Asako Takakura

Asako Takakura
Personal information
Full name	Asako Takakura
Date of birth	April 19, 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth	Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan
Height	1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team
1981–1984	FC Jinnan
1985–1998	Yomiuri Beleza
1999	Matsushita Electric Panasonic Bambina
2000	Silicon Valley Red Devils
2001–2004	Speranza FC Takatsuki
Total
National team
1984–1999	Japan
Teams managed
2013–2014	Japan U-17
2014–2016	Japan U-20
2016–	Japan
Honours
Yomiuri Beleza
Representing Japan
AFC Women's Asian Cup
Asian Games
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Asako Takakura (高倉麻子, Takakura Asako, born April 19, 1968) is a former Japanese football player and manager. She played for the Japan national team. Her husband is a former footballer Kazuhiko Takemoto.

Biography

Takakura was born in Fukushima on April 19, 1968. In 1981, she joined FC Jinnan. In 1985, she moved to Yomiuri Beleza. The club won Nadeshiko League title for 4 years in a row (1990-1993). She was selected MVP awards in 1992 and 1993 season. She was also selected Best Eleven 7 times (1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997 and 1998). In 1999, her husband Kazuhiko Takemoto moved to Gamba Osaka. So, she moved to Matsushita Electric Panasonic Bambina (later Speranza FC Takatsuki) based in Osaka. In 2000, she moved to Women's Premier Soccer League club Silicon Valley Red Devils. In 2001, she returned to Speranza FC Takatsuki. End of 2004 season, she retired from playing career. She played 226 games in Nadeshiko League.

On October 17, 1984, when Takakura was 16 years old, she debuted for the Japan national team against Italy. She played at 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999 AFC Championship, 1990 and 1994 Asian Games. She was also a member of Japan for 1991, 1995 World Cup and 1996 Summer Olympics. She played 79 games and scored 29 goals for Japan until 1999.

Takakura started her coaching career as an assistant coach of the Japan U-17 national team at the 2009 and 2011 AFC U-16 Championships. As manager of the Japan U-17 team, she led the youth team to the title of the 2013 AFC U-16 Championship by winning over North Korea in the final. Next year, she led to the title of the 2014 U-17 World Cup by winning over Spain in the final. She repeated the achievement by mentoring the Japan U-20 national team to help them win the title of the 2015 AFC U-19 Championship, again by defeating North Korea in the final.

On April 27, 2016, Takakura was appointed as the manager of the Japan senior national team becoming the first female to hold the post. She was also appointed as manager of the Japan U-20 team and won 3rd place at 2016 U-20 World Cup. In 2018, she led to the title of 2018 Asian Cup.

Takakura has been given the "AFC Women's Coach Of The Year Awards" 7 times; in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.