Rie Matsuoka (松岡 理恵, Matuoka Rie; born 9 March 1977) is a Japanese long-distance runner. In 2001, she competed in the…
Rie Matsuoka (松岡 理恵, Matuoka Rie; born 9 March 1977) is a Japanese long-distance runner. In 2001, she competed in the women's marathon at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She finished in 22nd place. In 2003, she competed in the women's marathon at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics held in Paris, France. She did not finish her race. In 1996, she finished in 6th place in the women's 5000 metres at the 1996 World Junior Championships in Athletics held in Sydney, Australia. Two years later, in 1998, she won the women's half marathon at the Sanyo Women's Half Marathon held in Okayama, Japan.
Famous People from Hyogo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture: 899 people
Shinobu Kitamoto (北本 忍, Kitamoto Shinobu; born February 1, 1977) is a Japanese sprint canoer who has competed since the…
Shinobu Kitamoto (北本 忍, Kitamoto Shinobu; born February 1, 1977) is a Japanese sprint canoer who has competed since the mid-2000s. She won a bronze medal in the K-1 200 m event at the 2010 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Poznań, the first person from Japan to medal at the world championships. Competing in three Summer Olympics (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012), Kitamoto earned her best finish of fifth in the K-2 500 m event at Beijing in 2008. World Cup Racice 2010 k1 500m gold medal
Miyuki Fukumoto (née Aoyama; born 4 January 1977) is a female high jumper from Japan. Her personal best jump is 1.92…
Miyuki Fukumoto (née Aoyama; born 4 January 1977) is a female high jumper from Japan. Her personal best jump is 1.92 metres, achieved in July 2004 in Osaka. She won the silver medal at the 2003 Asian Championships, and finished fifth at the 2006 Asian Games. She was the Japanese national high jump champion in 2006. She competed at the 2007 World Championships without reaching the final.
Osamu Sato (佐藤 修, Satō Osamu; born December 16, 1976) is a Japanese former professional boxer from Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
Rena Inoue (井上 怜奈, Inoue Rena; born October 17, 1976) is a Japanese-born American retired pair skater. With partner…
Rena Inoue (井上 怜奈, Inoue Rena; born October 17, 1976) is a Japanese-born American retired pair skater. With partner John Baldwin, she is the 2004 and 2006 U.S. National Champion. Inoue previously competed for Japan as both a single skater and pair skater. Inoue and Baldwin are the first skaters to perform a throw triple Axel in competition.
Masahiko Toyoyama (豊山昌彦, Toyoyama Masahiko) (born Osaka, 16 July 1976) is a Japanese former rugby union player who…
Masahiko Toyoyama (豊山昌彦, Toyoyama Masahiko) (born Osaka, 16 July 1976) is a Japanese former rugby union player who played as prop.
Toshiaki Nishioka (西岡 利晃, Nishioka Toshiaki; born July 25, 1976) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed…
Toshiaki Nishioka (西岡 利晃, Nishioka Toshiaki; born July 25, 1976) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 2012. He held the WBC super-bantamweight title from 2008 to 2012, and challenged for the WBO and The Ring super-bantamweight titles in his final-fight. Nishioka is known for his series of fights against Veeraphol Nakonluang-Promotion, with two of their four encounters ending in draws. Unlike many of Japan's other world champions, Nishioka willingly fought outside of his own country.
Ryuji Kubota (窪田 龍二, Kubota Ryuji; born July 24, 1976) is a former Japanese football player.
Katsutoshi Domori (堂森 勝利, Domori Katsutoshi; born June 29, 1976) is a former Japanese football player.
Hidetaka Yamada (山田 英孝, Yamada Hidetaka; born June 22, 1976 in Hyogo, Japan) is a male badminton player from Japan.…
Hidetaka Yamada (山田 英孝, Yamada Hidetaka; born June 22, 1976 in Hyogo, Japan) is a male badminton player from Japan. Yamada played badminton at the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics in men's singles, losing in the round of 32 to Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in both times.
Takanobu Otsubo (大坪 隆誠, Otsubo Takanobu; born 15 June 1976) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the…
Takanobu Otsubo (大坪 隆誠, Otsubo Takanobu; born 15 June 1976) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the half marathon and ekiden. He finished seventeenth at the 2005 World Half Marathon Championships, which was good enough to help Japan finish third in the team competition. His personal best time is 1:01:55 hours, achieved in March 2005 in Yamaguchi. In the 10,000 metres his personal best time is 28:14.92 minutes, achieved in November 2005 in Hachiōji. He is a policeman from the Osaka Prefectural Police, and often referred to as the fastest running policeman in Japan.
Yasuhiro Hato (波戸 康広, Hato Yasuhiro; born 4 May 1976) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…
Yasuhiro Hato (波戸 康広, Hato Yasuhiro; born 4 May 1976) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Tomu Tanigawa (谷川とむ, Tanigawa Tomu; born 27 April 1976) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of…
Tomu Tanigawa (谷川とむ, Tanigawa Tomu; born 27 April 1976) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2026, having previously served from 2014 to 2024. He is the son of Shuzen Tanigawa.
Chisato Nagaoka (長岡千里, Nagaoka Chisato; born 5 April 1976 in Himeji, Hyogo) is a Japanese bobsledder who has competed…
Chisato Nagaoka (長岡千里, Nagaoka Chisato; born 5 April 1976 in Himeji, Hyogo) is a Japanese bobsledder who has competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. She, along with Manami Hino, was the first Japanese women's pair to participate in the bobsleigh events in the Winter Olympics.
Naoyuki Ohmura (大村 直之, born February 13, 1976, in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo) is a professional baseball player for the Orix…
Naoyuki Ohmura (大村 直之, born February 13, 1976, in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo) is a professional baseball player for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Daisuke Oku (奧 大介, Oku Daisuke; February 7, 1976 – October 17, 2014) was a Japanese football player. He played for…
Daisuke Oku (奧 大介, Oku Daisuke; February 7, 1976 – October 17, 2014) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Kozo Takase (高瀬 耕造, Takase Kōzō; born December 26, 1975) is a Japanese announcer and news anchor for NHK.
Masaki Sumitani (住谷 正樹, Sumitani Masaki; born December 18, 1975) a Japanese comedian, television personality, and…
Masaki Sumitani (住谷 正樹, Sumitani Masaki; born December 18, 1975) a Japanese comedian, television personality, and retired professional wrestler. He is best known for creating and portraying Razor Ramon HG (レイザーラモンHG, Reizā Ramon Eichi Jī; also known as Hard Gay), a satirical fictional character who became known through appearances on the Japanese variety show Bakusho Mondai no Bakuten!
Satoru Matsuo (松尾 諭, Matsuo Satoru; born December 7, 1975) is a Japanese actor and voice actor, known for starring in…
Satoru Matsuo (松尾 諭, Matsuo Satoru; born December 7, 1975) is a Japanese actor and voice actor, known for starring in Shin Godzilla, Attack on Titan, and Attack on Titan: End of the World. A television series based on Matsuo's life titled Lost Man Found was released in 2022.
Shinji Shimoyama (下山 真二, Shimoyama Shinji; born December 1, 1975 in Katō District, Hyōgo, Japan) is a former Japanese…
Shinji Shimoyama (下山 真二, Shimoyama Shinji; born December 1, 1975 in Katō District, Hyōgo, Japan) is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He was the number 8 draft pick for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes in 2003.
Ayako Tabata (born 30 November 1975 –), also known under her artist name Tabaimo, is a contemporary Japanese artist.…
Ayako Tabata (born 30 November 1975 –), also known under her artist name Tabaimo, is a contemporary Japanese artist. She combines hand-drawn images and digital manipulation to create large scale animations which evoke traditional Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e) while presenting a pointed, complex view of Japanese society. The name "Tabaimo" is a portmanteau of her last name, Tabata, and the Japanese word imōto (いもうと), meaning "little sister."
Naoyuki Shimizu (清水 直行, Shimizu Naoyuki; born November 24, 1975), nicknamed "Nao", is a former professional baseball…
Naoyuki Shimizu (清水 直行, Shimizu Naoyuki; born November 24, 1975), nicknamed "Nao", is a former professional baseball player from Kyoto, Japan. He is a starting pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Seigo Shimokawa (下川 誠吾, Shimokawa Seigo; born November 17, 1975) is a former Japanese football player.
Toshiaki Kubo (久保 利明, Kubo Toshiaki; born August 27, 1975) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is…
Toshiaki Kubo (久保 利明, Kubo Toshiaki; born August 27, 1975) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is a former Ōshō and Kiō title holder.
Mayu Sakamoto (Japanese: 阪本 真由, Hepburn: Sakamoto Mayu; born 12 August 1975), known professionally as Tomu Ranju (蘭寿…
Mayu Sakamoto (Japanese: 阪本 真由, Hepburn: Sakamoto Mayu; born 12 August 1975), known professionally as Tomu Ranju (蘭寿 とむ, Ranju Tomu) is a Japanese singer, TV and musical actress most widely recognized as Takarazuka Revue Flower Troupe's otokoyaku (男役 Takarazuka actresses who play male roles) top star from 2011 to 2014. Ranju is considered one of the triple threat actresses the revue has had in recent years and was selected to record songs for many of Takazuka albums, both while she was with the revue and after she left. After her "graduation" (Takarazuka actresses may not rejoin the revue after they leave), Ranju began to actively pursue a career on stage, focusing mainly on musicals. She could also be seen on television, playing supporting roles and as TV show hosts. In 2016, Ranju got married and became inactive ever since.
Tomohiro Nagai (永井 智浩, Nagai Tomohiro; born August 11, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher, and…
Tomohiro Nagai (永井 智浩, Nagai Tomohiro; born August 11, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher, and current Executive officer (General Manager of Organization and Training division) and General Manager of Scouting department for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. His nephew is Ryuta Heinai, who currently plays for the Yomiuri Giants.
Akio Kogiku (小菊 昭雄, Kogiku Akio; born 7 July 1975) is a Japanese football manager and former football player. He is the…
Akio Kogiku (小菊 昭雄, Kogiku Akio; born 7 July 1975) is a Japanese football manager and former football player. He is the currently manager of J2 League club Sagan Tosu.
Daisuke Hayakawa (早川 大輔, Hayakawa Daisuke; born June 3, 1975) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He was the…
Daisuke Hayakawa (早川 大輔, Hayakawa Daisuke; born June 3, 1975) is a Japanese professional baseball player. He was the number 5 draft pick for the Orix BlueWave in 2002.
Mac Suzuki (マック鈴木; born Makoto Suzuki (鈴木 誠, Suzuki Makoto); May 31, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball…
Mac Suzuki (マック鈴木; born Makoto Suzuki (鈴木 誠, Suzuki Makoto); May 31, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. Over his career, Suzuki played 18 seasons in professional baseball, including six in Major League Baseball and two in the Japan Pacific League. In his major league career, he has played for the Seattle Mariners (1996, 1998–1999), the Kansas City Royals (1999–2001, 2002), the Colorado Rockies (2001), and the Milwaukee Brewers (2001). With those teams, he has had a combined record of 16–31 with a 5.72 earned run average (ERA), one complete game, one shutout, 67 starts and 327 strikeouts in 117 games pitched.
Yoko Hunnicutt, née Ota (born 14 January 1975 in Amagasaki, Hyōgo and raised in Kamakura, Kanagawa) is a Japanese high…
Yoko Hunnicutt, née Ota (born 14 January 1975 in Amagasaki, Hyōgo and raised in Kamakura, Kanagawa) is a Japanese high jumper. Her personal best jump is 1.95 metres, achieved in July 2002 in Sapporo. She finished fifth at the 1992 World Junior Championships and eleventh at the 2000 Olympics. At the regional level she won the 1991 Asian Championships and the 1998 Asian Games and finished second at the 1998 Asian Championships.
Satoshi Kuroda (黒田 哲史, Kuroda Satoshi; born January 11, 1975 in Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan) is a former professional Japanese…
Satoshi Kuroda (黒田 哲史, Kuroda Satoshi; born January 11, 1975 in Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan) is a former professional Japanese baseball infielder and current coach for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He was previously married to Chiharu Niiyama, a Japanese actress.
Tarō Yamamoto (山本 太郎, Yamamoto Tarō; born 24 November 1974) is a Japanese politician and former actor, who is the…
Tarō Yamamoto (山本 太郎, Yamamoto Tarō; born 24 November 1974) is a Japanese politician and former actor, who is the founder and former leader of the anti-establishment political party Reiwa Shinsengumi. Yamamoto served in the House of Councillors representing Tokyo until his resignation in 2026, and previously served in the House of Representatives from 2021 to 2022. He unsuccessfully ran in the 2020 Tokyo gubernatorial election as a candidate under Reiwa.
Junko Onishi (大西 順子, Onishi Junko; born October 18, 1974 in Hyōgo) is a former butterfly swimmer from Japan, who won…
Junko Onishi (大西 順子, Onishi Junko; born October 18, 1974 in Hyōgo) is a former butterfly swimmer from Japan, who won the bronze medal in the 4 × 100 m medley relay at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Her winning teammates in that race were Mai Nakamura, Masami Tanaka, and Sumika Minamoto.
Masao Kiba (木場 昌雄, Kiba Masao; born September 6, 1974) is a former Japanese football player.
Yoshito Terakawa (寺川 能人, Terakawa Yoshito; born September 6, 1974) is a former Japanese football player.
Eikei Suzuki (鈴木 英敬, Suzuki Eikei; born 15 August 1974) is a Japanese politician and the former governor of Mie…
Eikei Suzuki (鈴木 英敬, Suzuki Eikei; born 15 August 1974) is a Japanese politician and the former governor of Mie Prefecture located in Kansai region of Japan. Since 2021 he has been a Member of the House of Representatives, representing Mie's 4th district.
Ryūsui Seiryōin (清涼院 流水, Seiryōin Ryūsui; born August 9, 1974) is a Japanese novelist, active in mystery and various…
Ryūsui Seiryōin (清涼院 流水, Seiryōin Ryūsui; born August 9, 1974) is a Japanese novelist, active in mystery and various other fields. He was born in 1974, in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. He won the 2nd Mephisto Prize in 1996 while in Kyoto University, and started to work as a novelist. After that, Ryusui published over 60 novels. His works are always controversial. The JDC (Japan Detectives Club) series has inspired tribute novels by authors like Ōtarō Maijō and Nisio Isin. In 2007, he achieved the publication of the series, "What a perfect world!", for 12 consecutive months. In the same year, he carried out "Doumo tour", the autograph sessions for 12 consecutive months held in Japanese major cities, and made a great success. On May 1, 2009, he launched "bbbcircle", his official website, with Kai Chamberlain, a Canadian cartoonist.
Motoka Arai (新井 初佳, Arai Motoka; born 16 June 1974 in Kobe) is a Japanese retired sprinter. She competed in the 4 × 100…
Motoka Arai (新井 初佳, Arai Motoka; born 16 June 1974 in Kobe) is a Japanese retired sprinter. She competed in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1997 World Championships, the 100 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1999 World Championships and the 4 × 100 metres relay at the 2003 World Championships. She was a seven-time national champion in the 100 metres and a six-time national champion in the 200 metres at the Japanese Championships. She is the former Japanese record holder in the 100 metres and 200 metres, and the current Japanese record holder in the indoor 200 metres. She married Japanese sprinter Shigeyuki Kojima in February 2004. She changed her name to Motoka Kojima, but she reverted to her original name.
Miou Tanaka (田中 美央, Tanaka Miō; born July 4, 1974) is a Japanese actor and voice actor who is best known for appearing…
Miou Tanaka (田中 美央, Tanaka Miō; born July 4, 1974) is a Japanese actor and voice actor who is best known for appearing in visual media such as the Kingdom series (2019–), Godzilla Minus One (2023), and Pragmata (2026).
Ryō Naitō (内藤 玲, Naitō Ryō; born June 22, 1974 in the Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese voice actor. He is affiliated…
Ryō Naitō (内藤 玲, Naitō Ryō; born June 22, 1974 in the Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese voice actor. He is affiliated with Y.M.O., specifically under the Love Love division, which focuses on voice acting. His given name Ryō, is sometimes mistakenly translated as Rei.
Kiyokazu Kudo (久藤 清一, Kudo Kiyokazu; born June 21, 1974) is a former Japanese football player and manager he is the…
Kiyokazu Kudo (久藤 清一, Kudo Kiyokazu; born June 21, 1974) is a former Japanese football player and manager he is the current assistant coach J2 League team Júbilo Iwata.
Daizo Okitsu (興津 大三, Okitsu Daizō; born June 15, 1974) is a former Japanese football player.
Kazuhiko Shiotani (塩谷 和彦, Shiotani Kazuhiko; born May 27, 1974) is a Japanese former baseball utility player who spent…
Kazuhiko Shiotani (塩谷 和彦, Shiotani Kazuhiko; born May 27, 1974) is a Japanese former baseball utility player who spent 11 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball as well as a stint in the United States and a campaign in Korea. Prior to playing professionally, he attended Shinko Gakuen High School. After playing in ni-gun for a spell, Shiotani was loaned to the Bristol Tigers of the American Appalachian League in 1994, with whom he went hitless in 14 at-bats. He returned to Japan and, from 1995 to 2001, earned playing time with the Tigers each season. From 1995 to 1997, he had a total of 17 at-bats and hit .118, though in 1996 he had a home run and four RBI. In 19 at-bats in 1998, he hit .105. He hit .282 in 117 at-bats in 1999, .252 in 107 at-bats in 2000 and .210 in 81 at-bats in 2001. He was traded to the Orix BlueWave following the 2001 season. His playing time increased. In 2002, he hit .230 with five home runs and 20 RBI in 274 at-bats and in 2003—his only 'full' season of work—he hit .307 with eight home runs, 46 RBI and 134 hits in 123 games (436 at-bats). The next year, he hit .269 with nine home runs and 48 RBI in 360 at-bats and in 2005, his last campaign, he hit .176 with no home runs and three RBI in 34 at-bats. All told, he hit .264 with 29 home runs, 145 RBI and 381 hits in an 11-year NPB career. In 2006, he went to play in Korea, suiting up for SK Wyverns of the Korea Baseball Organization. In 23 games, he hit .297 with three home runs and 19 RBI.
Masaru Hashiguchi (橋口 勝, Hashiguchi Masaru; born May 21, 1974) is a former Japanese football player.
Yasunari Iwata (岩田 康誠, Iwata Yasunari) (born March 12, 1974; from Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture) is a Japanese jockey who…
Yasunari Iwata (岩田 康誠, Iwata Yasunari) (born March 12, 1974; from Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture) is a Japanese jockey who rode the winner of the 2006 Melbourne Cup, Delta Blues. It was Iwata's first race outside Japan. He debuted in the Hyōgo Keiba, one of the racing organizations in National Association of Racing (NAR). He has started riding in selected events in Japan Racing Association (JRA) since 2002. In 2005, Iwata won the 19th World Super Jockey Series Archived 2007-07-15 at the Wayback Machine. Despite not having passed the written test in the past, he was allowed to transfer to JRA in the following year due to "Ankatsu's Rule". He was awarded JRA most winning-jockey in 2011 and 2012, in races won and money earned. His son, Mirai, is also a jockey.
Tomonori Jinnai (陣内 智則, Jinnai Tomonori; born 22 February 1974, in Kakogawa, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese actor, tarento…
Tomonori Jinnai (陣内 智則, Jinnai Tomonori; born 22 February 1974, in Kakogawa, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese actor, tarento and presenter.
Rando Ayamine (綾峰欄人, Ayamine Rando; born 1974) is a Japanese manga artist known for illustrating the GetBackers series.…
Rando Ayamine (綾峰欄人, Ayamine Rando; born 1974) is a Japanese manga artist known for illustrating the GetBackers series. Since the completion of Get Backers, he has been working on a new manga series called Holy Talker.
Rio Yamase (山瀬 理桜, Yamase Rio) is a Japanese violinist, arranger, and composer. She directed the music for the 2006…
Rio Yamase (山瀬 理桜, Yamase Rio) is a Japanese violinist, arranger, and composer. She directed the music for the 2006 Studio Ghibli animation short film Mizugumo Monmon.
Takahiro Yoshikawa (吉川 隆弘, Yoshikawa Takahiro) is a Japanese classical pianist. He is a regular piano soloist at La…
Takahiro Yoshikawa (吉川 隆弘, Yoshikawa Takahiro) is a Japanese classical pianist. He is a regular piano soloist at La Scala, Italy's leading opera house.
Daisuke Masuda (益田 大介, born September 27, 1973) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder.