Masami Ihara

3.1. Club career

Ihara began his professional club career in 1990, joining Nissan Motors (later known as Yokohama F. Marinos). Initially, he briefly played as a defensive midfielder, but he soon settled into his signature role as a defender. He quickly rose through the ranks at Nissan Motors, establishing himself as a key player. During his tenure with Nissan Motors/Yokohama Marinos, he formed a crucial defensive partnership with the energetic Tsuyoshi Kitazawa. His consistent high performance and long service to the club led Japanese fans to affectionately nickname him "Mister Marinos," a testament to his importance to the team.

Ihara played a vital role in the club's success, contributing to back-to-back Emperor's Cup victories in 1991 and 1992, as well as winning the Asian Cup Winners' Cup in the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. On May 15, 1993, he made his J1 League debut in the inaugural J.League match against Verdy Kawasaki. On May 29 of the same year, he recorded the J.League's first-ever own goal in a match against JEF United Ichihara. His first J.League goal came on May 4, 1994, against Verdy Kawasaki. In 1995, Ihara was instrumental in Yokohama Marinos winning their first J.League championship, scoring a decisive diving header in the second leg of the J.League Championship against Verdy Kawasaki. He also helped to bring on talented youngsters like future national team goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi and midfield maestro Shunsuke Nakamura. He was consistently recognized for his excellence, being selected for the J.League Best XI for six consecutive years, from the 1991-92 Japan Soccer League season to the 1997 J.League season. He was also later named to the J.League 30th Anniversary Best Eleven. Over his 10 seasons with Nissan Motors/Yokohama F. Marinos, he played 267 league matches, scoring 5 goals.

After his long and impactful spell with Marinos, Ihara's contract was not extended, and he declined an offer to join the coaching staff. In 2000, he moved to Júbilo Iwata for one season, where he played 20 league games and scored 1 goal. With Júbilo Iwata, he won the Japanese Super Cup in 2000. From 2001 to 2002, he spent his final two professional seasons with Urawa Reds, reuniting with former national teammate Masahiro Fukuda. He scored his last career goal on May 19, 2001, in a match against Gamba Osaka. In 2002, he was a key figure for Urawa Reds, who went on a nine-match unbeaten run in the second stage, reaching the J.League Cup final, though they ultimately lost to Kashima Antlers. Ihara retired from professional football at the end of the 2002 season, playing his final match against his former club, Yokohama F. Marinos. In total, he played 341 league games, scoring 7 goals throughout his club career. An official retirement match was held for him at the National Stadium on January 4, 2004.

3.2. International career

Masami Ihara had an extensive and highly impactful international career with the Japan national team, earning 122 caps and scoring 5 goals between 1988 and 1999. He debuted on January 27, 1988, against the United Arab Emirates, while still a student at Tsukuba University. From that point, he became a regular fixture in the national team.

His early international career included participation in the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification and the 1990 Asian Games, neither of which saw Japan qualify or achieve significant success. However, 1992 marked a turning point when Japan, with Ihara as a key defender, won the 1992 AFC Asian Cup for the first time. In the group stage, he assisted Kazuyoshi Miura's crucial winning goal against Iran, securing Japan's progression to the knockout stage, where they defeated Saudi Arabia in the final.

Ihara experienced the heartbreak of the "Tragedy of Doha" during the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification. Despite scoring his first national team goal on May 5, 1993, against Sri Lanka and playing every match in the qualification campaign, Japan agonizingly missed out on a World Cup spot. Following this disappointment, Ihara was appointed captain of the national team by manager Shu Kamo, a role he held until his final international appearances. He led Japan in subsequent tournaments, including the 1995 King Fahd Cup (now known as the FIFA Confederations Cup) and the 1996 AFC Asian Cup. In 1994, at the Asian Games, he scored a spectacular long-range goal against South Korea in the quarter-finals, temporarily equalizing the score, though Japan ultimately lost.

In 1997, Ihara captained Japan through the challenging 1998 World Cup qualification, leading them to their historic first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance. During this campaign, he assisted Wagner Lopes's crucial equalizer against Uzbekistan in the final moments of their away match. He also scored his last national team goal in the final qualification match against Kazakhstan, a 5-1 victory that secured Japan's spot in the play-off. Japan went on to defeat Iran in the dramatic "Joy of Johor Bahru" play-off match.

At the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, despite suffering an injury shortly before the tournament, Ihara's veteran experience as a sweeper was crucial. He started all three group stage matches as captain, forming a flat back-three defense with Yutaka Akita and either Eisuke Nakanishi or Norio Omura, with Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi as the first-choice goalkeeper. Japan, however, lost all three of their matches to Argentina, Croatia, and Jamaica.

His final international appearances came in 1999, participating in the 1999 Copa América. He played in two group stage matches, receiving a red card in the 83rd minute against Bolivia. Although suspended for the next match, manager Philippe Troussier chose not to recall him afterwards, effectively ending his international career. Ihara's 122 caps were the highest for a Japanese male player until being surpassed by Yasuhito Endo in 2012. He remains the only Japanese player to have scored a goal at the historic Wembley Stadium, which he achieved against England in the 1995 Umbro Cup.

3.3. Playing style and evaluation

Masami Ihara was widely regarded as one of Japan's greatest defenders, earning the enduring nickname "Asia's Wall" for his formidable and impenetrable defensive capabilities. His playing style was characterized by a combination of calm judgment, sharp anticipation, and exceptional ability to dispossess opposing players. He possessed remarkable physical strength, allowing him to maintain his ground even under intense pressure, and was known for rarely receiving yellow or red cards despite his aggressive style of play.

Coaches, teammates, and media consistently praised his defensive prowess. Fellow Japanese international Akihiro Nagashima and Brazilian defender Luis Carlos Pereira, who played in the J.League, both described him as the "best defender" in the league's history. Ihara's defensive excellence often led to comparisons with South Korea's Hong Myung-bo in debates about who was "Asia's best libero."

His enduring legacy is further cemented by his frequent inclusion in various "J.League Best XI" selections over the years. In 2020, in a special series by Soccer Digest, numerous figures including players, coaches, and journalists, selected Ihara for their all-time J.League Best XI. This wide recognition underscores his consistent impact and reputation within Japanese football. Furthermore, Yuuki Abe, a prominent Japanese midfielder, cited Ihara as one of his favorite players during his childhood, highlighting his influence on future generations of footballers.

6.1. Club

Other official matches include:

• 1990: Konica Cup 6 appearances, 0 goals
• 1991: Konica Cup 7 appearances, 0 goals
• 1992: Xerox Champions Cup 1 appearance, 0 goals
• 1995: J.League Championship 2 appearances, 1 goal
• 1996: Sanwa Bank Cup 1 appearance, 0 goals; Xerox Super Cup 1 appearance, 0 goals
• 2000: Xerox Super Cup 1 appearance, 0 goals

Ihara was also selected for the J.League All-Star Soccer 8 times (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002).

6.2. International

6.3. Managerial

Note: Managerial records for Kashiwa Reysol in 2009, 2013, and April 2022 represent caretaker periods. The record for Kashiwa Reysol from May 2023 onwards represents his full managerial tenure.