Aki Sakai (酒井亜紀, Sakai Aki; born 19 September 2001) is a Japanese racing cyclist who represents Team Rakuten K Dreams…Aki Sakai (酒井亜紀, Sakai Aki; born 19 September 2001) is a Japanese racing cyclist who represents Team Rakuten K Dreams at professional level and the Japanese national cycling team. She is also active in Japan as a keirin cyclist.
Shuhei Kawasaki (川﨑 修平, Kawasaki Shuhei; born 28 April 2001) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a…Shuhei Kawasaki (川﨑 修平, Kawasaki Shuhei; born 28 April 2001) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Nara Club.
Sōta Yamamoto (山本 草太, Yamamoto Sōta; born 10 January 2000) is a Japanese figure skater. He is the 2026 Four Continents…Sōta Yamamoto (山本 草太, Yamamoto Sōta; born 10 January 2000) is a Japanese figure skater. He is the 2026 Four Continents bronze medalist, the 2022–23 Grand Prix Final silver medalist, a three-time ISU Grand Prix medalist (including gold at the 2023 Skate Canada International), a five-time ISU Challenger Series medalist (three gold, two silver), the 2023 World University Games champion, and the 2023–24 Japanese national bronze medalist. Earlier in his career, he was the 2016 Youth Olympic champion, the 2015 World Junior bronze medalist, a two-time Junior Grand Prix Final medalist (silver in 2014, bronze in 2015), and the 2015–16 Japan junior national champion.
Kai Harada (原田 海 Harada Kai; born May 10, 1999) is a Japanese competition climber who specialises in bouldering. Harada…Kai Harada (原田 海 Harada Kai; born May 10, 1999) is a Japanese competition climber who specialises in bouldering. Harada started climbing in 2009 in Osaka. He started competition climbing in 2015, placing in the Youth A Bouldering Championships and the Junior Asian Championships. In 2018 he won the Bouldering Climbing World Championships as an outsider, and was the only person to get four tops in the final. In December 2020, Harada's qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was confirmed after a dispute between the IFSC and the Japan Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association.
Ryo Hatsuse (初瀬 亮, Hatsuse Ryō; born 10 July 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a left back for…Ryo Hatsuse (初瀬 亮, Hatsuse Ryō; born 10 July 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a left back for Gamba Osaka.
Shunta Tanaka (田中 駿汰, Tanaka Shunta; born 26 May 1997) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a centre back for…Shunta Tanaka (田中 駿汰, Tanaka Shunta; born 26 May 1997) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a centre back for J1 League club Cerezo Osaka.
Yutaka Ooe (大江 裕, Ōe Yutaka; born 16 November 1989, in Kishiwada, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese enka singer. Ooe is…Yutaka Ooe (大江 裕, Ōe Yutaka; born 16 November 1989, in Kishiwada, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese enka singer. Ooe is represented with Kitajima Music Office.
Ryuichi Moriya (守屋 龍一, Moriya Ryūichi) (born February 28, 1985, in Kishiwada, Osaka) is an athlete from Japan, who…Ryuichi Moriya (守屋 龍一, Moriya Ryūichi) (born February 28, 1985, in Kishiwada, Osaka) is an athlete from Japan, who competes in archery.
Asami Kawasaki (川崎亜沙美, Kawasaki Asami; born 18 October 1984 in Kishiwada, Osaka) is a Japanese professional wrestler…Asami Kawasaki (川崎亜沙美, Kawasaki Asami; born 18 October 1984 in Kishiwada, Osaka) is a Japanese professional wrestler and actress. She debuted as a pro wrestler in 2003 while also attending an acting school run by Yoshimoto Kōgyō. Wrestling for a time for JDStar, she retired from the ring in 2006, but returned again in 2009. She currently wrestles freelance. In 2012, she was cast as the second daughter of the heroine in the popular Asadora Carnation on NHK. The character is based on the fashion designer Junko Koshino.
Satoshi Fukuda (福田 聡志, Fukuda Satoshi; born September 12, 1983) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He…Satoshi Fukuda (福田 聡志, Fukuda Satoshi; born September 12, 1983) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants from 2006 to 2015.
Kazuya Takamiya (高宮 和也, born December 4, 1981) is a Japanese professional former baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon…Kazuya Takamiya (高宮 和也, born December 4, 1981) is a Japanese professional former baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Yokohama BayStars from 2006 to 2010, the Orix Buffaloes in 2011 and 2012, and for the Hanshin Tigers from 2013 to 2017.
Yasuhiko Yabuta (薮田 安彦, Yabuta Yasuhiko; born June 19, 1973) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher. Yabuta made his…Yasuhiko Yabuta (薮田 安彦, Yabuta Yasuhiko; born June 19, 1973) is a Japanese former baseball pitcher. Yabuta made his professional debut with the Marines in 1996, and spent 12 years with the organization. He competed in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and struck out Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, and Derrek Lee. He served as a setup man for the Marines in 2007 recording a 4–6 record with a 2.73 ERA in 58 games. After the season, he declared his free agency and came to America to pursue a Major League Baseball career. On November 22, 2007, the Kansas City Star reported that the Kansas City Royals agreed with Yabuta on a two-year contract with a club option for 2010. Yabuta officially signed with the Royals on November 28, 2007. He signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Kansas City Royals. The deal included a $4 million club option for a third year. Yabuta was sent down to Triple-A Omaha Royals on June 25, 2008. He was designated for assignment on August 2 and was eventually sent outright to the minors. He was brought back to the Royals when the rosters expanded on September 1. His teammates on the Royals have given him the nickname "Shake." On November 24, 2009, he signed a one-year deal with his old team Chiba Lotte, and he has remained with the team since.
Chiharu Shiota (塩田 千春, Shiota Chiharu) (born 1972) is a Japanese performance and installation artist. Shiota has lived…Chiharu Shiota (塩田 千春, Shiota Chiharu) (born 1972) is a Japanese performance and installation artist. Shiota has lived and worked in Berlin, Germany since 1996. Educated in Japan, Australia, and Germany, Shiota interweaves materiality and the psychic perception of the space to explore ideas around the body and flesh, personal narratives that engage with memory, territory, and alienation. Shiota has exhibited worldwide. She made her debut in Japan at the Yokohama Triennale in 2001 with Memory of Skin and represented Japan in the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015.
Toyonari Fujita (藤田 豊成, Fujita Toyonari; born May 9, 1971), better known under his ring name Magnitude Kishiwada…Toyonari Fujita (藤田 豊成, Fujita Toyonari; born May 9, 1971), better known under his ring name Magnitude Kishiwada (マグニチュード岸和田, Magunichūdo Kishiwada), is a Japanese professional wrestler.
Yuu Watase (渡瀬 悠宇, Watase Yuu; born March 5, 1970) is a Japanese Mangaka. She debuted in 1989 at the age of 18 with the…Yuu Watase (渡瀬 悠宇, Watase Yuu; born March 5, 1970) is a Japanese Mangaka. She debuted in 1989 at the age of 18 with the short story "Pajama de Ojama" (パジャマでおじゃま, "An Intrusion in Pajamas") and has since published more than 50 volumes of one-shots and long-running manga series. One of her most popular titles is Fushigi Yûgi. In 1998, Watase won the 43rd Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōjo (girls') category for Ceres, Celestial Legend. In 2008, she began her first shōnen (boys') serialization, Arata: The Legend.
Kazuhiro Kiyohara (清原 和博, Kiyohara Kazuhiro; born August 18, 1967) is a Japanese television personality, YouTuber and…Kazuhiro Kiyohara (清原 和博, Kiyohara Kazuhiro; born August 18, 1967) is a Japanese television personality, YouTuber and former professional baseball player. He played in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league for 23 seasons. He retired following the 2008 season. Born in Kishiwada, Osaka in 1967, his family were baseball fans. He began his career when he joined his high school baseball team in the 1980s that subsequently won two Japanese High School Baseball Championships. He became a widely respected high school player and was selected by Seibu Lions in 1985. During his time with the Lions, the team won six Japan Series titles and he tied the rookie HR record for Japanese professional baseball. In 1996, he joined the Yomiuri Giants, and was an integral part of their 2000 and 2002 Japan Series championship squads. He later joined the Orix Buffaloes, before retiring in 2008. He has been dubbed "The Uncrowned King" as he never won a major batting title, despite being widely regarded as one of NPB's greatest hitters. He is the eighth and currently last player to have hit 500 home runs in NPB history. In 2014, Kiyohara was hospitalized after an alleged illegal drug abuse. At first he denied the allegation, after which he was divorced by his wife Aki Kimura due to domestic violence. After a lengthy investigation, in 2016, Kiyohara tested positive for stimulants and was subsequently arrested and given a suspended prison sentence. After being cast out from television for his conviction, he became a YouTuber posting videos about baseball and weight loss.
Yoshikazu Minami (南 芳一, Minami Yoshikazu; June 8, 1963) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is a…Yoshikazu Minami (南 芳一, Minami Yoshikazu; June 8, 1963) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is a former Kisei, Kiō, and Ōshō title holder.
Nozomu Sahashi (猿橋 望, Sahashi Nozomu; born September 12, 1951); previously Saruhashi) is the founder of the now-defunct…Nozomu Sahashi (猿橋 望, Sahashi Nozomu; born September 12, 1951); previously Saruhashi) is the founder of the now-defunct Nova Corporation, previously the major eikaiwa (private school for conversational English) provider in Japan. After graduating from high school, Sahashi went to Paris to attend university and majored in physics although it took him five years to complete a two-year course. The award status of his degree is unknown.
Tomohiro Nishikado (西角 友宏, Nishikado Tomohiro; born March 31, 1944) is a Japanese video game designer and engineer. He…Tomohiro Nishikado (西角 友宏, Nishikado Tomohiro; born March 31, 1944) is a Japanese video game designer and engineer. He is the creator of Taito's arcade video game Space Invaders, released in 1978, often credited as the first shoot 'em up and for beginning the golden age of arcade video games. Prior to Space Invaders, he also designed other earlier Taito arcade games, including the shooting electro-mechanical games Sky Fighter (1971) and Sky Fighter II, the sports video game TV Basketball in 1974, the vertical scrolling racing video game Speed Race (also known as Wheels) in 1974, the multi-directional shooter Western Gun (also known as Gun Fight) in 1975, and the first-person combat flight simulator Interceptor (1975).
Etsushi Takahashi (高橋 悦史, Takahashi Etsushi; 2 August 1935 – 19 May 1996) was a Japanese actor from Kishiwada, Osaka…Etsushi Takahashi (高橋 悦史, Takahashi Etsushi; 2 August 1935 – 19 May 1996) was a Japanese actor from Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture. Takahashi often worked with Kihachi Okamoto and Satsuo Yamamoto. After graduating from Rikkyo University, Takahashi joined NHK acting school. In 1964, he joined Bungakuza Theatre Company's acting school and became an official member in 1967. In the same year, he gave his film debut with Watashi Machigatterukashira?. He received the Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year in 1968. He appeared in Onihei's Detective Records, although he was fighting against cancer, and the film became his final film appearance.
Kōsaku Hamada (濱田 耕作, Hamada Kōsaku; February 22, 1881 – July 25, 1938), also known as Seiryō Hamada, was a Japanese…Kōsaku Hamada (濱田 耕作, Hamada Kōsaku; February 22, 1881 – July 25, 1938), also known as Seiryō Hamada, was a Japanese academic, archaeologist, author and President of Kyoto University.
Rome Kanda (神田 瀧夢, Kanda Romu) is a Japanese television personality (tarento), comedian, and actor based in the United…Rome Kanda (神田 瀧夢, Kanda Romu) is a Japanese television personality (tarento), comedian, and actor based in the United States. Kanda currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Born in Kishiwada, Kanda spent his early career as an actor with his debut movie, Tokyo Pop directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui and filmed in Japan and the USA in 1987. After deciding to be an actor and comedian, he moved to the USA in 1999 and made his first appearances on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide as a samurai. Kanda is also known for his hosting role on the "Majide" game on I Survived a Japanese Game Show in 2008 and 2009 and played host Kei Kato on the G4 broadcasts of Kinniku Banzuke. He has also appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Saturday Night Live, and in a commercial for the New York Mets as a sushi chef. Kanda has also starred in films such as Takeshi Kitano's film Sonatine. His most recent film appearance has been a supportive role (President of the Japanese corporation) in The Informant! (2009), a Matt Damon film directed by Steven Soderbergh. Kanda recently appeared as a spokesman and personality for Sun Drop. He appears in several TV commercials playing a soda sommelier named "The Taste Master". Kanda is familiar with a variety of Japanese traditional performing arts and martial arts such as Buyō, Karate, Kendo, Iaido, among which is samurai sword fighting, which he teaches, while he continues to perform at a comedy club in Hollywood as a comedian. Kanda was chosen to be one of the speakers at "TEDxTOKYO 2010 HIT RESET" held in Tokyo on May 15, 2010.
