Michel Miyazawa

2.1. Birth and family

Michel Miyazawa was born on July 14, 1963, in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His father was Dédé Montmartre, a French chromatic accordionist whose birth name was André Regent. His mother was Japanese; they met when Miyazawa's father was on a performing tour in Japan, and he subsequently settled in Japan after their marriage. Michel Miyazawa is married and has two sons and one daughter. His elder son, Yuki Miyazawa, has followed in his father's footsteps and is also a professional footballer. His daughter, Seira Miyazawa, has pursued a career as a model and television personality and is a former member of the popular idol group Nogizaka46.

2.2. Childhood and education

Miyazawa was raised in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, where he began playing football in elementary school. From 1979 to 1981, he attended Chiba Prefectural Ichihara Midori High School. During his time there, he played under the guidance of coach Yuichiro Honda, who advocated for a fast-paced style of football. Honda frequently utilized the technically proficient Miyazawa as a centre forward. Despite his early aptitude for football, Miyazawa was notably poor at swimming, to the extent that he never qualified for a substitute position in any swimming competitions. After graduating from high school, he continued his education at Kokushikan University from 1982 to 1985.

2.3. Nationality acquisition

During his youth, Miyazawa faced a decision regarding his nationality, as he had not yet acquired Japanese citizenship and was eligible for both Japanese and French nationalities. In 1981, while still a minor, he achieved a notable distinction by participating in the Biwako National Sports Festival, making history as the first foreign-born player to do so. He officially obtained Japanese nationality in January 1993. Upon acquiring Japanese citizenship, he initially registered his name as Michel Miyazawa, adopting his mother's surname. Later, he adjusted his name to Miyazawa Michel, a pronunciation closer to the French reading of his first name. His father, despite residing permanently in Japan, reportedly made little effort to integrate into Japanese culture, learning only basic greetings and never adopting Japanese culinary habits. In contrast, Miyazawa, having been born and raised exclusively in Japan, is fluent only in Japanese.

3.1. Club career

After completing his university education, Miyazawa joined Fujita Industries, a club competing in the Japan Soccer League (JSL), in 1986. He quickly established himself as a regular starter at centre back from his inaugural season. During his tenure with Fujita Industries, the club achieved a runner-up finish in the prestigious Emperor's Cup in 1988. He accumulated 131 appearances and scored 4 goals for the club before his departure.
In 1992, Miyazawa transferred to JEF United Ichihara, a team based in his home prefecture of Chiba. At JEF United Ichihara, he played a crucial role as a sweeper, characterized by his technical proficiency and strong ability to initiate attacks and distribute the ball from the back. Although he featured prominently as a center-back, his playing opportunities gradually decreased in 1995. Consequently, Miyazawa decided to retire from professional football at the conclusion of the 1995 J.League season. He played 58 matches and scored 2 goals for JEF United Ichihara, bringing his career totals to 189 appearances and 6 goals across all league competitions.

3.2. National team activities

In April 1994, Michel Miyazawa was named as a candidate for the Japan national football team by then-manager Paulo Roberto Falcão, making him one of the first players selected under Falcão's leadership. However, Miyazawa was forced to withdraw from the training camp due to an injury and was subsequently not included in the final national team squad announced in May of the same year. According to an anecdote, when Miyazawa inquired about the reason for his initial selection, Falcão simply stated it was "because he is left-footed." This was later interpreted by football commentators Yasuo Kurashiki and Hideki Koki as an acknowledgement of Miyazawa's valuable attributes as a left-footed center-back with strong distribution capabilities.

3.3. Career statistics

Michel Miyazawa's professional playing statistics are detailed below, encompassing his appearances and goals in league, cup, and league cup competitions throughout his career in Japan.

4.1. Commentator and coach

After concluding his playing career, Miyazawa became a prominent football commentator, lending his expertise to various media outlets. He was a regular fixture on NHK's J.League broadcasts, including programs such as J.League Time and Saturday Sports. His commentary extended to major international tournaments, where he provided analysis for NHK's coverage of the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. He also contributed to regional NHK programming, notably with the "Michel ga Kiru" segment on NHK Niigata's Niigata News 610. Beyond NHK, Miyazawa provided commentary for satellite television programs like BS Japan's Soccer TV Wide and WOWOW's extensive coverage of La Liga, including Liga Digest!.
Concurrently with his media work, Miyazawa dedicated himself to coaching and youth development within football. He served as a coach at Teikyo High School and actively participated in youth football clinics, guiding aspiring young players. From 2006 to 2009, he played a crucial supervisory role for Zweigen Kanazawa, a football club that was actively working towards joining the J.League, supporting its establishment and growth during its formative years.

4.2. Public service activities

Demonstrating a commitment to civic engagement and community welfare, Michel Miyazawa expanded his public service beyond the realm of football. Since 2010, he has been a member of the Urayasu City Board of Education in Chiba Prefecture. This role highlights his dedication to educational initiatives and broader community development within his local area.

5.1. Discography

Michel Miyazawa released a single music work titled "RAIN OR SHINE" on January 19, 1994. This release was credited under the name "Michel Miyazawa".

5.2. Broadcast appearances

Miyazawa has had a significant presence in television and radio as a commentator, host, and occasionally as an actor.

• Television:**
  • NHK Football Commentary (including J.League broadcasts, J.League Time, and Saturday Sports)
  • NHK Niigata Broadcasting Station's Niigata News 610 segment "Michel ga Kiru"
  • BS Japan Soccer TV Wide (football commentary)
  • 2004 Athens Olympics Japan Consortium (football commentary)
  • Chiba Television Broadcasting Monthly JEF Kura (host)
  • TV-U Fukushima Gakko ga Suki! (host)
  • Tsure ga Utsu ni Narimashite. (NHK drama, where he played the role of Harada Taizo's boss)
  • WOWOW La Liga (football commentary)
  • WOWOW Liga Digest! (commentary)
  • TwellV Railway Photography Story: A Journey on One Photo (Episodes 16 & 17, co-starring with Masakuni Yamamoto in a railway photography challenge)
  • Chiba Television Broadcasting Business Flash 2nd Stage and later Business Vision (MC)
• Radio:**
  • Various local AM radio stations, Honoo no Kick-off (personality)
  • Asahi Broadcasting Radio Totsugeki!! Offside Talk (personality)
  • Various local AM radio stations, Miyazawa Michel Soccer Club (personality)
  • Shizuoka Broadcasting Radio Miyazawa Michel's Sports Navi (personality, broadcast Saturdays from 15:00-17:00)

5.3. Other activities and appearances

Beyond his regular media and coaching roles, Miyazawa has also participated in commercials and special events.

• Commercials:** He appeared in a commercial for Hakugen's "Waiper One" product.
• Events:** He was a speaker at the "Breakthrough Mentality: The fear of mentality! Those who survive and those who leave the ground" event ( 神藤啓司のアスリートメンタリティ研究会_{Keiji Shindo's Athlete Mentality Research Group}^Japanese on April 15, 2011).