Shiho Matsubara

The native form of this personal name is Matsubara Shiho. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Shiho Matsubara
松原 志歩
Personal information
Full name Shiho Matsubara
Date of birth (1997-07-07) 7 July 1997
Place of birth Takaishi, Japan
Height 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Piteå
Number 8
Youth career
Erba
Cerezo Osaka
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2020 Cerezo Osaka 109 (32)
2019–2020 → Albirex Niigata (loan) 32 (0)
2021–2023 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 8 (0)
2023–2025 Fortuna Hjørring 43 (1)
2025– Piteå 14 (2)
International career
2013 Japan U16
2014 Japan U17 6 (2)
2016 Japan U20 5 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22 February 2026

Shiho Matsubara (松原 志歩, Matsubara Shiho; pronounced [matsɯbaɾa ɕiho]; born 7 July 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Damallsvenskan club Piteå IF.[1] She previously played for Nadeshiko League and WE League clubs Cerezo Osaka Sakai, Albirex Niigata and Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina, and for Kvindeliga club Fortuna Hjørring.

Matsubara is the older sister of Yuna Matsubara, who is also a professional footballer (currently playing for WE League club INAC Kobe Leonessa).[2]

Early life

Matsubara was born on 7 July 1997 in Takaishi, Osaka Prefecture.

Matsubara began playing football (alongside younger sister, Yuna, who is also a professional footballer)[2] in the third grade of elementary school, inspired by her brother. She played with boys at Erba FC, before joining Cerezo Osaka Sakai's under-15s team in junior high school. At the time, she was playing as a forward.[3]

After graduating from senior high school, Matsubara attended university at Mukogawa Women's University Junior College Division, a private junior college in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture. Whilst playing, she became a coach at Cerezo Osaka Soccer School.

Club career

Cerezo Osaka Sakai

Matsubara was developed as an academy product of Cerezo Osaka Sakai. She played her 100th Nadeshiko League game for the club on 4 June 2018 in a Division 1 match against Urawa Red Diamonds away from home.[4]

Albirex Niigata

In 2019, Matsubara was loaned out to Albirex Niigata for the 2019 season.[5] In 2020, her loan was extended for another year until the end of the 2020 season.[6]

Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina

In 2021, Matsubara signed for Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina ahead of the 2021–22 season, the inaugural season of the WE League (which was previously known as the Nadeshiko League, which became the second division).[7]

In 2023, following the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, Matsubara departed the club to pursue an opportunity overseas.[8]

Fortuna Hjørring

In 2023, Matsubara moved to Denmark and signed for Kvindeliga club Fortuna Hjørring ahead of the 2023–24 season.[9][10][11]

Piteå IF

In 2025, Matsubara moved to Sweden and signed for Damallsvenskan club Piteå IF during the 2025 season.[12]

International career

Matsubara was part of the Japan under-16 national team squad[13] that won the 2013 AFC U-16 Women's Championship in Nanjing, China.[14]

Matsubara was part of the Japan under-17 national team's squad[15] that won the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica. She scored two goals in the tournament.[16]

Matsubara was part of the Japan under-20 national team's squad for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea.[17][18] Japan finished third in the tournament.[19] She scored twice in the tournament, having scored a brace in Japan's 3–1 quarter-final win over Brazil at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby on 24 November.[20]

In 2020, Matsubara received her first call-up for the Japan senior national team, being called up for the Nadeshiko Challenge Training Camp, a three-day training camp held from 7 to 9 December.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Shiho Matsubara" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association.
  2. ^ a b "守備の要はセレッソ出身　家事担当の姉と大学生の妹、WEリーグ広島" [The key to the defense is from Cerezo, with an older sister who is in charge of housework and a younger sister who is a university student, and the Hiroshima team from the WE League] (in Japanese). The Asahi Shinbun. 1 October 2021.
  3. ^ "桜なでしこ物語｜第2回：セレッソ大阪レディースU-15として出発" [Sakura Nadeshiko Story, Part 2: Starting out as Cerezo Osaka Ladies U-15] (in Japanese). 29 March 2019.
  4. ^ "記録達成について【2018プレナスなでしこリーグ】" [About the record achievement (2018 Plenus Nadeshiko League)] (in Japanese). Nadeshiko League. 4 June 2018.
  5. ^ "セレッソ大阪堺レディース　松原志歩選手 アルビレックス新潟レディースに期限付き移籍のお知らせ" [Shiho Matsubara of Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies has been transferred to Albirex Niigata Ladies on a temporary basis] (in Japanese). Cerezo Osaka. 16 January 2019.
  6. ^ "松原志歩選手　期限付き移籍期間延長のお知らせ" [Announcement of extension of loan period for Shiho Matsubara] (in Japanese). Cerezo Osaka.
  7. ^ "松原志歩選手 サンフレッチェ広島女子プロチームへ完全移籍決定のお知らせ" [Announcement of Shiho Matsubara's permanent transfer to Sanfrecce Hiroshima's women's professional team] (in Japanese). Cerezo Osaka. 30 January 2021.
  8. ^ "松原志歩選手 退団のお知らせ" [Announcement of Shiho Matsubara's departure] (in Japanese). Sanfrecce Hiroshima. 30 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Fornyelse fra japansk fodbold" [Renewal from Japanese football] (in Danish). Fortuna Hjørring. 16 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Fortuna henter tidligere japansk U17-verdensmester" (in Danish). Fortuna signs former Japanese under-17 world champion. 16 August 2023.
  11. ^ "松原志歩選手 フォルトゥナ・イェリング（デンマーク1部）に加入のお知らせ" [Shiho Matsubara joins Fortuna Hjørring (Danish first division club)] (in Japanese). Sanfrecce Hiroshima. 17 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Shiho Matsubara förstärker Piteå Dam" [Shiho Matsubara strengthens Piteå Women] (in Swedish). Piteå IF. 1 July 2025.
  13. ^ "U-16日本女子代表【AFC U-16女子選手権中国2013】メンバー" [Japan women's under-16 national team members (AFC U-16 Women's Championship China 2013)] (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. 10 August 2013.
  14. ^ "U-16日本女子代表 AFC U-16女子選手権中国2013 決勝を制し優勝！" [The Japan women's under-16 national team wins the AFC U-16 Women's Championship 2013 final in China and becomes champions!] (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. 7 October 2013.
  15. ^ "U-17日本女子代表　FIFA U-17女子ワールドカップコスタリカ2014メンバー・スケジュール" [Japan women's under-17 national team - FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2014 squad and schedule] (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. 25 February 2014.
  16. ^ "U-17日本女子代表　FIFAU-17女子ワールドカップコスタリカ2014　大会初優勝！" [Japan women's under-17 national team wins the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2014 for the first time!] (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. 5 April 2014.
  17. ^ "U-20日本女子代表 メンバー・スケジュール 【FIFA U-20女子ワールドカップ パプアニューギニア 2016（11/13～12/3）】" [Japan women's under-20 national team squad and schedule (FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016)] (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. 24 October 2016.
  18. ^ "サッカーU‐20日本女子代表　FIFA　U-20女子ワールドカップ　パプアニューギニア2016のメンバーに、セレッソ大阪堺レディースの松原志歩選手(武庫川女子大学短期大学部健康・スポーツ学科1年)が選出されました" [Shiho Matsubara (first year student at Mukogawa Women's University Junior College, Department of Health and Sports) of Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies has been selected as a member of the Japan under-20 women's national team for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea] (in Japanese). Mukogawa Women's University. 7 November 2016.
  19. ^ "U-20日本女子代表、3位決定戦でアメリカに1-0で勝利 銅メダルを獲得～FIFA U-20女子ワールドカップ パプアニューギニア2016～" [The Japan women's under-20 national team defeats the USA 1-0 in the third-place match to win the bronze medal at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016] (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. 5 December 2016.
  20. ^ "Japan too good for Brazil". The National. 25 November 2016.
  21. ^ "なでしこチャレンジトレーニングキャンプ（12.7～9＠高円宮記念JFA夢フィールド）メンバー・スケジュール" [Nadeshiko Challenge Training Camp (7-9 December @ Takamadonomiya Memorial JFA Dream Field) Members and Schedule] (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. 3 December 2020.
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