Masayuki Okano

2.1. Birth and Family Background

Masayuki Okano was born on July 25, 1972, in Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. His family includes notable figures; his grandfather was Teshima Yūkei (手島右卿_{Teshima Yūkei}^Japanese), a renowned calligrapher and recipient of Japan's Order of Cultural Merit. His uncle is Okada Kōmyō (岡田晃弥_{Okada Kōmyō}^Japanese), who serves as the president of Sukyo Mahikari, a spiritual organization. Okano attended Yokohama City Komabayashi Elementary School and Yokohama City Hiyoshidai Nishi Junior High School.

2.2. High School and University

After graduating from junior high school, Okano expressed a strong desire to study soccer in Brazil. However, his family opposed this idea. Instead, following the advice of a relative, he enrolled in Matsue Nihon University High School (now Rissho University Shonan High School), a boarding school located in Matsue City. At the time, the school did not have a soccer club. Okano took the initiative to establish the team from scratch, and under his efforts, it grew to become one of the top three teams in Shimane Prefecture.

He later gained admission to Nihon University on a general sports recommendation, not specifically for soccer. Upon entering the university, he joined its soccer club, which was then competing in the second division. Initially, Okano's role in the club was primarily that of a utility player, focusing on various chores and managing the soccer team's dormitory life, which often meant he could not fully attend university classes. His breakthrough came during his first year when coach Hiroaki Nagashima selected him for the Emperor's Cup qualifiers.

Before this, Okano's playing style revolved around being a midfielder who supplied balls to the forward line. However, a significant turning point occurred when he trained with members of the university's track and field team. Despite wearing large basketball shoes, he recorded an astonishing 10.7 seconds in a 100-meter dash, surpassing the track athletes. This remarkable display of speed prompted him to fundamentally change his playing style, focusing on utilizing his explosive pace.

During these qualifiers, Okano had the opportunity to play against Sumitomo Metal Soccer Club, the predecessor to Kashima Antlers, which featured the legendary player Zico. Nihon University initially led 3-0 at halftime, but Sumitomo Metal, alarmed by the deficit against a university team, brought Zico into the game at the start of the second half. Ultimately, Nihon University lost the match 4-5.

While studying, Okano also worked part-time at an izakaya during the evenings to support himself. In 1993, despite a humorous incident where he "forgot about the match and drank until morning," Okano delivered a standout performance in an Emperor's Cup Kanto regional qualifier against the formidable University of Tsukuba team, which included future professional players like Go Oiwa, Shigeyoshi Mochizuki, and Toshiya Fujita. He scored two goals, including a memorable solo effort where he dribbled past five opponents, leading his team to victory. This performance attracted attention from six J.League clubs, including Kashima Antlers, Kashiwa Reysol, Gamba Osaka, and Urawa Red Diamonds. Okano chose Urawa Reds, citing their "most enthusiastic" approach and their appeal for him to "quit university and come." Consequently, he left Nihon University after three years to join Urawa Reds. He joined the club alongside other notable players such as Nobuhisa Yamada, Ken Iwase, and Koichi Sugiyama.

3.1. Urawa Reds

Okano joined Urawa Red Diamonds in 1994, marking the beginning of his professional career. In his debut season in the J.League, he played in 35 matches and scored 3 goals. His contributions grew significantly, and in 1996, he achieved a career-high of 11 goals, including successful penalty kicks. His outstanding performance that year earned him a spot in the J.League Best XI and the newly established J.League Fair Play Award. In 1999, Okano participated in a training stint with Ajax in the Netherlands, returning to Japan in June of that year.

During the early part of the 2001 season, Okano found his playing opportunities significantly reduced under manager Milton Queiroz da Paixão, often being left out of the squad from the fifth match onwards. He later returned to Urawa Reds for a second stint in 2004. This period proved highly successful for the club. Urawa Reds won the J1 League championship in 2006, along with consecutive Emperor's Cup titles in 2005 and 2006. They also secured the Japanese Super Cup in 2006 and, notably, the 2007 AFC Champions League title. In the 2007 Emperor's Cup final, Okano came on as a substitute and provided the assist for Yuichiro Nagai's winning goal, contributing to the club's back-to-back Emperor's Cup victories. On October 26, 2008, in a match against Albirex Niigata, Okano made his 300th J1 League appearance, entering as a substitute in injury time. However, as the club began to prioritize youth development, Okano's contract, along with that of long-serving teammate Hideki Uchidate, was terminated on November 26, 2008.

3.2. Vissel Kobe

In September 2001, Okano moved to Vissel Kobe on a loan deal, which was subsequently made permanent in December 2002. During his time at Vissel Kobe until 2003, he transitioned to playing primarily as a midfielder. He made a total of 74 appearances for the club, scoring 5 goals.

3.3. TSW Pegasus

Following his departure from Urawa Reds, Okano moved to Hong Kong in February 2009, joining TSW Pegasus in the Hong Kong First Division League. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first goal for the club in his debut match on February 7. He remained with TSW Pegasus until June 2009, when he left the club after the conclusion of the league season. During his tenure, he played 14 matches and scored 1 goal.

3.4. Gainare Tottori

In July 2009, Okano returned to Japan and signed with Gainare Tottori, a club then competing in the Japan Football League. He played a significant role in the team's success, helping them win the Japan Football League championship in 2010, which secured their promotion to the J2 League. Okano continued to play for Gainare Tottori until the end of the 2013 season, when he announced his retirement from professional football. He made 69 appearances for Gainare Tottori, scoring 1 goal.

4.1. Senior National Team Debut and Early Appearances

Masayuki Okano was first called up to the Japan national team in January 1995 for the 1995 King Fahd Cup (now known as the FIFA Confederations Cup). Although he was part of the squad, he did not feature in any matches during the tournament. His official international debut came on September 20, 1995, in a friendly match against Paraguay. In 1996, he participated in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup. Okano scored his first international goal on August 25, 1996, in a friendly match against Uruguay.

4.2. 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification

Okano played a crucial role in Japan's qualification campaign for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Despite not playing in the earlier stages of the final qualifiers, he was brought on as a substitute at the start of extra time in the decisive play-off match against Iran. This match, famously known as the Joy of Johor Bahru, saw Japan and Iran locked in a 2-2 draw. Despite missing several clear-cut opportunities, including a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper, Okano ultimately scored the decisive golden goal in the 13th minute of extra time. This historic goal secured Japan's first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup finals, making him a celebrated figure in Japanese football. Following his heroics, in January 1998, Mitsubishi Motors, the principal shareholder of Urawa Reds, presented Okano with a Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, a vehicle he had expressed a desire for.

4.3. 1998 FIFA World Cup and Later Appearances

Okano was selected for the Japan squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. He made one appearance in the tournament, coming on as a substitute for 29 minutes in the group stage match against Croatia. His final international appearances for Japan came in 1999, including participation in the 1999 Copa América. In total, Okano played 25 matches and scored 2 goals for the Japan national team between 1995 and 1999.

6.1. Club Statistics

6.2. International Statistics

List of international goals scored by Masayuki Okano

7.1. Club Honors

Urawa Red Diamonds

• AFC Champions League: 2007
• J1 League: 2006
• J1 League 2nd Stage: 2004
• Emperor's Cup: 2005, 2006
• Japanese Super Cup: 2006

Gainare Tottori

• Japan Football League: 2010

7.2. Individual Honors

• J.League Best XI: 1996
• J.League Fair Play Award: 1996
• J.League Meritorious Player Award: 2014
• Sainokuni Special Meritorious Service Award: 1997

7.3. Other Awards

• Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time)

9.1. Media Adaptations

Masayuki Okano's unique life experiences, particularly his high school years, have garnered media attention and inspired dramatic adaptations. On December 11, 2017, he appeared on the TV Asahi program "Gekirea-san wo Tsuretekita." During the show, he recounted his extraordinary high school story: how he, with no prior soccer experience, established a soccer club composed primarily of "yankees" (delinquents) at his boarding school, which previously lacked a team. Against all odds, he transformed this unconventional group into a formidable team that became one of the strongest in Shimane Prefecture, a narrative reminiscent of the popular manga and drama series "Rookies". This compelling true story resonated deeply with audiences and was subsequently adapted into a television drama titled "Gekiatsu!! Yankee Soccer Club" (激アツ!! ヤンキーサッカー部^Japanese), starring Ryusei Ryo, which aired in September 2018.

Okano has also authored a book titled "Yajin-den" (野人伝^Japanese), published by Shinchosha in 2009, which delves into his life and career, likely expanding on the experiences that shaped his "Wildman" persona.

His public profile also extended to commercial endorsements. Okano appeared in several television commercials, including those for Suntory's "Dekavita C" between 1996 and 1998, co-starring with fellow Japanese football legends Kazuyoshi Miura and Shoji Jo. He also featured in a 1998 commercial for Mitsubishi Motors' "Challenger" vehicle and appeared in advertisements for Nakai Cable Television.