This is a list of J.League designated special players, picked by J.League clubs from universities and high schools all…This is a list of J.League designated special players, picked by J.League clubs from universities and high schools all over Japan.
Rui Sueyoshi (末吉 塁, Sueyoshi Rui; born 26 July 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder…Rui Sueyoshi (末吉 塁, Sueyoshi Rui; born 26 July 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Fagiano Okayama.
Shūmei Miyamoto (宮本 秀明, Miyamoto Shūmei) (born July 24, 1996) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He plays…Shūmei Miyamoto (宮本 秀明, Miyamoto Shūmei) (born July 24, 1996) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He plays infielder for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Wataru Tanigawa (谷川航, Tanigawa Wataru; born 23 July 1996) is a Japanese artistic gymnast. He won a gold medal with the…Wataru Tanigawa (谷川航, Tanigawa Wataru; born 23 July 1996) is a Japanese artistic gymnast. He won a gold medal with the Japanese team at the 2024 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. At the 2022 World Championships, he won a silver medal in the team event and a bronze medal in the all-around. He also won team bronze medals at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships. He is also the 2022 Asian Games vault champion and a two-time World University Games champion.
Reina Miura (三浦 伶奈, born 22 July 1996) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist, currently competing in the…Reina Miura (三浦 伶奈, born 22 July 1996) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist, currently competing in the featherweight division of Rizin and DEEP.
Yuki Kusano (草野 侑己, Kusano Yūki; born 21 July 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for…Yuki Kusano (草野 侑己, Kusano Yūki; born 21 July 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Nakhon Ratchasima in the Thai League 1.
Yusei Ogawa (小川 雄勢, Ogawa Yūsei; born 20 July 1996) is a Japanese judoka. He is the son of 1992 Olympic silver medalist…Yusei Ogawa (小川 雄勢, Ogawa Yūsei; born 20 July 1996) is a Japanese judoka. He is the son of 1992 Olympic silver medalist Naoya Ogawa. He participated at the 2018 World Judo Championships, winning a medal.
Naoto Baba (馬場 直人, Baba Naoto; born 20 July 1996) is a Japanese cross-country skier who competes internationally. He…Naoto Baba (馬場 直人, Baba Naoto; born 20 July 1996) is a Japanese cross-country skier who competes internationally. He represented his country at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Sasuga Kiyokawa (清川 流石, Kiyokawa Sasuga; born 20 July 1996) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder…Sasuga Kiyokawa (清川 流石, Kiyokawa Sasuga; born 20 July 1996) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Ehime.
Hikaru Shimizu (清水 光, Shimizu Hikaru; born 19 July 1996) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for…Hikaru Shimizu (清水 光, Shimizu Hikaru; born 19 July 1996) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Azul Claro Numazu of J3 League.
Lu Wanyao (Chinese: 鲁婉遥; born 19 July 1996), also known by her Japanese name Haruka Morita (森田遥, Morita Haruka), is a…Lu Wanyao (Chinese: 鲁婉遥; born 19 July 1996), also known by her Japanese name Haruka Morita (森田遥, Morita Haruka), is a Chinese professional golfer.
Kaito Kiyomiya (清宮 海斗, Kiyomiya Kaito; born July 17, 1996) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to Pro…Kaito Kiyomiya (清宮 海斗, Kiyomiya Kaito; born July 17, 1996) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is former three-time GHC Heavyweight Champion and former two-time GHC Tag Team Champion. He also makes appearances for partner promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Katsuhiro Nakayama (中山 克広, Nakayama Katsuhiro; born 17 July 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a…Katsuhiro Nakayama (中山 克広, Nakayama Katsuhiro; born 17 July 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for J1 League club Nagoya Grampus.
Honami Maeda (前田 穂南, Maeda Honami; born 17 July 1996) is a Japanese long-distance runner. She is the holder of the…Honami Maeda (前田 穂南, Maeda Honami; born 17 July 1996) is a Japanese long-distance runner. She is the holder of the Japanese national record for 30 km (1:38:35), and the marathon (2:18:59), and the winner of the 2017 Hokkaido Marathon and the 2019 Marathon Grand Championship. She represented Japan at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Maeda won her first marathon in 2017 (Hokkaido Marathon in 2:28:48). She was second in the 2018 Osaka International Women's Marathon, and in the same year won the Sanyo Women's Half Marathon in 1:09:12. In 2020 Maeda won the Japanese Olympic Marathon trials in 2:25:15, beating second placed Ayuko Suzuki and third placed Rei Ohara. On 10 March 2024, Maeda was selected to represent Japan in the women's marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics. On 9 August, the day before the race, she announced that she would be forced to withdraw from competition due to a stress fracture in her right femur.
Kasumi Saeki (佐伯 霞, Saeki Kasumi; born July 16, 1996) is a Japanese professional boxer who held the WBO female mini…Kasumi Saeki (佐伯 霞, Saeki Kasumi; born July 16, 1996) is a Japanese professional boxer who held the WBO female mini flyweight title in 2019.
Takeshi Sasaki (born 16 July 1996) is a Japanese judoka. He is the gold medalist in the –81 kg at the 2021 Judo Grand…Takeshi Sasaki (born 16 July 1996) is a Japanese judoka. He is the gold medalist in the –81 kg at the 2021 Judo Grand Slam Paris
Konami Takemoto (竹本 小波, Takemoto Konami; born July 15, 1996), known mononymously as Konami, is a Japanese professional…Konami Takemoto (竹本 小波, Takemoto Konami; born July 15, 1996), known mononymously as Konami, is a Japanese professional wrestler. She is signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she a member of the H.A.T.E. stable and a former Wonder of Stardom Champion. Takemoto was trained by Kana and Minoru Tanaka, making her debut in February 2015. Konami spent her early career competing for independent promotions such as Pro Wrestling Wave, Reina and JWP, eventually signing to Reina. After leaving the promotion in July 2016, she went on a short hiatus before returning to pro wrestling in November and debuting for World Wonder Ring Stardom in December 2016, going on to become a regular in the promotion before signing full time in May 2018.
Rina Tatsukawa (born 14 July 1996) is a Japanese judoka. Tatsukawa is the gold medalist from the 2021 Judo Grand Slam…Rina Tatsukawa (born 14 July 1996) is a Japanese judoka. Tatsukawa is the gold medalist from the 2021 Judo Grand Slam Baku in the –48 kg category.
Kazuma Takayama (高山 和真, Takayama Kazuma; born July 14, 1996 in Saitama), better known as Kazuma, is a Japanese former…Kazuma Takayama (高山 和真, Takayama Kazuma; born July 14, 1996 in Saitama), better known as Kazuma, is a Japanese former footballer who last played either as a centre-back or left-back.
Junya Matsunaga (松永準也, Matsunaga Junya) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently performing in the Japanese…Junya Matsunaga (松永準也, Matsunaga Junya) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently performing in the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Zero1 where he is a current World Heavyweight Champion in his first reign and former Intercontinental Tag Team Champion.
Yoshiki Takei (武居由樹; born 12 July 1996) is a Japanese professional boxer and former kickboxer, who held the WBO…Yoshiki Takei (武居由樹; born 12 July 1996) is a Japanese professional boxer and former kickboxer, who held the WBO bantamweight title from 2024 to 2025. As a professional kickboxer, he held the K-1 Super Bantamweight Championship from 2017 until 2020, and was the 2017 and 2019 K-1 Super Bantamweight Grand Prix winner. At the time of his retirement from the sport of kickboxing, on December 9, 2020, Takei was ranked as the best fighter at 55 kg (122 lbs) and the eight best pound for pound fighter in the world.
Yurina Yamada (山田 優梨菜, Yamada Yurina; born 12 July 1996) is a Japanese ski jumper. She was born in Nagano. She was part…Yurina Yamada (山田 優梨菜, Yamada Yurina; born 12 July 1996) is a Japanese ski jumper. She was born in Nagano. She was part of the Japanese team that won gold medals at the 2012 Junior World Championships in Erzurum. She also won a team gold medal at the 2014 Junior World Championships in Val di Fiemme. She competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, in the ladies normal hill.
Naoya Ishikawa (石川 直也, Ishikawa Naoya; born July 11, 1996 in Higashitagawa, Yamagata, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Naoya Ishikawa (石川 直也, Ishikawa Naoya; born July 11, 1996 in Higashitagawa, Yamagata, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Oisix Niigata Albirex
Ryoji Kuribayashi (栗林 良吏, Kuribayashi Ryōji; born July 9, 1996 in Aisai, Aichi, Japan) is a Japanese professional…Ryoji Kuribayashi (栗林 良吏, Kuribayashi Ryōji; born July 9, 1996 in Aisai, Aichi, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Manaka Kubota (born 9 July 1996) is a Japanese sprint canoer who competed at the 2020 Olympics in the C-2 500 metres…Manaka Kubota (born 9 July 1996) is a Japanese sprint canoer who competed at the 2020 Olympics in the C-2 500 metres sprint event alongside Teruko Kiriake, and in the C-1 200 metres.
Kaname Takino (滝野要, Takino Kaname; born July 8, 1996) is a retired Japanese baseball outfielder. He played for the…Kaname Takino (滝野要, Takino Kaname; born July 8, 1996) is a retired Japanese baseball outfielder. He played for the Chunichi Dragons between 2019 and 2022. He is currently a YouTuber. On 25 October 2018, Takino was selected as the 6th draft pick for the Chunichi Dragons at the 2018 NPB Draft and on 8 November signed a provisional contract with a ¥30,000,000 sign-on bonus and a ¥7,200,000 yearly salary. Upon being officially unveiled by the Dragons, Kaname commented that he wanted to be a 3-tool player like new team-mate Yohei Oshima.
Hikaru Nakahara (中原 輝, Nakahara Hikaru; born 8 July 1996) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a winger for club Sagan…Hikaru Nakahara (中原 輝, Nakahara Hikaru; born 8 July 1996) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a winger for club Sagan Tosu.
Fuya Maeno (前野 風哉, Maeno Fuya; born 8 July 1996) is a Japanese artistic gymnast. Born in Chiba, Japan, he graduated…Fuya Maeno (前野 風哉, Maeno Fuya; born 8 July 1996) is a Japanese artistic gymnast. Born in Chiba, Japan, he graduated from National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya and later join Central Sports gymnastic club. Maeno was part of Japan men's national gymnastics team that won the silver at 2018 Asian Games.
Kazuya Ojima (小島 和哉, Ojima Kazuya; born July 7, 1996) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for…Kazuya Ojima (小島 和哉, Ojima Kazuya; born July 7, 1996) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Shoma Otoizumi (音泉 翔眞, Otoizumi Shoma; born 7 July 1996) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for…Shoma Otoizumi (音泉 翔眞, Otoizumi Shoma; born 7 July 1996) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for Vanraure Hachinohe.
Risa Shoji (庄司 理紗, Shōji Risa; born July 5, 1996) is a Japanese former figure skater. She won four medals on the ISU…Risa Shoji (庄司 理紗, Shōji Risa; born July 5, 1996) is a Japanese former figure skater. She won four medals on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series (one gold, three silver) and placed fifth at the 2011 World Junior Championships.
Ōnoshō Fumiya (Japanese: 阿武咲 奎也; born July 4, 1996, as Fumiya Utetsu (打越 奎也, Utetsu Fumiya)) is a Japanese retired…Ōnoshō Fumiya (Japanese: 阿武咲 奎也; born July 4, 1996, as Fumiya Utetsu (打越 奎也, Utetsu Fumiya)) is a Japanese retired professional sumo wrestler from Nakadomari, Aomori Prefecture. He debuted in professional sumo in January 2013 for Ōnomatsu stable and made his top division debut in May 2017. He won one championship in the second-highest jūryō division and four special prizes in his career, as well as two gold stars for defeating a yokozuna while ranked as a maegashira. His highest rank was komusubi.
Tomohiro Ogawa (小川 智大, Ogawa Tomohiro; born 4 July 1996) is a Japanese male volleyball player from Yokohama city in…Tomohiro Ogawa (小川 智大, Ogawa Tomohiro; born 4 July 1996) is a Japanese male volleyball player from Yokohama city in Kanagawa Prefecture. He plays in SV.League for Suntory Sunbirds and Japan men's national volleyball team.
Tatsuki Kuwahara (桒原 樹, Kuwahara Tatsuki; born July 4, 1996) is a Japanese former baseball player. Kuwahara was…Tatsuki Kuwahara (桒原 樹, Kuwahara Tatsuki; born July 4, 1996) is a Japanese former baseball player. Kuwahara was selected from Tokoha Gakuen Kikukawa High School by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the 2014 Nippon Professional Baseball draft as the team's fifth pick. He played in the Western League for the Carp's affiliate team from 2014 to 2021. Kuwahara made his first-team debut on September 5, 2020, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. During the 2020 season, he played in three total games with the first-team, recording three at-bats and no hits. On November 3, 2021, the Carp announced Kuwahara's release from the organization. He cited the emergence of younger players, such as Kota Hayashi and Kaito Kozono in his decision to retire as a player.
Ryoya Kurihara (栗原 陵矢, Kurihara Ryōya; born July 4, 1996) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher, infielder, and…Ryoya Kurihara (栗原 陵矢, Kurihara Ryōya; born July 4, 1996) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher, infielder, and outfielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Saki Niizoe (born 4 July 1996) is a Japanese retired judoka. She won one of the bronze medals in the women's 70 kg…Saki Niizoe (born 4 July 1996) is a Japanese retired judoka. She won one of the bronze medals in the women's 70 kg event at the 2022 World Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She won the gold medal in the women's 70 kg event at the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia. In 2017, she won two medals at the Summer Universiade held in Taipei, Taiwan. In the same year, she won the gold medal in the mixed team event at the 2017 World Judo Championships held in Budapest, Hungary. She also won the gold medal in the mixed team event at the 2021 World Championships, also held in Budapest, Hungary. She won the silver medal at the 2022 Paris Grand Slam in France. She won one of the bronze medals in the women's 70 kg event at the 2022 World Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She won the gold medal in the women's 70 kg event at the 2023 World Championships held in Doha, Qatar. She also represented Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics. After placing 7th at Olympics, she announced her retirement.
Ryuya Mura (武良竜也, Mura Ryūya, born 3 July 1996) is a Japanese breaststroke swimmer. He competed in the 2020 Summer…Ryuya Mura (武良竜也, Mura Ryūya, born 3 July 1996) is a Japanese breaststroke swimmer. He competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics. ,
Shuto Kammera (上米良 柊人, Kammera Shuto; born 2 July 1996) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for…Shuto Kammera (上米良 柊人, Kammera Shuto; born 2 July 1996) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for Veroskronos Tsuno.
Arashi Morisaka (森坂 嵐, Morisaka Arashi; born 2 June 1996) is a Japanese boxer. He competed in the men's bantamweight…Arashi Morisaka (森坂 嵐, Morisaka Arashi; born 2 June 1996) is a Japanese boxer. He competed in the men's bantamweight event at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He was eliminated in the round of 32.
Yuya Nagasawa (長沢 祐弥, Nagasawa Yūya; born 1 July 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper…Yuya Nagasawa (長沢 祐弥, Nagasawa Yūya; born 1 July 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Tokyo Verdy.
Aika Imaizumi (今泉 愛夏, Imaizumi Aika; born July 29, 1995), known professionally as Lovely Summer Chan (ラブリーサマーちゃん…Aika Imaizumi (今泉 愛夏, Imaizumi Aika; born July 29, 1995), known professionally as Lovely Summer Chan (ラブリーサマーちゃん, Raburī Samā-chan), is a Japanese singer and songwriter. From 2014 to 2015, she was the lead vocalist of the band For Tracy Hyde.
Takuto Kominami (Japanese: 小南 拓人, born 26 July 1995) is a Japanese athlete specializing in the javelin throw. He…Takuto Kominami (Japanese: 小南 拓人, born 26 July 1995) is a Japanese athlete specializing in the javelin throw. He represented Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the javelin throw.
Sho Otsuka (大塚 翔, Otsuka Sho; born July 25, 1995) is a Japanese football player. He is the son of former footballer and…Sho Otsuka (大塚 翔, Otsuka Sho; born July 25, 1995) is a Japanese football player. He is the son of former footballer and manager Ichiro Otsuka.
Norimichi Yamamoto (山本 義道, Yamamoto Norimichi; born July 25, 1995) is a Japanese football player, currently playing for…Norimichi Yamamoto (山本 義道, Yamamoto Norimichi; born July 25, 1995) is a Japanese football player, currently playing for Zweigen Kanazawa.