Ryoichi Kurisawa

1.1. Birth and Early Life

Ryoichi Kurisawa was born on 5 September 1982, in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He began playing football at the age of six, influenced by his elder brother. During his junior high school years, he faced challenges in receiving specialized coaching, and an attempt to join Kashiwa Reysol's junior youth team was unsuccessful.

1.2. Education

Kurisawa attended Narashino High School from 1998 to 2000. Despite his efforts, the team did not achieve significant success in national tournaments, and he remained a relatively unknown player at the national level. In 2001, he enrolled in the Ryutsu Keizai University's Faculty of Law. At the time, the university's football program was still in its early stages of development. During his time there, Kurisawa was greatly influenced by the dedication of two-years-senior forward Yoshiro Abe, which helped him refine his playing style. In his third year, Ryutsu Keizai University won the Kanto University Football League Division 2, and Kurisawa, along with teammates Hitoshi Shiota and Masahiro Ikeda, was selected for the Best Eleven.

2.1. Youth Career

Kurisawa's youth football journey began with local clubs before progressing to higher education. He played for Kashiwa Eagles from 1989 to 1991 and Shinmatsudo SC from 1992 to 1994, both while attending Matsudo Municipal Shinmatsudo Kita Elementary School. From 1995 to 1997, he played for Matsudo Municipal Shinmatsudo Kita Junior High School. Following his junior high career, he joined Narashino High School (1998-2000) and later Ryutsu Keizai University (2001-2004). In 2004, while still a university student, he was approved as a Special Designated Player for FC Tokyo, marking his initial step into professional football.

2.2. Professional Career

Kurisawa's professional career saw him play for two prominent clubs in the J.League, where he established himself as a reliable midfielder.

2.3. Playing Style and Characteristics

Kurisawa was known for his solid and reliable playing style as a midfielder. He was right-footed and possessed excellent ball control and fundamental technical skills. His approach was often simple, focusing on using teammates to create rhythm in play. He was characterized by his abundant work rate and a low error rate, contributing to a stable and robust midfield. Defensively, he was adept at anticipating loose balls and winning second balls, which was crucial for his role as a defensive midfielder. His aggressive defensive play was noted, as evidenced by him receiving the most yellow cards in the J2 League during the 2010 season. His ability to score against Júbilo Iwata earned him the nickname "Iwata Killer."

2.4. Career Milestones

Throughout his career, Ryoichi Kurisawa achieved several notable milestones:

• J.League Debut**: April 3, 2004, in a J1 1st Stage Matchday 3 game against Tokyo Verdy 1969 at Ajinomoto Stadium.
• First Official Goal**: July 17, 2004, in a J.League Cup Group D Matchday 5 game against Vissel Kobe at Kobe Wing Stadium.
• First J.League Goal**: April 10, 2005, in a J1 Matchday 4 game against Júbilo Iwata at Ajinomoto Stadium.
• 100 J1 Appearances**: May 5, 2009, in a J1 Matchday 10 game against Urawa Red Diamonds at National Stadium.
• 200 J1 Appearances**: October 19, 2013, in a J1 Matchday 29 game against Ventforet Kofu at Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium.

2.5. Statistics

The following table details Ryoichi Kurisawa's club performance throughout his professional career.

¹Includes Japanese Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

3.1. Early Coaching

After concluding his playing career on December 1, 2018, Kurisawa immediately embarked on his coaching journey. He joined the coaching staff of Kashiwa Reysol in 2019, marking his official transition from player to coach.

3.2. Managerial Roles

Since 2019, Kurisawa has served as a coach for Kashiwa Reysol's top team. In July 2024, he took on an interim managerial role for the J1 League Matchday 22 fixture against FC Tokyo, stepping in due to the illness of then-manager Masami Ihara. It was announced that he would assume the position of head coach for Kashiwa Reysol starting in 2025.

4.1. Marriage and Family

Ryoichi Kurisawa married talent Yayoi Sato in March 2013. The couple's marriage was announced by Kashiwa Reysol on April 1, 2013.

4.2. Relationships

During his time at FC Tokyo, Kurisawa was particularly close friends with teammates Yasuyuki Konno and Yuta Baba, often visiting each other's rooms. His friendship with Baba continued even after his transfer to Kashiwa Reysol, with Kurisawa occasionally appearing on Baba's blog.

4.3. Personality and Nicknames

Kurisawa was known by the nickname "Kuri" among his teammates and fans. His notable performance against Júbilo Iwata, where he scored three goals in three matches, earned him the moniker "Iwata Killer."