Nelson Ishiwatari
Midfielder · Japan U23 · №18
Recent matches
| Date | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|
Japan U23
Korea DPR U23
Asian Games
|
1:0 | |
St. Truiden
KVC Westerlo
Jupiler Pro League
|
0:2 | |
Waasland-Beveren
St. Truiden
Jupiler Pro League
|
2:0 | |
St. Truiden
RAAL La Louvière
Jupiler Pro League
|
4:0 | |
St. Truiden
Union Saint-Gilloise
Jupiler Pro League
|
0:3 | |
Antwerp
St. Truiden
Jupiler Pro League
|
1:4 | |
Omonia Nicosia
St. Truiden
UEFA Europa League
|
4:2 | |
|
St. Truiden
Omonia Nicosia
UEFA Europa League
|
1:0 | |
Cercle Brugge
St. Truiden
Jupiler Pro League
|
3:3 | |
St. Truiden
Lommel United
Jupiler Pro League
|
1:1 |
Season statistics
| Competition | Season | Games |
|---|---|---|
| J1 League | 2026 | 19 |
| Jupiler Pro League | 2026 | 7 |
| UEFA Europa League | 2026 | 2 |
| Asian Games | 2026 | 1 |
About the player
Nelson Ishiwatari came through Cerezo Osaka's academy after starting out at Nishi Kyogoku JSC, moving through the club's U-15 and U-18 sides before his senior debut in October 2022. Rather than push straight into the first team, the club sent him out on two development loans: a first taste of senior football at Ehime FC in 2024, then a heavier workload at Iwaki FC in 2025, where he made 29 league appearances and scored four league goals.
That loan spell coincided with a broader run of youth international recognition. Ishiwatari was capped at U-18, U-20, U-21, U-22 and U-23 level for Japan, including a place in the squad for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where the team reached the round of 16. He came on as a substitute in the final of the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup as Japan beat China 4–0 to win the title.
Ishiwatari left Cerezo Osaka permanently in the summer of 2026, joining Belgian Pro League side Sint-Truidense. The club did not confirm any financial details. He had made five league appearances for his new side by September 2026, still with no senior call-up to the Japan national team.
Career path
- 2027 — now Sint-Truidense VV 5 matches
- 2022 — 2026 Cerezo Osaka 21 matches
- 2025 Iwaki 30 matches
- 2024 Ehime FC 14 matches
- 2022 Cerezo Osaka U18 3 matches
Career
| Season | Club | Competition | Games | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26/27 | Sint-Truidense VV | Jupiler Pro League | 3 | 1 | 1 | 192 |
| 26/27 | Sint-Truidense VV | UEFA Europa League Qualifying | 2 | 0 | 0 | 151 |
| 2026 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 100 Year Vision League | 17 | 0 | 3 | 1 277 |
| 2025 | Iwaki | J2 League | 29 | 4 | 1 | 2 248 |
| 2025 | Iwaki | J. League Cup | 1 | 2 | 0 | 120 |
| 2024 | Ehime FC | J2 League | 12 | 1 | 1 | 639 |
| 2024 | Ehime FC | Emperor's Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 118 |
| 2023 | Cerezo Osaka | Emperor's Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 90 |
| 2023 | Cerezo Osaka | J. League Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2022 | Cerezo Osaka U18 | Prince Takamado U18 Premier League West | 3 | 0 | 0 | 194 |
| 2022 | Cerezo Osaka | J. League Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 45 |
| Total | Iwaki | 30 | 6 | 1 | 2 368 | |
| Total | Cerezo Osaka | 21 | 1 | 3 | 1 418 | |
| Total | Ehime FC | 14 | 1 | 1 | 757 | |
| Total | Japan U20 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 282 | |
| Total | Sint-Truidense VV | 5 | 1 | 1 | 343 | |
| Total | Japan U23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 191 | |
| Total | Cerezo Osaka U18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 194 | |
| Total | Japan U21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 139 | |
| Total | Japan U18 Women | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |
| Total | Japan U22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
Transfers
Transfers- 26/27 Cerezo Osaka Sint-Truiden €1.50M
- 25/26 Iwaki Cerezo Osaka
- 24/25 Cerezo Osaka Iwaki
- 24/25 Ehime FC Cerezo Osaka
- 23/24 Cerezo Osaka Ehime FC
- 22/23 Cerezo U18 Cerezo Osaka
