Sports · Football · 2 hrs ago
Shusaku Nishikawa set to match J1 appearance record
Urawa Reds goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa was named to start against Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday in Kashiwa, Japan.
The 40-year-old had made 671 J1 league appearances before the match.
If he plays, he will equal the league record of 672 appearances held by Yasuhito Endo, a former midfielder who is now a Gamba Osaka coach.
Nishikawa made his professional debut with Oita in 2005 and has also played for Hiroshima and Urawa.
Both players came through as professionals straight from high school, earned first-team places in their first seasons and built their careers in Japan’s J.League without moving abroad.
Their records reflect long careers as regular starters, despite playing in different positions.
The match against Kashiwa is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m.; Nishikawa could move into sole first place if he plays and later makes another J1 appearance.
Shusaku Nishikawa was named in Urawa Reds’ starting lineup for a match against Kashiwa Reysol, putting him in line to equal the J1 League appearance record.
If he played, the 40-year-old goalkeeper would reach 672 appearances, matching the record held by Yasuhito Endo.
Nishikawa had 671 J1 appearances before the match, while Endo reached 672 in 2022.
The match was scheduled for October 31 at SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium.
Both players have played their professional careers in Japan and earned regular first-team places in their first year as professionals.
- Who
- Shusaku Nishikawa of Urawa Reds and Yasuhito Endo, who holds the J1 appearance record.
- What
- Nishikawa was named in the starting lineup and could equal Endo’s record of 672 J1 appearances.
- When
- October 31, 2026.
- Where
- SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium, in a match against Kashiwa Reysol.
- Why
- Nishikawa is one appearance short of Endo’s record and was named to start.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Nishikawa made his J1 debut for Oita against Yokohama F. Marinos.
Endo reached 672 J1 appearances.
Nishikawa was named in Urawa’s starting lineup with 671 J1 appearances.
- Nishikawa’s pre-match total
- 671 J1 appearances
- Record
- 672 appearances, held by Yasuhito Endo
- Match
- Kashiwa Reysol vs Urawa Reds
- Date and kickoff
- October 31, 2026, at 16:00
- Venue
- SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium