Naoya Shibamura

1. Early Life and Youth Career

Naoya Shibamura was born on September 11, 1982, in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. He began his football development at Hiroshima Minami High School, where he played a pivotal role in the team's success. In his second year, he contributed to the school's first-ever championship title at the National High School General Athletics Meet (Inter-High). In the final match against Chiba Prefectural Yachiyo High School, Shibamura scored the crucial equalizer, leading to a 3-3 draw after extra time, resulting in a historic joint championship. During his time at Hiroshima Minami High School, his seniors included Daisuke Asahi, Akihito Seto, and Kenji Hata, and his classmates included Kento Hori.

Shibamura also represented Hiroshima Prefecture in national competitions. As a member of the Hiroshima Prefectural selection, he achieved third place at the 1999 Kumamoto National Sports Festival, playing alongside future professional footballers such as Kazuyuki Morisaki, Koji Morisaki, and Yuichi Komano. The following year, he participated in the 2000 Toyama National Sports Festival, where his team finished fifth. He also competed in the National High School Soccer Championship in 2000, though his team was eliminated in the second round by Tohoku High School.

Following high school, Shibamura attended Chuo University. In his second year, he helped the university team win the Kanto University League Division 2 title, playing alongside Kengo Nakamura. Operating as a libero, he was instrumental in establishing a robust defense that conceded the fewest goals in the league. He also contributed offensively, scoring three goals, including a crucial opening goal from a header off Nakamura's free kick in the final match. His performance earned him a spot in the league's Best Eleven. Throughout his youth career, Shibamura developed a reputation as a diligent and hardworking player, earning him the nickname "Shei" (シェイ^Japanese).

2. Professional Career

Naoya Shibamura's professional career began in Asia before taking him to Europe and Central Asia, eventually leading to his return to Japanese football.

3. Achievements and Honours

Naoya Shibamura's professional career is marked by several significant team titles and personal milestones across various countries.

FK Ventspils

• Latvian Higher League: 2011
• Latvian Cup: 2010-11

Other Achievements

• Baltic League Runner-up: 2011
• Uzbekistan Cup Third Place: 2012 (with FK Buxoro)
• First Japanese player in Uzbekistan (with Pakhtakor Tashkent)

4. Playing Style and Social Contributions

Naoya Shibamura was known for his diligent and hardworking playing style, often described as a "workman" (仕事人_Shi-gotonin^Japanese) on the field. His tireless effort and commitment were central to his reputation as a "hardship-enduring person" who achieved his dreams through perseverance. Physically, he was noted for his unusually thick calves, which even led to the formation of a humorous "Fukura-kai" (Calf Club) with teammates Yasunori Hoshino and Seiji Kaneko during his time at Avispa Fukuoka. Shibamura is 70 in ^{(179 cm)} tall and weighs 172 lb ^{(78 kg)}.

Beyond his on-field contributions, Shibamura was actively involved in various social and media endeavors. While at Gainare Tottori, he hosted his own radio program, "GAINARE TOTTORI WEEKLY INFORMATION," on FM Tottori from March 2009 to July 2010, which he later passed on to teammate Atsushi Mio after his transfer to Fujieda MYFC. He also became the first active player to maintain a personal column on Yahoo! Japan, showcasing his exceptional writing skills. One of his notable articles relayed the impact of the 2014 Crimean crisis from the perspective of Ukrainian players, which garnered significant attention.

Shibamura was a strong advocate for social causes. In 2010, he collaborated with the futsal brand SPAZIO to design and produce original charity T-shirts, with proceeds dedicated to sending vaccines to Africa. In December 2010, he made a special appearance at an Emperor's Cup quarter-final match between Avispa Fukuoka and FC Tokyo at Kumagaya Sports Culture Park Athletic Stadium, addressing Avispa supporters at halftime with a message of gratitude. He maintained a humble demeanor and engaged respectfully with fans, earning him enduring support even after leaving clubs. When he transferred from Avispa Fukuoka to Tokushima Vortis, his blog received over 100 supportive comments, reflecting his popularity.

His popularity extended to Uzbekistan, where Japanese spectators often received VIP treatment at FK Buxoro matches. He was frequently greeted with "Shibamura calls" from supporters of both Pakhtakor and FC Bunyodkor, becoming synonymous with Japanese players in the country. In late 2012, he participated in the JPFA Charity Match, playing as part of the "JAPAN Stars" team alongside other prominent overseas-based players like Makoto Hasebe, Atsuto Uchida, and Yuto Nagatomo.

In 2014, Shibamura played a crucial role in organizing the Hiroshima International Peace Memorial Youth Tournament, successfully inviting U-17 national teams from Poland and Uzbekistan-countries where he had played-to participate, thereby fostering a bridge for peace through football. He also supported the SOK project, an initiative aimed at helping children affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake achieve self-reliance, even inviting them to Poland.

Additionally, Shibamura served as an ambassador for viri-dari deserta, an apparel brand that uses organic cotton. He was known to favor Umbro for his football boots and VAAM as his preferred beverage.

5. Coaching and Administrative Roles

Following his playing career, Naoya Shibamura transitioned into coaching and administrative positions, contributing to football development and international exchange.

In 2017, he joined Criacao Shinjuku as a player-coach and executive manager, taking on a multifaceted role within the club. In 2019, he was appointed Chairman of the Uzbekistan-Japan Sports, Education, and Medical Exchange Association, further cementing his commitment to fostering international relations through sports, education, and healthcare.

6. Career Statistics