List of Famous people born in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

Shōichi Watanabe was an English scholar and one of Japan’s foremost cultural critics. He was born in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture. A graduate of Sophia University, where he obtained his Master’s degree, he completed his doctorate at University of Münster in 1958. Two volumes of autobiography on his years in Germany narrate his varied experiences during this period. Returning to his alma mater, he became successively lecturer, assistant professor and full professor, until his retirement. He served as emeritus professor at the same university until his death. A passionate book-collector, he was chairman of the Japan Bibliophile Society. His personal collection of books on English philology was perhaps his most important contribution to the field of English philology in Japan, containing many rare items.

Toshio Mashima was a Japanese composer born in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.

Kumiko Imura is a Japanese long jumper.

Yuko Oga is a Japanese professional basketball player. She is a former point guard playing for JX Sunflowers of the Women's Japan Basketball League. She formerly played for Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA. Her nickname is Shin.

Yūya Yokoyama is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in his entire career with the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers.

Ken Okuyama is a Japanese industrial designer. He is the owner of the Ken Okuyama Design company. Okuyama formerly worked for Pininfarina, designing and supervising projects such as the Enzo Ferrari and Ferrari P4/5. His given name is Kiyoyuki Okuyama but goes by Ken Okuyama (ケン・オクヤマ) outside Japan. He was born in the city of Yamagata, Japan, lives in Tokyo, and speaks Japanese, Italian, and English fluently.

Kenjirō Azuma was a Japanese-born sculptor, painter and teacher.

Taketora Ogata was a Japanese journalist, Vice President of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper and later a politician. During the war, he joined the Imperial Rule Assistance Association. After the end of the war, he was purged from public service. Later, he became the Chief Secretary of the 4th Yoshida Cabinet, Vice President and then President of the Liberal Party of Japan of Japan, but he died before becoming a prime minister.

Shoma Doi is a Japanese football player for Kashima Antlers.

Mikio Narita was a Japanese actor. He was most famous for playing villains. He often worked with Kinji Fukasaku.