Famous Japanese Sportspersons

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka made history by being the first player of Asian origin to hold the world number one rank in singles. Osaka made headlines when in 2021, she withdrew from the French Open after refusing to be part of a press conference to protect her mental health.

Yuzuru Hanyu is a Japanese figure skater. Considered one of the greatest male figure skaters of all time, Hanyu became only the second figure skaters ever to receive two successive Olympic gold medals; he achieved this feat in 2014 and 2018. He also won the 2020 Four Continents Championships, becoming the only male singles skater to accomplish a Super Slam.

Ichiro Suzuki is a Japanese former baseball player who played as an outfielder in top-level professional leagues, including Major League Baseball (MLB). Also a popular player at the Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, Suzuki became the first MLB player to be inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Affectionately called Sho Time and the Japanese Babe Ruth, Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani is known for his successful stint with the MLB team Los Angeles Angels. Earlier, while with the Hokkaido-Nippon Ham Fighters, he set the record for the fastest-ever pitch thrown by a Japanese player.

One of the most promising young wrestlers from Japan, Kanako Urai, better known as Asuka and Kana (previously), has been making a name for herself as part of the WWE. Known for her multi-colored hair, she is a Grand Slam Champion, and holds the NXT, Raw, and SmackDown Women’s titles.

Shinsuke Nakamura is a Japanese wrestler best known for appearing in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) where he has won several championships, such as the Intercontinental Championship, United States Championship, and SmackDown Tag Team Championship. In 2016, Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine named him the Most Popular Wrestler of the Year. He is also known for his association with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. 

Shinji Kagawa is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder. He has the distinction of having played for top-notch European football clubs, such as Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund. Known for agility on the field, Shinji Kagawa is currently part of the Greek club, PAOK Thessaloniki, after his contract with Spanish team, Zaragoza, was terminated. 

Born to a Japanese father and an Iranian mother, Sefat Farid Yu Darvish, better known as Yu Darvish, started playing baseball in second grade. Known for his baseball skills and his 6’5” frame, he is a 4-time All-Star and has played for teams such as the Chicago Cubs and the LA Dodgers.

Inspired by Brazilian footballer Ronaldo, Takumi Minamino decided to make football his career and joined Cerezo Osaka at age 12. The Japanese football star now plays both for the Japanese national team and Liverpool. He has also had a successful stint at the Austrian club Salzburg.

Keisuke Honda is a Japanese football player and manager. A versatile player, Honda can play as an attacking midfielder and as a winger. Renowned for his accuracy, dribbling skills, and powerful striking ability, Keisuke Honda helped the Japan national football team win the 2011 Asian Cup, where he was adjudged Player of the Tournament.       

Japanese volleyball player Yuji Nishida now represents the Italian club Volley Callipo. Inspired to take up the game by his elder siblings, he joined JTEKT Stings at age 17. He also represented Japan in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Of his numerous awards, one of the most notable is the Japanese V.League MVP.

Once a reputed Japanese martial artist and wrestler, Antonio Inoki grew up in Brazil, where he won several contests of shot put, discus, and javelin. At 17, he went to the Japanese Wrestling Association and was mentored by Rikidōzan. He later established the New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Kazuyoshi Miura is a professional Japanese footballer for who age is truly just a number. He is above 50 and continues to be an active player , He holds the global record as the oldest player to score a goal in a professional soccer league. Associated with Yokohama FC, he played for Japan’s national team for a decade, scoring 55 goals from 89 matches.

WWE wrestler and actor Kaori Housako, better known as Kairi Sane, initially represented Japanese women’s wrestling promotion Stardom, as Kairi Hojo, and also won many honors, such as the Artist of Stardom. She is also skilled in yachting, holds a degree in Japanese literature, and has taught Japanese in Cambodia.

Legendary Japanese athlete Jigoro Kano is remembered as the founder of judo. A fine educator, he had also had a 23-year stint as the principal of 2 schools, which later became the University of Tsukuba. He was also the first Asian to be part of the International Olympic Committee.

Sixteenth-century Japanese swordsman Sasaki Kojirō was known as the Demon of the Western Provinces because of his skill with the nodachi, a sword that demons used. Known for his signature move, Tsubame Gaeshi, he died fighting Miyamoto Musashi, his arch rival, at what is now known as Ganryu island.

Sadao Maeda, better known as Sonny Chiba, was initially a talented gymnast, aspiring to be part of the Japanese Olympic team, though a back injury ended his sports career. Trained in martial arts, he later soared to fame with movies such as The Street Fighter. He died of COVID-19 at age 82.

Japanese martial artist and wrestler Kota Ibushi stunned his fans when he rejected an offer from All Elite Wrestling, choosing to remain with New Japan Pro-Wrestling instead, as he did not wish to move to the U.S. for good. The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion had initially ditched karate for wrestling.

Morihei Ueshiba was a Japanese martial artist. Referred to as the Great Teacher, Ueshiba is credited with founding aikido, a martial art which is now practiced around the world. During the course of his career, Ueshiba set up many dojos, including the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, and taught several students, many of whom are celebrated martial artists in their own right.

Hiroshi Tanahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler, widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. He is the current NEVER Openweight Champion at  New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is one of the most decorated wrestlers in New Japan's history with eight reigns as IWGP Heavyweight Champion and three reigns as IWGP Tag Team Champion. 

Legendary Japanese karate master Mas Oyama, who founded Kyokushin Karate, was known by his fans as The God Hand. Known as someone who had fought bears and bulls with his bare hands, he was also an actor and author. Following his death, he was declared a God by a Japanese religion.

Japanese wrestler Yoshihiro Tajiri has been known by many pseudonyms, such as Aquarius and Tigre Blanco. Trained in lucha libre and Japanese wrestling, Tajiri has also amused audiences with his backstage comedy during his association with organizations such as WWE and ECW. He later popularized his signature goatee.

At age 2, Sadako Sasaki survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, being just 2km away from the bombing site. However, years later, she developed leukemia, as an aftermath of the bombing. While in hospital, battling the terminal disease, she folded over 1,000 origami cranes, in the hope of getting better.

Kei Nishikori scripted history when he became the first male Japanese tennis player to make it to the top 40 of the ATP rankings, the second to be in the singles top 5, and the first to make it to a Grand Slam final. He has also won an Olympic bronze.

Mari Osaka is a Japanese tennis player. In 2014, she made her WTA Tour debut at the Bank of the West Classic, partnering with Marina Shamayko in the doubles event. A few years later, she made her WTA Tour singles debut at the 2019 Miami Open. Her sister, Naomi Osaka, is also a tennis player.

Japanese wrestler Masami Odate, better known by her pseudonym, Io Shirai, performs for WWE and is a former NXT Women's Champion. Japanese newspaper Tokyo Sports named her the top female wrestler of the year thrice. She is best known for her trademark moonsaults, springboard dropkicks, and hurricanranas.

Considered one of the best Japanese footballers ever, Hidetoshi Nakata is not just a 2-time Olympian but also a 3-time World Cup player. He has also been part of Serie A and Premier League. Known as Gioiellino, or Little Jewel, he is also a fashion icon, known for his quirky and colorful hair-dos.