Kaori Iwabuchi (岩渕 香里, Iwabuchi Kaori; born 28 April 1993) is a Japanese ski jumper. She has competed at World Cup…
Kaori Iwabuchi (岩渕 香里, Iwabuchi Kaori; born 28 April 1993) is a Japanese ski jumper. She has competed at World Cup level since the 2011/12 season, with her best individual result being sixth place in Lahti on 19 February 2016. Representing the Japanese national team, she won a gold medal in the women's team competition at the 2012 Junior World Championships in Erzurum. She also won the first ever women's World Cup team competition in Hinterzarten on 16 December 2017, with her team-mates Yuki Ito, Yūka Setō, and Sara Takanashi.
Famous People from Nagano Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture: 426 people
Sho Kawamoto (川元 奨, Kawamoto Shō; born 1 March 1993) is a Japanese middle-distance runner competing primarily in the…
Sho Kawamoto (川元 奨, Kawamoto Shō; born 1 March 1993) is a Japanese middle-distance runner competing primarily in the 800 metres. He represented his country at the 2016 Summer Olympics without advancing from the first round. In addition, he won the bronze medal at the 2015 Asian Championships. His personal best in the event is 1:45.75 set in Tokyo in 2014. This is the current national record.
Mitakeumi Hisashi (Japanese: 御嶽海 久司; born December 25, 1992 as Hisashi Omichi (大道 久司, Ōmichi Hisashi)) is a Japanese…
Mitakeumi Hisashi (Japanese: 御嶽海 久司; born December 25, 1992 as Hisashi Omichi (大道 久司, Ōmichi Hisashi)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Agematsu, Nagano. He is in the Dewanoumi stable. He is a pusher thruster-type wrestler. A former amateur champion at Toyo University, he made his professional debut in March 2015, reaching the top makuuchi division in November of the same year. He has ten special prizes for Fighting Spirit, Technique and Outstanding Performance, as well two gold stars for defeating a yokozuna while ranked as a maegashira. His highest rank has been ōzeki. He won his first top division championship (yūshō) in July 2018, his second in September 2019, and his third in January 2022. All three yūshō were won at the rank of sekiwake.
Zack Alan Baranski (born December 18, 1992), is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Alvark…
Zack Alan Baranski (born December 18, 1992), is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Alvark Tokyo of the B.League in Japan.
Chiaki Matsumura (松村 千秋, Chiaki Matsumura; born October 26, 1992 in Aomori) is a Japanese curler from Nagano. She was a…
Chiaki Matsumura (松村 千秋, Chiaki Matsumura; born October 26, 1992 in Aomori) is a Japanese curler from Nagano. She was a longtime member of the Chubu Electric Power curling team from 2012 to 2023. With the team, she won five Japan Curling Championships in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019. At the international level, she has represented Japan three times at the World Women's Curling Championship (2013, 2019, 2022) and three times at the Pacific-Asia Curling Championships (2011, 2012, 2019), winning a silver medal in both 2012 and 2019.
Yūta Kakita (柿田 裕太, Kakita Yūta; born August 27, 1992 in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball…
Yūta Kakita (柿田 裕太, Kakita Yūta; born August 27, 1992 in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball pitcher, who is a free agent. He previously played for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Naoki Sanda (三田 尚希, Sanda Naoki; born 16 August 1992) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for…
Naoki Sanda (三田 尚希, Sanda Naoki; born 16 August 1992) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Nagano Parceiro.
Shota Hara (原 翔太, Hara Shōta; born 18 July 1992 in Ina, Nagano) is a Japanese track and field sprinter who specialises…
Shota Hara (原 翔太, Hara Shōta; born 18 July 1992 in Ina, Nagano) is a Japanese track and field sprinter who specialises in the 200 metres. He is the 2014 National champion in the event and has a personal best of 20.33 seconds. He has also 10.13 seconds in the 100 metres. He competed at the 2014 Asian Games and the 2015 Asian Championships.
Maiko Fujimoto (born 4 December 1991) is a former Japanese rugby union player. She competed for Japan at the 2017…
Maiko Fujimoto (born 4 December 1991) is a former Japanese rugby union player. She competed for Japan at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Atsushi Shirota (代田 敦資, Shirota Atsushi; born November 6, 1991) is a retired Japanese footballer. He is a defender. He…
Atsushi Shirota (代田 敦資, Shirota Atsushi; born November 6, 1991) is a retired Japanese footballer. He is a defender. He was educated at and played for the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya before signing for J2 club, V-Varen Nagasaki. In 2016, he signed for Albirex Niigata FC (Singapore) from the S.League before moving to Sleauge club, Hougang United. In 2018, he signed for Cambodian club Phnom Penh Crown FC. On 7 March 2019, he announced his retirement from football at the age of 27.
Hitomi Tada (born 13 October 1991) is a Japanese handball player for MIE violet' IRIS and the Japanese national team.…
Hitomi Tada (born 13 October 1991) is a Japanese handball player for MIE violet' IRIS and the Japanese national team. She participated at the 2017 World Women's Handball Championship.
Yoshito Watabe (渡部善斗, Watabe Yoshito; born 4 October 1991 in Hakuba, Nagano) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who…
Yoshito Watabe (渡部善斗, Watabe Yoshito; born 4 October 1991 in Hakuba, Nagano) is a Japanese Nordic combined skier who has competed since 2007. He skis with the Waseda University club. He has one FIS Nordic Combined World Cup podium from Oslo in season 2012–13 FIS Nordic Combined World Cup. His older brother Akito is one of the most successful athletes in Nordic combined history.
Aika Hakoyama (箱山 愛香, Hakoyama Aika; born 27 July 1991) is a Japanese synchronized swimmer. She was part of the…
Aika Hakoyama (箱山 愛香, Hakoyama Aika; born 27 July 1991) is a Japanese synchronized swimmer. She was part of the Japanese team that won bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and the Japanese team that won bronze in the team technical routine, team free routine and the free routine combination events at the 2015 World Championship. She competed in the women's team event at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Honami "Amy" Furuhara (born in Kawakami, Nagano), known professionally as Aaamyyy (, stylized as AAAMYYY), is a…
Honami "Amy" Furuhara (born in Kawakami, Nagano), known professionally as Aaamyyy (, stylized as AAAMYYY), is a Japanese electronic musician. Originally a member of electronic pop groups Go Retro and Eimie, Furuhara began working with the psychedelic rock band Tempalay from 2015 (becoming an official member in 2018), and started a solo career in 2017.
Emi Shimizu (清水 絵美, Shimizu Emi; born December 21, 1990) is a Japanese female curler. She is a two-time Pacific-Asia…
Emi Shimizu (清水 絵美, Shimizu Emi; born December 21, 1990) is a Japanese female curler. She is a two-time Pacific-Asia silver medallist (2012, 2019) and a two-time Japan women's champion (2014, 2017). She is a member of the Chubu Electric Power Curling Team, a works team of Chubu Electric Power.
Hiroaki Asano (浅野 博亮, Asano Hiroaki; born (1990-10-06)6 October 1990) is a retired Japanese male volleyball player. He…
Hiroaki Asano (浅野 博亮, Asano Hiroaki; born (1990-10-06)6 October 1990) is a retired Japanese male volleyball player. He used to be a part of the Japan men's national volleyball team. On club level, he only played for JTEKT Stings since 2012. On 9 April 2021, the club announced that he would retire after the 69th Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament, but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saori Imai (今井 沙緒里, Imai Saori; born 22 August 1990 in Tatsuno, Nagano) is a Japanese retired track and field sprinter…
Saori Imai (今井 沙緒里, Imai Saori; born 22 August 1990 in Tatsuno, Nagano) is a Japanese retired track and field sprinter who specialized in the 200 metres. She competed in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the 2011 World Championships. She also won a bronze medal at the 2011 Asian Championships in the 200 metres and a gold medal in the 4 × 100 metres relay.
Yuki Hashizume (橋爪 勇樹, Hashizume Yūki; born 24 August 1990) is a Japanese football player for Ventforet Kofu.
Yuki Kikuchi (菊池 悠希, Kikuchi Yūki; born 24 July 1990) is a Japanese short track speed skater who competed in the 2018…
Yuki Kikuchi (菊池 悠希, Kikuchi Yūki; born 24 July 1990) is a Japanese short track speed skater who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Kento Sakuyama (Japanese: 作山憲斗, romanized: Sakuyama Kento; born 3 July 1990) is a Japanese ski jumper. At the 2008…
Kento Sakuyama (Japanese: 作山憲斗, romanized: Sakuyama Kento; born 3 July 1990) is a Japanese ski jumper. At the 2008 Junior World Ski Championships he finished fifth in the team competition, and at the 2009 Junior World Ski Championships he finished sixth in the team competition. He made his Continental Cup debut in December 2007, his best result being a tenth place from Zakopane in February 2009. He made his World Cup debut in January 2010 in Sapporo, collecting his first World Cup points with a 21st place.
Daichi Yamanaka (山中 大地) (born 1 May 1990) is a Japanese speed skater. Yamanaka competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics for…
Daichi Yamanaka (山中 大地) (born 1 May 1990) is a Japanese speed skater. Yamanaka competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics for Japan. In the 1000 metres he finished 36th overall. Yamanaka competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics for Japan. In the 500 metres he finished 5th overall and in the 1000 metres he finished 24th overall. Yamanaka made his World Cup debut in December 2012. As of September 2014, Yamanaka's top World Cup finish is 6th in a 1000 m B race at Nagano in 2012–13. His best overall finish in the World Cup is 50th, in the 1000 metres in 2012–13. As of May 2018, Yamanaka's top World Cup finish is 2nd in a 500 m A race at Stavanger in 2017–18. His best overall finish in the World Cup is 9th, in the 2017–18 ISU Speed Skating World Cup – Men's 500 metres.
Miyo Ichikawa (市川 美余, Ichikawa Miyo; born June 28, 1989 in Karuizawa) is a Japanese female curler. At the international…
Miyo Ichikawa (市川 美余, Ichikawa Miyo; born June 28, 1989 in Karuizawa) is a Japanese female curler. At the international level, she is a 2012 Pacific-Asia silver medallist. At the national level, she is a three-time Japan women's champion curler (2011, 2012, 2014).
Kosuke Morozumi (両角 公佑, Morozumi Kōsuke; born 27 July 1988) is a Japanese curler from Karuizawa, Nagano. He competed at…
Kosuke Morozumi (両角 公佑, Morozumi Kōsuke; born 27 July 1988) is a Japanese curler from Karuizawa, Nagano. He competed at the 2015 Ford World Men's Curling Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, as lead for the Japanese team, which placed sixth in the tournament.
Akito Watabe (渡部 暁斗, Watabe Akito; born 26 May 1988) is a Japanese retired Nordic combined skier. He won a gold medal…
Akito Watabe (渡部 暁斗, Watabe Akito; born 26 May 1988) is a Japanese retired Nordic combined skier. He won a gold medal in the 4 × 5 km team event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec.
Hirooki Arai (荒井 広宙, Arai Hirooki; born 18 May 1988) is a male Japanese racewalker. He competed in the 50 kilometres…
Hirooki Arai (荒井 広宙, Arai Hirooki; born 18 May 1988) is a male Japanese racewalker. He competed in the 50 kilometres walk event at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, China. He finished third in the 50-kilometre race walk event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but was subsequently disqualified following his collision in the final kilometres with Evan Dunfee of Canada, who then moved up from fourth place to claim the bronze medal. He had it given back to him after a few minutes when a Japanese appeal overturned the disqualification.
Noriko Kohara (小原徳子, Kohara Noriko; born Noriko Kijima (木嶋 のりこ, Kijima Noriko; March 22, 1988)) is a Japanese gravure…
Noriko Kohara (小原徳子, Kohara Noriko; born Noriko Kijima (木嶋 のりこ, Kijima Noriko; March 22, 1988)) is a Japanese gravure idol and actress.
Tetsuro Shimizu (清水 徹郎, Shimizu Tetsurō; born February 10, 1988) is a Japanese curler from Sapporo. He competed at the…
Tetsuro Shimizu (清水 徹郎, Shimizu Tetsurō; born February 10, 1988) is a Japanese curler from Sapporo. He competed at the 2015 Ford World Men's Curling Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, as vice-skip for the Japanese team, which placed sixth in the tournament.
Matsumoto Yamaga Football Club (松本山雅フットボールクラブ, Matsumoto Yamaga Futtobōru Kurabu) or simply Matsumoto Yamaga (松本山雅FC…
Matsumoto Yamaga Football Club (松本山雅フットボールクラブ, Matsumoto Yamaga Futtobōru Kurabu) or simply Matsumoto Yamaga (松本山雅FC, Matsumoto Yamaga Efu Shī) is a Japanese football (soccer) club based in the city of Matsumoto, located in the Nagano Prefecture. The club currently plays in the J3 League, Japanese third tier of professional football.
Satoshi Koizumi (小泉 聡, Koizumi Satoshi; born 26 December 1987) is a Japanese curler. He is a two-time Japanese men's…
Satoshi Koizumi (小泉 聡, Koizumi Satoshi; born 26 December 1987) is a Japanese curler. He is a two-time Japanese men's champion, playing lead for the SC Karuizawa team, skipped by Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi.
Yui Sakai (酒井 裕唯, Sakai Yui) (born 1987) is a Japanese short track speed skater. She competed at the 2010 Winter…
Yui Sakai (酒井 裕唯, Sakai Yui) (born 1987) is a Japanese short track speed skater. She competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She won a bronze medal in 500 metres at the 2011 Asian Winter Games.
Isamu Fujisawa (藤澤 勇, Fujisawa Isamu; born 12 October 1987, in Nakano) is a Japanese racewalker. He competed in the 20…
Isamu Fujisawa (藤澤 勇, Fujisawa Isamu; born 12 October 1987, in Nakano) is a Japanese racewalker. He competed in the 20 km walk at the 2012 Summer Olympics, where he placed 18th. He was also part of Japan's 20 km team at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He competed at the 2009 and 2015 World Championships.
Yoshiya Hosoda (細田佳也, Hosoda Yoshiya; born 5 August 1987, in Nagano Prefecture) is a Japanese rugby union player who…
Yoshiya Hosoda (細田佳也, Hosoda Yoshiya; born 5 August 1987, in Nagano Prefecture) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a back row forward. In his home country he plays for the NEC Green Rockets whom he joined in 2011. He was also named in the first ever Sunwolves squad which will compete in Super Rugby from the 2016 season.
Ayaka Kikuchi (菊池 彩花, Kikuchi Ayaka; born 28 June 1987) is a Japanese speed skater.
Taku Takeuchi (竹内 択, Takeuchi Taku; born 20 May 1987) is a Japanese ski jumper who has competed since 2006. His best…
Taku Takeuchi (竹内 択, Takeuchi Taku; born 20 May 1987) is a Japanese ski jumper who has competed since 2006. His best individual result was in 2013 when he finished 2nd at Klingenthal. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Takeuchi finished fifth in the team large hill, 34th in the individual normal hill, and 37th in the individual large hill events.
Kosuke Komiyama (小宮山 工介, Komiyama Kosuke) is a Japanese kickboxer. He is the former RISE Super Featherweight champion…
Kosuke Komiyama (小宮山 工介, Komiyama Kosuke) is a Japanese kickboxer. He is the former RISE Super Featherweight champion and the 2018 K-1 Super Featherweight GP finalist. He was ranked as a top ten bantamweight kickboxer by Combat Press between April 2018 and July 2021.
Kanae Itō (伊藤 かな恵, Itō Kanae) (born November 26, 1986) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Nagano Prefecture.
Kosuke Matsuda (松田 康佑, Matsuda Kosuke; born September 26, 1986 in Tokyo) is a former Japanese football player. He last…
Kosuke Matsuda (松田 康佑, Matsuda Kosuke; born September 26, 1986 in Tokyo) is a former Japanese football player. He last played for YSCC Yokohama.
Nao Kodaira (Japanese: 小平 奈緒; born 26 May 1986) is a Japanese former long track speed skater who specialised in the…
Nao Kodaira (Japanese: 小平 奈緒; born 26 May 1986) is a Japanese former long track speed skater who specialised in the sprint distances. She is the 2018 Olympic champion in the 500 m distance. Kodaira is the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic gold medal in speed skating. In 2009, she graduated from Shinshu University with a bachelor's degree in education.
Tatsuo Nomura (野村 達雄, Nomura Tatsuo; born 1986) is a Japanese software developer. Born in China with partial Japanese…
Tatsuo Nomura (野村 達雄, Nomura Tatsuo; born 1986) is a Japanese software developer. Born in China with partial Japanese descent, he moved to Japan as a child and studied computer science. He worked in the Google Maps development team before moving to Niantic Labs, where he directed the augmented reality mobile game Pokémon Go.
Hiroki Ueno (上野 拓紀, born April 8, 1986) is a Japanese professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the East…
Hiroki Ueno (上野 拓紀, born April 8, 1986) is a Japanese professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the East Hokkaido Cranes of the Asia League. Since 2011 he plays for the Nikkō Ice Bucks. He previously played between 2009–2011 for the Asia League Korean team High1 and, at university level, for the Waseda University. During the 2014–15 season Ueno scored 80 points to lead the Asia League in scoring (while tied with Michael Swift in points, Ueno had more goals and was therefore credited as the scoring leader); this made him only the second Asian player to win the scoring title in the league, after fellow Japanese Go Tanaka in 2010–11. He has played for the Japanese national team since 2006.
Reiji Miyajima (Japanese: 宮島 礼吏, Hepburn: Miyajima Reiji; born December 15, 1985) is a Japanese manga artist. He is…
Reiji Miyajima (Japanese: 宮島 礼吏, Hepburn: Miyajima Reiji; born December 15, 1985) is a Japanese manga artist. He is known for his series AKB49: Ren'ai Kinshi Jōrei, Rent-A-Girlfriend and The Shiunji Family Children.
Madoka Harada (原田窓香, born December 15, 1985) is a Japanese luger who has competed since 2004. Competing in two Winter…
Madoka Harada (原田窓香, born December 15, 1985) is a Japanese luger who has competed since 2004. Competing in two Winter Olympics, she earned her best finish of 13th in the women's singles event at Turin in 2006. Harada's best finish at the FIL World Luge Championships was 19th in the women's singles event at Oberhof in 2008.
Emi Nitta (新田 恵海, Nitta Emi; born December 10, 1985) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Nagano Prefecture. She…
Emi Nitta (新田 恵海, Nitta Emi; born December 10, 1985) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Nagano Prefecture. She became a voice actress after passing an audition organized by talent agency S-inc. She officially transferred to Difference on 1 September 2017. Some of her major roles are Honoka Kōsaka in Love Live! and Tokoha Anjō in Cardfight!! Vanguard G. She made her anime voice acting debut as Ricca Morizono in Da Capo III. She made an appearance at the Bangkok Comic Con in July 2014.
Ryo Hijirisawa (聖澤 諒, born November 3, 1985, in Chikuma, Nagano) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the…
Ryo Hijirisawa (聖澤 諒, born November 3, 1985, in Chikuma, Nagano) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Eri Natori (名取 英理, Natori Eri; born 23 September 1985) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed in the women's 3000…
Eri Natori (名取 英理, Natori Eri; born 23 September 1985) is a Japanese speed skater. She competed in the women's 3000 metres at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Mika Ozawa (小澤 美夏, Ozawa Mika; born (1985-08-09)August 9, 1985 in Shiojiri, Nagano) is a Japanese short-track…
Mika Ozawa (小澤 美夏, Ozawa Mika; born (1985-08-09)August 9, 1985 in Shiojiri, Nagano) is a Japanese short-track speed-skater. Ozawa competed at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics for Japan. In 2006, she finished second in the opening round of the 1000 metres, then second in her quarterfinal, advancing to the semifinals, where she placed fifth, to end up ninth overall. She was also a member of the Japanese 3000 metre relay team, which finished fourth in the semifinals and fourth in the B Final, ending up seventh overall. In 2010, she was disqualified in her round one race of the 1500 metres, failing to advance. In the 1000 metres, she finished second in the opening round, then fourth in the quarterfinals, failing to advance. She again participated in the 3000 metre relay team, which finished third in the semifinals and fourth in the B Final, ending up seventh overall. As of 2013, Ozawa's best performance at the World Championships is fourth, as a member of the Japanese relay team in 2005. Her best individual result is 11th, in the 2003 1500 metres. She also won a silver medal at the 2005 World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships for Japan, and a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships. As of 2013, Ozawa has six ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup podium finishes, all as part of the Japanese relay team. Her best finish is a pair of silver medals. She finished eighth in the World Cup rankings in the 1500 metres in two seasons.
Yuichiro Ueno (上野 裕一郎, Ueno Yuichirō; born 29 July 1985 in Saku, Nagano) is a Japanese professional long-distance…
Yuichiro Ueno (上野 裕一郎, Ueno Yuichirō; born 29 July 1985 in Saku, Nagano) is a Japanese professional long-distance runner who specializes in the 1500 and 5000 metres events. Ueno began his international career at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where he ran in the junior race in 2004, then in the senior short race for the two years following that. He represented Japan in the International Chiba Ekiden in 2007, starting off the race with the second fastest leg, behind Moses Ndiema Masai. Japan won the competition. Ueno won in the 1500 m and 5000 m at the 2009 Japan Championships in Athletics, beating his teammate Kensuke Takezawa in the latter race. He finished 16th in his heat in the 5000 m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, and won bronze medals in the 1500 m and 5000 m at the East Asian Games later that year. Ueno competed for Nagano in the 2011 Inter-Prefectural Men's Ekiden and ran in the final 13 km leg, improving the prefecture to second place in the final rankings behind Tochigi. Later that year he ran the opening leg of the International Chiba Ekiden and the Japanese team finished as runner-up behind Kenya. He is managed by Toshihiko Seko of S&B Foods.
Tamao Ozawa (小沢珠緒, Ozawa Tamao; born 16 May 1985) is a Japanese retired professional boxer who is a former WBO female…
Tamao Ozawa (小沢珠緒, Ozawa Tamao; born 16 May 1985) is a Japanese retired professional boxer who is a former WBO female super-flyweight champion.
Yoshiki Takahashi (高橋 義希, Takahashi Yoshiki; born May 14, 1985) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played…
Yoshiki Takahashi (高橋 義希, Takahashi Yoshiki; born May 14, 1985) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He spent the majority of his career playing for Sagan Tosu, making over 500 appearances for the club between 2004 and 2021.
Naoki Tsukahara (塚原 直貴; born 10 May 1985) is a Japanese track and field sprinter who specialises in the 100 metres. He…
Naoki Tsukahara (塚原 直貴; born 10 May 1985) is a Japanese track and field sprinter who specialises in the 100 metres. He was seventh in 100 m at the 58th National Sports Festival of Japan in 2003. After coming sixth over 200 m at the 2004 Japan Student Athletics Championships, he returned two years later to place runner-up in both short sprints. The 2006 Japan Championships in Athletics saw him with the 100 m title and take third in the 200 m. Tsukahara represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing where he competed at the 100 metre sprint and placed second in his first heat after Churandy Martina in a time of 10.39 seconds. He qualified for the second round in which he improved his time to 10.23 seconds, finishing third behind Martina and Michael Frater. In the 100 m semi-finals Tsukahara achieved a time of 10.16 seconds, his best of the season, but finished in seventh place, failing to qualify for the final. Together with Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira and Nobuharu Asahara, Tsukahara also competed in the 4 × 100 metres relay final at the 2008 Summer Olympics. In their qualification heat, the team placed second behind Trinidad and Tobago, ahead of the teams from the Netherlands and Brazil. Their time of 38.52 s was the third fastest out of sixteen participating nations in the first round and they qualified for the final. There they sprinted to a time of 38.15 seconds, placing third after the Jamaican and Trinidad teams, winning the bronze medal. However, in January 2017, Jamaica's gold medal was revoked after one of their athletes was found to have been doping, meaning that the Japanese team received silver. The achievement was a historic one in terms of Japanese olympians; it is the first track medal won by Japanese athletes in 80 years, as well as being the first medal won by male Japanese athletes. Tsukahara had a strong start to the 2009 season, improving his 200 m best in early May to 20.61 s. He also set a new 100 m personal best at the 2009 Osaka Grand Prix. He easily won with a time of 10.13 seconds but still felt that he was capable of running faster.