1. Early life and youth career
Keijiro Ogawa was born on 14 July 1992, in Sanda City, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. His youth football journey began with Woody SC from 1999 to 2004, coinciding with his time at Suzukakedai Elementary School. He then progressed through the youth ranks of Vissel Kobe, joining their Junior Youth team from 2005 to 2007 while attending Keyakidai Junior High School. From 2008 to 2010, he played for Vissel Kobe U-18, during which he attended Kobe Gakuin University High School.
Ogawa is considered one of the players from Japan's "Platinum Generation," a cohort of talented young footballers. In October 2009, he was selected for the Japan U-17 national team to participate in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. In the tournament, he appeared in two matches as a substitute, playing as a backup to players like Yoshiaki Takagi and Yuki Horigome.
2. Club career
Keijiro Ogawa's professional club career has seen him play for several teams, primarily in Japan, but also with stints in Australia and South Korea. He is notable for being the first player in Vissel Kobe's J1 League history to be registered as a "Type 2" player, meaning he was still part of the youth system while also being registered with the senior team.
2.1. Vissel Kobe
Ogawa made his professional debut for Vissel Kobe on March 27, 2010, in a match against Yokohama F. Marinos, entering the game in the 30th minute of the second half. At 17 years, 8 months, and 13 days old, this appearance set a new club record for the youngest player to feature in a match. After a period of inconsistent playing time, his official promotion to the top team was confirmed in September. In October, coach Masahiro Wada gave him a significant opportunity, and he began playing on the left wing, a position often occupied by Yoshito Okubo, who was out due to injury. On October 30, 2010, he scored his first J. League goal in the 12th minute of the second half against Gamba Osaka. This goal marked the youngest scoring record for the club at the time, a record later surpassed by midfielder Ryo Matsumura in 2012. In a crucial match against Urawa Red Diamonds to determine the club's J1 League survival, Ogawa scored a decisive goal. Despite being a "Type 2" player, he started all eight matches in the final stretch of the season, making 15 appearances and scoring 2 goals. His energetic style led sportscaster Takayoshi Yamano to affectionately nickname him "Human Locomotive" (人間機関車) on a Kansai J. League support program, identifying him as a promising player for the upcoming season.
In the 2011 season, Ogawa consistently found playing opportunities until July, when he suffered a right ankle dislocation fracture, leading to a long-term absence. He returned on November 20 in a match against Cerezo Osaka. Due to the injury, he finished his rookie season without scoring any goals.
For the 2012 season, Ogawa inherited the number 13 jersey, a prestigious attacking number for Kobe, after Yoshito Okubo changed his number to 10. In the 14th round match against Júbilo Iwata, Ogawa achieved a hat-trick, becoming the youngest player in club history and the third youngest in J1 League history to do so, at 19 years and 338 days old. While the team's attack struggled with injuries and poor form, Ogawa was a standout performer, scoring a career-high 9 goals, though the team was ultimately relegated to J2 League.
In the 2013 season, playing in J2, Ogawa set a personal goal of scoring 20 goals. He became a key player, scoring in four consecutive matches from the 31st to the 34th rounds. Despite playing as a wide midfielder, he led the team with 16 goals, contributing significantly to the club's immediate return to J1 League after one season.
In 2014, Ogawa primarily played on the right wing. On April 19, he scored the winning goal in an away match against Kashima Antlers at Kashima Soccer Stadium, securing Vissel Kobe's first victory there in 15 years, since 1999.
The 2015 season saw Ogawa become a regular starter under new coach Nelsinho Baptista. In the second round of the first stage against Kawasaki Frontale, he recorded 47 sprints, the highest number for the season according to the newly introduced "tracking system." He achieved his 100th J1 League appearance in the fourth round of the second stage against Vegalta Sendai. However, an ankle injury later in the season troubled him, delaying his return until the following season.
In 2016, Ogawa returned to official matches after five months in the second round of the first stage against Albirex Niigata. He scored his first goal since May 2015 in the fourth round against Gamba Osaka. However, he sustained an injury in a match against Avispa Fukuoka on April 10, significantly delaying his recovery. In his second match back, a Levain Cup fixture against Urawa, he suffered a right second metatarsal fracture in a non-contact incident, requiring surgery. For two consecutive seasons, injuries plagued him, preventing him from performing at his full potential.
In 2017, Ogawa suffered a clavicle fracture early in the season but made a quick return in May. He immediately reclaimed a regular starting spot, appearing in 25 matches. Towards the end of the season, despite reports of acquisition offers from domestic and European clubs, he committed to staying with Vissel Kobe.
In 2018, Ogawa was occasionally deployed as a right-back during the preseason, but his appearances gradually decreased. In July, he was loaned to Shonan Bellmare for six months, returning to Kobe at the end of the season.
In 2019, his playing opportunities increased after Thorsten Fink became head coach midway through the season. He scored 5 league goals and helped the club reach the Emperor's Cup final for the first time in its history.
In 2020, Ogawa was part of the squad for the Emperor's Cup final against Kashima Antlers, the first football match held at the new Japan National Stadium on January 1. Although Vissel Kobe won their first Emperor's Cup, Ogawa did not feature in the final. On January 22, in the first match of the AFC Champions League against Johor Darul Ta'zim FC, he scored the club's first-ever goal in the competition and went on to achieve a hat-trick. However, Johor Darul Ta'zim FC later withdrew from the tournament, and the result of that match was invalidated by the AFC, rendering Ogawa's hat-trick unofficial.
2.2. Loan spells
Keijiro Ogawa has experienced several loan spells during his career, offering him opportunities to play in different environments.
2.2.1. Shonan Bellmare
In July 2018, Ogawa was loaned from Vissel Kobe to Shonan Bellmare. This loan period lasted for six months, until December of the same year, after which he returned to Vissel Kobe.
2.2.2. Western Sydney Wanderers
On October 15, 2021, it was announced that Ogawa would be loaned to Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League Men of Australia. His loan agreement with the club was set to run until June 30, 2022. During his time there, he made 26 league appearances, scoring 2 goals.
2.2.3. FC Seoul
On July 13, 2022, Ogawa was announced as a loan signing for K League 1 club FC Seoul in South Korea. His registration name in the K League was "Keijiro" (케이지로KeijiroKorean). The loan agreement included an option for a permanent transfer. He played 12 matches for FC Seoul but left the club at the end of the season without the permanent transfer option being exercised.
2.3. Yokohama FC
On January 6, 2021, Keijiro Ogawa made a permanent transfer to Yokohama FC. After his loan spell with FC Seoul concluded, he returned to Yokohama FC in 2023. As of the start of the 2024 season, he continues to play for Yokohama FC in J2 League.
3. International career
Keijiro Ogawa has represented Japan at various youth levels. He was a candidate for the Japan U-15 national team and the U-16 national team. His most notable international appearance came in 2009 when he was selected for the U-17 Japan national team to participate in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. During the tournament, he played in two matches as a substitute.
4. Playing style and characteristics
Keijiro Ogawa is a versatile player who primarily operates as a forward, often playing as a second striker (ST) or winger (WG). He can also be deployed as a midfielder, specifically as a side half (SH) or wing-back (WB). He is right-footed.
Known for his high work rate and tireless running, Ogawa earned the nickname "Human Locomotive" (人間機関車Ningen KikanshaJapanese) early in his career. His physical attributes are highlighted by his remarkable sprint count; in a 2015 J1 League match, he recorded 47 sprints, a season high at the time, according to the league's tracking system. His nickname in the K League was simply "Keijiro."
5. Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Vissel Kobe | 2010 | J1 League | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 16 | 2 | |||
| 2011 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 13 | 0 | |||||
| 2012 | 28 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 9 | |||||
| 2013 | J2 League | 39 | 16 | - | 1 | 0 | - | - | 40 | 16 | |||||
| 2014 | J1 League | 26 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 32 | 5 | ||||
| 2015 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 26 | 4 | |||||
| 2016 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 1 | |||||
| 2017 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 33 | 2 | |||||
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 12 | 0 | |||||
| 2019 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 | - | - | 35 | 8 | |||||
| 2020 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 1 | ||||
| Shonan Bellmare (loan) | 2018 | J1 League | 13 | 0 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 14 | 1 | ||||
| Yokohama FC | 2021 | J1 League | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 1 | |||
| 2023 | J1 League | 24 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 29 | 0 | ||||
| 2024 | J2 League | 34 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 7 | ||||
| Western Sydney Wanderers (loan) | 2022 | A-League Men | 26 | 2 | - | 3 | 0 | - | - | 29 | 2 | ||||
| FC Seoul (loan) | 2022 | K League 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 12 | 0 | |||
| Career Total | 360 | 55 | 46 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 428 | 59 | |||
6. Honours
Keijiro Ogawa has achieved several team and individual honors throughout his career.
Team
- Prince League Kansai: 2009 (with Vissel Kobe U-18)
- J. League Cup: 2018 (with Shonan Bellmare)
- Emperor's Cup: 2019 (with Vissel Kobe)
- Japanese Super Cup: 2020 (with Vissel Kobe)
Individual
- J2 League Monthly MVP: September 2013
7. Personal life
Keijiro Ogawa's cousin is MAINA (born Ogawa Maina), who is the leader and vocalist of the musical group Osaka☆Shunkashuto. MAINA has publicly acknowledged their relation, mentioning that their connection led to her group performing at Vissel Kobe's Noevir Stadium Kobe.
On March 22, 2017, Keijiro Ogawa announced his marriage to a woman not in the public eye.