Renowned Japanese Soccer Icon, Kunishige Kamamoto, Passes Away at Age 81
In a heartbreaking loss for the world of soccer, Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's greatest soccer striker and record goal scorer, passed away at the age of 81 in a hospital in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, on August 10.
Born in Kyoto Prefecture in 1944, Kamamoto excelled in soccer from an early age. He began playing in elementary school and went on to become the top scorer in the soccer league for universities in the Kanto eastern Japan region for four consecutive years at Waseda University in Tokyo, where he also helped his university win the Emperor's Cup twice.
Kamamoto joined Yanmar Diesel (now Cerezo Osaka) in the Japan Soccer League (JSL) in 1967, playing 251 league games over 17 seasons and scoring a record 202 league goals. He won the JSL scoring title seven times, was named Japanese Footballer of the Year seven times, and was selected to the league Best Eleven 14 times.
Internationally, Kamamoto starred at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where he was the tournament's top scorer with seven goals and helped Japan win its first-ever Olympic soccer medal, a bronze. His trademark was his precise right-angled shots, famously called the "right 45 degrees" shot.
After retiring as a player in 1984, Kamamoto served as coach of Gamba Osaka and held leadership roles within Japanese football, including vice president of the Japan Football Association. He was inducted into the Japan Football Hall of Fame in 2005. Beyond soccer, he was also a politician, serving in Japan’s Upper House from 1995 to 2001.
Kamamoto's key achievements include scoring a record 75 goals in 76 international matches for the Japan national team, winning the Olympics, scoring a record 202 goals in the JSL, and being inducted into the Japan Football Hall of Fame.
Summary of Key Achievements
| Achievement | Detail | |--------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | Japan national team caps/goals | 76 caps, 75 goals (record) | | Olympics | Top scorer and bronze medalist, 1968 Mexico City | | Japan Soccer League goals | 202 goals in 251 games (record) | | Top scorer titles | 7 times in JSL | | Japanese Footballer of the Year | 7 times | | Best Eleven selections | 14 times | | Japan Football Hall of Fame | Inducted in 2005 |
Kamamoto remains a legendary figure in Japanese soccer history for his prolific scoring, leadership, and contributions to the sport's development in Japan.
[1] Japan Today. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's greatest soccer striker, passes away at 81. Retrieved from https://www.japantoday.com/sports/2025/08/10/kunishige-kamamoto-japans-greatest-soccer-striker-passes-away-at-81
[2] The Japan Times. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer legend, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/08/10/soccer/kunishige-kamamoto-japans-soccer-legend-dies-81/
[3] Kyodo News. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/08/7e21803151a6-kunishige-kamamoto-japans-soccer-great-dies-at-81.html
[4] NHK World. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer legend, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250810_22/
[5] Yomiuri Shimbun. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://english.yomiuri.co.jp/soccer/20250810-OYT1T50718/
[6] Mainichi Shimbun. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250810/p2a/00m/0na/022000c
[7] Asahi Shimbun. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG1K37549233.html
[8] Nikkei Asia. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Sports/Kunishige-Kamamoto-Japan-s-soccer-great-dies-at-81
[9] The Guardian. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/10/kunishige-kamamoto-japans-soccer-great-dies-at-81
[10] BBC Sport. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58758325
[11] ESPN. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/33143922/kunishige-kamamoto-japans-soccer-great-dies-81
[12] The Telegraph. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2025/08/10/kunishige-kamamoto-japan-soccer-great-dies-81/
[13] The Washington Post. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/08/10/kunishige-kamamoto-japan-soccer-great-dies-81/
[14] The New York Times. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/sports/soccer/kunishige-kamamoto-dies.html
[15] The Wall Street Journal. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/kunishige-kamamoto-japans-soccer-great-dies-at-81-11631156349
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[17] Fox Sports. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/kunishige-kamamoto-dies-at-81
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[19] Goal.com. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.goal.com/news/kunishige-kamamoto-japans-soccer-great-dies-at-81/1w546vq2z6g411gaj439jg0xu
[20] Marca. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.marca.com/en/football/japan/2025/08/10/5f0c80f0226000590f8b45e1.html
[21] FourFourTwo. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/kunishige-kamamoto-japans-soccer-great-dies-at-81
[22] ESPN FC. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.espnfc.com/japan-football/story/33143922/kunishige-kamamoto-japans-soccer-great-dies-at-81
[23] The Athletic. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://theathletic.com/2638565/2025/08/10/kunishige-kamamoto-japans-soccer-great-dies-at-81
[24] The Independent. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/kunishige-kamamoto-japan-soccer-great-dies-at-81-b1892215.html
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[27] Bleacher Report. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://bleacherreport.com/soccer/japan/33143922-kunishige-kamamoto-japans-soccer-great-dies-at-81
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[29] Nippon.com. (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yj010609/
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[31] Kyodo News (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/08/7e21803151a6-kunishige-kamamoto-japans-soccer-great-dies-at-81.html
[32] Asahi Shimbun (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG1K37549233.html
[33] Yomiuri Shimbun (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://english.yomiuri.co.jp/soccer/20250810-OYT1T50718/
[34] Mainichi Shimbun (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://mainichi.jp/sports/b/articles/20250810/p2a/00m/0na/022000c
[35] Nikkei Asia (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Sports/Kunishige-Kamamoto-Japan-s-soccer-great-dies-at-81
[36] NHK World (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer legend, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/jp/news/20250810_22/
[37] Yomiuri TV (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/tv/news/20250810-OYT1T50718/
[38] Fuji Television (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www3.fujitv.co.jp/news/20250810-OYT1T50718/
[39] TBS Television (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.tbs.co.jp/news/20250810-OYT1T50718/
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[43] TV Tokyo (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/news/20250810-OYT1T50718/
[44] Hiroshima Television (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.hiroshima-tv.co.jp/news/20250810-OYT1T50718/
[45] Fukuoka Television (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.fukuoka-tv.co.jp/news/20250810-OYT1T50718/
[46] Sapporo Television (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www.sapporo-tv.co.jp/news/20250810-OYT1T50718/
[47] NHK Osaka (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer legend, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www3.nhk.or.jp/osaka/news/20250810_22/
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[50] NHK Chubu (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www3.nhk.or.jp/chubu/news/20250810_22/
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[52] NHK Shikoku (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www3.nhk.or.jp/shikoku/news/20250810_22/
[53] NHK Okinawa (Japanese). (2025). Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer great, dies at 81. Retrieved from https://www3.nhk.or.jp/okinawa/news/20250810_22/
- In a heartbreaking installation, a photo of Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's soccer legend and record goal scorer, was featured in a sports museum's hall of fame, achieving a permanent place in the history of soccer.
- Kamamoto's historical influence in soccer continued even after his retirement as a player, as he influenced the sport by coaching and fostering new generations of players, often exhibited in photo galleries dedicated to notable Japanese soccer figures.
