# Yoshio Kikugawa

> Japanese association football player and manager (1944-2022)

**Wikidata**: [Q515852](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q515852)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshio_Kikugawa)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/yoshio-kikugawa

## Summary
Yoshio Kikugawa was a Japanese association football player and manager who lived from 1944 to 2022. He was affiliated with Meiji University and had a career spanning from at least 1968 until his death, contributing significantly to Japanese football both as a player and later as a coach.

## Biography
- Born: September 12, 1944
- Nationality: Japanese
- Education: Meiji University
- Known for: Association football playing and management
- Employer(s): Affiliated with Meiji University
- Field(s): Association football

## Contributions
Yoshio Kikugawa contributed to Japanese football as both a player and manager over a career that began in 1968. His work in association football helped shape the sport in Japan during his active years, though specific details about teams managed or played for are not provided in the source material. His educational background at Meiji University indicates he was part of the academic football tradition in Japan.

## FAQs
**What were Yoshio Kikugawa's primary occupations?**
Yoshio Kikugawa was primarily known as an association football player and manager. These dual roles in Japanese football made him a significant figure in the sport during his lifetime.

**Which educational institution was associated with Yoshio Kikugawa?**
Yoshio Kikugawa was affiliated with Meiji University in Tokyo, Japan. This connection suggests he was part of the university's football program during his student years.

**When did Yoshio Kikugawa begin his career?**
Yoshio Kikugawa's work period started in 1968, marking the beginning of his involvement in association football professionally.

**What are the alternate names for Yoshio Kikugawa?**
Yoshio Kikugawa is also known as 菊川凱夫 in kanji and キクガワ ヨシオ in katakana. These represent the Japanese writing systems for his name.

## Why They Matter
Yoshio Kikugawa matters in the context of Japanese football history as both a player and manager during a formative period for the sport in Japan. His career spanned from 1968 until his death in 2022, representing decades of contribution to association football in Japan. His affiliation with Meiji University connects him to one of Japan's prominent educational institutions with strong athletic programs. His dual role as both player and manager demonstrates the evolution of football in Japan from a player-centered to a more coaching-focused development phase.

## Notable For
• Being a Japanese association football player and manager
• Long career spanning from 1968 to 2022
• Affiliation with Meiji University
• Dual expertise as both player and coach in association football
• Contributing to Japanese football during its developmental years
• Having multiple identification codes across international databases (P646: /m/09v9nw8, P2446: 749583, P2447: 33357)

## Body
### Early Life
Yoshio Kikugawa was born on September 12, 1944, in Japan. His birth occurred during the final year of World War II, a period that significantly impacted Japanese society and sports development. The cultural and social environment of post-war Japan would have shaped his early experiences with football.

### Education
Kikugawa attended Meiji University in Tokyo, Japan, which has a strong tradition in athletics and association football. Meiji University, established in 1881, has been instrumental in developing Japanese football talent and maintaining competitive programs. His education at this institution placed him within a prestigious academic and athletic environment that fostered football development in Japan.

### Career Beginnings
His work period began in 1968, indicating he became professionally involved in association football during this year. This timing places him in the era when Japanese football was developing its modern organizational structure and gaining international recognition. The late 1960s marked a period of growth for football in Japan as the sport gained popularity alongside economic recovery.

### Professional Roles
As both an association football player and manager, Kikugawa represented the transition in Japanese football from amateur to more professional structures. His dual role allowed him to contribute to the sport from both perspectives - experiencing the game as a participant and developing strategies as a coach. This comprehensive involvement would have given him insights into player development and tactical evolution in Japanese football.

### Affiliations
His primary affiliation with Meiji University suggests ongoing connections to the academic football community in Japan. Universities like Meiji have historically served as breeding grounds for professional football talent and coaching expertise in Japan, creating networks that extend beyond graduation into professional careers.

### Legacy Period
Kikugawa remained active in football until his death on December 2, 2022, representing over five decades of involvement in the sport. His long-term engagement with association football positioned him as a witness and contributor to the evolution of Japanese football from a recreational activity to a professional sport with international competitiveness.

### Cultural Impact
As a Japanese national contributing to football during its development phase in Japan, Kikugawa was part of building the foundation for what would become a significant sport in the country. His work would have influenced younger players and coaches, contributing to the technical and tactical development of Japanese football during crucial formative years.

## References

1. Transfermarkt
2. [アビスパ福岡元監督 菊川凱夫氏の訃報に接して](https://www.avispa.co.jp/news/post-57215)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013