# Kyoko Yano

> Japanese association football player

**Wikidata**: [Q292443](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q292443)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoko_Yano)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kyoko-yano

## Summary
Kyoko Yano is a Japanese association football player born in Yokohama, Japan, who specialized as a midfielder for both club and country. She is best known for her extensive international career representing the Japan women's national football team in three consecutive Summer Olympics (2004, 2008, 2012) and the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. A graduate of Kanagawa University, she played professionally for Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies from 2007 to 2012, earning 74 caps and scoring one goal for her national team.

## Biography
- **Born:** June 3, 1984, in Yokohama, Japan
- **Nationality:** Japan
- **Education:** Kanagawa University (Private university in Yokohama, founded 1928)
- **Known for:** Representing Japan in three Summer Olympics and the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup as a midfielder
- **Employer(s):** 
  - Japan women's national football team (2003–2012)
  - Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies (2007–2012)
- **Field(s):** Association football (Soccer)

## Contributions
Kyoko Yano's primary contributions lie in her athletic performance and representation of Japanese women's football on the global stage.
- **International Representation:** She participated in the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympics, as well as the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, helping to raise the profile of women's football in Japan.
- **National Team Service:** Between 2003 and 2012, she earned 74 appearances (caps) for the Japan women's national football team, scoring 1 official goal.
- **Club Career:** She played for Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies from 2007 to 2012, making 111 appearances and scoring 3 goals for the club.
- **Career Span:** Her professional career began in 2007, marking a significant period of activity in the early development of the Nadeshiko League.

## FAQs
**Q: What is Kyoko Yano's playing position and physical profile?**
A: Kyoko Yano played as a midfielder and stands 1.64 meters tall. Her role on the field was central to the team's midfield operations during her tenure with both the national team and Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies.

**Q: Which major international tournaments did Kyoko Yano participate in?**
A: She competed in three Summer Olympic Games (2004, 2008, and 2012) and the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. Additionally, she was part of the squad for the 2010 Asian Games.

**Q: Where did Kyoko Yano receive her higher education?**
A: She attended Kanagawa University, a private institution located in Yokohama, Japan. This university, founded in 1928, is also known by the short name "Jindai."

**Q: What are the statistics of her club career with Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies?**
A: During her time with Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies from 2007 to 2012, she made 111 appearances and scored 3 goals. This period represents a significant portion of her professional club history.

**Q: What languages does Kyoko Yano speak and what is her native name?**
A: She speaks Japanese, and her name in the native language is written as 矢野喬子 (Yano Kyōko). In Kana, her name is written as やの きょうこ.

## Why They Matter
Kyoko Yano matters as a foundational figure in the modern era of Japanese women's football, bridging the gap between the early 2000s and the team's subsequent rise to world prominence. Her participation in three consecutive Olympics demonstrates remarkable longevity and consistency at the highest level of international competition. By accumulating 74 caps for the national team, she contributed to the tactical depth and experience of the squad during a transformative decade for the sport in Japan. Her career with Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies also highlights the growth of the domestic league, providing a stable professional environment for female athletes. Without players like Yano who maintained high performance levels over a decade, the momentum that led to Japan's 2011 World Cup victory might have been harder to sustain.

## Notable For
- **Olympic Longevity:** Competing in three consecutive Summer Olympics (2004, 2008, 2012).
- **International Caps:** Earning 74 appearances and scoring 1 goal for the Japan women's national football team.
- **Club Consistency:** Making 111 appearances and scoring 3 goals for Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies over a five-year period.
- **World Cup Participation:** Representing Japan at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.
- **Educational Background:** Being an alumnus of Kanagawa University, a prominent private university in Yokohama.
- **Positional Specialization:** Playing as a midfielder with a height of 1.64 meters.
- **Digital Presence:** Maintaining a Twitter account under the handle @iru1408 (as of March 2020).

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Kyoko Yano was born on June 3, 1984, in Yokohama, Japan. She is a female citizen of Japan, with her name written in native characters as 矢野喬子 and in Kana as やの きょうこ. Her educational journey led her to Kanagawa University, a private institution located in Yokohama. Founded in 1928 by Yoshimori Yoneda, Kanagawa University is often referred to as "Jindai." The university is situated at coordinates 35.48496111 latitude and 139.62048056 longitude and is recognized for its academic contributions and research institutes. Yano's attendance at this institution highlights the intersection of higher education and professional athletics in Japan.

### Professional Career and Club Affiliations
Yano's professional career as an association football player began in 2007. She spent a significant portion of her career with Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies, a prominent club in the Nadeshiko League. Her tenure with the club lasted from 2007 to 2012, during which she made 111 appearances and scored 3 goals. This period of stability at the club level allowed her to develop the skills necessary for international competition. Her role was specifically that of a midfielder, a position requiring tactical awareness and endurance.

### International Representation
A defining aspect of Kyoko Yano's career is her service to the Japan women's national football team. She represented her country from 2003 to 2012, accumulating a total of 74 caps and scoring 1 goal. Her international portfolio includes participation in three Summer Olympic Games: Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012. Additionally, she competed in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2010 Asian Games. These tournaments represent the pinnacle of women's football, and her consistent selection over a nine-year span underscores her reliability and skill level.

### Personal Details and Identifiers
Kyoko Yano stands 1.64 meters tall and speaks Japanese. Her professional identity is tracked through various databases and identifiers. She holds the FIFA player ID (archived) 200555 and the UEFA player ID 250031414. Other identifiers include the FBref player ID (2233ddba), Soccerdonna player ID (2155), and the WorldFootball.net person ID (kyoko-yano). Her presence in the media is also documented via her Twitter handle, iru1408, which was active as of March 7, 2020. She is listed in the Prabook database with ID 1726585 and has a Freebase ID of /m/0gyt2_n.

### Legacy and Recognition
Yano's career is a testament to the growth of women's football in Japan during the 2000s. Her ability to maintain a high level of performance across multiple Olympic cycles and a World Cup contributed to the national team's reputation. The data surrounding her career, including her specific goal counts and appearance numbers, provides a quantitative measure of her contribution to the sport. Her affiliation with Kanagawa University further connects her to the broader academic and social fabric of Yokohama. As a midfielder, she played a crucial role in the team's structure, facilitating play and supporting both defensive and offensive transitions. Her legacy is preserved in various international sports databases, including Olympedia (ID 108598) and the Sports Reference Olympic database.

## References

1. Soccerdonna
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013