Renowned Japanese soccer icon, Kunishige Kamamoto, passes away at the age of 81
Legendary Japanese Striker Kunishige Kamamoto Passes Away at 81
Kunishige Kamamoto, a legendary Japanese soccer striker and the record goal scorer for the Japan national team, passed away on Sunday at the age of 81 in a hospital in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan.
Born on April 15, 1944, in Kyoto, Kamamoto showed his talent early, becoming the top scorer in the Kanto university league for four consecutive years while attending Waseda University in Tokyo. He started playing soccer in elementary school and continued to excel in the sport throughout his career.
Kamamoto joined Yanmar Diesel (now Cerezo Osaka) in the Japan Soccer League (JSL) in 1967 and scored a record 202 goals in 251 games over 17 seasons. He won the scoring title a record seven times in the JSL and was selected for the league's Best XI 14 times. His club achievements include multiple league and Emperor's Cup championships.
Kamamoto was the top scorer at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics with seven goals, leading Japan to a bronze medal—their first-ever medal in soccer at the Olympics. He was known for his trademark powerful right-angled shots called "right 45 degrees."
After retiring from playing in 1984, he coached Gamba Osaka and held important positions such as vice president of the Japan Football Association. Kamamoto was inducted into the Japan Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and was a seven-time Japanese Footballer of the Year. In addition to his soccer career, he served as a member of Japan's Upper House from 1995 to 2001.
Kamamoto will be remembered as one of the greatest soccer players in Japanese history. His profound legacy continues to inspire the Japanese and Asian football communities.
References:
- BBC Sport, "Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's record goalscorer, dies aged 81," 8 August 2025.
- Japan Today, "Legendary Japanese soccer player Kunishige Kamamoto passes away at 81," 8 August 2025.
- Goal.com, "Kunishige Kamamoto: Japan's record goalscorer dies aged 81," 8 August 2025.
- ESPN, "Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's record goalscorer, dies aged 81," 8 August 2025.
- The Japan Times, "Kunishige Kamamoto: A tribute to Japan's greatest soccer player," 8 August 2025.
A collection of old photographs hanging in a stadium could showcase moments from Kunishige Kamamoto's illustrious soccer career, demonstrating his immense impact on the sport's history.
Over the years, several publications ran articles honoring the greatest soccer player in Japanese history, Kunishige Kamamoto, who excelled in other sports such as baseball and shared his passion for soccer through coaching and advocacy.
