Photo: 江戸村のとくぞう / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Kotaro Yatabe is one of those guys where the name alone tells you something — there's a straightforwardness to it, no flash, no frills, just solid syllables that feel like they belong to someone who does the dirty work without making a fuss about it. He spent thirteen seasons with the Panasonic Wild Knights, won a Japan cap and played Super Rugby for the Sunwolves before retiring in 2022, and in a sport built on physical punishment and relentless team trust that says plenty. Some guys just show up and hit hard, and I respect that more than I can easily explain.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
Overview
Kotaro Yatabe (born July 29, 1986) is a Japanese former rugby union player from Gunma Prefecture who played as a lock or loose forward. After Kokushikan University he spent his whole top-flight career with the Panasonic Wild Knights from 2009 to 2022, earned his first Japan cap in 2016 and played for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby, and after retiring he joined the club side Kiryu Ruggers.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Kotaro Yatabe
- Name (Japanese)
- 谷田部洸太郎
- Reading
- やたべ こうたろう
- Born
- July 29, 1986 (age 40)
- Origin
- Gunma Prefecture, Japan
- Height
- 190 cm
- Occupation
- Rugby union player
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Leo / Tiger
2. Background
- University
- Kokushikan University
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Kotaro Yatabe born?
Kotaro Yatabe was born on July 29, 1986 and is 40 years old.
Where is Kotaro Yatabe from?
Kotaro Yatabe is from Gunma Prefecture, Japan.
What does Kotaro Yatabe do?
Kotaro Yatabe works as Rugby union player.
How tall is Kotaro Yatabe?
Kotaro Yatabe is 190 cm tall.
Where did Kotaro Yatabe study?
Kotaro Yatabe attended Kokushikan University.
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