Nakayama Masashi

Nakayama Masashi is a famous Japanese soccer player. He was born in Shizuoka and he started playing soccer in his childhood.

When he was a high school student, he belonged to the soccer club in Fujieda-Higashi High School. This school is famous for soccer. He took part in high school soccer activities and he did well. He joined Tsukuba University after graduation. He also did well there and he entered Yamaha soccer team after graduation. After a few years, the J-league (Japanese pro soccer league) started and Yamaha soccer team decided to take part in this league. At that time Yamaha soccer team changed their name to Jubilo Iwata. Nakayama was supported by many fans because his soccer style fascinated them.

He was selected as a player on the Japanese national team and he contributed to the team but this team could not break through the preliminary rounds of the World Cup in 1994. Moreover, he injured his leg and he could not play soccer for a year. After recovering from his bone fracture, his success was remarkable. He continued to do hat-tricks for 4 games. This record was submitted to the Guiness Book of Records. Jubilo Iwata became a champion of J-league.

After that the preliminary rounds of World cup in 1998 were held in Asia. The Japanese national team fought hard and they broke through these rounds for the first time. This team lost all games at the World Cup in France, but Nakayama Masashi got the first goal for Japan. He is 31 years old now, but he will continue to be a good player forever.

References: http://www.freepage.total.co.jp/aigon/contents.html

This article compliments of Michael Shawback's Internet class at Ryukoku University, Kyoto

Reported by: Kawata Suguru

Data verified by: Kageyama Go

Date of Report:October 1998

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