Yushi Tanaka (田中 湧士, Tanaka Yūshi; born 5 October 1999) is a Japanese badminton player who competes in the men's…
Yushi Tanaka (田中 湧士, Tanaka Yūshi; born 5 October 1999) is a Japanese badminton player who competes in the men's singles event. He achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 17. Hailing from Kikuchi, Kumamoto, he is a member of the Japan national team and plays for the NTT East Badminton Team since graduating from Nihon University in April 2022. In 2024, Tanaka won his first BWF World Tour title at the Super 300 Orléans Masters. He subsequently won two additional Super 300 titles, the 2024 U.S. Open and the 2026 Swiss Open, and finished as the runner-up at the 2025 Australian Open (Super 500). Representing Japan, Tanaka was part of the squad that won the country's first men's team gold medal at the 2026 Asia Team Championships. Domestically, he is a two-time men's singles champion at the All Japan Championships, winning the title in 2021 and 2024.
Famous People from Kumamoto Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture: 8 people
Yuichi Shimogami (霜上 雄一, Shimogami Yūichi; born 5 March 1998) is a Japanese badminton player from Kumamoto Prefecture…
Yuichi Shimogami (霜上 雄一, Shimogami Yūichi; born 5 March 1998) is a Japanese badminton player from Kumamoto Prefecture who specializes in doubles. He is a member of the Japanese national team and plays for the Hitachi Information & Telecommunication Engineering badminton team. Shimogami reached a career-high world ranking of No. 25 in men's doubles with Takumi Nomura, and No. 13 in mixed doubles with Sayaka Hobara. Shimogami won both the men's and mixed doubles titles at the 2024 Northern Marianas Open. In mixed doubles, he finished as runners-up at the 2024 Malaysia Super 100. In team events, he contributed to Japan securing bronze medals at the 2025 Sudirman Cup and the 2025 Asia Mixed Team Championships, as well as the country's first men's team title at the 2026 Asia Team Championships.
Sayaka Hirota (廣田 彩花, Hirota Sayaka; born 1 August 1994) is a Japanese badminton player affiliated with Gifu Bluvic…
Sayaka Hirota (廣田 彩花, Hirota Sayaka; born 1 August 1994) is a Japanese badminton player affiliated with Gifu Bluvic team. She and her partner Yuki Fukushima won the 2017 Most Improved Player of the Year award. Hirota and Fukushima were ranked world No. 1 at the BWF World Ranking on 21 June 2018.
Keigo Sonoda (園田 啓悟, Sonoda Keigo; born 20 February 1990) is a Japanese badminton player. He affiliated with the YKK AP…
Keigo Sonoda (園田 啓悟, Sonoda Keigo; born 20 February 1990) is a Japanese badminton player. He affiliated with the YKK AP Yatsushiro, before joining the Tonami team in 2010. Sonoda was part of the national team that won the 2014 Thomas Cup. He captured his first Superseries title at the 2016 Hong Kong Open, and reached a career high of world number 2 in the men's doubles partnered with Takeshi Kamura in January 2017. Sonoda won the silver medal at the 2018 World Championships and a bronze in 2017. In the continental level, he helped the national team to win the 2017 Asia Mixed Team Championships, and he also collected a silver and three bronze medals in the individual men's doubles event. He competed at the 2014 and 2018 Asian Games. He retired in 2021 after competing at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Kazuteru Kozai (古財 和輝, Kozai Kazuteru; born 25 January 1986) is a Japanese badminton player from Tonami club. In 2013…
Kazuteru Kozai (古財 和輝, Kozai Kazuteru; born 25 January 1986) is a Japanese badminton player from Tonami club. In 2013, Kozai started to training on Ryukoku University. He has competed in badminton tournaments including the 2008 Thailand Open, the 2009 Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold and the 2013 Japan Open
Hirokatsu Hashimoto (橋本 博且, Hashimoto Hirokatsu; born 18 December 1985) is a former Japanese badminton player who…
Hirokatsu Hashimoto (橋本 博且, Hashimoto Hirokatsu; born 18 December 1985) is a former Japanese badminton player who competed in doubles. He is best known for his men's doubles partnership with Noriyasu Hirata. In 2011, Hashimoto and Hirata won the India Open, making history as the first Japanese male players to ever capture a BWF Super Series title. Among his other major international achievements, Hashimoto won a gold medal at the 2014 Thomas Cup with the Japanese men's national team and competed at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games.
Hideaki Motoyama (本山 秀昭, Motoyama Hideaki)(25 July 1969 – 29 July 2009) was a Japanese badminton player. He competed in…
Hideaki Motoyama (本山 秀昭, Motoyama Hideaki)(25 July 1969 – 29 July 2009) was a Japanese badminton player. He competed in the men's singles tournament at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Mizuki Fujii (藤井 瑞希, Fujii Mizuki; born 5 August 1988) is a badminton player from Ashikita, Kumamoto, Japan and plays…
Mizuki Fujii (藤井 瑞希, Fujii Mizuki; born 5 August 1988) is a badminton player from Ashikita, Kumamoto, Japan and plays for the Renesas badminton club. Mizuki Fujii concentrates on doubles badminton. Most of her success has come with women's doubles partner Reika Kakiiwa. Together they reached the final of the 2010 Korea Open Super Series, their first major final as a pair. She also assisted her team in winning the bronze medal at the 2010 Uber Cup. In the mixed doubles she pairs with Hirokatsu Hashimoto. Her career highest achievement was the silver medal in the women's doubles at the 2012 London Summer Olympics with Kakiiwa. She retired from professional badminton after the win at London.