List of Famous people born in Japan

Shinya Aoki is a Japanese mixed martial artist, professional wrestler and grappler currently competing in ONE Championship's and Rizin Fighting Federation's Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2003, he is noted for being the DREAM Lightweight Champion, former two time ONE Lightweight Champion, former WAMMA Lightweight Champion and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Aoki is an A-class Shoot wrestler and BJJ black belt, both under his long-term mentor Yuki Nakai, as well as a black belt judoka. As of 2008, Aoki, along with DEEP champion Masakazu Imanari, and Sengoku champion Satoru Kitaoka have founded the "Nippon Top Team" as a group of elite Japanese grapplers competing in MMA. As well as his MMA credentials, Aoki has garnered several submission grappling accolades including two All Japan Jiu-Jitsu Championships, a Japan Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship, a Budo Open Championship, and an ADCC Japan Championship.

Uta Abe is a Japanese judoka.

Ryō Tamura is a Japanese actor from Kyoto. His father was silent-film star Tsumasaburo Bando. With his elder brothers, the late Takahiro and Masakazu, he is one of the Three Tamura Brothers.

Takehiro Hira is a Japanese theatre, film, and television actor. He was born in Japan and raised there until he was 15 years old. He went to high school in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, and then attended Brown University.

You Yokoyama is a Japanese idol, singer, actor, scriptwriter, radio host and lyricist. Yokoyama is also a member of Kanjani Eight, which is under the management of Johnny & Associates. His image color in the group is black.

Mamoru Oshii is a Japanese filmmaker, television director and writer. Famous for his philosophy-oriented storytelling, Oshii has directed a number of acclaimed anime films, including Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer (1984), Angel's Egg (1985), Patlabor 2: The Movie (1993), and Ghost in the Shell (1995). He also holds the distinction of having created the first ever OVA, Dallos (1983). As a writer, Oshii has worked as a screenwriter, and occasionally as a manga writer and novelist. His most notable works as a writer include the manga Kerberos Panzer Cop (1988–2000) and its feature film adaptation Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999).

Takashi Ukaji is a Japanese actor.

Miyako Tanaka is a former synchronized swimmer from Japan who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Keiichiro Koyama is a Japanese musician and leader of the Johnny's Entertainment group NEWS.

Hiroko Anzai is a Japanese actress, model and gravure idol, who has appeared in various magazines and photo albums.