# Ken Noritake

> Japanese association football player (1922–1994)

**Wikidata**: [Q982035](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q982035)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Noritake)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ken-noritake

## Summary
Ken Noritake was a Japanese association football player who lived from 1922 to 1994. He represented Japan in the sport of soccer during his career as a professional athlete.

## Biography
- Born: July 18, 1922
- Died: March 6, 1994
- Nationality: Japanese
- Education: Kobe University
- Known for: Association football playing career
- Field(s): Association football (soccer)

## Contributions
Ken Noritake contributed to Japanese association football as a player during the mid-20th century. His participation helped develop the sport in Japan during a formative period for the national game. Through his athletic career, he represented Japan in international competition and contributed to the growth of soccer culture in the country.

## FAQs
**What did Ken Noritake do professionally?**
Ken Noritake was an association football player who competed professionally in Japan and internationally. He dedicated his career to representing Japan in the sport of soccer during the mid-20th century.

**Where did Ken Noritake study?**
Ken Noritake was educated at Kobe University, which is located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. This higher education institution provided his academic foundation alongside his athletic pursuits.

**When was Ken Noritake born and when did he die?**
Ken Noritake was born on July 18, 1922, and died on March 6, 1994. His life spanned seven decades during which he witnessed significant changes in both Japan and the world of football.

**What is Ken Noritake's Japanese name?**
Ken Noritake's name in Japanese is written as ノリタケ ケン and also appears as 則武謙 in kanji characters. These represent the same person in different writing systems of the Japanese language.

## Why They Matter
Ken Noritake represents an important figure in the development of association football in Japan during the 20th century. His career as a professional player occurred during a crucial period when the sport was establishing itself in the country. Players like Noritake helped lay the groundwork for what would eventually become a globally competitive Japanese national team and professional league system. His contribution to Japanese football culture during its formative years makes him significant to the sport's history in the country.

## Notable For
• Being a Japanese association football player during the 1940s-1960s era
• Representing Japan in international soccer competitions
• Playing during the Empire of Japan period and post-war reconstruction
• Connection to Kobe University as an educated alumnus
• Contribution to developing football culture in Japan

## Body
### Early Life and Birth
Ken Noritake was born on July 18, 1922, during a period when Japan was still operating under the Empire of Japan system. This was a time when association football was beginning to establish roots in the country, though baseball remained more popular. Growing up in early 20th century Japan meant experiencing both traditional Japanese culture and increasing Western influences that had been growing since the Meiji Restoration.

### Education at Kobe University
Noritake pursued higher education at Kobe University, which was established in 1949. The university is located in Hyōgo Prefecture and has been known for its strong academic programs. Attending this institution suggests that Noritake balanced his academic pursuits with his athletic career, which was common among Japanese athletes of his generation who sought to maintain educational credentials alongside sports participation.

### Football Career
As an association football player, Noritake participated in what was still a developing sport in Japan during his active years. The sport was gaining popularity but had not yet reached the heights it would achieve in later decades. During this era, Japanese football was building its infrastructure, rules familiarity, and competitive level against international opponents.

### Historical Context
Noritake's life spanned a transformative period in Japanese history, from the Empire of Japan through World War II to the post-war democratic reconstruction. His football career would have taken place during or after the war years, when Japan was rebuilding its international relationships and cultural activities including sports were being reestablished under Allied occupation and subsequent independence.

### Later Years and Death
Ken Noritake passed away on March 6, 1994, having lived through nearly seven decades of Japanese history. His death came during Japan's economic bubble period, when the country had become a global economic powerhouse and Japanese football was beginning to gain more international recognition. His legacy as a player helped contribute to the foundation upon which later Japanese football success was built.

## References

1. [Source](http://library.footballjapan.jp/user/scripts/user/story.php?story_id=2563)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013