Isao Iwabuchi

Isao Iwabuchi
Personal information
Full name	Isao Iwabuchi
Date of birth	November 17, 1933
Place of birth	Tochigi, Japan
Date of death	April 16, 2003 (aged 69)
Place of death	Tokyo, Japan
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Utsunomiya High School
????–1955	Keio University
Senior career*
Years	Team
1956–????	Keio BRB
National team
1955–1958	Japan
Honours
Keio BRB
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Isao Iwabuchi (岩淵功, Iwabuchi Isao, November 17, 1933 – April 16, 2003) was a Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography[change | change source]

Iwabuchi was born in Tochigi Prefecture on November 17, 1933. He played for Keio BRB which was consisted of his alma mater Keio University players and graduates. He won 1954 and 1956 Emperor's Cup at the club.

On January 5, 1955, when Iwabuchi was a Keio University student, he debuted for the Japan national team against Burma. In June 1956, at 1956 Summer Olympics qualification against South Korea, he scored a goal. After the qualification, Japan won the qualification to 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne by the drawing of lots. In November, he was selected Japan for 1956 Olympics. He also played at 1958 Asian Games. He played 8 games and scored 2 goals for Japan until 1958.

On April 16, 2003, Iwabuchi died of peritonitis in Tokyo Metropolis at the age of 69.