Who is Kaoru Mitoma, the Japanese footballer who studied football at the university?

Who is Kaoru Mitoma, the Japanese footballer who studied football at the university?

Claudia Kogi
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:24 PM
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Yes! Japanese nationals have proven to know their way around those soccer pitches, and Kaoru Mitoma is no exception. A resident of Oita, as of 2023, Kaoru plays as a winger for Premier League club Brighton & Hobe Albion and the Japan National Football Team.

Kaoru Mitoma's career stats
Mitoma of Brighton & Hove Albion in action during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match against Liverpool FC at Amex Stadium on 29 January 2023, in Brighton, England. Photo: Bryn Lennon
Source: Getty Images

Ever since he debuted in the soccer arena, he has not even once frayed from proving his worth to the two teams he plays for. Thanks to his impressive performances, he has become a sought-after personality, amassing significant fan bases across social media platforms like Instagram.

Kaoru Mitoma's profile and bio summary

Full name

Kaoru Mitoma

Date of birth

20 May 1997

Place of birth

Oita, Kanagawa, Japan

Age

25 years of age as of February 2023

Nationality

Japanese

Weight

157 pounds or 71 kilograms

Height

5 feet 10 inches or 178 centimetres

Alma mater

University of Tsukuba

Profession

Professional soccer

Team(s)

Brighton & Hobe Albion and Japan National Football team

Net worth

$1.5 million

Socia media presence

Instagram, Twitter

Where did Kaoru Mitoma grow up?

The famous winger was born on 20 May 1997 in Oita, Kanagawa, Japan. However, he grew up in the Kawasaki area. Unfortunately, he has not disclosed many details regarding his parents, siblings, or childhood background.

What is Kaoru Mitoma's age?

Kaoru Mitoma's FIFA 23
Kaoru Mitoma in action during the Jupiler Pro League match against Zulte Waregem at Elindus Arena on 15 December 2021, in Waregem, Belgium. Photo: Vincent Van Doornick
Source: Getty Images

The Japanese national is 25 years of age as of February 2023. According to astrology, his zodiac sign is Taurus.

Kaoru Mitoma's height and weight

The sensational soccer player stands at the height of 5 feet 10 inches, which is equivalent to 178 centimetres, his weight is 157 pounds or 71 kilograms, and his body measurements are 38-30-38 inches or 96-76-96 centimetres. He has black hair and dark brown eyes.

Kaoru Mitoma's career stats

Having been born in Oita, he grew up in the Kawasaki area and joined the Frontale academy at the U10 level. It was only a matter of time before he was offered a promotion from the U18s to the senior team, managed by Yahiro Kazama. However, he turned down the offer and went ahead to join the University of Tsukuba.

While at the University of his choice, Tsukuba, he would play in the Kanto University Soccer League and later got named to the all-league XI in his final three seasons while studying physical education.

Kaoru Mitoma's first contract

The up-and-coming soccer star agreed to his first ever contract with Kawasaki Frontale senior team in 2020. He made his official pro debut on the opening match day of the 2020 J1 League and swiftly established himself after the global pandemic finally subsided.

Kaoru Mitoma recently wrote a thesis
Union's star Kaoru Mitoma during the Jupiler Pro League season 2021/2022, match day 7 against KRC Genk at Luminus Arena on 12 September 2021, in Genk, Limburg. Photo: Vincent Van Doornick
Source: Getty Images

He then spent three seasons at Kawasaki Frontale where he bagged one J1 League, Japanese Super Cup, and Emperor's Cup. Furthermore, he then later signed his second yet contract on 10 August 2021 when he joined Premier League side Brighton & Hobe Albion on a four-year deal.

It took him barely a month to score his first goal, taking the team to glory in a 4-2 home victory against Seraing. During his spell at Union SG, he made a total of 29 appearances, scored 8 goals, and provided 4 assists in all the competitions.

Internationally, Mitoma made his debut for Japan National Football team on 14 November 2021 in a 1-0 win over Oman during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. After five months of continuous great skills, he scored yet another international goal for his country against Australia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Even though Japan lost their final penalty in the 2022 World Cup tournaments over Croatia, the country still appreciates Kaoru's input and how he managed to even take them to the competitions.

What is this about Kaoru Mitoma's art of dribbling?

Kaoru Mitoma's art of dribbling
Japanese star Kaoru Mitoma in action during the U-24 international friendly match against Ghana at the Best Denki Stadium on 5 June 2021 in Fukuoka, Japan. Photo: Masashi Hara
Source: Getty Images

Kaoru Mitoma recently wrote a thesis on his dribbling skills at the University while majoring in physical education, and it did spark the public's attention. During an interview with The Athletic, the Oita-born soccer winger stated,

It was the easiest subject for me to choose because I love football, and dribbling is what I love to do. I put cameras on the heads of my teammates to study where and what they were looking at and how their opponents were looking at them.

He claimed that he often felt his instinct increase based on the thesis, and for that reason, the Premier League defenders ought to be really concerned. Everyone has one at least one thing they do better than any other person, and Kaoru's dribbling thesis, happens to be his strength.

Kaoru Mitoma's FIFA 23 rankings

According to the 23 World FIFA rankings, the Japanese-based winger has an overall rating of 74 with a potential of 77. He has a 4-star skill move rating and prefers shooting with his right foot. He wears a jersey branded number 22. His strengths include,

Ball skills

  • Dribbling - 78
  • Ball control - 76

Physical

  • Acceleration - 88
  • Agility - 86
  • Sprint speed - 77

Is Kaoru Mitoma on Instagram?

The legendary soccer winger is a dynamic personality on Instagram, where he boasts over 1 million followers as of February 2023. On the platform, he often uploads photos and videos playing soccer. He is also on Twitter, where he has amassed over 165k followers as of February 2023.

Kaoru Mitoma's salary and net worth

According to various online sources, the legendary soccer player earns a weekly salary of $24,232, and $1.3 million annually while playing for the Brighton and Hove Albion team. He will be on that salary until 30 June 2025. His net worth is alleged to be $1.5 million.

Being a native of Japan, soccer fans have displayed a keen interest in wanting to know more about the up-and-coming soccer star, Kaoru Mitoma, who has not failed to amaze them with his incredible skills on the soccer pitch.

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Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.
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