1. Overview
Kohei Uchida (内田 航平Uchida KōheiJapanese, born May 19, 1993) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Hailing from Honjo, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Uchida's early football development began with local youth clubs before he joined Shochi Fukaya High School. He embarked on his professional career in 2012 with Mito HollyHock and subsequently transferred to Tokushima Vortis in 2018, where he continues to play. Throughout his career, Uchida has earned recognition for his midfield play, including a call-up to the U-22 Japan national team and a J2 League title victory with Tokushima Vortis in 2020. Beyond the pitch, he contributes to his hometown as a Public Relations and Tourism Ambassador for Honjo City.
2. Early Life and Youth Career
Kohei Uchida's formative years were characterized by his immersion in youth football and his educational pursuits, which collectively shaped his path toward a professional career in the sport.
2.1. Childhood and Education
Born on May 19, 1993, in Honjo City, within Saitama Prefecture, Kohei Uchida began his journey in football at a young age. During his elementary and junior high school years, he honed his skills while playing for youth football clubs such as Sumire FC Junior and FC Coruja. His development continued when he attended Shochi Fukaya High School. Although his high school team did not achieve a national tournament appearance, Uchida's talent was recognized beyond his local competitions, leading to his selection for the U-17 Kanto selection, a regional representative team comprising promising young players. Physically, Uchida stands at a height of 69 in (175 cm) and weighs 152 lb (69 kg). He has A blood type and is primarily right-footed.
3. Professional Career
Kohei Uchida's professional football career commenced in 2012, marked by significant periods at two prominent Japanese clubs and a stint in the national youth team.
3.1. Club Career
Uchida's professional journey began when he signed with Mito HollyHock, a club competing in the J2 League, during the winter transfer window of 2011-2012. He made his official J.League debut on April 8, 2012, participating in a J2 match against JEF United Chiba held at K's Denki Stadium Mito. Over his six-season tenure with Mito HollyHock, spanning from 2012 to 2017, he established himself as a consistent performer, accumulating 150 league appearances and scoring 4 goals. His first goal in the J.League was recorded on May 18, 2014, during a J2 match against Kyoto Sanga FC, also played at K's Denki Stadium Mito. Between July 2014 and 2015, Uchida was also chosen to be part of the J.League Under-22 Selection, a special squad formed to provide game experience for young talents within the league.
In 2018, Kohei Uchida made a permanent transfer to Tokushima Vortis, another team in the J2 League. Since joining Tokushima Vortis, he has continued to be a valuable asset in midfield, contributing significantly to the team's strategies and performances. As of early 2025, he has played in 125 league matches for Tokushima Vortis, scoring 8 goals.
3.2. National Team Career
Kohei Uchida's consistent performances at the club level led to his recognition by the national team setup. In 2015, he received a call-up to the U-22 Japan national team. This selection was part of the squad's preparation and efforts to secure qualification for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics football tournament, highlighting his potential as a future national team player.
4. Statistics
This section provides a detailed overview of Kohei Uchida's career statistics, encompassing his appearances and goals across various club competitions.
4.1. Club Statistics
Updated as of February 7, 2025
| Club performance | League | Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup / League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 2012 | Mito HollyHock | J2 League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |||
| 2014 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 1 | |||
| 2015 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2016 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 1 | |||
| 2017 | J2 League | 36 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | ||
| 2018 | Tokushima Vortis | J2 League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019 | J2 League | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | ||
| 2020 | J2 League | 38 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 1 | ||
| 2021 | J1 League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | J2 League | 38 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 4 | ||
| 2023 | J2 League | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| 2024 | J2 League | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| 2025 | J2 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 275 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 286 | 12 | |||
5. Awards and Achievements
Throughout his football career, Kohei Uchida has achieved one significant team title.
- J2 League
- Winner: 2020 (with Tokushima Vortis)
6. Other Activities
Beyond his role as a professional footballer, Kohei Uchida is actively involved in community initiatives related to his hometown. In 2017, he was appointed as a Public Relations and Tourism Ambassador for Honjo City, located in Saitama Prefecture. In this capacity, he plays a part in promoting his birthplace and contributing to its public image and tourism efforts.
7. See also
- List of Mito HollyHock players
- List of Tokushima Vortis players