Hiroaki Ishiura (石浦 宏明, Ishiura Hiroaki; born April 23, 1981) is a Japanese racing driver from Tokyo. He currently…
Hiroaki Ishiura (石浦 宏明, Ishiura Hiroaki; born April 23, 1981) is a Japanese racing driver from Tokyo. He currently drives in the Super GT series for Rookie Racing. He was the 2015 and 2017 Super Formula champion, and is known as a fast and strong driver. Ishiura made his Super GT debut in 2006. In 2007, he won the GT300 championship, in the apr MR-S with Kazuya Oshima. In 2008, he started racing in the GT500 class as part of Team Tsuchiya. He went on to join Cerumo after driving for SARD. In 2025, he ended his 18-year run in the GT500 class, finishing third in his final race. However, he is not retiring.
Famous Japanese People: Racing Driver
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Takashi Kogure (小暮卓史, Kogure Takashi; born 1 August 1980) is a Japanese racing driver who currently competes in Super…
Takashi Kogure (小暮卓史, Kogure Takashi; born 1 August 1980) is a Japanese racing driver who currently competes in Super GT, driving the No. 88 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 for JLOC in the GT300 class. He is the reigning champion of Super GT's GT300 class alongside teammate Yuya Motojima. He previously competed in Super GT's flagship GT500 class, winning the championship in 2010 alongside Loïc Duval, making him one of only three drivers in Super GT history to win championship titles in both classes. He also competed in Super Formula (known as Formula Nippon until 2013) for fifteen seasons between 2003 and 2017.
Daigo Saito (斎藤 太吾, Saitō Daigo; 7 March 1980, Saitama) is a Japanese professional drifting driver, currently competing…
Daigo Saito (斎藤 太吾, Saitō Daigo; 7 March 1980, Saitama) is a Japanese professional drifting driver, currently competing in the D1 Grand Prix series and Formula Drift Japan. He formerly competed in Formula DRIFT USA and World Championship series for Achilles Radial. He is the first and only driver to win the two drifting majors, D1GP in 2008 and 2016 and Formula D in 2012. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest drift drivers of all time. Saito has won the D1 Grand Prix Championship in 2008 and 2016, and additionally winning its Tanso (Solo Run) Championship in 2011 and 2016. Abroad, he has won the 2012 Formula D Championship, and the Formula D Asia Championship for three consecutive years in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Kosuke Matsuura (松浦 孝亮, Matsūra Kōsuke; born September 4, 1979) is a Japanese race car driver currently competing in…
Kosuke Matsuura (松浦 孝亮, Matsūra Kōsuke; born September 4, 1979) is a Japanese race car driver currently competing in the Super GT series. He previously competed in the Formula Nippon and IRL IndyCar Series.
Ryō Fukuda (福田良 Fukada Ryō, born June 26, 1979, in Fukuoka) is a Japanese former racing driver. He was a Formula One…
Ryō Fukuda (福田良 Fukada Ryō, born June 26, 1979, in Fukuoka) is a Japanese former racing driver. He was a Formula One test driver. In the 2005–2006 season, he raced in A1 Grand Prix Japan Team. Fukuda started his career in France, at 1996 in Formula Campus, Formula Renault and Formula 3. In this category, after second place in 2000, in 2001, he became the French Formula Three champion with the Saulnier Racing team. In 2002, he was in Formula One BAR–Honda test driver, and also participated in one race in the Porsche Supercup and FIA GT Championship with Paul Belmondo Racing. Fukuda also participated in Formula Nippon in 2003, World Series by Nissan in 2004, Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2005 and 2006 with Saulnier Racing and Tech 1 Racing.
Tsugio Matsuda (松田 次生, Matsuda Tsugio; born June 18, 1979) is a Japanese professional racing driver for Nissan and…
Tsugio Matsuda (松田 次生, Matsuda Tsugio; born June 18, 1979) is a Japanese professional racing driver for Nissan and Kondo Racing in the Super GT Series, and a team ambassador for KCMG in the Super Formula Championship. Matsuda is the Super GT Series' all-time career wins leader in the GT500 class, and a two-time GT500 class champion in 2014 and 2015. He raced in Super Formula from 1998 to 2013, and won back-to-back series titles in 2007 and 2008, when the series was known as Formula Nippon. Matsuda has also represented Nissan in the FIA World Endurance Championship and Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Toshihiro Kaneishi (金石 年弘, Kaneishi Toshihiro; born December 19, 1978 in Osaka Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese racing…
Toshihiro Kaneishi (金石 年弘, Kaneishi Toshihiro; born December 19, 1978 in Osaka Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula Nippon and Super GT.
Kazuki Hoshino (星野一樹 - Hoshino Kazuki; born October 13, 1977) is a semi-retired Japanese professional racing driver and…
Kazuki Hoshino (星野一樹 - Hoshino Kazuki; born October 13, 1977) is a semi-retired Japanese professional racing driver and current team principal (team director) of Team Impul in the Super GT Series and Super Formula Championship. He is the son of former racing driver and Impul co-founder, Kazuyoshi Hoshino. He is a two-time Super GT GT300 class champion (2008, 2010), a four-time Super Taikyu Series champion (2004 ST-3 class, 2014, 2018, and 2019 ST-X class), and a former Nissan factory GT500 driver with his father's team from 2006 to 2007 where he won the 2006 Suzuka 1000km. He also raced in the Formula Nippon (now Super Formula) Championship for Impul in 2006. Hoshino announced his retirement from racing in Super GT after the 2021 season, and became the Technical Director at Team Impul in 2022. That season, Impul won its first GT500 class championship in 27 years. In 2023, Hoshino succeeded his father as the team director of Impul's Super GT and Super Formula teams. Hoshino also announced the creation of a new team in Super Taikyu, which would compete in the ST-Z (GT4) class with a new Nissan Z GT4. Outside of Japan, Hoshino competed in the Nürburgring 24 Hours on several occasions, finishing ninth overall in 2015 alongside Michael Krumm, Lucas Ordoñez, and Alex Buncombe. In 2013, Hoshino participated in the Blancpain Endurance Series (now GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup with JRM Motorsport alongside Steven Kane and Peter Dumbreck.
Takuma "Taku" Sato (Japanese: 佐藤 琢磨, Hepburn: Satō Takuma; born 28 January 1977) is a Japanese racing driver, who…
Takuma "Taku" Sato (Japanese: 佐藤 琢磨, Hepburn: Satō Takuma; born 28 January 1977) is a Japanese racing driver, who competes part-time in the IndyCar Series for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. He competed in Formula One from 2002 to 2008. In American open-wheel racing, Sato is a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 winning in 2017 and 2020, and remains the only Asian driver to win the event. Born and raised in Tokyo, Sato began his career in karting before moving to Europe in 1999 with support from Honda. Progressing directly to Formula Three, Sato finished third in the British Championship in 2000 and dominated the series in 2001 with Carlin. With Carlin he also won the Macau Grand Prix and the Masters of Formula 3. Sato signed for Jordan in 2002, making his Formula One debut at the Australian Grand Prix, under Honda power. He moved with Honda to join BAR in 2003 as a reserve driver, replacing Jacques Villeneuve at his home Grand Prix in Japan and returning as a full-time driver in 2004. Sato achieved a podium at the United States Grand Prix as he finished a career-best eighth in the World Drivers' Championship. Following struggles at BAR in 2005, Sato moved to Super Aguri for his 2006 campaign onwards. Amidst financial troubles, Super Aguri withdrew from the sport after the 2008 Spanish Grand Prix, ending both Sato and teammate Anthony Davidson's driving careers in Formula One. After a year's hiatus, Sato returned to open-wheel racing in the IndyCar Series with KV in 2010. He took his maiden pole position at the Iowa Corn Indy 250 in 2011, and became the first Asian driver to win an IndyCar race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2013 with Foyt. His one-off entry in Formula E at the 2014 Beijing ePrix marked the first—and to this date, only—time that Sato competed without a Honda power unit in his professional career, using a spec McLaren powertrain. Sato signed for Andretti in 2017, winning the Indianapolis 500 for the first time. He won several other times across his 2018 and 2019 seasons with RLL, before again winning at Indianapolis in 2020. Sato competed for Dale Coyne Racing in 2022, before moving in 2023 into part-time roles. Sato is a widely popular figure amongst fans and media worldwide, renowned for his aggressive driving style and motto No Attack, No Chance.
Keita Sawa (澤圭太, Sawa Keita; born August 16, 1976 in Chiba) is a Japanese racing driver.
Akihiro Asai (born September 13, 1975) is a Japanese race car driver. He started open-wheel racing in 1994. He won both…
Akihiro Asai (born September 13, 1975) is a Japanese race car driver. He started open-wheel racing in 1994. He won both the East & West Japanese Formula 4 titles in 1997. Asai also competed in Formula Holden Australian Driver's Championship (1998–1999, 2002) and CART Toyota Atlantic (2000). Asai started entering GT car racing in 2003 from Team Taisan in the Japanese GT Championship. He competed in the Japanese GT Championship and Super GT in 2004, 2005 and 2010. He also raced in the 2005 Super Taikyu Series championship. From 2010, he started to participate racing in south east Asia region and in 2011 won the Supercar Thailand N.A. class Championship. Asai races widely in GT Asia, Asian Le Mans Series, Thailand Super Series.
Yuji Tachikawa (立川祐路, Tachikawa Yūji; born 5 July 1975) is a Japanese motorsport executive and former racing driver. He…
Yuji Tachikawa (立川祐路, Tachikawa Yūji; born 5 July 1975) is a Japanese motorsport executive and former racing driver. He competed in Super GT between 1996 and 2023, and in Formula Nippon between 1997 and 2009. He is a three-time Super GT champion in the GT500 class, having won the championship in its previous guise as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship in 2001, and after its rebranding in 2005 and 2013. A longtime Toyota factory driver, he competed for the Cerumo team for the majority of his racing career.
Shigekazu Wakisaka (脇阪薫一, Wakisaka Shigekazu; born 1 April 1975 in Nara) is a Japanese racing driver. A long-term…
Shigekazu Wakisaka (脇阪薫一, Wakisaka Shigekazu; born 1 April 1975 in Nara) is a Japanese racing driver. A long-term Toyota factory driver, he raced in Formula Nippon in the late 1990s before establishing himself in Super GT. He has twice won the Suzuka 1000 km. He also competed in LMP1. In 2026, Wakisaka was appointed race advisor of OTG Motor Sports, the parent company of LM corsa. Wakisaka's older brother, Juichi, is a three-time Super GT champion.
Ryohei Sakaguchi (阪口 良平, Sakaguchi Ryōhei; born 6 February 1975 in Habikino) is a Japanese racing driver competing in…
Ryohei Sakaguchi (阪口 良平, Sakaguchi Ryōhei; born 6 February 1975 in Habikino) is a Japanese racing driver competing in Super Taikyu for Mazda Spirit Racing. Sakaguchi won the 2003 Korean Formula 1800 Series and has five Super Taikyu titles to his name, two in ST-3 and three in ST-2.
Yuji Ide (井出有治, Ide Yūji) (born 21 January 1975) is a Japanese racing driver. He is the 2005 Formula Nippon runner-up…
Yuji Ide (井出有治, Ide Yūji) (born 21 January 1975) is a Japanese racing driver. He is the 2005 Formula Nippon runner-up and the 2010 Suzuka 1000km winner. He competed in Formula One with the Super Aguri team in 2006, but was demoted to third driver after four races and subsequently lost his FIA Super Licence.
Kyosuke Mineo (峰尾 恭輔, Mineo Kyōsuke; born 16 December 1974) is a Japanese racing driver who last competed in the GT300…
Kyosuke Mineo (峰尾 恭輔, Mineo Kyōsuke; born 16 December 1974) is a Japanese racing driver who last competed in the GT300 class of Super GT for Pacific Racing with Good Speed. He was Super GT champion in 2012 in GT300 for Team Taisan Endless, and is also a three-time Super Taikyu champion.
Toranosuke "Tora" Takagi (高木 虎之介; born 12 February 1974) is a Japanese former racing driver, having notably competed in…
Toranosuke "Tora" Takagi (高木 虎之介; born 12 February 1974) is a Japanese former racing driver, having notably competed in Formula One from 1998 to 1999 for Tyrrell and Arrows, having served as test driver for the former in 1997. Outside of Formula One, Takagi won the 2005 Super GT series in the GT500 class alongside Yuji Tachikawa, and the 2000 Formula Nippon Championship.
Akinori Ogata (尾形 明紀, Ogata Akinori; born 14 August 1973) is a Japanese professional stock car racing driver. He last…
Akinori Ogata (尾形 明紀, Ogata Akinori; born 14 August 1973) is a Japanese professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 63 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Akinori Performance. He has also competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in the past.
Keiko Ihara (井原 慶子, Ihara Keiko) (born July 4, 1973) is a Japanese auto racing driver and businesswoman. She was a…
Keiko Ihara (井原 慶子, Ihara Keiko) (born July 4, 1973) is a Japanese auto racing driver and businesswoman. She was a former race queen, a model who appears in a swimsuit or other fashionable apparel at race circuits, before deciding to become a racing driver. She is one of the few Japanese women nationals to race internationally at a high level. Her best finishes in the British Formula Three Championship are two eighth places finishes in 2005, which helped her to a final championship standing position of 16th with 12 points. In the 2006 series, she finished in 17th and last position in the Championship Class, with four points. Ihara joined the Gulf Racing Middle East to compete at the FIA World Endurance Championship in the LMP2 class with Jean-Denis Délétraz and Fabien Giroix as codrivers. In 2013, she raced two rounds for Gulf Racing Middle East and four with OAK Racing, both in the LMP2 class. The driver won the Fuji round of the 2014 Asian Le Mans Series for Oak Racing, together with Ho-Pin Tung and David Cheng. As of 2025, Ihara is president of Future, a developer of hydrogen-assisted bicycles.
Katsumi Yamamoto (山本勝巳, Yamamoto Katsumi; born March 5, 1973) is a Japanese professional racing driver. A native of…
Katsumi Yamamoto (山本勝巳, Yamamoto Katsumi; born March 5, 1973) is a Japanese professional racing driver. A native of Fukuoka, he has notably raced in Formula 3, Formula 3000 and Formula Nippon, as well as Super GT.
Ryō Michigami (道上龍, Michigami Ryō; born March 1, 1973 in Nara) is a Japanese racing driver. He last drove a Honda NSX…
Ryō Michigami (道上龍, Michigami Ryō; born March 1, 1973 in Nara) is a Japanese racing driver. He last drove a Honda NSX GT3 Evo for Yogibo Drago Corse in Super GT in the 2021 Super GT Season. He won the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship in 2000. Michigami competed in the GT500 category of the Super GT series in 1995 and then from 1998 to 2013. He drove for Mugen from 1998 to 2002, for Dome from 2003 to 2009, and for Nakajima Racing from 2010 to 2013. Apart from 1995, he always drove for Honda teams, and became Honda's first champion in the series in 2000. He also won the Suzuka 1000 km three times; in 1999, 2003 and 2004. After his initial retirement, Michigami formed the Drago Corse team, which competed in Super GT's GT500 class in 2015 and 2016 before withdrawing from the series. Michigami and the Drago Corse team would return to Super GT in 2018, albeit competing in the GT300 class with the NSX GT3. This marked Michigami's return as a full-time competitor, and his first season as a driver-owner in the series. Drago Corse also competed in All-Japan Formula Three Championship as the ThreeBond Racing team. In 2017, Michigami drove a factory Honda Civic in the World Touring Car Championship. He became the first Japanese driver in the series to finish on the podium at the Race of Macau.
Kota Sasaki (佐々木 孝太, Sasaki Kōta; born January 26, 1973 in Mie) is a Japanese racing driver who was the 2005 Super GT…
Kota Sasaki (佐々木 孝太, Sasaki Kōta; born January 26, 1973 in Mie) is a Japanese racing driver who was the 2005 Super GT champion for the GT300 category. He raced a Toyota MR-S with Tetsuya Yamano to win the 2005 title. He also won the 1998 and 2023 Japan Formula 4 title.
Takeshi Tsuchiya (土屋 武士, Tsuchiya Takeshi; born November 4, 1972) is a Japanese professional race car driver.
Juichi Wakisaka (脇阪寿一, Wakisaka Juichi; born July 29, 1972 in Nara) is a Japanese former racing driver who was a 2002…
Juichi Wakisaka (脇阪寿一, Wakisaka Juichi; born July 29, 1972 in Nara) is a Japanese former racing driver who was a 2002, 2006 and 2009 champion in Japan's Super GT series in the GT500 category. Prior to the 1998 Formula One season he tested for the Jordan Grand Prix team. In 2002, Wakisaka raced the Toyota Supra GT with Akira Iida, in 2006 and 2009 Wakisaka raced the Lexus SC 430 with André Lotterer. He retired from driving after the conclusion of the 2015 Super GT Series season, becoming the team director of Lexus Team LeMans Wako's. Wakisaka was also a regular presenter of Best Motoring and is brother to Shigekazu, who also competes in Super GT.
Nobuteru 'NOB' Taniguchi (谷口 信輝, Taniguchi Nobuteru; born May 18, 1971, Hiroshima) is a Japanese racing driver and…
Nobuteru 'NOB' Taniguchi (谷口 信輝, Taniguchi Nobuteru; born May 18, 1971, Hiroshima) is a Japanese racing driver and drifting driver who currently competes in the Super GT racing series. Taniguchi is commonly nicknamed "NOB" (first three letters from his name, meaning "No One Better") or "The Pimp" as a reference to his S15 Silvia which he is best known for. Taniguchi is a three-time Super GT GT300 class champion, eight-time Super Taikyu class champion, and The first D1 Grand Prix and professional drifting champion.
Shinji Nakano (中野 信治, born 1 April 1971) is a Japanese professional racing driver. Nakano's father, Tsuneharu, was also…
Shinji Nakano (中野 信治, born 1 April 1971) is a Japanese professional racing driver. Nakano's father, Tsuneharu, was also a racing driver. He competed in the All-Japan Formula Three Championship.
Takeshi Kimura (木村 武史, Kimura Takeshi; born 22 October 1970 in Matsudo) is a Japanese racing driver who last competed…
Takeshi Kimura (木村 武史, Kimura Takeshi; born 22 October 1970 in Matsudo) is a Japanese racing driver who last competed in the European Le Mans Series for Kessel Racing. He is an Asian Le Mans Series class champion and also won 2022 GT World Challenge Asia overall. Kimura founded Ruf Co., Ltd. in 2001 and still serves as its CEO as of 2026. In February 2015, Kimura founded CarGuy Racing and also launched SeaGuy in 2024.
Shinichi Takagi (高木真一, Takagi Shin'ichi; born 6 May 1970) is a Japanese professional racing driver. He won the GT300…
Shinichi Takagi (高木真一, Takagi Shin'ichi; born 6 May 1970) is a Japanese professional racing driver. He won the GT300 class Super GT championship in 2002 and 2019.
Nobushige Kumakubo (熊久保信重, Kumakubo Nobushige; born February 10, 1970, Fukushima Prefecture) is a drifting driver from…
Nobushige Kumakubo (熊久保信重, Kumakubo Nobushige; born February 10, 1970, Fukushima Prefecture) is a drifting driver from Japan who competes in the D1 Grand Prix series and racetrack and land owner. Nicknamed Kuma or Shihainin, he is commonly referred to as one of the pioneers of drifting.
Akira Iida (Shinjitai: 飯田 章, Iida Akira; born 18 December 1969 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa) is a Japanese racing driver…
Akira Iida (Shinjitai: 飯田 章, Iida Akira; born 18 December 1969 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa) is a Japanese racing driver currently competing in the Super GT series. He won the 2002 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship GT500 title with Esso Toyota Team LeMans, co-driving with Juichi Wakisaka. He also won the 2013 Asian Le Mans Series GTE class title for Team Taisan Ken Endless. Iida was also a presenter on the Japanese performance-car program Best Motoring.
Yasutaka Hinoi (桧井保孝, Yasutaka Hinoi; born May 11, 1969 in Hiroshima) is a Japanese racing driver.
Manabu "MAX" Orido (Shinjitai: 織戸 学, Orido Manabu; born Funabashi, Chiba, 3 December 1968; alternative nickname…
Manabu "MAX" Orido (Shinjitai: 織戸 学, Orido Manabu; born Funabashi, Chiba, 3 December 1968; alternative nickname Monkichi) is a Japanese professional racing driver. He currently competes in the Super GT series for apr driving a Toyota GR86 GT300, in the Super Taikyu series driving an Aston Martin Vantage GT8R, and in the GT World Challenge Asia series driving a BMW M4 GT4. Orido is a two-time JGTC / Super GT GT300 class champion, winning the title in 1997 and 2009. He is also a two-time Super Taikyu ST-1 class champion, and GT World Challenge Asia GT4 class champion in 2023.
Hiroki Katoh (加藤 寛規, Katō Hiroki; born 23 February 1968) is a Japanese racing driver and team manager.
Masami Kageyama (影山 正美, Kageyama Masami; born May 2, 1967) is a Japanese racing driver from Kanagawa Prefecture. His…
Masami Kageyama (影山 正美, Kageyama Masami; born May 2, 1967) is a Japanese racing driver from Kanagawa Prefecture. His older brother is Masahiko Kageyama who was also a successful racing driver in similar categories.
Naoki Hattori (服部 尚貴; born 13 June 1966) is a motoring journalist and racing driver from Japan.
Tetsuya Tanaka (田中哲也, Tanaka Tetsuya, born 16 December 1965) is a Japanese racing driver. Since 1996, he has competed…
Tetsuya Tanaka (田中哲也, Tanaka Tetsuya, born 16 December 1965) is a Japanese racing driver. Since 1996, he has competed in the Japanese Grand Touring Championship for a variety of teams, and has won the Tokachi 24 Hours five times.
Tetsuya Yamano (Shinjitai: 山野 哲也, born 2 October 1965, in Tokyo) is a Japanese racing driver. He won three consecutive…
Tetsuya Yamano (Shinjitai: 山野 哲也, born 2 October 1965, in Tokyo) is a Japanese racing driver. He won three consecutive JGTC/Super GT GT300 class championship, notably with three different teams in all occasions.
Ken Nomura (Shinjitai: 野村謙, Nomura Ken; born Fukuoka, May 9, 1965) is a drifting driver from Japan. He made his debut…
Ken Nomura (Shinjitai: 野村謙, Nomura Ken; born Fukuoka, May 9, 1965) is a drifting driver from Japan. He made his debut in the D1 Grand Prix in the third round in 2001, driving the Blitz D1 Spec ER34 Skyline which he still drives. His nickname is Nomuken (のむけん) or Monkey Magic (as a reference to his company). In his youth, Nomura was a baseball player and was very well known within his region, but his career never progressed any further through injury and turned to property developing. Once he gained his driving licence, he was dedicated to night-time street drag racing and then progressed to touge racing. In 1992, Nomuken was runner up in the "All Japan Ikaten" Finals and later in 1996 opened his own tuning shop Uras (reverse for saru, Japanese for monkey), producing drift specific products. When he first joined the D1GP series in 2000, Nomura's performance was average, he had been away from drifting for some time before competing in its inaugural year. But as soon as he signed a contract with parts manufacturer Blitz as a works driver, his skills quickly developed. In the D1 events, Nomura is known for his imitation of a monkey, as the pioneer of the smoke technique, he drifts with the most smoke. He is widely a fan favorite in the series. He also competes in the budget spinoff series, D1 Street Legal with a toned down version of his Skyline. In 2006, Nomura won the D1GP Non Championship Event World All Star. Nomura has also appeared for a TV commercial for his sponsor, Dunlop Tires in Japan, appears as a guest presenter in Video Option and Drift Tengoku as well as a columnist for the Option magazine and judges in drift events. Nomura announced his intention to retire after the 2018 season on Twitter, and ran his last full-time race on Odaiba.
Junko Mihara (三原 じゅん子, Mihara Junko; born 13 September 1964) is a Japanese politician and former singer, actress, and…
Junko Mihara (三原 じゅん子, Mihara Junko; born 13 September 1964) is a Japanese politician and former singer, actress, and racing driver. She is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Masahiko Kondō (近藤 真彦, Kondō Masahiko; born July 19, 1964), or Matchy, is a Japanese singer, lyricist, actor, racing…
Masahiko Kondō (近藤 真彦, Kondō Masahiko; born July 19, 1964), or Matchy, is a Japanese singer, lyricist, actor, racing car manager and former semi-professional racing driver. He was a member of the Tanokin Trio. Kondō is also a semi-professional racing driver and a racing team owner. He founded the racing team Kondo Racing in 2000, which currently competes in both Super Formula and Super GT.
Shinichi Yamaji (山路 慎一, Yamaji Shin'ichi; May 5, 1964 – May 26, 2014) was a Japanese race car driver. He formerly raced…
Shinichi Yamaji (山路 慎一, Yamaji Shin'ichi; May 5, 1964 – May 26, 2014) was a Japanese race car driver. He formerly raced in the Japanese Grand Touring Championship, currently known as Super GT. Yamaji's race debut was in 1986. He competed for YOURS Sports in the RX-7 at the JSS race at Fuji. He went on to take the championship in the RX-7 class of the Fuji Freshman Race series and from 1994 moved up to the All Japan GT Championship. He is widely remembered for an incident that occurred at the start of the 1998 race at Fuji in which, following a serious accident that resulted in an outbreak of fire, he rushed over to the stricken car and frantically worked to extinguish the engulfing flames. Thanks to his heroic efforts the driver, Tetsuya Ota, was able to escape with his life. In recent years, he served as the Clerk of the Course at various events such as Fuji Speedway races and the D1 Grand Prix. In 2011, he retired from Super GT300. On May 25, 2014, he checked into a hospital due to a worsening illness and died the next day.
Takachiho "Taki" Inoue (井上 隆智穂 Inoue Takachiho, born 5 September 1963) is a Japanese former racing driver. He competed…
Takachiho "Taki" Inoue (井上 隆智穂 Inoue Takachiho, born 5 September 1963) is a Japanese former racing driver. He competed in Formula One from 1994 to 1995, driving for Simtek and Footwork Arrows.
Masahiko Kageyama (影山 正彦, Kageyama Masahiko; born August 8, 1963 in Kanagawa Prefecture) is a former racing driver from…
Masahiko Kageyama (影山 正彦, Kageyama Masahiko; born August 8, 1963 in Kanagawa Prefecture) is a former racing driver from Japan. He participated in the Japanese Grand Touring Car series in the top category between 1993 and 2002. Kageyama won the inaugural Japanese Grand Touring Car championship, in the Nismo Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, before winning the next two championships. Kageyama also won the All-Japan Formula Three Championship in 1989, and the Japanese Touring Car Championship in 1993. Along with Nissan Motorsports teammates Aguri Suzuki and Kazuyoshi Hoshino, Kageyama drove a Nissan R390 GT1 to a third-place finish at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kageyama is the CEO of M-Proto Inc., a supplier of brake pads, based in Fujisawa, Kanagawa. His younger brother is Masami Kageyama, who also competed in JGTC and at Le Mans.
Ukyo Katayama (Japanese: 片山 右京, Hepburn: Katayama Ukyō; born 29 May 1963) is a Japanese former racing driver and…
Ukyo Katayama (Japanese: 片山 右京, Hepburn: Katayama Ukyō; born 29 May 1963) is a Japanese former racing driver and motorsport executive, who competed in Formula One from 1992 to 1997. Katayama participated in 97 Grands Prix, debuting at the 1992 South African Grand Prix, making him the sport's second most experienced Japanese driver. He scored a total of five championship points, all of them for the Tyrrell team in 1994. Katayama also competed in the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing second overall and leading the GTP class. He has managed the Japanese continental cycling team Team UKYO since 2012.
Manabu Suzuki (Shinjitai: 鈴木 学, Suzuki Manabu; born Tokyo, Japan, March 20, 1963) is a former racing driver…
Manabu Suzuki (Shinjitai: 鈴木 学, Suzuki Manabu; born Tokyo, Japan, March 20, 1963) is a former racing driver, journalist, sport announcer and radio and TV presenter for the automotive industry. He is a Japanese citizen and is nicknamed Mana-P (マナP in katakana). Suzuki competed in the Formula Toyota and Saurus Cup until the mid nineties. When he left circuit racing behind, he became well known for working with Option as a writer and presenter for the magazine's offshoot video magazine, Video Option and Drift Tengoku. Suzuki was best known as one of the three original key judges (the other being Keiichi Tsuchiya and Manabu Orido, which Orido left at the end of the 2004 season to compete for 2005, while Tsuchiya left D1 with Daijro Inada due to irresponsible management) in the D1 Grand Prix series. He adds many comic expressions during commentary to keep the crowds entertained during the races. He also hosts various issues of the Option DVD where he is discussing cars. He often exclaims "giri giri", which means "little little" in Japanese. This phrase is used to express an instance where the "drift" is extremely close or a driver is almost in a position where he/she is going to crash. Suzuki is also involved in car designs, appearing on a segment in Drift Tengoku on DIY graphics and even working on the paint scheme and decals for Orido's 2005 RS*R Toyota Supra JZA80 and Yasuyuki Kazama's 2006 DG-5 Nissan Silvia S15.
Kenji Momota (桃田 健史, Momota Kenji; born August 4, 1962) is a Japanese racing announcer, racing commentator and former…
Kenji Momota (桃田 健史, Momota Kenji; born August 4, 1962) is a Japanese racing announcer, racing commentator and former driver. He has raced in the All Japan Touring Car Championship, American Racing Series, IndyCar and NASCAR.
Hisashi Wada (和田 久, Wada Hisashi; born 7 June 1962) is a Japanese racing driver and team principal.
Takuya Kurosawa (Shinjitai: 黒澤琢弥, Kurosawa Takuya; born in Ibaraki, June 7, 1962) is a Japanese race car driver.…
Takuya Kurosawa (Shinjitai: 黒澤琢弥, Kurosawa Takuya; born in Ibaraki, June 7, 1962) is a Japanese race car driver. Kurosawa raced in All-Japan Formula Three from 1988 to 1989, Japanese Formula 3000 from 1990 to 1995 and the JGTC series from 1994 to 1999, also driving in the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing tenth. Kurosawa then obtained sponsorship to drive in the American CART series for Dale Coyne Racing in 2000. He made eight starts with a best finish of 12th at the Detroit Grand Prix. He became the first Japanese driver to lead a Champ Car race when he led seven laps at the Long Beach Grand Prix. Kurosawa then returned to JGTC for the next three seasons, drove in the Super Taikyu series in 2004. He currently competes in the Super GT series, driving a Porsche Boxster for Arktech Motorsports. Kurosawa is the son of Best Motoring presenter Motoharu Kurosawa, and elder brother of Haruki and Tsubasa Kurosawa, all of whom are racing drivers.
Hiroyuki Matsushita (松下弘幸, Matsushita Hiroyuki), also known by Hiro Matsushita (ヒロ松下), is a Japanese businessman and…
Hiroyuki Matsushita (松下弘幸, Matsushita Hiroyuki), also known by Hiro Matsushita (ヒロ松下), is a Japanese businessman and former racing driver. He is the grandson of Kōnosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic. In 1989, Matsushita won the Toyota Atlantic Championship (Pacific), becoming the first and only Japanese driver to do so. He was also the first Japanese driver to race in the Indy 500.
Toru Takahashi (高橋徹, Takahashi Tōru; 6 October 1960 – 23 October 1983) was a Japanese racing driver.