10 of the Most Famous People in Japan

Sumo wrestling in Japan by John Paul Antes – Wikimedia

10 of the Most Famous People in Japan

What makes someone most famous?

These days our familiarity with people comes through their regular appearances on various media platforms.

Our pursuit of excellence or need for guidance and leadership make us follow those who fill that gap for us.

 Japan is the home to the world’s oldest companies a testament to the inherent hardworking spirit.

Furthermore, holding the 11^th largest population in the world there are bound to be people considered famous for their achievements in different areas of life.

The Japanese are renowned for their fidelity to culture and resilience in adversity.

A sizeable population lives out of Japan and help Japanese culture like language,  cuisine, karaoke and sumo wrestling.

Moreover, the Japanese are known for order, ethics and most importantly attention to detail. Here are 10 of the most famous people in Japan.

1.Yoko Ono Lennon- Artiste.

Yoko Ono Lennon by Aleksandr P – Wikimedia

If fame is name recognition then Yoko Ono takes it. 

Japanese artist and musician famous for her out of the box art expressions and trailblazing. Her talent was natured early through exposure to classical training in poetry, piano and voice.

In 1952 she became the first woman to be admitted to the philosophy program at Gakushuin University, Tokyo. 

Ono’s second marriage to John Lennon of The Beatles raised her public profile which she used to promote world peace.

she was widely condemned for the Beatles band break-up.

From then she embarked on her musical journey that earned a Grammy.

Her artworks have been exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art and she also dabbled in acting. She is also a recognized feminist activist and recipient of many other awards.

She is a mother, trailblazing artist and musician and philanthropist.

2.      Hayao Miyazaki- Animator

The Godfather of Japan’s animation and a master storyteller.  He is an internationally acclaimed author, animator, film director and producer, screenwriter and Manga artist.

Japanese animation popularly known as anime is a huge subculture in Japan hence Miyazaki’s celebrity status as he is a leader in the sector.

His intricate detailed hand-drawings are the hallmark of his animation films.

He has used his platform to push anti-war and pro-environmental agenda and is also known for creating genuinely strong female leads.

He is an inspiration to the younger generation and has been forced out of retirement twice to continue sharing his knowledge.

John Lasseter, the founder of Pixar animation studios in the US was inspired by his work ethic. The reclusive Miyazaki has directed feature films, TV series and theatrical features. The Government of Japan named him a Person of Cultural Merit in 2012.

3.      Shinji Kagawa- Footballer

Playing for Japan against Belgium in the 2018 FIFA World Cup – Wikimedia

Shinji Kagawa is one of the best Japanese football players of all time.

Born in Hyogo in 1989, he started his professional football career with Cerezo Osaka before moving to the German side Borrusia Dortmund.

The playmaker then caught the eye of the legendary coach Sir Alex Fergusson and transferred to the world-renowned Manchester United FC.

He went on to become the first Japanese footballer to score a hat-trick in the English premier league a platform with a huge international audience.

Kagawa has been capped 90 times for Japan.

He has represented his country in appearing for Japan at the Olympic Games and 2 FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Additionally, he holds the record of Asia’s highest scorer in the UEFA European championships.

Further, he was named 2012 Asian Football Confederation –International Player of the Year.

These achievements at home, abroad and on the world stage make him one of the most recognizable Japanese.

4. Ichiro Suzuki- Baseball Player

By Keith Allison – Wikimedia

Baseball’s hit king, Ichiro Suzuki is a former professional baseball player who played a combined professional for 28 seasons.

He played top-flight baseball both in Japan and the US.

Ichiro Suzuki was  Most Valuable Player 4 times in the Major League.

He is the first  Japanese born player to sign for a Major League Baseball Club.

A man of many firsts, he was the pioneer player to enter the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

He left an indelible mark in the baseball fraternity with numerous records that stand to this day.

He is currently involved in the game as a special coach.

5.      Yazuru Hanyu- Figure Skating

Originating from Sendai, Japan Yazuru was born in 1994 and is a figure skater.

He is famous for his exploits in the sport of figure skating becoming the first Japanese man to win an Olympic gold medal.

Besides that, he has won many accolades for instance 4 time Grand Prix champion, 6 times Japanese champion, 2-time world champion amongst others.

He was the youngest male skater to win the Olympic gold since dick button in 1948.

Furthermore, he was only the second person to win the Olympic title back to back.

He has a die-hard fan base known as the “Fanyus.” 

His expressive and romantic style has won him many fans in China despite political tensions.

The Japanese love him for lifting their national pride.

6.      Ken Watanabe- Actor

At the premiere of Inception by Eric Chan- Wikimedia

Ken Watanabe became famous after landing a role of a samurai leader in the Japanese national TV series called Dokugan ryu Masamune.

His newfound fame grew when he broke into Hollywood with a role in Tom cruise’s The Last Samurai.

An alumnus of England’s National Theatre Company he is an accomplished screen and stage actor with an illustrious career to boot.

He entertained his fans in several films and lent his voice to the Transformers franchise.

His philanthropy won him more admirers. He led 10th-anniversary efforts to support communities inundated by a tsunami in 2011 through donations and the opening of a communal restaurant.

Watanabe is a Tony Award nominee and winner of the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Actor in 2007 and 2010.

He is truly Japan’s flag bearer in the entertainment world.

7.   Naomi Osaka – Tennis Player

By Peter Menzel – Wikimedia

 The Japanese professional player was ranked No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association.

The first Asian to be ranked No.1 in tennis singles is also a four-time Grand Slam singles champion. 

She was born to a Haitian father and a Japanese mother in Japan but sharpened her tennis skills in the US.

Her rise to fame began at 16 years when she defeated US champion Samantha Stosur. Naomi Osaka’s stature rose when she beat Serena Williams in the US Open finals.

Her fame makes her one of the top marketable athletes in the world. Along with her exploits on the court, she was ranked among the Times Top 100 Most Influential People in the World (2019 & 2020).

Additionally, Sports Illustrated chose her Sports Person of the Year 2020.

She has represented Japan in international tournaments including the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in which she had the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron.

8.      Haruki Murakami- Novellist

A Japanese best-selling novelist variously describes as the master of prose.

 Translation of his novels, essays and short stories presents his work in over 50 languages.

Japanese literary critics dismissed his imaginative and ambiguous writing style. 

Murakami has also translated some American novel classics into Japanese.

He swims and runs marathons to feed his fitness bug.

His novels have been adapted for screenplay.

He has also received several literary awards such as the 2018 American Award in Literature-for a lifetime contribution to international writing.

9.  Marie Kondo- Organizational Queen

Speaking engagement by RISE – Wikimedia

She is so popular with her war on the clutter that her name has become a verb.

Kondo’s business is organization and living a clutter-free life.

She has authored 4 books and sold millions of copies in over 10 countries.

Kondo came up with the Konmari (a play on her name) method which consists of organizing one’s belongings one category at a time according to what gives them joy.

She has a huge fan base judging by her inspiration for Netflix’s 2019 Tidying up with Marie Kondo and Sparking joy with Marie Kondo.

Her life has become a philosophy subscribed to by millions of her fans.

10. Hideo Kojima- Video Game Designer.

By Sergei Galyonkin – Wikimedia

A Japanese video game designer, director, producer and writer. Rose to fame for designing the Playstation game Metal Gear. 

Kojima studied film but a chance encounter with a Nintendo Gaming System gave him an interest in video games.

He got a job at Konami  Entertainment where he got a chance to create his classic video games. 

Video games are a big part of Japan’s media culture.  Most of the Japanese population plays video games hence the creators of games become folk legends.

Games developed by Kojima include Metal Gear and Snatcher, Metal Gear 2 and Policenauts and Death Stranding.

The persons on the list have attained fame in and out of Japan. Each one is a leader in various areas.  The work ethic and innovative spirit of the Japanese is admirable.