The Japanese players who played in Spain

Last update 28 October, 2026 by Alberto Llopis

How many Japanese players played in Spain in professional category? Until not long ago, Japan Soccer, we did not know much else besides in the Japanese country one of the cartoon series that marked the childhood of generations created, known as Champions, Supercampeones or a street name of our times, Oliver and Benji. However, since the end of the decade of the 90 the last century, They have been a few Japanese players who have stepped on the pitch Spanish.

The Japanese players who played in Spain

Nobuyuki Zaizen

In the summer of 1996 the legendary Logroñés returned to the First Division. In full madness “Bosman Law” La Rioja had thrown the European market to strengthen its workforce in order to maintain the category. However, He noticed this Japanese player who was in the Lazio inferiors to play in The old Gaunas. However, to occupy extra space, He never got to make debut not even be registered with the team riojano so eventually ended up leaving the club unable to play in the league.

Sotaro Yasunaga

Sotaro Yasunaga played in the Spanish second division at the end of the twentieth century after first strengthening the ranks of Lleida and then a Racing de Ferrol was characterized for a while to put together a veritable Tower of Babel of nationalities.

Shoji Jo

The twentieth century brought a new player Japanese to Spanish football but this time whether to play in First Division. Real Valladolid, announced that it was done with the signing of Shoji Jo to play the first League of the new millennium. Juice 15 games and scored 2 goals, both at Real Oviedo. However, serious injury slowed his way into the Spanish football.

Akinori Nishizawa

Espanyol Barcelona signed this Japanese player to make it one of their forwards. However, the Japanese will never burst through the eye then-coach parakeet, Paco Flores who even went so far as to affirm that the Japanese had no level to play in First. Four games and low at the end of that season.

Yoshito Okubo

Mallorca took the Japanese player in the transfer market this season 2004/05. He completed a second round which made the Mallorca took control services in property. He played another season where he went on to complete 25 games with a somewhat uneven performance.

Kenji Fukuda

Kenji Fukuda was a Japanese player who made much of his career in Latin countries. He played in the Mexican Pachuca and Irapuato well at the Guarani of Paraguay. In Spain did three teams from 2006, in Castellón, Numancia and Las Palmas. All an adventurer.

Shunsuke Nakamura

Espanyol were encouraged to repeat the experience of hiring a Japanese even though the other had left her frog. This time, they went straight for a more contrasted as Nakamura who already had experience in Europe. It came as reinforcing media but contributed nothing. twelve parties, zero goals and low at the end of the season 2009/10.

Akihiro Ienaga

Mallorca as Espanyol, also he encouraged to repeat with a Japanese footballer. In the winter of 2011, He decided to sign known as Akihiro Ienaga “Aki”. It was from 2011 until 2013 in the rows of the Balearic.

Mike Havenaar

The Japanese giant Dutch father, with almost two meters tall and slightly oriental features, He signed by the Cordoba in summer 2014 in the season it was the turn of the Andalusian team to the First Division after many decades. He started headline but I just lost the position ceding the position to Nabil Ghilas.

Ibusuki Hiroshi

Japanese striker eared 1,97 meters high played in several Spanish teams. Specifically in Girona, Zaragoza B, Sabadell, Sevilla Atletico and Valencia Mestalla. A long career in Spanish football youth ranks but not endorsed in the top flight.

Takashi Inui

Eibar hit full in the recruitment of Japanese Inui in summer 2015. The skilled and talented end of Eibar was uncovered as a quality player and materialized a good season in his debut in the Spanish football. Then he went through the Betis and Alaves in one season and return to Eibar after a year out in 2019. One of the Japanese players who left the greatest mark in Spain, especially for their 2 stages at Eibar. Over the years, Kubo has also earned a prominent place in this story.

Hiroshi Kiyotake

In the summer of 2016 Sevilla was the one who decided to sign a Japanese player. The team decided to pay Nervion 6,5 million euros to Hannover 96 to clinch the second Japanese in its history after Hiroshi. It did not work out and left in the winter of 2017 for a few personal problems that prevented him from adapting.

Gaku Shibasaki

At the end of World Club 2016 a surprising Kashima Antlers, He had an entire Real Madrid to extra time. In the modest Japanese team he highlighted a player who a month later would land in Spanish football hand Tenerife. Gaku Shibasaki showed his talent in the league 1,2,3 in half a year to make the leap to the Spanish First Division with Getafe and later sign for Deportivo de la Coruña and Leganés.

Yosuke Ideguchi

Leeds United signed in the winter market 2018 to this promising international Japanese player and then transfer him to the second division Cultural Leonesa for half a season. It did not make much of interest.

Shinji Kagawa

Definitely a signing of these so-called 'random'. A top player with a very high salary until then, which surprisingly he signed in 2019 for Real Zaragoza who was in second with a fairly tight economic conditions. The Japanese changed a whole Borussia Dortmund play in the second category of Spanish football in the less movement, surprising considering that Manchester United had paid for the less important number one a few years earlier.

Okazaki

Another signing Kagawa style, in the same summer and in the same category but in this case by the Malaga signed a whole champion of the Premier in 2016 with that surprising Leicester who managed to surprise the entire football world. However, Okazaki was only a few months in Malaga to finish in Huesca where he played 2 seasons and then move to Cartagena. Except for a year in first class with Huesca, the others in the Spanish second division.

Daisuke Suzuki

This Japanese central was in the Nastic de Tarragona between 2015 y 2018 where he played in the second category of Spanish football with the Catalan team a total of 67 parties.

Take Kubo

The talented Japanese player went through Real Madrid and had a chain of loan spells at RCD Mallorca (in 2 stages), Villarreal and Getafe. In the summer of 2022 took the step that changed his Spanish journey: signed for Real Sociedad. We are no longer talking about a promise waiting to explode, but of a footballer settled in First Division. in the season 2026/27 He faces his fifth year in the San Sebastian team, with which he renewed until 2029. His continuity in the elite has made him one of the great Japanese references in Spanish football..

Yoshinori Muto

Ipurua not only saw Inui play. In September 2020, Eibar also incorporated Yoshinori Muto, on loan from Newcastle for the season 2020/21. The forward shared a team with his compatriot in the First Division, although his Spanish stage was much shorter. A name that was missing in this tour and that reminds us that the Japanese connection of the gunsmith group had more protagonists. He Newcastle officially announced that transfer.

Kento Hashimoto

Hashimoto arrived at Huesca in the summer of 2022 and opened another Japanese page in El Alcoraz after Okazaki. The midfielder played 2 seasons in the Second Division with the Huesca team before joining Eibar in August 2024. His gun adventure lasted only a few months.: in January 2025 returned to FC Tokyo. He transfer notice left a record of his 7 matches with Eibar. His time in Spain, therefore, It is not limited to a single club.

Taichi Hara

Deportivo Alavés also had a Japanese striker during their time in the Second Division. 2022/23. Taichi Hara disputed 15 League matches and scored a goal, in addition to scoring in the Copa del Rey against Lleida Esportiu. It was not a long stay: in January 2023 He was loaned to Belgian club Sint-Truiden. It is advisable to include it without confusing categories: His league participation with the Albiazul first team took place in the Second Division., not in First.

Takuma Asano

Mallorca looked to Japan again in the summer of 2024 with the addition of Takuma Asano. The attacker arrived after his time at German club Bochum and joined a relationship that had already had names like Okubo, Ienaga y Kubo. They are presentation with the Balearic club took place on 8 of August of 2024, with Mojica and Morey. Another career that expands the map of Japanese footballers who have played in the Spanish League in recent years.

Taisei Miyashiro

Las Palmas added a new Japanese name to its history in January 2026. Taisei Miyashiro landed on loan from Vissel Kobe, with purchase option, to reinforce the yellow attack in the Second Division. He did not stay in a winter incorporation: he 25 June 2026, the entity confirmed its purchase and a contract until 2030. In his first half season he added 17 League matches and 4 goals. That's why, a 28 October 2026 It is no longer appropriate to describe him solely as a loan until June: Its connection with Las Palmas became property. The UD announced your initial arrival y The purchase was confirmed in June.

Ryunosuke Sato

The novelty of the summer 2026 arrived at Mestalla. Valencia signed Ryunosuke Sato from FC Tokyo, with contract until 2031. The agreement was announced on 7 July and made the midfielder the first Japanese member of the first Valencian men's team. I arrive with 19 years and turned 20 he 16 October 2026. Its profile combines mobility, dribbling and ability to play inside or start from a wing. In your case, historical nuance matters: Hiroshi Ibusuki and Wadi Suzuki had previously passed through the Valencia Mestalla, but that did not mean they had opened the same door in the first team. He FC Tokyo confirmed the transfer and the Valencia documented its status as the first Japanese on the men's team.