Akari Fujinami (Japanese: 藤波朱理; born 11 November 2003) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. She won the gold medal in the…Akari Fujinami (Japanese: 藤波朱理; born 11 November 2003) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. She won the gold medal in the women's 53 kg event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She won 155 straight national and international bouts after her loss at the National Junior High School Wrestling Championships in 2017. Her streak ended at the 2026 Asian Games after being pinned by Il Sim Son.
Hidemasa Koda (甲田 英將, Koda Hidemasa; born 2 October 2003), also known as Hide, is a Japanese footballer currently…Hidemasa Koda (甲田 英將, Koda Hidemasa; born 2 October 2003), also known as Hide, is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for J1 League club Nagoya Grampus.
Mayu Shidochi (志土地 真優, Shidochi Mayu; née Mukaida (向田), born 22 June 1997) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. She won…Mayu Shidochi (志土地 真優, Shidochi Mayu; née Mukaida (向田), born 22 June 1997) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. She won the gold medal in the 53 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan.
Senri Kawaguchi (川口 千里, Kawaguchi Senri) is a Japanese drummer. In Japan, she is sometimes known as tekazuhime (手数姫)…Senri Kawaguchi (川口 千里, Kawaguchi Senri) is a Japanese drummer. In Japan, she is sometimes known as tekazuhime (手数姫), ("Princess of Many Strokes"). She has the image of a gecko on the front of her 20-inch bass drum, and on her Zildjian drumsticks. She has won many awards for her drumming.
Saki Hattori (Japanese: 服部 沙紀, born 22 December 1996) is a Japanese female handball player for Sony Semiconductor and…Saki Hattori (Japanese: 服部 沙紀, born 22 December 1996) is a Japanese female handball player for Sony Semiconductor and the Japanese national team. She represented Japan at the 2021 World Women's Handball Championship in Spain. At the 2022 Asian Championship, she won silver medals, losing to South Korea in the final.
Yukiya Itoh (伊藤 裕季也, Itoh Yukiya; born August 30, 1996 in Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball…Yukiya Itoh (伊藤 裕季也, Itoh Yukiya; born August 30, 1996 in Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Yuhi Fujinami (藤波勇飛, Fujinami Yuhi; born May 27, 1996) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. A former Japan national…Yuhi Fujinami (藤波勇飛, Fujinami Yuhi; born May 27, 1996) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. A former Japan national champion, he won bronze medals at the 2017 World Championships and 2018 Asian Games. He took up wrestling aged eight at the wrestling gym of his father, Toshikazu Fujinami, a wrestling coach and a former wrestler. He has a degree in law from the Yamanashi Gakuin University.
Katsuki Azuma (東 克樹, Azuma Katsuki; born November 29, 1995) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the…Katsuki Azuma (東 克樹, Azuma Katsuki; born November 29, 1995) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He was selected to the 2018 NPB All-Star game. On October 10, 2018, he was selected to the Japan national baseball team at the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series, but on October 18, 2018, he opted not to participate.
Shuto Ando (安藤 周人, Andō Shuto; born June 13, 1994) is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for Alvark…Shuto Ando (安藤 周人, Andō Shuto; born June 13, 1994) is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for Alvark Tokyo of the B.League in Japan. He represented the country in basketball. He is a native of the Mie Prefecture.
Shu Maeda (前田 柊, Maeda Shu; born 2 December 1993) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for…Shu Maeda (前田 柊, Maeda Shu; born 2 December 1993) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Vanraure Hachinohe.
Ryuji Izumi (和泉 竜司, Izumi Ryūji; born 6 November 1993) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a winger for J1 League…Ryuji Izumi (和泉 竜司, Izumi Ryūji; born 6 November 1993) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a winger for J1 League club Nagoya Grampus.
Yuma Kawamori (川森 有真, Kawamori, Yuma; born 1 February 1993 in Yokkaichi, Mie) is a Japanese footballer who plays for…Yuma Kawamori (川森 有真, Kawamori, Yuma; born 1 February 1993 in Yokkaichi, Mie) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Kagoshima United FC.
Shogo Nakamura (Japanese: 中村匠吾, romanized: Nakamura Shōgo; born 16 September 1992) is a Japanese long-distance runner.…Shogo Nakamura (Japanese: 中村匠吾, romanized: Nakamura Shōgo; born 16 September 1992) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He qualified for the marathon at the 2020 Summer Olympics by winning the 2019 Marathon Grand Championship with a time of 2:11:28, closely beating out Yuma Hattori and national record holder Suguru Osako.
Yuya Taniguchi (谷口 雄也, Taniguchi Yūya; born 1 June 1992) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He debuted in 2012…Yuya Taniguchi (谷口 雄也, Taniguchi Yūya; born 1 June 1992) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He debuted in 2012 with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He had 3 runs in 2013.
Shun Nogaito (野垣内俊, Nogaito Shun; born September 11, 1986) is a Japanese football player who plays as a defender for…Shun Nogaito (野垣内俊, Nogaito Shun; born September 11, 1986) is a Japanese football player who plays as a defender for Veertien Mie. As a student at Mie Prefectural Tsu Technical High School, he served as the captain of his team during the 83rd All Japan High School Soccer Championship. He enrolled at Yokkaichi University and, while still a student, was registered as a special designated player with FC Gifu in August 2008. Enrolling as a student at Yokkaichi University he played with FC Gifu team in August 2008. In 2009, he joined Koichi Sato from Yokkaichi University. In 2010, he became a vice-captain of the team. In 2017, he joined Vanraure Hachinohe and the following year, in 2018, he joined Viatin Mie.
Kota Asai (浅井 康太, Asai Kōta; born 22 June 1984) is a Japanese male track cyclist, riding for the national team. He…Kota Asai (浅井 康太, Asai Kōta; born 22 June 1984) is a Japanese male track cyclist, riding for the national team. He competed at the 2010 and 2011 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. He is also a professional keirin cyclist.
Kazuhiro Murakami (村上 和弘, Murakami Kazuhiro; born January 20, 1981) is a former Japanese football player He is the…Kazuhiro Murakami (村上 和弘, Murakami Kazuhiro; born January 20, 1981) is a former Japanese football player He is the current assistant manager of Vegalta Sendai.
Takahisa Fujinami (藤波貴久, Takahisa Fujinami; born 13 January 1980 in Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan), nicknamed Fujigas, is a…Takahisa Fujinami (藤波貴久, Takahisa Fujinami; born 13 January 1980 in Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan), nicknamed Fujigas, is a retired Japanese motorcycle trials rider. Fujinami competed in motorcycle trial riding from a young age and became a FIM world champion in 2004. Fujinami retired from trial riding after the 2021 TrialGP season to take up the role of team manager of the Repsol Honda Trial Team; his seat will be taken by Gabriel Marcelli who will ride for the team from 2022 onward.
Shuichi Mase (間瀬 秀一, Mase Shūichi; born October 22, 1973) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He…Shuichi Mase (間瀬 秀一, Mase Shūichi; born October 22, 1973) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He currently manager of Japan Football League club, Veertien Mie.
Satoshi Saida (斎田 悟司, Saida Satoshi; born March 26, 1972 in Yokkaichi, Mie) is a Japanese pioneering wheelchair tennis…Satoshi Saida (斎田 悟司, Saida Satoshi; born March 26, 1972 in Yokkaichi, Mie) is a Japanese pioneering wheelchair tennis player and 2004 Summer Paralympics gold medalist (Men's doubles with Shingo Kunieda). Saida, a big baseball enthusiast in his childhood, lost his left leg because of bone cancer at age twelve. At first, he used to play wheelchair basketball with his friends. Saida started his career in wheelchair tennis when he was fourteen years old. As a competitor, his first Paralympics was the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, USA; at the succeeding games in Sydney, Australia, he got eighth place. With Shingo Kunieda, he participated in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece, and won the men's doubles event. The two competed together again at the 2008 Beijing Games and took bronze in the doubles event.
Yōsuke Kuroda (Japanese: 黒田 洋介, Hepburn: Kuroda Yōsuke; born 29 March 1968) is a Japanese anime screenwriter from Mie…Yōsuke Kuroda (Japanese: 黒田 洋介, Hepburn: Kuroda Yōsuke; born 29 March 1968) is a Japanese anime screenwriter from Mie Prefecture, Japan. He has his own studio, Studio Orphee. Kuroda is noted for his work on authoring the scenario, screenplay, and story composition of the anime series Excel Saga, Please Teacher! and its sequel Please Twins!, Honey and Clover, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and numerous others. In 2003, Kuroda won the Individual Award at the 8th Animation Kobe event. He has collaborated with fellow screenwriter and novelist Hideyuki Kurata on multiple series, including Goblin Slayer, Hellsing Ultimate, and Drifters.
Yasuhiro Higuchi (樋口 靖洋, Higuchi Yasuhiro; born May 5, 1961) is a Japanese football manager and former player who…Yasuhiro Higuchi (樋口 靖洋, Higuchi Yasuhiro; born May 5, 1961) is a Japanese football manager and former player who manages Veertien Mie.
Ōzutsu Takeshi (born 18 April 1956 as Takatoshi Matsumoto) is a former sumo wrestler from Mie, Japan. Beginning his…Ōzutsu Takeshi (born 18 April 1956 as Takatoshi Matsumoto) is a former sumo wrestler from Mie, Japan. Beginning his professional career in May 1971, he was ranked in the top makuuchi division continuously from March 1979 to January 1992, and his record of 1170 consecutive bouts there is the second best in history after Takamiyama. His highest rank was sekiwake. He was runner-up in one tournament and earned ten kinboshi or gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He also won four sanshō or special prizes. He wrestled for Taihō stable and after his retirement in May 1992 he worked there as a coach before leaving the Japan Sumo Association in 2008.
Yukihiko Tsutsumi (堤幸彦, Tsutsumi Yukihiko; born November 3, 1955 in Yokkaichi, Mie) is a Japanese television and film…Yukihiko Tsutsumi (堤幸彦, Tsutsumi Yukihiko; born November 3, 1955 in Yokkaichi, Mie) is a Japanese television and film director. He began directing commercials and music promotion videos as an employee of Nippon Television. After spending time abroad, he returned and started his own production company, Office Crescendo, from which he works independently. His first television drama on Nippon Television was called Kora! Tonneruzu and ran from 1985 to 1989. He directed Taitei no Ken, an original work by Baku Yumemakura, in 2007.
Yoshitami Kameoka (亀岡 偉民, Kameoka Yoshitami; born 10 September 1955) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal…Yoshitami Kameoka (亀岡 偉民, Kameoka Yoshitami; born 10 September 1955) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Tochigi Prefecture and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected for the first time in 2005 after unsuccessful runs in 2000 and 2003.
Katsuya Okada (岡田 克也, Okada Katsuya; born 14 July 1953) is a Japanese politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of Japan…Katsuya Okada (岡田 克也, Okada Katsuya; born 14 July 1953) is a Japanese politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of Japan from January to December 2012. A member of the House of Representatives of Japan, he was the president of the Democratic Party, and previously of the Democratic Party of Japan. He also served as Secretary-General of the DPJ three times. During the DPJ's period in government he was Foreign Minister of Japan. In 2016, he remained as leader when the Democratic Party of Japan merged with the Japan Innovation Party to become the Democratic Party.
Masakatsu Morita (森田 必勝, Morita Masakatsu; 25 July 1945 – 25 November 1970) was a Japanese political activist who…Masakatsu Morita (森田 必勝, Morita Masakatsu; 25 July 1945 – 25 November 1970) was a Japanese political activist who killed himself via seppuku with Yukio Mishima in Tokyo. Morita was the youngest child of the headmaster of an elementary school. Losing both parents at the age of three, Morita was cared for by his brother Osamu and educated at a Catholic school. He entered Waseda University in 1966, but was dismayed by the presence of Communist Zengakuren students at the university and became heavily involved in the small right-wing faction at the university. He first met Mishima on 19 June 1967, and joined the Tatenokai at its establishment in October 1968. As early as March of that year, he had written a letter to Mishima expressing a willingness to die for him. Mishima was interested in using his society for direct political action, and he approached several members in April and May 1970. The inner circle then consisted of Mishima, Morita, Masahiro Ogawa (小川正洋) and Masayoshi Koga (小賀正義) ("Chibi" Koga). No clear plan was developed until late June. Shortly afterwards, Mishima went on holiday to Shimoda and paid for the others to go to Hokkaido. On 2 September in Tokyo, Morita and "Chibi Koga" recruited Hiroyasu Koga (古賀浩靖) ("Furu" Koga), who was a Tatenokai member also, and he met Mishima to hear details of the plan on 9 September. Originally all four Tatenokai members had planned to commit seppuku along with Mishima. However, Mishima attempted to dissuade them and three of the members acquiesced to his wishes. Only Morita persisted, saying, "I can't let Mr. Mishima die alone." So, in November, Mishima ruled that only he and Morita were to die. Morita said to other members who had wanted to die together, "We are alive or dead together, because we can meet again somewhere." But Mishima knew that Morita had a girlfriend and still hoped he might live. On 21 and 22 November 1970, supplies were bought, and Morita asked Hiroyasu Koga to stand in for him if he should fail to behead Mishima properly. The next two days were spent rehearsing. On the morning of 25 November, the group drove to the Japan Self-Defense Force's Ichigaya garrison on the pretext of a friendly visit. They barricaded themselves inside General Mashita's office, taking him prisoner, and issued demands. At noon, Mishima began to make a speech from the balcony to assembled troops, but his words were drowned out by helicopters. Immediately after his return from the balcony, Mishima stabbed himself in the abdomen and Morita then attempted to behead him. After three failed attempts by Morita, Hiroyasu Koga stepped in and beheaded Mishima. According to the testimony of the surviving coup members, just before his seppuku, Mishima tried one more time to dissuade Morita, saying "Morita, you must live, not die." Nevertheless, after Mishima's seppuku, Morita knelt and stabbed himself in the abdomen and Koga again performed the kaishakunin duty. Masayoshi Koga, Masahiro Ogawa, and Hiroyasu Koga, who were tried for various charges, including murder with the victim's consent, were freed from prison for good behavior in October 1974. All three were aged 26 at the time.
Toshiya Fujita (藤田 敏八, Fujita Toshiya; January 16, 1932 – August 30, 1997), also known as Shigeya Fujita (藤田繁矢, Fujita…Toshiya Fujita (藤田 敏八, Fujita Toshiya; January 16, 1932 – August 30, 1997), also known as Shigeya Fujita (藤田繁矢, Fujita Shigeya), was a Japanese film director, film actor, and screenwriter. He is well-regarded in Japan for his youth films but is best known abroad for Lady Snowblood and Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance, films not typical of his usual style.
Taijiro Tamura (田村 泰次郎, Tamura Taijirō; 30 November 1911 - 2 November 1983) was a Japanese novelist. He was born in…Taijiro Tamura (田村 泰次郎, Tamura Taijirō; 30 November 1911 - 2 November 1983) was a Japanese novelist. He was born in Yokkaichi, Mie, and was educated at Waseda University in Tokyo where he studied literature. His most famous work is Gate of Flesh, which has been adapted into a movie four times and most recently in 2008 into a TV Asahi television series. His work is known for its emphasis on carnality and the physical body.
Ui Shigure (しぐれうい, Shigure Ui) is a Japanese illustrator, manga artist, light novel character designer, musician and…Ui Shigure (しぐれうい, Shigure Ui) is a Japanese illustrator, manga artist, light novel character designer, musician and VTuber.
