Misaki Amano (天野 実咲, Amano Misaki; born 22 April 1985) is a former professional football goalkeeper and goalkeeping…Misaki Amano (天野 実咲, Amano Misaki; born 22 April 1985) is a former professional football goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach for Urawa Red Diamonds of the Japanese top-division WE League. She was also a professional goalkeeper for TEPCO Mareeze and Vegalta Sendai of the top-division Nadeshiko League, and was a member of the Japan women's national football team's 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup squad.
Takayuki Kishi (Japanese: 岸 孝之, born December 4, 1984, in Taihaku-ku, Sendai) is a Japanese professional baseball…Takayuki Kishi (Japanese: 岸 孝之, born December 4, 1984, in Taihaku-ku, Sendai) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Saitama Seibu Lions. He was the 2008 Japan Series MVP.
Tomomi Morita (森田 智己, Morita Tomomi; born August 22, 1984 in Miyagi) is a backstroke swimmer from Japan. He represented…Tomomi Morita (森田 智己, Morita Tomomi; born August 22, 1984 in Miyagi) is a backstroke swimmer from Japan. He represented his native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. There, he won two bronze medals in the 100 m backstroke and as a member of the 4 × 100 m medley relay team.
Takaaki Tomimatsu (富松 崇彰, Tomimatsu Takaaki; born (1984-07-20)20 July 1984) is a Japanese male volleyball player. He…Takaaki Tomimatsu (富松 崇彰, Tomimatsu Takaaki; born (1984-07-20)20 July 1984) is a Japanese male volleyball player. He was part of the Japan men's national volleyball team at the 2010 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship in Italy. He currently plays for Toray Arrows.
Shinchiro Nariie (Japanese: 成家慎一郎; born 18 May 1984) is a Japanese mangaka. He made his debut with the work Gerard…Shinchiro Nariie (Japanese: 成家慎一郎; born 18 May 1984) is a Japanese mangaka. He made his debut with the work Gerard (ジェラール) in 2004. He has published works under the pseudonyms Kusakari Ichiro (草刈 一朗) and Naruse Yoshiki (成瀬芳貴). Nariie has publicly declared himself to be a trans man.
Midori Kuzuoka (葛岡 碧, Kuzuoka Midori; born January 30, 1984, in Natori, Miyagi, Japan) is a Japanese model who is…Midori Kuzuoka (葛岡 碧, Kuzuoka Midori; born January 30, 1984, in Natori, Miyagi, Japan) is a Japanese model who is represented by the talent agency, Illume.
Nariyuki Masuda (増田 成幸, Nariyuki Masuda; born 23 October 1983) is a Japanese professional racing cyclist, who rides for…Nariyuki Masuda (増田 成幸, Nariyuki Masuda; born 23 October 1983) is a Japanese professional racing cyclist, who rides for UCI Continental team Astemo Utsunomiya Blitzen.
Maximo Blanco (born October 16, 1983) is a Venezuelan professional mixed martial artist who last competed in the…Maximo Blanco (born October 16, 1983) is a Venezuelan professional mixed martial artist who last competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2008, Blanco is the former Lightweight King of Pancrase and has also competed in Strikeforce and World Victory Road.
Tsukasa Fujimoto (藤本 つかさ, Fujimoto Tsukasa; born July 30, 1983) is a Japanese joshi professional wrestler and actress.…Tsukasa Fujimoto (藤本 つかさ, Fujimoto Tsukasa; born July 30, 1983) is a Japanese joshi professional wrestler and actress. She is signed for Ice Ribbon as a wrestler and as the co-head trainer of their training facility. She is a record seven-time ICE×∞ Champion, six-time International Ribbon Tag Team Champion and a two-time Internet Wrestling 19 (IW19) Champion, making her Ice Ribbon's third Triple Crown Champion. Fujimoto holds several records in Ice Ribbon, including most reigns as both the ICE×60/ICE×∞ and IW19 Champion, being the last IW19 Champion by unifying the title with the ICE×60 Championship in July 2013, having the longest reign and most successful title defenses as the ICE×60/ICE×∞ Champion and being the only wrestler in history to have held all four of the promotion's titles. Fujimoto has also made appearances for JWP Joshi Puroresu, where she is a former one-time holder of the Daily Sports Women's Tag Team and JWP Tag Team Championships, Pro Wrestling Wave, where she is a former one-time Wave Tag Team Champion and the winner of the 2012 Dual Shock Wave tournament, and Reina Joshi Puroresu, where she is a former one-time Reina World Women's Champion and a two-time Reina World Tag Team Champion. Fujimoto is the handpicked successor to Manami Toyota, who handed her the nickname of "Flying Angel" and her Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex finishing maneuver upon her November 2017 retirement from professional wrestling. Fujimoto also defeated Toyota in her final match.
Taiji Ishimori (石森 太二, Ishimori Taiji; born February 10, 1983) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New…Taiji Ishimori (石森 太二, Ishimori Taiji; born February 10, 1983) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of Unbound Co. and former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions with Robbie X. He is also a former three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, and is also a one-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion alongside former Bullet Club teammates Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa. Ishimori is best known for his 12-year stint with Pro Wrestling Noah, where he became one of the most decorated junior heavyweights in the promotion's history, holding the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship three times, while also setting the record for the longest reign with the championship at 405 days during his first reign. Ishimori also held the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship a record six times, and won the promotion's Nippon TV Cup Jr. Heavyweight Tag League a record four times. He is also known for his work in Impact Wrestling, where he is a one-time Impact X Division Champion.
Yasuyuki Konno (今野 泰幸, Konno Yasuyuki; born 25 January 1983) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a…Yasuyuki Konno (今野 泰幸, Konno Yasuyuki; born 25 January 1983) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or defender and currently play for Nankatsu SC. He played for Japan national team. He regular plays as either a defensive midfielder or a centre back. He has previously played for Consadole Sapporo, FC Tokyo and Gamba Osaka.
Hayato Sasaki (佐々木 勇人, Sasaki Hayato; born November 29, 1982 in Shiogama, Miyagi) is a Japanese football player…Hayato Sasaki (佐々木 勇人, Sasaki Hayato; born November 29, 1982 in Shiogama, Miyagi) is a Japanese football player currently playing for Tochigi SC and currently assistant managers club WE League of MyNavi Sendai.
Ki-Yo (清貴, Kiyotaka; born on November 22, 1982) is a Japanese pop singer. Since his debut, Ki-Yo has worked as a…Ki-Yo (清貴, Kiyotaka; born on November 22, 1982) is a Japanese pop singer. Since his debut, Ki-Yo has worked as a singer, composer, lyricist and ambassador of Miyagi Prefecture. He's known as one of the few openly LGBT musicians in Japan.
Akinori Nakagawa (中川 晃教, Nakagawa Akinori; born 5 November 1982, in Sendai) is a Japanese singer, songwriter and actor.…Akinori Nakagawa (中川 晃教, Nakagawa Akinori; born 5 November 1982, in Sendai) is a Japanese singer, songwriter and actor. In 2001, he debuted as a singer with "I Will Get Your Kiss". In 2002, he appeared in the musical Mozart!, in which he played the leading role and received a Rookie of the Year Award in the drama division at the 57th National Arts Festival held by the Agency of Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan. His performance in the same musical also earned him the Haruko Sugimura Award and an award nomination for best actor in the 10th Yomiuri Drama Awards. Since then, he has performed in a number of musicals while still actively pursuing his musical career.
Mai Mukaida (Japanese: 向田 麻衣, Hepburn: Mukaida Mai; born 24 October 1982) is a Japanese make-up artist and…Mai Mukaida (Japanese: 向田 麻衣, Hepburn: Mukaida Mai; born 24 October 1982) is a Japanese make-up artist and businesswoman. In 2009, Mukaida started the Coffret Project, which helps women in Nepal, who have been victims of human trafficking get their life back on track. She is the CEO of the cosmetics company Lalitpur, which she founded in May 2013. Mukaida was named the Avon Woman of the Year in 2012, and also received the Lohas Design Award.
Nene Tomita (Japanese: 冨田 寧寧; Tomita Nene; born September 30, 1982) is a Japanese former volleyball player who played…Nene Tomita (Japanese: 冨田 寧寧; Tomita Nene; born September 30, 1982) is a Japanese former volleyball player who played for Toray Arrows.
Tadashi Settsu (攝津 正, Settsu Tadashi; born 1 June 1982 in Sendai, Miyagi) is a Japanese baseball player. He has been…Tadashi Settsu (攝津 正, Settsu Tadashi; born 1 June 1982 in Sendai, Miyagi) is a Japanese baseball player. He has been with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks since 2009, and plays as pitcher, wearing number 50. In 2009, he was voted Most Valuable Rookie. The next year, he became the first pitcher ever to make 70 or more appearances in his first two seasons in the league. He won the 2012 Sawamura Award with a record of 17-5 and a 1.91 ERA, with 153 strikeouts in 193+1⁄3 innings, and 3 complete games with 2 shutouts. Settsu is a 5 ft 11 in, 200 lb right-handed pitcher. With an overhand delivery he throws a fastball that usually sits in 86-88 mph (tops out at 92 mph), curveball, slider, and a solid-average screwball around 80 mph. He also has decent command, posting a walks per nine innings rate of 2.38 in his career (until 2012 season).
Takanori Hoshi (星 孝典, Hoshi Takanori; born May 4, 1982) is a former Japanese professional baseball catcher for the…Takanori Hoshi (星 孝典, Hoshi Takanori; born May 4, 1982) is a former Japanese professional baseball catcher for the Yomiuri Giants and Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball. He was born in Natori, Miyagi, Japan.
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.
Mami Tani née Sato (谷 真海, Tani Mami, born 12 March 1982) is a Japanese paratriathlete and former long jumper. She was a…Mami Tani née Sato (谷 真海, Tani Mami, born 12 March 1982) is a Japanese paratriathlete and former long jumper. She was a World bronze medalist and has competed in three Paralympic Games in track and field, her highest achievement was reaching sixth place at the 2008 Summer Paralympics. Tani competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics as a triathlete and finished in tenth position. Tani had her right leg amputated below her knee after she developed osteosarcoma while at Waseda University.
Eiko Kano (狩野 英孝, Kano Eikō; born 22 February 1982) is a Japanese comedian, singer, YouTuber, and kannushi (Shinto…Eiko Kano (狩野 英孝, Kano Eikō; born 22 February 1982) is a Japanese comedian, singer, YouTuber, and kannushi (Shinto clergy) from Kurikoma (now Kurihara), Kurihara District, Miyagi. He is nicknamed Eiko-chan (英孝ちゃん, Eikō-chan) and Kati (カティ). As a lyricist and composer of 50TA, he is nicknamed Shinya Sakurada (桜田 神邪, Sakurada Shin'ya). He graduated from the Japan Institute of the Moving Image. He completed his kannushi training in Kokugakuin University. He was a former kyūdōka (archer) at the National Sports Festival of Japan.
Marie Arai (荒井 万里絵, Arai Marie; born December 7, 1981) is a Japanese former figure skater who competed in pairs and…Marie Arai (荒井 万里絵, Arai Marie; born December 7, 1981) is a Japanese former figure skater who competed in pairs and ladies' singles. She skated in partnership with Yamato Tamura before teaming up with Shin Amano. Arai and Amano placed 20th at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. They are the 1998 Japanese national champions. Arai's best national result as a single skater, tenth, came at the 2001–02 Japan Championships. After retiring from competition, she became a skating coach.
Utako Wakamatsu (若松 詩子, Wakamatsu Utako; born September 1, 1981) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. From…Utako Wakamatsu (若松 詩子, Wakamatsu Utako; born September 1, 1981) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. From 2002 to 2007, she skated with Jean-Sébastien Fecteau as a pair skater for Canada, winning the silver medal at the 2006 Four Continents Championships. Earlier in her career, she competed in single skating for Japan.
Sayaka Ando (安藤 沙耶香, Andō Sayaka; born 24 May 1981 in Takasaki, Gunma and raised in Sendai, Japan) is a Japanese…Sayaka Ando (安藤 沙耶香, Andō Sayaka; born 24 May 1981 in Takasaki, Gunma and raised in Sendai, Japan) is a Japanese gravure idol and fashion model. She made her debut in Eternal in 2004. She is a graduate of Miyagi Gakuin Women's University.
Hiroshi Iwata (岩田 寛, Iwata Hiroshi; born 31 January 1981) is a Japanese professional golfer who plays on the Japan Golf…Hiroshi Iwata (岩田 寛, Iwata Hiroshi; born 31 January 1981) is a Japanese professional golfer who plays on the Japan Golf Tour and the Asian Tour.
Yoshihiro Horigome (堀籠 佳宏, Horigome Yoshihiro; born 2 January 1981) is a retired Japanese sprinter who specializes in…Yoshihiro Horigome (堀籠 佳宏, Horigome Yoshihiro; born 2 January 1981) is a retired Japanese sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres. His personal best time is 45.77 seconds, achieved in September 2006 in Yokohama.
Keiji Oyama (小山 桂司; born November 19, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher in Japan's Nippon…Keiji Oyama (小山 桂司; born November 19, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2008, the Chunichi Dragons from 2009 to 2011, and for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles from 2012 to 2015.
Shinji Niinuma (新沼 慎二, Niinuma Shinji; born June 22, 1979 in Ishinomaki, Miyagi, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Shinji Niinuma (新沼 慎二, Niinuma Shinji; born June 22, 1979 in Ishinomaki, Miyagi, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball catcher.
Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryūsuke; born April 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New…Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryūsuke; born April 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). He also makes appearances for DDT Pro Wrestling (DDT), where he is the current DDT Universal Champion in his first reign. Pursuing several sports in high school, Taguchi competed in 76 kg (168 lb) class amateur wrestling in college before entering the NJPW Dojo in March 2002 and debuting in November of that year at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, wrestling in New Japan's famous junior heavyweight division. Taguchi's best known gimmick is akin to a disco dancer, often sporting a short afro and colorful, flamboyant attire and celebrating victories with a post-match dance, encouraging his partners to join in during tag team matches. This earned Taguchi the nickname "Funky Weapon".
Yuka Kanazawa (Japanese: 金沢 由香, born August 19, 1978) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. She is a two-time…Yuka Kanazawa (Japanese: 金沢 由香, born August 19, 1978) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. She is a two-time Japanese national bronze medalist. She placed 8th at the 1998 World Junior Championships in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada; 11th at the 1999 Four Continents Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; and fourth at the 1999 Winter Universiade in Žilina, Slovakia. She competed at five Champions Series/Grand Prix events, achieving her best result, fourth, at the 1998 Cup of Russia.
Brendan Neilson (born 5 April 1978) is a New Zealand-Japanese former rugby union player who played as a Centre in Japan…Brendan Neilson (born 5 April 1978) is a New Zealand-Japanese former rugby union player who played as a Centre in Japan for Coca-Cola Red Sparks, NEC Green Rockets and Kamaishi Seawaves. He studied in Japan at Sendai Ikuei High School, then Ryutsu Keizai University. On graduation he first joined NEC Green Rockets. He has a bachelor's degree in tourism and social studies. In 2006, he obtained Japanese citizenship, though at international level he has yet to represent the senior Japan squad, having played for the Japan A and Under-23 sides. In April 2015, he began working as IBDP World History Instructor & Rugby Head Coach at Sendai Ikuei High School and is still currently there.
Masami Yamazaki (山崎 雅美, Yamazaki Masami; born January 15, 1978), known professionally by the name Vanilla Yamazaki (山崎…Masami Yamazaki (山崎 雅美, Yamazaki Masami; born January 15, 1978), known professionally by the name Vanilla Yamazaki (山崎 バニラ, Yamazaki Banira) is a katsudō-benshi, voice actress, actress, choreographer, and tarento born in Shiroshi, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan and raised in Ōta, Tokyo.
Yugoh Amano (天野 勇剛, Amano Yūgō; born December 11, 1977 in Miyagi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball…Yugoh Amano (天野 勇剛, Amano Yūgō; born December 11, 1977 in Miyagi, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League.
Shintaro Ejiri (江尻 慎太郎, Ejiri Shintaro; born April 30, 1977 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Shintaro Ejiri (江尻 慎太郎, Ejiri Shintaro; born April 30, 1977 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Chieko Sugawara (Japanese: 菅原 千恵子; born 15 August 1976) is a Japanese fencer. She represented Japan and competed in the…Chieko Sugawara (Japanese: 菅原 千恵子; born 15 August 1976) is a Japanese fencer. She represented Japan and competed in the women's individual foil events at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
Daniel Njenga Muturi (born 7 May 1976) is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who specializes in the marathon. He had his…Daniel Njenga Muturi (born 7 May 1976) is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who specializes in the marathon. He had his first successes in 1995 as he won the steeplechase gold medal at the 1995 Summer Universiade and also the Chiba International Cross Country meeting. He was based in Japan from early on in his early career and won the steeplechase at the Japanese Championships on three occasions. Njenga turned to marathon running and made his debut in 1995 at the Saitama Marathon in Ageo, Saitama, Japan, placing first, and then coming in tenth in his second marathon at the 1999 Fukuoka Marathon. His breakthrough year came in 2002 when he was the runner-up at the Beppu-Oita Marathon and Chicago Marathon. His time of 2:06:16 hours in Chicago made him the third fastest runner in the world for 2002, behind only Khalid Khannouchi and Paul Tergat. He is known for his consistent, close finishes in the Chicago Marathon, finishing as runner-up three times and third on two occasions, between 2003 and 2007. He was the 2006 winner of the Sendai Half Marathon. He won the Tokyo International Marathon in 2004 and then the reformed Tokyo Marathon in 2007. Njenga is a featured subject in the 2007 marathon documentary Spirit of the Marathon. Njenga was victorious at the 2009 Hokkaido Marathon and took consecutive runner-up spots at the Beppu-Ōita Marathon in 2010 and 2011.
Satoru Kanemura (金村 曉, Kanemura Satoru) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. Kanemura pitched for the…Satoru Kanemura (金村 曉, Kanemura Satoru) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. Kanemura pitched for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters during Game 4 when they won the 2006 Japan Series against the Chunichi Dragons.
Chiemi Takahashi (高橋 千恵美, Takahashi Chiemi; born 16 February 1976 in Wakayanagi) is a retired Japanese athlete who…Chiemi Takahashi (高橋 千恵美, Takahashi Chiemi; born 16 February 1976 in Wakayanagi) is a retired Japanese athlete who competed in the long-distance events. She represented her country at the 2000 Summer Olympics, as well as three World Championships. She also took part in nine editions of World Cross Country Championships.
Miyuki Hatanaka (畑中 みゆき, Hatanaka Miyuki; born 18 December 1975) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She competed at the…Miyuki Hatanaka (畑中 みゆき, Hatanaka Miyuki; born 18 December 1975) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics and the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Wataru Ikeda (born 17 November 1975) is a Japanese former professional rugby union player. Born in Higashimatsushima…Wataru Ikeda (born 17 November 1975) is a Japanese former professional rugby union player. Born in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, Ikeda attended Miyagi Fisheries High School and got involved in rugby union as his elder brother was a player. He attended Ryutsu Keizai University. Ikeda, a scrum-half, was with Sanyo Wild Knights for the inaugural Top League season in 2003–04 and earned a place in the tournament's best XV. He made his international debut with Japan in 2004 and was in the team for three years, gaining 14 caps, some as captain. In 2008, Ikeda transferred to Ricoh Black Rams, where he remained for the remainder of his career. He was the competition's oldest player at 39-year of age in his final season.
Naoko Fujioka (藤岡奈穂子, Fujioka Naoko; born 18 August 1975) is a Japanese former professional boxer. She is Japan's first…Naoko Fujioka (藤岡奈穂子, Fujioka Naoko; born 18 August 1975) is a Japanese former professional boxer. She is Japan's first ever five-division world champion, having held the WBA female flyweight title between 2017 and 2022. She also previously held the WBC female minimumweight; WBO female junior-flyweight; WBA female super-flyweight; and WBO female bantamweight titles between 2012 and 2017. Fujioka is a member of the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame.
