Latest news with #JSL
Japan Forward
4 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Forward
Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's Greatest Goalscorer, Dies at 81
On the global stage and in the Japan Soccer League, Kunishige Kamamoto excelled. Playing for the national team, he scored 75 goals in 76 matches. Japan's Kunishige Kamamoto competes against Spain at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Kamamoto scored a hat trick in Japan's 3-1 group stage victory. (©SANKEI) Kunishige Kamamoto, a prolific goalscorer in the 1960s, '70s and early '80s, died on Sunday, August 10 of pneumonia at an Osaka hospital. He was 81. Playing for the Japan national team at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Kamamoto was the tournament's top scorer (seven goals). He helped Japan earn the bronze medal, its best-ever finish in an Olympic men's soccer tourney. Brazilian legend Pele, who passed away in December 2022, once called Kamamoto "a great striker." It was the ultimate compliment for the Kyoto native. Others have described Kamamoto as "Japan's goal machine." Kunishige Kamamoto in action at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. He was the tournament's leading scorer with seven goals. (©SANKEI) Kamamoto scored 75 goals in 76 Japan national team matches between 1964 (he made his debut at the Tokyo Olympics) and '77. To this day, he is Japan's all-time leading scorer. A Canadian Broadcasting Corporation article from 2005, "Top 10 Japanese Athletes," opined that Kamamoto's place in the pecking order of his chosen sport in his homeland was indisputable. "Unquestionably, [he was] the greatest Japanese soccer player of all time," the CBC declared. Beyond his impressive statistics, Asian Football Confederation President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa recognizes Kamamoto as an inspirational figure. He called Kamamoto "a true icon of Asian football whose achievements will forever be remembered." The AFC chief added, "[Kamamoto's] role in leading Japan to the bronze medal at the 1968 Olympic Games inspired generations and elevated the profile of the beautiful game across the continent." Yanmar Diesel Soccer Club's Kunishige Kamamoto scores the winning goal against Eidai Soccer Club in a Japan Soccer League match in December 1974. (©SANKEI) Kamamoto was a seven-time Japanese Football Player of the Year. In 2005, he was the first inductee of the Japan Football Hall of Fame, which was established that year. Kamamoto played his entire pro career for the Yanmar Diesel Soccer Club, the forerunner of the Cerezo Osaka, in the Japan Soccer League from 1967-84. And he was named to the JSL's Best XI team 14 times, highlighting his sustained standard of excellence. In his 251 Yanmar Diesel appearances in the JSL, the Waseda University alum scored a jaw-dropping 202 goals while leading the JSL in goals in seven seasons. He also notched 51 goals in 48 Emperor's Cup matches over the years. Led by Pele and Giorgio Chinaglia, among others, the North American Soccer League's star-studded New York Cosmos played the Japan national squad in September 1977. A crowd of 65,000 spectators attended the exhibition match at the old National Stadium in Tokyo. After the game, which the Cosmos won 3-1, Pele gave Kamamoto an unforgettable present: his spiked shoes worn in the match. Japanese legend Kunishige Kamamoto is carried off the field by Pele (center) and Wolfgang Overath after his retirement match on August 25, 1984, at Tokyo's National Stadium. (ⒸSANKEI) Shaikh Salman offered condolences in the aftermath of Kamamoto's death. "On behalf of the Asian football family, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to his loved ones, friends, and the Japan Football Association during this time of grieving, and I am confident that his legacy will continue to inspire and his contribution to the game will never be forgotten," Shaikh Salman said in a written tribute posted on the AFC website. "The thoughts and prayers of the AFC and the Asian football community are with the family and friends of Kunishige Kamamoto, as well as with the JFA, during this difficult time." Influential German mentor Dettmar Cramer (left), who is considered the father of modern Japanese soccer, and Kunishige Kamamoto attend a Japan Football Hall of Fame ceremony in May 2005 in Tokyo. (©SANKEI) Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto paid tribute to Kamamoto this week. "Mr Kamamoto was truly an unparalleled striker," Miyamoto said in a statement. In a video posted to the "Timeless Legends" YouTube channel, the narrator provides a revealing portrait of how Kamamoto thrived on the field. "Inspired by Portugal's legendary Eusebio, a thunderous shot, quick movement and a killer instinct for goals ― he had it all," the narrator said. Hajime Moriyasu, manager of the Samurai Blue, aka the national team, described Kamamoto as a player whose impact went far beyond the final score during any match. Rather, Kamamoto "gave us a ray of hope that Japanese football can compete on the international stage," Moriyasu was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "I'm hoping for a player who could eventually eclipse Mr Kamamoto to emerge," he added. Kozo Tashima, the JFA's honorary president and its former president (2016-24), said Kamamoto set the standard of greatness for Japanese goalscorers. In Osaka, a wake and a funeral were held for Kamamoto on Wednesday, August 13. According to published reports, 170 people attended the funeral. Tashima delivered a eulogy for Kamamoto. "Looking back on the long history of Japanese soccer, unfortunately there is no other striker who can compete on equal terms with the world," Tashima said, according to NHK. "My eulogy was meant to express my gratitude for the great legacy he left behind in the world of soccer." Tashima added, "There was no one who loved soccer and the Japanese national team as much as he did. I want to carry on that spirit and fully support the players and coaches at next year's [FIFA] World Cup." Kunishige Kamamoto scored 202 times in 251 matches for Yanmar Diesel in the Japan Soccer League. (©SANKEI) Goalkeeper Kenzo Yokoyama, who competed with Kamamoto at the Mexico City Olympics, remembered his former teammate as a technically sound player. "He always emphasized how important it was to stop the ball before shooting, and he practiced that technique extensively," Yokoyama recalled, NHK reported. "I was also trained by receiving hundreds of his shots." chairman Yoshikazu Nonomura expressed his profound appreciation for the impact that Kamamoto had on his soccer career and the sport in Japan. "I have been taught by Pele, [Diego] Maradona, Zico and Kamamoto since I was a child, and I am extremely grateful to them," Nonomura said, according to NHK. "Kamamoto's presence as a player and coach has played a major role in shaping the soccer world as we know it today. I would like to continue to develop the soccer world that he helped build." Born April 15, 1944 in Kyoto's Ukyo Ward, Kunishige Kamamoto attended Yamashiro High School before enrolling at Waseda University in 1963. During Kamamoto's college years, he established himself as a prolific scorer. He was the Kanto University League's No 1 scorer for four consecutive seasons. As a professional footballer for Yanmar Diesel, the muscular 179-cm Kamamoto served as player-manager from 1978-84. Gamba Osaka manager Kunishige Kamamoto (right) gives instructions to forward Akihiro Nagashima in May 1993. (©SANKEI) From 1991-94, he was the manager of Matsushita Electric/Gamba Osaka, before and after the launch of the in 1993. Gamba became a part of the team's name in '92. Throughout the years following his retirement, Kamamoto helped develop the sport in his homeland. He conducted more than 1,200 soccer clinics in Japan, Kyodo News reported. He was the JFA vice president from 1998-2008, a transformative era for Japanese soccer. The Samurai Blue qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 1998, and Japan co-hosted the World Cup along with South Korea in 2002. Kunishige Kamamoto (18) and Hidetoshi Nakata participate in an exhibition game, the Plus One Football Match, in June 2008 at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama. (KYODO) As a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, Kamamoto served in the House of Councillors from 1995 to 2001. And in 2014, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, recognizing his societal contributions through soccer. Yanmar's Kunishige Kamamoto (left) pursues the ball in a Japan Soccer League match against Hitachi in December 1971. (©SANKEI) Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
Yomiuri Shimbun
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japanese Soccer Legend Kunishige Kamamoto Dies at 81
Tokyo, Aug. 10 (Jiji Press) — Kunishige Kamamoto, who was widely considered the greatest striker in Japanese soccer history, died of pneumonia at a hospital in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, on Sunday. He was 81. At the 1968 Mexico Olympics, Kamamoto scored seven goals to become the top scorer, serving as the driving force behind the Japanese national soccer team's capture of their first Olympic bronze medal. A native of Kyoto Prefecture in western Japan, Kamamoto started playing soccer in elementary school. After graduating from Yamashiro High School in Kyoto, he went to Waseda University in Tokyo and became the top scorer in the soccer league of universities in the Kanto eastern Japan region for four consecutive years. In 1967, Kamamoto joined Yanmar in the Japan Soccer League, or JSL, the predecessor to the Japan Professional Football League, or In the JSL, he played in 251 games over 17 seasons and scored a record 202 goals. He also won the scoring title a record seven times. Kamamoto had been selected for the Japanese national team since 1964, competing in both the Tokyo Olympics that year and the Mexico Games four years later. He played in 76 international 'A' matches and scored a record 75 goals, which remains the highest number ever scored by a male player. He was known for his right-angled shots, and 'right 45 degrees' became his trademark. Kamamoto retired as a soccer player in 1984. After serving as head coach of Gamba Osaka in the J League, he held various positions including vice president of the Japan Football Association from 1998. He was inducted into the Japan Football Hall of Fame in 2005. In 1995, he ran for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of Japan's parliament, as a candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party and was elected for his first term. In recent years, Kamamoto had been in poor health and was undergoing medical treatment.
10-08-2025
- Sport
Japanese Soccer Legend Kunishige Kamamoto Dies at 81
Tokyo, Aug. 10 (Jiji Press)--Kunishige Kamamoto, who was widely considered the greatest striker in Japanese soccer history, died of pneumonia at a hospital in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, on Sunday. He was 81. At the 1968 Mexico Olympics, Kamamoto scored seven goals to become the top scorer, serving as the driving force behind the Japanese national soccer team's capture of their first Olympic bronze medal. A native of Kyoto Prefecture in western Japan, Kamamoto started playing soccer in elementary school. After graduating from Yamashiro High School in Kyoto, he went to Waseda University in Tokyo and became the top scorer in the soccer league of universities in the Kanto eastern Japan region for four consecutive years. In 1967, Kamamoto joined Yanmar in the Japan Soccer League, or JSL, the predecessor to the Japan Professional Football League, or In the JSL, he played in 251 games over 17 seasons and scored a record 202 goals. He also won the scoring title a record seven times. Kamamoto had been selected for the Japanese national team since 1964, competing in both the Tokyo Olympics that year and the Mexico Games four years later. He played in 76 international "A" matches and scored a record 75 goals, which remains the highest number ever scored by a male player. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Business Standard
27-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Western Carriers (India) rises on securing Rs 230-cr order from Jindal Stainless
Western Carriers (India) rose 2.97% to Rs 117.85 after the company announced that it has secured a work order worth approximately Rs 230 crore from Jindal Stainless (JSL). The three-year contract involves providing an integrated EXIM logistics solution, including rail transportation of containers from various ports to Jindal Stainless plant siding, customs clearance at the Jajpur facility, return movement of empty and export-laden containers, last-mile delivery to designated container freight stations (CFS) or shipping line yards, and other related logistics services. Rajendra Sethia, Chairman & Managing Director, Western Carriers (India), said, Securing this prestigious contract from Jindal Stainless is a strong endorsement of WCILs proven execution capabilities and trusted partnership. These back-to-back significant orders not only highlight our operational excellence but also reaffirm our strategic position as a preferred end-to-end logistics partner for Indias leading industrial houses. Managing JSLs vast and complex supply chain seamlessly further reflects our ability to handle mission-critical operations with precision. We are confident that such milestones will further accelerate our growth trajectory as we continue delivering integrated, scalable, and future-ready logistics solutions across the country and beyond. Western Carriers (India) is a player in the Indian logistics industry and engaged in providing single, multimodal, and other transportation services, warehousing, and other ancillary services. Jindal Stainless is one of the largest manufacturers of Stainless Steel flat products in Austenitic, Ferritic, martensitic, and Duplex grades in India, used in a variety of industries like automobile, railways, construction, consumer goods, etc. Shares of Jindal Stainless rose 1.01% to Rs 701.45 on the BSE.
Business Upturn
27-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Western Carriers shares jump 5% after securing Rs 230 crore logistics deal from Jindal Stainless
Western Carriers Ltd saw its shares climb 5% in morning trade on Friday after the company announced a major logistics contract win from Jindal Stainless Limited (JSL). The work order is valued at approximately ₹230 crore and spans a three-year period. Under the agreement, Western Carriers will provide a fully integrated EXIM (export-import) logistics solution. This includes the rail transport of containers from key Indian ports to JSL's plant siding, customs clearance at Jindal's Jajpur facility, and the return movement of both empty and loaded export containers. Additionally, the company will handle last-mile delivery to container freight stations (CFS) or shipping line yards, along with other related logistics services. This order marks a significant boost for Western Carriers, reinforcing its position as a key logistics partner for India's major industrial players. The company's ability to offer end-to-end multimodal solutions appears to be paying off, particularly at a time when efficient and integrated logistics are critical to managing supply chains. Disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Stock market investments are subject to market risks. Always conduct your own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions. Author or Business Upturn is not liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
