Yoshitomo Tani (谷 佳知, born February 9, 1973) is a former Japanese professional baseball player from Higashiōsaka…
Yoshitomo Tani (谷 佳知, born February 9, 1973) is a former Japanese professional baseball player from Higashiōsaka, Osaka, Japan. He played as an outfielder for the Orix Buffaloes and Yomiuri Giants. He holds the Pacific League record for hits in a single season by a right-handed batter with 189 hits in 2003 for Orix. He also holds the Japanese NPB record for doubles in a single season with 52 in 2001. Tani emerged as a recurrent Best Nine award winner in the late 90s and early 2000s for Orix, and played a large role in carrying the Blue Wave/Buffaloes following Ichiro Suzuki's departure to play with the Seattle Mariners in MLB
Famous People from Osaka Prefecture
Osaka Prefecture: 1,355 people
Takahiro Sunada (砂田貴裕, Sunada Takahiro; born 19 January 1973) is a Japanese ultramarathon and marathon runner born in…
Takahiro Sunada (砂田貴裕, Sunada Takahiro; born 19 January 1973) is a Japanese ultramarathon and marathon runner born in Osaka. He was the World Athletics male world record holder over the 100 km ultramarathon distance, with a time of 6:13:33 (Lake Saroma-Tokoro Japan June 21, 1998) until it was broken by Nao Kazami in 2018 with a time of 6:09:14. His personal best time for the marathon is 2:10:07 (Berlin, Germany September 10, 2000), where he finished in 4th place.
Takayuki Yokoyama (横山 貴之, Yokoyama Takayuki; born December 22, 1972) is a former Japanese football player.
Keiji Kaimoto (海本 慶治, Kaimoto Keiji; born November 26, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…
Keiji Kaimoto (海本 慶治, Kaimoto Keiji; born November 26, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team. His younger brother Kojiro Kaimoto is also a former footballer.
Terufumi Horiuchi (堀内 照文, Horiuchi Terufumi; born November 2, 1972) is a member of the Japanese Communist Party, former…
Terufumi Horiuchi (堀内 照文, Horiuchi Terufumi; born November 2, 1972) is a member of the Japanese Communist Party, former serving in the House of Representatives. He was born in the center of the Osaka (the second largest metropolitan area in Japan) in 1972. He graduated from Shumiyoshi High School, and Kobe University in 1991. He was elected to this position in 2014, representing the Kinki region. Horiuchi was critical of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's plan to reduce the turnover rate of people giving up their jobs to care for the elderly to zero by improving nursing care as unrealistic. He said that to make Abe's policy work, one would need to increase the wages of those working in nursing care and to give more state funding to facilities.
Kazuhiro Takagi is a Japanese violinist who is currently concertmaster of the Dallas Chamber Symphony.
Toshinori Yonekura (米倉 利紀, Yonekura Toshinori) born October 21, 1972, is a Japanese singer-songwriter and record…
Toshinori Yonekura (米倉 利紀, Yonekura Toshinori) born October 21, 1972, is a Japanese singer-songwriter and record producer originally from Toyonaka, Osaka. Known as "Yone" to fans, Toshinori made his major label debut with the single "Mikan no Android" in 1992 on Geneon Entertainment. Aside from his own music career, Yonekura has crafted songs for some of Japan's best known acts such as KinKi Kids, Hiromi Go, Akiko Wada, and SMAP. In 2008, he made his first foray into acting joining the Japanese production of the Broadway musical, Rent.
Hiroshige Yanagimoto (柳本 啓成, Yanagimoto Hiroshige; born October 15, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. He…
Hiroshige Yanagimoto (柳本 啓成, Yanagimoto Hiroshige; born October 15, 1972) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Kaori Takagi is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Councillors of Japan.
Ai Haruna (はるな 愛, Haruna Ai; born 21 July 1972) is a Japanese transgender TV personality and singer. In October 2009…
Ai Haruna (はるな 愛, Haruna Ai; born 21 July 1972) is a Japanese transgender TV personality and singer. In October 2009, Haruna won the "Miss International Queen 2009" transgender beauty pageant held in Pattaya, Thailand, becoming the first Japanese contestant to win the title. On 24 August 2021, she appeared at the beginning of the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympics held at the National Stadium, where she performed a dance performance. A biopic of Haruna, titled This Is I, was released on Netflix on 10 February 2026.
Kendo Kobayashi (ケンドーコバヤシ, Kendō Kobayashi; born 4 July 1972) is a Japanese comedian and actor. His real and former…
Kendo Kobayashi (ケンドーコバヤシ, Kendō Kobayashi; born 4 July 1972) is a Japanese comedian and actor. His real and former stage name is Tomoharu Kobayashi (小林 友治, Kobayashi Tomoharu). He is nicknamed Ken Koba (ケンコバ), Koba (コバ), and Mr. Yaritai Hōdai (Mr.やりたい放題, Misutā Yaritai Hōdai). He is represented with Yoshimoto Creative Agency of Yoshimoto Kogyo in Tokyo. He graduated from the Yoshimoto New Star Creation (NSC) in Osaka. Kobayashi graduated from Osaka Municipal Higashitanabe Elementary School, Osaka Municipal Nakano Junior High School, and Hatsushiba Tondabayashi High School. He served as a captain of the rugby club in high school.
Shigeo Okumura (奥村 茂雄, Okumura Shigeo; born May 25, 1972) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to Mexican…
Shigeo Okumura (奥村 茂雄, Okumura Shigeo; born May 25, 1972) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). He also performs for Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he is a member of Contra Unit and a former two-time MLW World Tag Team Champion with Satoshi Kojima as CozyMAX. Okumura originally worked in his native Japan for Tokyo Pro Wrestling (TPW), Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) and All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) before moving to Mexico in 2004 to work for CMLL full-time. He was the leader of the stable La Ola Amarilla (Spanish for "The Yellow Wave"), often teaming with Japanese wrestlers who visited Mexico on excursion. Okumura is a former CMLL World Trios Champion, CMLL Arena Coliseo Tag Team Champion and Occidente Light Heavyweight Champion. Through CMLL's partnerships, he has also wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and Ring of Honor (ROH) in the United States.
Tamiki Wakaki (若木 民喜, Wakaki Tamiki; born May 9, 1972) is a Japanese manga artist, notable for his manga series, The…
Tamiki Wakaki (若木 民喜, Wakaki Tamiki; born May 9, 1972) is a Japanese manga artist, notable for his manga series, The World God Only Knows.
Kaori Hasegawa (長谷川 歌織, Hasegawa Kaori) (born March 11, 1972), simply known by the stage name Ua (Japanese…
Kaori Hasegawa (長谷川 歌織, Hasegawa Kaori) (born March 11, 1972), simply known by the stage name Ua (Japanese pronunciation: [ɯːa]), is a Japanese singer. She made her debut under Speedstar Records in 1995 with the single "Horizon". She is also the vocalist for AJICO.
Takashi Fujii (藤井隆, Fujii Takashi), born March 10, 1972) is a Japanese entertainment personality who has performed as…
Takashi Fujii (藤井隆, Fujii Takashi), born March 10, 1972) is a Japanese entertainment personality who has performed as comedian, actor, singer, presenter, and music producer affiliated with the Japanese entertainment conglomerate Yoshimoto Kogyo and was the popular host of Matthew's Best Hit TV (as the character Matthew Minami (マシュー南, Mashū Minami), and various other related shows on TV Asahi. He was born in Toyonaka, Osaka. On May 7, 2005, he officially announced his intention to marry Otoha (乙葉), a Japanese idol. They married on July 30, 2005, at the Grand Hyatt in Tokyo, with an audience of 340 guests including many famous Japanese personalities and celebrities. They have one daughter. In 2022, he was the co-host of Love Is Blind: Japan, and host of the Audible podcast Matthew's Matthew: Matthew in Matthew's Room.
Kataoka Ainosuke VI (Japanese: 六代目 片岡 愛之助, Hepburn: Rokudaime Kataoka Ainosuke; born March 4, 1972) is a Japanese…
Kataoka Ainosuke VI (Japanese: 六代目 片岡 愛之助, Hepburn: Rokudaime Kataoka Ainosuke; born March 4, 1972) is a Japanese actor, kabuki actor and TV host. His yagō is matsushimaya. His mon is the Oikake Go-mai Ichō. His current stage name is Ainosuke Kataoka. He is a renowned tachiyaku, specializing in both the aragoto and wagoto styles, which is rare, considering he hails from the Kansai area, where most kabuki actors specialize in the wagoto style.
Shinya Arino (Japanese: 有野 晋哉, Hepburn: Arino Shinya; born February 25, 1972) is a Japanese comedian and actor from…
Shinya Arino (Japanese: 有野 晋哉, Hepburn: Arino Shinya; born February 25, 1972) is a Japanese comedian and actor from Konohana-ku, Osaka. He is the boke of the manzai duo, Yoiko, with his partner Masaru Hamaguchi. He is best known outside Japan as the star of the long-running gaming variety show, GameCenter CX.
Chiharu Shiota (塩田 千春, Shiota Chiharu) (born 1972) is a Japanese performance and installation artist. Shiota has lived…
Chiharu Shiota (塩田 千春, Shiota Chiharu) (born 1972) is a Japanese performance and installation artist. Shiota has lived and worked in Berlin, Germany since 1996. Educated in Japan, Australia, and Germany, Shiota interweaves materiality and the psychic perception of the space to explore ideas around the body and flesh, personal narratives that engage with memory, territory, and alienation. Shiota has exhibited worldwide. She made her debut in Japan at the Yokohama Triennale in 2001 with Memory of Skin and represented Japan in the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015.
Daisuke Motoki (元木 大介, Motoki Daisuke; born December 30, 1971) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball player.
Muga Tsukaji (塚地 武雅, Tsukaji Muga; born 25 November 1971) is a Japanese comedian and actor. He performs boke (sometimes…
Muga Tsukaji (塚地 武雅, Tsukaji Muga; born 25 November 1971) is a Japanese comedian and actor. He performs boke (sometimes tsukkomi) in the comedy duo Drunk Dragon. His partner is Taku Suzuki. He is nicknamed Tsukacchan (塚っちゃん). Tsukaji was born in Hannan, Osaka. He graduated from Hannan Municipal Tottori Junior High School, Osaka Prefectural Sano High School and Momoyama Gakuin University Department of Economics. Tsukaji co-starred with the comedy duo Hokuyō, who shared the same agency, in Haneru no Tobira.
Sakiho Juri (樹里 咲穂, Juri Sakiho; born 28 October 1971) is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the…
Sakiho Juri (樹里 咲穂, Juri Sakiho; born 28 October 1971) is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters (Otokoyaku). She joined the revue in 1990 and resigned in 2005. She is from Osaka.
Koichi Sugiyama (杉山 弘一, Sugiyama Koichi; born October 27, 1971) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He is…
Koichi Sugiyama (杉山 弘一, Sugiyama Koichi; born October 27, 1971) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He is currently the assistant manager of J1 League club, Kyoto Sanga.
Midori Goto (五嶋 みどり, Gotō Midori; born October 25, 1971), who performs under the mononym Midori, is a Japanese-born…
Midori Goto (五嶋 みどり, Gotō Midori; born October 25, 1971), who performs under the mononym Midori, is a Japanese-born American violinist. She made her debut with the New York Philharmonic at age 11 as a surprise guest soloist at the New Year's Eve Gala in 1982. In 1986 her performance at the Tanglewood Music Festival with Leonard Bernstein conducting his own composition made the front-page headlines in The New York Times. Midori became a celebrated child prodigy, and one of the world's preeminent violinists as an adult. Midori has been honored as an educator and for her community engagement endeavors. When she was 21, she established her foundation Midori and Friends to bring music education to young people in underserved communities in New York City and Japan, which has evolved into four distinct organizations with worldwide impact. In 2007, Midori was appointed as a UN Messenger of Peace. In 2018, she joined the violin faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music. She is also on the faculty of the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music serving as Distinguished Professor and Judge Widney Professor of Music. She was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2012.
Shin'ya Yamamoto (山本 真也, Yamamoto Shin'ya; born October 24, 1971) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 6-dan.
Ninety-nine (ナインティナイン, Naintinain), or Nainai (ナイナイ) is a Japanese comic duo from Osaka working for the entertainment…
Ninety-nine (ナインティナイン, Naintinain), or Nainai (ナイナイ) is a Japanese comic duo from Osaka working for the entertainment conglomerate Yoshimoto Kogyo. The duo (kombi), consisting of Takashi Okamura as boke (stooge) and Hiroyuki Yabe as tsukkomi (straightman), formed in 1990. The pair met in high school, where they were both involved in the soccer club. Okamura had been receiving guidance from Yabe's brother Yoshiyuki Yabe and throughout their high school life they had a senpai and kōhai relationship. As he was Yoshiyuki's younger brother, his soccer club peers referred to him as "Yabe Juni[or]". Upon graduating from high school, Okamura entered Ritsumeikan University and studied there for one year. Yabe, who was significantly less able academically, was unable to get into any universities and as a result invited Okamura to join Yoshimoto with him as a duo. The pair have stated that one of the reasons that drove them to this decision was their combined admiration for Yabe's brother Yoshiyuki, who had entered Yoshimoto two years before and formed the comedic duo "Channels". However, Yoshiyuki was allegedly opposed to the idea at that time, advising the pair on the harsh realities of a life as an entertainer. Their act is typical of manzai comedy duos, though they are also known for TV segments filmed in locales such as Hong Kong and Italy. Yabe has tended to receive criticism from Japanese fans because his participation in their skits is small and out of proportion compared to the always active and effervescent Okamura, even as a straightman. Okamura and Yabe also famously took the roles of Mario and Luigi (respectively) in the Japanese Hot Mario Bros. advertisement campaign. They have hosted Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!, a Japanese comedy show, and they have also hosted a number of television programs in the past. They also hosted a weekly radio program for All Night Nippon on Fridays as a duo, but since 2015 Okamura hosts this program alone.
Katsuhiko Miyaji (宮地 克彦, born August 28, 1971) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder.
Yukio Motoki (元木由記雄, Motoki Yukio) (born Higashiōsaka, Osaka. August 27, 1971) is a former Japanese rugby union…
Yukio Motoki (元木由記雄, Motoki Yukio) (born Higashiōsaka, Osaka. August 27, 1971) is a former Japanese rugby union footballer. He played as a centre and was known for his powerful running and tackling.
Kenta Matsunami (松浪 健太, Matsunami Kenta; born 17 August 1971) is a former Japanese politician of the Initiatives from…
Kenta Matsunami (松浪 健太, Matsunami Kenta; born 17 August 1971) is a former Japanese politician of the Initiatives from Osaka party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Izumisano, Osaka and graduate of Waseda University, he joined Sankei Shimbun in 1997. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2002 for the Liberal Democratic Party in a by-election. After losing his seat in 2003, he was re-elected in 2005.
Yuri Yoshikawa (born 6 August 1971) is a Japanese snowboarder. She competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics and the 2002…
Yuri Yoshikawa (born 6 August 1971) is a Japanese snowboarder. She competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics and the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Hitoshi Taneda (種田 仁, born July 18, 1971) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.
Takayuki Ohnishi (大西 崇之, Ōnishi Takayuki; born July 2, 1971) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He…
Takayuki Ohnishi (大西 崇之, Ōnishi Takayuki; born July 2, 1971) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He currently serves as a major league team coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB from 1995 to 2006 for the Chunichi Dragons and Yomiuri Giants.
Junko Noda (野田 順子, Noda Junko; born June 29, 1971) is a Japanese freelance voice actress and singer from Naniwa-ku…
Junko Noda (野田 順子, Noda Junko; born June 29, 1971) is a Japanese freelance voice actress and singer from Naniwa-ku, Osaka. She often voices boyish girls and boys. Having grown up in Osaka, she has also voiced characters who speak in the Kansai dialect, typically in supporting roles.
Kenjiro Tsuda (津田 健次郎, Tsuda Kenjirō; born June 11, 1971) is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and film director…
Kenjiro Tsuda (津田 健次郎, Tsuda Kenjirō; born June 11, 1971) is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and film director, affiliated with the talent agency ANDSTIR.
Captain Miho Otani (大谷 三穂) (born May 28, 1971) is an officer in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. She was the…
Captain Miho Otani (大谷 三穂) (born May 28, 1971) is an officer in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. She was the first woman to become the captain of a naval training vessel and a destroyer. Otani was also a member of the first female class to enter the National Defense Academy of Japan.
Tsutomu Iwamoto (岩本 勉, Iwamoto Tsutomu; born May 11, 1971 in Yao, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…
Tsutomu Iwamoto (岩本 勉, Iwamoto Tsutomu; born May 11, 1971 in Yao, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Toyonari Fujita (藤田 豊成, Fujita Toyonari; born May 9, 1971), better known under his ring name Magnitude Kishiwada…
Toyonari Fujita (藤田 豊成, Fujita Toyonari; born May 9, 1971), better known under his ring name Magnitude Kishiwada (マグニチュード岸和田, Magunichūdo Kishiwada), is a Japanese professional wrestler.
Naoki Tanaka (田中 直樹, Tanaka Naoki; born 26 April 1971) is a Japanese comedian, actor and television presenter, who is…
Naoki Tanaka (田中 直樹, Tanaka Naoki; born 26 April 1971) is a Japanese comedian, actor and television presenter, who is the leader and the boke of the owarai kombi Cocorico with his partner Shozo Endo. He has appeared in many television programmes and films. He is known for being a regular member of Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!, which he and Endo have worked on since 1997. Tanaka is also known for his love of animals, especially sea creatures, and on 24 June 2018, he became the Marine Stewardship Council ambassador for Japan.
Kensuke Onishi (大西健介, Onishi Kensuke; born 13 April 1971) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House…
Kensuke Onishi (大西健介, Onishi Kensuke; born 13 April 1971) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2026. From 2004 to 2009, he served as secretary to Sumio Mabuchi.
Toshikazu Kawaguchi (川口 俊和; born 3 April 1971) is a Japanese author, screenwriter, and director born in Osaka, Japan.…
Toshikazu Kawaguchi (川口 俊和; born 3 April 1971) is a Japanese author, screenwriter, and director born in Osaka, Japan. He has received the Grand Prize of the Suginami Theatre Festival for his stage version of Before the Coffee Gets Cold as well as having been nominated for the Bookseller's Award for the novel version. The novel has been translated into 46 languages, selling over six million copies. He has produced, directed, and wrote for theatrical group Sonic Snail. His works explore themes of love, loss, grief, and kindness.
Shinji Nakano (中野 信治, born 1 April 1971) is a Japanese professional racing driver. Nakano's father, Tsuneharu, was also…
Shinji Nakano (中野 信治, born 1 April 1971) is a Japanese professional racing driver. Nakano's father, Tsuneharu, was also a racing driver. He competed in the All-Japan Formula Three Championship.
Risa Junna (純名りさ, Junna Risa; born March 15, 1971) is a Japanese actress, singer, and voice actress. She was part of…
Risa Junna (純名りさ, Junna Risa; born March 15, 1971) is a Japanese actress, singer, and voice actress. She was part of Takarazuka Revue's Snow Troupe and Flower Troupe. During her time in the Revue, she specialized in female roles (musumeyaku). She was the musumeyaku top star from 1995 to 1996.
Shinji Imanaka (今中 慎二, Imanaka Shinji; born March 6, 1971 in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional…
Shinji Imanaka (今中 慎二, Imanaka Shinji; born March 6, 1971 in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. Imanaka attended the Daitō campus of Osaka Sangyo University High School, which became Osaka Tōin High School in his final year. He was recognized as the school's ace pitcher and scouted by several clubs, including the Yomiuri Giants and his hometown team, the Hanshin Tigers. Despite being a Hanshin fan himself, Imanaka had his sights set solely on playing for the Chunichi Dragons, who had won the league pennant during his final year of high school. Imanaka went as far as declaring that he would not play professional baseball if another team drafted him. Chunichi obliged and selected him in the first round of the 1988 rookie draft.
Misa Tamagawa (玉川 美沙) is a radio show host from Osaka, Japan. She is known for previously hosting "The Nutty Radio Show…
Misa Tamagawa (玉川 美沙) is a radio show host from Osaka, Japan. She is known for previously hosting "The Nutty Radio Show Onitama" on NACK5 and "Misa Tamagawa's Tamanavi" on JOQR.
Rui Arai (新居 るい, Arai Rui, née Matsukawa, 松川; February 26, 1971) is a Japanese politician and diplomat who serves as a…
Rui Arai (新居 るい, Arai Rui, née Matsukawa, 松川; February 26, 1971) is a Japanese politician and diplomat who serves as a member of the House of Councillors representing the Liberal Democratic Party. She previously served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Cabinet Office. She is the wife of diplomat Yūsuke Arai.
Shinya Miyamoto (宮本 慎也, Miyamoto Shin'ya; born November 5, 1970) is a former professional baseball player from Suita…
Shinya Miyamoto (宮本 慎也, Miyamoto Shin'ya; born November 5, 1970) is a former professional baseball player from Suita, Osaka, Japan. He played shortstop. He was chosen as the captain of the Japanese olympic baseball team for the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics, and won a bronze medal in 2004. He was also part of the 2006 World Baseball Classic Japanese baseball team.
Yasuhide Nakayama (中山 泰秀, Nakayama Yasuhide; born 14 October 1970) is a Japanese politician who served as the Senior…
Yasuhide Nakayama (中山 泰秀, Nakayama Yasuhide; born 14 October 1970) is a Japanese politician who served as the Senior Vice Minister of Defense of Japan. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he was elected in December 2012 as a member of the House of Representatives of Japan and re-elected in the December 2015 and 2017 elections. After the snap elections in October 2017, Nakayama was appointed the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Masato Fukushima (福島雅人, Fukushima Masato) is the assistant coach of the Passlab Yamagata Wyverns.
Masashi Kato (加藤 真志, Katō Masashi) (born August 14, 1970) is a retired Japanese male freestyle swimmer. He represented…
Masashi Kato (加藤 真志, Katō Masashi) (born August 14, 1970) is a retired Japanese male freestyle swimmer. He represented Japan in two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988. His best Olympic result was the 16th place (15:40.94) in the Men's 1500 metres Freestyle event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
Tatsuki Fuji (藤井 達樹, Fujii Tatsuki; born July 6, 1970), better known by his ring name Don Fujii (ドン・フジイ), is a Japanese…
Tatsuki Fuji (藤井 達樹, Fujii Tatsuki; born July 6, 1970), better known by his ring name Don Fujii (ドン・フジイ), is a Japanese professional wrestler and former sumo wrestler. He is signed to Dragongate, where he has wrestled for the majority of his 29-year career. As a sumo wrestler, he competed under the name Rikinoumi Tatsuki (stylized 力の湖 達樹 and 力の海 達樹); his highest rank was sandanme 51. He is a former Open the Dream Gate Champion, as well as of the former one-time AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champions with long-time partner Masaaki Mochizuki (as Mocchy-Fujii).
Ninety-nine (ナインティナイン, Naintinain), or Nainai (ナイナイ) is a Japanese comic duo from Osaka working for the entertainment…
Ninety-nine (ナインティナイン, Naintinain), or Nainai (ナイナイ) is a Japanese comic duo from Osaka working for the entertainment conglomerate Yoshimoto Kogyo. The duo (kombi), consisting of Takashi Okamura as boke (stooge) and Hiroyuki Yabe as tsukkomi (straightman), formed in 1990. The pair met in high school, where they were both involved in the soccer club. Okamura had been receiving guidance from Yabe's brother Yoshiyuki Yabe and throughout their high school life they had a senpai and kōhai relationship. As he was Yoshiyuki's younger brother, his soccer club peers referred to him as "Yabe Juni[or]". Upon graduating from high school, Okamura entered Ritsumeikan University and studied there for one year. Yabe, who was significantly less able academically, was unable to get into any universities and as a result invited Okamura to join Yoshimoto with him as a duo. The pair have stated that one of the reasons that drove them to this decision was their combined admiration for Yabe's brother Yoshiyuki, who had entered Yoshimoto two years before and formed the comedic duo "Channels". However, Yoshiyuki was allegedly opposed to the idea at that time, advising the pair on the harsh realities of a life as an entertainer. Their act is typical of manzai comedy duos, though they are also known for TV segments filmed in locales such as Hong Kong and Italy. Yabe has tended to receive criticism from Japanese fans because his participation in their skits is small and out of proportion compared to the always active and effervescent Okamura, even as a straightman. Okamura and Yabe also famously took the roles of Mario and Luigi (respectively) in the Japanese Hot Mario Bros. advertisement campaign. They have hosted Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!, a Japanese comedy show, and they have also hosted a number of television programs in the past. They also hosted a weekly radio program for All Night Nippon on Fridays as a duo, but since 2015 Okamura hosts this program alone.