Takuma Kawamura returns to Hiroshima! Shock move after 2 years abroad
Japan national team midfielder Takuma Kawamura (26) has completed a shock return to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the club that developed him. The move was announced on July 25, with the 26-year-old handed the iconic number 8 shirt. After rising through Hiroshima’s youth ranks in 2018 and starring following a loan to Ehime FC, Kawamura left for Austrian Bundesliga side Red Bull Salzburg in summer 2024. Two injury-hit seasons followed, with last term yielding no appearances.
Kawamura arrives with 139 J-League games and 23 goals to his name, and sets his sights on silverware at his boyhood club. Despite leaving Salzburg with two years left on his contract, he expressed gratitude to the Austrian side and vowed to repay Hiroshima’s faith.
Last result: Brazil 2-1 Japan (2026-06-29).
Why now? The Salzburg struggle
Kawamura made eight official appearances for Salzburg in 2024-25, including Champions League outings against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, but the 2025-26 season saw his opportunities vanish. Injuries disrupted his rhythm, leaving him to admit the spell ‘did not go as planned’.
He thanked Hiroshima fans for sticking by him during tough times abroad, saying, ‘Even when I was overseas, you never stopped cheering. That support kept me going.’
A new chapter in purple
Number 8 is steeped in Hiroshima tradition. Kawamura, who calls winning titles at the club his lifelong dream, will now lead the purple charge at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima.
For the fans, his return is a major boost. After three seasons away, he’s expected to marshal the midfield and chase trophies.
What about the Samurai Blue?
Kawamura remains a key figure for Japan, featuring in the June 29 World Cup warm-up loss to Brazil (2-1). He intends to balance club and country as the new Hiroshima setup takes shape. With a fresh managerial regime in place, his leadership could prove pivotal as the team eyes its 2026 World Cup push.
