Funa Nakayama (中山 楓奈, Nakayama Fūna; born 17 June 2005) is a Japanese skateboarder from Toyama City. Nakayama won a…Funa Nakayama (中山 楓奈, Nakayama Fūna; born 17 June 2005) is a Japanese skateboarder from Toyama City. Nakayama won a bronze medal in the women's street competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan. In January 2023, she became the first Asian woman to be featured on the cover of Thrasher.
Manon Kaji (Japanese: 鍛治 茉音, Hepburn: Kaji Manon; born 24 August 2004) is a Japanese snowboarder. She medaled silver at…Manon Kaji (Japanese: 鍛治 茉音, Hepburn: Kaji Manon; born 24 August 2004) is a Japanese snowboarder. She medaled silver at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics in the girls' halfpipe event and gold at the 2021 FIS Snowboarding Junior World Championships in the women's halfpipe event.
Taiki Kawayoke (Japanese: 川除 大輝, Hepburn: Kawayoke Taiki; born 21 February 2001) is a Japanese paralympic cross country…Taiki Kawayoke (Japanese: 川除 大輝, Hepburn: Kawayoke Taiki; born 21 February 2001) is a Japanese paralympic cross country skier. He participated at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in the 20 kilometre classical event and won the gold medal with a time of 52:52.8.
Hiiro Komori (小森 飛絢, Komori Hiiro; born 6 August 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for…Hiiro Komori (小森 飛絢, Komori Hiiro; born 6 August 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for J1 League club Urawa Red Diamonds.
Kosuke Yasuhira (Japanese: 安平 光佑, Yasuhira Kōsuke; born 29 June 2000) is a Japanese professional handballer who plays…Kosuke Yasuhira (Japanese: 安平 光佑, Yasuhira Kōsuke; born 29 June 2000) is a Japanese professional handballer who plays as a centre back for Kuwaiti club Burgan SC and Japan national team. He is known for his speed, vision, playmaking ability, and creativity, earning nicknames such as "Sonic" and "Samurai" during his time with RK Vardar in North Macedonia.
Yusuke Inaba (稲場 悠介, Inaba Yūsuke, born 11 April 2000) is a Japanese water polo player. He competed in the 2020 Summer…Yusuke Inaba (稲場 悠介, Inaba Yūsuke, born 11 April 2000) is a Japanese water polo player. He competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2024 Summer Olympics.
Kiyoshiro Tsuboi (坪井 清志郎, Tsuboi Kiyoshiro; born 1 February 2000) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a…Kiyoshiro Tsuboi (坪井 清志郎, Tsuboi Kiyoshiro; born 1 February 2000) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for Tokushima Vortis.
Saori Takarada (宝田 沙織, Takarada Saori; IPA: [takaɾaꜜda saoɾi]; born 27 December 1999) is a Japanese professional…Saori Takarada (宝田 沙織, Takarada Saori; IPA: [takaɾaꜜda saoɾi]; born 27 December 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for WE League club Cerezo Osaka Sakai and the Japan national team. She previously played for Washington Spirit, Linköpings FC and Leicester City
Daichi Matsuoka (松岡 大智, Matsuoka Daichi; born January 23, 1999) is a Japanese football player who plays for Kataller…Daichi Matsuoka (松岡 大智, Matsuoka Daichi; born January 23, 1999) is a Japanese football player who plays for Kataller Toyama.
Rui Hachimura (Japanese: 八村 塁, Hepburn: Hachimura Rui; Japanese: [hatɕiꜜmɯɾa ɾɯꜜi], born February 8, 1998) is a…Rui Hachimura (Japanese: 八村 塁, Hepburn: Hachimura Rui; Japanese: [hatɕiꜜmɯɾa ɾɯꜜi], born February 8, 1998) is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs and has played for the Japan national team. He plays the power forward position. After being selected ninth overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2019 NBA draft, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020. Born in Toyama Prefecture, Hachimura achieved success at the youth level in Japan, leading Meisei High School to three straight All-Japan High School Tournament titles and being a top player for the Japanese under-17 and under-19 national teams in FIBA competition. He joined Gonzaga in 2016 as the fifth Japanese-born men's NCAA Division I player and in 2017 became the first Japanese national to play in the NCAA Division I men's tournament. As a sophomore, he earned first-team All-WCC honors. He was named a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year.
Rika Nakai (中井 りか, Nakai Rika; born August 23, 1997) is a Japanese actress and singer. She is a former member of…Rika Nakai (中井 りか, Nakai Rika; born August 23, 1997) is a Japanese actress and singer. She is a former member of AKB48's sister group NGT48. She is affiliated with Ohta Production.
Takuma Nishimura (西村 拓真, Nishimura Takuma; born October 22, 1996) is a Japanese football player. He plays as a Forward…Takuma Nishimura (西村 拓真, Nishimura Takuma; born October 22, 1996) is a Japanese football player. He plays as a Forward and is set to play for J1 League club, Machida Zelvia from 2025 and the Japan national team.
Shoichiro Mukai (向 翔一郎, Mukai Shōichirō; born 10 February 1996) is a Japanese judoka. He won a silver medal in mixed…Shoichiro Mukai (向 翔一郎, Mukai Shōichirō; born 10 February 1996) is a Japanese judoka. He won a silver medal in mixed team, at the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan.
Eishiro Murakami (born 8 August 1995), nicknamed "The Tank", is a Japanese weightlifter. He competed in the men's +102…Eishiro Murakami (born 8 August 1995), nicknamed "The Tank", is a Japanese weightlifter. He competed in the men's +102 kg event at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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.
Yumi Kitahara (born 8 July 1995) is a Japanese female handball player for Sony Semiconductor and the Japanese national…Yumi Kitahara (born 8 July 1995) is a Japanese female handball player for Sony Semiconductor and the Japanese national team. She represented Japan at the 2021 World Women's Handball Championship in Spain. At the 2022 Asian Championship, she won silver medals, losing to South Korea in the final.
Haruno Sasaki (佐々木 春乃, Sasaki Haruno; born 26 February 1995) is a Japanese handball player for Borussia Dortmund…Haruno Sasaki (佐々木 春乃, Sasaki Haruno; born 26 February 1995) is a Japanese handball player for Borussia Dortmund Handball and the Japanese national team.
Yu Miyahara (宮原 優, Miyahara Yū) is a Japanese wrestler who participated at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore.…Yu Miyahara (宮原 優, Miyahara Yū) is a Japanese wrestler who participated at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore. She won the gold medal in the girls' freestyle 46 kg event, defeating Lulia Leorda of Moldova in the final.
Asanoyama Hiroki (朝乃山 広暉; born Hiroki Ishibashi (石橋 広暉, Ishibashi Hiroki) on March 1, 1994) is a Japanese professional…Asanoyama Hiroki (朝乃山 広暉; born Hiroki Ishibashi (石橋 広暉, Ishibashi Hiroki) on March 1, 1994) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Toyama Prefecture. He wrestles for Takasago stable. He debuted in sumo in March 2016 and made his makuuchi debut in September 2017. His highest rank has been ōzeki. He has earned six special prizes, and one gold star for defeating a yokozuna. In May 2019 he won his first top division yūshō or tournament championship, the first of the Reiwa era. He was also runner-up in November 2019 and finished the calendar year with more top division wins than any other wrestler. He was promoted to ōzeki after the March 2020 tournament, and was a runner-up in his ōzeki debut in July 2020 and in January 2021. In June 2021 Asanoyama was handed a one-year (six tournament) suspension for violating sumo protocols related to COVID-19. He returned to competition in the July 2022 tournament having been demoted to the third-lowest rank of sandanme. After returning to the top division in May 2023, he was sidelined again in July 2024 after tearing his left ACL in competition. He returned again to the top division for the January 2026 tournament, becoming the first wrestler in sumo history to fall from the top division to sandanme and then return to the top division two separate times.
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.
Taijiro Mori (森 泰次郎, Mori Taijiro; born December 8, 1991) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for Toyama…Taijiro Mori (森 泰次郎, Mori Taijiro; born December 8, 1991) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for Toyama Shinjo in Hokushinetsu Football League.
Junya Osaki (大﨑 淳矢, Ōsaki Junya; born April 2, 1991 in Toyama) is a Japanese football player currently playing for…Junya Osaki (大﨑 淳矢, Ōsaki Junya; born April 2, 1991 in Toyama) is a Japanese football player currently playing for Tochigi SC.
Yuji Nishino (西野 勇士, born March 6, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines of…Yuji Nishino (西野 勇士, born March 6, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Nishino was added to the Japanese baseball team's roster for the 2014 Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series.
Kodai Fujii (藤井 航大, Fujii Kōdai; born January 13, 1991 in Toyama) is a Japanese footballer. He plays for J-Lease FC…Kodai Fujii (藤井 航大, Fujii Kōdai; born January 13, 1991 in Toyama) is a Japanese footballer. He plays for J-Lease FC from 2023.
Haruka Tachimoto (田知本 遥, Tachimoto Haruka; born 3 August 1990 in Imizu, Japan) is a Japanese judoka ranking at 5th Dan.…Haruka Tachimoto (田知本 遥, Tachimoto Haruka; born 3 August 1990 in Imizu, Japan) is a Japanese judoka ranking at 5th Dan. She competed in the -70 kg division at the 2016 Olympics in Rio; she took gold, beating the world #1 and world #2 ranked women along the way. She had previously competed in the 70 kg event at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Aya Yokoshima (横嶋 彩, Yokoshima Aya; born 3 July 1990) is a Japanese handball player for Hokkoku Bank Handball Team and…Aya Yokoshima (横嶋 彩, Yokoshima Aya; born 3 July 1990) is a Japanese handball player for Hokkoku Bank Handball Team and the Japanese national team. She competed at the 2015 World Women's Handball Championship in Denmark.
Kenya Yasuda (保田 賢也, Yasuda Ken'ya; born 29 March 1989) is a water polo player from Japan. He appeared in the Japanese…Kenya Yasuda (保田 賢也, Yasuda Ken'ya; born 29 March 1989) is a water polo player from Japan. He appeared in the Japanese Reality TV series Terrace House: Boys × Girls Next Door (2012), episodes 75 - 98 which depicts his water polo training and in which he expresses his dream to one day represent Japan in the Olympics. He makes a cameo appearance in the Japanese movie Terrace House: Closing Door (2015) in which he outlines the necessary steps he and his team must take to qualify for entry to the 2016 Rio Olympics. He was part of the Japanese team at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where the team was eliminated in the group stage.
Megumi Tachimoto (田知本 愛, Tachimoto Megumi; born 27 January 1989) is a Japanese female former judoka. She won a bronze…Megumi Tachimoto (田知本 愛, Tachimoto Megumi; born 27 January 1989) is a Japanese female former judoka. She won a bronze medal in the Openweight division at the 2010 World Judo Championships.
Mikako Ishino (石野 実加子, Ishino Mikako; born 11 November 1988) is a Japanese handball player who plays for the club…Mikako Ishino (石野 実加子, Ishino Mikako; born 11 November 1988) is a Japanese handball player who plays for the club Hokkoku Bank. She is also member of the Japanese national team. She competed at the 2015 World Women's Handball Championship in Denmark.
Mitsuhiro Kitamiya (北宮 光洋, Kitamiya Mitsuhiro; born November 27, 1988) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to…Mitsuhiro Kitamiya (北宮 光洋, Kitamiya Mitsuhiro; born November 27, 1988) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Pro Wrestling Noah. Kitamiya's ring name Masa Kitamiya (マサ北宮, Masa Kitamiya) is a tribute to former professional wrestler Masa Saito. Kitamiya also wears a similar ring attire to Saito as tribute.
Ayumu Ishikawa (石川 歩, Ishikawa Ayumu; born April 11, 1988) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Twins…Ayumu Ishikawa (石川 歩, Ishikawa Ayumu; born April 11, 1988) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Twins Oosterhout of the Netherlands' Honkbal Hoofdklasse. He previously played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Kento Yachi (矢地 健人, born January 15, 1988) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in the Nippon…Kento Yachi (矢地 健人, born January 15, 1988) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher in the Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Chunichi Dragons from 2010 to 2013 and with the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2015.
Takahiro Araki (荒木 貴裕, Araki Takahiro; born July 26, 1987 in Oyabe, Toyama, Japan) is a former professional Japanese…Takahiro Araki (荒木 貴裕, Araki Takahiro; born July 26, 1987 in Oyabe, Toyama, Japan) is a former professional Japanese baseball player.
Shinichiro Tominaga (冨永真一郎, Tominaga Shinichiro) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Ganbare Pro-Wrestling…Shinichiro Tominaga (冨永真一郎, Tominaga Shinichiro) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Ganbare Pro-Wrestling where he is one half of the current Spirit of Ganbare World Tag Team Champions alongside Yumehito Imanari. He is also known for his time in various promotions from the Japanese independent scene.
Kaoru Yokoshima (横嶋 かおる, Yokoshima Kaoru; born 11 December 1985) is a Japanese handball player. She plays for the club…Kaoru Yokoshima (横嶋 かおる, Yokoshima Kaoru; born 11 December 1985) is a Japanese handball player. She plays for the club Hokkoku Bank, and on the Japanese national team. She represented Japan at the 2013 World Women's Handball Championship in Serbia, where the Japanese team placed 14th.
Masato Nakazawa (中澤 雅人, Nakazawa Masato; born February 16, 1985 in Toyama, Toyama, Japan) is a Japanese former…Masato Nakazawa (中澤 雅人, Nakazawa Masato; born February 16, 1985 in Toyama, Toyama, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Mayumi Ono (小野 真由美, Ono Mayumi; born 14 August 1984) is a Japanese former field hockey player who competed in the 2008…Mayumi Ono (小野 真由美, Ono Mayumi; born 14 August 1984) is a Japanese former field hockey player who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Tomoyo Takagishi (高岸知代, Takagishi Tomoyo born July 16, 1984) is a former Japanese female professional tennis player…Tomoyo Takagishi (高岸知代, Takagishi Tomoyo born July 16, 1984) is a former Japanese female professional tennis player from Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture. She won 2 ITF Women circuit tournaments, was runner-up at All Japan indoor championships and in November 2009 she retired from tennis. Her highest WTA ranking was 396th in singles, and 307th in doubles.
Sayaka Fukita (吹田 早哉佳, Fukita Sayaka; born 23 June 1984) is a Japanese actress from Toyama, Toyama who has acted in…Sayaka Fukita (吹田 早哉佳, Fukita Sayaka; born 23 June 1984) is a Japanese actress from Toyama, Toyama who has acted in feature films, television series, radio shows and theater productions.
Yuki Nakashima (中島 裕希, Nakashima Yūki; born June 16, 1984) is a Japanese football player who plays for J2 League club…Yuki Nakashima (中島 裕希, Nakashima Yūki; born June 16, 1984) is a Japanese football player who plays for J2 League club Kataller Toyama.
Yusaku Obata (小幡優作, Obata Yusaku, born February 13, 1984) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently a freelancer.…Yusaku Obata (小幡優作, Obata Yusaku, born February 13, 1984) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently a freelancer. He's best known for his time in Pro Wrestling Zero1 (ZERO1), where is a former World Heavyweight Champion, a former two-time NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, a former NWA United National Heavyweight Champion, the winner of the 2013 and 2016 Furinkazan and the 2016 Fire Festival. He is also known for his work in Apache Pro Wrestling Army, where he was a former WEW Tag Team Champion alongside HIROKI. Obata was originally trained by Kaientai Dojo and left the promotion in 2006. After leaving K-Dojo, Obata had much better success after signing with ZERO1 in 2012.
Yuki Yamazaki (山崎 勇喜, Yamazaki Yūki; born 16 January 1984 in Toyama) is a Japanese race walker. Yamazaki began to…Yuki Yamazaki (山崎 勇喜, Yamazaki Yūki; born 16 January 1984 in Toyama) is a Japanese race walker. Yamazaki began to participate in race walking at high school, and competed at the World Junior championships in his junior year. At the Osaka World Championships in 2007, he was in contention in the 50 km race until he was misdirected by officials and disqualified for entering the stadium without completing the full course. If he had finished in the top eight, he would have qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics. He managed to qualify for the 2008 Olympics after setting a new Japanese record at the Japanese national championships.
