1. Early Life and Education
Hisashi Tsuchida was born on February 1, 1967, in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. His early football development began during his academic years. From 1982 to 1984, he attended Okayama Rika University Affiliated Junior High and High School. Following his high school education, Tsuchida continued his studies and football career at Osaka University of Economics from 1985 to 1988, before embarking on his professional journey. He stands 74 in (187 cm) tall and weighs 192 lb (87 kg).
2. Playing Career
Hisashi Tsuchida's professional football career spanned from 1989 to 2000, primarily with Mitsubishi Motors and its successor, Urawa Red Diamonds. He was known for his passionate play and distinctive loud voice, which was often heard clearly from the stands.
2.1. Club Career
Tsuchida joined Mitsubishi Motors, a club in the Japan Soccer League (JSL), in 1989 after graduating from Osaka University of Economics. He began his professional career playing in the JSL Division 2 for the 1989-90 season, where he made 3 appearances. He continued with Mitsubishi Motors as they were promoted to JSL Division 1, making 1 appearance in the 1990-91 season and 12 appearances in the 1991-92 season. He also participated in the Konica Cup in 1991, playing 4 matches.
In 1992, the JSL was reformed into the J.League, and Mitsubishi Motors became Urawa Red Diamonds. Tsuchida remained with the club throughout this transition and for the rest of his playing career until 2000. For a significant period, he engaged in a fierce competition for the starting goalkeeper position with fellow player Yuki Takita.
Tsuchida became the regular goalkeeper for Urawa Red Diamonds during the 1994 and 1995 seasons, making 43 and 47 league appearances respectively. His J.League debut came on May 16, 1993, in a match against Gamba Osaka at Banpaku Memorial Stadium. However, an eye injury sustained during a training camp in 1996 caused him to lose his regular position. From 1997 onwards, his opportunities to play significantly decreased, and he did not make any appearances in competitive matches during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
At the end of the 2000 season, Tsuchida retired from professional football, coincidentally retiring alongside his long-time rival for the goalkeeper spot, Yuki Takita.
2.2. National Team Career
While still a student at Osaka University of Economics in 1988, Hisashi Tsuchida was selected to represent the Japan national "B team" for the 1988 AFC Asian Cup. During this tournament, he made one appearance in a match against Qatar.
Initially, this match was recorded as an official international A-match for Japan. However, in 1996, the Japan Football Association (JFA) conducted a review of its national team's official match records. As a result of this re-evaluation, the match Tsuchida played in the 1988 AFC Asian Cup was no longer recognized as an official international A-match, due to it being played by the "B team" rather than the "first team." Despite this reclassification, Tsuchida did participate in the Japan national team's tour of South America in 1989, which was with the main national squad, not the "B team."
3. Post-Playing Career
Following his retirement as a professional footballer in 2000, Hisashi Tsuchida transitioned into various coaching and administrative roles within the football community, primarily continuing his long association with Urawa Red Diamonds.
3.1. Coaching Career
In 2001, Tsuchida officially joined the coaching staff of Urawa Red Diamonds, initially serving as a coach for the top team. The following year, in 2002, he took on a more specialized role as the goalkeeper coach for the top team, a position he held for 17 years until his departure in 2018. During his tenure as goalkeeper coach, he played a crucial role in the club's development and successes.
3.2. Club Staff and Other Activities
After his extensive coaching career, Tsuchida moved into administrative roles at Urawa Red Diamonds. In 2019, he became a club staff member, serving as the President's attaché responsible for regional contribution activities. His leadership qualities were further recognized when he was appointed as the Sports Director (SD) for Urawa Red Diamonds, a position he held from 2020 to 2023.
Beyond his direct involvement with the club, Tsuchida also contributes to the broader football community. In 2012, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Urawa Reds OB Association, demonstrating his continued commitment to the club and its legacy.
4. Personality and Anecdotes
Hisashi Tsuchida was known for his fiery on-field presence, characterized by his passion and a famously loud voice that could be clearly heard by fans from the stands. This distinctive trait contributed to his popularity among supporters.
One notable anecdote highlights his sharp wit: Tsuchida is credited with giving his former Urawa Reds teammate, Masayuki Okano, the widely recognized nickname "Wildman" (野人).
Another memorable moment from his playing career occurred during a J.League match on March 29, 1995, against Nagoya Grampus. The game went to a penalty shootout. After Tsuchida saved the fifth penalty kick taken by Nagoya's Tetsuya Asano, he initially believed Urawa had won the match. However, he recounted, "I thought we had won. But when I turned around, no one was coming towards me. I had miscounted the kicks." This moment showcased his intense focus and the high stakes of such decisive situations.
Tsuchida also had a unique connection with the Urawa Reds fan base through his cheering song, which used the tune of "Heigh-Ho" as its original melody. Interestingly, this same melody was later adopted for the cheering song of Rafael Silva, who played for Urawa Reds in the 2017 season.
5. Career Statistics
The following table summarizes Hisashi Tsuchida's club performance throughout his professional playing career.
| Club Performance | League | League Cup | Emperor's Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | JSL Cup / J.League Cup | Emperor's Cup | Total | ||||||
| 1989-90 | Mitsubishi Motors | JSL Division 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1990-91 | JSL Division 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1991-92 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| 1992 | Urawa Red Diamonds | J | - | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| 1993 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 1994 | 43 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
| 1995 | 47 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | 50 | 0 | |||
| 1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1997 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| 1998 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| 1999 | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2000 | J2 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 150 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 183 | 0 | ||