Tokutaro Ukon

Tokutaro Ukon
右近徳太郎
Personal information
Full name	Tokutaro Ukon
Date of birth	23 September 1913
Place of birth	Kobe, Hyogo, Empire of Japan
Date of death	March 1944 (aged 30)
Place of death	Bougainville Island, Territory of New Guinea
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Defender, Midfielder, Forward
Youth career
	Kobe Daiichi High School
1931–1937	Keio University
Senior career*
Years	Team
	Kobe Club
International career
1934–1940	Japan
Medal record
Keio BRB
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Tokutaro Ukon (右近徳太郎, Ukon Tokutarō, 23 September 1913 – March 1944) was a Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.

Club career

Ukon was born in Sumiyoshi, Kobe^[1] on 23 September 1913.^[2] When he was a Keio University student, he won 1932 Emperor's Cup with Teiichi Matsumaru and so on as a member of Keio BRB was consisted of Keio University players and graduates. He also played for his local club Kobe Club. He played in many positions defender, midfielder and forward.

In May 1934, when Ukon was a Keio University student, he was selected Japan national team for 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games in Manila. At this competition, on 15 May, he debuted against Philippines. In 1936, he was also selected Japan for 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin and scored a goal against Sweden. Japan completed a come-from-behind victory against Sweden. The first victory in Olympics for the Japan and the historic victory over one of the powerhouses became later known as "Miracle of Berlin" (ベルリンの奇跡) in Japan. In 2016, this team was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. He played 5 games and scored 1 goal for Japan until 1940.^[3]

Ukon

Miracle of Berlin (1936 Olympics 1st round v Sweden on 4 August)

In 1942, Ukon served in the military for World War II. In March 1944, he was killed in action in Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea at the age of 30.^[4]^[5]