Souta Arao (荒尾創大, Arao Sōta; born 18 December 2005) is a Japanese racing driver who is set to compete in the 2026 Super…
Souta Arao (荒尾創大, Arao Sōta; born 18 December 2005) is a Japanese racing driver who is set to compete in the 2026 Super GT Series for Team Mach. He previously raced in Super Formula Lights, the French F4 Championship & GB3 Championship. He is a scholar of the Honda Racing School which formerly as Suzuka Racing School, and part of the Honda Formula Dream Project.
Japanese people database × places of origin
Famous People from Tokyo
Tokyo: 15 people
Yuki Tsunoda (Japanese: 角田 裕毅, Hepburn: Tsunoda Yūki; pronounced [tsɯnoda jɯ̟ᵝːkʲi]; born 11 May 2000) is a Japanese…
Yuki Tsunoda (Japanese: 角田 裕毅, Hepburn: Tsunoda Yūki; pronounced [tsɯnoda jɯ̟ᵝːkʲi]; born 11 May 2000) is a Japanese racing driver who serves as a reserve driver in Formula One for Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls. Tsunoda competed in Formula One full-time from 2021 to 2025, and served as an understudy in 2026. Born in Sagamihara and raised in Tokyo, Tsunoda began competitive kart racing aged nine. Supported by Honda since 2016 through the Honda Formula Dream Project, Tsunoda graduated to junior formulae the same year. He won his first full championship at the JAF Japan F4 East Series in 2017, winning the F4 Japanese Championship the next season. In 2019, he progressed to FIA Formula 3 with Jenzer and became a member of the Red Bull Junior Team, before finishing third in his rookie season of FIA Formula 2 in 2020 with Carlin. Tsunoda debuted in Formula One for AlphaTauri in 2021, using a Honda powertrain alongside Pierre Gasly; he finished a career-best fourth at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that year. Tsunoda retained his seat at AlphaTauri in 2022 and 2023, partnering Nyck de Vries and Daniel Ricciardo in the latter. He remained at the team for the 2024 season as they re-branded to Racing Bulls, before his promotion to senior team Red Bull for the Japanese Grand Prix onwards in 2025. Replaced by Isack Hadjar for 2026, Tsunoda became the reserve driver for both teams and returned at the Dutch Grand Prix for Racing Bulls.
Sota Ogawa (小川 颯太, Ogawa Souta; born 1 October 1999) is a Japanese racing driver who last competed in the 2025 Super…
Sota Ogawa (小川 颯太, Ogawa Souta; born 1 October 1999) is a Japanese racing driver who last competed in the 2025 Super Taikyu – ST-X for Hitotsuyama Racing. Ogawa is the winner of the 2023 Formula Regional Japanese Championship.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Yuki Nemoto (根本悠生, Nemoto Yūki; born September 22, 1996) is a Japanese racing driver who last competed in Super GT for…
Yuki Nemoto (根本悠生, Nemoto Yūki; born September 22, 1996) is a Japanese racing driver who last competed in Super GT for apr, and in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup with Vincenzo Sospiri Racing. He has spent most of his career racing in Italy with VSR, winning the Italian GT Championship twice with the team - once in the Sprint category in 2020, and again in the Endurance Championship in 2022.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Yuhi Sekiguchi (関口雄飛, Sekiguchi Yūhi; born 29 December 1987 in Nakano, Tokyo) is a Japanese racing driver. He currently…
Yuhi Sekiguchi (関口雄飛, Sekiguchi Yūhi; born 29 December 1987 in Nakano, Tokyo) is a Japanese racing driver. He currently competes in the GT500 class of the Super GT Series for TGR Team SARD. Sekiguchi won the 2011 Japanese Formula 3 Championship and the 2021 Super GT GT500 class championship.
Kazuya Oshima (大嶋和也, Ōshima Kazuya; born April 30, 1987) is a Japanese racing driver, currently racing in the Super GT…
Kazuya Oshima (大嶋和也, Ōshima Kazuya; born April 30, 1987) is a Japanese racing driver, currently racing in the Super GT Series for TGR Team Rookie Racing. Oshima is one of only three drivers that have won championships in both classes of Super GT, having won the GT300 Drivers' Championship in 2007, and the GT500 Drivers' Championship in 2019. Until 2025, Oshima raced in the Super Formula Championship for Rookie Racing. He also won the 2009 Suzuka Summer Endurance race. Outside of Japan, he is a five-time class winner at the Nürburgring 24 Hours (2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016) as a member of Gazoo Racing/Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Taku Bamba (番場琢 - Bamba Taku; born January 30, 1982) is a Japanese professional racing driver, who most recently…
Taku Bamba (番場琢 - Bamba Taku; born January 30, 1982) is a Japanese professional racing driver, who most recently competed in the Super GT series. He won the 2011 Super GT Championship in the GT300 class with Good Smile Racing with Team UKYO.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Hiroaki Ishiura (石浦 宏明, Ishiura Hiroaki; born April 23, 1981) is a Japanese racing driver from Tokyo. He currently…
Hiroaki Ishiura (石浦 宏明, Ishiura Hiroaki; born April 23, 1981) is a Japanese racing driver from Tokyo. He currently drives in the Super GT series for Rookie Racing. He was the 2015 and 2017 Super Formula champion, and is known as a fast and strong driver. Ishiura made his Super GT debut in 2006. In 2007, he won the GT300 championship, in the apr MR-S with Kazuya Oshima. In 2008, he started racing in the GT500 class as part of Team Tsuchiya. He went on to join Cerumo after driving for SARD. In 2025, he ended his 18-year run in the GT500 class, finishing third in his final race. However, he is not retiring.
Takuma "Taku" Sato (Japanese: 佐藤 琢磨, Hepburn: Satō Takuma; born 28 January 1977) is a Japanese racing driver, who…
Takuma "Taku" Sato (Japanese: 佐藤 琢磨, Hepburn: Satō Takuma; born 28 January 1977) is a Japanese racing driver, who competes part-time in the IndyCar Series for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. He competed in Formula One from 2002 to 2008. In American open-wheel racing, Sato is a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 winning in 2017 and 2020, and remains the only Asian driver to win the event. Born and raised in Tokyo, Sato began his career in karting before moving to Europe in 1999 with support from Honda. Progressing directly to Formula Three, Sato finished third in the British Championship in 2000 and dominated the series in 2001 with Carlin. With Carlin he also won the Macau Grand Prix and the Masters of Formula 3. Sato signed for Jordan in 2002, making his Formula One debut at the Australian Grand Prix, under Honda power. He moved with Honda to join BAR in 2003 as a reserve driver, replacing Jacques Villeneuve at his home Grand Prix in Japan and returning as a full-time driver in 2004. Sato achieved a podium at the United States Grand Prix as he finished a career-best eighth in the World Drivers' Championship. Following struggles at BAR in 2005, Sato moved to Super Aguri for his 2006 campaign onwards. Amidst financial troubles, Super Aguri withdrew from the sport after the 2008 Spanish Grand Prix, ending both Sato and teammate Anthony Davidson's driving careers in Formula One. After a year's hiatus, Sato returned to open-wheel racing in the IndyCar Series with KV in 2010. He took his maiden pole position at the Iowa Corn Indy 250 in 2011, and became the first Asian driver to win an IndyCar race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2013 with Foyt. His one-off entry in Formula E at the 2014 Beijing ePrix marked the first—and to this date, only—time that Sato competed without a Honda power unit in his professional career, using a spec McLaren powertrain. Sato signed for Andretti in 2017, winning the Indianapolis 500 for the first time. He won several other times across his 2018 and 2019 seasons with RLL, before again winning at Indianapolis in 2020. Sato competed for Dale Coyne Racing in 2022, before moving in 2023 into part-time roles. Sato is a widely popular figure amongst fans and media worldwide, renowned for his aggressive driving style and motto No Attack, No Chance.
Kyosuke Mineo (峰尾 恭輔, Mineo Kyōsuke; born 16 December 1974) is a Japanese racing driver who last competed in the GT300…
Kyosuke Mineo (峰尾 恭輔, Mineo Kyōsuke; born 16 December 1974) is a Japanese racing driver who last competed in the GT300 class of Super GT for Pacific Racing with Good Speed. He was Super GT champion in 2012 in GT300 for Team Taisan Endless, and is also a three-time Super Taikyu champion.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Junko Mihara (三原 じゅん子, Mihara Junko; born 13 September 1964) is a Japanese politician and former singer, actress, and…
Junko Mihara (三原 じゅん子, Mihara Junko; born 13 September 1964) is a Japanese politician and former singer, actress, and racing driver. She is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Manabu Suzuki (Shinjitai: 鈴木 学, Suzuki Manabu; born Tokyo, Japan, March 20, 1963) is a former racing driver…
Manabu Suzuki (Shinjitai: 鈴木 学, Suzuki Manabu; born Tokyo, Japan, March 20, 1963) is a former racing driver, journalist, sport announcer and radio and TV presenter for the automotive industry. He is a Japanese citizen and is nicknamed Mana-P (マナP in katakana). Suzuki competed in the Formula Toyota and Saurus Cup until the mid nineties. When he left circuit racing behind, he became well known for working with Option as a writer and presenter for the magazine's offshoot video magazine, Video Option and Drift Tengoku. Suzuki was best known as one of the three original key judges (the other being Keiichi Tsuchiya and Manabu Orido, which Orido left at the end of the 2004 season to compete for 2005, while Tsuchiya left D1 with Daijro Inada due to irresponsible management) in the D1 Grand Prix series. He adds many comic expressions during commentary to keep the crowds entertained during the races. He also hosts various issues of the Option DVD where he is discussing cars. He often exclaims "giri giri", which means "little little" in Japanese. This phrase is used to express an instance where the "drift" is extremely close or a driver is almost in a position where he/she is going to crash. Suzuki is also involved in car designs, appearing on a segment in Drift Tengoku on DIY graphics and even working on the paint scheme and decals for Orido's 2005 RS*R Toyota Supra JZA80 and Yasuyuki Kazama's 2006 DG-5 Nissan Silvia S15.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Masahiro Hasemi (Shinjitai: 長谷見 昌弘, Hasemi Masahiro; born 13 November 1945) is a former racing driver and team owner…
Masahiro Hasemi (Shinjitai: 長谷見 昌弘, Hasemi Masahiro; born 13 November 1945) is a former racing driver and team owner from Japan. He started racing motocross when he was 15 years old. In 1964 he signed to drive for Nissan. After establishing himself in saloon car and GT races in Japan, he notably entered two rounds of the 1973 British Saloon Car Championship. He took part in his only Formula One race at the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix for Kojima on 24 October 1976. He qualified tenth after an error which cost him his chance of a pole position and finished 11th, seven laps behind the winner. Contrary to a widely propagated but mistaken result, however, he never set a fastest lap in a Formula One championship race.1 Along with compatriots Noritake Takahara and Kazuyoshi Hoshino, he was the first Japanese driver to start a Formula One Grand Prix. Hasemi became the Japanese Formula 2 champion in 1980, and got two titles in the Fuji Grand Champion Series in 1974 and 1980. After that he reverted to racing Skylines, which he became heavily synonymous with in Group 5, touring cars and JGTC. He won the Japanese Touring Car Championship in 1989, 1991 and 1992. He also won the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship in 1990, with the controversial win at the Guia Touring Car race at the Macau Grand Prix in 1990 and Daytona 24 hour in 1992. Hasemi retired from driving in 2001 and now runs NDDP Racing, a Super GT team that currently competes in the GT500 class. Hasemi also owns Hasemi Sport, a former Super GT racing team that ran under the Hasemi Motorsport banner and Nissan aftermarket parts company. Hasemi is the most recent Japanese driver to win his home Grand Prix, winning it in 1975, when it was a non-championship race.
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Isamu Kasuya (粕谷勇, Kasuya Isamu) is a Japanese former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Kasuya began his…
Isamu Kasuya (粕谷勇, Kasuya Isamu) is a Japanese former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Kasuya began his Grand Prix career in 1963. He had his best season in 1964 when he finished the season in seventh place in the 250cc world championship, and eighth place in the 350cc world championship.
🌐 Wikipedia in other languages:Japanese (ja) ↗
Kunimitsu Takahashi (Shinjitai: 高橋 国光, Takahashi Kunimitsu; 29 January 1940 – 16 March 2022) was a Japanese…
Kunimitsu Takahashi (Shinjitai: 高橋 国光, Takahashi Kunimitsu; 29 January 1940 – 16 March 2022) was a Japanese professional motorcycle road racer, racing driver, and team manager. Nicknamed "Kuni-san", he is known as the "father of drifting". Takahashi's racing career lasted from 1958 to 1999. He competed on motorcycles between 1958 and 1963, during which he became the first Japanese rider to win a World Grand Prix, taking four world-level wins in total. Injuries sustained in a crash in 1962 led to him switching to four-wheels in 1965, after which he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in class, become a four-time All-Japan Sports Prototype Champion, and won in Japanese Top Formula, JTC, and JGTC. His final victory as a driver came in 1999 at the age of 59. Takahashi's racing team, Team Kunimitsu, has won multiple championships in Super GT. He was the chairman of the GT Association, the organizers of the Super GT series, from 1993 to 2007.
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