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Kota Takai's early life and childhood

Kota Takai's early life, childhood and career in Japan

Kota was big enen as a child!

Kota Takai(高井幸大 in kanji) was born on September 4, 2004, in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He started playing soccer at age 5 when invited by a friend to join the local club, River FC. Playing as a forward at the time, he passed the selection process for Yokohama F. Marinos' special class at the end of his second year of elementary school. Although he had also taken piano, karate, and swimming lessons during his early childhood, by that time he had stopped all other activities and focused solely on soccer. His life became solely about soccer, training at Marinos two weekdays and at River FC on weekends. Reflecting on that time, he said, "Skilled players from all over the prefecture gathered at Marinos, so I think I might have been the worst player there."

Masahiro Yamada, the coach at River FC who trained Kota during his childhood, said, "He has a laid-back personality, but he's incredibly competitive and would often cry after losing a match. I think he channeled that frustration into his soccer training and grew stronger." Kota, who devoted himself entirely to soccer practice, passed the selection process for the Kawasaki Frontale Academy in his fourth year, rather than Yokohama F. Marinos. Regarding Kawasaki Frontale, he said, "Influenced by my parents, I went to the stadium many times to watch their matches. It was the club I admired, and I even owned several signed jerseys. I wanted to become a Frontale player myself."

Kota joined the Kawasaki Frontale Academy touted as a tall, speedy forward. However, his coach at the time, Seiichi Tamaki, felt his true position might lie elsewhere. Tamaki said, "Back then, his speed wasn't that exceptional, and his ball control and finesse were lacking. But he had size and strength. I thought he'd be better off gaining experience in a deeper position."

At that moment, a player came to Tamaki's mind: Kou Itakura (currently playing for Ajax in the Netherlands as of 2025), who also rose through Kawasaki's youth system to the top team and later represented Japan. Itakura, too, had been a large forward since childhood, but after joining Kawasaki's youth system in fourth grade, he shifted to a defensive position. Using Itakura as a model case, Tamaki considered that Kota would also be better suited as a large center back capable of playing defensive midfield. Consequently, about a week after joining the club, Kota was converted from forward to center back. He wasn't initially keen on playing center back. However, as he kept playing in matches, he gradually came to enjoy the challenge and find the defense rewarding.

At Kawasaki Frontale's academy for younger age groups, training begins with stress-free ball handling, focusing on improving individual skills. Players couldn't join practice unless they cleared challenges like juggling drills, so Kota practiced on his own in parks to improve his ball touch. His parents supported his soccer-filled days without complaint.

He said, "My parents drove me to and from practice, gave me lots of support. They let me freely pursue what I loved. I was big for my age since childhood and always hungry, but my mom prepared nutritious, hearty meals every day. She never talked about soccer, but when I lost a match or practice was tough, she always stayed positive. I'm truly grateful."

Kota participated as a defender in the Copa Toreros tournament held in March of his fourth-grade year, and his team won the championship. Later, when he was in fifth grade, his team was invited to the Iber Cup and traveled to Málaga, Spain. He experienced his first long journey from Japan via Paris, playing against Real Betis and Juventus in Spain.

The opponent in the first round of the Iber Cup knockout stage was Spain's Maltos. In that match, Kota's mid-range shot found the net just before the final whistle, securing the victory. Next up was Real Betis, which Kota described as incredibly strong. The match went to a penalty shootout after ending 1-1, and his team barely won. Although his team didn't win the championship, they stayed in the same lodgings as players from other countries and played together in the pool. Among them, the player who truly amazed Kota, who exclaimed "There's an unbelievable player here," was Real Betis' number 10. There's a follow-up story about this number 10 player.

On this Spanish expedition, scout and coach Ken Mukojima also accompanied the team. Even from the coach's perspective, Real Betis' number 10 was a standout presence that caught his eye. Sensing something extraordinary, Mukojima asked for his name and managed to take a single photo, albeit just a side profile.

Several years passed. When Kota entered high school, Mukojima reminisced with him, saying, "That number 10 at Betis was incredibly skilled, wasn't he?" Excited by the memory, Mukojima later looked him up but found no trace of him in either Betis' academy or their first team. Mukojima thought, "It's a tough world. Even a player that good didn't make it?" However, he recalled asking him in Spain, "Are you aiming for Betis' top team?" and receiving the reply, "No, Barça!" He then checked FC Barcelona's roster and found his name. His name was Gavi, Pablo Martín Páez Gavira. He was already playing for Barça's top team.

Getting back to the story, when Kota entered junior high, he joined Kawasaki Frontale's U-15 team and steadily climbed the ladder toward becoming a pro. He said playing in matches for the grade above him starting around his second-year summer, through grade skipping, was a valuable experience. In the 2018 Prince Takamado Cup JFA 30th All Japan U-15 Soccer Championship, where he played as a second-year, his team placed third.

During this U-15 period, he was also selected for the Japan U-15 national team for the first time, which further boosted his confidence. Reflecting on the national team experience, Kota recalls, "The national team level is incredibly high because it brings together the best players from the strongest teams across the country. Playing at that level was truly enjoyable, and I was happy to make new friends."

Yasuhiro Nagahashi, the coach who guided Kota at both the U-15 and U-18 levels, shared his impressions of him during his junior high school years: "Ever since elementary school, I felt certain Kōta would grow tall. Even in junior high, I thought he would keep growing even taller. Some tall kids struggle with possession drills, but he didn't seem like that type. I sensed tremendous future potential in him, so I felt he needed to be promoted to the top team. I believed it was essential to get him playing matches, and his performance improved through match experience. When I felt his concentration was slipping, I pointed it out. In that sense, I think I patiently guided him."

By the time he entered high school, Kota stood over 6 feet 3 inches tall and was highly regarded by his team for his immense potential and the solid skills honed through competitive play. He was registered with the top team in August 2021, during his sophomore year. At that time, Kawasaki Frontale had won the J1 title four times in five seasons since the 2017 campaign, and he was surrounded by some of the best players in the country. Keeping his coach's words, "Skill never lies," close to his heart, he threw himself into every team practice with fierce determination. His technical skills, which coaches at every age level had repeatedly emphasized, seemed to improve the most during this period.

And in February 2022, Kota signed a professional contract, becoming the club's youngest ever to do so. Nagahashi, who had watched his development during his academy days, spoke about seeing him play for the first team: "Kota is tall, but he also has good footwork and speed. I don't think his physique is fully developed yet, so he has the potential to scale up even further. I want him to become a center back like those you see in Europe."

Kota made his J1 League debut in April 2023 and appeared in 14 league matches. In 2024, he earned a starting spot at the season opener and was recognized for his performances that year, winning the Best Young Player award. He also made the squad for the Paris Olympics as the team's youngest member. His Olympic appearance as a teenager marked the first time since Maya Yoshida (who played for Southampton from 2012 to 2020) and Shinji Kagawa (who played for Borussia Dortmund from 2010 to 2019).

Kota played in Japan's first and second matches at the Paris Olympics, starting again in the quarterfinal against Spain. Although the team lost to Spain and finished in the quarterfinals, he played with composure, holding his own against forwards from various nations. As a result, he was called up to the Japan national team for the final round of Asian qualifiers for the CONCACAF World Cup, making his international debut against China.

In 2025, Kota played a key role in the domestic league opener, scoring the first goal. Although his team lost in the ACLE 2024/25 final, he made a significant contribution to their runner-up finish. On June 30, it was announced he would leave the team to prepare for and complete the procedures for his overseas transfer. On July 8, an agreement was reached for him to join Tottenham Hotspur FC on a permanent transfer.

sources