Kawaguchi
Yoshikatsu
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Kawaguchi Yoshikatsu, 15 August 1975 (borned),
Shizuoka, Japan (birth place).
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He's one of the best goal keepers in Japan.
He began to play soccer when he
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was in the third grade. He was inspired
by his older brother, Yuichi, a soccer
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player in the school. Yoshikatsu was
good in catching and kicking far balls,
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that's why he became goal keeper. He
liked practicing than playing games,
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When he was in the fourth grade, he became
the regular goal keeper for he's
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school team although the team consist other
and sixth grade students.
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When he was in the six grade, he decided to
go to Toukai Daigaku Dai Ichi Junior
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High School, because the school is well-known
for playing soccer. Yoshikatsu was
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also good in studying. He passed examinations
and is always the top student
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in he's class... or maybe also he's school!
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When he was in the seventh grade, his team
won the second prize for "The All
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Japan Junior High School Soccer Championship".
In the eighth grade, he
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participated in "The All Japan Junior Youth
Championship" and played for the
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Kokuritsu Kyugijo (The National Ball Game
Ground) for the first time.
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In 1991, he entered Shimizu Shogyo High School.
Of course, he's joined straight
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away to the soccer team as a goal keeper.
When he was in the twelfth grade,
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he lead the team as a captain and his team
won "The High School Soccer
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Championship". This meant his team was
the strongest team of high schools in Japan.
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In 1994, he graduated from high school and
joined the professional soccer team
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"Yokohama Marinos", one of the reason is,
Mr. Matsunaga (he's a good goal keeper
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and Yoshikatsu admires him a lot). In
1995, Mr. Matsunaga left the team,
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so Yoshikatsu became the goal keeper.
In 1995, Marinos won the championship.
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Yoshikatsu was also awarded as "The Best Freshman"
and "Best Eleven".
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In 1996, he participated in Atlanta Olympics
as the goal keeper for the Japan team.
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Japan had not been able to participate in
Olympic Games for 28 years, because
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Japan wasn't playing well in Asia. In
Atlanta, Japan won against a powerful rival, Brazil.
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In 1997, he participated in a provisional
selection for the World Cup. The Japan team
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fought a battle with many teams in Asia.
Finally, they managed to participate in the
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World Cup. When the 1998 World Cup started
Japan had to battle with Argentina
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(which was one of the champion candidates).
Japan lost the game 1-0. In the next
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game they were defeated by Croatia 1-0.
In the final game, Nakayama Masashi called
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"Gon" got Japan's first goal from Jamaica.
Many Japanese fans were very pleased but
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in the end they were defeated 2-1. Though
the Japan team didn't win any games,
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they could appeal to world. And Yoshikatsu
received worldwide recognition.
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References: "Goal ha Ore ni Makasero! 'Kawaguchi
Yoshikatsu'"
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written by Ohnuki Tetsuyoshi.
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