Hinata Watanabe (born August 26, 1986 in Hiratsuka), or HINATA, is a Japanese welterweight kickboxer fighting out of…Hinata Watanabe (born August 26, 1986 in Hiratsuka), or HINATA, is a Japanese welterweight kickboxer fighting out of Hiratsuka, Japan for the Shonan Kakuto Club. He is the 2008 R.I.S.E. champion currently competing in R.I.S.E. and K-1 MAX.
Yuki Goto (後藤 祐樹, Gotō Yūki; born July 10, 1986) is a Japanese YouTuber, politician, and former singer. In 2000, while…Yuki Goto (後藤 祐樹, Gotō Yūki; born July 10, 1986) is a Japanese YouTuber, politician, and former singer. In 2000, while he was in middle school, he joined the group EE Jump as their lead rapper under the stage name Yuki (ユウキ; stylized as YUKI). He is the younger brother of singer and former Morning Musume member Maki Goto. Throughout the 2000s, Goto was involved in several scandals, two of which led to EE Jump's disbandment and his retirement from music. In 2007, he was arrested for theft and was sentenced to five and half years in prison. After being released in 2013, Goto made minor media appearances before joining YouTube in 2021 and signing a contract with Excelling to handle his entertainment activities. In addition to Goto's YouTube activities, he was elected as a member of the Yachimata City Council in 2023.
Satoshi Shimizu (清水 聡, Shimizu Satoshi; born March 13, 1986 in Okayama) is a Japanese professional boxer who has held…Satoshi Shimizu (清水 聡, Shimizu Satoshi; born March 13, 1986 in Okayama) is a Japanese professional boxer who has held the OPBF featherweight title since 2017. As an amateur, he won the bronze medal in the men's bantamweight division at the 2012 Olympics.
Ryōta Murata (村田 諒太, Murata Ryōta; born 12 January 1986) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2013…Ryōta Murata (村田 諒太, Murata Ryōta; born 12 January 1986) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2013 to 2022. He held the WBA (Regular) middleweight title twice between 2017 and 2021, and the WBA (Super) middleweight title from 2021 to 2022. As an amateur, he won a silver medal at the 2011 World Championships, and gold the following year at the 2012 Olympics.
Teiru Kinoshita (born Park Tae-Il on December 17, 1985 in Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese-Korean boxer. Kinoshita is a…Teiru Kinoshita (born Park Tae-Il on December 17, 1985 in Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese-Korean boxer. Kinoshita is a former Japanese super flyweight champion. In 2014, he lost to Zolani Tete for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight world title. He is scheduled to again fight for the IBF super flyweight world title against Jerwin Ancajas on the Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn undercard. Kinoshita entered the bout on a six-fight win streak and with the IBF's No. 3 in his weight class. He is the top ranked contender for the IBF (with the first and second positions vacant).
Hirofumi Mukai (向井 寛史, Mukai Hirofumi; born 4 December 1985) is a Japanese professional boxer. He was a 2 time world…Hirofumi Mukai (向井 寛史, Mukai Hirofumi; born 4 December 1985) is a Japanese professional boxer. He was a 2 time world title challenger.
Masatsugu Kawachi (川内 将嗣, Kawachi Masatsugu; born November 25, 1985 in Kashima, Saga) is a Japanese boxer best known…Masatsugu Kawachi (川内 将嗣, Kawachi Masatsugu; born November 25, 1985 in Kashima, Saga) is a Japanese boxer best known for winning bronze at the 2007 world championships at light welterweight.
Tamao Ozawa (小沢珠緒, Ozawa Tamao; born 16 May 1985) is a Japanese retired professional boxer who is a former WBO female…Tamao Ozawa (小沢珠緒, Ozawa Tamao; born 16 May 1985) is a Japanese retired professional boxer who is a former WBO female super-flyweight champion.
Hiroaki Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 博昭; born December 6, 1984) is a Japanese shoot boxer and mixed martial artist currently…Hiroaki Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 博昭; born December 6, 1984) is a Japanese shoot boxer and mixed martial artist currently signed to Rizin Fighting Federation. He has also competed for ONE Championship. In shoot boxing, Suzuki is a former SHOOT BOXING World Champion, S-cup World Tournament Champion, and two-time SHOOT BOXING Japan Champion. As of April 2015 he was ranked No. 6 Featherweight kickboxer in the world by Liverkick.
Satomi Tanaka (田中冴美, born 13 August 1984), better known as Saemi Hanagata, is a Japanese professional boxer who…Satomi Tanaka (田中冴美, born 13 August 1984), better known as Saemi Hanagata, is a Japanese professional boxer who formerly held the IBF female atomweight title.
Akifumi Shimoda (下田 昭文, Shimoda, Akifumi; born September 11, 1984) is a Featherweight boxer from Japan and the former…Akifumi Shimoda (下田 昭文, Shimoda, Akifumi; born September 11, 1984) is a Featherweight boxer from Japan and the former world champion of WBA at Super bantamweight. He was born in Sapporo, Hokkaido and grew up in Kure City in Hiroshima Prefecture. He currently lives in Tokyo. Shimoda has trained under Yūichi Kasai's instruction at the Teiken Boxing Gym in Tokyo.
Manami Arima (有馬真波, Arima Manami; born 13 August 1984), better known as Tenkai Tsunami, is a Japanese professional…Manami Arima (有馬真波, Arima Manami; born 13 August 1984), better known as Tenkai Tsunami, is a Japanese professional boxer. She is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBO female junior-flyweight title from 2018 to July 2021 and previously the WBA female super-flyweight title from 2009 to 2012. She also held the challenged for the WBA female bantamweight title in 2012; the WBC female super-flyweight title in 2013; and the IBF female bantamweight title in 2015. As of September 2020, she is ranked as the world's third best active female junior-flyweight by The Ring and fifth by BoxRec.
Sana Hazuki (葉月さな, Hazuki Sana) (born 23 August 1984) is a Japanese professional boxer who has challenged for world…Sana Hazuki (葉月さな, Hazuki Sana) (born 23 August 1984) is a Japanese professional boxer who has challenged for world titles on three occasions. She has held the WBC female Silver atomweight title and is a former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation female minimumweight champion.
Yuya Yamamoto (山本 優弥, Yamamoto Yūya; born July 15, 1984) is a retired Japanese kickboxer who competed in K-1 at…Yuya Yamamoto (山本 優弥, Yamamoto Yūya; born July 15, 1984) is a retired Japanese kickboxer who competed in K-1 at middleweight (-70 kg). He is the former Japanese national champion of kickboxing sanctioned by All Japan Kickboxing Federation at welterweight.
Takashi Miura (三浦 隆司, Miura Takeshi; born 14 May 1984) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2003…Takashi Miura (三浦 隆司, Miura Takeshi; born 14 May 1984) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2017. a former WBC Super featherweight Champion. He was born in the Akita Prefecture and lives in Tokyo.
Takahiro Ao (粟生 隆寛, Aō Takahiro; born 6 April 1984) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to…Takahiro Ao (粟生 隆寛, Aō Takahiro; born 6 April 1984) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2018. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title in 2009 and the WBC super-featherweight title from 2010 to 2012.
Yota Sato (佐藤 洋太, Satō Yōta; born 1 April 1984) is a retired Japanese professional boxer who is a former WBC Super…Yota Sato (佐藤 洋太, Satō Yōta; born 1 April 1984) is a retired Japanese professional boxer who is a former WBC Super flyweight Champion.
Umi Ishikawa (born 21 March 1984) is a Japanese professional boxer who holds the interim WBC female strawweight World…Umi Ishikawa (born 21 March 1984) is a Japanese professional boxer who holds the interim WBC female strawweight World title.
Toshiyuki Igarashi (五十嵐 俊幸, Igarashi Toshiyuki; born January 17, 1984 in Yurihonjō, Akita) is a Japanese boxer and a…Toshiyuki Igarashi (五十嵐 俊幸, Igarashi Toshiyuki; born January 17, 1984 in Yurihonjō, Akita) is a Japanese boxer and a former WBC, The Ring and Lineal Flyweight World Champion.
Yu Kimura (木村 悠, Kimura Yū; born 23 November 1983) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2006 to…Yu Kimura (木村 悠, Kimura Yū; born 23 November 1983) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2006 to 2016. He held the WBC light-flyweight title between 2015 and 2016.
Kengo Shimizu (清水 賢吾, Shimizu Kengo; born on November 17, 1983), is a Japanese middleweight kickboxer competing in…Kengo Shimizu (清水 賢吾, Shimizu Kengo; born on November 17, 1983), is a Japanese middleweight kickboxer competing in RISE. He is the former SHOOTBOXING and RISE Heavyweight champion.
Yūichi Nakamaru (中丸雄一, Nakamaru Yuuichi; born on September 4, 1983 in Kita-ku, Tokyo, Japan), is a Japanese…Yūichi Nakamaru (中丸雄一, Nakamaru Yuuichi; born on September 4, 1983 in Kita-ku, Tokyo, Japan), is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, television personality and radio host under Starto Entertainment. He joined the talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1998 and then officially debuted as part of KAT-TUN in 2006, group to which he belonged until its disbandment in April 2025. Individually, he has acted in numerous drama serials and is most known as a commentator and host of his own segment on NTV information variety show Sunday Countdown Show Shūichi.
Ayaka Miyao is a Japanese retired professional boxer. She is a former two-time female atomweight world champion, having…Ayaka Miyao is a Japanese retired professional boxer. She is a former two-time female atomweight world champion, having held the IBF and the WBA titles during her career.
Makoto Fuchigami (淵上 誠, Fuchigami Makoto) is a Japanese professional boxer. He has 23 wins, 12 losses, with 14 of those…Makoto Fuchigami (淵上 誠, Fuchigami Makoto) is a Japanese professional boxer. He has 23 wins, 12 losses, with 14 of those wins coming by way of knockout. He fights in the middleweight division. Fuchigami became the Japanese middleweight champion in 2010. On May 12, 2012, Fuchigami fought Gennady Golovkin for the WBA and IBO Middleweight championship of the world in Kyiv, Ukraine. Fuchigami was defeated by TKO in the third round.
Kazuhisa Watanabe (渡邉 一久, Watanabe Kazuhisa; born May 18, 1983) is a Japanese boxer, kickboxer and mixed martial artist…Kazuhisa Watanabe (渡邉 一久, Watanabe Kazuhisa; born May 18, 1983) is a Japanese boxer, kickboxer and mixed martial artist currently competing in K-1 and Dream in the featherweight division. He is known to be overly flamboyant in fights, often jeering and taunting opponents at every opportunity.
Masahiro Yamamoto (山本真弘, Yamamoto Masahiro; born April 14, 1983) is a retired Japanese kickboxer. He is a former AJKF…Masahiro Yamamoto (山本真弘, Yamamoto Masahiro; born April 14, 1983) is a retired Japanese kickboxer. He is a former AJKF Featherweight champion, the 2009 Krush Lightweight Grand Prix winner and It's Showtime 61MAX Champion.
Katsunari Takayama (高山 勝成, Takayama Katsunari; born May 12, 1983) is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a five-time…Katsunari Takayama (高山 勝成, Takayama Katsunari; born May 12, 1983) is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a five-time mini-flyweight world champion, having held the WBC title in 2005, the IBF title twice between 2013 and 2015, and the WBO title twice between 2014 and 2017. He retired as a professional in 2017, as WBO world champion, to focus on participation in the 2020 Olympics, but returned in 2020 after failing to qualify.
Tomoko Okuda (奥田朋子, Okuda Tomoko) (born 21 April 1983) is a Japanese professional boxer who held the WBO female…Tomoko Okuda (奥田朋子, Okuda Tomoko) (born 21 April 1983) is a Japanese professional boxer who held the WBO female junior-bantamweight title from December 2020 until June 2021. At regional level she held the OPBF and Japanese female bantamweight titles in 2020.
Akira Yaegashi (八重樫 東, Yaegashi Akira; born February 25, 1983) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed…Akira Yaegashi (八重樫 東, Yaegashi Akira; born February 25, 1983) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2019. He is a three-weight world champion, having held the World Boxing Association (WBA) mini-flyweight title from 2011 to 2012, the World Boxing Council (WBC) and Ring magazine flyweight titles from 2013 to 2014, and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight title from 2015 to 2016. He is an alumnus of the Takushoku University.
Yasuhiro Kido (Japanese: 城戸康裕; born December 25, 1982) is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the lightweight…Yasuhiro Kido (Japanese: 城戸康裕; born December 25, 1982) is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the lightweight division of Rizin Fighting Federation. A professional competitor since 2003, he is the 2008 K-1 World MAX Japan tournament winner and the 2017 K-1 Super Welterweight Grand Prix runner-up. He is the former Krush Super Welterweight champion, having held the title from 2012 until 2014.
Yoshihiro Kamegai (亀海喜寛 Kamegai Yoshihiro, born November 12, 1982) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed…Yoshihiro Kamegai (亀海喜寛 Kamegai Yoshihiro, born November 12, 1982) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2018. affiliated with the Teiken Boxing Gym and Golden Boy Promotions. He secured the Japanese super lightweight title in 2010 as the 33rd champion and defended it once before vacating it. He made his U.S. boxing debut in 2011, securing a victory over Hector Munoz at the MGM Grand. He became the 38th OPBF welterweight champion, securing the title in 2013 before vacating it after one defense. He fought Miguel Cotto for the vacant WBO light middleweight world title.
Shinsuke Yamanaka (山中 慎介, Yamanaka Shinsuke; born October 11, 1982) is a Japanese former professional boxer who…Shinsuke Yamanaka (山中 慎介, Yamanaka Shinsuke; born October 11, 1982) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2006 to 2018. He held the WBC bantamweight title from 2011 to 2017, a reign where he made twelve successful defences and a reign which is the fourth longest in boxing's bantamweight division. He also held The Ring bantamweight title twice between 2016 and 2018. Stylistically, Yamanaka was known as a brawler who sought to stand and trade punches with his opponents. As a southpaw, his left cross was particularly renowned as a devastating punch. He was considered an entertaining fighter, with many of his fights featuring several knockdowns. However, he also showed the ability to box on the outside. Yamanaka's height and reach gave him a significant physical advantage over most fighters at his weight class.
Keisuke Fujiwara (Japanese: 藤原敬典 Fujiwara Keisuke,IPA: [ɸɯʑiwaɾa keꜜːsɯ̥ke]; born September 17, 1982) is a Japanese…Keisuke Fujiwara (Japanese: 藤原敬典 Fujiwara Keisuke,IPA: [ɸɯʑiwaɾa keꜜːsɯ̥ke]; born September 17, 1982) is a Japanese mixed martial artist with a background in kickboxing.
Hiraku Hori (Japanese: 堀啓; born April 3, 1982) is a retired Japanese heavyweight kickboxer. A professional from 2001…Hiraku Hori (Japanese: 堀啓; born April 3, 1982) is a retired Japanese heavyweight kickboxer. A professional from 2001 until 2010, he competed almost exclusively in K-1.
Nihito Arakawa (荒川 仁人, Arakawa Nihito; born 23 December 1981 in Musashino, Tokyo, Japan) is a professional boxer…Nihito Arakawa (荒川 仁人, Arakawa Nihito; born 23 December 1981 in Musashino, Tokyo, Japan) is a professional boxer nicknamed "Japanese Rocky". He made his mark in the twelve-round lightweight slugfest against Omar Figueroa in July 2013, that earned him the nickname after the film Rocky. "The Japanese lefty gained a zillion fans with his rumble last year against Figueroa," TheSweetScience.com's Michael Woods said in 2014. He is the former Japanese and OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) lightweight champion.
Yusuke Kobori (小堀 佑介, born October 11, 1981) is a retired professional boxer from Japan and a former WBA lightweight…Yusuke Kobori (小堀 佑介, born October 11, 1981) is a retired professional boxer from Japan and a former WBA lightweight champion.
Hiromitsu Miura (Japanese: 三浦 広光, Miura Hiromitsu; September 22, 1981 – October 26, 2024) was a Japanese mixed martial…Hiromitsu Miura (Japanese: 三浦 広光, Miura Hiromitsu; September 22, 1981 – October 26, 2024) was a Japanese mixed martial artist who competed in the welterweight division. He was also a former boxer who competed in the light heavyweight division.
Tomonobu Shimizu (清水 智信, Shimizu Tomonobu; born June 28, 1981) is a Japanese professional boxer who is a former WBA…Tomonobu Shimizu (清水 智信, Shimizu Tomonobu; born June 28, 1981) is a Japanese professional boxer who is a former WBA super flyweight champion. He is an alumnus of the Tokyo University of Agriculture.
Etsuko Tada (多田悦子, Tada Etsuko; born 28 May 1989) is a Japanese professional boxer. She is a former four-time…Etsuko Tada (多田悦子, Tada Etsuko; born 28 May 1989) is a Japanese professional boxer. She is a former four-time mini-flyweight world champion, having held the WBA title from 2009 to 2013; the IBF title from 2015 to 2017; and the WBO title twice between 2018 and October 2021.
Yoshihiro Sato (佐藤 嘉洋, Satō Yoshihiro; born January 25, 1981) is a Japanese kickboxer competing in K-1 at middleweight…Yoshihiro Sato (佐藤 嘉洋, Satō Yoshihiro; born January 25, 1981) is a Japanese kickboxer competing in K-1 at middleweight (−70 kg). He is the former world champion of Muay Thai in WKA and WPKC, and he won the Japanese national tournament of K-1 twice in 2006 and 2007. His official nickname is "Mugen Sniper" which means Infinite Sniper.
Hozumi Hasegawa (長谷川 穂積, Hasegawa Hozumi; born 16 December 1980) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed…Hozumi Hasegawa (長谷川 穂積, Hasegawa Hozumi; born 16 December 1980) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2016. He won world titles in three weight classes, including the World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight title from 2005 to 2010, the WBC featherweight title from 2010 to 2011, and the WBC super bantamweight title in 2016. Hasegawa received MVP awards from the Japan Boxing Commission in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009 for his title defenses, and is the first Japanese boxer to have defended a bantamweight world title more than four times.
Kohei Kono (河野公平, Kōno Kōhei) (born November 23, 1980) is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a two-time world…Kohei Kono (河野公平, Kōno Kōhei) (born November 23, 1980) is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a two-time world champion, having held the WBA super-flyweight title twice between 2012 and 2016 with three successful defenses.
Kosuke Endo (遠藤 幸佑, Endō Kōsuke; born November 11, 1980 in Nakashibetsu, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese rugby union player who…Kosuke Endo (遠藤 幸佑, Endō Kōsuke; born November 11, 1980 in Nakashibetsu, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese rugby union player who won 41 caps for the Japan national team and represented them at the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cup. Endo made his debut for Japan against Italy in July 2004, but then had to wait until 2006 until he returned for his second cap and then established himself as the first choice right wing after Daisuke Ohata late career was plagued by injuries, and remained there for most of John Kirwan's time as Japan coach between 2007 and 2011. In the 2007 Rugby World Cup he notably finished a spectacular break out try from their own 5 metre line against Wales at the Millennium Stadium which was praised as one of the outstanding tries of the tournament one of Japan's best of all time. He followed that up by scoring another try against Canada in the next match from a run just under 50 metres through the defence. Endo left the World Cup with an increased reputation and coach John Kirwan said that "he could be one of the best wingers in the world". In 2008, Endo signed to play a season in the Air New Zealand Cup with Canterbury. Endo remained in the Japan side until the 2011 Rugby World Cup where he started 3 matches. In the last match against Canada, Endo again scored a try like he did against the same opposition in the 2007 tournament, but also had a nightmare match in defence missing 5 tackles one of which led to a Canada try. After that match, Endo was dropped by new coach Eddie Jones who put Toshiaki Hirose as captain ahead of him in his position on the wing. He was briefly recalled to a wider training squad in 2013 after some good form for his domestic side Toyota Verblitz but didn't play with younger players such as Yoshikazu Fujita and Kenki Fukuoka being preferred ahead of him.
Nobuchika Terado (born September 9, 1980) is a retired Japanese kickboxer. He was the 2009 AJKF and RISE Bantamweight…Nobuchika Terado (born September 9, 1980) is a retired Japanese kickboxer. He was the 2009 AJKF and RISE Bantamweight champion, the 2011 ISKA Bantamweight and 2012 Super Bantamweight champion, as well as the 2016 Krush Super Bantamweight champion. Combat Press ranked him as a top ten bantamweight between April and June 2018.
Koji Yoshimoto (Japanese: 吉本光志, Yoshimoto Koji; born February 6, 1980) is a Japanese retired kickboxer and mixed…Koji Yoshimoto (Japanese: 吉本光志, Yoshimoto Koji; born February 6, 1980) is a Japanese retired kickboxer and mixed martial artist. A professional competitor between 2000 and 2016, Yoshimoto held the RISE super lightweight title and was the 2007 Pancrase Neo Blood Featherweight Tournament winner.
Takefumi Sakata (坂田健史, Sakata Takefumi; born January 29, 1980 in Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture) is a Japanese…Takefumi Sakata (坂田健史, Sakata Takefumi; born January 29, 1980 in Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture) is a Japanese boxer in the flyweight (112 lb/50 kg) division and a former WBA flyweight champion. Sakata was the premier boxer in the Kyoei boxing gym before the arrival of Kōki Kameda in 2005. He stayed out of the limelight for most of his career, even being used as Kameda's sparring partner, but finally won a world title in 2007, defeating Lorenzo Parra for the vacant WBA Flyweight title.
Takashi Uchiyama (内山 高志, Uchiyama Takashi; born November 10, 1979) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed…Takashi Uchiyama (内山 高志, Uchiyama Takashi; born November 10, 1979) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2016, having held the WBA (Super) super-featherweight title from 2010 to 2016.