Kona Takahashi (高橋 光成, Takahashi Kōna; born February 3, 1997) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the…
Kona Takahashi (高橋 光成, Takahashi Kōna; born February 3, 1997) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Japanese people database × places of origin
Famous People from Gunma Prefecture
Gunma Prefecture: 365 people
Kazuya Shiojiri (born 8 November 1996) is a Japanese steeplechase and long-distance runner.
Hiroshi Yoshinaga (吉永 大志, Yoshinaga Hiroshi; born 14 October 1996) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a…
Hiroshi Yoshinaga (吉永 大志, Yoshinaga Hiroshi; born 14 October 1996) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Fukushima United.
Yoshio Koizumi (小泉 佳穂, Koizumi Yoshio; born 5 October 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an…
Yoshio Koizumi (小泉 佳穂, Koizumi Yoshio; born 5 October 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol.
🎓 Aoyama Gakuin University🏫 Maebashi Ikuei High School📅 Born October 5🎂 Born 1996📍 From Gunma Prefecture💼 Football (Soccer)
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗Korean (ko) ↗Spanish (es) ↗Italian (it) ↗German (de) ↗Ukrainian (uk) ↗
Takaya Inui (乾 貴哉, Inui Takaya; born May 12, 1996 in Gunma) is a Japanese football player who play as a Centre back…
Takaya Inui (乾 貴哉, Inui Takaya; born May 12, 1996 in Gunma) is a Japanese football player who play as a Centre back, Left back and currently play for J2 League club, Tochigi City FC.
Junya Suzuki (鈴木 順也, Suzuki Jun'ya; born 2 May 1996) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for J3 League…
Junya Suzuki (鈴木 順也, Suzuki Jun'ya; born 2 May 1996) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for J3 League club FC Ryukyu.
Ukyō Sasahara (笹原 右京, Sasahara Ukyō; born 24 April 1996) is a Japanese racing driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing who is…
Ukyō Sasahara (笹原 右京, Sasahara Ukyō; born 24 April 1996) is a Japanese racing driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing who is currently competing in Super GT and Super Formula for TOM'S. He was previously a factory driver for Honda, and has achieved successes in a wide variety of motorsport disciplines.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗Spanish (es) ↗Portuguese (pt) ↗Italian (it) ↗French (fr) ↗German (de) ↗
Ayano Sakurai (born 15 April 1996) is a Japanese rugby union player. She competed for Japan at the 2017 and 2025…
Ayano Sakurai (born 15 April 1996) is a Japanese rugby union player. She competed for Japan at the 2017 and 2025 Women's Rugby World Cups.
🎓 Nippon Sport Science University🏫 Takasaki Girls' High School📅 Born April 15🎂 Born 1996📍 From Annaka, Gunma💼 Rugby
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Ukyo Shuto (周東 佑京, Shūtō Ukyō; born February 10, 1996) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder and outfielder for…
Ukyo Shuto (周東 佑京, Shūtō Ukyō; born February 10, 1996) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder and outfielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). In 2020, Shuto set a record by stealing a base in 13 consecutive games.
Kei Hirose (廣瀬 慧, Hirose Kei; born 20 November 1995) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder…
Kei Hirose (廣瀬 慧, Hirose Kei; born 20 November 1995) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Super League club Java United.
Hayato Tamura (田村 駿人, Tamura Hayato; ring name: 田村 ハヤト) (born September 13, 1995) is a Japanese professional wrestler…
Hayato Tamura (田村 駿人, Tamura Hayato; ring name: 田村 ハヤト) (born September 13, 1995) is a Japanese professional wrestler working for Gleat, where he is the former longest reign one-time G-Rex Champion. He is best known for his time in Pro Wrestling Zero1, where he is a former World Heavyweight Championship (Zero1).
Stefannie Arissa Koyama (born 30 June 1995) is a Japanese-born Brazilian judoka. Koyama had won bronze at the All-Japan…
Stefannie Arissa Koyama (born 30 June 1995) is a Japanese-born Brazilian judoka. Koyama had won bronze at the All-Japan Judo Championships at Fukuoka in 2016, followed by the East Asian title at 2016 East Asian Judo Championships at Hong Kong. While representing Japan, Koyama's teamed with Funa Tonaki at Teikyo University but later switched to Brazil in 2017. She is the gold medallist of the 2017 Judo Grand Prix Tbilisi and the 2017 Judo Grand Slam Baku in the -48 kg category.
Mao Murakami (村上 真魚, Murakami Mao; born June 12, 1995 in Kiryu, Gunma), also known by her stage name Strong Machine 2…
Mao Murakami (村上 真魚, Murakami Mao; born June 12, 1995 in Kiryu, Gunma), also known by her stage name Strong Machine 2 (ストロングマシン2号, Sutorongu Mashin Ni-gō), is a Japanese J-pop dancer known for her robotic and machine-like dance-style. She currently lives with her family in a Buddhist temple. Her father, who is a priest at the temple, is also known by his stage name of Strong Machine 1. The two often team up to perform. She has appeared on multiple television programs in Japan, including fifteen appearances on the Super Chample dance variety show on CTV. Murakami was featured in the music video for the 2006 single I My Me Mine by the Japanese new wave band Polysics. Murakami appeared as a gas flame in a series of promotions for G-line Toyama, a natural gas and propane company in Japan.
🎓 Ochanomizu University🏫 Gunma International Akademi High School📅 Born June 12🎂 Born 1995📍 From Kiryū, Gunma💼 Dancer💼 TV Personality💼 Karate Practitioner
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Kosuke Horikoshi (堀越 康介, Horikoshi Kosuke; born 2 June 1995) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as…
Kosuke Horikoshi (堀越 康介, Horikoshi Kosuke; born 2 June 1995) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Japan Rugby League One club Tokyo Sungoliath and the Japan national team.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Ryosuke Tsuchiya (土屋 良輔, Tsuchiya Ryōsuke; born 29 November 1994) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the men's…
Ryosuke Tsuchiya (土屋 良輔, Tsuchiya Ryōsuke; born 29 November 1994) is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the men's 5000 metres at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Erika Ida (Kanji:井田 恵里香, born 20 October 1994) is a Japanese cricketer who plays as a right-handed batter. She was a…
Erika Ida (Kanji:井田 恵里香, born 20 October 1994) is a Japanese cricketer who plays as a right-handed batter. She was a member of the Japanese cricket team which won the bronze medal at the 2010 Asian Games. She also competed at the 2014 Asian Games representing the national team. Kurumi also featured in the national team at the 2013 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Musashi Suzuki (鈴木 武蔵, Suzuki Musashi; born 11 February 1994) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for…
Musashi Suzuki (鈴木 武蔵, Suzuki Musashi; born 11 February 1994) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for Tochigi City FC. He is mainly deployed as a forward.
Shohei Yokoyama (横山 翔平, born August 9, 1993) is a Japanese football player who plays as a midfielder or a winger for…
Shohei Yokoyama (横山 翔平, born August 9, 1993) is a Japanese football player who plays as a midfielder or a winger for Taichung Futuro in Taiwan. Having started his career in Japan, Yokoyama moved to Croatia, joining fourth-tier NK Međimurec DP, spending a year and a half there, becoming the club's top scorer with 22 goals in the 2017/18 season. In 2018 he moved to Austrian third-tier team DSC Wonisch Installationen, but returned in December to Croatia, this time to second-tier Varaždin.
Hiroki Arai (新井大輝, Arai Hiroki; born 2 August 1993) is a Japanese rally driver.
🎓 Tokyo Denki University🏫 Honjo Higashi High School📅 Born August 2🎂 Born 1993📍 From Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Ryo Takahashi (高橋 諒, Takahashi Ryō; born 16 July 1993) is a Japanese former footballer who played as a left winger or a…
Ryo Takahashi (高橋 諒, Takahashi Ryō; born 16 July 1993) is a Japanese former footballer who played as a left winger or a left back.
🎓 Meiji University🏫 Kunimi High School📅 Born July 16🎂 Born 1993📍 From Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture💼 Football (Soccer)
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗Korean (ko) ↗Spanish (es) ↗Italian (it) ↗French (fr) ↗German (de) ↗
Masaya Tomizawa (富澤 雅也, Tomizawa Masaya; born 14 July 1993) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a…
Masaya Tomizawa (富澤 雅也, Tomizawa Masaya; born 14 July 1993) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Matsumoto Yamaga FC.
Tomoyuki Shiraishi (白石 智之, Shiraishi Tomoyuki; born June 10, 1993) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Reilac…
Tomoyuki Shiraishi (白石 智之, Shiraishi Tomoyuki; born June 10, 1993) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Reilac Shiga FC.
Shunta Gotoh (後藤 駿太, Gotō Shunta; born March 5, 1993 in Shibukawa, Gunma, Japan) also known as Shunta (駿太) is a former…
Shunta Gotoh (後藤 駿太, Gotō Shunta; born March 5, 1993 in Shibukawa, Gunma, Japan) also known as Shunta (駿太) is a former Japanese professional baseball outfielder and current coach. He is currently the batting coach for the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He previously played for the Orix Buffaloes and Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Shiho (志保; born October 19, 1992 in Gunma Prefecture) is an actress and model. Her agency is Stardust Promotion.
Kaori Ozawa (小澤 かおり, Ozawa Kaori; born August 16, 1992 in Ota, Gunma, Japan), better known by her stage name Zawachin…
Kaori Ozawa (小澤 かおり, Ozawa Kaori; born August 16, 1992 in Ota, Gunma, Japan), better known by her stage name Zawachin (ざわちん), is a Japanese idol, make-up artist and television personality who was originally known for her impersonation of Tomomi Itano of AKB48. She has 400,000 followers on her official blog. However, she has been highly criticized by public on all social media forums owing to her unethical remarks and questionable acts. On 18 September 2017, Zawachin posted four images of mesmerizing views of Tokyo DisneySea on her blog with a comment. Shortly, it became clear that the images were simply taken from a Twitter post done by an amateur photographer. The comment posted on her blog was also exactly the same with the photographer's original comment. Moreover, Zawachin erased the copyright information of the photographer that was put on one of the images.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Takuya Mitsuma (三ツ間卓也, Mitsuma Takuya; born July 22, 1992 in Takasaki, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese baseball player. He…
Takuya Mitsuma (三ツ間卓也, Mitsuma Takuya; born July 22, 1992 in Takasaki, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher. He is currently a free agent having previously played for the Chunichi Dragons. Mitsuma is a descendant of Heian period poet, scholar and politician, Sugawara no Michizane through his mother.
🎓 Takachiho University🏫 Takasaki Kenko Fukushi University Takasaki High School📅 Born July 22🎂 Born 1992📍 From Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture💼 Baseball💼 Youtuber
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Yosuke Komuta (小牟田 洋佑, Komuta Yosuke; born July 18, 1992 in Tochigi) is a Japanese football player. He plays for…
Yosuke Komuta (小牟田 洋佑, Komuta Yosuke; born July 18, 1992 in Tochigi) is a Japanese football player. He plays for Fukushima United FC.
Yuko Hara (原 優子, Hara Yūko; born June 13, 1992) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Saitama Prefecture…
Yuko Hara (原 優子, Hara Yūko; born June 13, 1992) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Saitama Prefecture, affiliated with En. She has starred as Mizuki Mashiro in Tribe Cool Crew, Akari Acura in Chaika: The Coffin Princess, and Takumi Mukai in The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls.
Yusuke Kawagishi (川岸 祐輔, Kawagishi Yūsuke; born 26 May 1992 in Maebashi) is a Japanese footballer who plays for…
Yusuke Kawagishi (川岸 祐輔, Kawagishi Yūsuke; born 26 May 1992 in Maebashi) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Thespakusatsu Gunma.
Hayato Nakama (仲間 隼斗, Nakama Hayato; born May 16, 1992) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking…
Hayato Nakama (仲間 隼斗, Nakama Hayato; born May 16, 1992) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol.
🏫 Nippon Taiiku University Kashiwa High School📅 Born May 16🎂 Born 1992📍 From Higashiagatsuma, Gunma💼 Football (Soccer)
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗Korean (ko) ↗Spanish (es) ↗Italian (it) ↗German (de) ↗
Ai Hirayama (born 7 May 1992) is a Japanese rugby union player. She competed for Japan at the 2021 Rugby World Cup.
Kengo Kitazume (北爪 健吾, Kitazume Kengo; born 30 April 1992) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a right back for…
Kengo Kitazume (北爪 健吾, Kitazume Kengo; born 30 April 1992) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a right back for Matsumoto Yamaga FC, on loan from J1 League club Shimizu S-Pulse.
🎓 Senshu University🏫 Maebashi Ikuei High School📅 Born April 30🎂 Born 1992📍 From Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture💼 Football (Soccer)
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗Korean (ko) ↗Spanish (es) ↗Italian (it) ↗German (de) ↗
Takuto Kurabayashi (倉林 巧和, Kurabayashi Takuto; born 1 February 1992) is a Japanese former professional road and track…
Takuto Kurabayashi (倉林 巧和, Kurabayashi Takuto; born 1 February 1992) is a Japanese former professional road and track cyclist. He won the gold medal in the scratch race at the 2016 Asian Cycling Championships.
Takayuki Ueki (植木嵩行, Ueki Takayuki) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer…
Takayuki Ueki (植木嵩行, Ueki Takayuki) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer, predominantly for DDT Pro-Wrestling, where he is a former one-time KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Champion. He is best known for his time in the Japanese promotions Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) and Pro Wrestling Freedoms (Freedoms).
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Mitsuaki Shiga (志賀 光明, Shiga Mitsuaki; born 16 September 1991) is a water polo player from Japan. He was part of the…
Mitsuaki Shiga (志賀 光明, Shiga Mitsuaki; born 16 September 1991) is a water polo player from Japan. He was part of the Japanese team at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where the team was eliminated in the group stage.
Keitaro Kumehara (粂原 圭太郎; born 13 June 1991) is a Japanese author, competitive karuta player, and teacher. He was the…
Keitaro Kumehara (粂原 圭太郎; born 13 June 1991) is a Japanese author, competitive karuta player, and teacher. He was the karuta meijin for 2019 to 2021 after taking the title on 5 January 2019 at Omi Jingu. He is a graduate from Kyoto University from the Faculty of Economics and goes on lectures across Japan. He is currently crowdfunding an online English learning tool.
🎓 Kyoto University🏫 Gunma Chuo Secondary School📅 Born June 13🎂 Born 1991📍 From Annaka, Gunma💼 Company President・Entrepreneur💼 Writer・Novelist💼 Educator
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Tomoyuki Oka (岡 倫之, Oka Tomoyuki; born June 12, 1991), better known by his ring name Great-O-Khan (グレート-O-カーン…
Tomoyuki Oka (岡 倫之, Oka Tomoyuki; born June 12, 1991), better known by his ring name Great-O-Khan (グレート-O-カーン, Gurēto-Ō-Kān), is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the United Empire stable. In NJPW, O-Khan is a former one-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion with Henare and Will Ospreay, a former NJPW World Television Champion, the final official KOPW Champion and a five-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, (twice with Jeff Cobb, twice with Henare, and once with Callum Newman).
Minori Sato (佐藤 穣, Satō Minori; born 2 March 1991) is a Japanese former football player.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗Korean (ko) ↗Spanish (es) ↗Italian (it) ↗German (de) ↗Russian (ru) ↗Ukrainian (uk) ↗
Kyoji Horiguchi (Japanese: 堀口 恭司, Horiguchi Kyōji; born October 12, 1990) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently…
Kyoji Horiguchi (Japanese: 堀口 恭司, Horiguchi Kyōji; born October 12, 1990) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He formerly competed in the Flyweight and Bantamweight divisions of Rizin FF, where he was the inaugural Flyweight Champion and the inaugural and two-time Bantamweight Champion. He also competed in the Bantamweight division of Bellator MMA, where he was the Bantamweight World Champion. As of July 25, 2026, he is #8 in the Meta UFC flyweight rankings. A professional since 2010, Horiguchi competed from 2013 to 2016 in his first stint with the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he was a UFC Flyweight Championship challenger. He also competed in Shooto, where he was the Bantamweight Champion. He graduated from Sakushin Gakuin High School in Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan.
🏫 Sakushin Gakuin High School📅 Born October 12🎂 Born 1990📍 From 総合格闘家, Gunma Prefecture💼 Mixed Martial Artist
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗Chinese (zh) ↗Portuguese (pt) ↗Italian (it) ↗French (fr) ↗Russian (ru) ↗Ukrainian (uk) ↗
Keita Ichikawa (市川恵多, Ichikawa Keita; born 3 October 1990 in Maebashi) is a Japanese footballer.
Keigo Numata (沼田 圭悟, Numata Keigo; born July 24, 1990) is a Japanese football player.
🎓 Takasaki City University of Economics🏫 Takasaki Keizai University Affiliated High School📅 Born July 24🎂 Born 1990📍 From Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture💼 Football (Soccer)
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗Chinese (zh) ↗Korean (ko) ↗Spanish (es) ↗German (de) ↗
Hiroaki Teshigawara (勅使河原弘晶, Teshigawara Hiroaki; born 3 June 1990) is a Japanese professional boxer. He has held the…
Hiroaki Teshigawara (勅使河原弘晶, Teshigawara Hiroaki; born 3 June 1990) is a Japanese professional boxer. He has held the WBC-OPBF super-bantamweight title since 2018 and previously the WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title from 2017 to 2018. As of August 2020, he is ranked as the world's fourth best active super-bantamweight by BoxRec and seventh by The Ring.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Ayumi Morita (森田 あゆみ, Morita Ayumi; born 11 March 1990) is a Japanese former professional tennis player. She reached a…
Ayumi Morita (森田 あゆみ, Morita Ayumi; born 11 March 1990) is a Japanese former professional tennis player. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 40 in the world in October 2011. At junior level, she reached a combined career-high ranking of No. 3. Morita is recognized for her two‑handed groundstrokes, which she strikes with a characteristically flat trajectory. A small, quick athlete, Morita possesses good footwork and court coverage, allowing her to neutralize opponents and dictate play through movement and precision. Morita is one of the most successful Fed Cup players of recent times with a 23–14 match win-loss record for Japan.
Takumi Oshima (Japanese: 大嶋 匠; born 2 February 1990) is a Japanese former professional baseball player who played for…
Takumi Oshima (Japanese: 大嶋 匠; born 2 February 1990) is a Japanese former professional baseball player who played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. He made his debut in 2014, which turned out to be his only game of the season. In his one at-bat, he struck out.
🎓 Waseda University🏫 Niijima Gakuen High School📅 Born February 14🎂 Born 1990📍 From Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture💼 Baseball
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Hwang Te-Song (born December 20, 1989) is a South Korean football player.
Daichi Inui (乾 大知, Inui Daichi; born December 2, 1989) is a Japanese football player currently playing for Tochigi SC…
Daichi Inui (乾 大知, Inui Daichi; born December 2, 1989) is a Japanese football player currently playing for Tochigi SC on loan from Matsumoto Yamaga FC.
Takuya Aoki (青木 拓矢, Aoki Takuya; born 16 September 1989) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a…
Takuya Aoki (青木 拓矢, Aoki Takuya; born 16 September 1989) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
🏫 Maebashi Ikuei High School📅 Born September 16🎂 Born 1989📍 From Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture💼 Football (Soccer)
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗Korean (ko) ↗Spanish (es) ↗Italian (it) ↗French (fr) ↗German (de) ↗Ukrainian (uk) ↗
Takero Okajima (岡島 豪郎, Okajima Takerō; born September 7, 1989, in Ōra District, Gunma) is a Japanese professional…
Takero Okajima (岡島 豪郎, Okajima Takerō; born September 7, 1989, in Ōra District, Gunma) is a Japanese professional catcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball.
Shino Mori (森 志乃 Mori Shino, born in Gunma Prefecture 1989) is a Japanese-born ballerina for the National Ballet of…
Shino Mori (森 志乃 Mori Shino, born in Gunma Prefecture 1989) is a Japanese-born ballerina for the National Ballet of Canada.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Megumi Kinukawa (絹川 愛, Kinukawa Megumi; born 7 August 1989) is a Japanese long-distance runner. She represented her…
Megumi Kinukawa (絹川 愛, Kinukawa Megumi; born 7 August 1989) is a Japanese long-distance runner. She represented her country at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka and is the Japanese high school and junior record holder for the 10,000 metres. Born in Takasaki, Gunma, she attended Sendai Ikue High School – an institution renowned for its athletic programme. Kinukawa made her first impact on the national junior circuit in 2006, as she won the junior race at the Fukuoka International Cross Country and was runner-up at the Chiba Cross Country two weeks later. This gained her a debut international selection at the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships (also held in Fukuoka), where the sixteen-year-old came in fourteenth place and helped the Japanese girls to a team bronze medal. Turning to the track later that April, she ran a national junior record in the 10,000 metres at the Hyogo Relay Carnival, placing second behind Lucy Wangui with a mark of 31:35.27 minutes – raising her to eleventh on the all-time junior rankings. Kinukawa ran at the Fukuoka Cross Country in 2007 and became the first high school student to win the senior title at the competition. With the 2007 World Championships in Athletics to be held in Osaka, she opted to focus on her track performances and achieved the "A" standard for the 10,000 m in April. She took third place in the event at the Japanese Athletics Championships and earned her first senior selection as a result. At the World Championships in Osaka that August she came fourteenth in the women's 10,000 m, coming in as the second best Asian finisher behind compatriot Kayoko Fukushi. Kinukawa took to the roads at the end of the year to compete for the Japanese team at the Chiba International Ekiden. She played a key role in Japan's victory at the competition, winning the fourth stage and closing the gap on Catherine Kirui of then-leaders Kenya. She suffered a stress fracture injury to her foot in April 2008 and only returned to serious competition in 2009. The injury continued to affect her running and she managed only 56th place at the 2010 Chiba Cross Country. The 2011 season saw her return to form and breakthrough into the senior ranks with a win over 5000 m at the Japanese Athletics Championships and then a third-place finish on her half marathon debut at the Sapporo Half Marathon. At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu she missed out on qualification in the 5000 m and finished last over 10,000 m. She was the only Japanese to reach the podium at the 2012 Chiba Cross Country in February, taking third behind Kenyan opposition, and repeated that placing at the Fukuoka meet.