Naoko Kawakami

Naoko Kawakami

Personal information
Full name	Naoko Kawakami
Date of birth	(1977-11-16) 16 November 1977
Place of birth	Akashi, Hyogo
Position(s)	Fullback
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1990-2004	Tasaki Perule F.C.	169	(22)
2005-2006	NTV Beleza	38	(2)
International career
2001–2005	Japan	48	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Naoko Kawakami (川上 直子, Kawakami Naoko, born 16 November 1977 in Akashi, Hyogo) is a retired Japanese football defender and midfielder who played for the Japanese national team. She has since been a broadcast commentator.

Player career

Club career

Kawakami previously played midfielder for L. League side Tasaki Perule F.C.. However, when she entered the national selection, she became a right back. After success at this position, she remained a defender when she transferred to NTV Bereza. She had a lot of success with her two clubs, winning one league title with her first club in 2003 and three Empress's Cups, and two other titles with her second one.

International career

She made her debut with the national selection in 2001 and became a regular left back, beginning all games in the 2003 World Cup and the 2004 Olympic Games.

After retirement

After retiring from international football in 2005 and from football the following year, she became a commentator for NBS at the 2007 World Cup qualification round. She then commented the final tournament for Fuji TV. In 2011, she was commentator for NHK during the Women's World Cup tournament, including when the Japan national women's team won the world title.

Achievements

Individual

5 times in the best eleven: 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

Club

Tasaki Perule FC

• 1 league championship title: 2003 (runners-up in 2001 and 2002)
• 3 Empress's Cups: 2000, 2003, 2004

NTV Bereza

• 2 League championship title : 2005,2006
• 1 Empress's Cup: 2006

External links

• Naoko Kawakami – FIFA competition record
• Official website