Toshizumi Kitagawa (北川俊澄, Kitagawa Toshizumi) (born 7 February 1981 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player.…Toshizumi Kitagawa (北川俊澄, Kitagawa Toshizumi) (born 7 February 1981 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player. Kitagawa has played 43 international matches for the Japan national rugby union team. Kitagawa was a member of the Japan team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and played four matches for the Brave Blossoms.
Yuki Hayashi (林 ゆうき, Hayashi Yūki; born 31 December 1980) is a Japanese composer and arranger best known for his work…Yuki Hayashi (林 ゆうき, Hayashi Yūki; born 31 December 1980) is a Japanese composer and arranger best known for his work on the soundtracks for anime, television series, and films. His notable works include Triangle (in collaboration with Hiroyuki Sawano), Zettai Reido, Diabolik Lovers, Asa ga Kita, Haikyū!!, and My Hero Academia.
Kaori Fujino (藤野 可織, Fujino Kaori) is a Japanese writer from Kyoto. Her work has won the 103rd Bungakukai Prize and the…Kaori Fujino (藤野 可織, Fujino Kaori) is a Japanese writer from Kyoto. Her work has won the 103rd Bungakukai Prize and the 149th Akutagawa Prize.
Ryosuke Shimizu (Shimizu Ryosuke; born 18 January 1980) is a Japanese instructor of Shotokan karate. He has won the JKA…Ryosuke Shimizu (Shimizu Ryosuke; born 18 January 1980) is a Japanese instructor of Shotokan karate. He has won the JKA All-Japan championships for kumite on 2 occasions. He is currently an instructor of the Japan Karate Association.
Masakatsu Ueda (born December 21, 1977) is a professional Japanese mixed martial artist who currently competes in the…Masakatsu Ueda (born December 21, 1977) is a professional Japanese mixed martial artist who currently competes in the bantamweight division of Pancrase. Ueda was also a college level wrestler in Japan, where holds a win over fellow mixed martial artist and Japanese superstar Norifumi Yamamoto, better known as "Kid" Yamamoto. Ueda has also won many national titles in combat wrestling. He also won the All Japan Shooto Grappling championship, and both A and B class Shooto Rookie Tournaments. He is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Yuki Nakai.
Kazumi Saito (斉藤 和巳, Saitō Kazumi; born November 30, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball starting pitcher…Kazumi Saito (斉藤 和巳, Saitō Kazumi; born November 30, 1977) is a Japanese former professional baseball starting pitcher, and current fourth squad manager for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He was a two-time winner of the Eiji Sawamura Award (2003, 2006), but did not pitch in a regular season game after October 2007 due to various shoulder injuries.
Tomokazu Ohka (大家 友和, Ōka Tomokazu; IPA: [oːka tomokazɯ]) (born 18 March 1976) is a Japanese former professional…Tomokazu Ohka (大家 友和, Ōka Tomokazu; IPA: [oːka tomokazɯ]) (born 18 March 1976) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox (1999–2001), Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals (2001–2005), Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2006), Toronto Blue Jays (2007), Cleveland Indians (2009), in Japan's Baseball Challenge League for the Fukushima Hopes, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama BayStars. He throws right-handed and is a switch hitter.
Hideki Okajima (岡島 秀樹, Okajima Hideki; born December 25, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher.…Hideki Okajima (岡島 秀樹, Okajima Hideki; born December 25, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. Okajima pitched for the Yomiuri Giants, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball, and the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. Okajima was elected to the 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game as a first time All-Star via the All-Star Final Vote. He became the first Japanese-born pitcher to play in the World Series in Game 2 of the 2007 World Series. On July 18, 2016, Okajima announced his retirement.
Yoshikazu Kura (倉 義和, Kura Yoshikazu; born July 27, 1975 in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball…Yoshikazu Kura (倉 義和, Kura Yoshikazu; born July 27, 1975 in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays catcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Aiko Miyanaga (born 1974) is a contemporary Japanese artist known for sculpture and installation works that give visual…Aiko Miyanaga (born 1974) is a contemporary Japanese artist known for sculpture and installation works that give visual form to time by revealing the evidential traces of its passing. Miyanaga has made many works using naphthalene which leads to the disintegration of the work over time.
Gota Nishidera (西寺 郷太, Nishidera Gōta; born 27 November 1973, in Chiyoda, Tokyo) is a Japanese musician and music…Gota Nishidera (西寺 郷太, Nishidera Gōta; born 27 November 1973, in Chiyoda, Tokyo) is a Japanese musician and music producer. Nishidera is the singer and main songwriter of the band Nona Reeves, and also acts as a songwriter/composer, arranger, music producer, novelist, writer, MC for the band. He is president of Gotown Records. Nishidera was raised in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture. He graduated from Kyoto Seihi High School and Waseda University Second Literature Department (Western Culture Seminar) in March 1996.
Ryota Nakano is a Japanese film director known for his films Her Love Boils Bathwater (2016), A Long Goodbye (2019)…Ryota Nakano is a Japanese film director known for his films Her Love Boils Bathwater (2016), A Long Goodbye (2019), and The Asadas (2020).
Ryuichi Kosugi (小杉 竜一, Kosugi Ryūichi; born 5 July 1973, in Kyoto) is a Japanese comedian who performs tsukkomi in the…Ryuichi Kosugi (小杉 竜一, Kosugi Ryūichi; born 5 July 1973, in Kyoto) is a Japanese comedian who performs tsukkomi in the comedy duo Black Mayonnaise. His standing position is on the left. His partner is Takashi Yoshida. Kosugi is represented with Yoshimoto Kogyo. He graduated from Kyoto Prefectural Katsura High School. On 12 November 2010 Kosugi married a former dental assistant from Osaka Prefecture.
Koichi "Nishi" Nishimura (born 30 June 1973) is a beach volleyball player from Japan. He was born in Kyoto. Nishimura…Koichi "Nishi" Nishimura (born 30 June 1973) is a beach volleyball player from Japan. He was born in Kyoto. Nishimura began his career as an indoor volleyball player and played Libero for the Japanese National Team. In 2002 Nishimura switched to beach volleyball. He currently plays in the "Winds" beach volleyball team. In 2009, Nishimura founded the environmental non-profit-organisation "Save the Beach". They were the fourth ranked team at the 2006 Asian Games but were eliminated in the fourth round. He married volleyball player Kaoru Sugayama in 2011.
Shinobu Terajima (寺島 しのぶ, Terajima Shinobu; born December 28, 1972) is a Japanese actress. Her feature films include…Shinobu Terajima (寺島 しのぶ, Terajima Shinobu; born December 28, 1972) is a Japanese actress. Her feature films include Akame 48 Waterfalls (2003) and Vibrator (2003). For her role in Caterpillar (2010), Terajima won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 60th Berlin Film Festival while her performance in Oh Lucy! (2017) earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress.
Daisuke Miyagawa (宮川 大輔, Miyagawa Daisuke; born 16 September 1972, in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese…Daisuke Miyagawa (宮川 大輔, Miyagawa Daisuke; born 16 September 1972, in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese comedian and actor. Miyagawa grew up in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture. He is represented with Yoshimoto Creative Agency from Yoshimoto Kogyo. Miyagawa should not be confused with Daisuke Miyagawa of the comedy duo Daisuke and Hanako Miyagawa.
Fumiko Okuno (Japanese: 奥野史子 Okuno Fumiko; born April 14, 1972, in Kyoto) is a former competitor in synchronised…Fumiko Okuno (Japanese: 奥野史子 Okuno Fumiko; born April 14, 1972, in Kyoto) is a former competitor in synchronised swimming from Japan. She competed in both the women's solo and women's duet events at the 1992 Summer Olympics, and won two bronze medals.
Takuya Asanuma (浅沼 拓也, Asanuma Takuya; born 9 September 1971), better known mononymously as Takuya (stylized in all…Takuya Asanuma (浅沼 拓也, Asanuma Takuya; born 9 September 1971), better known mononymously as Takuya (stylized in all caps as TAKUYA), is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He was formerly the second guitarist of Judy and Mary. He currently works as a solo artist under the name Takuya and also had a solo project called Robots which was dissolved in 2009. He was previously married to a former geisha from Gion, but they divorced in 2006. His most recent release was a duet with Aya Kamiki titled "W-B-X (W-Boiled Extreme)", the theme for Kamen Rider W.
Katsuhiko Hanada (Japanese: 花田 勝彦; born 12 June 1971 in Kyoto) is a retired Japanese athlete who competed in the…Katsuhiko Hanada (Japanese: 花田 勝彦; born 12 June 1971 in Kyoto) is a retired Japanese athlete who competed in the long-distance events. He represented his country at two Summer Olympics, in 1996 and 2000.
Hiroyoshi Yamamoto (山本 広吉, Yamamoto Hiroyoshi; born March 23, 1971), better known by his ring name Hiroyoshi Tenzan (天山…Hiroyoshi Yamamoto (山本 広吉, Yamamoto Hiroyoshi; born March 23, 1971), better known by his ring name Hiroyoshi Tenzan (天山 広吉, Tenzan Hiroyoshi), is a retired Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). With Satoshi Kojima, in 2008, they won the World's Strongest Tag Determination League in All Japan Pro Wrestling and the G1 Tag League in NJPW, becoming the only tag team which has done both. He is a four-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and a record twelve-time IWGP Tag Team Champion.
Yoshinori Akazawa (Japanese: ⾚澤 嘉則, romanized: Akazawa Yoshinori, born 1971 -) is a contemporary artist and ceramicist.…Yoshinori Akazawa (Japanese: ⾚澤 嘉則, romanized: Akazawa Yoshinori, born 1971 -) is a contemporary artist and ceramicist. He is known as the 5th generation head of the Akazawa Roseki studio (Akazawa Roseki V), specializing in traditional and contemporary Japanese ceramics.
Tomohito Ito (伊藤 智仁; born October 30, 1970) is a Japanese former professional baseball player from Kyoto, Japan. He…Tomohito Ito (伊藤 智仁; born October 30, 1970) is a Japanese former professional baseball player from Kyoto, Japan. He played for the Yakult Swallows from 1993–2003 before retiring. He currently works as a pitching coach for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. He won a bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics before entering the Japanese professional leagues.
Yoshihiro Inoue (井上嘉浩, Inoue Yoshihiro; December 28, 1969 – July 6, 2018) was a Japanese terrorist and high ranking…Yoshihiro Inoue (井上嘉浩, Inoue Yoshihiro; December 28, 1969 – July 6, 2018) was a Japanese terrorist and high ranking member of the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo who was executed in Japan on July 6, 2018. He was responsible for coordinating the Tokyo subway sarin attack in 1995 which killed 14 people. His holy name was Aananda and his stage in the cult was Master Shogo.
Shinjiro Hiyama (桧山 進次郎, Hiyama Shinjirō; Korean: 황진환; Hanja: 黄進煥; RR: Hwang Jinhwan; born July 1, 1969) is a…Shinjiro Hiyama (桧山 進次郎, Hiyama Shinjirō; Korean: 황진환; Hanja: 黄進煥; RR: Hwang Jinhwan; born July 1, 1969) is a Korean-born Japanese baseball player from Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. He plays as an outfielder for the Hanshin Tigers of the Central League.
Kazu Hiro (born Kazuhiro Tsuji, Japanese: 辻 一弘 Tsuji Kazuhiro; born May 26, 1969) is a Japanese and American special…Kazu Hiro (born Kazuhiro Tsuji, Japanese: 辻 一弘 Tsuji Kazuhiro; born May 26, 1969) is a Japanese and American special make-up effects artist and visual artist. He won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for the biographical films Darkest Hour (2017) and Bombshell (2019) after earning nominations for the comedies Click (2006) and Norbit (2007). He was additionally nominated for Maestro (2023) and The Smashing Machine (2025).
Aya Sugimoto (杉本 彩, Sugimoto Aya; born July 19, 1968) is a Japanese TV personality, actress, dancer, author, gravure…Aya Sugimoto (杉本 彩, Sugimoto Aya; born July 19, 1968) is a Japanese TV personality, actress, dancer, author, gravure idol and singer born in Kyoto. She also had a J-pop career in the late 1980s to the early 1990s.
Kuranosuke Sasaki (佐々木 蔵之介, Sasaki Kuranosuke; born February 4, 1968; real name Hideaki Sasaki 佐々木秀明, Sasaki Hideaki)…Kuranosuke Sasaki (佐々木 蔵之介, Sasaki Kuranosuke; born February 4, 1968; real name Hideaki Sasaki 佐々木秀明, Sasaki Hideaki) is a Japanese actor, known primarily for his roles in Japanese television drama.
Takahiro Hosokawa (細川隆弘, Hosokawa Takahiro) (born 1 April 1967, in Kyoto) is a former Japanese rugby union footballer.…Takahiro Hosokawa (細川隆弘, Hosokawa Takahiro) (born 1 April 1967, in Kyoto) is a former Japanese rugby union footballer. He played as a fullback.
Manabu Nakanishi (中西 学, Nakanishi Manabu; born January 22, 1967) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and former…Manabu Nakanishi (中西 学, Nakanishi Manabu; born January 22, 1967) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler, who was primarily associated with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is a one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, one-time G1 Climax winner and three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion. Nakanishi has always stayed based in NJPW, but has wrestled for various other promotions including World Championship Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and Pro Wrestling Zero1. Nakanishi's career slowly declined after a spinal injury in 2011, but he continued to wrestle for a further nine years, before retiring on February 22, 2020. In 1992, Nakanishi won bronze in freestyle wrestling at the Asian Championships. Later that year, he competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and placed eleventh.
Masanori Ikeda (池田 政典, Ikeda Masanori; born December 1, 1966) is a Japanese actor, singer, and voice actor. He is best…Masanori Ikeda (池田 政典, Ikeda Masanori; born December 1, 1966) is a Japanese actor, singer, and voice actor. He is best known for playing Shishio Makoto in the anime Rurouni Kenshin.
Kazuhiko Nishimura (西村 和彦, Nishimura Kazuhiko; born August 21, 1966, in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is…Kazuhiko Nishimura (西村 和彦, Nishimura Kazuhiko; born August 21, 1966, in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor who is represented by the talent agency Sony Music Artists.
Toru H. Okabe (born December 4, 1965) is a Japanese scientist specializing in materials science, environmental science…Toru H. Okabe (born December 4, 1965) is a Japanese scientist specializing in materials science, environmental science, resource circulation engineering, and rare metals process engineering, particularly for electronic waste. His most recent work involves the advancement of new processing technology to recycle rare metals like niobium, titanium, yttrium, rhenium, neodymium, other lanthanides and precious metals. He is also involved in sustainable urban mining.
Ikko Nakatsuka (born 4 April 1965) is a Japanese politician, member of Democratic Party of Japan and former minister of…Ikko Nakatsuka (born 4 April 1965) is a Japanese politician, member of Democratic Party of Japan and former minister of state.
Tetsuji Hashiratani (柱谷 哲二, Hashiratani Tetsuji; born July 15, 1964) is a former Japanese football player and manager.…Tetsuji Hashiratani (柱谷 哲二, Hashiratani Tetsuji; born July 15, 1964) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team. His elder brother Koichi Hashiratani is also a former footballer.
Tatsuya Kimura (木村 立哉, Kimura Tatsuya; born 1964 in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese film producer and a…Tatsuya Kimura (木村 立哉, Kimura Tatsuya; born 1964 in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese film producer and a critic, and also as known as Hockney Katsushika (葛飾 ホックニー, Katsushika Hockney), a music producer.
Keiko Fujiie (Japanese: 藤家渓子), born in 1963 in Kyoto, is a composer whose music is frequently performed both in Japan…Keiko Fujiie (Japanese: 藤家渓子), born in 1963 in Kyoto, is a composer whose music is frequently performed both in Japan and internationally. She is best known for guitar compositions, many of them for the distinguished Japanese guitarist (also her husband) Kazuhito Yamashita, and organizes the guitar quintet that bears his name. She has twice won the Otaka Prize.
Hiroe Suga (菅浩江, Suga Hiroe; born April 21, 1963 in Kyoto) is a Japanese science fiction and mystery writer. She was…Hiroe Suga (菅浩江, Suga Hiroe; born April 21, 1963 in Kyoto) is a Japanese science fiction and mystery writer. She was first published in 1981. She has won four Seiun Awards – in 1992 and 2001 for best novel of the year, and in 1993 and 2020 for best short story of the year. She is also a musician and a qualified dancer in the Wakayagi school of Japanese traditional dance. Music and dance have figured in her fiction. Suga has taught at a story writing course at the Kyoto College of Graphic Studies for Informatics (KCGI). In November 1990, Suga married Gainax founder Yasuhiro Takeda.
Seiji Hirao (平尾誠二; 21 January 1963 – 20 October 2016) was a Japanese rugby union footballer and coach. He played as a…Seiji Hirao (平尾誠二; 21 January 1963 – 20 October 2016) was a Japanese rugby union footballer and coach. He played as a fly-half, and was one of the most popular Japanese players of his time, earning the name of "Mr. Rugby".
Atsushi Yamanishi (山西 惇, Yamanishi Atsushi; born December 12, 1962, in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese…Atsushi Yamanishi (山西 惇, Yamanishi Atsushi; born December 12, 1962, in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor represented by Ricomotion.
Naomi Tokashiki (渡嘉敷 奈緒美, Tokashiki Naomi; born 16 July 1962) is a Japanese politician who is serving in the House of…Naomi Tokashiki (渡嘉敷 奈緒美, Tokashiki Naomi; born 16 July 1962) is a Japanese politician who is serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Seiji Maehara (前原 誠司, Maehara Seiji; born 30 April 1962) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the…Seiji Maehara (前原 誠司, Maehara Seiji; born 30 April 1962) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Representatives of Japan since 1993. Maehara has served as a leader and a member of various political parties, and has run in several party leadership elections. As of 2026, he sits in the Diet as a member of Ishin no Kai. Beginning his political career in Kyoto, Maehara was initially a member of smaller opposition parties before joining the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), serving as its leader from 2005 to 2006. After the DPJ was victorious in the 2009 general election, Maehara served as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Minister of Foreign Affairs under the cabinets of Prime Ministers Yukio Hatoyama and Naoto Kan, before resigning from the cabinet in March 2011 after he acknowledged receiving illegal donations from a South Korean national living in Japan. In 2016, Maehara contested for the leadership of the Democratic Party, the successor party of the DPJ, losing to Renho. He later replaced her as leader on 1 September 2017 until its dissolution later that month. After spending some time with Kibō no Tō and the Democratic Party for the People (DPFP), Maehara founded a new party in 2023, Free Education for All, which was broadly centrist and focused on building a coalition against the LDP. In preparation for the 2024 general election, the party merged with the Osaka-based Ishin no Kai party (Japan Innovation Party). Two months later, he was elected the party's co-leader and representative in the National Diet, serving alongside Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura. Maehara would resign the following summer to take responsibility for the party's lackluster results in the 2025 Upper House elections. Being succeed by Fujita Fumitake, Maehra has remained on the backbenches since. Maehara is viewed as a "China war hawk" and a proponent of close ties with the United States. He is also often viewed as being politically conservative, while supporting socially liberal policies, such as the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Eiji Kiyokawa (清川 栄治, Kiyokawa Eiji; September 21, 1961 – May 5, 2024) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…Eiji Kiyokawa (清川 栄治, Kiyokawa Eiji; September 21, 1961 – May 5, 2024) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player and coach who played as a pitcher. He died from cancer on May 5, 2024, at the age of 62.
Atsushi Oyagi (大八木淳史, Ōyagi Atsushi) (born August 15, 1961, in Ukyō) is a former rugby union player who played as lock…Atsushi Oyagi (大八木淳史, Ōyagi Atsushi) (born August 15, 1961, in Ukyō) is a former rugby union player who played as lock, rugby commentator, tarento, educator and school corporate president. He is 190 cm tall. He is affiliated to Shochiku Geino.
Keita Shimizu (清水 圭太, Shimizu Keita; born June 24, 1961, in Uji, Kyoto, Japan), simply known as Kei Shimizu (清水 圭…Keita Shimizu (清水 圭太, Shimizu Keita; born June 24, 1961, in Uji, Kyoto, Japan), simply known as Kei Shimizu (清水 圭, Shimizu Kei), is a retired Japanese comedian who was represented by the talent agency, Yoshimoto Kogyo. In May 2022, Shimizu announced on his blog that he was retiring from show business, citing "lack of motivation" and a desire to live a normal life away from show business. His profile was removed from the Yoshimoto Kogyo website later that month and he closed his personal blog soon after. On May 27, 2023, it was announced that he had divorced his wife, actress and former idol Miyuki Kosaka, after 29 years of marriage. Shimizu and Kosaka had two sons together. While Kosaka and their sons remained in the Tokyo area, Shimizu has returned to his family's home in Kyoto, away from the public eye.
