JFA Hall of Fame Inductee

TAKEUCHI Teizo

Inductees Recommended by the Committee (Special Selection)

Born in Tokyo on 6 November 1908

Graduates from Tokyo Imperial University.
First learns football at the Tokyo Prefectural Fifth Junior High School (now Tokyo Metropolitan Koishikawa High School), before going on to play the sport at Urawa Higher School and Tokyo Imperial University. Succeeds Shigemaru Takenokoshi as centre half for Tokyo Imperial University, and lays the foundations for the university’s golden era.

Later switches position to defender, and appears on the international stage at the 9th Far Eastern Championship Games in 1930 (Tokyo). Japan beats the Philippines, and ultimately shares the title following a 3-3 draw with the Republic of China. Captains the national team at the Games of the 11th Olympiad (1936, Berlin). Given the honour of carrying the national flag at the opening ceremony. As the sole survivor from the 1930 Far Eastern Championship Games side, the teammates’ trust in Takeuchi is high, and he contributes greatly to the victory over a Sweden side that had been considered as potential champions, with an excellent level of understanding and ability in a new tactical system featuring three full backs. Visits various places throughout Europe by himself after the Olympics, contributing to technical improvement in Japanese football by reporting on local football conditions to the JFA and supplying the latest information from across the world.

Serves as JFA representative, Kanto Football Association board member, and as deputy director of the Officials Division and member of the Technical Division of the Football Preparatory Committee for the Games of the 12th Olympiad (the cancelled Tokyo Olympics), focusing his attention on technical instruction and on training referees.
Dies of illness on April 12, 1946, while being detained in Siberia

• 
  TANABE Gohei
• MATSUMARU Teiichi