Kotono Tanaka (田中 琴乃, Tanaka Kotono; born 18 August 1991) is a Japanese group rhythmic gymnast. She represents her…Kotono Tanaka (田中 琴乃, Tanaka Kotono; born 18 August 1991) is a Japanese group rhythmic gymnast. She represents her nation at international competitions.
Kenta Imamiya (今宮 健太, Imamiya Kenta; born July 15, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball shortstop for the Fukuoka…Kenta Imamiya (今宮 健太, Imamiya Kenta; born July 15, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball shortstop for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has also played for the Japan national team. He is the Pacific League record holder for sacrifice bunts. He is a six-time NPB All-Star and has won seven Japan Series championships with the Hawks.
Tomoyuki Sato (佐藤 智之, Satō Tomoyuki; born 31 January 1981) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He finished thirteenth…Tomoyuki Sato (佐藤 智之, Satō Tomoyuki; born 31 January 1981) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He finished thirteenth in the marathon at the 2007 World Championships.
Junko Moriyama (森山 淳子, Moriyama Junko; born (1975-02-26)26 February 1975) is a retired Japanese female volleyball…Junko Moriyama (森山 淳子, Moriyama Junko; born (1975-02-26)26 February 1975) is a retired Japanese female volleyball player. She was part of the Japan women's national volleyball team at the 1998 FIVB World Championship in Japan.
Miyuki Shimazaki (島崎 みゆき, Shimazaki Miyuki; born (1974-10-13)13 October 1974) is a retired Japanese volleyball player.…Miyuki Shimazaki (島崎 みゆき, Shimazaki Miyuki; born (1974-10-13)13 October 1974) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. Shimazaki was part of the Japanese women's national volleyball team at the 1994 FIVB World Championship in Brazil. On club level she played with Hitachi.
Junko Iwao (岩男 潤子, Iwao Junko; born February 18, 1970 in Beppu, Ōita) is a Japanese voice actress and singer. Her most…Junko Iwao (岩男 潤子, Iwao Junko; born February 18, 1970 in Beppu, Ōita) is a Japanese voice actress and singer. Her most notable role is in Cardcaptor Sakura, providing the voice to Sakura's best friend and cousin, Tomoyo Daidōji. She also voiced lead character Mima Kirigoe in Perfect Blue, Ceres in Ceres, Celestial Legend, and Kikyo in Hunter x Hunter. In video games, she voiced Pai Chan in Virtua Fighter, Carole Pepper in Honkai Impact 3rd, Mint in Tales of Phantasia and Serika in To Heart.
Kiyoshi Adachi (born December 14, 1969, in Ōita Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of…Kiyoshi Adachi (born December 14, 1969, in Ōita Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan from 2019 until his resignation in 2023 to run for Governor of Ōita Prefecture. He represented the Ōita at-large district as an independent. He was a member of the Committee on Financial Affairs.
Kotobeppu Yōhei (born 17 October 1965 as Yōhei Miura) is a former sumo wrestler from Beppu, Ōita, Japan. In March 1981…Kotobeppu Yōhei (born 17 October 1965 as Yōhei Miura) is a former sumo wrestler from Beppu, Ōita, Japan. In March 1981, he made his professional debut and he reached the jūryō division in July 1989, but had to withdraw in his jūryō debut because of nephritis and a long absence from competition due to uremia saw him fall greatly in rank. During this time he was close to requiring dialysis but eventually made a full recovery. He reached the top division in November 1992, becoming the first former sekitori to fall to the lowest jonokuchi division and subsequently manage to reach the top division. The only other wrestler to achieve this feat as of January 2018 is Ryūden. A previous member of Sadogatake stable, former ōzeki Kotokaze, had fallen from sekiwake to makushita and had been referred to as "the man who saw hell" and after Kotobeppu's even bigger fall he was called, "the man who saw the new hell." Kotobeppu received the Fighting Spirit Prize for winning ten bouts in his top division debut. His highest rank was maegashira 1. He retired in November 1997. He trained as a ramen maker and opened a ramen restaurant in Chiba Prefecture and later in his hometown of Beppu, Ōita where he also served chankonabe.
Junko Mabuki (麻吹 淳子, Mabuki Junko) is a retired pink film actress who became famous in Nikkatsu Roman Porno films…Junko Mabuki (麻吹 淳子, Mabuki Junko) is a retired pink film actress who became famous in Nikkatsu Roman Porno films, particularly in 1981.
Masaya Oki (沖 雅也, Oki Masaya; 12 June 1952 – 28 June 1983) was a Japanese actor and singer who appeared in many films…Masaya Oki (沖 雅也, Oki Masaya; 12 June 1952 – 28 June 1983) was a Japanese actor and singer who appeared in many films and television series.
Kazuhisa Inao (稲尾 和久, Inao Kazuhisa; June 10, 1937 – November 13, 2007) was a Japanese pitcher and manager in Nippon…Kazuhisa Inao (稲尾 和久, Inao Kazuhisa; June 10, 1937 – November 13, 2007) was a Japanese pitcher and manager in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played all of his professional seasons for the Nishitetsu Lions. In the 1956 Japan Series, he won all three of his starts to deliver the Lions their first championship. He was given the Fighting Spirit Award, becoming the first (and so far only) player to be given the award for the winning team. In 1957, he won 20 consecutive games and both of his Japan Series starts in another championship run. In the 1958 Japan Series, tasked to save his team from a 3–0 series deficit, he started four consecutive games and won all of them to become the first NPB team to overcome a 3–0 series deficit, and Inao even hit a home in the Game 5 victory as the Lions won their third straight title; he was named Series MVP for his efforts (he was the second player to have won Japan Series MVP and Fighting Spirit Award for a career). He was the Pacific League's Most Valuable Player in 1957 and 1958. He had 42 wins in 1961. Fans called his great success "God, Buddha, Inao". In 1964, he injured his shoulder but came back to full-time pitching, mainly in relief the next season. He retired as a player in 1969, and went on to manage the Nishitetsu Lions from 1970 to 1974. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993. His number 24 was retired by the Saitama Seibu Lions on April 30, 2012.
Hiroaki Nakamura (中村 博昭, Nakamura Hiroaki), better known by the stage name of Hiroshi Naka (中 博史, Naka Hiroshi), is a…Hiroaki Nakamura (中村 博昭, Nakamura Hiroaki), better known by the stage name of Hiroshi Naka (中 博史, Naka Hiroshi), is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator affiliated with Ken Production. He is originally from Ōita Prefecture.
