Kazuyoshi Miura: King Kazu, Football’s Eternal Pioneer
Kazuyoshi Miura: King Kazu, Football’s Eternal Pioneer
He chased a dream to Brazil as a teenager, came home to become Japan’s first football superstar, and then simply refused to stop — still playing professionally in his late fifties. “King Kazu” is the living history of Japanese football.
Kazuyoshi Miura — universally known as “King Kazu” — is the founding superstar of Japanese football. As a teenager he moved alone to Brazil to learn the game, then returned to become the face of the new J.League (its first MVP in 1993) with Verdy Kawasaki. In 1994 he became one of the first Japanese players in Italy’s Serie A, with Genoa. Most astonishing of all, he has kept playing professionally into his late fifties — widely recognised as the oldest professional footballer in the world, and the oldest to score in a professional match. In 2026 he is playing in Japan’s J3 for Fukushima United.
1. Who King Kazu is
The man who showed Japan that football dreams were possible.
Kazuyoshi Miura is the most symbolically important footballer in Japan’s history — a striker whose career has spanned the entire modern era of the sport in the country, from before the professional league existed to the present day.1 ⚠ He is still active; his current club changes — check the latest.
2. The pioneer
As a teenager, with no established path for Japanese players abroad, Kazu moved alone to Brazil to chase a professional career — an extraordinary leap for the time. He came back a star, leading Verdy Kawasaki at the birth of the J.League and winning its first MVP award in 1993. In 1994 he joined Genoa, becoming one of the first Japanese players to appear in Italy’s Serie A.1 Every Japanese player who has gone abroad since followed a trail he helped blaze.
3. The eternal professional
What turned Kazu from a great player into a global phenomenon is his sheer refusal to stop. He has continued playing professional football into his late fifties — recognised as the oldest professional footballer in the world and the oldest to score in a professional game.1 In 2026, at 59, he is turning out for Fukushima United in Japan’s J3. When asked why he keeps going, his answer is simply that he loves football. ⚠ His club and status change season to season — confirm the latest.
4. Why he matters
- He opened the door. The pioneer who made going abroad — and going pro — thinkable for Japanese players.
- He defined the J.League’s dawn. Its first superstar and first MVP.
- He’s a symbol of longevity. Still playing in his late fifties, a record-breaking professional.
In five lines
- Kazuyoshi Miura, “King Kazu,” is the founding superstar of Japanese football.
- As a teenager he moved alone to Brazil to turn professional.
- He led Verdy Kawasaki and was the J.League’s first MVP (1993).
- In 1994 he became one of the first Japanese players in Serie A (Genoa).
- He still plays professionally in his late fifties — the world’s oldest pro footballer. ⚠
The players who carried Japan abroad
Explore the legends and the stars of today on the road to 2026.
Sources & notes
- Kazuyoshi Miura — Brazil start; Verdy Kawasaki and 1993 first J.League MVP; Genoa (Serie A, 1994); world’s oldest professional footballer; 2026 with Fukushima United (J3). Wikipedia (JA); Qoly
A player profile dated 14 June 2026. Kazu remains active — flagged ⚠ items should be confirmed against official sources.
📅 更新履歴
| 日付 | 変更内容 |
|---|---|
| 2026年6月15日 | 初回公開 |
✅ ファクト再検証
最終検証日：2026年6月15日
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