7 Notable alumni of University of the Ryukyus
Updated: June 07, 2026 EliteDegrees
University of the Ryukyus is ranked #1,083 in the world and #60 in Japan by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 7 notable alumni from University of the Ryukyus sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with University of the Ryukyus won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Kousuke Atari
1980-. (aged 46)
singer
Kousuke Atari is a Japanese pop singer. He is a self-trained musician, and performs in the shimauta (island-song) style of his hometown.
2. Yōichi Iha
1952-. (aged 74)
politician
Yōichi Iha is a Japanese politician. He has represented the Okinawa at-large district in the Japanese House of Councillors since 2016. He also served two terms as the mayor of Ginowan, Okinawa.
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3. Chobin Zukeran
1958-. (aged 68)
politician
Chobin Zukeran was the mayor of Nanjō, Okinawa, and a former member of the House of Representatives of Japan, representing Okinawa 4th district (southern Okinawa Island and the Sakishima Islands).
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4. Kiichiro Jahana
1957-. (aged 69)
civil servant
Kiichiro Jahana is a Japanese politician. He is the vice governor of Okinawa Prefecture and took over the interim governorship for a few days.
5. Mitsuko Tōmon
1942-. (aged 84)
politician
Mitsuko Tomon is a Japanese politician of the Social Democratic Party who served as the vice governor of Okinawa from 1994 to 1998.
6. Kōichi Taira
1909-1982 (aged 73)
politician
Kōichi Taira was a Japanese politician. He was Governor of Okinawa Prefecture from 1976 until 1978.
7. Maria Marta Molinas Cabrera
1968-. (aged 58)
university teacher
María Marta Molinas Cabrera is a Paraguayan electrical engineer, educated in Japan, who works in Norway as a professor of engineering cybernetics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
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