Heiichiro Ito (伊藤 平一郎, Itō Heiichirō; born 5 October 1990) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as…Heiichiro Ito (伊藤 平一郎, Itō Heiichirō; born 5 October 1990) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a prop. He currently plays for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Yamaha Júbilo in Japan's domestic Top League.
Kazuhito Kishida (岸田和人, Kishida Kazuhito; born 3 April 1990) is a Japanese footballer who plays for J2 League club…Kazuhito Kishida (岸田和人, Kishida Kazuhito; born 3 April 1990) is a Japanese footballer who plays for J2 League club Baleine Shimonoseki, as a forward.
Shohei Kishida (岸田 翔平, Kishida Shōhei; born April 3, 1990) is a Japanese football player who plays as a defender for…Shohei Kishida (岸田 翔平, Kishida Shōhei; born April 3, 1990) is a Japanese football player who plays as a defender for J-Lease FC.
Jin Watanabe (渡部 仁, Watanabe Jin; born 17 January 1990) is a Japanese handball player for Toyota Auto Body and the…Jin Watanabe (渡部 仁, Watanabe Jin; born 17 January 1990) is a Japanese handball player for Toyota Auto Body and the Japanese national team. He participated at the 2017 and 2019 World Men's Handball Championship.
Hiroshi Kiyotake (清武 弘嗣, Kiyotake Hiroshi; born 12 November 1989) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an…Hiroshi Kiyotake (清武 弘嗣, Kiyotake Hiroshi; born 12 November 1989) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for J2 League club Oita Trinita. He played for Japan at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Koki Kotegawa (小手川 宏基, Kotegawa Kōki; born September 12, 1989 in Ōita, Ōita) is a Japanese football player currently…Koki Kotegawa (小手川 宏基, Kotegawa Kōki; born September 12, 1989 in Ōita, Ōita) is a Japanese football player currently playing for Oita Trinita.
Yudai Inoue (井上 裕大, Inoue Yūdai; born May 30, 1989 in Ōita, Ōita) is a Japanese football player currently playing for…Yudai Inoue (井上 裕大, Inoue Yūdai; born May 30, 1989 in Ōita, Ōita) is a Japanese football player currently playing for FC Machida Zelvia in the J2 League.
The Japanese idol girl group AKB48 has many members who have left the group for various reasons such as focusing on…The Japanese idol girl group AKB48 has many members who have left the group for various reasons such as focusing on solo careers. Some members have left to help launch AKB48's sister groups. The member lineup often changes as when girls get older, they graduate from the group, and are replaced by members promoted from the trainees. Others have dropped out of the group without any graduation. Yuki Usami was the first member to graduate from the group on March 31, 2006. Alumnae are presented with the years in which they were on the AKB48 rosters. The list does not include the AKB48 sister group members who were not part of AKB48 proper but might have participated on their singles, events and albums. It also does not include the girls who were exclusively temporary, such as Baito AKB48, unless notable.
Shun Yamaguchi (山口 俊, Yamaguchi Shun; born July 11, 1987) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played…Shun Yamaguchi (山口 俊, Yamaguchi Shun; born July 11, 1987) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama BayStars/Yokohama DeNA BayStars and Yomiuri Giants, and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays. He is the first Japanese player to make his MLB debut with the Blue Jays, and also the first MLB player who had never played for any baseball teams in the United States. All previous Japanese players who were on the Blue Jays had already debuted for other MLB teams.
Hirotaka Koishi (小石 博孝, Koishi Hirotaka; born April 13, 1993) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays…Hirotaka Koishi (小石 博孝, Koishi Hirotaka; born April 13, 1993) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Jumpei Ono (小野 淳平, Ono Jumpei; born April 5, 1987) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the…Jumpei Ono (小野 淳平, Ono Jumpei; born April 5, 1987) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Hajime Isayama (Japanese: 諫山 創, Hepburn: Isayama Hajime; born August 29, 1986) is a Japanese manga artist. His first…Hajime Isayama (Japanese: 諫山 創, Hepburn: Isayama Hajime; born August 29, 1986) is a Japanese manga artist. His first series, Attack on Titan (2009–2021), became one of the best-selling manga series of all time with 140 million copies in circulation as of November 2023. He was awarded the Kodansha Manga Award in 2011, a Harvey Award in 2014, and was honored with the Fauve Spécial award at the 50th Angoulême International Comics Festival in 2023.
Shūsaku Nishikawa (西川 周作, Nishikawa Shūsaku; born 18 June 1986) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a…Shūsaku Nishikawa (西川 周作, Nishikawa Shūsaku; born 18 June 1986) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for J1 League club Urawa Red Diamonds being its vice-captain.
Masato Fujita (藤田 優人, Fujita Masato; born 8 May 1986 in Ōita, Ōita) is a Japanese football player who has played for…Masato Fujita (藤田 優人, Fujita Masato; born 8 May 1986 in Ōita, Ōita) is a Japanese football player who has played for the J2 League team Ventforet Kofu.
Yūki Akiyoshi (秋吉 夕紀, Akiyoshi Yūki; born October 2, 1985) is a Japanese female professional ten-pin bowler. She is a…Yūki Akiyoshi (秋吉 夕紀, Akiyoshi Yūki; born October 2, 1985) is a Japanese female professional ten-pin bowler. She is a member of the Ladies Bowling Organization of Japan.
Maya Nakanishi (中西 麻耶, Nakanishi Maya; born 3 June 1985) is a Paralympic athlete from Japan, competing in category T44…Maya Nakanishi (中西 麻耶, Nakanishi Maya; born 3 June 1985) is a Paralympic athlete from Japan, competing in category T44 sprint and long jump events. She was born in Ōsaka, Ōsaka Prefecture, and played soft tennis competitively.
Daisuke Kanzaki (神崎 大輔, Kanzaki Daisuke; born February 2, 1985 in Ōita, Ōita) is a former Japanese football player who…Daisuke Kanzaki (神崎 大輔, Kanzaki Daisuke; born February 2, 1985 in Ōita, Ōita) is a former Japanese football player who last featured for Giravanz Kitakyushu.
Takamasa Anai (穴井 隆将, Anai Takamasa; born 5 August 1984 in Ōita, Ōita) is a Japanese judoka. Anai began judo at the age…Takamasa Anai (穴井 隆将, Anai Takamasa; born 5 August 1984 in Ōita, Ōita) is a Japanese judoka. Anai began judo at the age of 5. Anai is Coached by former world champion and olympic silver medalist Shinichi Shinohara. Anai won the All-Japan Championships and took a bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships. His greatest achievement to date is winning the 2010 World Championships in Tokyo. In September 2012, Anai defeated 10 judo black belts in a row during the 50th anniversary of LA Tenri Judo Club, defeating 8-time US judo champion Tokuzo Takahashi in his final match. Anai's main tournament throws are Harai Goshi, Uchi Mata and O soto gari.
Kenji Narisako (成迫 健児, Narisako Kenji) (born 25 July 1984) is a Japanese hurdler. He won the bronze medal at the 2001…Kenji Narisako (成迫 健児, Narisako Kenji) (born 25 July 1984) is a Japanese hurdler. He won the bronze medal at the 2001 World Youth Championships, and the gold medals at the 2005 Summer Universiade and the 2006 Asian Games. He also competed at the World Championships in 2005 and 2007 and the 2008 Olympic Games without reaching the final. His personal best time is 47.93 seconds, achieved in May 2006 in Osaka. After his Olympic appearances, Narisako became a member of the Ōita Prefectural Assembly.
Maiko Itai (板井 麻衣子, Itai Maiko; born 21 May 1984 in Ōita Prefecture) is a Japanese model and beauty pageant titleholder…Maiko Itai (板井 麻衣子, Itai Maiko; born 21 May 1984 in Ōita Prefecture) is a Japanese model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Universe Japan 2010 on 9 March 2010. Itai, the 13th Miss Universe Japan, accepted the crown from Emiri Miyasaka, Miss Universe Japan 2009. She competed in Miss Universe 2010 in Las Vegas, but was unplaced.
Teppei Tsuchiya (土谷 鉄平, born December 27, 1982, in Ōita, Ōita) also known as Teppei (鉄平) is a Japanese professional…Teppei Tsuchiya (土谷 鉄平, born December 27, 1982, in Ōita, Ōita) also known as Teppei (鉄平) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder. Teppei announced his retirement on January 26, 2016.
Sayami Matsushita (松下 紗耶未, Matsushita Sayami; born April 1, 1982 in Ōita) is an athlete from Japan. She competes in…Sayami Matsushita (松下 紗耶未, Matsushita Sayami; born April 1, 1982 in Ōita) is an athlete from Japan. She competes in archery. Matsushita represented Japan at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She placed 35th in the women's individual ranking round with a 72-arrow score of 624. In the first round of elimination, she faced 30th-ranked Alexandra Fouace of France. Matsushita defeated Fouace, winning 165-157 in the 18-arrow match to advance to the round of 32. In that round, she faced Yun Mi Jin of South Korea, losing to the 3rd-ranked archer 173-149 as Yun tied the Olympic record for an 18-arrow match. Matsushita finished 28th in women's individual archery. Matsushita was also a member of the 14th-place Japanese women's archery team.
Yoshikaze Masatsugu (born March 19, 1982, as Masatsugu Ōnishi) is a former sumo wrestler from Saiki, Oita Prefecture…Yoshikaze Masatsugu (born March 19, 1982, as Masatsugu Ōnishi) is a former sumo wrestler from Saiki, Oita Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. A former amateur sumo champion, he turned professional in 2004, reaching the top division two years later. Until his promotion to komusubi in May 2014 he had the active record for the longest serving makuuchi wrestler who had never reached a titled rank. His best performance in a tournament came in July 2015 when he was the runner-up and scored twelve wins against three losses. In the following tournament in September 2015 he defeated two yokozuna and won special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Technique. Yoshikaze is in second place for the slowest promotion from makuuchi debut to the third highest sekiwake rank in history, behind only his stablemate Takekaze. He won ten special prizes in total, and eight gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He retired in September 2019 and is now an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, known as Nakamura Oyakata.
Ryota Wakiya (脇谷 亮太, Wakiya Ryota; born November 4, 1981 in Ōita, Ōita, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional…Ryota Wakiya (脇谷 亮太, Wakiya Ryota; born November 4, 1981 in Ōita, Ōita, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League.
Daisuke Miyazaki (宮崎 大輔, Miyazaki Daisuke) (born 6 June 1981) is a Japanese handball player for Osaki Osol and the…Daisuke Miyazaki (宮崎 大輔, Miyazaki Daisuke) (born 6 June 1981) is a Japanese handball player for Osaki Osol and the Japanese national team. He played for BM Alcobendas in 09/10 season. He represented Japan at the 2019 World Men's Handball Championship. He has competed in Pro Sportsman No. 1 five times. He has won three times in 2006, 2008 and 2009. He came close in 2007, resulting in 4th place, with Paul Terek as the winner, and in 2010 he failed the 20th level. Miyazaki has also competed in the Japanese television series Sasuke. He competed four times (Sasuke 20–22, 26). In Sasuke 20, he was one of many to fail the new Half-Pipe Attack obstacle in the First Stage. However, in Sasuke 21, he completed the First Stage with less than a second left. He had more success on the Second Stage, breezing through the obstacles, and though he struggled on the Wall Lifting at the end, he completed with 10.3 seconds left. He however struggled on the Third Stage, struggling with the first two obstacles. He ultimately failed the Devil Steps, this being the earliest Third Stage failure of Shin-Sasuke (excluding Shingo Yamamoto's failure due to injury). Miyazaki competed once more in Sasuke 22, however timed out just metres from the finish of the First Stage. He competed yet again, in Sasuke 26, but failed a new obstacle in Stage 1, the Rolling Escargot. According to Japan National Police Agency official confirmed reported, he was detained on suspicion of assaulting a woman at hotel in Nagoya, Japan on 2 November.
Tomoyuki Sato (佐藤 智之, Satō Tomoyuki; born 31 January 1981) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He finished thirteenth…Tomoyuki Sato (佐藤 智之, Satō Tomoyuki; born 31 January 1981) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He finished thirteenth in the marathon at the 2007 World Championships.
Yōsuke Hiraishi (平石 洋介, Hiraishi Yōsuke; born April 23, 1980 in Kitsuki, Ōita, Japan) is a former Japanese Nippon…Yōsuke Hiraishi (平石 洋介, Hiraishi Yōsuke; born April 23, 1980 in Kitsuki, Ōita, Japan) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player.
Takahiro Mori (森 隆弘, Mori Takahiro; born March 2, 1980 in Kumamoto) is a retired male medley swimmer from Japan. He…Takahiro Mori (森 隆弘, Mori Takahiro; born March 2, 1980 in Kumamoto) is a retired male medley swimmer from Japan. He represented his native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He is best known for winning three gold medals at the Summer Universiade.
Hiroaki Eto (衛藤博昭, Eto Hiroaki; born 25 November 1979) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…Hiroaki Eto (衛藤博昭, Eto Hiroaki; born 25 November 1979) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2026. He is the son of Seiichi Eto.
Miho Adachi (安達美穂, Adachi Miho; born 19 June 1979) is a Japanese sprint canoer who competed in the mid-2000s. She…Miho Adachi (安達美穂, Adachi Miho; born 19 June 1979) is a Japanese sprint canoer who competed in the mid-2000s. She finished ninth in the K-4 500 m event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
Jun Hirose (廣瀬 純, Hirose Jun; born March 29, 1979) is a former professional Japanese baseball player. He played as an…Jun Hirose (廣瀬 純, Hirose Jun; born March 29, 1979) is a former professional Japanese baseball player. He played as an outfielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Jun Ogawauchi (小川内 潤, Ogawauchi Jun; born January 11, 1979), also known as JUN, is a Japanese professional wrestler and…Jun Ogawauchi (小川内 潤, Ogawauchi Jun; born January 11, 1979), also known as JUN, is a Japanese professional wrestler and former Japanese professional wrestling ring announcer, working for the Pro Wrestling Secret Base. Ogawauchi's greatest fame came as the fifth member of the Crazy Max stable in Toryumon.
Kakizoe Tōru (垣添 徹, Kakizoe Tōru) (born August 12, 1978 in Usa City, Ōita Prefecture, Japan), is a former sumo…Kakizoe Tōru (垣添 徹, Kakizoe Tōru) (born August 12, 1978 in Usa City, Ōita Prefecture, Japan), is a former sumo wrestler. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 2001 and reached the top division in 2003. His highest rank was komusubi, which he held for just one tournament. He won one special prize, for Technique. After injury problems he fell to the third makushita division in 2011 and retired in April 2012, becoming a sumo coach. He was part of ex-yokozuna Musashimaru's Musashigawa stable from 2013 until 2020, when he moved to Irumagawa stable. He is now a sumo elder, under the name Ikazuchi (雷).
Yūya Andō (安藤 優也, Andō Yūya; often Andoh, born December 27, 1977) is a professional baseball player from Ōita City…Yūya Andō (安藤 優也, Andō Yūya; often Andoh, born December 27, 1977) is a professional baseball player from Ōita City, Japan. He is part of the starting rotation for the Hanshin Tigers baseball team.
Yoichi Kato (加藤 陽一, Katō Yōichi; born August 12, 1976 in Ōita) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who was one of…Yoichi Kato (加藤 陽一, Katō Yōichi; born August 12, 1976 in Ōita) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who was one of the leading players in the Men's National Team in the early 2000s. He played as a wing-spiker. In 2003 he completed his first season for Sisley Treviso, who reached the final of the Italian League.
Ryūji Chiyotaikai (千代大海 龍二, Chiyotaikai Ryūji; born April 29, 1976) is a Japanese former sumo wrestler. He made his…Ryūji Chiyotaikai (千代大海 龍二, Chiyotaikai Ryūji; born April 29, 1976) is a Japanese former sumo wrestler. He made his professional debut in 1992 and reached the top makuuchi division in 1997. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for 65 consecutive tournaments from 1999 until 2009, making him the longest serving ōzeki in the modern era. He won three top division yūshō or tournament championships, and was a runner-up on seven other occasions. However, he also held the dubious record of being in danger of demotion from ōzeki fourteen times. He wrestled for Kokonoe stable until his retirement in January 2010 at the age of 33. He remained in sumo as a coach at Kokonoe stable, and became the head coach in August 2016 following the death of Chiyonofuji.
Sachimi Iwao (岩尾 幸美, Iwao Sachimi; born February 20, 1976, in Kokonoe, Oita) is a field hockey player from Japan. She…Sachimi Iwao (岩尾 幸美, Iwao Sachimi; born February 20, 1976, in Kokonoe, Oita) is a field hockey player from Japan. She has represented her native country at the Summer Olympics three times (2004, 2008 and 2012). She was named Best Player at the 2006 Women's Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Rome, Italy.
Shintaro Yoshitake (吉武 真太郎, Yoshitake Shintaro; born June 3, 1975 in Higashikunisaki District, Ōita, Japan) is a…Shintaro Yoshitake (吉武 真太郎, Yoshitake Shintaro; born June 3, 1975 in Higashikunisaki District, Ōita, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Junko Moriyama (森山 淳子, Moriyama Junko; born (1975-02-26)26 February 1975) is a retired Japanese female volleyball…Junko Moriyama (森山 淳子, Moriyama Junko; born (1975-02-26)26 February 1975) is a retired Japanese female volleyball player. She was part of the Japan women's national volleyball team at the 1998 FIVB World Championship in Japan.
Sōichirō Takashima (高島 宗一郎, Takashima Sōichirō) is a Japanese politician who has been mayor of the city of Fukuoka…Sōichirō Takashima (高島 宗一郎, Takashima Sōichirō) is a Japanese politician who has been mayor of the city of Fukuoka since 2010.
Miyuki Shimazaki (島崎 みゆき, Shimazaki Miyuki; born (1974-10-13)13 October 1974) is a retired Japanese volleyball player.…Miyuki Shimazaki (島崎 みゆき, Shimazaki Miyuki; born (1974-10-13)13 October 1974) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. Shimazaki was part of the Japanese women's national volleyball team at the 1994 FIVB World Championship in Brazil. On club level she played with Hitachi.
Yuko Anai (穴井 夕子, born 7 June 1974) is a female Japanese popular music artist. She started her career as a member of a…Yuko Anai (穴井 夕子, born 7 June 1974) is a female Japanese popular music artist. She started her career as a member of a group called Tokyo Performance Doll. As UL-SAYS, she sang the opening song Oh my Darin for Urusei Yatsura. The song was recorded around August 1991. Between August 1995 and March 1996, Yuko was hired by St.GIGA to host the SoundLink Magazine, "King of After School" (放課後の王様, Houkago no Ousama?), for the Nintendo Satellaview once a week. In September 1996, she formed the group Orange. In June 2000, she married professional golfer Yokota Shinichi.
