Notable people from Kurume include the family of the Bridgestone Tire Corporation (Shojiro Ishibashi), George Shima (the "Potato King" of California), the singer and actress Seiko Matsuda, anime creator Leiji Matsumoto, the television celebrity, Rena Tanaka, actor Ryo Ishibashi, and actor Susumu Fujita.
Masato Tanaka | Rena Owen | Rena | Tricia Tanaka Is Dead | Rena Tanaka | Kakuei Tanaka | Hiromichi Tanaka | Yoshiki Tanaka | Tomoyuki Tanaka | Tanaka Shōsuke | Tanaka Giichi | Rena Uehara | Min Tanaka | Masahiro Tanaka | Gold medal match in 2012 London Olympics. '''Asuna Tanaka'''-red 14, Abby Wambach | Yūko Tanaka | Tanaka | Sendai Tanaka | Seiji Tanaka | Rena Sinakin | Rena, Norway | Pat Tanaka | Nobuo Tanaka | MV ''Rena'' | MV Rena | Michiko Tanaka | Masahiko Tanaka | Koichi Tanaka | Kazunori Tanaka | Hiroki Tanaka |
The novel was turned into a 2008 live action movie, directed by Masato Harada and starring Shinichi Tsutsumi, Hiroshi Abe, Kippei Shiina, Hiroyuki Miyasako, and Rena Tanaka.