Japanese kicker Kansei Matsuzawa targets NFL Draft after Hawaii success
Japanese kicker Kansei Matsuzawa is targeting a historic place in the NFL Draft following a sensational college football season with Hawai’i.
The Tokyo native first discovered American football during a tourist trip to the Oakland Coliseum in 2018 to watch the Raiders host the Los Angeles Rams.
Captivated by the stadium atmosphere, the former soccer player immediately set his sights on becoming a professional kicker.
It was an audacious ambition for a visiting fan with no previous exposure to the sport.
An unlikely sporting journey
The self-taught prospect began his remarkable path by purchasing two footballs and studying the technique of Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers on YouTube.
Working at a steakhouse during the day, he would sneak into local parks at night for 90-minute sessions to practice kicking into netting.
His unwavering dedication eventually earned him an opportunity at an Ohio junior college before he secured a high-profile transfer to Hawai’i.
Mastering the craft
Known affectionately as the ‘Tokyo Toe’, the specialist converted 27 of his 29 field-goal attempts during an All-American collegiate campaign.
This stellar performance on the island has put him firmly on the radar of professional scouts.
“The enthusiasm, the stadium, atmosphere and everything was new to me,” he said.
Defying history
No player born in Japan has ever successfully transitioned onto an active NFL roster.
Tens of thousands of American athletes spend their entire youth chasing one of the 32 starting kicking positions available in the league.
“And I felt something: ‘I want to be an NFL player.'”
Having overcome initial academic setbacks in his homeland, the trailblazing athlete is now on the verge of turning an impossible dream into reality.
