Kazuyoshi Nakamura

1.1. Youth and School Career

Nakamura was born in Fujieda, Shizuoka, Japan, on April 8, 1955. His football journey began at Fujieda City Nishimatsu Junior High School, where in his third year, he played a crucial role in the team's victory at the National Junior High School Football Tournament, drawing considerable attention.

He then advanced to Fujieda Higashi High School, a renowned institution for football. From 1971 to 1973, Nakamura secured a regular position on the team, playing as a left winger in their distinctive 4-2-4 system. He was instrumental in leading Fujieda Higashi High School to consecutive runner-up finishes in the National High School Football Championship in 1973 (51st tournament) and 1974 (52nd tournament). In his third year, as team captain, he faced a notable setback in the high school championship final against Hokuyo High School, where a goal he scored was controversially disallowed for offside. During his time at Fujieda Higashi, his teammates included Yosuke Naito, a defender who later played for Waseda University and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Yasuo Hattori, who would eventually become the coach of Fujieda Higashi High School's football club. Nakamura stood 67 in ^{(170 cm)} tall and weighed 132 lb ^{(60 kg)}.

1.2. University Career

Following his high school graduation, Nakamura continued his academic and football pursuits at Hosei University from 1974 to 1977. His university career was also successful, culminating in his fourth year when he helped Hosei University win the Kanto University Football League.

2.1. Club Career

In 1978, after graduating from Hosei University, Nakamura joined Fujitsu SC, a club based in Kawasaki, which is now the predecessor to Kawasaki Frontale. In his debut 1978 season, he played 11 games and scored 3 goals. However, despite his contributions, Fujitsu SC was relegated to the Japan Soccer League Division 2. This relegation significantly reduced his opportunities to play in the top tier of Japanese football. He continued to play for Fujitsu SC until 1981, when he retired from professional football. His retirement was reportedly due to a series of injuries. During Nakamura's tenure, Fujitsu was considered a strong team in JSL Division 2, consistently vying for promotion. However, after his retirement, the club transitioned into a mid-tier team.

2.2. National Team Career

Nakamura's involvement with the Japan national football team began early in his career, starting with youth selections. In his second year of high school, he was selected for the Japan Youth Representative (U-20). He played a key role in the team that finished as runner-up in the AFC U-19 Championship held in Iran in 1973, and he also participated in the 1974 tournament. In January 1974, while still a high school student, he achieved the rare distinction of being selected for the Japan Selection team, participating in the Tri-Nations International Football Tournament. He also played for the Japan B team in 1974.

His debut for the senior Japan national football team came on March 4, 1979, in a match against the South Korea national football team at National Stadium in Tokyo. In this significant debut, Nakamura scored the winning goal in the 26th minute of the first half, leading Japan to a 2-1 victory. He formed an effective partnership with his former high school senior, Hiroyuki Usui, in this match. Nakamura continued to represent Japan throughout 1979, participating in tournaments such as the Murdeka Tournament in June. He made a total of 5 international appearances for Japan, scoring 1 goal, all within that year, which marked his final participation with the national team. All five matches were coached by Yukio Shimomura.

His international appearances for Japan in 1979 were:

• March 4: vs. South Korea, at National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan. Result: 2-1 win. Tournament: Japan-Korea Regular Match.
• June 16: vs. South Korea, at Seoul, South Korea. Result: 1-4 loss. Tournament: Japan-Korea Regular Match.
• June 27: vs. Malaysia, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Result: 1-1 draw. Tournament: Murdeka Tournament.
• June 29: vs. Thailand, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Result: 2-1 win. Tournament: Murdeka Tournament.
• July 1: vs. Burma, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Result: 1-0 win. Tournament: Murdeka Tournament.

4.1. Club Statistics

Nakamura played for Fujitsu SC from 1978 to 1981. His league appearances and goals are detailed below.

Note: Specific league appearance and goal statistics for 1979 and total JSL Division 2 statistics are not fully available in the provided sources.

4.2. National Team Statistics

Kazuyoshi Nakamura made 5 international A-match appearances for the Japan national team, scoring 1 goal, all in 1979. His debut and first goal occurred in the same match.

His debut match and first goal were against South Korea on March 4, 1979, at National Stadium in Tokyo. Japan won the match 2-1.