Toshio Iwatani facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Toshio Iwatani
岩谷 俊夫

Personal information
Full name	Toshio Iwatani
Date of birth	(1925-10-24)October 24, 1925
Place of birth	Kobe, Hyogo, Empire of Japan
Date of death	March 1, 1970(1970-03-01) (aged 44)
Place of death	Chuo, Tokyo, Japan
Playing position	Forward
Youth career
	Kobe Daiichi High School
1943–1947	Waseda University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
	Osaka SC
National team
1951–1956	Japan	8	(4)
Honours Representing  Japan Asian Games Bronze 1951 New Delhi Team
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Toshio Iwatani (岩谷 俊夫, Iwatani Toshio, October 24, 1925 – March 1, 1970) was a Japanese football player. He was a forward, meaning he played in an attacking position. Toshio Iwatani played for the Japan national team and was known for his skills on the field.

Playing for Clubs: Osaka SC

Toshio Iwatani was born in Kobe, Japan, on October 24, 1925. After he finished his studies at Waseda University, he joined a football team called Osaka SC.

Osaka SC was a strong team during his time there. They reached the finals of the Emperor's Cup three times. The Emperor's Cup is a very important football competition in Japan. Osaka SC finished in second place in 1951, 1952, and 1953.

Playing for Japan: The National Team

Toshio Iwatani was chosen to play for the Japan national team in March 1951. This was a special moment because it was Japan's first international game after World War II.

Debut at the 1951 Asian Games

His first game for Japan was on March 7, 1951, against Iran. This match was part of the 1951 Asian Games. Just two days later, on March 9, he showed his scoring ability. He scored two goals against Afghanistan in the match for third place. Japan won that game 2-0, earning a bronze medal.

Later International Matches

Iwatani also played for Japan in the 1954 Asian Games. In June 1956, he was chosen as the captain of the team. He led Japan in a qualifying match for the 1956 Summer Olympics against South Korea. Japan won one game and lost one in these qualifiers.

After the qualifiers, Iwatani was again selected as captain by drawing lots. The team successfully qualified for the 1956 Summer Olympics. However, he was not chosen to play in the Olympics that November. He played a total of eight games for Japan and scored four goals before 1956.

His Legacy

Toshio Iwatani passed away on March 1, 1970, in Chuo, Tokyo. He was 44 years old and died from a brain tumor. In 2006, his contributions to Japanese football were recognized. He was inducted into the Japan Football Hall of Fame, a special place for great players.

National team statistics

Honours

Japan

• Asian Games Bronze medal: 1951

See also

In Spanish: Toshio Iwatani para niños