Kunishige Kamamoto

is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.

Kunishige Kamamoto

Kamamoto in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Kunishige Kamamoto
Date of birth	(1944-04-15) April 15, 1944
Place of birth	Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Forward
Youth career
1960–1962	Yamashiro High School
1963–1966	Waseda University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1967–1984	Yanmar Diesel	251	(202)
Total		251	(202)
National team
1964–1977	Japan	76	(75)
Teams managed
1978–1984	Yanmar Diesel
1991–1994	Gamba Osaka
2009	Fujieda MYFC
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography

Kamamoto was born in Kyoto on April 15, 1944. After graduating from Waseda University, he joined Japan Soccer League club Yanmar Diesel in 1967. He played all games in league from first season. In 1968, he became a top scorer in the league. The club won their 1st title 1968 Emperor's Cup with his winning goal in final. The club also won 1970 Emperor's Cup. In 1971, the club won their 1st league champions and he also became a top scorer Second time. In 1974 and 1975, the club won the league for 2 years in a row and also won 1974 Emperor's Cup. In 1978, he became a playing manager. The club won the league champions in 1980. In 1982, he ruptured his Achilles tendon 2 times. In 1984, when he was 40 years old, he retired and resigned a manager. He became a top scorer 7 times and was selected Best Eleven 14 times. He was also selected "Japanese Footballer of the Year" awards 7 times.

On March 3, 1964, when Kamamoto was a Waseda University student, he debuted and scored a goal for the Japan national team against Singapore. In October, he was selected by Japan for 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He played all matches and scored 1 goal. In 1968, he also was selected Japan for 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Japan won Bronze Medal and he became a top scorer. He played all matches and scored 7 goals. In 2018, this team was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. In the 1970s, after many Olympic players left national team, he continued being selected national team. He also played at 1966, 1970 and 1974 Asian Games. In 1977, he retired from national team. He played 76 games and scored 75 goals for Japan until 1977.

In 1991, he signed with across town to the Yanmar Diesel rivals, Matsushita Electric (later Gamba Osaka). He resigned in 1994.

Kamamoto was selected as a member of the House of Councillors in July 1995, then served until July 2001. Kamamoto was also served the vice-president of the Japan Football Association from July 1998 to July 2008. In 2005, he was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame.

Statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		Total
1967	Yanmar Diesel	JSL Division 1	14	14	3	7	-		17	21
1968			14	14	3	5	-		17	19
1969			12	10	3	7	-		15	17
1970			14	16	3	5	-		17	21
1971			14	11	3	5	-		17	16
1972			14	11	4	5	-		18	16
1973			16	17	2	0	-		18	17
1974			18	21	4	3	-		22	24
1975			17	9	3	2	-		20	11
1976			18	15	3	2	1	0	22	17
1977			18	20	4	4	3	2	25	26
1978			18	15	3	4	3	4	24	23
1979			18	7	3	2	2	1	22	11
1980			18	10	2	0	3	2	23	12
1981			18	11	2	0	0	0	20	11
1982			8	1	0	0	0	0	8	1
1983			2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
1984			0	0	3	0	0	0	3	0
Country	Japan		251	202	48	51	12	9	311	262
Total			251	202	48	51	12	9	311	262

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1964	2	1
1965	3	3
1966	7	6
1967	5	11
1968	4	7
1969	0	0
1970	6	3
1971	6	8
1972	8	15
1973	3	2
1974	5	5
1975	7	5
1976	16	9
1977	4	0
Total	76	75

Other websites

• Japan Football Hall of Fame at Japan Football Association
• Japan Football Hall of Fame (Japan team at 1968 Olympics) at Japan Football Association