Tokutaro Ukon

Tokutaro Ukon
右近 徳太郎
Personal information
Full name Tokutaro Ukon
Date of birth (1913-09-23)September 23, 1913
Place of birth Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Date of death March 1944 (aged 30)
Place of death Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Defender, Midfielder, Forward
Youth career
1931–1937 Keio University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Kobe Club
National team
1934–1940 Japan 5 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Tokutaro Ukon (右近 徳太郎, Ukon Tokutarō, September 23, 1913 – March 1944) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.

Club career

Ukon was born in Kobe on September 23, 1913.[1] When he was a Keio University student, he won 1932 Emperor's Cup with Teiichi Matsumaru and so on as a member of Keio BRB was consisted of Keio University players and graduates. He also played for his local club Kobe Club. He played in many positions defender, midfielder and forward.

National team career

Miracle of Berlin (1936 Olympics 1st round v Sweden on August 4)

In May 1934, when Ukon was a Keio University student, he was elected Japan national team for 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games in Manila. At this competition, on May 15, he debuted against Philippines. In 1936, he was also elected Japan for 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin and scored a goal against Sweden. Japan completed a come-from-behind victory against Sweden. The first victory in Olympics for the Japan and the historic victory over one of the powerhouses became later known as "Miracle of Berlin" (ベルリンの奇跡) in Japan. In 2016, this team was elected Japan Football Hall of Fame. He played 5 games and scored 1 goal for Japan until 1940.[2]

Death

In 1942, Ukon served in the military for World War II. In March 1944, he was killed in action in Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea at the age of 30.[3][4]

National team statistics

[2]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
193420
193500
193621
193700
193800
193900
194010
Total51

References

  1. ↑ Kagawa Football Library(in Japanese)
  2. 1 2 Japan National Football Team Database
  3. ↑ Tokutaro Ukon's profile at Sports Reference.com
  4. ↑ "Olympians Who Were Killed or Missing in Action or Died as a Result of War". Sports Reference. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
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