1. Overview
Masaki Kinoshita (木下 正貴Kinoshita MasakiJapanese, born June 22, 1989) is a former Japanese professional football player who played as a goalkeeper. His career spanned several clubs in Japan, including Gamba Osaka, Roasso Kumamoto, Ventforet Kofu, and AC Nagano Parceiro. After retiring from professional football, Kinoshita transitioned into the food industry and took on an organizational role representing CLUBSTORY, a general incorporated association.
2. Early Life and Youth Career
Masaki Kinoshita's early life and formative years in football were rooted in Hyōgo Prefecture, where he developed his skills alongside his brother and future professional footballers.
2.1. Birth and Family
Masaki Kinoshita was born on June 22, 1989, in Mitsu-cho, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, which is now part of Tatsuno City. He began playing football in Mitsu-cho, alongside his elder brother, Shingo Kinoshita, who also became a professional footballer, and their classmate, Yosuke Kashiwagi.
q=Tatsuno, Hyogo Prefecture|position=right
2.2. Education and Youth Clubs
Kinoshita attended local elementary and junior high schools in Mitsu-cho. From 2002 to 2004, he played for Mitsu Junior High School. In 2005, he joined the Gamba Osaka youth academy while attending Koyo-dai High School. He quickly established himself as the starting goalkeeper from his first year with the youth team. His talent was recognized early, and by 2007, he was already accompanying Gamba Osaka's top team as a youth player.
3. Professional Career
Masaki Kinoshita's professional career saw him move through various Japanese football leagues, from the top-tier J1 League to the J2 League and the JFL.
3.1. Gamba Osaka
Kinoshita was promoted to the Gamba Osaka top team in 2008, alongside Kota Yasuda. Despite his promotion, he did not make any appearances in the J1 League during his initial year with the senior squad.
3.2. Roasso Kumamoto
In 2009, Kinoshita was sent on a loan to Roasso Kumamoto, a club in the J2 League. During his loan spell, he made 22 appearances in the J2 League. His performance led to a permanent transfer to Roasso Kumamoto in 2010. However, after the arrival of Yuta Minami, Kinoshita lost his starting position and did not make any appearances in the 2010 season. In 2011, his position further declined, becoming the third-choice goalkeeper behind Fumiya Iwamaru, and he again made no appearances.
3.3. Ventforet Kofu
In 2012, Kinoshita moved to Ventforet Kofu on a permanent transfer. Despite the move, his opportunities remained limited as Kota Ogi played every match for the club that season. Consequently, Kinoshita did not make any appearances for Ventforet Kofu and departed the club at the end of the 2012 season.
3.4. AC Nagano Parceiro
Kinoshita's final professional club was AC Nagano Parceiro, which played in the JFL at the time. He joined the club on a permanent transfer in 2013. Similar to his previous stints, he did not make any appearances for AC Nagano Parceiro during the 2013 season. Following the conclusion of the season, Kinoshita left the club and subsequently announced his retirement from professional football.
4. Career Statistics
Masaki Kinoshita's professional career statistics are detailed below, encompassing his appearances and goals across various domestic leagues and cup competitions in Japan.
| Club performance | League | Emperor's Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 2008 | Gamba Osaka | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009 | Roasso Kumamoto | J2 League | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2012 | Ventforet Kofu | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2013 | AC Nagano Parceiro | JFL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | League | Emperor's Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||||
| J1 League total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| J2 League total | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||||
| JFL total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Grand total | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |||
- J.League debut: June 21, 2009, J2 League 22nd match, vs. Tochigi SC at Kumamoto City Suizenji Stadium.
5. National Team Career
Masaki Kinoshita represented Japan at various youth international levels, showcasing his potential from an early age.
He was selected for:
- The U-15 Japan national team.
- The U-16 Japan national team.
- The U-17 Japan national team.
6. Titles and Achievements
Throughout his career, Masaki Kinoshita contributed to several team successes, securing titles at both the youth and senior levels.
Gamba Osaka Youth
- Japan Club Youth Football Championship (U-18): 2006, 2007
Gamba Osaka
- Emperor's Cup: 2008
- AFC Champions League: 2008
- Pan-Pacific Championship: 2008
AC Nagano Parceiro
- Nagano Prefecture Football Championship: 2013
7. Post-retirement Activities
After retiring from professional football at the end of the 2013 season, Masaki Kinoshita embarked on a new career path outside of sports. He ventured into the food industry. Additionally, he took on a significant organizational role, serving as the representative of CLUBSTORY, a general incorporated association.