Kunishige Kamamoto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kunishige Kamamoto
釜本 邦茂
Kamamoto in 2014
Member of the House of Councillors
In office 23 July 1995 – 22 July 2001
Constituency	National PR
Personal details
Born	(1944-04-15) 15 April 1944 (age 81) Ukyō, Kyoto, Japan
Political party	Liberal Democratic
Alma mater	Waseda University
Association football career Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in) Position(s) Forward Youth career 1960–1962 Yamashiro High School College career Years Team Apps (Gls) 1963–1966 Waseda University Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1967–1984 Yanmar Diesel 251 (202) Total 251 (202) International career 1964–1977 Japan 76 (75) 1964 Japan U23 10 (8) Managerial career 1978–1984 Yanmar Diesel 1991–1994 Gamba Osaka 2009–2010 Fujieda MYFC Medal record Representing  Japan Olympic Games Bronze 1968 Mexico City Team Asian Games Bronze 1966 Bangkok Team *Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kunishige Kamamoto (釜本 邦茂, Kamamoto Kunishige, born 15 April 1944) is a famous Japanese football player, coach, and politician. He is known for winning a bronze medal with the Japan national team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He was the top scorer in that tournament with seven goals. Kamamoto is also Japan's all-time leading goal scorer in international matches.

He was the Vice-President of the Japan Football Association from 1998 to 2008. In 2005, he was honored by being added to the Japan Football Hall of Fame. Kamamoto also served as a member of the House of Councillors, which is part of Japan's government, from 1995 to 2001.

Early Life and College Football

Kunishige Kamamoto was born in Kyoto, Japan, on April 15, 1944. He grew up in Kyoto and went to Yamashiro High School. After high school, he studied at Waseda University.

While at Waseda University, he was an amazing football player. He was the top scorer in the Kanto university league for four years in a row. His university team even won the Emperor's Cup twice, in 1963 and 1966. This was the last time a university team ever won this important cup. He finished his studies in 1966.

Club Career Highlights

After college, Kamamoto joined the Japan Soccer League club Yanmar Diesel in 1967. This club is now known as Cerezo Osaka. He played in every league game from his very first season.

In 1968, he became the top scorer in the Japan Soccer League. Yanmar Diesel won their first title, the 1968 Emperor's Cup, thanks to Kamamoto's winning goal in the final game. The team also won the 1970 Emperor's Cup. In 1971, his team became league champions for the first time, and Kamamoto was the top scorer again.

Yanmar Diesel won the league two years in a row in 1974 and 1975. They also won the 1974 Emperor's Cup. In 1978, Kamamoto started coaching the team while still playing. His team won the league championship again in 1980.

Kamamoto retired from playing in 1984 when he was 40 years old. He was the league's top scorer seven times and was chosen for the "Best Eleven" team fourteen times. He was also named Japanese Footballer of the Year seven times.

National Team Achievements

Kamamoto first played for the Japan national team on March 3, 1964. He scored a goal in his first game against Singapore. Later that year, he played for Japan at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He played in all the matches and scored one goal.

In 1968, Kamamoto was chosen to play for Japan again at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. This was a huge moment for Japan's team. They won the Bronze Medal, and Kamamoto was the top scorer of the entire tournament with seven goals. This team was later added to the Japan Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

Kamamoto also played in the Football at the 1966 Asian Games. He continued to play for the national team throughout the 1970s, even after many other Olympic players left. He played in the 1970 and 1974 Asian Games. He stopped playing for the national team in 1977. He played in 76 matches and scored 75 goals for Japan.

Coaching and Political Roles

In 1978, Kamamoto became a player-manager for Yanmar Diesel. He led the club to win its first league championship in 1980. The team also won the JSL Cup in 1983 and 1984. When he retired from playing football in 1984, he also stopped being the manager of Yanmar Diesel.

In 1991, he became the manager for a rival team, Matsushita Electric, which later became Gamba Osaka. He coached them until 1994.

Beyond football, Kamamoto also had a career in politics. He was elected as a member of the House of Councillors in July 1995. This is like being a senator in some other countries. He served in this role until July 2001.

Awards and Honors

Kamamoto received many awards for his amazing football skills:

• He was the top scorer at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
• He was named Japanese Footballer of the Year seven times (1966, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1981).
• He was the top scorer in the Japan Soccer League seven times.
• He was chosen for the Japan Soccer League Best Eleven team fourteen times.
• He received special awards for scoring 100 and 200 goals in the Japan Soccer League.
• He was recognized as an Asian All Star in 1967 and 1968.
• He was part of the MasterCard Asian/Oceanian Team of the 20th Century in 1998.
• He was inducted into the Japan Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

See also

In Spanish: Kunishige Kamamoto para niños