Matthew Kiichi Heafy ( HAY-fee; born January 26, 1986) is a Japanese-American guitarist and singer best known as the…Matthew Kiichi Heafy ( HAY-fee; born January 26, 1986) is a Japanese-American guitarist and singer best known as the frontman of heavy metal band Trivium. He was also the lead vocalist for the band Capharnaum, along with Trivium's former producer Jason Suecof. In 2017, Heafy was voted sixth on the Ultimate Guitar list "Top 25 Greatest Modern Frontmen". In 2023, Jake Richardson of Loudwire included him in his list of the "10 Best Clean Singers in Metalcore".
Mitsuyuki Yoshihiro (吉弘 充志, Yoshihiro Mitsuyuki; born May 4, 1985) is a Japanese football coach and former football…Mitsuyuki Yoshihiro (吉弘 充志, Yoshihiro Mitsuyuki; born May 4, 1985) is a Japanese football coach and former football player who is assistant manager of Japan Football League side Maruyasu Okazaki and who is assistant coach of Thailand U23.
Seiko Kawamura (河村 聖子 Kawamura Seiko, born 23 May 1984) is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for Toyota Auto Body…Seiko Kawamura (河村 聖子 Kawamura Seiko, born 23 May 1984) is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for Toyota Auto Body Queenseis.
Masayoshi Miwa (三輪 正義, Miwa Masayoshi; born January 23, 1984 in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan) is a former Japanese…Masayoshi Miwa (三輪 正義, Miwa Masayoshi; born January 23, 1984 in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan) is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He played for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Nippon Professional Baseball(NPB). On September 17, 2019, Miwa announced his retirement.
Ryota Takasugi (髙杉 亮太, Takasugi Ryōta; born January 10, 1984 in Ube, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese football player currently…Ryota Takasugi (髙杉 亮太, Takasugi Ryōta; born January 10, 1984 in Ube, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese football player currently playing for Tochigi SC.
Kentaro Nakamoto (Japanese: 中本 健太郎, Hepburn: Nakamoto Kentarō; born 7 December 1982) is a Japanese long-distance runner…Kentaro Nakamoto (Japanese: 中本 健太郎, Hepburn: Nakamoto Kentarō; born 7 December 1982) is a Japanese long-distance runner who competes in marathon races. He represented Japan in the marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2011, 2013 and 2017 World Championships in Athletics, finishing in the top ten on all four occasions. His personal best for the distance is 2:08:35 hours.
Arata Izumi (和泉 新, Izumi Arata; born 31 July 1982) is a professional football coach and former footballer who played as…Arata Izumi (和泉 新, Izumi Arata; born 31 July 1982) is a professional football coach and former footballer who played as a midfielder. He was recently the assistant coach of I-League club Inter Kashi. Born in Japan, Izumi represented India at the international level. Izumi began his professional career in Singapore with Albirex Niigata Singapore and in his native Japan for Mitsubishi Mizushima before moving to India in 2006. He spent the first three years in India with East Bengal and Mahindra United before spending six seasons with Pune. He then went on to play for Atlético de Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune City, and NEROCA. With NEROCA, Izumi helped the Manipuri club earn promotion to the I-League. He then ended his career playing with the Kerala Blasters.
Ayaka Hamasaki (浜崎 朱加, Hamasaki Ayaka; born March 31, 1982) is a Japanese female mixed martial artist, judoka and…Ayaka Hamasaki (浜崎 朱加, Hamasaki Ayaka; born March 31, 1982) is a Japanese female mixed martial artist, judoka and submission grappler. She is the former Rizin Super Atomweight Champion. She has fought in MMA promotions Shooto, Jewels and Rizin in Japan, and Invicta FC in the United States. Hamasaki won the first Jewels 115 lb (52 kg) Queen tournament to become the first lightweight champion of the promotion. Hamasaki vacated her title due to injuries on August 31, 2013 (2013-08-31). She is a former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion. Hamasaki is the first Asian to win a North American premier MMA promotion title. Fight Matrix and MMARising.com list her as the number 2 atomweight fighter in the world, and one of the top 10 pound for pound female fighters in the world.
Daiki Iwamasa (岩政 大樹, Iwamasa Daiki; born 30 January 1982) is a Japanese professional football manager and former…Daiki Iwamasa (岩政 大樹, Iwamasa Daiki; born 30 January 1982) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player, who was most recently the manager of J2 League club, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. He also played for the Japan national team until 2011.
Katsuya Kobayashi (小林且弥, Kobayashi Katsuya; born 10 December 1981) is a Japanese actor from Shimonoseki. Even though he…Katsuya Kobayashi (小林且弥, Kobayashi Katsuya; born 10 December 1981) is a Japanese actor from Shimonoseki. Even though he and fellow Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love-exclusive Rider actor Mitsuki Koga/Kamen Rider Ketaros were only Kamen Riders within the movie, they did make a guest appearance during the final episode of the series as two people affected by the necklaces that transform people into Natives.
Ikki Shimamura (嶋村 一輝, Shimamura Ikki; born October 13, 1981) also known as Ikki (一輝) is a Japanese former professional…Ikki Shimamura (嶋村 一輝, Shimamura Ikki; born October 13, 1981) also known as Ikki (一輝) is a Japanese former professional baseball player.
Tetsuya Murakami (born 24 September 1981), is a Japanese futsal player and futsal coach. He is part of the Japanese…Tetsuya Murakami (born 24 September 1981), is a Japanese futsal player and futsal coach. He is part of the Japanese national futsal team.
Daiki Takamatsu (高松 大樹, Takamatsu Daiki; born September 8, 1981) is a former Japanese football player. He played for…Daiki Takamatsu (高松 大樹, Takamatsu Daiki; born September 8, 1981) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Hōmashō Noriyuki (born April 16, 1981 as Yōsuke Yamamoto in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan), is a former sumo…Hōmashō Noriyuki (born April 16, 1981 as Yōsuke Yamamoto in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan), is a former sumo wrestler. He turned professional in March 2004 and reached the top makuuchi division in May 2006 as the first sekitori from Shikoroyama stable, without any losing scores on his record. His highest rank was komusubi. He earned seven special prizes in his top division career and was a runner-up in three tournaments. In March 2014 he took the championship in the jūryō division. Hōmashō was a popular wrestler among sumo fans, and was noted for his deep and graceful bow at the end of a match. Upon his retirement in January 2015 he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name of Tatsutagawa.
Tatsuyuki Uemoto (上本 達之, born November 8, 1980, in Ube, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher for the…Tatsuyuki Uemoto (上本 達之, born November 8, 1980, in Ube, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Shunsuke Kiyokiba (清木場 俊介, Kiyokiba Shunsuke) (born January 11, 1980, in Ube, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese pop singer who…Shunsuke Kiyokiba (清木場 俊介, Kiyokiba Shunsuke) (born January 11, 1980, in Ube, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese pop singer who debuted in 2001 with the then six-member vocal and dance group, Exile, as their vocalist under the name, Shun. In 2004, he participated in the tribute album for Yutaka Ozaki (尾崎豊) under his full name Shunsuke Kiyokiba as a solo artist. On January 19, 2005, his solo debut single "Itsuka..." (いつか…) was released. After four-and-a-half years with Exile, in March 2006, Kiyokiba announced his withdrawal from the group to focus on his solo career as a rock artist. In July 2011, he recorded the duet "I Believe" with South Korean singer Shin Hye-sung of Shinhwa.
Ryuji Sueoka (末岡 龍二, Sueoka Ryuji; born May 22, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. He has played in Japan…Ryuji Sueoka (末岡 龍二, Sueoka Ryuji; born May 22, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. He has played in Japan, Singapore, Thailand and India at the top level.
D'espairsRay (formerly stylized as DéspairsRay, D'ESPAIRSRAY or +DéspairsRay+) is a Japanese visual kei heavy metal…D'espairsRay (formerly stylized as DéspairsRay, D'ESPAIRSRAY or +DéspairsRay+) is a Japanese visual kei heavy metal band active from 1999 to 2011. The lineup of Hizumi on vocals, Karyu on guitar, Zero on bass and Tsukasa on drums remained the same, with the group having released four full-length records, three EPs and thirteen singles. Outside Japan, D'espairsRay have toured Europe and North America and had domestic releases in those territories. They performed at the Wacken Open Air festival in 2006, to several thousand people, and a second album, titled Mirror was released on April 11, 2007. They also performed during Jrock Revolution 2007 held on Memorial Weekend in Los Angeles, California. In 2008 they performed at the Taste of Chaos tour in the United States. On March 11, 2009, their third album Redeemer was released. In the summer of 2010, the band had a world tour entitled Human-Clad Monsters in which they performed in Japan, the US, Canada and Europe. After the last show of the tour, on December 30, the band went on an indefinite hiatus so Hizumi could recover from a rare throat condition. However, on June 15, 2011, D'espairsRay announced that they had no choice but to disband, due to Hizumi's health having no recovery in sight. D'espairsRay reunited for a one-night performance on July 29, 2014.
Yuji Nakagawa (中川 雄二, Nakagawa Yuji; born October 22, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is the goalkeeper…Yuji Nakagawa (中川 雄二, Nakagawa Yuji; born October 22, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He is the goalkeeper coach J2 League club of Ventforet Kofu.
Chikara Fujimoto (藤本 主税, Fujimoto Chikara; born October 31, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He played twice…Chikara Fujimoto (藤本 主税, Fujimoto Chikara; born October 31, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. He played twice for Japan national team.
Minoru Fujita (藤田 穣, Fujita Minoru; ring name: 藤田 ミノル) (born September 5, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler who…Minoru Fujita (藤田 穣, Fujita Minoru; ring name: 藤田 ミノル) (born September 5, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler who works as a freelancer. He is known for working at Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling.
Sakie Nobuoka (信岡 沙希重, Nobuoka Sakie; born 24 August 1977 in Yamaguchi Prefecture) is a Japanese former sprinter who…Sakie Nobuoka (信岡 沙希重, Nobuoka Sakie; born 24 August 1977 in Yamaguchi Prefecture) is a Japanese former sprinter who specialised in the 200 metres. She represented her country at three outdoor and one indoor World Championships. She held the national records in the 200 metres (23.33 seconds), the 4 × 100 metres relay (43.67 seconds) and the 4 × 400 metres relay (3:33.06 minutes).
Shinobu Otowa (音羽しのぶ, Otowa Shinobu; born March 16, 1977) is a Japanese enka singer. She was born as Chieko Yoshimura…Shinobu Otowa (音羽しのぶ, Otowa Shinobu; born March 16, 1977) is a Japanese enka singer. She was born as Chieko Yoshimura (吉村智恵子 Yoshimura Chieko) in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi.
Shigeru Aburaya (油谷 繁, Aburaya Shigeru; born 8 February 1977 in Nagato, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese long-distance runner…Shigeru Aburaya (油谷 繁, Aburaya Shigeru; born 8 February 1977 in Nagato, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon race.
Misato Michishita (道下 美里, Michishita Misato; born 19 January 1977 in Shimonoseki City) is a visually impaired Japanese…Misato Michishita (道下 美里, Michishita Misato; born 19 January 1977 in Shimonoseki City) is a visually impaired Japanese long distance and marathon runner. She silver medalled at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, and won the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo. She won the bronze medal the 2024 Summer Paralympics with a time of 3:04:23 in Paris, after Elena Congost from Spain was controversially disqualified with a time of 3:00:48 despite a human reflex when her companion almost fell.
Kiyoko Shimahara (嶋原 清子; born 22 December 1976) is a Japanese long-distance runner who competes in marathon races. Her…Kiyoko Shimahara (嶋原 清子; born 22 December 1976) is a Japanese long-distance runner who competes in marathon races. Her personal best time is 2:25:10 hours, achieved in August 2009 in Sapporo. She is a member of the Second Wind running club in Japan. She represented her country at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics and at the Asian Games in 2006 and 2010 (winning the silver medal at the former edition). Born in the Ōshima District in Yamaguchi Prefecture, she attended Kokushikan University and graduated in 1999 with a degree in physical education. She made her debut over the marathon distance at the Japanese student championships in 1997. Her first marathon victory came at the 2003 Katsuta Marathon, where she ran a course record time of 2:31:10 hours. She came third at the Tokyo Marathon in 2003, then improved to second place behind Bruna Genovese at the same competition the following year, setting a personal best of 2:26:43 hours in the process. Shimahara improved further at the 2005 Hokkaido Marathon, running 2:26:14 and taking the runner-up spot. In 2006, opened her season with a personal best of 1:10:16 hours at the Miyazaki Half Marathon, then came third at the Osaka Ladies Marathon. She made her foreign debut at the Boston Marathon, where she finished in fifth place. She gained her first international call-up for Japan at the 2006 Asian Games and she was the marathon silver medallist behind China's Zhou Chunxiu. These performances led to her being selected for the Japanese women's marathon squad at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics. She finished sixth at the World Championships Marathon in Osaka. At the 2007 London Marathon, she withdrew mid-race for the first time, pulling up just after the halfway point due to breathing difficulties. At the start of 2008 she came eleventh at the Nagoya Marathon, but rebounded at the Chicago Marathon with a third-place finish to reach the podium. Shimahara ended her year with a win at the Honolulu Marathon in a time of 2:32:36 hours. Despite a sixth-place finish at the Tokyo Marathon, the 2009 season proved to be one of Shimahara's most successful. She won the Osaka Half Marathon then set a course record and personal best of 2:25:10 hours to win at the Hokkaido Marathon in Sapporo. She was the runner-up at both the Yokohama Marathon and the Honolulu race that year. Shimahara was fourth at the 2010 Nagano Marathon and was selected to compete for Japan at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. However, she did not win a medal on her second performance at the Games, finishing fifth overall. In 2011, she was the runner-up at the Hokkaido Marathon and the inaugural Osaka Marathon. She also ran at the Tokyo Marathon that year but placed fifteenth in that race. She had only one outing in 2012: at the Osaka Marathon she came fifth in a time of 2:29:51 hours. A year passed before she returned to competition, again in Osaka, and she managed third on that occasion.
Kuniyoshi Hironaka (Japanese: 弘中邦佳, Hironaka Kuniyoshi; born June 17, 1976) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who…Kuniyoshi Hironaka (Japanese: 弘中邦佳, Hironaka Kuniyoshi; born June 17, 1976) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division. He has formerly competed for the UFC, Shooto, DREAM, and Pancrase.
Noriko Anno (阿武 教子, born 23 May 1976, in Fukue, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese judoka who won the gold medal in the women's…Noriko Anno (阿武 教子, born 23 May 1976, in Fukue, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese judoka who won the gold medal in the women's –78 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She is a four times World Champion, having won the championships in 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003. Anno married judoka Ryuji Sonoda in 2010.
Sotaro Yasunaga (安永 聡太郎, Yasunaga Sōtarō; born April 20, 1976) is a Japanese former footballer and manager who is…Sotaro Yasunaga (安永 聡太郎, Yasunaga Sōtarō; born April 20, 1976) is a Japanese former footballer and manager who is currently the head coach of Cambodian Premier League club Angkor Tiger.
Yoshiko Ichikawa (市川 良子, Ichikawa Yoshiko; born 18 April 1976) is a Japanese long-distance runner. She competed in the…Yoshiko Ichikawa (市川 良子, Ichikawa Yoshiko; born 18 April 1976) is a Japanese long-distance runner. She competed in the 5000 metres at the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Kumiko Sakino (先野久美子 Sakino Kumiko, born September 9, 1975) is a retired Japanese volleyball player who played for…Kumiko Sakino (先野久美子 Sakino Kumiko, born September 9, 1975) is a retired Japanese volleyball player who played for Hisamitsu Springs.
Yōku Hata (波田陽区, Hata Yōku, real name: Akira Hada (波田 晃, Hada Akira), born June 5, 1975, in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi…Yōku Hata (波田陽区, Hata Yōku, real name: Akira Hada (波田 晃, Hada Akira), born June 5, 1975, in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture) is a Japanese stand up comedian.
Kenichi Ogata (Japanese: 緒形 健一, Ogata Ken'ichi) [oɡata keɴiꜜtɕi]; born January 26, 1975) is a Japanese super…Kenichi Ogata (Japanese: 緒形 健一, Ogata Ken'ichi) [oɡata keɴiꜜtɕi]; born January 26, 1975) is a Japanese super welterweight shoot boxer, fighting out of Cesar Gym in Asakusa. He was the first Japanese national champion of shoot boxing at Super welterweight. He is the winner of S-cup in 2006 and the finalist of 2008 S-cup. His real name is still Kenichi Ogata, but it is written as "尾形健一".
Shinji Mori (Japanese: 森 慎二, September 12, 1974 – June 28, 2017) was a Japanese professional baseball right-handed…Shinji Mori (Japanese: 森 慎二, September 12, 1974 – June 28, 2017) was a Japanese professional baseball right-handed pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Seibu Lions.
Nami Teshima (手島 奈美, Teshima Nami; born Nami Kimoto (木本 奈美, Kimoto Nami) on 31 March 1974) is a retired female Japanese…Nami Teshima (手島 奈美, Teshima Nami; born Nami Kimoto (木本 奈美, Kimoto Nami) on 31 March 1974) is a retired female Japanese judo wrestler. Teshima was born in Hōfu, Yamaguchi, and began judo from 4th grade in elementary school. She entered the Sumitomo Marine & Fire Insurance after graduating from high school in 1993. She excelled at Osotogari, and also coached former world champion Gella Vandecaveye. In 1997, Teshima participated in the World Judo Championships in Paris but was defeated by Cho Min-Sun in the first round. In 1998, she also participated in the Asian Games in Bangkok and won a silver medal. After then, she was regarded as one of the candidates of representative at Olympic Games in 2000 but was unable due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. She retired in 2001, after the All-Japan Businessman Championships. As of 2010, Teshima coaches judo at the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group judo club, which she formerly belonged to.
Atsushi Tamura (田村 淳, Tamura Atsushi; born December 4, 1973) is a famous Japanese comedian from the Hikoshima area of…Atsushi Tamura (田村 淳, Tamura Atsushi; born December 4, 1973) is a famous Japanese comedian from the Hikoshima area of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. He and his partner, Ryo Tamura (田村 亮), form the Japanese comedic duo (お笑いコンビ, owarai kombi) known as "London Boots Ichi-go Ni-go" (ロンドンブーツ1号2号, Rondon Būtsu Ichi-gō Ni-gō). Though the two share the same surname, there is no family relation. The pair started their career by performing comedy on the streets of Tokyo.
Tomoaki Kunichika (Japanese: 国近 友昭; born April 22, 1973, in Yamaguchi) is a male long-distance runner from Japan, who…Tomoaki Kunichika (Japanese: 国近 友昭; born April 22, 1973, in Yamaguchi) is a male long-distance runner from Japan, who won the 2003 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon, clocking 2:07:52 on December 7, 2003.
Shinjiro Otani (大谷晋二郎, Ōtani Shinjirō; born July 21, 1972) is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and the…Shinjiro Otani (大谷晋二郎, Ōtani Shinjirō; born July 21, 1972) is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and the current acting president of Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1). He is currently inactive from pro-wrestling competition due to a cervical spine injury sustained in April 2022. A product of the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) dojo, Otani is best known for his longtime association with Zero1, a promotion he founded in 2001 along with Shinya Hashimoto. Starting his career in NJPW as a junior heavyweight, Otani gained a reputation as a gutsy underdog and would go on to hold several championships during his nine-year run with the promotion, including the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and the J-Crown, as well as forming a successful tag team with dojo classmate Tatsuhito Takaiwa, twice holding the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. After jumping to the heavyweight division in 2001, Otani would leave New Japan the same year, joining Shinya Hashimoto as one of the founders of Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1). Following the departure of Hashimoto in 2004, Otani was pushed as one of the promotions top stars, becoming a six time Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, a one time World Heavyweight Champion and a four-time winner of the Fire Festival. In addition to his role as a wrestler, Otani has also served as acting company president since 2007.
