1. Overview
Tomoe Kato is a highly accomplished former Japanese football player who primarily played as a midfielder. Throughout her distinguished career, she was a central figure for Nippon TV Beleza and the Japan women's national football team. She achieved significant success at the club level, winning eight L.League championships and seven Empress's Cup titles. Individually, she was recognized as the L.League MVP twice and was selected for the Best Eleven an impressive twelve consecutive times. For the national team, Kato earned 114 caps and scored 8 goals, representing Japan in multiple FIFA Women's World Cups and Summer Olympic Games. After retiring from playing in 2009, she transitioned into coaching.
2. Personal Information
This section details Tomoe Kato's fundamental biographical information, including her birth details, name changes, and physical attributes.
2.1. Basic Information
Tomoe Kato was born on May 27, 1978, in Tokyo, Japan.
2.2. Former Name and Marriage
Prior to her marriage in November 2007, Tomoe Kato was known by her maiden name, Tomoe Sakai (酒井 與惠Sakai TomoeJapanese). Following her marriage, she adopted her husband's surname, changing her name to Tomoe Kato (加藤 與惠Katō TomoeJapanese).
2.3. Physical Characteristics and Nicknames
Kato stands at 62 in (158 cm) tall and weighs 110 lb (50 kg). During her playing career, she was known by the nicknames "Gomi-chan" (ごみちゃんJapanese) and "Migo" (ミゴJapanese). She primarily used her right foot.
3. Early Life and Career Start
This section explores Tomoe Kato's formative years and the initial steps of her football journey, from childhood influences to her entry into organized youth football.
3.1. Childhood and Introduction to Football
Tomoe Kato began playing football during her elementary school years, largely influenced by her older brother. She often practiced with boys at the Akitsu Soccer Club and, on occasion, even participated in matches under her brother's name. Her passion for the sport continued to grow, leading her to join Yomiuri Menina during her junior high school years.
3.2. Education
Kato pursued her education at Tokyo Metropolitan Musashino Kita High School before attending Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education.
3.3. Youth and Early Club Career
After joining Yomiuri Menina in junior high school, Tomoe Kato steadily progressed through the youth ranks. Her talent and dedication led to her promotion to the senior team, then known as Yomiuri Beleza, marking the beginning of her professional club career.
4. Club Career
Tomoe Kato's professional club career was predominantly spent with Nippon TV Beleza, where she achieved significant team and individual success.
4.1. Nippon TV Beleza
Kato played for Nippon TV Beleza from 1993 until her retirement in 2008. During her long tenure, the club underwent several name changes, being known as Yomiuri JSC Ladies Beleza, Yomiuri Seiyu Beleza, Yomiuri Beleza, NTV Beleza, and finally Nippon TV Beleza. As a midfielder, she was a consistent and vital player for the team throughout these years. She made 246 appearances in the L.League, scoring 22 goals in total club competitions.
4.2. League and Cup Records
Throughout her club career with Nippon TV Beleza, Tomoe Kato contributed to numerous team championships:
- L.League / Japan Women's Football League (8 times): 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
- Empress's Cup All-Japan Women's Football Championship (7 times): 1993, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008
- L.League Cup (2 times): 1996, 1999
- Nadeshiko League Cup (1 time): 2007
- Nadeshiko Super Cup (2 times): 2005, 2007
4.3. Individual Club Awards
Kato received several prestigious individual accolades during her club career:
- L.League MVP (2 times): 2001, 2002
- L.League Best Eleven (12 consecutive times): 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
- L.League Fighting Spirit Award (1 time): 1993
5. National Team Career
Tomoe Kato had an extensive international career, representing the Japan women's national football team in numerous major tournaments and achieving significant milestones.
5.1. Debut and Major Tournament Participation
Tomoe Kato made her debut for the Japan national team on June 8, 1997, at the age of 19, in a match against China. Her first international goal came on June 9, 2003, against the Philippines during the 2003 AFC Women's Championship.
She was a key member of the national squad in several major international competitions:
- FIFA Women's World Cup: 1999, 2003, 2007
- Summer Olympic Games: 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics, where Japan finished 4th.
- AFC Women's Championship / Asian Cup: 1997, 1999, 2003 (4th place), 2006 (4th place), 2008 (3rd place).
- Asian Games: 1998 and 2006, where Japan earned a silver medal.
- East Asian Football Championship: 2005 and 2008, with Japan winning the tournament in 2008.
Kato reached the milestone of 100 international appearances on April 15, 2007, during a match against Thailand in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Asian Qualifiers.
5.2. National Team Career Statistics
Throughout her national team career from 1997 to 2008, Tomoe Kato played in 114 matches and scored 8 goals for Japan.
6. International Goals
The following table lists Tomoe Kato's international goals for the Japan women's national football team.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 9 June 2003 | Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Philippines | 14-0 | 15-0 | 2003 AFC Women's Championship |
| 2. | 11 June 2003 | Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Guam | 1-0 | 7-0 | 2003 AFC Women's Championship |
| 3. | 23 July 2005 | National Nishigaoka Soccer Stadium, Tokyo, Japan | Australia | X-X | 4-2 | International Friendly |
| 4. | 10 March 2006 | Magnone, Italy | Scotland | X-X | 4-0 | International Friendly |
| 5. | 30 November 2006 | Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | Jordan | 12-0 | 13-0 | 2006 Asian Games |
| 6. | 7 April 2007 | Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan | Vietnam | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2008 Summer Olympics qualification |
| 7. | 4 August 2007 | Lạch Tray Stadium, Hải Phòng, Vietnam | Vietnam | 2-0 | 8-0 | 2008 Summer Olympics qualification |
| 8. | 31 May 2008 | Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Chinese Taipei | 8-0 | 11-0 | 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
7. Statistics
This section provides comprehensive statistical data from Tomoe Kato's playing career, broken down by club and national team appearances and goals.
7.1. Club Statistics
| Year | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Yomiuri Nippon Soccer Club Ladies Beleza | JLSL | 17 | 1 |
| 1994 | Yomiuri Seiyu Beleza | L.League | 16 | 1 |
| 1995 | 18 | 2 | ||
| 1996 | 15 | 1 | ||
| 1997 | 18 | 0 | ||
| 1998 | Yomiuri Beleza | 18 | 1 | |
| 1999 | NTV Beleza | 13 | 2 | |
| 2000 | Nippon TV Beleza | 12 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 14 | 3 | ||
| 2002 | 11 | 3 | ||
| 2003 | 22 | 0 | ||
| 2004 | L.League Division 1 (L1) | 14 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 21 | 3 | ||
| 2006 | Nadeshiko Division 1 | 16 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2008 | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Total | 246 | 22 | ||
7.2. National Team Statistics
| Japan national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 |
| 1998 | 9 | 0 |
| 1999 | 13 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 4 | 0 |
| 2002 | 9 | 0 |
| 2003 | 14 | 2 |
| 2004 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 9 | 1 |
| 2006 | 16 | 2 |
| 2007 | 17 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 | 1 |
| Total | 114 | 8 |
8. Post-Retirement Activities
After concluding her distinguished playing career, Tomoe Kato transitioned into new roles within the football community.
8.1. Retirement
Tomoe Kato officially announced her retirement from professional football following the final match of the Empress's Cup All-Japan Women's Football Championship on January 1, 2009.
8.2. Coaching Career
Following her retirement as a player, Tomoe Kato embarked on a coaching career. From the 2009 season, she joined the coaching staff of her former club, Nippon TV Beleza.
9. Awards and Honors
Tomoe Kato's career was marked by numerous individual accolades and significant team achievements at both club and international levels.
9.1. Individual Awards
- L.League MVP: 2001, 2002
- L.League Best Eleven: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 (12 consecutive selections)
- L.League Fighting Spirit Award: 1993
9.2. Team Awards (Club)
- L.League / Japan Women's Football League: 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
- Empress's Cup All-Japan Women's Football Championship: 1993, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008
- L.League Cup: 1996, 1999
- Nadeshiko League Cup: 2007
- Nadeshiko Super Cup: 2005, 2007
9.3. Team Awards (National)
- East Asian Football Championship: 2008
- Asian Games: Silver Medal (2006)
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: 3rd Place (2008)
- Summer Olympic Games: 4th Place (2008 Beijing Olympics)