Kotaro Tokuda shows off some tricks at Jiufen, Taiwan on August 16, 2015
Kotaro Tokuda poses for a portrait during the Red Bull Athletes Shoot in Numata City, Japan on January 22, 2016

Kotaro
Tokuda

Japan

Japan

·

Soccer

No longer able to play football after sustaining an injury, Kotaro Tokuda turned to freestyle soccer and is now one of the biggest names in the sport.

Date of birth

21 July 1991

Place of birth

Ehime Prefecture, Japan

Age

34

Nationality

Japan

Japan

Career start

2009

Disciplines

Freestyle Soccer

Kotaro 'Tokura' Tokuda started playing football when he was in sixth grade. But after three years, he was forced to quit due to injury. Around the same time, he became intrigued by freestyle football and began practising and honing his ball skills in his hometown, as a member of Team-Lingo.

A combination of dedication and natural talent saw Tokura take the win at the Red Bull Street Style Japan Final 2009, when he was in 12th grade. Fresh from his success, he went on to participate in Red Bull Street Style World Final 2009, held in South Africa, but was eliminated in the preliminary round. However, this disappointment didn't dampen Tokura's drive, and he went away feeling even more driven to diversify his skillset and practise new moves and tricks.