Takehiko

Takehiko Bessho, born Akira Bessho, was a Japanese baseball player whose professional career as a player lasted from 1942 until 1960. Bessho first achieved fame as a pitcher in Japanese professional baseball; later, he served as a Nippon Professional Baseball manager.

Takehiko Kobayakawa is a former Japanese baseball player of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and Yakult Swallows of Japan's Central League. He led his team into two Japan Series and winning one title (1984: Hiroshima and 1997: Yakult).

Takehiko Inoue is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for the basketball series Slam Dunk, which is one of the best-selling manga series in history, and the samurai manga Vagabond. Many of his works are about basketball, Inoue himself being a huge fan of the sport. His works sold in North America through Viz Media are Slam Dunk, Vagabond and Real, although Slam Dunk was earlier translated by Gutsoon! Entertainment. In 2012, Inoue became the first recipient of the Cultural Prize at the Asia Cosmopolitan Awards.