1. Early life and football beginnings
Yuka Miyazaki was born on October 13, 1983, in Iga, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Her journey in football began at a young age, around the third grade of elementary school, when she started playing with male friends in a local team called the Hananoki Soccer Sports Boy Squad. By the sixth grade, her talent led her to join Prima Ham FC Frohlein, which was the youth development organization of the prominent women's club Prima Ham FC Kunoichi (now known as Iga FC Kunoichi).
2. Club career
Yuka Miyazaki's club career spanned over a decade, playing for several professional teams in Japan and one in the United States, achieving notable successes throughout her journey.
2.1. Professional club career
Miyazaki's professional career officially began in 1999 when she was promoted to the senior team of Prima Ham FC Kunoichi (later renamed Iga FC Kunoichi) upon entering Mie Prefectural Ueno Commercial High School. She made her debut for the club on September 3, 2000, in the 13th L-League against Renaissance Kumamoto FC, coming on as a substitute for Tomomi Mitsui (now Miyamoto). Her first start in the league came the following year, on May 13, 2001, in an opening match against Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki. In 2002, her strong performances earned her a selection to the Best Eleven in the 14th L-League. She scored her first professional goal on November 23, 2003, during the 15th L-League in a match against YKK Tohoku Women's Soccer Club Flappers. She remained with Iga FC Kunoichi until 2005.
After graduating from Tenri University in 2006, Miyazaki joined TEPCO Mareeze, a team associated with the Tokyo Electric Power Company, where she also took up employment. At TEPCO Mareeze, she primarily played as a central defender and was appointed vice-captain in 2007. She left the club and the company in 2009.
Following her departure from TEPCO Mareeze, Miyazaki moved to the United States and joined Boston Aztec in April 2010. During her time there, she contributed to the team's success in winning the WPSL US Championship in 2010.
In 2013, she returned to Japan and joined Okayama Yunogo Belle on March 4. The next year, in 2014, she played for Kunimi FC Ladies as a strengthening player for the Nagasaki Prefecture National Sports Festival team.
2.2. Club statistics
The following table provides a comprehensive overview of Yuka Miyazaki's club appearances and goals throughout her professional career in domestic leagues.
| Year | Club | League | Apps | Goals | League Cup Apps | League Cup Goals | Empress's Cup Apps | Empress's Cup Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Prima Ham FC Kunoichi | L.League | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 2000 | Iga FC Kunoichi | L.League | 7 | 0 | |||||||
| 2001 | Iga FC Kunoichi | L.League | 11 | 0 | |||||||
| 2002 | Iga FC Kunoichi | L.League | 10 | 0 | |||||||
| 2003 | Iga FC Kunoichi | L.League | 20 | 1 | |||||||
| 2004 | Iga FC Kunoichi | L.League Division 1 (L1) | 14 | 1 | |||||||
| 2005 | Iga FC Kunoichi | L.League Division 1 (L1) | 18 | 1 | |||||||
| 2006 | TEPCO Mareeze | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 15 | 0 | |||||||
| 2007 | TEPCO Mareeze | Nadeshiko League Division 2 | 21 | 3 | |||||||
| 2008 | TEPCO Mareeze | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | 21 | 2 | |||||||
| 2009 | TEPCO Mareeze | Nadeshiko League Division 1 | |||||||||
| United States | |||||||||||
| 2010 | Boston Aztec | WPSL | |||||||||
| Japan | |||||||||||
| 2013 | Okayama Yunogo Belle | Nadeshiko League | 17 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 2 | |
| 2014 | Kunimi FC Ladies | Kyushu Women's Soccer League | |||||||||
| Total (Japan First Division) | 133 | 7 | |||||||||
| Total (Japan Second Division) | 21 | 3 | |||||||||
| Grand Total | 154 | 10 | |||||||||
3. National team career
Yuka Miyazaki was a notable presence in the Japan women's national football team, having represented her country at various age levels and in major international competitions, including the FIFA Women's World Cup.
3.1. International debut and major selections
Yuka Miyazaki made her international debut for the Japan women's national football team at the age of 17, on August 5, 2001, in a match against the China national team during the Far East 4 Nations Tournament held in South Korea.
Prior to her senior team debut, Miyazaki was selected for various age-group national teams. She was part of the Japan U-18 national team for the Adidas Cup in the United States in 1998, 2000, and 2001. In 2002, she played for the Japan U-19 national team, participating in the Asian Championship where her team emerged victorious, and in the World Championship in Canada, where they reached the quarterfinals (Best 8). She also represented Japan Universiade team at the 2005 Summer Universiade.
For the senior national team, she participated in the Nike Cup in the United States and the 2001 AFC Women's Championship in Taiwan. In 2002, she was a member of the squad for the Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea. The following year, she was involved in the AFC Women's Championship (World Cup Asia Qualifiers) in Thailand, followed by the play-off matches in Mexico City and Tokyo. Miyazaki was also selected for the squad that competed in the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup in the United States. In 2004, she was named a backup member for the Athens Olympics squad, serving as a potential replacement in case of injuries. Her final return to the national team came in 2009 for a European expedition.
3.2. National team statistics
Miyazaki played 18 matches and scored 2 goals for the Japan national team between 2001 and 2009.
| Japan national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2001 | 5 | 0 |
| 2002 | 5 | 1 |
| 2003 | 6 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 18 | 2 |
3.3. Detailed international match appearances
Yuka Miyazaki's detailed record of international match appearances for the Japan national team is as follows:
| # | Date | Host City | Venue | Opponent | Result | Coach | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 5, 2001 | Gangneung | China | △2-2 | Shinobu Ikeda | Far East 4 Nations Tournament | |
| 2 | August 8, 2001 | Suwon | Brazil | △1-1 | Shinobu Ikeda | Far East 4 Nations Tournament | |
| 3 | September 9, 2001 | Chicago | China | ●0-3 | Shinobu Ikeda | Nike Cup | |
| 4 | December 8, 2001 | Taipei | Guam | ○11-0 | Shinobu Ikeda | AFC Women's Championship | |
| 5 | December 12, 2001 | Taipei | Vietnam | ○3-1 | Shinobu Ikeda | AFC Women's Championship | |
| 6 | October 2, 2002 | Busan | North Korea | ●0-1 | Eiji Ueda | Asian Games | |
| 7 | October 4, 2002 | Changwon | Vietnam | ○3-0 | Eiji Ueda | Asian Games | |
| 8 | October 7, 2002 | Masan | South Korea | ○1-0 | Eiji Ueda | Asian Games | |
| 9 | October 9, 2002 | Changwon | China | △2-2 | Eiji Ueda | Asian Games | |
| 10 | October 11, 2002 | Masan | Chinese Taipei | ○2-0 | Eiji Ueda | Asian Games | |
| 11 | January 12, 2003 | San Diego | United States | △0-0 | Eiji Ueda | International Friendly | |
| 12 | March 19, 2003 | Bangkok | Thailand | ○9-0 | Eiji Ueda | International Friendly | |
| 13 | June 9, 2003 | Bangkok | Philippines | ○15-0 | Eiji Ueda | AFC Women's Championship | |
| 14 | June 13, 2003 | Bangkok | Myanmar | ○7-0 | Eiji Ueda | AFC Women's Championship | |
| 15 | July 22, 2003 | Miyagi Prefecture | Sendai Stadium | South Korea | ○5-0 | Eiji Ueda | Japan-Korea-Australia Tri-Nations International Tournament |
| 16 | July 27, 2003 | Miyagi Prefecture | Sendai Stadium | Australia | △0-0 | Eiji Ueda | Japan-Korea-Australia Tri-Nations International Tournament |
| 17 | April 22, 2004 | Tokyo | National Kasumigaoka Athletics Stadium | Thailand | ○6-0 | Eiji Ueda | Olympic Qualifiers |
| 18 | August 1, 2009 | Montargis | France | ○4-0 | Norio Sasaki | International Friendly |
3.4. International goals
Yuka Miyazaki scored two goals during her career with the Japan women's national football team:
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 11, 2002 | Masan Stadium, Changwon, South Korea | Chinese Taipei | 1-0 | 2-0 | 2002 Asian Games |
| 2 | June 9, 2003 | Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Philippines | 6-0 | 15-0 | 2003 AFC Women's Championship |
4. Achievements and honors
Yuka Miyazaki achieved several significant honors throughout her football career, both at the club and individual levels.
Her club honors include:
- TEPCO Mareeze
- Japan Women's Football League Division 2: 2007
- Boston Aztec
- WPSL US Championship: 2010
Individually, she was recognized with:
- Japan Women's Football League Best Eleven: 2002
5. Writings
Following her football career, Yuka Miyazaki ventured into writing. She authored a book titled Kotoba no Chikara (言葉の力Power of WordsJapanese), which was published by Fūeisha in 2012. The book's ISBN is 978-4434171888.
6. Post-playing career and contributions
After retiring from professional football in 2009, Yuka Miyazaki pursued various endeavors that reflect her commitment to education, health, and community development. In 2012, she began working as a part-time lecturer for health and physical education at Iinan High School. Concurrently, she established herself as a private osteopathic therapist.
Beyond her professional roles, Miyazaki actively engaged in the football community as a volunteer coach for a men's football club and as an instructor at soccer schools. These activities demonstrate her dedication to nurturing new talent and promoting the sport. On May 9, 2015, she opened her own osteopathic clinic, "Miya Seitaiin" (みや整体院Miya ClinicJapanese), in Iga City, further extending her contributions to public health and well-being.
- [https://miya-smile.jimdofree.com/%E3%81%BF%E3%82%84%E6%95%B4%E4%BD%93%E9%99%A2-home/%E5%AE%AE%EF%A8%91%E6%9C%89%E9%A6%99%E9%99%A2%E9%95%B7%E3%83%97%E3%83%AD%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB/ Miya Clinic Profile]
- [http://blog.livedoor.jp/miya_02/ Miya's Life (Blog)]