1. Early life and youth career
Masaru Akiba was born on February 19, 1984, in Kaminoyama, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. His interest in football was significantly influenced by his elder brother, prompting him to start playing the sport. Akiba began his formal football training at the age of seven, in his second year of elementary school, by joining the Nishiichi Soccer Sports Youth Club.
Driven by a desire to become a professional footballer, and following a recommendation from his school's football coach, Akiba joined the Montedio Yamagata youth team in 1999. He played for the youth team until 2001, attending Yamagata Prefectural Kaminoyama Meishinkan High School during this period. He was the second player from Montedio Yamagata's youth system to be promoted to the top team, a notable achievement for the club's development program.
2. Playing career
Masaru Akiba's professional career spanned over a decade, predominantly with Montedio Yamagata, before moving to other clubs.
2.1. Montedio Yamagata
Akiba was promoted from the Montedio Yamagata youth team to the senior squad in 2002. He made his professional debut on April 24, 2002, in a J2 League match against Yokohama FC held at Yamagata Prefectural総合運動公園 (Yamagata Prefectural General Sports Park Athletics Stadium). His first league goal came on June 26, 2004, at the same venue, against Shonan Bellmare in a J2 League fixture.
During his initial seasons, Akiba played many matches as a defensive midfielder, gradually establishing himself and becoming a regular starter for the team by 2006. He remained a key player for Montedio Yamagata for a significant period, contributing to the club's fortunes.
Montedio Yamagata achieved its first promotion to the J1 League at the end of the 2008 season, finishing second in the J2 League. However, the club's performance in J1 was challenging, and they were relegated back to J2 at the conclusion of the 2011 season. Akiba continued to play a central role, helping Montedio secure another promotion to J1 in the 2014 season after finishing sixth and reaching the play-offs. Additionally, Montedio Yamagata was the runner-up in the 2014 Emperor's Cup that same year.
Throughout his long tenure at Montedio Yamagata, Akiba faced some injuries. In October 2008, he sustained a right knee injury that required approximately three weeks for recovery. Later, in August 2013, he was diagnosed with a right adductor muscle strain, also requiring about three weeks for rehabilitation. He departed Montedio Yamagata in 2015, just before their next J1 season, having played for the club for 13 years.
2.2. Later career
Following his extensive time at Montedio Yamagata, Akiba moved to other clubs in the J.League. In 2015, he joined Zweigen Kanazawa, a newly promoted J2 League club, on a loan spell. During his time at Zweigen Kanazawa, he continued to be a regular player, reaching a notable milestone on August 1, 2015, when he made his 300th career appearance in the J2 League in a match against Mito HollyHock. This made him the 21st player in J2 League history to achieve this feat.
In 2016, Akiba transferred to FC Gifu, another club in the J2 League. However, his stint at FC Gifu was brief, as he played in only one match before re-joining Zweigen Kanazawa on loan in July of the same year. He played frequently for Zweigen Kanazawa during the latter half of the 2016 season. At the end of the season, he made a full transfer to Zweigen Kanazawa.
Akiba played less frequently in the 2017 season. His contract with Zweigen Kanazawa expired on November 17, 2017, leading to his departure from the club. In December 2017, he participated in the J.League joint tryout, hoping to find a new team, but ultimately he did not secure another professional contract.
3. Retirement and post-playing career
In January 2018, Masaru Akiba officially announced his retirement from professional football. Concurrently with his retirement announcement, it was also revealed that he would be taking on a new role as an academy coach for his former club, Montedio Yamagata. This marked a return to the club where he spent the majority of his playing career, transitioning into a developmental role for aspiring young footballers.
4. Club statistics
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 2002 | Montedio Yamagata | J2 League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 7 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 18 | 0 | |||
| 2004 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 33 | 1 | |||
| 2005 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 12 | 1 | |||
| 2006 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | 32 | 2 | |||
| 2007 | 43 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | 45 | 3 | |||
| 2008 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | 32 | 5 | |||
| 2009 | J1 League | 31 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 39 | 3 | |
| 2010 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 32 | 3 | ||
| 2011 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 1 | ||
| 2012 | J2 League | 41 | 8 | 2 | 0 | - | 43 | 8 | ||
| 2013 | 34 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | 36 | 3 | |||
| 2014 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 27 | 1 | |||
| Total | 360 | 28 | 17 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 389 | 31 | ||
| 2015 | Zweigen Kanazawa | J2 League | 42 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | 43 | 2 | |
| Total | 42 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | 43 | 2 | |||
| 2016 | FC Gifu | J2 League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2016 | Zweigen Kanazawa | J2 League | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 17 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 21 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 424 | 30 | 18 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 454 | 33 | ||
Other official matches:
- 2016: J2/J3 Play-offs - 2 appearances, 0 goals
5. Legacy and impact
Masaru Akiba's legacy extends beyond his on-field performance, encompassing his dedication to the sport and his community involvement. As a player, he was known for his long-standing commitment to Montedio Yamagata, serving as a pillar for the club through both promotions and relegations. His consistency and leadership contributed significantly to the team's stability and development over more than a decade.
Demonstrating a broader commitment to the football community, Akiba was a co-founder of the 'J-League Players with Tohoku Spirit' (東北人魂を持つJ選手の会Tōhokujin Damashii o Motsu J-senshu no KaiJapanese) organization. This initiative, established by J.League players from the Tōhoku region of Japan, aims to support the region's recovery and foster community spirit, particularly after significant events like the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. His involvement in such an organization highlights his dedication to leveraging the platform of professional football for social good, contributing to the well-being and revitalization of the communities he represented.