is a Japanese former professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or full-back.
Career Inoha was educated at and played for Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School and Hannan University. He was on trial with several J. League clubs before the graduation from his high school but failed to convince any club to sign him. He decided to continue his study and football at Hannan University. When he was at the university, he was a member of the Japan team that won the 23rd Universiade football competition held in İzmir, Turkey.
His good form in the Kansai university League was recognised by Japan's youth team coach Kiyoshi Okuma who included him in the squad for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship finals.
He signed with F.C. Tokyo after a successful trial and he took a leave of absence from the university with which he is still enrolled as of April 2008. Manager Alexandre Gallo immediately established him as a starting member in his midfield.
He received a call-up twice in 2006 for the national squad. Then he was a late replacement for injured Ryuji Bando for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup finals but did not play in the competition.
He was transferred to the reigning J. League champions Kashima in 2008. He was a key member of Japan's Under-23 team, however he failed to join the U-23 squad to compete in the Beijing Olympics football competition.
He was included in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals and made his full international debut on 17 January 2011 against Saudi Arabia. In a game against Qatar, in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, he scored a goal in minute 89' of the game. The game ended 3–2, a win for Japan.
In the summer transfer window of 2011 he moved to Croatian giant Hajduk Split. He scored his only goal for Hajduk in a 3–0 away from home victory over newly promoted side Lučko on 21 October 2011. He struggled to adapt to Croatian life, stating reasons such as difficulty to learn the new language and no other Asian players in the side as main factors. On 17 January 2012, he skipped training for the first time due to unpaid wages. The unpaid wages were due to the debt of Hajduk Split and many players were unpaid during his stay at the club. He was fined by the club for missing three training sessions before finally rescinding his contract and returning to Japan in late January 2012. He made 16 appearances in his single season for Hajduk Split. Upon leaving, Masahiko stated: "In my entire career, I have never been as sad as I was in the last two weeks."
Masahiko signed for Vissel Kobe as a free agent in early 2012. After Vissel Kobe's relegation from the top tier in Japan in 2012, Inoha then moved to Jubilo Iwata in January 2013 for an undisclosed fee. He made 25 appearances and scored a single goal in his first season for Iwata in the Japanese first division but they finished in 17th place and were relegated. After three seasons spent in Shizuoka, he was released at the end of the 2015 season after helping Jubilo Iwata gain promotion. He signed for Vissel Kobe in February 2016.
Career statistics
Club
Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, (p. 61 out of 289)
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFC Tokyo20062812050––35120072000040––240Total4812090––591Kashima Antlers2008230201020–2802009301402060104312010260502050–3802011101––30–131Total89211050160101222Hajduk Split2011–1215130–10–191Vissel Kobe20122200010––230Jubilo Iwata20132510040––291201425110–––261201532100–––321Total8231040––873Vissel Kobe20162701060––340Career total2837180250170103447
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan201191201270201340201410Total211
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Inoha goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Masahiko InohaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 21 January 2011 Al-Gharafa Stadium, Doha, Qatar 3–2 3–2 2011 AFC Asian Cup
Honours Kashima Antlers J. League Division 1: 2008, 2009 Emperor's Cup: 2010 Japanese Super Cup: 2009, 2010
Japan AFC Asian Cup: 2011
References
External links
Japan National Football Team Database
Profile at Vissel Kobe