JFA Hall of Fame Inductee

IWATANI Toshio

Inductees Recommended by the Committee (Special Selection)

Born in Hyogo on 24 October 1925

Graduates from Waseda University.
Plays football at Kobe First Junior High School (now Hyogo Prefectural Kobe High School) and Waseda University, and achieves many accomplishments as the top student football player of his time. Works as a football journalist for Kyodo News and the Mainichi Newspapers after graduating, combining this work with much success as a coach.
Participates in the 1st Asian Games in 1951 (New Delhi), and contributes to Japan winning the bronze medal with two goals in the third-place playoff against Afghanistan. Continues to play for the Japan national team afterwards until the Asian qualifying tournament for the Games of the 16th Olympiad in 1956 (Melbourne). Takes part in drawing of lots as captain after Japan finishes level with South Korea with one win and one defeat in these qualifiers, and successfully gains place in main Olympic tournament. Makes 7 appearances in A internationals, scoring 3 goals.

Takes role of team coach for the Japanese national team's tour of Burma in 1955, and leads Japan to third place at the 2nd AFC Youth Championship in 1960 as manager. Provides back-up to the structure of Naganuma and Okano and pours efforts into strengthening the national team as director of the First Coaching Department at the Player Strengthening Division, ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games. Involved in development of football in the Kansai region after appointment as president of the Kansai Football Association Technical Committee in 1965.

Also shows passion for the popularization of boys' football, establishing the Kobe Boys' Soccer School and the Osaka Sportsmen's Club Soccer School, devoting energies to coaching, and travelling throughout the country to coach teams of boys.
Also works to compile "40 Years of All-Japan High School Football" (Mainichi Newspapers, 1962), which remains a valuable resource in the history of high school football.
Passes away in 1970.

• 
  TOKITA Masanori
• NAGANUMA Ken