List of Famous people born in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

Shingo Suetsugu is a Japanese sprinter. He is a former Asian record holder in the 200 metres and 4×100 metres relay.

Yasutaka Okayama is a Japanese former basketball player and coach. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors as the 10th pick of the eighth round of the 1981 NBA draft, although he did not sign with them. At 7'8" (234 cm), he is the tallest player ever to be drafted in NBA history. Okayama was the only player from Japan drafted in the NBA until Rui Hachimura, who was drafted 9th overall of the 2019 NBA Draft

Yuri Fudoh is a Japanese golfer. She was the leading money winner on the JLPGA Tour six times in a row from 2000 to 2005. She became the first player on the JLPGA Tour to earn in excess of 100 million yen, a feat she accomplished in 2000, and achieved again in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Kimiko Jinnai is a Japanese badminton player, born in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto. She competed in women's doubles with team mate Hisako Mori at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Masahiro Araki is a retired Japanese professional baseball player. He played predominantly at second base for the Chunichi Dragons. He was noted for his speed and defense.

Ikuo Kabashima is a Japanese politician and the current governor of Kumamoto Prefecture. He has been governor since 2008.

Yuta Iwasada is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Kundō Koyama (小山薫堂) is a Japanese writer. He is best known for scripting the television series Iron Chef and the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film recipient Departures. Koyama has also worked under the pen name Udon Kumayakko, an anagram of his real name read backwards in Japanese.

Naomichi Ueda is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for Ligue 1 side Nîmes Olympique on loan from Belgian side Cercle Brugge.

Kentaro Asahi is a Japanese professional beach volleyball player and politician. He was born in Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan.