Famous People Born In Osaka

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 1 
Naomi Osaka
(The First Asian Player to Hold the Top Ranking in Tennis Singles)
Naomi Osaka
111
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 16, 1997
Sun Sign: Libra

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.

 2 
Asuka
(Japanese Professional Wrestler)
Asuka
20
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 26, 1981
Sun Sign: Libra

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.

 3 
George Miller
(Singer, Songwriter, Rapper & Comedian)
George Miller
41
Listed In: YouTubers
Birthdate: September 16, 1992
Sun Sign: Virgo

George Miller, also known as Joji and Filthy Frank,  is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, author, and comedian. He began his career in the entertainment industry through his many now-defunct YouTube channels. After gaining fame as a social media personality, he retired his channels to focus on his mainstream musical career. He now produces R&B and Trip-Hop music. 

 4 
Yu Darvish
(Japanese Professional Baseball Pitcher)
Yu Darvish
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 16, 1986
Sun Sign: Leo

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.

 5 
Ayako Fujitani
(Japanese Writer and Actress)
Ayako Fujitani
12
Birthdate: December 7, 1979
Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Daughter of Hollywood actor Steven Seagal and Japanese aikido specialist Miyako Fujitani, Ayako Fujitani appeared as a lead actor in Man from Reno. A skilled writer, she has also released several books, both fiction and non-fiction. She has also directed a short play and performed as part of a band.

 6 
Tadao Ando
(Architect)
Tadao Ando
2
Listed In: Architects
Birthdate: September 13, 1941
Sun Sign: Virgo
 7 
Yoshihiro Akiyama
(Japanese Mixed Martial Artist and Judoka)
Yoshihiro Akiyama
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 29, 1975
Sun Sign: Leo
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 8 
Miyavi
(Singer, Guitarist)
Miyavi
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: September 14, 1981
Sun Sign: Virgo

Miyavi is a Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and record producer. Apart from being an entertainer, Miyavi is also a volunteer at UNHCR; since 2013, he has been visiting several refugee camps across the world. He was made an official UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in November 2017.   

 9 
Rie Kugimiya
(Japanese Voice Actress Best Known for Her Voice Performances in Anime 'Fullmetal Alchemist’ Series)
Rie Kugimiya
5
Birthdate: May 30, 1979
Sun Sign: Gemini

Seiyu Award-winning voice actor Rie Kugimiya is best known for her work in anime/manga productions such as Toradora! and Nabari no Ou. Known as the Queen of Tsundere, she is fond of reading in her leisure time. She has also appeared on stage and in video games.

 10 
Mari Osaka
(Retired Japanese Tennis Player and Fashion Designer)
Mari Osaka
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 3, 1996
Sun Sign: Aries

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.

 11 
Yuji Naka
(Video game programmer)
Yuji Naka
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: September 17, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
 12 
Mikuru Suzuki
(Japanese Darts Player)
Mikuru Suzuki
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 5, 1982
Sun Sign: Aquarius
 13 
Yasunari Kawabata
(Novelist)
Yasunari Kawabata
5
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 11, 1899
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: April 16, 1972

Yasunari Kawabata was a Japanese short story writer and novelist whose subtly-shaded prose works earned him the 1968 Nobel Prize for Literature, making him the first Japanese writer to receive the prestigious award. Yasunari Kawabata played a major role in the translation of Japanese literature into several Western languages including English. His works are still read all over the world. 

 14 
Hotaru Akane
(Japanese Actress and HIV/Aids Activist)
Hotaru Akane
2
Birthdate: October 25, 1983
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died: August 15, 2016
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
 15 
Kenta Maeda
(Baseball player Pitcher)
Kenta Maeda
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 11, 1988
Sun Sign: Aries
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 16 
Midori
(Violinist)
Midori
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 25, 1971
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Height: 4'11" (150 cm)
 17 
Shinya Yamanaka
(Nobel Prize-Winning Japanese Scientist Who Is Known for his Work on Stem Cell Research)
Shinya Yamanaka
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: September 4, 1962
Sun Sign: Virgo

Nobel Prize-winning Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka is known for his contribution to stem cell research. He developed the induced pluripotent stem cell, a stem cell that can be created directly from a somatic cell. He is a professor at Kyoto University’s Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences and has held several senior research positions.

 18 
Ko Yong-hui
(Kim Jong-un's mother)
Ko Yong-hui
4
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: June 26, 1952
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: August 13, 2004
 19 
Kenzo Tange
(Architect)
Kenzo Tange
1
Listed In: Architects
Birthdate: September 4, 1913
Sun Sign: Virgo
Died: March 22, 2005
 20 
Koji Uehara
(Former Baseball player pitcher)
Koji Uehara
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 3, 1975
Sun Sign: Aries
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 21 
Masayoshi Nakatani
(Japanese Professional Boxer)
Masayoshi Nakatani
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 8, 1989
Sun Sign: Pisces
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 22 
Akira Maeda
(Japanese Mixed Martial Arts Promoter, Retired Professional Wrestler and Mixed Martial Artist)
Akira Maeda
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 24, 1959
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 23 
Leo Esaki
(Nobel Prize-Winning Japanese Physicist Known for His Work on Superconductivity)
Leo Esaki
1
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: March 12, 1925
Sun Sign: Pisces

Nobel Prize-winning Japanese physicist Reona Esaki, also known as Leo Esaki, is remembered for his pioneering research on superconductivity. He devised the Esaki diode, or tunnel diode, too. Initially associated with IBM’s research laboratories in the US, he later moved back to Japan and headed scientific institutions.

 24 
Ryuhei Kitamura
(Japanese Film Director, Producer and Screenwriter)
Ryuhei Kitamura
0
Birthdate: May 30, 1969
Sun Sign: Gemini
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 25 
Tomoyuki Tanaka
(Japanese Film Producer Best Known for Co-creating the Godzilla Franchise)
Tomoyuki Tanaka
1
Birthdate: April 26, 1910
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: April 2, 1997

Best remembered for his Godzilla series of films, among more than 200 other films, which he made with Toho Studios, producer Tanaka Tomoyuki had also produced several films for Akira Kurosawa, including the Academy Award-nominated and Palme d'Or-winning Kagemusha. He was married to Japanese actor Chieko Nakakita.

 26 
Hiroki Kuroda
(Baseball pitcher)
Hiroki Kuroda
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 10, 1975
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 27 
Jay Litherland
(American Competition Swimmer and Olympic Medalist)
Jay Litherland
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 24, 1995
Sun Sign: Virgo
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 28 
Tomoki Kameda
(Japanese Professional Boxer)
Tomoki Kameda
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 12, 1991
Sun Sign: Cancer
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 29 
Daisuke Ohata
(Japanese Rugby Union Player)
Daisuke Ohata
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 11, 1975
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 30 
Ihara Saikaku
(Japanese Poet and Creator of the 'Floating World')
Ihara Saikaku
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 1642 AD
Died: September 9, 1693

Remembered for his contribution to the revival of the Japanese literature, Ihara Saikaku was possibly the most popular writer in the entire Tokugawa period. Beginning his career with haikai no renga, depicting contemporary chōnin life through them, he later started writing novels, creating floating world genre of literature; Life of an Amorous Man was his first work of this variety.

 31 
Yuka Tsuji
(Japanese Mixed Martial Artist)
Yuka Tsuji
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 11, 1974
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
 32 
Kyotaro Fujimoto
(Japanese Former Professional Boxer and Kickboxer)
Kyotaro Fujimoto
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 23, 1986
Sun Sign: Cancer
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 33 
Isuzu Yamada
(Actress)
Isuzu Yamada
0
Birthdate: February 5, 1917
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Died: July 9, 2012
 34 
Den Fujita
(Japanese Entrepreneur Who Launched the First McDonald's Franchise in Japan)
Den Fujita
0
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: March 13, 1926
Sun Sign: Pisces
Died: April 21, 2004

Den Fujita set up the first McDonald's franchise in Japan and was hugely successful owing to its signature dish, the Japanese-styled Teriyaki McBurger. He also headed companies such as Toys 'R' Us and Softbank, and penned several books on business strategy, too, including the bestseller The Jewish Way of Doing Business.

 35 
Avi Schafer
(Basketball player - Power forward / Center)
Avi Schafer
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 28, 1998
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Height: 6'9" (206 cm)
 36 
Yoichiro Kakitani
(Japanese Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Forward or an Attacking Midfielder)
Yoichiro Kakitani
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 3, 1990
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 37 
Kanno Sugako
(Journalist)
Kanno Sugako
0
Birthdate: 1881 AD
Died: January 25, 1911
 38 
Shuko Aoyama
(Japanese Professional Tennis Player)
Shuko Aoyama
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 19, 1987
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
 39 
Katsunari Takayama
(Japanese Professional Boxer)
Katsunari Takayama
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 12, 1983
Sun Sign: Taurus
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
 40 
Ryōichi Sasakawa
(Japanese Politician)
Ryōichi Sasakawa
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 4, 1899
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: July 18, 1995

The founder-president of the Nippon Foundation, Ryōichi Sasakawa was a far-right politician, businessman, and philanthropist. During WWII, he actively supported his country’s war efforts, leading to his imprisonment by the Allied forces after the fall of Japan; but he was released due to lack of evidence. Thereafter, he set up various successful businesses, which include motorboat racing and ship building.

 41 
Ri Yong-jik
(North Korean Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Defensive Midfielder)
Ri Yong-jik
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 8, 1991
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 42 
Risa Sato
(Filipino-Japanese Volleyball Player Who Plays as a Middle Blocker)
Risa Sato
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 4, 1994
Sun Sign: Libra

Risa Sato is a Filipino-Japanese volleyball player who has played as a middle blocker for the Philippines women's national volleyball team. She has also played for the Creamline Cool Smashers, which competes in the Premier Volleyball League.

 43 
Hideo Shima
(Engineer)
Hideo Shima
0
Listed In: Engineers
Birthdate: May 20, 1901
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: March 18, 1998
 44 
Sakyo Komatsu
(Japanese Science Fiction Writer and Screenwriter)
Sakyo Komatsu
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: January 28, 1931
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Died: July 26, 2011

Sakyo Komatsu was a Japanese writer and screenwriter. Counted among the most popular and influential science fiction writers in Japan, Komatsu is best known for writing such novels as Sayonara Jupiter and Japan Sinks, which were adapted into films. In 1985, he won the prestigious Nihon SF Taisho Award for his work.

 45 
Ryang Yong-gi
(Japanese-Born North Korean Footballer Who Plays as a Midfielder)
Ryang Yong-gi
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 7, 1982
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 46 
Yoshihiro Tatsumi
(Japanese Manga Artist Known for Starting the 'Gekiga Style' of Alternative Manga in Japan)
Yoshihiro Tatsumi
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 10, 1935
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: March 7, 2015

Award-winning Japanese manga-artist Yoshihiro Tatsumi is generally credited for starting the gekiga style of alternative manga in Japan. This style of Japanese comics (name coined by Tatsumi in 1957) features more mature themes, graphic and violence. Noted works of Tatsumi in this style include Black Blizzard, The Push Man and Other Stories and Fallen Words.

 47 
Noriaki Kinoshita
(American football player)
Noriaki Kinoshita
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 29, 1982
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 48 
Atsuko Tanaka
(Artist)
Atsuko Tanaka
1
Birthdate: February 10, 1932
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Died: December 3, 2005

While she stunned art lovers with her Electric Dress made of hundreds of painted electric bulbs, avant-garde artist Atsuko Tanaka was part of the Japanese Gutai movement, which made use of objects such as lights, doorbells, and textiles. Her performance art and installations redefined Japanese art.

 49 
Kōki Kameda
(Japanese Former Professional Boxer)
Kōki Kameda
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 17, 1986
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 50 
Isao Okawa
(Former Chairman of 'Sega Enterprises' and Founder of 'CSK Holdings')
Isao Okawa
1
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: May 19, 1926
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: March 16, 2001
Japanese businessman Isao Okawa founded the Japanese technology company called Computer Service Company that later became CSK Holdings Corporation (CSK). Okawa served as its Chairman since its inception till his death. He also served as Chairman and later as President of Sega. The Japanese Government recognised Okawa for his help in financially supporting Sega and many other Japanese technology companies.