List of Famous people born in Akita Prefecture, Japan

Sayaka Sasaki is a Japanese musician from Akita Prefecture signed to Lantis. She started her music career after winning the All-Japan Anison Grand Prix singing contest in 2009. Since then, Sasaki has performed theme songs for various anime television series, such as The Book of Bantorra, Nichijou, Garo: The Animation, So, I Can't Play H!, and Bakuon!!, among others.

Toshiyuki Igarashi is a Japanese boxer and a former WBC, The Ring and Lineal Flyweight World Champion.

Shuji Ono is the former head coach for Toyota Alvark, Hitachi SunRockers and Earth Friends Tokyo Z in Japan.

Yukio Endō was a Japanese artistic gymnast, Olympic champion and world champion. He was part of the first Japanese team that succeeded to win gold medals in the team event at the Summer Olympics (1960) and World Championships (1962). In 1964 he won the first individual all-around Olympic gold medal for Japan. He was the flag bearer at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

Hosei Norota was a Japanese politician of the People's New Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet. A native of Noshiro, Akita and graduate of Chuo University he joined the Ministry of Construction in 1953. Leaving the ministry, he was elected to the House of Councilors in the Diet for the first time in 1977. In 1983 he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time. From 1995 to 1996 he served as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Tomiichi Murayama's cabinet. In 1998 he served briefly as Director General of the Japan Defense Agency.