Hiromi Kawabata (川畑宏美, born 23 March 1979) is a Japanese former basketball player who competed in the 2004 Summer…Hiromi Kawabata (川畑宏美, born 23 March 1979) is a Japanese former basketball player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Hiroko Sakai (坂井 寛子, Sakai Hiroko; born 3 November 1978 in Fukui) is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal…Hiroko Sakai (坂井 寛子, Sakai Hiroko; born 3 November 1978 in Fukui) is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She is 177 cm (5-9.5) tall and weighs 73 kg (161 lbs).
Hiroshi Takeshima (竹島 宏, Takeshima Hiroshi; born August 28, 1978) is a Japanese enka singer. He has one major hit with…Hiroshi Takeshima (竹島 宏, Takeshima Hiroshi; born August 28, 1978) is a Japanese enka singer. He has one major hit with "Sapporo Elegy" in 2001. On December 30, 2021, Takeshima won the Japan Composer's Association Award at the 63rd Japan Record Awards.
Sohei Kamiya (神谷 宗幣, Kamiya Sōhei; born 12 October 1977) is a Japanese politician who is the founder and leader of the…Sohei Kamiya (神谷 宗幣, Kamiya Sōhei; born 12 October 1977) is a Japanese politician who is the founder and leader of the right-wing populist political party Sanseitō. Kamiya has been serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2022 through the Proportional Representation Block. He advocates "Japanese first" and anti-globalism. A conspiracy theorist who promotes COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation among others, Kamiya gained international media attention while campaigning for the 2022 House of Councillors election due to his antisemitic rhetoric during public appearances and campaign rallies. He has been described as a controversial politician and his party a cult by his political opponents.
Masakazu Ishiguro (Japanese: 石黒正数, Hepburn: Ishiguro Masakazu; born September 8, 1977) is a Japanese manga artist. He…Masakazu Ishiguro (Japanese: 石黒正数, Hepburn: Ishiguro Masakazu; born September 8, 1977) is a Japanese manga artist. He debuted in 2000 with the one-shot Hero prior to launching And Yet the Town Moves in 2005, which won the Seiun Award for Best Comic and an Excellence Award at the Japan Media Arts Festival. In 2018, he launched Heavenly Delusion, which topped the Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook's list of the top manga for male readers.
He Xuemei (Chinese: 和雪梅; pinyin: Hé Xuěméi, born 6 February 1977) is a Chinese gymnast. She competed in six events at…He Xuemei (Chinese: 和雪梅; pinyin: Hé Xuěméi, born 6 February 1977) is a Chinese gymnast. She competed in six events at the 1992 Summer Olympics. She was the last female Olympic athlete to perform the Thomas salto in her routine. In 2006, she married Takaseki Takashi, a logistics manager from Japan, and changed her name to Takaseki Setsubai (高堰雪梅). She represented Japan at the 2006 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Hiromi Misaki (三崎 宏美, Misaki Hiromi; born August 13, 1976 in Fukui) is a Japanese sport shooter. She has been selected…Hiromi Misaki (三崎 宏美, Misaki Hiromi; born August 13, 1976 in Fukui) is a Japanese sport shooter. She has been selected to compete for Japan in rifle shooting at two Olympics (2000 and 2004), and has attained a total of five medals in a major international competition, spanning the ISSF World Cup series. Misaki trains full-time for Hitachi Shooting Team under her longtime coach Yoko Miki. Misaki's Olympic debut came at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. There, she finished in a five-way tie for fifteenth position in the 10 m air rifle with a qualifying score of 392, just two points below the Olympic final cutoff. Misaki also competed in the 50 m rifle 3 positions, but slumped to a distant thirty-eighth in a 42-shooter field with 558 points, after she flubbed few shots in the kneeling series that contributed to her descent in the leaderboard. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Misaki qualified for her second Japanese team in rifle shooting. She managed to get a minimum qualifying standard of 397 to secure an Olympic berth for Japan in air rifle, following her top finish at the ISSF World Cup meet in Changwon, South Korea a year earlier. In the 10 m air rifle, held on the first day of the Games, Misaki fired a modest 392 out of a possible 400 to force in a massive draw with six others for twenty-second place. Nearly a week later, in the 50 m rifle 3 positions, Misaki marked a brilliant 195 in prone, 185 in standing, and 189 in the kneeling series to accumulate a total score of 569 points in the qualifying round, closing her out of the final to twenty-fourth place.
Ryuji Yokoyama (横山 竜士, Yokoyama Ryuji; born June 11, 1976 in Katsuyama, Fukui, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Ryuji Yokoyama (横山 竜士, Yokoyama Ryuji; born June 11, 1976 in Katsuyama, Fukui, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Takami Ominami (大南 敬美, Ōminami Takami, born November 15, 1975) is a long-distance runner from Japan, whose main event…Takami Ominami (大南 敬美, Ōminami Takami, born November 15, 1975) is a long-distance runner from Japan, whose main event is the marathon. She won the 2002 edition of the Rotterdam Marathon, clocking a personal best of 2:23:43. Ominami is one half of a world-record setting duo as she and her twin Hiromi (personal best 2:23:26) are the fastest marathoning sisters of all-time. In 2001, she competed in the women's marathon at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She finished in 37th place.
Makoto Kawamoto (川本真琴, Kawamoto Makoto; born January 19, 1974), is a Japanese pop singer, songwriter and…Makoto Kawamoto (川本真琴, Kawamoto Makoto; born January 19, 1974), is a Japanese pop singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Fukui, Japan. She currently sings under the pseudonym Tiger Fake Fur.
Eiji Shotsu (正津 英志, Shotsu Eiji; born November 13, 1972) is a Japanese professional Nippon Professional Baseball…Eiji Shotsu (正津 英志, Shotsu Eiji; born November 13, 1972) is a Japanese professional Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.
Yoshitsugu Kobayashi (小林 快次, Kobayashi Yoshitsugu, born 1971) is a Japanese vertebrate paleontologist. He is a…Yoshitsugu Kobayashi (小林 快次, Kobayashi Yoshitsugu, born 1971) is a Japanese vertebrate paleontologist. He is a professor and the assistant director in Hokkaido University Museum. His major achievements include the description and naming of several dinosaurs from Japan, for example, Kamuysaurus, Yamatosaurus and Paralitherizinosaurus. He is also a research affiliate of Perot Museum of Nature and Science, a member of Jurassic Foundation, a councilor of Palaeontological Society of Japan.
Yasuyuki Honne (本根 康之, Honne Yasuyuki; born March 5, 1971) is a video game artist, director and producer. He was…Yasuyuki Honne (本根 康之, Honne Yasuyuki; born March 5, 1971) is a video game artist, director and producer. He was employed by Square from 1993 to 1999 and is now working at Monolith Soft. He is known for his work on the Chrono series, Xeno games and Baten Kaitos series.
Masaji Ogino (荻野 正二 Ogino Masaji, born 8 January 1970, in Onyū District, Fukui) is a former volleyball player from…Masaji Ogino (荻野 正二 Ogino Masaji, born 8 January 1970, in Onyū District, Fukui) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who played for the Men's National Team in the 1990s and the 2000s. He ended up in sixteenth place at the 1998 World Championship in Japan.
Yuichi Nakagaichi (中垣内 祐一, Nakagaichi Yuichi; born 2 November 1967) is a professional volleyball coach from Japan.…Yuichi Nakagaichi (中垣内 祐一, Nakagaichi Yuichi; born 2 November 1967) is a professional volleyball coach from Japan. Nakagaichi was a top player for the Japanese men's national volleyball team in the 1990s. Nakagaichi played at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, and he also competed at the 1998 FIVB World Championship in Japan.
Fumiyo Yamashita-Kaizu (born 1 April 1967) is a Japanese table tennis player. She competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics…Fumiyo Yamashita-Kaizu (born 1 April 1967) is a Japanese table tennis player. She competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Mamiko Takai (高井麻巳子, Takai Mamiko, born December 28, 1966) is a Japanese idol from the eighties, who debuted in 1985…Mamiko Takai (高井麻巳子, Takai Mamiko, born December 28, 1966) is a Japanese idol from the eighties, who debuted in 1985 with the J-pop girl band Onyanko Club, and its first sub-group, duo Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi with her co-worker Yukiko Iwai. She quit those two bands in 1987, becoming a solo artist, and released four albums before marrying producer Yasushi Akimoto and subsequently retiring. Her older sister Masayo made her record debut in July 1986 as a part of a 20-member dance group named Dee-Dee (Dee-Dee). She has two other younger sisters.
Ryoichi Yoshida (吉田 良一, Yoshida Ryōichi; born 2 March 1965) is a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 4 × 400…Ryoichi Yoshida (吉田 良一, Yoshida Ryōichi; born 2 March 1965) is a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 4 × 400 metres relay at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Eiji Kutsuki (朽木英次, Kutsuki Eiji) (born Fukui 25 December 1962) is a former Japanese rugby union player and coach. He…Eiji Kutsuki (朽木英次, Kutsuki Eiji) (born Fukui 25 December 1962) is a former Japanese rugby union player and coach. He played as a centre. His younger brothers Yasuhiro and Masafumi were former rugby union players.
Tomomi Inada (稲田 朋美, Inada Tomomi; born 20 February 1959) is a Japanese lawyer and politician serving as a member of…Tomomi Inada (稲田 朋美, Inada Tomomi; born 20 February 1959) is a Japanese lawyer and politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives, representing the 1st Fukui Prefecture since September 2005. She previously served as Minister of Defense from August 2016 to July 2017, resigning in response to a cover up scandal within the Japanese Ministry of Defense. She spent time as the Chairwoman of the Policy Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party in her fourth term as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). She is a native of Fukui Prefecture. She expresses skepticism that comfort women, forced prostitutes for Japan in World War II, were compelled to work. She also does not accept the international consensus on the number of deaths of the Nanjing Massacre. She was implicated in the 2023–2024 Japanese slush fund scandal for over failing to record over 820,000 yen, but denied any responsibility for the scandal.
Yuko Mitsuya (三屋 裕子 Mitsuya Yūko, born 29 July 1958) is a Japanese former volleyball player who was a member of the…Yuko Mitsuya (三屋 裕子 Mitsuya Yūko, born 29 July 1958) is a Japanese former volleyball player who was a member of the Japanese women's national volleyball team that won the bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Ryuzo Sasaki (笹木 竜三, Sasaki Ryūzō; 27 November 1956 – 28 June 2022) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party…Ryuzo Sasaki (笹木 竜三, Sasaki Ryūzō; 27 November 1956 – 28 June 2022) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Daitetsu Tadamitsu (大徹 忠晃; born 29 October 1956 as Tadamitsu Minami (南 忠晃)) is a former sumo wrestler from Ōno, Fukui…Daitetsu Tadamitsu (大徹 忠晃; born 29 October 1956 as Tadamitsu Minami (南 忠晃)) is a former sumo wrestler from Ōno, Fukui, Japan. He made his professional debut in July 1971, and reached the top division in November, 1983. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in September 1990, and has worked as a coach at both the original Nishonoseki stable and the new version of the stable, under the elder name Minatogawa.
Tsuyoshi Takagi (高木 毅, Takagi Tsuyoshi; born 16 January 1956) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House…Tsuyoshi Takagi (高木 毅, Takagi Tsuyoshi; born 16 January 1956) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Kazue Hanyu (羽生 和永, Hanyū Kazue; born 8 September 1950) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics…Kazue Hanyu (羽生 和永, Hanyū Kazue; born 8 September 1950) is a Japanese gymnast. She competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics and the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Yoshinaga Fujita (藤田 宜永, Fujita Yoshinaga; 12 April 1950 – 30 January 2020) was a Japanese novelist and screenwriter.…Yoshinaga Fujita (藤田 宜永, Fujita Yoshinaga; 12 April 1950 – 30 January 2020) was a Japanese novelist and screenwriter. He was known for his works in the crime novel, adventure novel and romance novel genres.
Genichiro Shimada (嶋田 源一郎, Shimada Gen'ichirō; born February 2, 1950), better known as Genichiro Tenryu (天龍 源一郎, Tenryū…Genichiro Shimada (嶋田 源一郎, Shimada Gen'ichirō; born February 2, 1950), better known as Genichiro Tenryu (天龍 源一郎, Tenryū Gen'ichirō) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and professional wrestling promoter. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling. "Tenryu" was his shikona. He had two stints with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he spent the majority of his career while also promoting Super World of Sports (SWS), Wrestle Association R (WAR) and Tenryu Project. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. At the time of his retirement, professional wrestling journalist and historian Dave Meltzer wrote that "one could make a strong case [that Tenryu was] between the fourth and sixth biggest native star" in the history of Japanese professional wrestling.
Kazuo Kawasaki (川崎和男) is a Japanese industrial designer born in Fukui Prefecture in 1949. He graduated from Kanazawa…Kazuo Kawasaki (川崎和男) is a Japanese industrial designer born in Fukui Prefecture in 1949. He graduated from Kanazawa College of Art in 1972. Kawasaki is a professor at Osaka University and a visiting professor at Tama Art University and Kanazawa Institute of Technology. Representative works include the wheelchair "CARNA" (part of the permanent collection at MoMA New York), the "Kazuo Kawasaki" brand of eyeware and the "EIZO" brand of computer displays. One of his research projects is artificial heart design. Kawasaki was Apple design director in the early 1990s and designed portable computer devices (named MindTop, POPEYE, Pluto, Sweatpea, JEEP).
Seiji Isobe (磯部清次, Isobe Seiji; born March 1, 1948) is a Japanese karate instructor residing in Brazil. He is a member…Seiji Isobe (磯部清次, Isobe Seiji; born March 1, 1948) is a Japanese karate instructor residing in Brazil. He is a member of the IKO1 (Kyokushin Matsui Group)'s international committee and is the General Manager of the South American Regional Federation. He holds a rank of 9th Dan Black in Kyokushin Karate. Seiji Isobe, although unsuccessful in Full-Contact Karate competitions himself, became renowned as one of the best Kyokushin and/or Full-Contact Karate coaches. He is known for training various highly prestigious Brazilian Karateka, including Francisco Filho, Glaube Feitosa, Ewerton Teixeira, Andrews Nakahara and Ademir da Costa.
Shinya Owada (大和田 伸也, Ōwada Shin'ya; born October 25, 1947 in Tsuruga, Fukui) is a Japanese actor, voice actor and…Shinya Owada (大和田 伸也, Ōwada Shin'ya; born October 25, 1947 in Tsuruga, Fukui) is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator. He is represented with Horipro Booking Agency. He rusticated from Waseda University First Literature Department.
Seizō Wakaizumi is a former Japanese politician. He attended Chuo University. He served as a member of the House of…Seizō Wakaizumi is a former Japanese politician. He attended Chuo University. He served as a member of the House of Representatives of Japan from 2003 to 2005 and again from 2009 to 2012. He also served as mayor of Imatachi. In 2012, Wakaizumi was appointed as the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Finance.
Yumio Sakurai (桜井 由躬雄; 1945-2012) was a Japanese historian who specialized in Japanese history and history of Southeast…Yumio Sakurai (桜井 由躬雄; 1945-2012) was a Japanese historian who specialized in Japanese history and history of Southeast Asia.
Issei Nishikawa (西川 一誠, Nishikawa Issei; born 2 January 1945) is a Japanese politician and a former governor of Fukui…Issei Nishikawa (西川 一誠, Nishikawa Issei; born 2 January 1945) is a Japanese politician and a former governor of Fukui Prefecture in Japan. He was elected first in 2003. A native of Asahi, Fukui and graduate of Kyoto University with an LL.B. degree in 1968, he joined the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1968.
Ryoichi Ikegami (Japanese: 池上 遼一, Hepburn: Ikegami Ryōichi; born May 29, 1944) is a Japanese manga artist that usually…Ryoichi Ikegami (Japanese: 池上 遼一, Hepburn: Ikegami Ryōichi; born May 29, 1944) is a Japanese manga artist that usually works as the illustrator in collaboration with a writer. He is best known for Crying Freeman (1986–1988), written by Kazuo Koike, and Heat (1999–2004), written by Buronson (AKA Sho Fumimura). The latter won the 2001 Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga. Ikegami received the Fauves d'Honneur at the 2023 Angoulême International Comics Festival. Yoshihide Fujiwara is a former assistant of Ikegami's.
Isao Matsumiya is a former Japanese politician. He attended the University of Tokyo. Matsumiya served as a member of…Isao Matsumiya is a former Japanese politician. He attended the University of Tokyo. Matsumiya served as a member of the House of Representatives of Japan from 2000 to 2005 and again from 2009 to 2012. He was succeeded by Tomomi Inada for the 1st Fukui Prefecture office in 2005.
Yoshiharu Yamaguchi (山口 良治, Yamaguchi Yoshiharu; 15 February 1943 – 29 May 2026) was a Japanese rugby union player. He…Yoshiharu Yamaguchi (山口 良治, Yamaguchi Yoshiharu; 15 February 1943 – 29 May 2026) was a Japanese rugby union player. He made his debut for Japan against a touring New Zealand Universities team in Osaka on 12 March 1967. He last appeared for Japan against England's under 23 team in Twickenham on 13 October 1973. Yamaguchi inspired the Japanese television series School Wars and the film School Wars: Hero which are based on his true story. Yamaguchi died from a stroke on 29 May 2026, at the age of 83.
Juichi Yoshikawa (吉川 壽一, Yoshikawa Jūichi; born 1943 in Fukui) is a Japanese calligraphist, or sho artist, who studied…Juichi Yoshikawa (吉川 壽一, Yoshikawa Jūichi; born 1943 in Fukui) is a Japanese calligraphist, or sho artist, who studied calligraphy formally under Inamura Undo, and later with Ueda Sokiu. Yoshikawa's avant garde trademark "three and a half dimensions" style applies observation as the additional dimension. To an untrained observer, this approach might be characterized as artistic flamboyance known by the use of giant brushes and stadium-sized canvases - or, as in the large 1990 Beijing installation, by almost completely covering the 5,000 square metres of Tiananmen Square. Yoshikawa's work has been presented throughout Japan, China, and the Middle East, and he is the author of a 1993 French publication on his form, Sho. He has collaborated several times with the lyricist, Chris Mosdell, illustrating what are essentially poetic works with experimental calligraphy. The first collection, Shake the Whole World To Its Foundations (2001 Shichosha Publishing), is an epic rhythmical chant densely type-set on the page with delicate and often simple brush-stroke accompaniments. The second publication, The Erotic Odes: A Pillow Book, couples verse by Mosdell with digitally stylized erotic shunga woodcut prints from the Edo Era overlaid with sensual calligraphy and ink-seepage creations by Yoshikawa. A full-color edition, originally published by Libroport in 1997, was fully color-enhanced and re-printed in 2008 by Seigensha Publishing.
Masaaki Yamazaki (山崎 正昭, Yamazaki Masaaki; born 24 May 1942) is a Japanese politician who served as President of the…Masaaki Yamazaki (山崎 正昭, Yamazaki Masaaki; born 24 May 1942) is a Japanese politician who served as President of the House of Councillors from 2013 to 2016. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he has served as a member of the House of Councillors in the National Diet since 1992.
Hiromi Tsuchida (土田ヒロミ, Tsuchida Hiromi; born 1939) is a Japanese photographer. His creative photo career is over 40…Hiromi Tsuchida (土田ヒロミ, Tsuchida Hiromi; born 1939) is a Japanese photographer. His creative photo career is over 40 years long. Tsuchida has produced several collections of photographs of the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. He has produced many photo books such as Zokushin, Counting Grains of Sand, New Counting Grains of Sand and The Berlin Wall. There is also a retrospective of his life's work titled, Hiromi Tsuchida's Japan. Tsuchida has received the Nobuo Ina Award and the Ken Domon Award.
Ryuji Matsumura (松村 龍二, Matsumura Ryūji; February 25, 1938 – September 19, 2025) was a Japanese politician of the…Ryuji Matsumura (松村 龍二, Matsumura Ryūji; February 25, 1938 – September 19, 2025) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Shunya Itō (伊藤 俊也, Itō Shun'ya; born February 17, 1937) is a Japanese film director known for starting the Sasori /…Shunya Itō (伊藤 俊也, Itō Shun'ya; born February 17, 1937) is a Japanese film director known for starting the Sasori / Female Prisoner Scorpion series of 1970s exploitation films starring Meiko Kaji. Itō worked for Toei Company for most of his career. In 1972, he won a Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Citation for his first film, Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion. He won Picture of the Year at the Japanese Academy Awards in 1985 with his film Gray Sunset, a story of a man suffering from Alzheimer's disease. This thus became Japan's entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film instead of Akira Kurosawa's Ran, which caused a slight uproar in Western media as many critics thought Ran had a real chance of winning, whereas Gray Sunset was not even shortlisted. In 1995, he directed Lupin III: Farewell to Nostradamus. In 1998, he directed the World War II drama Pride: The Fateful Moment, presenting a sympathetic view of Hideki Tōjō on trial at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, attracting accusations of revisionism.
Yoshishige Yoshida (吉田 喜重, Yoshida Yoshishige; 16 February 1933 – 8 December 2022), also known as Kijū Yoshida, was a…Yoshishige Yoshida (吉田 喜重, Yoshida Yoshishige; 16 February 1933 – 8 December 2022), also known as Kijū Yoshida, was a Japanese film director and screenwriter.
Osamu Ochiai (落合 治, Ochiai Osamu; born 8 September 1931) is a Japanese former sports shooter. He competed at the 1960…Osamu Ochiai (落合 治, Ochiai Osamu; born 8 September 1931) is a Japanese former sports shooter. He competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics and the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Yukio Kurita (Japanese: 栗田幸雄 Kurita Yukio; 6 April 1930 – 17 May 2024) was a Japanese politician. An independent, he…Yukio Kurita (Japanese: 栗田幸雄 Kurita Yukio; 6 April 1930 – 17 May 2024) was a Japanese politician. An independent, he served as governor of Fukui Prefecture from 1987 to 2003. Kurita died in Fukui on 17 May 2024, at the age of 94.