1. Overview
Hiroki Higuchi (樋口 寛規Higuchi HirokiJapanese, born April 16, 1992) is a Japanese football player who primarily plays as a forward. He is currently affiliated with Fukushima United FC.
2. Early Career
Hiroki Higuchi was born in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. He began his youth career at Takarazuka Junior FC and later attended Nishinomiya Municipal Gakumon Junior High School. In 2008, he enrolled in Takigawa Daini High School and joined its football club. During his first two years, Higuchi played as a volante or side half. However, in 2010, his third year, he was converted to a forward. In August 2010, he participated in a training session with Shimizu S-Pulse but was not immediately offered a contract.
Higuchi gained significant recognition during the 89th National High School Soccer Championship held in 2010. Partnering with his classmate Kota Hamaguchi, they formed a formidable attacking duo dubbed the "Double Bulldozer." Higuchi's performance was outstanding, as he scored eight goals, leading the tournament as the top scorer and earning recognition as a Tournament Excellent Player. His contributions were instrumental in helping Takigawa Daini High School secure its first-ever championship title in the tournament. This impressive showing ultimately led to his professional contract with Shimizu S-Pulse. In April 2011, after joining Shimizu S-Pulse, Higuchi was selected for the Japan High School Soccer Selection team and participated in the Düsseldorf International Youth Soccer Tournament.
3. Club Career
Higuchi's professional career began with Shimizu S-Pulse, followed by several loan spells and a permanent move to Fukushima United FC.
3.1. Shimizu S-Pulse
Hiroki Higuchi officially joined Shimizu S-Pulse on January 12, 2011, marking his entry into professional football. During his initial tenure with the club, he was included in the squad that participated in the Düsseldorf International Youth Soccer Tournament in April 2011. While at Shimizu S-Pulse, he did not make any league appearances, primarily due to the club's strategy of sending him on loan to gain practical match experience. He returned to Shimizu S-Pulse briefly in 2013 and 2014, but still made no appearances in the J1 League.
3.2. Loan Spells
To gain valuable professional playing time and experience, Higuchi was loaned out to several clubs throughout his early career.
3.2.1. FC Gifu
Higuchi had two separate loan spells with FC Gifu. His first loan began on March 12, 2012. He made his J2 League debut for FC Gifu on March 17, 2012, in a match against Thespa Kusatsu Gunma. Just three days later, on March 20, 2012, he scored his first league goal for the club against Shonan Bellmare in the 90th+3rd minute. During this first loan, he made 34 league appearances, scoring 6 goals, and also contributed 2 goals in 1 Emperor's Cup match.
He returned to Shimizu S-Pulse briefly in early 2013 but was again loaned to FC Gifu on April 10, 2013. His league debut in his second loan spell came on April 14, 2013, against Matsumoto Yamaga FC. On June 15, 2013, Higuchi scored his first league goal of this period against Gainare Tottori in the 83rd minute. In his second stint with FC Gifu, he played 33 league matches and scored 3 goals.
3.2.2. Shonan Bellmare
On July 23, 2014, Higuchi was loaned to Shonan Bellmare. He made an immediate impact, scoring on his J2 League debut for the club against Kataller Toyama on July 26, 2014, with a goal in the 86th minute. During his time at Shonan Bellmare, he played in 11 league matches, scoring 1 goal.
3.2.3. SC Sagamihara
In 2015, Hiroki Higuchi was loaned to SC Sagamihara, where he spent the entire season. Playing in the J3 League, Higuchi had a productive spell, making 31 appearances and scoring 11 goals. This marked his most successful loan period in terms of goal-scoring.
3.3. Fukushima United FC
In 2016, Hiroki Higuchi made a permanent move to Fukushima United FC, transitioning from his loan-heavy career to a stable affiliation. He has become a key player for the club since his arrival. On December 11, 2023, Higuchi signed a new contract with Fukushima United FC, extending his stay. On April 28, 2024, he scored a brace against Iwate Grulla Morioka, with goals in the 28th and 45th minutes, further cementing his importance to the team's attack. As of February 8, 2025, he has made 241 appearances and scored 48 goals for Fukushima United FC.
4. Playing Style and Characteristics
Hiroki Higuchi is known for his distinctive playing style as a forward, earning him the nickname "Bulldozer" (ブルドーザーJapanese). His key strengths include his ability to penetrate the opposition's penalty area from their blind spots at top speed. Once in position, he demonstrates excellent one-touch control of the ball. Higuchi is also noted for his powerful and accurate shots, capable of striking effectively with both his left and right feet. Standing at 68 in (173 cm) and weighing 154 lb (70 kg), he possesses a sturdy physique that complements his assertive playing style. His dominant foot is his right.
5. Career Statistics
The following table details Hiroki Higuchi's professional club statistics, including appearances and goals across various leagues and competitions. Statistics are updated as of February 8, 2025.
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | No. | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J. League Cup | Total | |||||||
| 2011 | Shimizu | 22 | J1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | Shimizu | 22 | J1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gifu | 10 | J2 | 34 | 6 | 1 | 2 | - | 35 | 8 | ||
| 2013 | Shimizu | 15 | J1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Gifu | 27 | J2 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | 34 | 3 | ||
| 2014 | Shimizu | 13 | J1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shonan | 40 | J2 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 11 | 1 | ||
| 2015 | Sagamihara | 13 | J3 | 31 | 11 | 0 | 0 | - | 31 | 11 | |
| 2016 | Fukushima | 40 | J3 | 30 | 9 | 2 | 1 | - | 32 | 10 | |
| 2017 | J3 | 16 | 3 | - | - | 16 | 3 | ||||
| 2018 | J3 | 31 | 6 | - | - | 31 | 6 | ||||
| 2019 | J3 | 34 | 5 | - | - | 34 | 5 | ||||
| 2020 | J3 | 24 | 2 | - | - | 24 | 2 | ||||
| 2021 | J3 | 28 | 9 | - | - | 28 | 9 | ||||
| 2022 | J3 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | ||
| 2023 | J3 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 5 | ||
| 2024 | J3 | 27 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 7 | ||
| Total | 350 | 69 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 355 | 72 | |||
- First J.League appearance: March 17, 2012, J2 League Matchday 3, vs Thespa Kusatsu Gunma (at Gifu Nagaragawa Memorial Center)
- First J.League goal: March 20, 2012, J2 League Matchday 4, vs Shonan Bellmare (at Shonan BMW Stadium Hiratsuka)
6. Honours
Hiroki Higuchi has achieved success both at the team level during his youth career and through individual awards for his performance.
6.1. Team
- Takigawa Daini High School**
- 89th National High School Soccer Championship (2010)
6.2. Individual
- 89th National High School Soccer Championship
- Top Scorer (2010)
- Tournament Excellent Player (2010)
7. Personal Life and Anecdotes
Hiroki Higuchi shares several notable connections with Shinji Okazaki, a prominent Japan national team player. Both Higuchi and Okazaki were born in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, and share the same birthday, April 16. Furthermore, Okazaki was a senior to Higuchi at Takarazuka Junior, Takigawa Daini High School, and Shimizu S-Pulse. Due to these striking similarities, Higuchi was sometimes referred to as "Okazaki the Second."
An anecdote regarding his jersey number highlights this connection. Upon Higuchi's planned entry to Shimizu S-Pulse, the club intended for him to inherit the number 23 jersey, which was worn by Okazaki. However, complications arose with Okazaki's transfer to VfB Stuttgart, causing a delay that resulted in a brief overlap of their tenures at Shimizu S-Pulse. Consequently, Higuchi ended up wearing the number 22 jersey instead of the intended 23.