List of Famous people born in Oita Prefecture, Japan
Junko Iwao
Junko Iwao is a Japanese voice actress and singer. Her most notable role is in Cardcaptor Sakura, providing the voice to Sakura's best friend and cousin, Tomoyo Daidōji. She also voiced lead character Mima Kirigoe in Perfect Blue, Ceres in Ceres, Celestial Legend, and Kikyo in Hunter x Hunter. In video games, she voiced Pai Chan in Virtua Fighter, Carole Pepper in Honkai Impact 3rd, Mint in Tales of Phantasia and Serika in To Heart.
Mami Umeki
Mami Umeki is a female Japanese judoka.
Shigeru So
Shigeru So is a retired long-distance runner from Japan, who represented his native country at two Summer Olympics: 1976 and 1984. He won the 1985 edition of the Tokyo Marathon. His twin brother Takeshi So is also a retired Olympic marathoner, and finished fourth in Los Angeles, California (1984).
Akie Asaka
Akie Sato , better known as Akie Asaka , is a Japanese comedian who is represented by the talent agency, Yoshimoto Kogyo.
Kenji Anan
Kenji Anan is a Japanese stage and film actor.
Tomoe Abe
Tomoe Abe is a retired Japanese ultramarathon and marathon runner who won the bronze medal in the marathon at the 1993 World Championships with a time of 2:31:01. Her personal best time is 2:26:09, achieved when she won the 1994 Osaka Ladies' Marathon.
Okazaki Kaoru
Kaoru Okazaki is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder.
Katsusada Hirose
Katsusada Hirose is the governor of Ōita Prefecture in Japan, first elected in 2003. A native of Hita, Ōita and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he had worked at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry since 1966 before elected governor.
Ken Matsubara
Ken Matsubara is a Japanese footballer currently playing for Yokohama F. Marinos.
Mai Matsumuro
Mai Matsumuro is a Japanese pop singer and songwriter. She was one of the three original members and original lead singer of the J-pop band Dream also known as "Dream/DRM".