Taku Akahoshi | Today's AI Wiki

1. Overview

Taku Akahoshi (赤星拓_{Akahoshi Taku}^Japanese, born April 21, 1984) is a retired Japanese professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Throughout his career, he primarily represented Sagan Tosu, contributing to their promotion to the J1 League and playing in Japan's top football division. He concluded his professional career in 2018 after a brief loan spell at Tokushima Vortis.

2. Personal Information

2.1. Birth and Background

Taku Akahoshi was born on April 21, 1984, in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. He is a Japanese national.

2.2. Physical Information

Akahoshi stands at 73 in ^{(185 cm)} tall and weighs 176 lb ^{(80 kg)}. His preferred foot is his right foot.

3. Youth and Amateur Career

3.1. Youth Clubs and High School

Akahoshi began his youth football career with Ishimaru SS, followed by Fukuoka City Shimoyamato Junior High School. From 2000 to 2002, he played for Fukuoka University Affiliated Ohori High School.

3.2. University Career and Selections

From 2003 to 2006, Akahoshi played university football for Fukuoka University. During his time there, he was selected for the Kyushu University Selection team in 2004, 2005, and 2006, and the All Japan University Selection team in 2004, 2005, and 2006. In January 2004, as a second-year university student, he participated in the Qatar International Youth Tournament with the university selection. In 2005, during his third year, he was part of the Universiade Japan national team that won the 2005 Summer Universiade in Izmir, Turkey, where he competed for the starting goalkeeper position with Shogo Tokihisa. In 2006, his final year of university, he was registered as a special designated player for Oita Trinita but did not make any appearances for the club.

4. Professional Career

4.1. Sagan Tosu and Early Career

Akahoshi joined Sagan Tosu in 2007, making his professional debut as a starter in the opening match of the J2 League season. He quickly established himself as a key goalkeeper for the club. In 2008, the arrival of Takuya Muro and the presence of Toshimitsu Asai intensified competition for the starting goalkeeper spot.

4.2. J1 League Promotion and Performance

By 2011, Akahoshi had become one of Sagan Tosu's longest-serving players. He secured the starting position midway through the season, playing a crucial role in the team's strong performance in the latter half of the season, which ultimately led to their promotion to the J1 League. In 2012, he made his J1 League debut in the opening match against Cerezo Osaka at Best Amenity Stadium (now Ekimae Real Estate Stadium) on March 10. He continued to serve as the primary goalkeeper for most of the season, appearing in 30 league matches.

4.3. Injuries, Competition, and Loan Spell

In 2013, while still the main goalkeeper, Akahoshi suffered a left rib fracture during the 19th league match against Kashiwa Reysol, forcing him to leave the game and the lineup. His replacement, Tatsuro Okuda, also sustained an injury, leaving only special designated player Eisuke Fujishima as an available goalkeeper. This led Sagan Tosu to acquire Akihiro Hayashi on loan from Shimizu S-Pulse. Hayashi subsequently became the regular starting goalkeeper, and Akahoshi struggled to regain his position after recovering from his injury.

From 2014 onwards, Hayashi largely remained the first-choice goalkeeper, with Akahoshi often serving as a substitute. However, in 2015, Akahoshi appeared in 11 league matches due to Hayashi's injury in July. During a match against Kashima Antlers in 2015, Akahoshi was involved in a collision with teammate Kim Min-hyeok and had to be substituted due to injury. After his departure, Sagan Tosu conceded three goals, losing the home match 0-3. In 2016, Hayashi transferred to FC Tokyo, but Shuichi Gonda, a former Japan national team goalkeeper, joined Sagan Tosu and immediately became the new starting goalkeeper. Akahoshi continued in a substitute role, making only two league appearances in 2017. On August 16, 2018, it was announced that Akahoshi would join Tokushima Vortis on a loan spell, but he did not make any appearances for the club.

4.4. Retirement

On December 30, 2018, Taku Akahoshi announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2018 season.

5. Career Statistics

The following table details Taku Akahoshi's club performance throughout his university and professional career.

5.1. Club Performance Statistics

Club performance			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Other Cups		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		University Cups		Total
2004	Fukuoka University	University	0	0	-		-		1	0	1	0
2005			0	0	-		-		2	0	2	0
2006			0	0	-		-		1	0	1	0
2007	Sagan Tosu	J2 League	32	0	2	0	-		-		34	0
2008			15	0	0	0	-		-		15	0
2009			0	0	0	0	-		-		0	0
2010			20	0	0	0	-		-		20	0
2011			19	0	0	0	-		-		19	0
2012		J1 League	30	0	1	0	5	0	-		36	0
2013			16	0	0	0	3	0	-		19	0
2014			0	0	0	0	1	0	-		1	0
2015			11	0	0	0	1	0	-		12	0
2016			0	0	1	0	3	0	-		4	0
2017			2	0	0	0	2	0	-		4	0
2018			0	0	0	0	0	0	-		0	0
2018	Tokushima Vortis	J2 League	0	0	-		-		-		0	0
J1 League Total				59	0	2	0	15	0	-		76	0
J2 League Total				86	0	2	0	0	0	-		88	0
University Total				0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	4	0
Career Total				145	0	4	0	15	0	4	0	168	0

5.2. Career Totals and Milestones

Throughout his professional career, Taku Akahoshi made a total of 145 league appearances (59 in J1 League and 86 in J2 League), 4 appearances in the Emperor's Cup, and 15 appearances in the J.League Cup, accumulating 164 professional club appearances. Including his university cup appearances, his overall career total stands at 168 matches.

His J1 League debut occurred on March 10, 2012, in the first match of the season against Cerezo Osaka at Best Amenity Stadium. His J2 League debut was on March 4, 2007, in the first match of the season against Avispa Fukuoka, also at Best Amenity Stadium.