skip of Team Fujikyu, and now focuses on mixed doubles with curling partner Go Aoki
Naito Ehara (江原 騎士, Ehara Naito; born 30 July 1993) is a Japanese competitive swimmer. He competed in the men's 4 × 200…Naito Ehara (江原 騎士, Ehara Naito; born 30 July 1993) is a Japanese competitive swimmer. He competed in the men's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay at the 2016 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze medal. He also competed in the men's 400 metre freestyle event. Ehara serves in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force as a sergeant first class.
Yuki Horigome (堀米 勇輝, Horigome Yūki; born 13 December 1992) is a Japanese football player for Hokkaido Consadole…Yuki Horigome (堀米 勇輝, Horigome Yūki; born 13 December 1992) is a Japanese football player for Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
Shobushi Kanji (勝武士 幹士; real name Kiyotaka Suetake (末武 清孝, Suetake Kiyotaka) and born Kiyotaka Ōmori (大森 清孝, Ōmori…Shobushi Kanji (勝武士 幹士; real name Kiyotaka Suetake (末武 清孝, Suetake Kiyotaka) and born Kiyotaka Ōmori (大森 清孝, Ōmori Kiyotaka); November 4, 1991 – May 13, 2020) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Kōfu, Yamanashi. He was the first sumo wrestler to die from COVID-19, and is also thought to be the first person in their 20s to die from the virus in Japan.
Shuhei Uchida (内田 修平, Uchida Shūhei; born 8 September 1989) is a Japanese professional Go player. A former grade school…Shuhei Uchida (内田 修平, Uchida Shūhei; born 8 September 1989) is a Japanese professional Go player. A former grade school national champion, Uchida became a professional in 2005. He won his first title, the Shinjin-O, in 2008.
Kazushige Kirihata (桐畑 和繁, Kirihata Kazushige; born June 30, 1987) is a Japanese former footballer who played as a…Kazushige Kirihata (桐畑 和繁, Kirihata Kazushige; born June 30, 1987) is a Japanese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He started his career with Kashiwa Reysol and played the majority of his career for the club, before spending two years on loan at FC Gifu. He retired in January 2023 after a 16 year professional career and took up a coaching role with Criacao Shinjuku.
Hidetoshi Nakata, OSSI (中田 英寿, Nakata Hidetoshi; born 22 January 1977) is a Japanese former professional footballer who…Hidetoshi Nakata, OSSI (中田 英寿, Nakata Hidetoshi; born 22 January 1977) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Considered as one of the greatest Asian football players of all time and coming from an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) country in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nakata became the first ever AFC player to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or. Nakata began his professional career in 1995 and won the Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year award in 1997 and 1998, the Scudetto with Roma in 2001, played for Japan in three World Cup tournaments (1998, 2002 and 2006) and competed in the Olympics twice (1996 and 2000). In 2005, he was made the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity, one of Italy's highest honors, for improving the country's image overseas. Nakata has also been involved in fashion, regularly attending runway shows and wearing designer clothing. Nakata announced his retirement at the age of 29 on 3 July 2006, after a ten-year career that included seven seasons in the Italian Serie A and a season in the English Premier League. In March 2004, Pelé named Nakata in his FIFA 100, a list of the top living footballers at the time. Nakata was one of only two Asian footballers on the list.
Yoshinobu Kanemaru (金丸義信, Kanemaru Yoshinobu; born September 23, 1976) is a Japanese professional wrestler and…Yoshinobu Kanemaru (金丸義信, Kanemaru Yoshinobu; born September 23, 1976) is a Japanese professional wrestler and backstage producer. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of House of Torture. Trained at the All Japan Pro Wrestling dojo, Kanemaru left the promotion to join Pro Wrestling Noah. Across two stints with Noah, he is a seven-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion, a four-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, and won the 2009 Global Junior Heavyweight League and the 2009 Nippon TV Cup Jr. Heavyweight Tag League. In NJPW, he is a six-time Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion and won the 2021 Super Junior Tag League. In AJPW, he is a one-time World Junior Heavyweight Champion and a two-time All Asia Tag Team Champion. Stable wise, Kanemaru was a member of the first and third incarnations of AJPW's Burning. He later joined NJPW's Suzuki-gun during an invasion storyline, and remained with the stable until its disbandment in 2022. He was then a member of Just 5 Guys, before turning on the stable to join House of Torture, which was a sub-group of Bullet Club at the time.
Takeshi Saiki (斉木武志, Saiki Takeshi; born 13 May 1974) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of…Takeshi Saiki (斉木武志, Saiki Takeshi; born 13 May 1974) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2024, having previously served from 2009 to 2012 and from 2017 to 2021. He previously worked as an announcer at NHK.
Chie Tsuji (辻 知恵; born 9 August 1969) is a former volleyball player from Japan. Her maiden name was Chie Natori (名取 知恵…Chie Tsuji (辻 知恵; born 9 August 1969) is a former volleyball player from Japan. Her maiden name was Chie Natori (名取 知恵, Natori Chie). Tsuji competed with the Japan women's national volleyball team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where she finished in fifth place. She won a bronze medal at the 1994 Goodwill Games in Saint Petersburg. Tsuji played as a setter.
Teruyoshi Kuji (久慈 照嘉, Kuji Teruyoshi; born April 19, 1969 in Kōfu, Yamanashi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional…Teruyoshi Kuji (久慈 照嘉, Kuji Teruyoshi; born April 19, 1969 in Kōfu, Yamanashi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.
Kazuhito Iwaike (Japanese: 岩池 一仁, Hepburn: Iwaike Kazuhito; born on October 11, 1968), known exclusively by his stage…Kazuhito Iwaike (Japanese: 岩池 一仁, Hepburn: Iwaike Kazuhito; born on October 11, 1968), known exclusively by his stage name K.A.Z, is a Japanese musician and songwriter. He is known for his work with Oblivion Dust, hide with Spread Beaver and Vamps.
Kazufumi Miyazawa (宮沢和史, Miyazawa Kazufumi; born January 18, 1966) is the founder of the Japanese bands The Boom and…Kazufumi Miyazawa (宮沢和史, Miyazawa Kazufumi; born January 18, 1966) is the founder of the Japanese bands The Boom and Ganga Zumba. The former was noted in the 1990s for a fusion of rock, pop, and local Okinawan folk music. Miyazawa is responsible for virtually all lyrics and music for The Boom, who are best known for their 1993 hit song "Shima Uta". In 2006, he founded the band Ganga Zumba which includes Marcos Suzano and incorporates Brazilian and other Latin American and Caribbean influences in its music.
Masahito Ozawa (born August 13, 1965, in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a…Masahito Ozawa (born August 13, 1965, in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2019. He represents the National Proportional Representation Block as a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party. Ozawa graduated high school in 1984 and worked as a postal worker. He participated in the formation of a postal workers' union and served as its deputy chairperson. As of 2023, he is a member of the following committees: Committee on General Affairs (which he directs) Committee on Oversight Special Committee on Consumer Affairs
Masaaki Akaike (赤池 誠章, Akaike Masaaki; born 19 July 1961) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who…Masaaki Akaike (赤池 誠章, Akaike Masaaki; born 19 July 1961) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Shinichi Ishihara (石原 慎一, Ishihara Shin'ichi; born May 26, 1960) is a Japanese singer, voice actor and actor from…Shinichi Ishihara (石原 慎一, Ishihara Shin'ichi; born May 26, 1960) is a Japanese singer, voice actor and actor from Yamanashi Prefecture. He is famous for singing the theme songs of Guyver, Kamen Rider Agito and Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGo-V, among other theme songs as well as the entire soundtrack to Juukou B-Fighter.
Hitoshi Goto (後藤 斎, Gotō Hitoshi; born 22 July 1957) is a Japanese politician who served as the governor of Yamanashi…Hitoshi Goto (後藤 斎, Gotō Hitoshi; born 22 July 1957) is a Japanese politician who served as the governor of Yamanashi Prefecture. He was formerly a Democratic Party member in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He resigned from the Democratic Party and the Diet in November 2014 so that he could contest the January 2015 Yamanashi Gubernatorial election as an independent. A native of Kōfu and graduate of Tohoku University with a Bachelor of Economics, he worked at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from 1980 to 1995.
Sakihito Ozawa (小沢 鋭仁, Ozawa Sakihito; born 31 May 1954) is a Japanese politician and former banker. He was a member of…Sakihito Ozawa (小沢 鋭仁, Ozawa Sakihito; born 31 May 1954) is a Japanese politician and former banker. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet of Japan and previously served as leader of the Vision of Reform party, which he formed in December 2015. A native of Kofu, Yamanashi, he graduated from the University of Tokyo and received a master's degree in political science from Saitama University. Shortly after graduating, he studied economics and policy under Eisuke Sakakibara. Before joining the House of Representatives, he worked at Tokyo Bank and served as an advisor to several lawmakers. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1993 as a member of Morihiro Hosokawa's Japan New Party. He was the Minister of the Environment during Yukio Hatoyama's prime ministership in 2009–2010.
Tsuneo Horiuchi (堀内 恒夫, Horiuchi Tsuneo; born January 16, 1948) is a former professional baseball player in Japan's…Tsuneo Horiuchi (堀内 恒夫, Horiuchi Tsuneo; born January 16, 1948) is a former professional baseball player in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and a politician. A right-handed pitcher, in 2008 he was voted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Tsukasa Hosaka (保坂 司, Hosaka Tsukasa; March 3, 1937 – January 21, 2018) was a former Japanese football player and…Tsukasa Hosaka (保坂 司, Hosaka Tsukasa; March 3, 1937 – January 21, 2018) was a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Ryūzō Kikushima (菊島 隆三, Kikushima Ryūzō; 1 March 1914 – 18 March 1989) was a Japanese screenwriter and film producer…Ryūzō Kikushima (菊島 隆三, Kikushima Ryūzō; 1 March 1914 – 18 March 1989) was a Japanese screenwriter and film producer who is best known for co-writing the screenplays for several films directed by Akira Kurosawa, including Throne of Blood (1957), The Hidden Fortress (1958), Yojimbo (1961), and High and Low (1963). He also produced several of Kurosawa's films in the early 1960s. In addition to his work with Kurosawa, he wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for Arashi (1956); The Three Treasures (1959); When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960), for which he also was a producer; and Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970). In 2013, Kikushima and frequent screenwriting collaborators Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni were awarded the Jean Renoir Award by the Writers Guild of America West.
Yasushi Imamura (born 30 January 1890, date of death unknown) was a Japanese equestrian. He competed in the individual…Yasushi Imamura (born 30 January 1890, date of death unknown) was a Japanese equestrian. He competed in the individual jumping event at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Fusaki Tsutsumi (堤 不夾貴, Tsutsumi Fusaki; March 3, 1890 – July 21, 1959) was a career military officer and a…Fusaki Tsutsumi (堤 不夾貴, Tsutsumi Fusaki; March 3, 1890 – July 21, 1959) was a career military officer and a lieutenant-general of the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II.
Takao Inoue (井上 孝夫, Inoue Takao; Inoue Makio) November 30, 1938 – November 29, 2019, known professionally by his stage…Takao Inoue (井上 孝夫, Inoue Takao; Inoue Makio) November 30, 1938 – November 29, 2019, known professionally by his stage name Makio Inoue (井上 真樹夫), was a Japanese actor and voice actor. He is most well known for his longstanding roles as Captain Harlock in Captain Harlock from 1978 through the 1980s and 1990s and Goemon Ishikawa XIII in Lupin III from 1977 to 2011.
Jun'ichi Kanemaru (金丸 淳一, Kanemaru Jun'ichi; Kōfu, born October 27, 1963) is a Japanese voice actor and singer. He…Jun'ichi Kanemaru (金丸 淳一, Kanemaru Jun'ichi; Kōfu, born October 27, 1963) is a Japanese voice actor and singer. He joined 81 Produce in 2003. He voiced Hayato Kazami in Future GPX Cyber Formula, Ryo Akiyama in Digimon Tamers and has been the Japanese voice of Sonic the Hedgehog in the eponymous series since 1998. He came in eighth in the Seiyū Grand Prix in 1994.
Takashi Kashiwabara (Japanese: 柏原 崇, Hepburn: Kashiwabara Takashi; born March 16, 1977) is a former Japanese actor.…Takashi Kashiwabara (Japanese: 柏原 崇, Hepburn: Kashiwabara Takashi; born March 16, 1977) is a former Japanese actor. After retiring from acting, he became a behind-the-scenes worker and is currently the manager of actress Yuki Uchida.
Izuru Narushima (成島 出, Narushima Izuru; 1961 – 24 August 2026) was a Japanese scriptwriter and film director from…Izuru Narushima (成島 出, Narushima Izuru; 1961 – 24 August 2026) was a Japanese scriptwriter and film director from Yamanashi Prefecture. In 2011, his film Rebirth was awarded the Japanese Academy Prize for best picture. Born in 1961, Narushima died from lung cancer on 24 August 2026, at the age of 65.
Banjō Ginga (銀河 万丈, Ginga Banjō), sometimes credited as his real name Takashi Tanaka (田中 崇, Tanaka Takashi), is a…Banjō Ginga (銀河 万丈, Ginga Banjō), sometimes credited as his real name Takashi Tanaka (田中 崇, Tanaka Takashi), is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator who was born in Kofu, Yamanashi. Ginga is affiliated with Aoni Production. He is married to voice actress Gara Takashima. Known for his deep baritone voice, his most well-known roles include Gihren Zabi (Mobile Suit Gundam), Crocodine (Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibōken), Jean Paul Rocchina (Armored Trooper Votoms), Shōhei Harada (Touch), Souther (Fist of the North Star, original 1980s series), Babbo (MÄR), Bayman in the Dead or Alive series, Heihachi Mishima and the various models of Jack in the Tekken series, and Liquid Snake and Zero in the Metal Gear series. On November 5, 2020, it was announced Ginga had tested positive for COVID-19. On November 16, 2020, it was announced that he had recovered.
Kusakabe Kimbei (日下部 金兵衛; 1841–1934) was a Japanese photographer. He usually went by his given name, Kimbei, because…Kusakabe Kimbei (日下部 金兵衛; 1841–1934) was a Japanese photographer. He usually went by his given name, Kimbei, because his clientele, mostly non-Japanese-speaking foreign residents and visitors, found it easier to pronounce than his family name.