CYCLISTS from Japan

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Japanese Cyclists of all time. This list of famous Japanese Cyclists is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Japanese Cyclists.

1. Chris Horner (b. 1971)

With an HPI of 42.49, Chris Horner is the most famous Japanese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 24 different languages on wikipedia.

Christopher Brandon Horner (born October 23, 1971) is an American retired professional road racing cyclist, who rode professionally between 1996 and 2019. A current resident of Bend, Oregon, Horner dominated the American road racing scene by winning the points standings in the 2002, 2003 and 2004 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. He won the Vuelta a España in 2013, becoming the oldest winner of any of cycling's grand tours in the process.

2. Yukiya Arashiro (b. 1984)

With an HPI of 32.61, Yukiya Arashiro is the 2nd most famous Japanese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Yukiya Arashiro (新城幸也, Arashiro Yukiya, born 22 September 1984) is a Japanese road bicycle racer, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Team Bahrain Victorious.

3. Takashi Miyazawa (b. 1978)

With an HPI of 31.89, Takashi Miyazawa is the 3rd most famous Japanese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Takashi Miyazawa (宮澤崇史, Miyazawa Takashi) (born 27 February 1978 in Nagano City) is a Japanese former professional racing cyclist, who competed as a professional between 2003 and 2014.

4. Maki Tabata (b. 1974)

With an HPI of 31.61, Maki Tabata is the 4th most famous Japanese Cyclist.  Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Maki Tabata (田畑 真紀, Tabata Maki, born 9 November 1974 in Mukawa, Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese speed skater and track cyclist. Maki Tabata won bronze at the World Allround Championships in 2000 and one month later, she won another bronze, this time on the 3000 m at the World Single Distance Championships. The next year (2001), she won silver on the 1500 m and bronze on the 5000 m at the World Single Distance Championships. In 2003, she won another World Single Distance silver on the 1500 m. In addition, Tabata has won numerous titles and medals at the Asian Championships that are used to qualify for the World Allround Championships, at the Asian Single Distance Championships, and at Japanese Championships (both in Allround and Single Distance). She also has a few World Cup victories, both in individual events and in the team pursuit. As a track cyclist she competed in four events at the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships and won medals in four disciplines at the 2012 Asian Cycling Championships, including a gold medal in the individual pursuit.

5. Kiyofumi Nagai (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 30.86, Kiyofumi Nagai is the 5th most famous Japanese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Kiyofumi Nagai (永井 清史, Nagai Kiyofumi) (born 18 May 1983) is a track cyclist from Japan. He won a bronze medal in the Keirin race at the 2008 Olympic Games.

6. Fumiyuki Beppu (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 28.80, Fumiyuki Beppu is the 6th most famous Japanese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Fumiyuki Beppu (Japanese: 別府史之; born 10 April 1983) is a Japanese former professional road bicycle racer, who last rode for UCI WorldTeam EF Education–Nippo. His older brother is the cyclist Takumi Beppu.

7. Mayuko Hagiwara (b. 1986)

With an HPI of 26.57, Mayuko Hagiwara is the 7th most famous Japanese Cyclist.  Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Mayuko Hagiwara (萩原麻由子, Hagiwara Mayuko, born 16 October 1986) is a Japanese racing cyclist, who most recently rode for UCI Women's Continental Team Eneicat–RBH Global.

8. Yumi Kajihara (b. 1997)

With an HPI of 17.30, Yumi Kajihara is the 8th most famous Japanese Cyclist.  Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Yumi Kajihara (梶原 悠未, Kajihara Yūmi, born 10 April 1997) is a Japanese professional female road racing and track cyclist. She represented Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, and won a silver medal in the women's omnium, becoming the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic medal in cycling.

9. Nariyuki Masuda (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 0.00, Nariyuki Masuda is the 9th most famous Japanese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into different languages.

Nariyuki Masuda (増田 成幸, Nariyuki Masuda, born 23 October 1983) is a Japanese professional racing cyclist, who rides for UCI Continental team JCL Team Ukyo.

10. Mina Sato (b. 1998)

With an HPI of 0.00, Mina Sato is the 10th most famous Japanese Cyclist.  Her biography has been translated into different languages.

Mina Sato (born 7 December 1998) is a Japanese track cyclist. She won a medal at the 2021 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.