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Shuto Machino's early life and childhood

Shuto Machino's early life, childhood and career in Japan

Shuto is from a town of ninjas!

Shuto Machino(町野修斗 in kanji) was born on September 30, 1999, in Iga City, Mie Prefecture. His father was selected for the National Sports Festival soccer team while in high school and went on to play for a corporate soccer team. However, he retired from playing due to a serious leg injury and now runs the family tatami shop while also growing rice. As for the name Shuto, his father named him after the Japanese word for a soccer shot. He did so because he wanted his son to become a soccer player, carrying on his own dreams.

Shuto grew up healthy and strong on rice grown at his family's farm, and by the age of three, he was already kicking a ball around. When he started elementary school, he was thoroughly drilled in the fundamentals at Nakase SSS, where his father served as a coach. He reportedly practiced not only shooting, passing, and dribbling with his father, but also goal kicks, corner kicks, and throw-ins.

Furthermore, even on days when he wasn't practicing with his father, he would always go out on his own to kick the ball. Following his father's advice—that even though he was right-footed, he should practice with his left foot as well—he practiced using his weaker foot on his own. He worked on kicking with both feet using the same form. To build up his kicking power, he started using a slightly larger soccer ball around fourth grade. Thanks to his well-developed kicking power, he reportedly scored numerous goals from kickoffs during matches.

Additionally, Shuto's childhood hero was Cristiano Ronaldo. One day, he learned that Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he admired, was 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) tall. He decided then and there that he absolutely wanted to be about the same height. From that day on, he made a point of eating well and getting plenty of sleep to help him grow taller. Before he knew it, his height had reached 1.85 m, close to that of Cristiano Ronaldo. His father and older brother were shorter than him, and he was the only one in the family who stood a head taller than the rest.

When he entered junior high school, Shuto joined FC Avenida Sol and devoted himself to soccer training. A turning point came during his junior high years: his meeting with Coach Sekimoto, who had previously played in the J.League. Because Shuto was on the slender side for an attacking midfielder, Coach Sekimoto had him play in defensive midfield and on the left wing—positions where he could make the most of his ball-handling skills. By playing in these midfield roles, Shuto learned to embrace defensive duties, which, he says, broadened his range of options.

After graduating from junior high school, he enrolled at Riseisha High School, a powerhouse in Osaka soccer. He left his home prefecture of Mie to attend Riseisha because he wanted to challenge himself in a more demanding environment. Although he visited other high schools and J.League youth teams, Riseisha's soccer club stood out not only for the intensity of its practices but also for the fierce competition within the team. The training facilities were also well-equipped, and he felt certain that he could develop his skills there.

Then, when he entered high school, another turning point arrived. Recognized for his powerful kicks and strong shooting instincts, he was selected to play as a forward in a match. He scored a goal right away in that game, and from that point on, he was converted to a forward. As he honed his skills as a forward, he was selected for the Japan High School Soccer All-Star Team during his sophomore year. After scoring a goal as a forward in a match against the U-18 J.League All-Stars, he began to attract attention from J.League clubs. Subsequently, he joined Yokohama F. Marinos, the club where he had been participating in training sessions during his senior year.

In 2019, he transferred to Giravanz Kitakyushu in search of more playing time, and in 2021, he moved to Shonan Bellmare. He scored his first goal for the Japanese national team in a match against Hong Kong in July 2022 and was selected for the squad for the Qatar World Cup. In 2023, he transferred to Holstein Kiel in Germany, and in 2025, he moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach, signing a four-year contract.

Incidentally, the "ninja pose" he began performing after scoring goals in 2022 is related to the fact that he comes from Iga City in Mie Prefecture, a region famous for its ninjas. He was taught the ninja pose by a ninja from the Iga Ninja Special Forces "Ashura." While most people place their right hand on top when doing the ninja pose, the correct form actually has the left hand on top, which is why his pose also features his left hand on top.

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