1. Overview
Yusaku Toyoshima (豊嶋 邑作Toyoshima YūsakuJapanese) is a Japanese association football player who primarily played as a midfielder. Born on July 6, 1991, in Tsukubamirai, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, Toyoshima's career spanned various clubs in Japan and across Europe, including teams in Belgium, Moldova, Latvia, and Montenegro. His professional journey began in the youth ranks of Kashiwa Reysol, leading him to gain international experience before returning to the J.League and other Japanese regional leagues.
2. Early Life and Youth Career
Yusaku Toyoshima's foundational years in football were shaped by both international exposure and structured youth development in Japan.
2.1. Early Life and Introduction to Football
Yusaku Toyoshima was born on July 6, 1991, in Tsukubamirai, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. During his early childhood, he lived in Costa Rica from the age of four to seven, where he began his football journey by joining Deportivo Metropolitana. Upon returning to Japan, he initially played for a local youth football club before successfully entering the acclaimed youth system of Kashiwa Reysol.
2.2. Youth Clubs and Youth National Team
Toyoshima's youth development took place within the rigorous environment of the Kashiwa Reysol Academy from 2002 to 2009. Specifically, he was a member of Kashiwa Reysol U-15 from 2004 to 2006 and then advanced to Kashiwa Reysol U-18 from 2007 to 2009. During his time with the U-15 team, he showcased his talent by winning the top scorer and Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards at the Legafuturo tournament, which also led to his selection for the National Training Center.
His potential was recognized at the national level, as he was called up to represent the Japan U-14 national team in 2005 and the Japan U-15 national team in 2006. In these youth national teams, he played alongside future professional footballers such as Genki Haraguchi, Toshiyuki Takagi, Taishi Taguchi, Hiroki Kazama, Takahiro Ogihara, Junya Osaki, and Takumi Abe, participating in international friendly matches, including those in South Korea. In his final year of junior high school, Toyoshima competed in the Menicon Cup, where he played alongside notable talents like Haruki Ibarata, Genki Haraguchi, Takashi Usami, and Toshiyuki Takagi. By his second year of high school, he secured a regular starting position for the U-18 team, playing alongside older, accomplished players such as Hiroki Sakai, Masato Kudo, and Hiroshi Ibusuki.
3. Professional Club Career
Yusaku Toyoshima's professional career saw him play for a diverse range of clubs both in Europe and back in Japan, gaining valuable experience across different leagues.
3.1. Overseas League Activity
In August 2010, at the age of 20, Toyoshima embarked on his overseas professional career by joining C.S. Visé in the Belgian Second Division. He was with the club for approximately six months from October 2011, though issues related to contractual terms and timing ultimately prevented a permanent re-signing.
Following his spell in Belgium, in July 2012, Toyoshima signed with FC Zaria Bălți (then known as FC Olimpia) in the Moldovan First Division. During his time there, he made 15 appearances and scored 2 goals. In August 2013, he transferred to FC Jūrmala in the Latvian First Division, where he participated in 14 matches.
In 2014, Toyoshima moved to FK Lovćen in the Montenegrin First Division. However, he did not make any appearances for Lovćen during the 2013-14 season. To gain playing time, from July 2014 to 2015, he was loaned to FK Berane, another club in the Montenegrin First League. With Berane, he saw significant action, making 22 appearances and scoring 2 goals.
3.2. Return to Japanese League and Activities
After his experience in European leagues, Toyoshima returned to Japan in September 2015, joining Grulla Morioka (now Iwate Grulla Morioka) in the J3 League. He made his J.League debut on September 27, 2015, in a J3 League match against AC Nagano Parceiro at Minami Nagano Sports Park Athletics Stadium. During his two seasons with Grulla Morioka, he made 1 league appearance in 2015 and did not feature in any league matches in 2016. He departed from the club at the end of the 2016 season.
In 2017, Toyoshima moved to Tochigi City FC (which was then known as Tochigi UVA FC). He made 1 appearance for the club in the Japan Football League (JFL) in 2017. In January 2018, he secured a professional contract with Tochigi UVA FC. However, he left the club in December 2018.
In 2019, Toyoshima joined Boso Rovers Kisarazu FC (then known as Rovers Kisarazu FC), a club based in Chiba Prefecture. He remained with the club until January 26, 2021, when his departure was officially announced.
4. Playing Style and Position
Yusaku Toyoshima primarily operated as a midfielder throughout his career. Within the midfield, he often played as a side half, indicating his ability to contribute both offensively and defensively along the flanks. He is noted for his proficiency with his left foot.
5. Club Statistics
The following table details Yusaku Toyoshima's club statistics, including appearances and goals in various league and cup competitions. His career total includes matches played both in Japan and overseas.
| Club Performance | League | Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | Total | ||||||
| 2015 | Grulla Morioka | J3 League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2017 | Tochigi UVA FC | JFL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018 | Kanto League Division 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Japan League Totals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Career Total | 53 | 4 | (unknown) | (unknown) | 53 | 4 | |||
6. Retirement and Post-Career Activities
Yusaku Toyoshima's professional playing career concluded with his departure from Boso Rovers Kisarazu FC on January 26, 2021. While no explicit retirement announcement was made, this marked the end of his active playing career at a professional level. As of available information, there are no public details regarding his specific activities or plans following his playing career.