Gifu, Gifu Prefecture: 63 people
Yura Murase (村瀬 由徠, Murase Yura; born February 1, 2007) is a Japanese snowboarder who competes in the big air events.…
Yura Murase (村瀬 由徠, Murase Yura; born February 1, 2007) is a Japanese snowboarder who competes in the big air events. She won a gold medal in the Women's big air event at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics.
Mihoko Iwasa (岩佐 美帆子, Iwasa Mihoko; born August 15, 2005) is a Japanese women's professional shogi player ranked 1-kyū.
Airi Furuta (古田 愛理, Furuta Airi; born June 30, 2002) is a Japanese gravure idol, fashion model, actress, and former…
Airi Furuta (古田 愛理, Furuta Airi; born June 30, 2002) is a Japanese gravure idol, fashion model, actress, and former idol, as well as a former exclusive model for the fashion magazine Popteen. She is from Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, and is affiliated with Avex Management Agency.
Tomoya Fujii (藤井 智也, Fujii Tomoya; born 4 December 1998) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger…
Tomoya Fujii (藤井 智也, Fujii Tomoya; born 4 December 1998) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Shimizu S-Pulse.
Sho Shimabukuro (島袋 将, Shimabukuro Shō, born 30 July 1997) is a Japanese professional tennis player. Shimabukuro has a…
Sho Shimabukuro (島袋 将, Shimabukuro Shō, born 30 July 1997) is a Japanese professional tennis player. Shimabukuro has a career high ATP singles ranking of world No. 87 achieved on 24 August 2026 and a doubles ranking of No. 376 achieved on 16 September 2024. He is currently the No. 1 Japanese player. Shimabukuro represents Japan at the Davis Cup, where he has a W/L record of 1–0.
Jumpei Takahashi (高橋 純平, Takahashi Junpei; born May 8, 1997) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He…
Jumpei Takahashi (高橋 純平, Takahashi Junpei; born May 8, 1997) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2016 to 2023 for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Ryoichi Akamatsu (Japanese: 赤松 諒一; born 2 May 1995), also spelled Ryōichi Akamatsu, is a Japanese high jumper from Gifu…
Ryoichi Akamatsu (Japanese: 赤松 諒一; born 2 May 1995), also spelled Ryōichi Akamatsu, is a Japanese high jumper from Gifu Prefecture. He is a two-time Asian Indoor Champion in the high jump, and he won the 2023 Japanese Athletics Championships before placing 8th at the World Championships that year.
Eiya Hashimoto (橋本 英也, Hashimoto Eiya; born 15 December 1993) is a Japanese road and track cyclist, who currently rides…
Eiya Hashimoto (橋本 英也, Hashimoto Eiya; born 15 December 1993) is a Japanese road and track cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Continental team Team Bridgestone Cycling. He won the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games in the Men's Omnium. He qualified to represent Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Rie Matsubara (松原 梨恵, Matsubara Rie; born 21 October 1993) is a Japanese former group rhythmic gymnast. She is a World…
Rie Matsubara (松原 梨恵, Matsubara Rie; born 21 October 1993) is a Japanese former group rhythmic gymnast. She is a World champion and a 10-time Asian champion. She is also a three-time Olympian (2012, 2016, 2020).
Daiki Tohmei (東明 大貴, Tōmei Daiki; born June 15, 1989) is a Japanese baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He…
Daiki Tohmei (東明 大貴, Tōmei Daiki; born June 15, 1989) is a Japanese baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes.
Kotomi Tosaki (戸崎 琴美 Tosaki Kotomi, born 19 May 1989) is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for Hitachi Sawa Rivale.
Honami Tsuboi (坪井保菜美, Tsuboi Honami; born (1989-04-05)5 April 1989) is a Japanese group rhythmic gymnast. She…
Honami Tsuboi (坪井保菜美, Tsuboi Honami; born (1989-04-05)5 April 1989) is a Japanese group rhythmic gymnast. She represents her nation at international competitions. She participated at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She also competed at world championships, including at the 2007 and 2009 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships.
Shinji Tominari (冨成 慎司, Tominari Shinji; born February 22, 1987) is a Japanese retired football player.
Shinji Iwata (岩田 慎司, Iwata Shinji; born January 27, 1987 in Gifu, Gifu, Japan) was a professional Japanese right-handed…
Shinji Iwata (岩田 慎司, Iwata Shinji; born January 27, 1987 in Gifu, Gifu, Japan) was a professional Japanese right-handed pitcher. He played for the Chunichi Dragons. On 23 September 2016, it was announced that Iwata was to retire from professional baseball.
Sayaka Aoki (青木 沙弥佳, Aoki Sayaka; born 15 December 1986 in Gifu Prefecture) is a Japanese track and field sprinter and…
Sayaka Aoki (青木 沙弥佳, Aoki Sayaka; born 15 December 1986 in Gifu Prefecture) is a Japanese track and field sprinter and hurdler, who specializes in the 400 metres sprint and 400 metres hurdles. She competed for her country as part of the Japanese women's 4 × 400 metres relay team at the Summer Olympics in 2008 and the World Championships in Athletics three times (2007, 2009, 2015). She has been a four-time medallist in the relay at the Asian Athletics Championships (2007, 2011, 2013, 2017), including a gold medal in 2011. She won her first major international medal in the hurdles – a bronze – at the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships. Aoki competed for the women's 4 × 400 m relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, along with her teammates Mayu Kida, Satomi Kubokura, and Asami Tanno. She ran on the anchor leg of the first heat, with an individual-split time of 52.64 seconds. Aoki and her team finished the relay in last place for a seasonal best time of 3:30.52, failing to advance into the final. Born in Gifu Prefecture, she attended Fukushima University and represented her country as a student-athlete at the 2007 Universiade.
Aya Nakajima (née Takeuchi; born 5 August 1986) is a former Japanese rugby union and sevens player. She was a member of…
Aya Nakajima (née Takeuchi; born 5 August 1986) is a former Japanese rugby union and sevens player. She was a member of the Japanese sevens team that won a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Games. She also represented Japan at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She competed for Japan at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Minase Yashiro (八代みなせ, Yashiro Minase born February 3, 1985) is a Japanese gravure idol, actress and TV personality.
Atsushi Katagiri (片桐 淳至, Katagiri Atsushi; born August 1, 1983) is a former Japanese football player.
Go Ayano (綾野 剛, Ayano Gō; born January 26, 1982) is a Japanese actor.
Takahiro Aoki (青木 高広, Aoki Takahiro; born November 26, 1981 in Gifu, Japan) is a Nippon Professional Baseball player.…
Takahiro Aoki (青木 高広, Aoki Takahiro; born November 26, 1981 in Gifu, Japan) is a Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League.
Kenta Asakura (朝倉 健太, born June 11, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. Asakura played with the…
Kenta Asakura (朝倉 健太, born June 11, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. Asakura played with the Chunichi Dragons from 2000 to 2015 and was employed as a pitching coach for the Dragons first team, from 2016 to 2018.
Riki Fukuda (Japanese: 福田 力, Fukuda Riki; born January 6, 1981), is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing…
Riki Fukuda (Japanese: 福田 力, Fukuda Riki; born January 6, 1981), is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2004, he has formerly competed for the UFC, EliteXC, DEEP, DREAM, K-1 (MMA), Shooto, and Pancrase. Currently, he runs an izakaya-style restaurant in Leiden, The Netherlands.
Toshiyasu Takahara (髙原 寿康, Takahara Toshiyasu; born October 18, 1980) is a former Japanese football player.
Naofumi Yamamoto (山本 尚史, Yamamoto Naofumi; born August 1, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by…
Naofumi Yamamoto (山本 尚史, Yamamoto Naofumi; born August 1, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Yoshi Tatsu. Yamamoto started his professional wrestling career under his real name in October 2002 with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he remained until 2007, when he signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). In 2009, Yamamoto left WWE's developmental territory to join the promotion's main roster under the ring name Yoshi Tatsu (ヨシ・タツ, Yoshi Tatsu). After his release from WWE in June 2014, Yamamoto returned to NJPW the following October, performing under the tweaked ring name Yoshitatsu (ヨシタツ, Yoshitatsu). Following his departure from NJPW in late 2017, Yamamoto became a freelancer, and started working most notably for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), who he signed full time for between 2020 and 2023.
Hideaki Ito (伊藤 英明 (Itō Hideaki), born August 3, 1975) is a Japanese actor known for his leading roles in both…
Hideaki Ito (伊藤 英明 (Itō Hideaki), born August 3, 1975) is a Japanese actor known for his leading roles in both television dramas and films. He gained widespread recognition through the Umizaru film series which became a major commercial success. Following this, he expanded his range with more diverse roles, including performances in Takashi Miike’s Sukiyaki Western Django, Lesson of the Evil, and the 2025 Netflix original series Last Samurai Standing, where he played crazed former samurai Bukotsu Kanjiya.
Keiko Miura (三浦恵子, Miura Keiko; born 16 March 1975 in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture) is a female field hockey field player from…
Keiko Miura (三浦恵子, Miura Keiko; born 16 March 1975 in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture) is a female field hockey field player from Japan, who is playing for Sony Bravia Ladies. She plays as a defender and is the striker of the penalty corner in her league team as well as the national team. She can strike the ball up to 120 km/h. She was the team captain of the women's national team that participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece as well as a member of the team of the women's national team that participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Masanobu Matsunami (松波 正信, Matsunami Masanobu; born November 21, 1974) is a former Japanese football player and manager…
Masanobu Matsunami (松波 正信, Matsunami Masanobu; born November 21, 1974) is a former Japanese football player and manager and currently academy manager for Gamba Osaka.
Makoto Kawada (河田 誠, Kawada Makoto; born August 23, 1974, in Gifu, Japan), known by the pen name Makoto Raiku (雷句誠…
Makoto Kawada (河田 誠, Kawada Makoto; born August 23, 1974, in Gifu, Japan), known by the pen name Makoto Raiku (雷句誠, Raiku Makoto), is a manga artist known for creating the Zatch Bell! franchise. Starting off an assistant for Kazuhiro Fujita on his manga Ushio & Tora, he began creating several one-shots for the Weekly Shōnen Sunday shōnen manga anthology such as Bird Man (about a young pilot), Hero Ba-Ban (about a cheerful, but weak superhero) and Genmai Blade (about a teenage medicinal exorcist, of which he created both a one-shot and a two-part story). By 1999, he had created the series Newtown Heroes, which was published in Shōnen Sunday Super, a seasonal publication featuring upcoming manga artists and one-shots from the main Sunday book.
Kazuhiro Wada (和田 一浩, Wada Kazuhiro; born June 19, 1972) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player. He played…
Kazuhiro Wada (和田 一浩, Wada Kazuhiro; born June 19, 1972) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player. He played mostly as an outfielder for the Chunichi Dragons and the Seibu Lions of the Nippon Professional Baseball league in a career spanning 18 years. Following retirement in 2015, he has become a color commentator for Dragons broadcasts for the NHK.
Yumi Tomei (東明 有美, Tōmei Yumi; born 1 June 1972) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national…
Yumi Tomei (東明 有美, Tōmei Yumi; born 1 June 1972) is a former Japanese football player. She played for Japan national team.
Naoko Takahashi (高橋 尚子, Takahashi Naoko; born May 6, 1972) is a Japanese retired long-distance runner and Olympic gold…
Naoko Takahashi (高橋 尚子, Takahashi Naoko; born May 6, 1972) is a Japanese retired long-distance runner and Olympic gold medal-winning marathoner. She won the gold medal in the marathon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and at the 2001 Berlin Marathon she became the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Mitsuteru Tanaka (田中 光輝, Tanaka Mitsuteru; 27 September 1971 – 5 August 2018) was a Japanese cyclist. He competed in…
Mitsuteru Tanaka (田中 光輝, Tanaka Mitsuteru; 27 September 1971 – 5 August 2018) was a Japanese cyclist. He competed in the individual road race at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He was also Japanese national champion in 1992. During his career, he rode for Aisan Racing Team, and after retirement, served as both team manager and general manager of Aisan.
Atsuko Wakai (若井 敦子, Wakai Atsuko; born September 12, 1971) is a Japanese practitioner of karate who has won many…
Atsuko Wakai (若井 敦子, Wakai Atsuko; born September 12, 1971) is a Japanese practitioner of karate who has won many international and Japanese national competitions in kata (patterns), including unprecedented numbers of consecutive titles in World Karate Federation (WKF) and All Japan Karatedo championships. She holds the rank of 6th dan black belt from the Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF), training in Seigokan Goju-ryu karate.
Kenichi Shimokawa (下川 健一, Shimokawa Kenichi; born May 14, 1970) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…
Kenichi Shimokawa (下川 健一, Shimokawa Kenichi; born May 14, 1970) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Nobuyoshi Fujisawa (藤澤 信義, Fujisawa Nobuyoshi; born January 17, 1970) is from Gifu Prefecture, Japan and Representative…
Nobuyoshi Fujisawa (藤澤 信義, Fujisawa Nobuyoshi; born January 17, 1970) is from Gifu Prefecture, Japan and Representative Director, President & Chief Executive Officer of J Trust Group which runs banking business, credit guarantee business and financial business in Asian countries.
Toru Suzuki (鈴木 亨, Suzuki Tōru; born 28 May 1966) is a Japanese professional golfer, currently playing on the Japan…
Toru Suzuki (鈴木 亨, Suzuki Tōru; born 28 May 1966) is a Japanese professional golfer, currently playing on the Japan Golf Tour.
Hirosi Ooguri (spelled as Hiroshi Oguri in government documents) (大栗 博司; born 1962) is a theoretical physicist working…
Hirosi Ooguri (spelled as Hiroshi Oguri in government documents) (大栗 博司; born 1962) is a theoretical physicist working on quantum field theory, quantum gravity, superstring theory, and their interfaces with mathematics. He is Fred Kavli Professor of Theoretical Physics and Mathematics and the Founding Director of the Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics at California Institute of Technology. He is also the director of the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics at the University of Tokyo and is the chair of the board of trustees of the Aspen Center for Physics in Colorado. In July 2025, he was appointed chair of the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy (PMA) at Caltech. Ooguri aims at discovering mathematical structures in these theories and exploiting them to invent new theoretical tools to solve fundamental questions in physics. In particular, he developed the topological string theory to compute Feynman diagrams in superstring theory and used it to study mysterious quantum mechanical properties of black holes. He also made fundamental contributions to conformal field theories in two dimensions, D-branes in Calabi-Yau manifolds, the AdS/CFT correspondence, and properties of supersymmetric gauge theories and their relations to superstring theory.
Hiroko Yai (Japanese: 矢井 弘子, Hepburn: Yai Hiroko; born February 12, 1959), better known by her stage name Nana Okada…
Hiroko Yai (Japanese: 矢井 弘子, Hepburn: Yai Hiroko; born February 12, 1959), better known by her stage name Nana Okada (岡田 奈々, Okada Nana), is a Japanese actress and former idol singer.
Yasuhiko Funago (舩後靖彦, Funago Yasuhiko; born 4 October 1957) is a Japanese politician and former member of the House of…
Yasuhiko Funago (舩後靖彦, Funago Yasuhiko; born 4 October 1957) is a Japanese politician and former member of the House of Councillors. He and fellow councillor Eiko Kimura became the first people with severe disabilities elected to Japan's National Diet in 2019. He is a member of the Reiwa Shinsengumi. ALS has caused him to lose much of his mobility, requiring a full-time caregiver.
Harumi Naitō (内藤 はるみ, Naitō Harumi) (born July 26, 1955) also known professionally as Ai Asatsuki (朝月 愛, Asatsuki Ai)…
Harumi Naitō (内藤 はるみ, Naitō Harumi) (born July 26, 1955) also known professionally as Ai Asatsuki (朝月 愛, Asatsuki Ai) and Harumi Komiyama (小見山はるみ, Komiyama Harumi) is a Japanese singer from Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. She graduated from Horikoshi High School. She is best known for performing the opening theme song "Doraemon" and the ending theme song "Doraemon Rumba" for the Doraemon anime series.
Kiyonori Imamura (今村 清憲, Imamura Kiyonori), better known by his stage name Norio Imamura (いまむら のりお, Imamura Norio)…
Kiyonori Imamura (今村 清憲, Imamura Kiyonori), better known by his stage name Norio Imamura (いまむら のりお, Imamura Norio) (born April 17, 1954), is a Japanese stage actor and voice actor from Gifu. He is a graduate of the Fine Arts department of Nihon University. Imamura began his career in the musical troupe Musical Company It's Follies [ja] and was coached by Nachi Nozawa. Imamura tattoos himself as a hobby and has reportedly spent 4 to 5 million yen (the equivalent of $45,000 to $56,000) on tattoos over the course of a decade. From April 26 to June 7, 2010, Imamura posted pictures of his lower body on his blog with the intention of showing that his body had been completely tattooed. Imamura was arrested in July 2010 for posting images that were deemed indecent. This event forced Imamura to step down from his ongoing voice role as Emporio Ivankov in One Piece (the role was subsequently inherited by Mitsuo Iwata). On September 1, Imamura was released following a summary proceeding at the Tokyo Public Prosecutor's Office and was given a fine of 500,000 yen (approximately $6,000).
Hajime Furuta (古田 肇, Furuta Hajime; born 13 September 1947) is a former governor of Gifu Prefecture in Japan. He held…
Hajime Furuta (古田 肇, Furuta Hajime; born 13 September 1947) is a former governor of Gifu Prefecture in Japan. He held the office for five terms between 2005 and 2025. A native of Gifu City, he was chosen as the final torchbearer for the National Sports Festival when it was held in Gifu City while he was a senior at Gifu Prefectural Senior High School. He entered the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo and joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) in 1971.
Kansai Yamamoto (山本 寛斎, Yamamoto Kansai; 8 February 1944 – 21 July 2020) was a Japanese fashion designer, most…
Kansai Yamamoto (山本 寛斎, Yamamoto Kansai; 8 February 1944 – 21 July 2020) was a Japanese fashion designer, most influential during the 1970s and 1980s.
Morimichi Takagi (高木 守道, Takagi Morimichi; July 17, 1941 – January 17, 2020) was a Japanese baseball player known for…
Morimichi Takagi (高木 守道, Takagi Morimichi; July 17, 1941 – January 17, 2020) was a Japanese baseball player known for his long affiliation with the Chunichi Dragons. He played with the Dragons from 1960 to 1980, accumulating 2,274 hits and 236 home runs. A speedy second baseman, he was a seven-time Central League Best Nine Award-winner (the most for his position in NPB history), a three-time Central League Golden Glove Award-winner and led the Central League in stolen bases three times. He was an NPB All-Star four separate times. He finished with 369 career stolen bases. Takagi began as a player-coach for the Dragons in 1978, staying in that role through his retirement as a player in 1980. He stayed on as coach through 1986, returning to the team as manager from 1992 to 1995, and also from 2012 to 2013.
Seijirō Kōyama (神山征二郎, Kōyama Seijirō) (born 16 July 1941) is a Japanese film director.
Niigiyama Tadashi (born Tadashi Nagano; January 5, 1940 - September 5, 1986) was a sumo wrestler from Gifu, Japan. He…
Niigiyama Tadashi (born Tadashi Nagano; January 5, 1940 - September 5, 1986) was a sumo wrestler from Gifu, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1955, and reached the top division in March 1961. He left the sumo world upon retirement from active competition in May 1963.
Iwao Matsuda (松田 岩夫, Matsuda Iwao; 19 May 1937 – 3 February 2022) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…
Iwao Matsuda (松田 岩夫, Matsuda Iwao; 19 May 1937 – 3 February 2022) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who was a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Gifu, Gifu, Japan, and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1960, attending the University of London while in the ministry. Leaving the ministry in 1981, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1986. After losing his seat in 1996, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1998. Matsuda died from hypoglycemia on 3 February 2022, at the age of 84.
Masahiro Shinoda (篠田 正浩, Shinoda Masahiro; March 9, 1931 – March 25, 2025) was a Japanese film director, whose career…
Masahiro Shinoda (篠田 正浩, Shinoda Masahiro; March 9, 1931 – March 25, 2025) was a Japanese film director, whose career spanned over four decades and covered a wide range of genres and styles. He was one of the central figures of the Japanese New Wave during the 1960s and 1970s. He directed films for Shochiku Studio from 1960 to 1965, before turning to independent cinema from 1966 onward. His film style was characterized by socially marginalized characters, many of whom turn to crime or suicide, and meticulous attention to pictorial beauty. He drew on traditional Japanese fiction and theater and some of his films bear the influence of Kenji Mizoguchi, whom he admired.
Bunkichi Sawada (沢田 文吉, Sawada Bunkichi; 18 July 1920 – 12 May 2006) was a Japanese pole vaulter who won gold medals at…
Bunkichi Sawada (沢田 文吉, Sawada Bunkichi; 18 July 1920 – 12 May 2006) was a Japanese pole vaulter who won gold medals at the 1951 and 1954 Asian Games. He placed sixth at the 1952 Summer Olympics, where he served as the flag bearer for Japan.
Tōichi Katō (加藤 東一, Katō Tōichi; 6 January 1916 – 3 December 1996) was a Japanese painter in the Nihonga style and…
Tōichi Katō (加藤 東一, Katō Tōichi; 6 January 1916 – 3 December 1996) was a Japanese painter in the Nihonga style and board chairman of the Nitten, a significant Japanese art conference. He and his older brother, Eizō Katō, have a museum dedicated to their works in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture.