The JFA Mid-Term Plan for 2023-2026Japan Football Hall of Fame
JFA Hall of Fame Inductee
DAINI Kuniya
Special Selection: 19th Japan Football Hall of Fame in 2023
- Born in Hyogo on 12 October 1944
Started playing football at Kobe Municipal Motoyama Junior High School. After graduating from Hyogo Prefectural Kobe High School, he entered Keio University in 1964, and played for the Keio University Soccer Team. He played the full ninety minutes in all official matches during his time at Keio University.
In 1970 he began working for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and joined its football club. He was selected for the national team in 1972. Up to his retirement in 1978, he played 119 matches over eight years in the Japan Soccer League (JSL), with one goal and four assists. He played 44 international A-matches for the Japan National Team. In 1978, he became coach of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Football Club while continuing to play as an active player. After retirement he became a full-time coach and was promoted to manager in 1984, a position he held until 1989.
In 1992, he was appointed to the JFA Facilities Committee, where he worked on the planning and development of the venues for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™. In 1996, he became a member of the JFA Executive Committee. In the same year, he became chairman of the Technical Committee and was involved in the selection of the new manager for the Japan National Team.
Since 1999, he has supported the Japan National Team led by Philippe TROUSSIER as vice chair of the Strengthening Promotion Division for 2002, contributing to the team's advancement to the round of 16 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™.
After serving as a standing member of the JFA Executive Committee, Chairman of the JFA Women's Committee, Vice President of J-VILLAGE Inc., and President of the Japan Futsal Federation, he was appointed JFA Vice President in 2006 and COO of the Japan Futsal League (F.League) in 2007. He was elected president of JFA in 2012, and his leadership was instrumental in the national team’s qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, the development of women's football, the aid provided for the Great East Japan Earthquake reconstruction, organisational reforms of JFA, and the building of Prince Takamado Memorial JFA YUME Field, among other initiatives.
Awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in 2016.
