51 Notable alumni of
Ritsumeikan University
Updated:
Ritsumeikan University is 195th in the world, 35th in Asia, and 17th in Japan by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 51 notable alumni from Ritsumeikan University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Momofuku Ando
- Occupations
- merchantinventorbusinesspersonentrepreneur
- Biography
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Momofuku Ando, born Go Pek-Hok (Chinese: 吳百福; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gô͘ Pek-hok), was the Taiwanese-born Japanese inventor and businessman who founded Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd. He is known as the inventor of Nissin Chikin Ramen (instant noodles) and the creator of the brands Top Ramen and Cup Noodles.
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Mai Kuraki
- Occupations
- composerrecord producersingersongwriterlyricist
- Biography
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Mai Kuraki is a Japanese pop and R&B singer, songwriter and record producer. After releasing her US debut single "Baby I Like" in 1999, Kuraki signed with Giza Studio and released her Japanese debut single "Love, Day After Tomorrow" in 1999. In 2000, she released her debut album, Delicious Way, which debuted at number-one and sold over 2.2 million copies in its first week. The album has spawned four top-three singles, "Love, Day After Tomorrow", "Stay by My Side", "Secret of My Heart", and "Never Gonna Give You Up". Eventually, the album sold over 3.5 million copies nationwide and became the best-selling album in Japan in 2000, and has been the ninth best-selling album in Japan of all-time.
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Rikiya Koyama
- Occupations
- seiyūactortelevision actor
- Biography
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Rikiya Koyama is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator currently affiliated with Haiyuza Theatre Company. He has done popular voicing roles in Hajime no Ippo, Utawarerumono, Kamen no Maid Guy and Yakuza, and has become well known for voicing Yamato in Naruto Shippuden and Kogoro Mouri (second voice, 2009–present) in Case Closed. In addition, he is known for voicing rather tall or massive inhuman villains like Coyote Starrk in Bleach, Fukuro in Fairy Tail and Deep Sea King in One Punch Man. He is the official dub-over artist of George Clooney, Kiefer Sutherland, Dwayne Johnson and Ma Dong-seok. In addition, he dubbed many roles of Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves and Guy Pearce.
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Hiroshi Tanahashi
- Occupations
- professional wrestler
- Biography
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Hiroshi Tanahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler, sports executive and podcaster. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he serves as the president and representative director of the promotion, and is also an active wrestler.
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Atsuya Furuta
- Occupations
- baseball playerbaseball player-manager
- Biography
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Atsuya Furuta is a Japanese former baseball player and player-manager for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows professional baseball club in the Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League. Drafted in the 2nd round in 1990, Furuta became a leader for the Swallows as a catcher and became the first player-manager in Japanese baseball in 29 years, since Katsuya Nomura in 1977. In addition to his skills on the field, he is also known for leading a successful two-day strike in 2004 as the head of the Japanese baseball players union.
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Hiroyuki Nagato
- Occupations
- businesspersonactorchild actor
- Biography
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Hiroyuki Nagato, stage name of Akio Kato (加藤晃夫), was a Japanese actor.
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Yoshifu Arita
- Occupations
- writerjournalistpolitician
- Biography
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Yoshifu Arita is a Japanese writer, journalist and politician from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. He served two terms as a member of the House of Councillors after being elected in 2010 and in 2016 and serving as Chair of the Special Committee on Political Ethics and Election System, but lost his seat in 2022. Before he was elected, he was a regular commentator of Nippon Television's The Wide.
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Arisa Date
- Occupations
- mahjong playerseiyū
- Biography
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Arisa Date is a Japanese voice actress and professional mahjong player. She is currently affiliated with 81 Produce.
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Kenta Izumi
- Enrolled in Ritsumeikan University
- Studied in 1993-1998
- Occupations
- secretarypolitician
- Biography
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Kenta Izumi is a Japanese politician who served as leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) from 2021 to 2024. He is also a member of the House of Representatives in the National Diet, currently for the Kyoto 3rd district. He was first elected in 2000 under the Democratic Party of Japan. He served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Cabinet Office from 2009 to 2010. After that, he served as chairman of the National Diet Measures Committee and Political Affairs Research Chairman of the Kibō no Tō, the Democratic Party for the People, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
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Makoto Izubuchi
- Occupations
- professional wrestlerowarai tarento
- Biography
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Makoto Izubuchi is a Japanese comedian, professional wrestler and tarento ("talent") better known for his performing name of Razor Ramon Real Gay (レイザーラモンRG, Reizā Ramon RG, occasionally RG, Razor Ramon Izubuchi, Real Gay, or simply Makoto), which he adopted from his comedy partner Razor Ramon Hard Gay. He is better known for his work in Hustle and TV appearances.
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Yūji Kaneko
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Yuji Kaneko is a former Japanese professional baseball infielder.
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Ryōsuke Tatsumi
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Ryōsuke Tatsumi is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
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Yoshio Yoshida
- Enrolled in Ritsumeikan University
- Studied in 1952-1953
- Occupations
- baseball playertarento
- Biography
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Yoshio Yoshida was a Japanese professional baseball player and manager who spent his entire career with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). His number 23, was retired by the Tigers. He worked for the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation as a live radio and television baseball commentator. Yoshida died on February 3, 2025, at the age of 91.
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Katsuki Azuma
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Katsuki Azuma is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
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Masato Akamatsu
- Occupations
- baseball playerbaseball coach
- Biography
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Masato Akamatsu is a Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
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Toshiki Sakurai
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Toshiki Sakurai is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants.
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Tsutomu Mizukami
- Occupations
- writernovelistscreenwriter
- Biography
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Tsutomu Mizukami, also known as Tsutomu Minakami, was a Japanese writer of novels, biographies, and plays. Mizukami's major works include The Temple of the Wild Geese, Kiga kaikyō and Bamboo Dolls of Echizen. His writings earned him, among other awards, the Tanizaki Prize and the Naoki Prize.
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Daisaku Kadokawa
- Occupations
- bureaucratpolitician
- Biography
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Daisaku Kadokawa is a Japanese politician and former mayor of Kyoto City, the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture.
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Ayaki Suzuki
- Occupations
- association football player
- Biography
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Ayaki Suzuki is a Japanese retired footballer.
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Ryo Mizuno
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
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Ryo Mizuno is a Japanese author and game designer. Mizuno created Record of Lodoss War, Sword World RPG, Legend of Crystania, Rune Soldier, Starship Operators, Record of Grancrest War, and was the general supervisor of Galaxy Angel.
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Masaya Matsuura
- Occupations
- composermusiciandesigner
- Biography
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Masaya Matsuura is a Japanese musician and video game designer based in Tokyo, Japan. He was born in Osaka on June 16, 1961, and majored in Industrial Society at Ritsumeikan University. He has worked extensively with music production, sound design, and visuals, and has been active with the J-pop duo Psy-S. He has also been credited with popularizing the modern music video game at his studio NanaOn-Sha.
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Norihito Kaneto
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Norihito Kaneto is a Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan's Pacific League.
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Keiji Kokuta
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Keiji Kokuta is a Japanese politician and member of the House of Representatives for the Japanese Communist Party. He served 10 terms in the Japanese House of Representatives.
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Yukiko Inui
- Occupations
- swimmersynchronized swimmer
- Biography
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Yukiko Inui is a Japanese competitor in synchronised swimming. She won Japan's first gold medal in each the solo technical routine and the solo free routine at a FINA World Aquatics Championships at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships. She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in the duet event with Megumu Yoshida, and in the team event.
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Gōgen Yamaguchi
- Occupations
- karateka
- Biography
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Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi, also known as Gōgen Yamaguchi, was a Japanese martial artist and student of Gōjū-ryū Karate under Chōjun Miyagi. He was one of the most well-known karate-dō masters from Japan and he founded the International Karate-dō Gōjū Kai Association.
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Kenji Misumi
- Occupations
- film director
- Biography
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Kenji Misumi was a Japanese film director. He created film series such as Lone Wolf and Cub and the initial film in the long-running Zatoichi series, and also directed Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice, starring Shintaro Katsu. He died at age 54.
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Motonobu Nakagawa
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Gen Nakagawa, of his full name Motonobu Nakagawa is the mayor of Nara in Kansai, Japan. On 10 July 2017, he was elected to his third term as mayor. He is politically independent. Nakagawa supports investing more in child care.
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Takanori Kawai
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Takanori Kawai is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kyoto, Kyoto and graduate of Ritsumeikan University, he was elected for the first time in 2007 after working at Teijin since 1987.
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Shinichiro Furumoto
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Shinichiro Furumoto is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
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Ikuo Yamahana
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Ikuo Yamahana is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, who serves as a member of House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
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Masanobu Okubo
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Masanobu Okubo is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
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Tadayoshi Ichida
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Tadayoshi Ichida is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Councillors for the proportional district from 1998 to 2022. He was the Secretary General of the Japanese Communist Party from 2000 to 2014.
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Shinji Shimoyama
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Shinji Shimoyama is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He was the number 8 draft pick for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes in 2003.
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Masanori Fujihara
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Masanori Fujihara is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball from 2010 to 2013.
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Hiroshi Okada
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Hiroshi Okada is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature) affiliated to the revisionist lobby Nippon Kaigi.
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Yoshihisa Uto
- Years
- 1988-.. (age 37)
- Occupations
- professional wrestler
- Biography
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Yoshihisa Uto is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for his time in the Japanese promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling where he is a former Yokohama Shopping Street 6-Man Tag Team Champion.
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Hiroki Ito
- Occupations
- association football player
- Biography
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Hiroki Ito is a former Japanese football player.
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Tenzo Okumura
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Tenzo Okumura is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, who served as a member of both the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kōsei Town (today's Konan City, Shiga Prefecture) and dropout of Ritsumeikan University, he was elected to the town assembly of Kōsei, Shiga (serving for one term), to the Shiga Prefectural Assembly in 1979 (serving for four terms) and to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1995.
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Toshiya Kakiuchi
- Occupations
- businessperson
- Biography
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Toshiya Kakuchi is a Japanese businessman. He is the founder and president of Mirairo Incorporated. He is also the president of the Japan Universal Manners Association, which provides education and certification in universally applicable manners, with a particular focus on manners regarding persons with disabilities and the elderly.
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Yuri Kanō
- Occupations
- long-distance runner
- Biography
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Yuri Kanō is a Japanese athlete who specialises in long distance running, including the marathon.
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Shōzō Awazu
- Occupations
- judoka
- Biography
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Shozo Awazu was a Japanese master of judo who achieved the rank of Kōdōkan 9th Dan. He led the development of judo in France.
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Yumi Hayashi
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Yumi Hayashi is a Japanese politician from Nippon Ishin no Kai. In April 2023, she was elected to the House of Representatives in a by-election in Wakayama 1st district.
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Kazuki Sakamoto
- Occupations
- association football player
- Biography
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Kazuki Sakamoto is a Japanese footballer. He is a striker.
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Fuma Shirasaka
- Occupations
- association football player
- Biography
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Fuma Shirasaka is a Japanese footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for J1 League club Ehime FC.
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Saeko Umemura
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Saeko Umemura is a Japanese politician. She represented the Japanese Communist Party in the Japanese House of Representatives.
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Kyogon Hagiyama
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Kyogon Hagiyama was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Himi, Toyama and graduate of Ritsumeikan University, he was elected to the assembly of Toyama Prefecture for the first time in 1971.
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Itsuki Yamada
- Occupations
- association football player
- Biography
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Itsuki Yamada is a Japanese footballer. He is a defender whose primary position is a left back, who can also play as a centre back.
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Yuya Odo
- Occupations
- rugby union player
- Biography
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Yuya Odo is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a Lock. He currently plays for Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Yamaha Júbilo in Japan's domestic Top League.
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Koji Fukushima
- Enrolled in Ritsumeikan University
- 1992-1996 studied international relations
- Occupations
- sport cyclist
- Biography
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Koji Fukushima is a Japanese former professional racing cyclist. He retired at the end of the 2008 season. His brother, Shinichi Fukushima, is also a professional cyclist.
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Yu Takenouchi
- Occupations
- sport cyclist
- Biography
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Yu Takenouchi is a Japanese cyclist who competes in both cyclo-cross and road cycling. He won the Japanese national cyclo-cross championship five times in a row from 2011 to 2015. He represented his nation in the men's elite event at the 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Heusden-Zolder. In 2015, he was a member of the Belgian team Veranclassic–Ekoi.
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Hidejirō Ōnogi
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Ōnogi Hidejirō was a politician of the Liberal Party, representing Kyoto in the House of Councillors for four consecutive terms.
