Shunsuke Tsutsumi

2.1. Birth and Early Life

Shunsuke Tsutsumi was born on June 8, 1987, in Niiza, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

2.2. Education

Tsutsumi began his football training at a young age, joining Newza Takeshi's Kickers during his elementary school years. He then progressed through the youth system of Urawa Red Diamonds, playing for Urawa Reds Junior Youth from 2000 to 2002 while attending Niiza Municipal Daini Junior High School. From 2003 to 2005, he was part of the Urawa Reds Youth team, attending Urawa Jitsugyo Gakuen High School. During his time with the youth team, he served as captain, demonstrating early leadership qualities. In 2005, he was registered as a Type 2 player for Urawa Reds' top team, a step that allowed him to participate in professional matches while still in the youth system.

3.1. Junior Youth and Youth Team Activities

Shunsuke Tsutsumi's journey through the youth ranks of Urawa Red Diamonds was marked by consistent progression and leadership. After joining Urawa Reds Junior Youth in 2000, he continued to develop his skills and leadership, eventually becoming captain of the Urawa Reds Youth team. His commitment and performance led to his registration as a Type 2 player for the top team in August 2005, allowing him to train and potentially play with the senior squad. This early exposure to the professional environment prepared him for his official promotion to the top team in 2006, alongside his youth teammates Yoshiya Nishizawa and Junki Koike. During his youth career, he was also a contemporary of Tomoya Ugajin, who would later become a notable professional player.

4.1. Urawa Red Diamonds

Tsutsumi officially joined the Urawa Red Diamonds top team in 2006. Despite being called up to the U-19 Japan national team and participating in the AFC Youth Championship in 2006, he initially struggled to find playing time with Urawa, often not even making the substitute bench for official matches. He did, however, get to witness the team's victory in the Emperor's Cup from the bench.

In 2007, he missed out on the FIFA U-20 World Cup squad due to his lack of top-team experience. However, he made his official debut for Urawa Reds in the A3 Champions Cup 2007 match against Shandong Luneng Taishan on June 7, 2007. He subsequently made his domestic debut in the J.League Cup first round against Gamba Osaka.

The 2008 season marked a turning point for Tsutsumi. Following a change in management from Holger Osieck to Gert Engels, he made his J1 League debut in the third match of the season against Albirex Niigata on March 30, 2008. His performance contributed to the team's first league victory of the season, and he subsequently established himself as a regular starter, replacing Keisuke Tsuboi. However, on May 1, 2008, he was involved in a minor car accident near the Ohara Soccer Field, resulting in a strict warning from the club.

Towards the end of the 2008 season, Tsutsumi suffered a severe injury, rupturing his left knee anterior cruciate ligament during training, which required surgery after the season concluded. Despite high expectations from then-manager Volker Finke, who reportedly stated that the club had forgone other reinforcements due to Tsutsumi's presence, his recovery was complicated by the new ligament not fitting properly, necessitating a second surgery. This made his return during the 2009 season seem unlikely, but he gradually rejoined training in late October and was able to participate in practice matches by November.

In 2010, Tsutsumi made his return to competitive play, starting as a left-back in a preseason match against Tokushima Vortis on February 20. He played one league match and one cup match at the start of the season, but his performance was inconsistent due to the long injury layoff, and he subsequently lost his place.

4.2. Loan Spells

Due to limited playing opportunities at Urawa Red Diamonds, Shunsuke Tsutsumi was sent on two loan spells.

In June 2010, Tsutsumi was loaned to Roasso Kumamoto in the J2 League. He quickly became a key player for Kumamoto, benefiting from an injury to fellow defender Atsushi Ichimura. His contributions were significant in helping Kumamoto climb up the league standings. He returned to Urawa Reds in December 2010 for the 2011 season.

However, in 2011, Tsutsumi did not make any appearances for Urawa. Consequently, in July 2011, he was loaned to Tochigi SC, also in the J2 League. His loan spell with Tochigi SC concluded in December 2011, and concurrently, Urawa Red Diamonds announced that his contract would not be renewed for the following season.

4.3. Avispa Fukuoka

In 2012, Shunsuke Tsutsumi made a permanent move to Avispa Fukuoka in the J2 League. His first year at the club was marked by inconsistent form, preventing him from fully showcasing his abilities. However, in 2013, he solidified his position as a key player, starting in the opening match against Tokyo Verdy at Ajinomoto Stadium. He maintained his starting role throughout the season and scored his first professional career goal in the 13th match against Yokohama FC at Mitsuzawa Stadium on May 6, 2013, which proved to be the winning goal. Tsutsumi remained with Avispa Fukuoka until the end of the 2018 season, when his contract expired. Following his departure, he participated in the J.League joint tryout held at Fukuda Denshi Arena on December 12, 2018.

4.4. Kagoshima United FC

In 2019, Tsutsumi joined Kagoshima United FC. He played 33 matches as a centre-back for the club. However, Kagoshima United finished 21st in the J2 League, resulting in their relegation to J3 League. Following the season, his contract with Kagoshima United FC expired, and on January 22, 2020, he announced his retirement from professional football.

5.1. Primary Positions and Style

Tsutsumi primarily played as a defender, with his main roles being left-back and centre-back. Despite being right-footed, he possessed a high level of accuracy with his left-foot kicks, which made him a valuable asset on the left side of the defense. Interestingly, his dominant hand is his left, and he uses his left hand for eating with chopsticks. This ambidexterity likely contributed to his comfort and skill with his non-dominant foot in football.

6.1. Youth International Appearances

Tsutsumi was a regular fixture in Japan's national youth teams. In 2005, he was part of the U-18 Japan national team. The following year, in 2006, he played for the U-19 Japan national team and participated in the AFC Youth Championship, where Japan finished as runners-up. In 2007, he was selected for the U-20 Japan national team. Despite his youth international appearances, he missed out on the FIFA U-20 World Cup due to his limited playing time with Urawa Red Diamonds' top team at that point.

7.1. Club Statistics

^*Includes other competitive competitions, including the A3 Champions Cup.

7.2. International Statistics

7.3. Appearances in Major Competitions

8.1. Club Honours

;Urawa Red Diamonds

• J. League Division 1: 1

:: 2006

• Emperor's Cup: 2

:: 2005, 2006

• AFC Champions League: 1

:: 2007

• Japanese Super Cup: 1

:: 2006

9.1. Transition to Agent

Following his retirement from professional football on January 22, 2020, Tsutsumi transitioned into a career as a sports agent. He became a registered intermediary with the Japan Football Association and is affiliated with SARCLE, a sports management company.

10.1. Anecdotes and Interests

Tsutsumi maintains close personal and professional ties with fellow footballer Hajime Hosogai. Their friendship was often a topic in the manga series "Akabishi no Eleven" by Yu Furusawa. He also shares a deep friendship with former professional baseball player Katsumi Yamazaki. Their bond began when Yamazaki was with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and Tsutsumi continued to support Yamazaki even after his move to the Orix Buffaloes, attending his games at Fukuoka Dome. Tsutsumi is a devoted fan of Japanese pop singer Namie Amuro and has attended her concerts with his former teammate Christopher Tatsuki Kinjo. His personal chant during his time at Avispa Fukuoka was based on the Boney M. song "Rivers of Babylon". A notable quote attributed to him is: "My cells are craving it."

Throughout his life, Tsutsumi was associated with several football clubs, starting from his youth:

• Newza Takeshi's Kickers (elementary school)
• 2000-2002 Urawa Red Diamonds Junior Youth (Niiza Municipal Daini Junior High School)
• 2003-2005 Urawa Red Diamonds Youth (Urawa Jitsugyo Gakuen High School)
  • 2005 Urawa Red Diamonds (Type 2 player)
• 2006-2011 Urawa Red Diamonds
  • 2010 (June-December) Roasso Kumamoto (loan)
  • 2011 (July-December) Tochigi SC (loan)
• 2012-2018 Avispa Fukuoka
• 2019 Kagoshima United FC
• 2023 Torabaco Akasaka FC