Japanese FootballerGoalkeeperFootball CoachRitsumeikan University Alumni

Tomohito Shugyo

Japanese former goalkeeper Tomohito Shugyo played nearly two decades for clubs like Oita Trinita and FC Imabari, transitioning to coaching in 2025.

1. Overview

Tomohito Shugyo (修行 智仁Shūgyō TomohitoJapanese) is a Japanese former professional football player who primarily played as a goalkeeper. Born on June 29, 1984, in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Shugyo embarked on a professional career that spanned nearly two decades, featuring for several prominent Japanese clubs including Gainare Tottori, FC Machida Zelvia, Oita Trinita, and FC Imabari. Throughout his playing tenure, he was known for his contributions to team stability and, particularly during his time at Oita Trinita, for taking on a significant role as a mental leader for his teammates. Following his retirement from playing in 2024, Shugyo transitioned into coaching, taking on the role of Goalkeeper Coach for FC Imabari starting in 2025. This article details his early life, extensive playing career, statistical achievements, and his new venture into coaching.

2. Early Life and Background

Tomohito Shugyo's foundational years and early football development laid the groundwork for his professional career in Japanese football.

2.1. Personal Information

Tomohito Shugyo was born on June 29, 1984, in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He stands at 72 in (182 cm) and weighs 163 lb (74 kg). His primary playing position was goalkeeper, and he is right-footed. His name is written as 修行 智仁Shūgyō TomohitoJapanese in Japanese, and his nickname is シュウギョウ トモヒトShugyo TomohitoJapanese.

2.2. Youth Career

Shugyo began his football journey in the youth ranks, developing his skills at Vigore Tsurumi Junior and Vigore Tsurumi Jr. Youth. He continued his education and football training at Kinki University High School before attending Ritsumeikan University, where he played for the Ritsumeikan University Soccer Club. His time at Ritsumeikan University was marked by team successes, including winning the Kansai Student Soccer League Division 1 in 2005 and the Prime Minister's Cup All Japan University Soccer Tournament in 2006.

3. Professional Playing Career

Tomohito Shugyo's professional playing career spanned from 2007 to 2024, during which he played for four different clubs across various Japanese football leagues.

3.1. Gainare Tottori

Shugyo began his professional career in 2007, joining Gainare Tottori, which was then competing in the JFL. In his debut season, he did not make any appearances. He made his official match debut in 2008, but despite this, he was unable to secure a regular starting position, remaining largely a backup to Atsushi Inoue. During his two seasons with Gainare Tottori (2007-2008), he made only three league appearances.

3.2. FC Machida Zelvia

In 2009, Shugyo transferred to FC Machida Zelvia, another club in the JFL. He quickly established himself as the team's starting goalkeeper, making 30 league appearances in his first season. For the 2010 season, he changed his jersey number to 1, but he subsequently lost his regular starting spot to Munehiro Yoshida, who had joined from Avispa Fukuoka. In 2011, Shugyo managed to reclaim his position at the beginning of the season. However, on August 27, 2011, during a Tokyo Prefectural Tournament match (a qualifier for the Emperor's Cup) against Senshu University, he suffered a severe injury: a partial tear of the right adductor longus muscle-tendon junction, which required an estimated four months for recovery. Due to this injury and the emergency signing of Ryosuke Ishida from Oita Trinita, Shugyo's player registration was temporarily cancelled on September 16, 2011, to accommodate the new player within the squad limits.

In 2012, Machida Zelvia was promoted to the J2 League. Shugyo started the season as a backup to new signing Takashi Aizawa. However, he made his J.League debut on April 15, 2012, in a J2 League match against Tochigi SC at Machida Athletic Stadium. Following this debut, he secured a regular starting position, making 34 appearances in the J2 League that season. Despite his efforts, the team finished last and was relegated back to the JFL after just one season. In 2013, back in the JFL, Shugyo again found himself as a backup to Aizawa. When the J3 League was established in 2014, he faced competition for a starting role with new signing Hisayuki Okahara. Over his six seasons with FC Machida Zelvia (2009-2014), he accumulated 109 league appearances.

3.3. Oita Trinita

Shugyo made a full transfer to Oita Trinita in 2015, a club then in the J2 League. In his first year, he served as a backup to Yohei Takeda, making only one league appearance and two appearances in the Emperor's Cup. Following Oita Trinita's relegation, Shugyo found himself back in the J3 League for the 2016 season, his second stint in the league. He again took the number 1 jersey. Initially, he was a backup to Naoto Kamifukumoto. However, from August 7, 2016, in a J3 League match against Fukushima United FC, Shugyo became the starting goalkeeper and maintained this position for the remaining 11 matches of the season. During his 11 starts, Oita Trinita achieved an impressive record of 10 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, with 8 clean sheets, significantly contributing to the team's defensive stability. His performance was crucial in Oita's J3 League championship victory in 2016, which secured their immediate promotion back to the J2 League.

Despite the team's return to J2, Shugyo's playing opportunities diminished in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, during which he made only two appearances, both in the Emperor's Cup. However, he took on an important role as a mental leader within the team. He would encourage non-playing teammates during training, reminding them about the wasted time spent being dispirited. He also fostered team cohesion by inviting teammates to meals and engaging in casual conversations to help them relax. After the 2018 season, which saw Oita Trinita promoted to the J1 League, Shugyo's contract expired. He announced his departure, stating, "There is nothing more I can do as a player in Oita." He played for Oita Trinita for four seasons (2015-2018), making 13 league appearances.

3.4. FC Imabari

In 2019, Shugyo transferred to FC Imabari, which was then in the JFL. He found more playing opportunities at the club. When FC Imabari was promoted to the J3 League in 2020, he continued as a starting goalkeeper. However, on August 9, 2020, during a match against Fujieda MYFC, he sustained another injury, a partial tear of the right adductor longus muscle-tendon junction, with a recovery period estimated at three to four weeks. He recovered and returned to play later in the same season. Shugyo continued to play for FC Imabari until the end of the 2024 season. On November 28, 2024, he officially announced his retirement from professional football after 18 seasons. He made 89 league appearances for FC Imabari during his six seasons with the club (2019-2024).

4. Coaching Career

Following his retirement as a player, Tomohito Shugyo transitioned into a coaching role. Effective from 2025, he will serve as the Goalkeeper Coach for FC Imabari, the club where he concluded his playing career. This move marks a new chapter in his involvement with professional football, shifting from on-field performance to developing future goalkeepers.

5. Statistics

The table below provides a comprehensive overview of Tomohito Shugyo's career statistics, including appearances and goals for his various clubs across different leagues and competitions.

Club performanceLeagueCupTotal
SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
JapanLeagueEmperor's CupTotal
2006Ritsumeikan UniversityUniversity30--30
2007Gainare TottoriJFL00-0000
200830-0030
2009FC Machida Zelvia300--300
201090-10100
2011100-00100
2012J2 League340-20360
2013JFL30--30
2014J3 League230--230
2015Oita TrinitaJ2 League10-2030
2016J3 League120-10130
2017J2 League00-2020
201800-0000
2019FC ImabariJFL270--270
2020J3 League290--290
2021250-10260
202260-0060
202320-0020
202400000000
J2 League Total350-60410
J3 League Total970-20990
JFL Total820-10830
Other Total--3030
Career Total2140001202260

6. Titles and Awards

Tomohito Shugyo achieved several team titles during his football career, contributing to the success of his university and professional clubs.

  • Ritsumeikan University**
    • Prime Minister's Cup All Japan University Soccer Tournament: 2006
    • Kansai Student Soccer League Division 1: 2005
  • Oita Trinita**
    • J3 League: 2016