Hidetora Hanada (Japanese: ่ฑ็ฐ ็ง่, Hepburn: Hanada Hidetora), born October 30, 2001) is a Japanese gridiron footballโฆHidetora Hanada (Japanese: ่ฑ็ฐ ็ง่, Hepburn: Hanada Hidetora), born October 30, 2001) is a Japanese gridiron football player and former amateur sumo wrestler. He played college football for the Colorado State Rams.
Kansei Matsuzawa (ๆพๆพคๅฏๆฟ, Matsuzawa Kansei; born 8 January 1999), nicknamed "The Tokyo Toe", is a Japanese AmericanโฆKansei Matsuzawa (ๆพๆพคๅฏๆฟ, Matsuzawa Kansei; born 8 January 1999), nicknamed "The Tokyo Toe", is a Japanese American football kicker for Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Hocking Hawks and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and was signed by the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2026.
Tomoya Machino (born March 16, 1997) is a Japanese former professional gridiron football player who was an offensiveโฆTomoya Machino (born March 16, 1997) is a Japanese former professional gridiron football player who was an offensive guard for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Kyoto University.
Taku Lee (born February 20, 1995) is a Japanese professional gridiron football running back for the Obic Seagulls ofโฆTaku Lee (born February 20, 1995) is a Japanese professional gridiron football running back for the Obic Seagulls of the Japanese X-League.
Yuki Iino (้ฃฏ้ ้่ฒด, Iino Yลซki; born October 24, 1994) is a Japanese professional wrestler, signed to DDT Pro-WrestlingโฆYuki Iino (้ฃฏ้ ้่ฒด, Iino Yลซki; born October 24, 1994) is a Japanese professional wrestler, signed to DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT), where he is a former DDT Universal Champion; as well as being a former DDT Extreme Champion, KO-D Tag Team Champion with Tetsuya Endo, three-time KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champion and KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Champion.
Toshiki Sato (born September 30, 1993) is a Japanese professional gridiron football placekicker and punter. He playedโฆToshiki Sato (born September 30, 1993) is a Japanese professional gridiron football placekicker and punter. He played college football at Waseda. He has been a member of the Toronto Argonauts, Calgary Stampeders, and Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and the IBM Big Blue of the X-League.
Takeru Yamasaki (born September 2, 1993) is a Japanese former professional Canadian football placekicker. He playedโฆTakeru Yamasaki (born September 2, 1993) is a Japanese former professional Canadian football placekicker. He played college football in Japan for Osaka University and spent three seasons in the X-League before being signed by the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2021. He appeared in their first two games of the 2021 season before being released. He kicked four field goals with the Lions, becoming the first Japanese player to ever score in the CFL.
Tatsuaki Gyo Shojima (ๅบๅณถ ่พฐๅฐญ born August 18, 1993) is a former professional American football center who spent hisโฆTatsuaki Gyo Shojima (ๅบๅณถ ่พฐๅฐญ born August 18, 1993) is a former professional American football center who spent his three-year career with the Obic Seagulls of the Japanese X-League. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins as a walk-on student-athlete under head coach Jim Mora. As a redshirt junior, Shojima became the first Japanese-born student-athlete of full Japanese heritage, nationality and citizenship to play in an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) game.
Akihito Yamada (ๅฑฑ็ฐ็ซ ไป, Yamada Akihito; born 26 July 1985 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese rugby unionโฆAkihito Yamada (ๅฑฑ็ฐ็ซ ไป, Yamada Akihito; born 26 July 1985 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a winger. He also plays for Top League side the Panasonic Wild Knights in his home country.
Noriaki Kinoshita (ๆจไธ ๅ ธๆ, Kinoshita Noriaki), born December 29, 1982) is a Japanese football wide receiver whoโฆNoriaki Kinoshita (ๆจไธ ๅ ธๆ, Kinoshita Noriaki), born December 29, 1982) is a Japanese football wide receiver who currently plays for the Obic Seagulls of the X-League. He was signed by the Amsterdam Admirals in 2005. He played college football for the Ritsumeikan Panthers.
Shinzo "Shin" Yamada (born August 9, 1973) is a Japanese former professional American football player who was aโฆShinzo "Shin" Yamada (born August 9, 1973) is a Japanese former professional American football player who was a linebacker for the Memphis Maniax of the XFL and the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe. He played college football at Kwansei Gakuin University. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2003 NFL preseason. Yamada was believed to be the first Japanese person to play professional American football in the United States.
