List of Famous people born in Japan

Dairyū Tadahiro is a former sumo wrestler from Osaka, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1976, but never reached the top division. His highest rank was jūryō 4, which he reached in January 1990. He retired in July 1997 and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association. He assumed the role of head coach of Ōtake stable in July 2010, shortly after former head coach (ex-sekiwake) Takatōriki was fired by the Sumo Association for betting illegally on baseball.

Konomi Kai is a Japanese track and field athlete who specialises in the long jump. She competed in the women's long jump at the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Nankichi Niimi was a Japanese author, sometimes known as the Hans Christian Andersen of Japan.

Yu Irie is a Japanese film director / screenwriter who was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, and grew up in Fukaya, Saitama Prefecture.

Naoko Imoto is a former freestyle swimmer from Japan, who competed for her native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. There she finished in fourth place in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay, alongside Aiko Miyake, Eri Yamanoi, and Suzu Chiba.

Daiki Asama is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays outfielder for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Ray Fujita , is a Japanese actor and musician from Tokyo. His mother is Japanese and his father is French. His most notable roles to date are as Kitazaki/Dragon Orphnoch in the 2003 series Kamen Rider 555 and Rei Suzumura/ZERO the Silver Fanged Knight in the 2006 series GARO. He is also the lead vocalist of the band Dustz.

Hiroyuki Takaya is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division. A professional competitor since 2003, Takaya has fought in the WEC, Strikeforce, DREAM, Shooto, K-1 HERO'S, Pancrase, RIZIN, Vale Tudo Japan, and Cage Force. Takaya is the former DREAM Featherweight Champion. He also competed at the Japanese MMA events Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011 and Dynamite!! 2010. Due to his experience in street fighting, Takaya is known as the "Streetfight Bancho".

Mika Doi is a Japanese actress, voice actress and narrator who was born in Sendai.

Takakazu Ishii is a Japanese politician and the current governor of Toyama Prefecture in Japan, first elected in 2004. A native of Toyama, Toyama and a graduate of the University of Tokyo, he worked in the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1969 before being elected governor.