Biography
Who is Yahiro Kazama?
Early life and playing career
Born in Shizuoka, Japan, on October 16, 1961, Yahiro Kazama began his athletic path as a student. He attended the University of Tsukuba before moving to Germany in 1984. During his time in Germany, he played for clubs including Remscheid and Eintracht Braunschweig. In 1989, he returned to Japan to join Mazda, a team that later became known as Sanfrecce Hiroshima. The team earned promotion to Division 1 in 1991. When the J1 League was founded in 1992, he played in the opening match and scored the league's first goal by a Japanese player. He concluded his playing career after returning to Remscheid, officially retiring in 1998.
National team experience
His involvement with the Japan national team began during his high school years. In August 1979, while a student at Shimizu Commercial High School, he was selected for the Japan U-20 national team to compete in the 1979 World Youth Championship, appearing in three games. Later, while attending the University of Tsukuba, he was called up for the 1982 World Cup qualification matches. He made his senior international debut on December 22, 1980, against Singapore. He also represented his country in the 1982 Asian Games and during qualification for the 1984 Summer Olympics. In total, he earned 19 caps for Japan, with his final national team appearances occurring before his move to Germany in 1984.
Transition to management
Following his retirement from active play, Yahiro Kazama moved into coaching. His first managerial position was at Toin University of Yokohama in 1998, where he remained until 2003. He later returned to his alma mater, the University of Tsukuba, to manage the team from 2008 until April 2012. In April 2012, he was appointed manager of Kawasaki Frontale, taking over for Naoki Soma. During his tenure there, he led the club to third-place finishes in both 2013 and 2016, and the team was the runner-up in the 2016 Emperor's Cup. He resigned from Kawasaki Frontale at the end of the 2016 season.
In January 2017, he became the manager for Nagoya Grampus, a club that had recently been relegated to the J2 League. Under his leadership, the team secured a third-place finish and earned promotion back to the J1 League for the 2018 season. Although the 2018 campaign presented challenges, the team finished in 15th place and maintained their spot in the top league. He departed from Nagoya Grampus in September 2019. By November 2023, it was announced that he would take on the role of manager for Nankatsu SC starting in the 2024 season.
Personal life and family
Yahiro Kazama is the father of two sons, Koki Kazama and Koya Kazama. Both of his children followed in his footsteps to become professional footballers. He maintains a height of 173 centimeters. Throughout his career, he has balanced his roles as a player, a coach, and a soccer commentator, contributing to the Japanese football community both on the field and in the media.
Birthday and age
Yahiro Kazama was born on October 16, 1961, which makes Yahiro 65 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Yahiro shares the date with 17 other famous people.
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