Koya Tanio

1.1. Birth and Background

Koya Tanio was born on May 29, 1992, in Kawahara Town, Yazu District, Tottori Prefecture, which is now part of Tottori City. His background is rooted in this region of Japan.

1.2. Youth Career

Tanio began his football journey at a young age, playing for Kawahara FC during his time at Kawahara Daiichi Elementary School, followed by Miwa SC while attending Kawahara Junior High School. He then advanced to Yonego Kita High School, where he played from 2008 to 2010. During his second year at Yonego Kita High School, Tanio showcased his scoring prowess by becoming the top scorer in the high school inter-high school championship, netting an impressive 6 goals. His performance at the high school level garnered attention, and he was even anticipated by club executives to potentially be a successor to Chong Tese at Kawasaki Frontale.

2.1. Debut and Early Career

Tanio joined Kawasaki Frontale in 2011, marking his entry into professional football. While he did not make any appearances for Kawasaki Frontale in the J1 League during his initial tenure, he made his J.League debut on August 21, 2013, in a J2 League match (Matchday 30) against Gamba Osaka at Torigin Bird Stadium, during his loan spell with Gainare Tottori.

2.2. Subsequent Club Activities

• Kawasaki Frontale (2011-2013): Tanio spent his first three professional seasons with Kawasaki Frontale, though he did not register any league appearances.
• Gainare Tottori (loan, August-December 2013): In August 2013, Tanio was loaned to Gainare Tottori, a club based in his home prefecture. He made 2 appearances in the J2 League and 1 appearance in the Emperor's Cup during this period.
• Gainare Tottori (permanent, 2014): Following his loan, Tanio made a permanent move to Gainare Tottori in 2014. He played 11 matches in the J3 League but did not score.
• Vonds Ichihara (loan, July-December 2014): In July 2014, Tanio joined Vonds Ichihara on loan. He played 7 matches and scored 1 goal in the Kanto Soccer League Division 1.
• Matsue City FC (2015): In 2015, Tanio transferred to Matsue City FC (now FC Kagura Shimane), then competing in the Chūgoku Soccer League. He became a prolific scorer for the club, making 18 league appearances and scoring 12 goals, while also playing in 2 Emperor's Cup matches, scoring 1 goal. His contributions helped the team win the league championship.
• Saurcos Fukui (2016): Tanio moved to Saurcos Fukui in 2016. He played 10 matches and scored 6 goals in the Hokushinetsu Football League Division 1, along with 1 Emperor's Cup appearance.
• Vanraure Hachinohe (2017-October 2020): In 2017, Tanio transferred to Vanraure Hachinohe, which was then in the JFL.
  • In 2017, he made 21 JFL appearances, scoring 4 goals, and played in 3 Emperor's Cup matches.
  • In 2018, he had a standout season, scoring 10 goals in 24 JFL appearances, making him the team's top scorer. His performance was instrumental in Vanraure Hachinohe achieving a 3rd-place finish and securing promotion to the J3 League.
  • In 2019, he continued his strong form in the J3 League, scoring 8 goals in 34 appearances and playing in 3 Emperor's Cup matches. This season also saw him score his first J.League goal.
  • In 2020, he made 13 J3 League appearances and scored 2 goals before moving mid-season.
• Gainare Tottori (second stint, October 2020-2021): Tanio returned to Gainare Tottori in October 2020 for his second spell with the club. He made 10 J3 League appearances in late 2020 and another 10 appearances in 2021. His contract with Gainare Tottori expired at the end of the 2021 season.
• FC Kagura Shimane (2022): In 2022, Tanio rejoined FC Kagura Shimane (formerly Matsue City FC) after a seven-year absence. He played 26 matches and scored 7 goals in the JFL, also featuring in 1 Emperor's Cup game.
• VONDS Ichihara (second stint, 2023-present): In 2023, Tanio made his second return to VONDS Ichihara after nine years. As of early 2024, he has played 18 matches and scored 5 goals in the Kanto Soccer League Division 1.

2.3. Major Achievements and Highlights

Tanio's career includes several significant achievements:

• In his youth career, he was the top scorer in the high school inter-high school championship with 6 goals during his second year at Yonego Kita High School.
• With Matsue City FC in 2015, he was the league's top scorer with 12 goals, contributing to the team's Chugoku Soccer League championship.
• At Vanraure Hachinohe in 2018, he was the team's leading goal scorer with 10 goals, playing a crucial role in their 3rd-place finish and subsequent promotion to the J3 League.
• He scored his first J.League goal on March 10, 2019, during the opening match of the 2019 J3 League season against Gamba Osaka U-23 at Panasonic Stadium Suita.