# Yoshio Okada

> Japanese association football player (1926–2002)

**Wikidata**: [Q513158](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q513158)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshio_Okada)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/yoshio-okada

# Yoshio Okada

## Summary
Yoshio Okada was a Japanese association football player who lived from 1926 to 2002. He represented Japan in the sport of soccer during his career and was affiliated with educational institutions including Waseda University and Kobe University.

## Biography
- Born: August 11, 1926
- Died: June 22, 2002
- Nationality: Japanese
- Education: Waseda University, Kobe University
- Occupation: Association football player
- Known for: Playing association football in Japan
- Citizanship: Japan, Empire of Japan

## Contributions
Yoshio Okada contributed to Japanese association football during his playing career spanning the mid-20th century. His participation helped develop and promote the sport in Japan during a formative period for the country's football programs. His educational affiliations with prestigious institutions like Waseda University and Kobe University suggest he was part of the intellectual and athletic community that helped shape Japanese sports culture.

## FAQs
**What did Yoshio Okada do professionally?**
Yoshio Okada was an association football player in Japan. He dedicated his career to playing soccer, representing Japan in the sport during the mid-20th century.

**Where did Yoshio Okada study?**
Yoshio Okada was educated at Waseda University and Kobe University in Japan. These institutions are well-known for their academic and athletic programs.

**When was Yoshio Okada born and when did he die?**
Yoshio Okada was born on August 11, 1926, and died on June 22, 2002. He lived for 75 years during a significant period in Japanese history.

**What is Yoshio Okada's Japanese name?**
His Japanese name is written as 岡田吉夫 and his romanized name is Okada Yoshio. The Japanese pronunciation is オカダ ヨシオ.

## Why They Matter
Yoshio Okada represents the generation of Japanese athletes who helped establish soccer as a significant sport in Japan during the 20th century. His career spanned a crucial period when Japan was rebuilding its international presence after World War II, and sports played an important role in cultural reconstruction. Players like Okada contributed to the foundation that would eventually lead to Japan's stronger presence in international football competitions. His connection to prominent universities suggests he was part of the educated class of athletes who helped elevate the technical and strategic aspects of the game in Japan.

## Notable For
• Being a Japanese association football player during the mid-20th century
• Educational affiliation with prestigious institutions Waseda University and Kobe University
• Living through Japan's transition from the Empire of Japan to the modern Japanese state
• Contributing to the development of football in Japan during a formative period

## Body
### Early Life and Identity
Yoshio Okada was born on August 11, 1926, during the period of the Empire of Japan. His birth occurred during a time when Japan was experiencing significant political and social changes that would culminate in World War II. His Japanese name, 岡田吉夫 (Okada Yoshio), reflects traditional naming conventions of the era, with the romanized version being Yoshio Okada and pronounced as オカダ ヨシオ in Japanese.

### Educational Background
Okada pursued his education at two of Japan's prestigious institutions: Waseda University and Kobe University. Waseda University, founded in 1882 in Tokyo, has a strong tradition in both academics and athletics, making it a natural fit for a student-athlete. Kobe University, established in 1949 in Hyogo Prefecture, also maintains a significant academic reputation. His attendance at these institutions indicates he was part of Japan's educated elite while pursuing his passion for football.

### Football Career
As an association football player, Okada participated in what was becoming an increasingly popular sport in Japan. During his era, football was developing from a recreational activity into a more organized and competitive sport. His involvement with the sport during this period placed him among the pioneers who helped establish the foundation for modern Japanese football. The fact that he was associated with major universities suggests he may have been part of university-level competitive teams that were important in developing the sport's infrastructure.

### Historical Context
Okada lived through one of the most transformative periods in Japanese history. Born during the Empire of Japan, he experienced World War II as a young adult, followed by Japan's post-war reconstruction and democratization. His lifespan from 1926 to 2002 encompassed Japan's transition from imperial rule to constitutional democracy, its economic miracle, and its emergence as a global power. His career in football coincided with Japan's efforts to rebuild its international image and participate more actively in global cultural exchanges, including sports.

### Legacy and Recognition
Yoshio Okada's legacy is preserved through various identification systems including Wikidata (ID: Q252905), where he is catalogued with specific properties such as P569 for birth date and P570 for death date. His recognition in databases with identifiers like P646 (/m/09v28d8), P2574 (50095), and P3368 (1730026) indicates that his contribution to Japanese football was significant enough to warrant documentation in international knowledge bases. The substantial sitelink count of 49 suggests his profile was maintained across multiple language versions of encyclopedic resources, indicating international recognition of his role in Japanese sports.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013