Kaishū Sano

Kaishū Sano
佐野 海舟

Personal information
Date of birth	(2000-12-30) 30 December 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Tsuyama, Okayama, Japan
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Mainz 05
Number	6
Youth career
2016–2018	Yonago Kita High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2022	Machida Zelvia	116	(8)
2023–2024	Kashima Antlers	47	(1)
2024–	Mainz 05	15	(0)
International career^‡
2023–	Japan	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:27, 21 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:55, 14 January 2024 (UTC)

Kaishū Sano (佐野 海舟, Sano Kaishū, born 30 December 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club Mainz 05 and the Japan national team.^[1][2]

Career

After four seasons with J2 League club FC Machida Zelvia, in December 2022 it was announced that Sano would be joining J1 League club Kashima Antlers for the 2023 season.^[3]

Sano appeared as starter at the beginning of the season, appearing in nine of their first ten games. In April, he picked up a knee injury which would leave him out of action for 4 weeks.^[4]

Mainz 05

On 3 July 2024, Sano signed for Bundesliga club Mainz 05 on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.^[5]

Personal life

Sano is the elder brother of fellow professional footballer Kodai Sano.^[6]

Controversy

Sexual assault allegations

On 17 July 2024, following Sano's transfer to Mainz, it was reported that he was arrested along with two other co-suspects under suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman who had earlier dined with the three men after the woman's friend had left for home.^[7][8]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 December 2024^[9][10]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Machida Zelvia	2019	J2 League	21	0	1	0	–		22	0
	2020	J2 League	41	1	0	0	–		41	1
	2021	J2 League	34	6	1	0	–		35	6
	2022	J2 League	20	1	1	0	–		21	1
	Total		116	7	3	0	0	0	119	7
Kashima Antlers	2023	J1 League	27	1	1	0	7	0	35	1
	2024	J1 League	20	0	1	0	2	0	23	0
	Total		47	1	2	0	9	0	58	1
Mainz 05	2024–25	Bundesliga	15	0	2	0	–		17	0
Career total			178	8	7	0	9	0	194	8

1. Includes Emperor's Cup
2. Includes J. League Cup

International

As of match played 24 January 2024^[11]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Japan	2023	1	0
	2024	3	0
Total		4	0

References

1. "Kaishu Sano :: Kaishu Sano :: Machida Zelvia".
2. "佐野 海舟：ＦＣ町田ゼルビア：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 January 2023.
3. "佐野 海舟選手 完全移籍加入のお知らせ | 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト". 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト | KASHIMA ANTLERS (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 January 2023.
4. "MF佐野が全治4週間の負傷【鹿島】：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
5. "KAISHU SANO WIRD MAINZER" [KAISHU SANO BECOMES MAINZ PLAYER]. www.mainz05.de (in German). 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
6. "兄とJで戦う夢実現へ。米子北高MF佐野航大が岡山内定!". ゲキサカ (in Japanese). 13 October 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
7. "サッカー日本代表の佐野海舟容疑者を逮捕…３０代女性に３人で性的暴行の疑い". 読売新聞オンライン (in Japanese). 17 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
8. Afp, Jiji (17 July 2024). "Japan soccer player Sano arrested for alleged sexual assault". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
9. "Soccer D.B. : 2022 Kaishu Sano Result by Season". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
10. "Kaishu Sano". Retrieved 14 November 2023.
11. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Kaishū Sano (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 7 July 2024.

External links

• Kaishū Sano at Soccerway
• Kaishū Sano at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)