76 Notable Alumni of Aoyama Gakuin University [Sorted List]

Minami Tanaka

Born in: United States
Years: 1986-.. (age 39)
Occupations: announcertarento
Biography: Minami Tanaka is a Japanese freelance announcer and tarento who is a former Tokyo Broadcasting System Television announcer.

Shinsuke Nakamura

Born in: Japan
Years: 1980-.. (age 45)
Occupations: mixed martial arts fighterprofessional wrestler
Biography: Shinsuke Nakamura is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand and is the reigning WWE United States Champion in his third reign.

Renhō

Born in: Japan
Years: 1967-.. (age 58)
Enrolled in Aoyama Gakuin University: Studied in 1986-1990
Occupations: tarentoactornews presenterpoliticianjournalist
Biography: Renhō Saitō, known mononymously as Renhō, is a Japanese politician and former journalist who served as member of the House of Councillors from 2004 to 2024. She was the leader of the now-defunct major opposition party, the Democratic Party from 2016 to 2017. Renhō was a candidate for the 2024 Tokyo gubernatorial election with the support of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), Japanese Communist Party (JCP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), but was defeated by incumbent Yuriko Koike, placing third behind Shinji Ishimaru.

Christel Takigawa

Born in: France
Years: 1977-.. (age 48)
Occupations: news presenterannouncer
Biography: Christel Koizumi née Takigawa is a French Japanese television announcer and news presenter. She is married to Japanese politician Shinjirō Koizumi.

Masataka Yoshida

Born in: Japan
Years: 1993-.. (age 32)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Masataka Yoshida nicknamed Macho Man, is a Japanese professional baseball designated hitter and left fielder and for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He started his professional career with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Tetsuya Watari

Born in: Japan
Years: 1941-2020 (aged 79)
Occupations: recording artistactorsingertelevision actorseiyū
Biography: Tetsuya Watari born Michihiko Watase (渡瀬道彦, Watase Michihiko) (December 28, 1941 – August 10, 2020) was a Japanese film, stage, and television actor.

Akiko Kuji

Born in: Japan
Years: 1994-.. (age 31)
Occupations: announceractorfashion model
Biography: Akiko Kuji is a Japanese actress, announcer, model, and television personality. She served as an announcer for Fuji Television from 2017 until 2022.

Shinobu Terajima

Born in: Japan
Years: 1972-.. (age 53)
Occupations: actorfilm actor
Biography: Shinobu Terajima is a Japanese actress. Her feature films include Akame 48 Waterfalls (2003) and Vibrator (2003). For her role in Caterpillar (2010), Terajima won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 60th Berlin Film Festival while her performance in Oh Lucy! (2017) earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress.

Yumi Asō

Born in: Japan
Years: 1963-.. (age 62)
Occupations: actor
Biography: Yumi Okumura, better known by the stage name Yumi Asō (麻生祐未, Asō Yumi), is a Japanese actress. She is a niece of singer Chiyo Okumura. She married actor Toshiya Nagasawa in March 2004, and they had one child. The couple separated less than two years later, and officially divorced in 2008.

Tadahito Iguchi

Born in: Japan
Years: 1974-.. (age 51)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Tadahito Iguchi, nicknamed "Gucci", is a Japanese served professional baseball second baseman and former manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Hiroki Kokubo

Born in: Japan
Years: 1971-.. (age 54)
Occupations: baseball commentatorbaseball managerbaseball player
Biography: Hiroki Kokubo is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder, and current manager for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Nana Tanimura

Born in: Japan
Years: 1987-.. (age 38)
Occupations: singertarento
Biography: Nana Tanimura, is a Japanese pop singer.

Masanori Ishikawa

Born in: Japan
Years: 1980-.. (age 45)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Masanori Ishikawa is a Japanese professional baseball player. He is currently a pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Up to 2023 season, he is the oldest professional baseball player.

Yuko Hara

Born in: Japan
Years: 1956-.. (age 69)
Occupations: singercomposersinger-songwriterpianistkeyboardist
Biography: Yuko Hara is the keyboardist for Southern All Stars. She is also a vocalist and writes many of her own songs.

Muga Takewaki

Born in: Japan
Years: 1944-2011 (aged 67)
Occupations: actorfilm actor
Biography: Muga Takewaki was a Japanese actor.

Yutaro Sugimoto

Years: 1991-.. (age 34)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Yutaro Sugimoto, nicknamed "Raoh", is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays outfielder for the Orix Buffaloes.

Shin Dong-bin

Born in: Japan
Years: 1955-.. (age 70)
Occupations: entrepreneur
Biography: Shin Dong-bin is a South Korean business executive, and the chairman of Lotte Corporation since 2011.

Daichi Kamino

Born in: Japan
Years: 1993-.. (age 32)
Occupations: long-distance runnerathletics competitor
Biography: Daichi Kamino is a Japanese long-distance runner. In 2019, he won the Asian Marathon Championships held in Dongguan, China.

Tomochika Tsuboi

Born in: Japan
Years: 1974-.. (age 51)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Tomochika Tsuboi is a Japanese baseball outfielder. He previously played in the NPB for 13 seasons, starting in 1998. His professional career started with the Hanshin Tigers, but he was traded to the Nippon-Ham Fighters for Toshihiro Noguchi after the 2002 season. His stint with Nippon Ham was his longest with the same team, lasting through 2010. He then played briefly for the Orix Buffaloes, his final season in Japanese pro ball. He declined a coaching position with the Fighters and since 2012 has played in various American independent leagues.

Bokuzō Masana

Born in: Japan
Years: 1970-.. (age 55)
Occupations: actorfilm actor
Biography: Bokuzō Masana is a Japanese actor.

Makoto Hiejima

Born in: Japan
Years: 1990-.. (age 35)
Occupations: basketball player
Biography: Makoto Hiejima is a Japanese professional basketball player for Utsunomiya Brex of the Japanese B.League.

Tsuyoshi Takagi

Born in: Japan
Years: 1956-.. (age 69)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Tsuyoshi Takagi is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Mina Shiragawa

Born in: Japan
Years: 1987-.. (age 38)
Occupations: actortarento
Biography: Mina Shirakawa is a Japanese professional wrestler, gravure idol and tarento. She is signed to the Japan based World Wonder Ring Stardom (Stardom), where she is one of the co-leaders of Empress Nexus Venus alongside Maika. She also makes appearances in several of Stardom's partner promotions, such as the U.S. based All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Ring of Honor (ROH), and the England based Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro), where she is a former one-time RevPro Undisputed British Women's Champion.

Kō Shimozuru

Born in: Japan
Years: 1988-.. (age 37)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Ko Shimozuru is a former professional Japanese baseball player. He was an outfielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Tetsuya Kokubo

Born in: Japan
Years: 1985-.. (age 40)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Tetsuya Kokubo is a Japanese former baseball player who played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and Chiba Lotte Marines.

Arimura Haruko

Born in: Japan
Years: 1970-.. (age 55)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Haruko Arimura is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet of Japan. She is a descendant of Arimura Tsugizaemon, the ringleader of the Sakuradamon Incident, and Togo Heihachiro, the admiral of the Russo-Japanese War.

Takuma Kato

Born in: Japan
Years: 1992-.. (age 33)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Takuma Katō is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays catcher for the Chunichi Dragons, and formerly played for the Chiba Lotte Marines.

Hiroshi Narahara

Born in: Japan
Years: 1968-.. (age 57)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Hiroshi Narahara is a former Japanese professional baseball player and currently first squad head coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Seibu Lions, Nippon-Ham Fighters/Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Chunichi Dragons of the NPB.

Natsue Washizu

Born in: Japan
Years: 1948-.. (age 77)
Occupations: singerseiyū
Biography: Natsue Washizu, professionally also known as Kurumi Kobato (小鳩くるみ), is a Japanese academic, translator, children's singer, actress, television personality and voice actress.

Jun Senoue

Born in: Japan
Years: 1970-.. (age 55)
Occupations: musiciancomposerkeyboardistguitarist
Biography: Jun Senoue is a Japanese composer and guitarist. He is a sound director for the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series by Sega and serves as the songwriter of the Japanese-American rock duo Crush 40, which he formed with Johnny Gioeli in 2000. The duo contributed songs to each of the series' major titles until 2010, after which Senoue remained involved in musical production for further Sonic games.

Kenko Matsuki

Born in: Japan
Years: 1959-.. (age 66)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Kenko Matsuki is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet.

Seiji Tōgō

Born in: Japan
Years: 1897-1978 (aged 81)
Occupations: painter
Biography: Seiji Togo was a Japanese painter and artist known for his depiction of the female form. Born in Kagoshima Prefecture Japan, he graduated from middle school at Aoyama Gakuin University and displayed his first one-man show at Hibiya Art Museum at the age of 18. He later participated in the Futurist movement while studying in France. In 1928, he returned to Japan and was awarded the 1st Showa Western Art Promotion Award.

Hiromi Itō

Born in: Japan
Years: 1955-.. (age 70)
Occupations: writernovelistpoet
Biography: Hiromi Itō is one of the most prominent women writers of contemporary Japan, with more than a dozen collections of poetry, several works of prose, numerous books of essays, and several major literary prizes to her name. She divides her time between the towns of Encinitas, California and Kumamoto in southern Japan. She is currently teaching at School of Culture, Media and Society in Waseda University, Tokyo.

Hideaki Matsuyama

Born in: Japan
Years: 1967-.. (age 58)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Hideaki Matsuyama is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder, and current the second squad manager for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Yoshihiro Nishimura

Born in: Japan
Years: 1967-.. (age 58)
Occupations: screenwriterfilm directormake-up artistfilm editorspecial effects artist
Biography: Yoshihiro Nishimura is a Japanese film director, special effects and makeup effects artist, and a screenwriter who has worked predominantly in the horror genre. Nishimura has been described as "a legendary director and effects artist" and "the Tom Savini of Japan" with "talent to burn".

Tenketsu Harimoto

Born in: China
Years: 1992-.. (age 33)
Occupations: basketball player
Biography: Tenketsu Harimoto, birth name Zhang Tianjie (simplified Chinese: 张天杰; traditional Chinese: 張天傑), is a Chinese-born Japanese professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins club of the B.League in Japan.

Yōsuke Takasu

Born in: Japan
Years: 1976-.. (age 49)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Yōsuke Takasu is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player.

Naoto Tsuji

Born in: Japan
Years: 1989-.. (age 36)
Occupations: basketball player
Biography: Naoto Tsuji is a Japanese professional basketball player. As of 2018 he plays for the Kawasaki Brave Thunders of the B.League.

Kentaro Kyuko

Born in: Japan
Years: 1986-.. (age 39)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Kentaro Kyuko is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. As of June 1, 2023, Kermit has a net worth approximately $5 Million.

Baek Seok

Born in: North Korea
Years: 1912-1995 (aged 83)
Occupations: writertranslatorshepherdpoet
Biography: Paek Ki-haeng, known by his art name Paek Sŏk (백석) was a North Korean poet.

Masaumi Shimizu

Born in: Japan
Years: 1975-.. (age 50)
Occupations: baseball playerbaseball coach
Biography: Masaumi Shimizu is a Japanese former professional baseball Catcher, and current the second squad battery coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Hidetaka Kawagoe

Born in: Japan
Years: 1973-.. (age 52)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Hidetaka Kawagoe, nicknamed "Goe", is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher, and current the fourth squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Fuminori Yokogawa

Born in: Japan
Years: 1984-.. (age 41)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Fuminori Yokogawa is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Yūya Nagayoshi

Born in: Japan
Years: 1991-.. (age 34)
Occupations: basketball player
Biography: Yuya Nagayoshi is a Japanese professional basketball player for Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka of the B.League in Japan. The Japanese Olympic Committee penalized Nagayoshi and three players for buying sex in Jakarta and sent them back home on August 20, 2018. They have been suspended from official competition for one year.

Yuto Nakamura

Born in: Japan
Years: 1987-.. (age 38)
Occupations: association football player
Biography: Yuto Nakamura is a former Japanese-born Hong Kong professional footballer who played as a striker.

Taiki Tojo

Born in: Japan
Years: 1991-.. (age 34)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Taiki Tojo is a Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Pacific League.

Shunichi Yamaguchi

Born in: Japan
Years: 1950-.. (age 75)
Enrolled in Aoyama Gakuin University: Studied in 1974
Occupations: politician
Biography: Shunichi Yamaguchi is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).

Daisuke Nakajima

Born in: Japan
Years: 1989-.. (age 36)
Occupations: engineerracing automobile driver
Biography: Daisuke Nakajima is a retired Japanese racing driver; the son of Satoru Nakajima and the younger brother of Kazuki Nakajima, both of whom have driven in Formula One.

Yuta Izuguchi

Born in: Japan
Years: 1999-.. (age 26)
Occupations: professional baseball player
Biography: Yūta Izuguchi is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays infielder for the Yomiuri Giants.

Mika Hoshino

Born in: Japan
Years: 1965-.. (age 60)
Occupations: table tennis player
Biography: Mika Hoshino is a former international table tennis player from Japan.

Yusuke Okada

Born in: Japan
Years: 1984-.. (age 41)
Occupations: basketball playercertified public accountant
Biography: Yusuke Okada is a Japanese professional basketball player. He plays for the Altiri Chiba of the B.League. Okada also is a member of the Japan national basketball team, debuting for the team in the FIBA Asia Championship 2009.

Chen Yu-mei

Born in: Taiwan
Years: 1966-2017 (aged 51)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Chen Yu-mei was a Taiwanese politician. She served as Deputy Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council of the Executive Yuan from 18 September 2013 to 8 August 2014.

Hideki Miyauchi

Born in: Japan
Years: 1962-.. (age 63)
Enrolled in Aoyama Gakuin University: In 1981 studied faculty of business administration
Occupations: secretarypolitician
Biography: Hideki Miyauchi is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan.

Bill Trinen

Years: 1972-.. (age 53)
Enrolled in Aoyama Gakuin University: Studied in 1993-1994
Occupations: translatorengineer
Biography: Bill Trinen is the Vice President, Player & Product Experience of Nintendo of America. He is also a professional Japanese-to-English translator who has worked on the localization of numerous Nintendo-published video games. He often acts as an interpreter for various Japanese developers, most notably video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto.

Alexis Minatoya

Born in: Japan
Years: 1988-.. (age 37)
Occupations: basketball player
Biography: Alexis Minatoya is a retired Japanese professional basketball player who last played for the Yokohama B-Corsairs of the B.League. Standing at 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), he played as point guard.

Rika Hiraki

Born in: Lebanon
Years: 1971-.. (age 54)
Occupations: tennis player
Biography: Rika Hiraki is a former professional Japanese tennis player.

Yusuke Tasaka

Born in: Japan
Years: 1985-.. (age 40)
Occupations: association football player
Biography: Yusuke Tasaka is a Japanese professional football midfielder.

Ryoma Hashimoto

Born in: Japan
Years: 1988-.. (age 37)
Occupations: basketball player
Biography: Ryoma Hashimoto is a Japanese professional basketball player, currently playing for the Levanga Hokkaido club of the B.League in Japan. He represented Japan's national basketball team at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha, China.

Hisao Arakane

Born in: Japan
Years: 1978-.. (age 47)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Hisao Arakane is a Japanese former professional baseball Outfielder, and current the fourth squad fielder supervisor and defense and base running coordinator for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Shota Koike

Born in: Japan
Years: 1988-.. (age 37)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Shota Koike is a Japanese professional baseball catcher. He was born on June 24, 1988. He is currently playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the NPB.

Hyper Misao

Years: 1990-.. (age 35)
Occupations: professional wrestler
Biography: Hyper Misao is a Japanese professional wrestler working for the Japanese promotions Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling and DDT Pro-Wrestling.

Yoshihiro Kawakami

Born in: Japan
Years: 1950-.. (age 75)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Yoshihiro Kawakami is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).

Toshikazu Sawazaki

Born in: Japan
Years: 1974-.. (age 51)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Toshikazu Sawazaki is a professional Japanese baseball player.

Hiroya Ebina

Born in: Japan
Years: 1959-.. (age 66)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Hiroya Ebina is a Japanese politician. He is the former mayor of Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan.

Koshiro Yamamuro

Born in: Japan
Years: 1987-.. (age 38)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Koshiro Yamamuro is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball in 2010.

Sho Shimoji

Born in: Japan
Years: 1985-.. (age 40)
Occupations: association football player
Biography: Sho Shimoji is a Japanese professional football player.

Kenji Hasegawa

Born in: Japan
Years: 1960-.. (age 65)
Occupations: basketball coach
Biography: Kenji Hasegawa is a Japanese basketball coach. He was the head coach of the Japan national basketball team from 2014 until his resignation in late 2016.

Takashi Itō

Born in: Japan
Years: 1990-.. (age 35)
Occupations: basketball player
Biography: Takashi Ito is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Toyama Grouses of the B.League in Japan. He played college basketball for Aoyama Gakuin University.

Yutaro Ohsaki

Born in: Japan
Years: 1984-.. (age 41)
Occupations: baseball player
Biography: Yutaro Ohsaki is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Keiichi Koshimizu

Born in: Japan
Years: 1962-.. (age 63)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Keiichi Koshimizu is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan.

Eiji Ueda

Born in: Japan
Years: 1953-.. (age 72)
Occupations: association football playerassociation football manager
Biography: Eiji Ueda is a former Japanese football player and manager. He managed the Japan women's national team.

Megumi Sasaki

Born in: Japan
Years: 1962-.. (age 63)
Occupations: journalistfilm director
Biography: Megumi Sasaki is a Japanese filmmaker and writer. Her films include Herb and Dorothy, Herb & Dorothy 50x50, and A Whale of a Tale.

Kengo Nomoto

Born in: Japan
Years: 1992-.. (age 33)
Occupations: basketball player
Biography: Kengo Nomoto, nicknamed Nomoken, is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Gunma Crane Thunders of the B.League in Japan. The small forward also represented the Japan national basketball team in 2014 and 2016. He tested positive for the coronavirus on November 24, 2020.

Kenji Satō

Born in: Japan
Years: 1979-.. (age 46)
Occupations: basketball player
Biography: Kenji Sato is the Head coach of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders in the Japanese B.League.

Yuko Nii

Years: 1942-.. (age 83)
Occupations: artist
Biography: Yuko Nii is a Japanese artist and philanthropist. Her work has included painting, printmaking, graphic design, stage set, costume and fashion design. She has written journalism, poetry, fiction, essays and philosophy, and published two books. She also runs the non-profit organization Yuko Nii Foundation.

Hirofumi Kojima

Born in: Japan
Years: 1967-.. (age 58)
Occupations: basketball coach
Biography: Hirofumi Kojima is a Japanese basketball coach. He was the assistant coach of the Japan women's national basketball team from 1998 to 2000 and 2012.