# Hisao Kami

> Japanese association football player

**Wikidata**: [Q2535406](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2535406)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hisao_Kami)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hisao-kami

## Summary
Hisao Kami was a Japanese association football (soccer) player active from 1960 to 1972. As a professional athlete, he contributed to the development of football in Japan during a formative period for the sport in the country. His career spans over a decade, marking him as a notable figure in mid-20th-century Japanese football.

## Biography
- **Born**: June 28, 1941
- **Nationality**: Japanese
- **Occupation**: Association football player, association football coach
- **Known for**: Playing association football professionally in Japan
- **Field(s)**: Sports (association football)
- **Work Period**: 1960–1972

## Contributions
Hisao Kami's primary contribution was his role as a professional association football player in Japan from 1960 to 1972. During this period, he actively participated in the growth of football as a competitive sport in the country. His career coincided with the expansion of organized football leagues and the increasing popularity of the sport in Japan. While specific teams, matches, or titles are not detailed in the source material, his prolonged career suggests a steady presence in the sport during its developmental years in Japan.

## FAQs
**What was Hisao Kami's profession?**
Hisao Kami was a professional association football (soccer) player and later a coach. He played actively from 1960 to 1972 and was involved in training footballers afterward.

**When and where was Hisao Kami born?**
Hisao Kami was born on June 28, 1941, in Japan.

**What is Hisao Kami known for?**
He is known for his career as a Japanese association football player during the 1960s and early 1970s, a period when the sport was gaining traction in the country.

**Did Hisao Kami have any other roles besides playing football?**
Yes, he also worked as an association football coach, training players after his active career ended.

**How long was Hisao Kami's professional football career?**
His professional playing career spanned 12 years, from 1960 to 1972.

## Why They Matter
Hisao Kami represents a generation of Japanese football players who helped establish the sport’s foundations in the country. During his career (1960–1972), football in Japan was transitioning from amateur and semi-professional structures to more organized leagues. His participation contributed to the sport’s visibility and professionalization, paving the way for future generations. While not a globally recognized figure, his role as both a player and coach underscores the importance of local athletes in nurturing domestic talent and fostering long-term growth in football culture.

## Notable For
- Professional association football player in Japan (1960–1972).
- Association football coach, contributing to player development post-retirement.
- Active during a key period in Japanese football history, bridging early amateur eras with later professionalization.

## Body
### Early Life and Background
Hisao Kami was born on **June 28, 1941**, in Japan. Details about his early life, family, or education are not provided in the source material. His emergence as a professional footballer in 1960 suggests he likely began training or playing at a younger age, possibly in local clubs or school teams, which were common pathways for athletes in Japan at the time.

### Professional Career (1960–1972)
Kami’s professional career as an **association football player** spanned **12 years**, from **1960 to 1972**. This period was significant for Japanese football, as it predated the establishment of the fully professional **Japan Soccer League (JSL)** in 1965 and saw the sport evolve from semi-professional and company-sponsored teams to more structured competitions. While the source material does not specify the teams he played for or any major titles won, his longevity in the sport indicates a consistent presence during this transitional era.

Key context for his career:
- The **Japan Soccer League (JSL)**, founded in 1965, was the first nationwide league and a precursor to the modern **J.League** (launched in 1993).
- Football in Japan during the 1960s was heavily influenced by corporate teams (e.g., Mitsubishi, Toyota) and university programs.
- The **1964 Tokyo Olympics** boosted interest in football, though Japan’s national team did not achieve major success until later decades.

### Post-Playing Career: Coaching
After retiring as a player, Kami transitioned into **coaching**, where he trained association football players. His exact coaching roles, teams, or duration are not specified, but his involvement in player development aligns with the broader trend of former players contributing to the sport’s infrastructure in Japan.

### Legacy and Impact
Hisao Kami’s career reflects the broader narrative of Japanese football’s growth in the mid-20th century. While not a household name, players like Kami were instrumental in:
- **Building domestic talent pipelines** through consistent participation in leagues.
- **Normalizing football as a professional career** in a country where baseball and sumo dominated.
- **Laying the groundwork** for later successes, such as Japan’s qualification for the **1998 FIFA World Cup** and the rise of the J.League.

### Personal Data and Identifiers
- **Full Name (Japanese)**: 上久雄 (Kami Hisao)
- **Romanized Name**: Hisao Kami
- **Alternative Transliterations**: カミ ヒサオ (Kami Hisao)
- **Height**: 176.0 cm (5 ft 9 in)
- **Weight**: 70.0 kg (154 lbs)
- **Wikidata ID**: Q288604
- **Freebase ID**: /m/051y852
- **Other IDs**:
  - P1447: ka/hisao-kami-1
  - P1469: 288604
  - P2020: hisao-kami
  - P2446: 438770
  - P2447: 85331
  - P2574: 43808
  - P3368: 2295510
  - P8286: 26177
  - P14105: 3000538650

### Cultural and Historical Context
Kami’s career coincided with Japan’s post-war economic recovery and the gradual westernization of its sports culture. Football, though not yet a major sport, benefited from:
- The **1964 Tokyo Olympics**, which exposed Japanese audiences to international football.
- The **formation of the JSL in 1965**, providing a structured platform for players.
- Corporate sponsorship of teams, which offered financial stability to athletes.

While Kami’s individual achievements are not detailed, his role as a player and coach contributes to the collective history of Japanese football’s professionalization. His career serves as a case study of the sport’s evolution from grassroots participation to organized competition.

## References

1. Transfermarkt
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013