Kuniaki Takahashi (高橋邦明, Takahashi Kuniaki; born 27 October 1972, Kanagawa Prefecture) is a retired Japanese…Kuniaki Takahashi (高橋邦明, Takahashi Kuniaki; born 27 October 1972, Kanagawa Prefecture) is a retired Japanese professional drifting driver. He competed in the D1 Grand Prix series for his own team, Team Kunny'z. Alongside D1, he also competed in Formula Drift Japan events. He currently served as a judge for D1GP.
Katsuhiro Ueo (植尾勝浩, Ueo Katsuhiro; 26 May 1972, Tamana, Kumamoto) is a Japanese professional drifting driver, whose…Katsuhiro Ueo (植尾勝浩, Ueo Katsuhiro; 26 May 1972, Tamana, Kumamoto) is a Japanese professional drifting driver, whose currently competing in D1 Grand Prix with a Nissan Silvia S15, well known for formerly using the Toyota AE86 in the series. He is also known as, Therefore, it is (デスカラデスネ/ですからですね Desukara Desune). He is the first driver to win both D1 Grand Prix and D1 Street Legal after winning it in 2002 and 2016 respectively. He is the oldest driver to win D1GP round at 51 years old
Takahiro Ueno (上野高広, Ueno Takahiro; born 5 November 1971, Hokkaido) is a Japanese professional drifting driver and…Takahiro Ueno (上野高広, Ueno Takahiro; born 5 November 1971, Hokkaido) is a Japanese professional drifting driver and businessman, the former, currently competing in the D1 Grand Prix series for Car Make T&E. Ueno started his career with a Toyota Soarer JZZ30. Starting his Tuning shop Car Make T&E in October 1996. Founding the aero part branch, Vertex, he personally approves every new design. Most of the company's time when it was starting out was spent on developing the Toyota Soarer JZZ30 and this still continues today, using the D1 Grand Prix as a showcase. Ueno began competing in the D1 Grand Prix in his Toyota Soarer JZZ30 in the first round in 2001. Going on to win round 4 of the season and finishing in third overall in the championship. He has gone on to score points in every year since, though has never quite matched his original success. From 2009 to 2015, Ueno had used BMW M3 (E92). In 2016, Ueno celebrated the 20th anniversary of Car Make T&E, as he started using Toyota Soarer JZZ30 again. Currently, Ueno has been competing in the D1GP, driving Lexus RC since 2019.
Nobuatsu Aoki (青木 宣篤, Aoki Nobuatsu; born August 31, 1971 in Sumaga) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Aoki…Nobuatsu Aoki (青木 宣篤, Aoki Nobuatsu; born August 31, 1971 in Sumaga) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Aoki began his Grand Prix career in 1990 and won his first and only Grand Prix at the 250cc Malaysian Grand Prix. His best season was in 1997, when he finished third in the 500cc world championship behind Mick Doohan and Tadayuki Okada. In 2009, he teamed with Daisaku Sakai and Kazuki Tokudome on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 to win the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race. He is the oldest of three Aoki brothers who have competed in motorcycle Grand Prix races.
Masaki Tokudome (徳留 真紀, Tokudome Masaki; born 14 February 1971) is a Japanese occasional motorcycle racer. Tokudome…Masaki Tokudome (徳留 真紀, Tokudome Masaki; born 14 February 1971) is a Japanese occasional motorcycle racer. Tokudome competed in international Grand Prix motorcycle racing between 1994 and 2005, finishing second in the 125cc World Championship behind countryman Haruchika Aoki while riding for the Aprilia factory team in 1996. Tokudome won five Grand Prix races during his career. Tokudome was a longtime competitor in the All-Japan Road Race Championship after departing the international scene. He was the J-GP3 Champion in the class for the first time in 2012, after being runner up on three separate occasions, and again in 2016. Tokudome retired from full-time competition in 2024.
Kazuyuki Manabe (真鍋和幸, Manabe Kazuyuki; born February 16, 1970 in Mitoyo, Kagawa) is a Japanese road racing cyclist…Kazuyuki Manabe (真鍋和幸, Manabe Kazuyuki; born February 16, 1970 in Mitoyo, Kagawa) is a Japanese road racing cyclist, who last rode for UCI Continental team Matrix Powertag. Manabe participated in the 1996 Summer Olympics in the men's individual road race, but did not finish. He was third in the Japanese National Road Race Championships in 1998, 2003 and 2005.
Yukinori Taniguchi (谷口 行規, Taniguchi Yukinori; born September 27, 1968 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima) is a Japanese…Yukinori Taniguchi (谷口 行規, Taniguchi Yukinori; born September 27, 1968 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima) is a Japanese businessperson and auto racing driver. He founded Yuke's, a video game developer company, in Sakai, Osaka in 1993.
Kouchi Yamashita (山下広一, Yamashita Kouchi) is a drifting driver who in 2008 made the switch from D1 Grand Prix into the…Kouchi Yamashita (山下広一, Yamashita Kouchi) is a drifting driver who in 2008 made the switch from D1 Grand Prix into the US Formula D series before moving back to Japan in 2010 to compete in the Formula Drift series there. He drove a Mazda RX-8 which was tuned with a 20B three-rotor engine producing a power of 429HP. He has achieved one victory from the D1GP series, came second place in Formula Drift Japan 2019 and won the series in 2020 for Team Weld driving a Toyota JZX100. Previously he was known for driving the Toyota AE86 and is one of the founding members of the legendary Japanese drift team Running Free.
Noboru "Nobby" Ueda (上田昇; born July 23, 1967 in Tahara, Aichi) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was…Noboru "Nobby" Ueda (上田昇; born July 23, 1967 in Tahara, Aichi) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was exclusively a 125 class rider. Ueda began his Grand Prix career with a win in his inaugural race at the 1991 Japanese Grand Prix. His best seasons were in 1994, when he finished second in the 125cc world championship behind Kazuto Sakata and in 1997, when he finished second behind Valentino Rossi. In 1998, Ueda fell off his bike, breaking his arm and receiving nerve damage that nearly paralyzed his right hand. This injury led to him wearing the first mechanised glove (produced by Spidi) that gave him the ability to grip the throttle and brake levers. After a twelve-year career in Grand Prix competition, Ueda announced his retirement at the end of the 2002 season, citing the need to let his body recuperate after several racing injuries. Ueda won 13 Grand Prix races during his career. He now runs his own team known as Team Nobby, which competes in the All Japan Road Race Championship in the J-GP3 class.
Tadayuki 'Taddy' Okada (Japanese: 岡田 忠之, Hepburn: Okada Tadayuki; born February 13, 1967) is a Japanese former…Tadayuki 'Taddy' Okada (Japanese: 岡田 忠之, Hepburn: Okada Tadayuki; born February 13, 1967) is a Japanese former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was runner-up in the 1994 250cc and in the 1997 500cc World Championship.
Kazuto Sakata (坂田 和人; born August 15, 1966 in Kōtō, Tokyo) is a Japanese former professional motorcycle racer. He…Kazuto Sakata (坂田 和人; born August 15, 1966 in Kōtō, Tokyo) is a Japanese former professional motorcycle racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1991 to 1999. Sakata is notable being a two-time F.I.M. 125cc world champion.
Noriyasu Numata (沼田憲保, Numata Noriyasu; 26 April 1966 – 4 September 2007) was a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer born…Noriyasu Numata (沼田憲保, Numata Noriyasu; 26 April 1966 – 4 September 2007) was a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer born in Chiba, Japan. He competed in 250cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1995 to 1998. He was killed in an accident during tyre testing for Dunlop at Okayama International Circuit in Japan.
Hiromi (ヒロミ; born 13 February 1965, in Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese comedian, television presenter, radio…Hiromi (ヒロミ; born 13 February 1965, in Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese comedian, television presenter, radio personality, actor, businessman, triathlete, and racing driver. He is the president of Be Company. His full name is Hiromi Kozono (小園 浩己, Kozono Hiromi). While Be Company is from Production Jin Riki-sha, Hiromi is represented with Tanabe Agency and later Production No Title since 2008. His wife is singer Iyo Matsumoto. Hiromi's eldest son is tarento Ryo Kozono.
Masahiro Shimizu (清水 雅広, Shimizu Masahiro; born November 22, 1964) is a Japanese former professional Grand Prix…Masahiro Shimizu (清水 雅広, Shimizu Masahiro; born November 22, 1964) is a Japanese former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Originally from Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Shimizu won the 1987 250cc All Japan Road Race Championship. He began his Grand Prix career with a win in 1987. His best season was in 1991, when he finished fifth in the 250cc world championship, riding on a Honda.
Kyoshi Miura (三浦 恭資, Miura Kyōshi; born 9 January 1961) is a Japanese former cyclist. He was eight times national road…Kyoshi Miura (三浦 恭資, Miura Kyōshi; born 9 January 1961) is a Japanese former cyclist. He was eight times national road race champion, raced professionally in Europe, represented Japan at world track championships, and even became national champion in mountain biking. He competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1996 Summer Olympics, the first in the men's individual road race, the second in men's cross-country mountain biking. He won the second edition of the Tour de Okinawa in 1990. After retirement, he began coaching and served as a coach for the national team at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Mari Igata (Japanese: 井形 マリ, romanized: Igata Mari; March 16, 1958 – August 13, 2024) was a pioneering Japanese…Mari Igata (Japanese: 井形 マリ, romanized: Igata Mari; March 16, 1958 – August 13, 2024) was a pioneering Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. She would become the first woman to race in the Suzuka 8 Hours and the All Japan Road Race Championship. A member of the Showa era, Igata is remembered for breaking barriers for Japanese women in sport, as well as creating opportunities for the next generation with her Team Mari racing school. Igata was the elder sister of championship racer Tomoko Igata.
Masami Kuwashima (桑島 正美; born 14 September 1950) is a former racing driver from Japan. Kuwashima was initially supposed…Masami Kuwashima (桑島 正美; born 14 September 1950) is a former racing driver from Japan. Kuwashima was initially supposed to drive a Brabham BT44 in the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix with the RAM team, but the car was unavailable after it had been impounded at the German Grand Prix in August. Kuwashima subsequently found a seat for the race with the then-struggling Wolf–Williams Racing team, driving a Wolf–Williams FW05. Kuwashima took part in the first two qualifying sessions for the race, and posted a time of 1:17.90 in the first session on the Friday morning, which was 23rd fastest of the 26 entrants, ahead of Hans-Joachim Stuck, Tony Trimmer and Harald Ertl. In the afternoon session, he was unable to improve, posting a time of 1:19.27. Trimmer and Masahiro Hasemi did not participate in this second session, so Kuwashima placed 24th, the slowest runner in the session. Stuck and Ertl improved their times, so overall, Kuwashima was lying 25th of the 26 entrants at the end of Friday's running, ahead only of Trimmer. This caused Kuwashima's sponsors to withdraw their financing of the Williams deal, and Frank Williams promptly replaced him with Austrian Hans Binder for the third qualifying session and the race itself. Binder had previously driven for Ensign at the Austrian Grand Prix that year. In the third qualifying session, Binder posted a time of 1:17.36, just over half a second faster than Kuwashima, but still placed 25th overall. With only 24 entrants due to start the race, Williams had to ask permission from the other teams for Binder to take part, which he received, although the car retired from the race on lap 49 with a wheel bearing failure. Kuwashima was not to have another chance in Formula One, and he returned to the Japanese Formula 2000 and Formula Two series where he spent the rest of his career. Continuing to struggle for sponsorship, he ended his single-seater career in 1979. He later worked as a team director in the Japanese GT Championship in the early 2000s, and worked as a stunt driver for films and television.
Isamu Kasuya (粕谷勇, Kasuya Isamu) is a Japanese former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Kasuya began his…Isamu Kasuya (粕谷勇, Kasuya Isamu) is a Japanese former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Kasuya began his Grand Prix career in 1963. He had his best season in 1964 when he finished the season in seventh place in the 250cc world championship, and eighth place in the 350cc world championship.
Fumio Ito (伊藤 史朗, Itō Fumio; 10 October 1939 – 10 March 1991) was a Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road…Fumio Ito (伊藤 史朗, Itō Fumio; 10 October 1939 – 10 March 1991) was a Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Ito began his Grand Prix career in 1960, although he was a Factory Yamaha rider as far back as 1957 where the Yamaha YD-A & YD-B 250cc machines were so devastating in the Asama highlands race, where Yamaha took the first three places with Matsuko on a YD-A taking the honors. Ito himself could have easily won the race and had set the fastest lap, but his YD-A motorcycle seized and cost him the race. The machines were later modified for the 1958 Catalina GP in States with smaller fuel tanks taken from the YA 125 machines, high pipes and high footpegs. Ito was the Star rider of the team and the only Japanese rider alongside four local American riders. Ito finished sixth, even after an unscheduled pit stop for a fouled plug. He enjoyed his best season in 1963 when he won the 250cc Belgian Grand Prix and finished the season in third place in the 250cc world championship, behind Jim Redman and Tarquinio Provini.
Kenzo Tada (多田健蔵, Tada Kenzō; 17 February 1889 – 1976) was a dirt track motorcycle racer who was born in Japan and…Kenzo Tada (多田健蔵, Tada Kenzō; 17 February 1889 – 1976) was a dirt track motorcycle racer who was born in Japan and became the first Asian to compete in the Isle of Man TT. He started his career in 1907 as a bicycle racer; his company, Tomeye Trading Co., was the Velocette motorcycle importer in Tokyo. He started racing motorcycles in 1921, at which time there were only 20 racers in Japan, and he became a leading organizer of motorsport events in Japan. During the Taishō era, there had been a rapid growth of the motorcycling industry and racing in Japan. Races, sponsored by the national newspapers and intended to boost enthusiasm for Japan's rapidly developing industry, attracted crowds of up to 50,000. Tada was invited to race at the 1930 Isle of Man TT by Veloce Ltd, to celebrate the global popularity of their new KTT production racer. Tada had imported three KTTs to Tokyo in 1929, and was the Japanese National Champion. It him took 40 days by sea and rail, to reach the Isle of Man: he was the first Asian rider to compete in the event, and was the first Japanese rider to race overseas. Tada was loaned Alec Bennett's semi-works 350cc Velocette KTT bike, finishing 15th while gaining the nickname "the India Rubber Man", as he had a number of minor falls during the course of the race but remounted to carry on. At the prize giving ceremony after the race, Tada wore traditional haori (half length kimono jacket), hakama (loose trousers), tabi (toe socks), and geta (wooden sandals).
