Sports

Famous Athletes from Japan

Reference
Updated June 14, 2019 46.4k views 1,669 items
List of the most popular, renowned or famous athletes from Japan. List includes the most notable athletes from Japan, along with photos when available. This list of Japanese athletes is alphabetical, but can be sorted by any column and answers the question "what famous athletes are from Japan?" You can click on the names of the famous athletes of Japan in order to get more information about each one. The list you're viewing is made up of athletes like Ichiro Suzuki and Masako Hozumi. You may want to copy this fact-based list to build your own just like it, re-rank it to fit your opinions, then publish it to share it on Facebook, Twitter or any other social sites you frequent. (1669 items)
1
Robert Griffin III is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

Nationality: United States of America

Position: Quarterback

Robert Lee Griffin III (born February 12, 1990), nicknamed RG3 or RGIII, is an American football quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college ...more

More Robert Griffin III ❯

#100 of 119 The Greatest Washington Redskins of All Time #170 of 257 The Best Quarterbacks Of All Time #15 of 122 The Greatest College Football Quarterbacks of All Time

2
Norifumi Yamamoto is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan
Norifumi Yamamoto

Birthplace: Kawasaki, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Norifumi Yamamoto (山本 徳郁, Yamamoto Norifumi, March 15, 1977 – September 18, 2018) was a Japanese mixed martial artist and kickboxer who competed in the bantamweight division of the UFC. He ...more
3
Yushin Okami is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Yushin Okami (岡見 勇信, Okami Yūshin, born July 21, 1981) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently signed to ONE Championship. A professional competitor since 2002, Okami has formerly competed ...more

More Yushin Okami ❯

#112 of 147 The Greatest MMA Legends of All Time #23 of 25 The Best Southpaw Fighters In The UFC #19 of 20 The Best UFC Fighters From Japan

4
Yoshihiro Akiyama is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Osaka, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Yoshihiro Akiyama (秋山 成勲) (born July 29, 1975), also known as Sung Hoon Choo (추성훈), is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka. Akiyama won the gold medal at the 2001 Asian Championships for ...more
5
Hideki Matsui is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan
Hideki Matsui

Birthplace: Neagari, Ishikawa

Nationality: United States of America, Japan

Position: Designated hitter, Left fielder, Center fielder

Hideki Matsui (松井 秀喜, Matsui Hideki, born June 12, 1974), nicknamed "Godzilla", is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter who played baseball in ...more

More Hideki Matsui ❯

#546 of 598 The Greatest Baseball Players Of All Time #518 of 709 The Best Hitters in Baseball History #35 of 158 The Greatest New York Yankees Of All Time

6
Hiroshi Ogawa is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Japan

Nationality: Japan

Hiroshi Ogawa may refer to: Hiroshi Ogawa (second baseman) (born 1940) Hiroshi Ogawa (shortstop) (born 1960) Hiroshi Ogawa (pitcher) (born 1962), baseball player and convicted criminal Hiroshi ...more
7
Sonny Chiba is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: East Asia, Asia, Japan, Fukuoka, Kyushu, + more

Nationality: Japan

Shinichi Chiba (Japanese: 千葉 真一, Hepburn: Chiba Shin'ichi, born January 22, 1939), also known as Sonny Chiba, is a Japanese actor, singer, film producer, film director, and martial artist. Chiba ...more
8
Yuko Kavaguti is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Funabashi, Japan

Nationality: United States of America, Russia, Japan

Yuko Kavaguti (also: Kawaguchi, Japanese: Kawaguchi Yūko (川口 悠子), Russian: Юко Кавагути, born 20 November 1981) is a pair skater who has represented Japan and Russia in international ...more
9
Ichiro Suzuki is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan
Seattle Mariners

Birthplace: Kasugai, Japan

Nationality: United States of America, Japan

Position: Right fielder, Outfielder, Center fielder

Ichiro Suzuki (鈴木 一朗, Suzuki Ichirō, born October 22, 1973), often referred to mononymously as Ichiro (イチロー, Ichirō), is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder who played 28 seasons ...more

More Ichiro Suzuki ❯

#818 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #44 of 598 The Greatest Baseball Players Of All Timelisted on Longest Hitting Streaks in Baseball

10
Wong Pei Tty is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Ipoh, Malaysia

Nationality: Japan, China

Wong Pei Tty (born 11 November 1981 in Ipoh, Perak) is a former elite female doubles badminton player from Malaysia. Wong competed in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in women's doubles ...more
11
Lena Frier Kristiansen ... is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Randers, Denmark

Nationality: Denmark, Japan

Lena Frier Kristiansen (born March 12, 1983) is a badminton player from Denmark. In 2001, she won the silver and bronze medals at the European Junior Championships in the mixed team and doubles ...more
12
Ryoko Tani is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan
Ryoko Tani

Birthplace: Fukuoka, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Ryoko Tani (谷 亮子, Tani Ryōko, née Tamura (田村), born September 6, 1975) is a retired Japanese female judoka and a politician. Competing in the extra-lightweight (48 kg) class, she won a ...more
13
Saori Yoshida is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Tsu, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Saori Yoshida (吉田 沙保里, Yoshida Saori, born 5 October 1982) is a former Japanese freestyle wrestler. Starting in 1998 she won almost every major competition, including three Olympic Games, four ...more
14
Madoka Harada is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Nagano, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Madoka Harada (原田窓香, born December 15, 1985) is a Japanese luger who has competed since 2004. Competing in two Winter Olympics, she earned her best finish of 13th in the women's singles event at ...more
15
Sessue Hayakawa is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Chikura, Japan

Nationality: United States of America, Japan

Kintaro Hayakawa (June 10, 1886 – November 23, 1973), known professionally as Sessue Hayakawa, was a Japanese actor. He was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood during the silent film era of ...more
16
Takuya Kimura is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Japan, Tokyo

Nationality: Japan

Takuya Kimura (木村拓哉, Kimura Takuya, born November 13, 1972), also known as "Kimutaku" ("キムタク"), is a Japanese actor, singer, and radio personality. He is regarded as a ...more
17
Tae Satoya is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Sapporo, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Tae Satoya (里谷 多英, Satoya Tae, born on June 12, 1976 in Sapporo, Japan) is a Japanese freestyle skier. She won the Olympic title in the moguls event at the 1998 Winter Olympics, and she finished ...more
18
Maki Tabata is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Mukawa, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Maki Tabata (田畑 真紀, Tabata Maki, born 9 November 1974 in Mukawa, Hokkaido, Japan) is a speed skater and cycle racer. Maki Tabata won bronze at the World Allround Championships in 2000 and one ...more
19
Fumie Suguri is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Chiba, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Fumie Suguri (村主 章枝, Suguri Fumie, born December 31, 1980) is a Japanese figure skater. She is a three-time World medalist, a three-time Four Continents champion, the 2003 Grand Prix Final ...more
20
Miyuki Hatanaka is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Shiogama, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Miyuki Hatanaka is a freestyle skier.
21
Miki Ando is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Japan

Nationality: Japan

Miki Ando (安藤 美姫, Andō Miki, born December 18, 1987) is a retired Japanese figure skater. She is the 2007 and 2011 World champion, 2011 Four Continents champion, 2004 World Junior champion, and ...more
22
Eri Yanetani is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Kobe, Keihanshin, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Eri Yanetani is a professional snowboarder.
23
Tomoka Takeuchi is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Asahikawa, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Tomoka Takeuchi is a professional snowboarder.
24
Mao Asada is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Nagoya, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Mao Asada (浅田 真央, Asada Mao, born 25 September 1990) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. She is the 2010 Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World champion (2008, 2010, 2014), a ...more
25
Madoka Natsumi is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list Famous Athletes from Japan

Birthplace: Abashiri, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Madoka Natsumi (夏見 円, Natsumi Madoka, born July 2, 1978) is a Japanese cross country skier who has competed since 1995. She earned the best individual finish of the host nation Japan at the FIS ...more