1. Overview
Junki Mawatari (馬渡 隼暉Mawatari JunkiJapanese) is a former Japanese footballer who played primarily as a forward and midfielder. Born in Toyama City, Japan, Mawatari's career is notably marked by his long tenure with Kataller Toyama, where he made history as the first player to be promoted from the club's youth academy to its senior team. His professional career began in 2015 and included spells with Okoshiyasu Kyoto AC and Fukuyama City FC before his retirement at the end of the 2023 season.
2. Early life and youth career
Junki Mawatari was born on October 3, 1996, in Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. His initial foray into football began during his elementary school years, where he started playing the sport as a first-grader with Konan Kickers.
2.1. Early football education
Mawatari continued his football development within the youth system of Kataller Toyama. He progressed through the club's U-15 team and later became a member of the Kataller Toyama U-18 squad from 2012 to 2014. During his third and final year of high school in 2014, Mawatari's skill set, particularly his versatility in playing both as a forward and a midfielder, and his demonstrated finishing ability, led him to frequently participate in training sessions with the senior team of Kataller Toyama.
3. Professional club career
Junki Mawatari's professional journey in football commenced in 2015 with Kataller Toyama, followed by various club experiences through loan agreements and transfers before his retirement in 2023.
3.1. Kataller Toyama (2015-2021)
In 2015, Junki Mawatari achieved a significant milestone by being promoted to the senior squad of Kataller Toyama, becoming the first player in the club's history to transition directly from its youth academy to the professional team. He made his official professional debut in the J3 League on May 3, 2015, playing against AC Nagano Parceiro at Minami Nagano Sports Park General Stadium. Mawatari scored his inaugural J.League goal on July 5, 2015, during a J3 League match against Fujieda MYFC at Shizuoka Prefectural Ogasayama General Sports Park Stadium 'Ecopa', finding the net in the 27th minute of the game. He remained with Kataller Toyama until December 13, 2021, marking the end of a 13-year association with the club that began in its academy.
3.2. Loan spells
On August 7, 2017, Mawatari was sent on a loan spell to Amities SC Kyoto, a team that is now known as Okoshiyasu Kyoto AC. His loan period with Okoshiyasu Kyoto AC was subsequently extended for the entire 2018 season, an announcement made on December 30, 2017. Following the conclusion of his extended loan, Mawatari returned to his parent club, Kataller Toyama, on December 23, 2018.
3.3. Later career and retirement
After concluding his long tenure with Kataller Toyama, Junki Mawatari signed with Fukuyama City FC on December 27, 2021, where he played during the 2022 season. On January 26, 2023, he made a return to Okoshiyasu Kyoto AC. Mawatari officially announced his retirement from professional football at the conclusion of the 2023 season, with the announcement released on December 22, 2023.
4. Playing style
Junki Mawatari primarily operated in offensive and central midfield roles, serving as both a forward (FW) and a midfielder (MF). His playing characteristics were defined by his versatility and his demonstrated capability to score goals. Mawatari's dominant foot was his right foot. He stands at a height of 69 in (175 cm) and has a body weight of 141 lb (64 kg).
5. Career statistics
This table presents Junki Mawatari's official appearances and goal-scoring records across various league and cup competitions throughout his professional career.
| Club performance | League | Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| Japan | |||||||||
| 2015 | Toyama | J3 League | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2017 | A Kyoto / O Kyoto | Kansai 1st Division | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | Toyama | J3 League | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2022 | Fukuyama | Chugoku League | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | O Kyoto | Kansai 1st Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| J3 League Total | 32 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 2 | |||
| Kansai 1st Division Total | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | |||
| Chugoku League Total | 2 | 0 | |||||||
| Career total | 47 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 51 | 4 | |||