Overview
Daigoro Kondo (近藤 台五郎, born June 1, 1907; died February 9, 1991) was a Japanese association football player noted for having represented his country at the international level. Contemporary records identify him as part of the cohort of athletes who took part in Japan’s football development during the first half of the 20th century. He is most often referenced in historical rosters as a member of the Japan national team.
Career and available records
Detailed club and position records for many players of Kondo’s era are incomplete, and surviving match reports can be sparse. What is documented is that Kondo played football competitively and earned selection to represent Japan on the international stage. He is therefore listed in historical accounts of Japanese football players and among those who made appearances for the national side (national team).
Historical context
Kondo’s active years fell during a formative period for the sport in Japan, when organized competitions, university teams and regional tournaments laid the groundwork for later professional structures. International fixtures were relatively rare compared with modern schedules, so every selection to the national squad was significant and often recorded in contemporary newspapers and association minutes.
Legacy and significance
While Kondo may not be a household name today, players of his generation contributed to popularizing association football in Japan and establishing the traditions and administrative frameworks that allowed the sport to grow. Historians of Japanese sport cite early national-team members when tracing the evolution of tactics, organization and international engagement.
Researching further
- Primary sources: period newspapers, match programmes and the archives of the Japan Football Association.
- Secondary sources: histories of Japanese sport and compilations of national-team appearances.
- Online databases and specialist pages that maintain rosters for early international matches may list Kondo; see the linked references above for entry points: Japan, football, national team.
Because records from Kondo’s era can be fragmentary, researchers should cross-reference multiple contemporary accounts when seeking match dates, positions played or club affiliations. Nonetheless, his inclusion on national rosters secures him a place in the early history of Japanese football.