Keito Kumashiro: The rising star of Japan’s J2
Many epic football stories have come out of Japan but not many can compare to the week in heaven for Keito Kumashiro he is experiencing right now. The 16-year-old striker of the J2 team Roasso Kumamoto grew into a star right in front of our eyes in the space of just four days.
So what happened to Keito Kumashiro this week? Will he be making his first-ever league start soon?
Keito Kumashiro – how he put his name in the history books?
The 16-year-old centre forward of Roasso Kumamoto Keito Kumashiro caught the eye with his displays for the U17s early this season. He was rewarded with his senior league debut on March 20, in round 5. He came off the bench in a 0-0 draw vs Vegalta Sendai.
Keito came again off the bench in all of the next three rounds too. He made history just last Saturday (March 30). Keito Kumashiro became the youngest-ever goalscorer in J2 history. Not only that but at the age of just 16 he was trusted to take a penalty late in the home match vs JEF United. Keito converted from the spot and gave Roasso a 1-0 win. Showing such trust of confidence in a 16-year-old with the game on the line just comes to show how high Roasso Kumamoto values Keito Kumashiro’s talent.
A #NextGenJLEAGUE superstar in the making! Roasso Kumamoto’s Keito Kumashiro scored the winner over the weekend and in the process became the youngest-ever J2 League goalscorer at 16 years, 5 months, and 5 days old pic.twitter.com/eCBtz9zars
— J.LEAGUE Official (English) (@J_League_En) March 31, 2024
Keito Kumashiro – the story only gets better
Only four days after this historic first senior goal for the 16-year-old striker came round 8 of the J2. On Wednesday, Roasso paid a visit to Renofa Yamaguchi and for the fourth round in a role, Keito Kumashiro came off the bench in the second half.
History not only repeated itself but it got much bigger. Roasso were trailing in this match 0-1 with only 8 minutes left on the clock. Then in a short space of time, Keito Kumashiro converted two penalties, the second one in the final minute, and gave Roasso Kumamoto a 2-1 win. Again, trusting the character and skill of the 16-year-old in such vital moments of a match and giving him the penalty kicks shows how much Keito is valued.
So, what we want to know, we want to tune in and watch, is when the 16-year-old wunderkind Keito Kumashiro will make his inevitable first senior league start. Will he score his first goal from open play in it too?