1. Early life and youth career
1.1. Birth and background
Go Iwase was born on June 28, 1995, in Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He stands at 67 in (171 cm) tall and weighs 148 lb (67 kg). He is right-footed. During his time playing in the K League, his registered name was 이와세IwaseKorean.
1.2. Youth career
Iwase began his youth football career with Minato SC and later Minato SC Jr. Youth. He attended Funabashi Municipal High School, a prominent footballing institution in Japan. In his first year at the school, he contributed to the team's victory in the National High School Soccer Championship (the 90th tournament). His talent was recognized early, leading to his selection for the Japan High School Selection team in both 2012 and 2013. In his third year at Funabashi Municipal High School, Iwase served as the team captain, guiding them to victory in the Inter-High School Championships. However, their campaign in the 92nd National High School Soccer Championship ended in the quarterfinals. He also represented the U-16 Chiba Prefecture National Sports Festival Selection team.
2. Professional career
Go Iwase's professional career began in 2014, with his debut for Kyoto Sanga FC in the J2 League. He subsequently experienced several loan spells and permanent transfers, including a notable move to the K League 2 in South Korea, before returning to Japan.
2.1. Kyoto Sanga FC
Iwase officially joined Kyoto Sanga FC in 2014. In the same year, he was also registered with the J.League U-22 Selection team, which competed in the J3 League. He made his professional debut in the J.League on March 16, 2014, playing for the J.League U-22 Selection against Fujieda MYFC in a J3 League match. His debut for Kyoto Sanga FC in the J2 League occurred on June 21, 2014, against Roasso Kumamoto. During this match, he started but was unfortunately substituted due to an injury, which was later diagnosed as a right knee lateral joint capsule ligament injury. He remained with Kyoto Sanga FC until 2019, though his playing time varied; in 2018, he made only three appearances, and in 2019, he did not feature in any matches before being loaned out.
2.2. Loans and transfers in J.League
In 2016, Iwase was loaned to FC Gifu, another club in the J2 League. He played 30 league matches for FC Gifu in the 2016 season and an additional six matches in 2017. Following the conclusion of his loan spell, he returned to Kyoto Sanga FC in December 2017.
On July 23, 2019, Iwase was once again loaned out, this time to Thespakusatsu Gunma. He spent half a season with the club, making 14 appearances. In 2020, his transfer to Thespakusatsu Gunma was made permanent. During the 2020 season, he played in five J2 League matches for Thespakusatsu Gunma.
2.3. Ansan Greeners FC
On February 1, 2021, Thespakusatsu Gunma announced Iwase's permanent transfer to Ansan Greeners FC in South Korea's K League 2. The transfer was officially confirmed by Ansan Greeners FC the following day, February 2, 2021. Notably, Iwase's former teammate from Funabashi Municipal High School and Kyoto Sanga FC, Masatoshi Ishida, had previously played for Ansan Greeners. Club officials reportedly stated that Ishida's strong recommendation played a significant role in Iwase's acquisition by the South Korean club. Iwase made his K League debut with Ansan and scored his first K League goal on June 13, 2021, in a match against Busan IPark. He played in 26 league matches and scored one goal in 2021, followed by 22 league matches without a goal in 2022. He also made one cup appearance and scored one goal in 2022. Iwase departed Ansan Greeners FC at the end of the 2022 season.
2.4. VONDS Ichihara
After leaving Ansan Greeners FC, Iwase was without a club for a period in 2023. On July 27, 2023, it was announced that he had joined VONDS Ichihara, a club competing in the Kanto Soccer League Division 1. He currently remains with VONDS Ichihara.
3. Club statistics
These tables detail Go Iwase's professional club appearances and goals in various competitions throughout his career.
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Cup Apps | Cup Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | ||||||||
| 2014 | Kyoto | J2 League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2016 | FC Gifu | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2018 | Kyoto | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Thespakusatsu Gunma | J3 League | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2020 | J2 League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| South Korea | ||||||||
| 2021 | Ansan | K League 2 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| 2022 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 1 | ||
| Japan | ||||||||
| 2023 | V. Ichihara | Kanto League 1 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Career total | 132 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 135 | 2 | ||
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | ||||
| 2014 | J-22 Selection | J3 League | 6 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 6 | 0 | ||
4. International and representative career
Iwase has represented Japan at various youth levels and in select squads. In 2012 and 2013, he was chosen for the Japan High School Selection team. In 2014, he was part of the U-19 Japan National Team for a tour in Myanmar.
5. Playing style
Go Iwase primarily plays as a midfielder or defender. He is noted for his strong ball-winning ability.