Naoko Kawakami

Naoko Kawakami
Personal information
Full name	Naoko Kawakami
Date of birth	November 16, 1977
Place of birth	Akashi, Hyogo, Japan
Height	1.56 m (5 ft 1+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team
1990–2004	Tasaki Perule FC
2005–2006	Nippon TV Beleza
Total
National team
2001–2005	Japan
Honours
Tasaki Perule FC
Nippon TV Beleza
Representing Japan
AFC Women's Asian Cup
Asian Games
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Naoko Kawakami (川上直子, Kawakami Naoko, born November 16, 1977) is a former Japanese football player. She played for the Japan national team.

Biography

Kawakami was born in Akashi on November 16, 1977. In 1990, she was 13 years old, she joined for Tasaki-Shinju Kobe (later Tasaki Perule FC). She previously played midfielder. However, when she entered the Japan national team, she became a right back. After success at this position, she remained a defender when she transferred to Nippon TV Beleza. She had a lot of success with her two clubs, winning one Nadeshiko League title with her first club in 2003 and three Empress's Cups, and two other titles with her second one. She was also selected Best Eleven 5 times (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005).

On March 16, 2001, Kawakami debuted for the Japan national team against Chinese Taipei. She played at 2001, 2003 AFC Championship and 2002 Asian Games. She was also a member of Japan for 2003 World Cup and the 2004 Olympic Games. She played 48 games for Japan until 2005.

Statistics

[1]

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2001	10	0
2002	10	0
2003	14	0
2004	10	0
2005	4	0
Total	48	0

References

Japan Football Association(in Japanese)

Other websites

Naoko Kawakami at International Olympic Committee

Naoko Kawakami at Olympic Channel

Naoko Kawakami at Olympedia

Naoko Kawakami at FIFA

Naoko Kawakami at Soccerway.com

Naoko Kawakami at WorldFootball.net

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[1] Japan Football Association(in Japanese)