Hikaru Minegishi

In this article, the surname is Minegishi (Japanese patronymic surname), and his middle name is de Asis (Philippine matronymic surname).

In this Japanese name, the surname is Minegishi.

Hikaru Minegishi
嶺岸 光

Personal information
Full name	Hikaru de Asis Minegishi
Date of birth	(1991-06-05) 5 June 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth	Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
	Urawa Red Diamonds
2007–2009	Seiwa Gakuen High School
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2013	Sendai University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2017	Global Cebu	49	(30)
2018	Pattaya United	7	(0)
2019	JL Chiangmai United	6	(1)
2019–2022	United City	16	(2)
2023	Uthai Thani	8	(1)
International career^‡
2016–	Philippines	18	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 May 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 06:40, 19 June 2023 (UTC)

Hikaru Minegishi (Japanese: 嶺岸 光, Minegishi Hikaru), also known by his nickname Pika, is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Philippines national team.

Early life and education

Minegishi was born on June 5, 1991.^[1] His Filipino mother is a native of Olongapo^[2] while his father is Japanese. He studied at the Seiwa Gakuen High School for his secondary studies and later attended the Sendai University for his collegiate studies.^[3]

Club career

Youth

Minegishi was part of the youth system of the Urawa Red Diamonds. He also played as part of the football team of Sendai University.^[2]

Senior

Global Cebu

Fellow Filipino-Japanese, Daisuke Sato invited Minegishi to play club football in the Philippines.^[4] In early 2015, Global F.C. of the United Football League had signed Minegishi.^[2] Minegishi scored 17 goals in 17 league matches for Global in the 2016 UFL season reportedly by October 5, 2016.^[3] He was awarded the Golden Ball at the end of the season.^[5] Minegishi ended his stint with Global Cebu with a runner-up finish at the inaugural season of the Philippine Football League in 2017.^[6]

Pattaya United

He moved to Pattaya United F.C. and will form part of the club starting in the 2018 Thai League 1 season.^[6]

International career

Philippines

By November 5, 2016, Minegishi was processing his Philippine passport for him to be eligible to play for the Philippines national football team.^[7]

Minegishi made his debut for the Philippines^[8] in their first group stage match against Singapore, coming on as a half-time substitute. The match ended in a 0–0 draw.^[9][10] In the next group stage match where the Philippines settled for a 2–2 draw with Indonesia, Minegishi made his first international start.^[11]

On 22 March 2018, Minegishi scored his debut international goal for the Philippines, scoring the Azkals' second goal in a 3-2 friendly win over Fiji.^[12]

International goals

Scores and results list the Philippines' goal tally first.^[13]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
2018
1.	22 March	Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila	Fiji	2–0	3–2	Friendly

References

1. "[2016 AFF Suzuki Cup] Final Round Group Competition Group A - Final Registration of Officials and Players - Team: Philippines" (PDF). ASEAN Football Federation. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
2. Guerrereo, Bob (3 February 2015). "Could Global FC's new signings break into the Azkals?". The Passionate Fan. Yahoo!. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
3. "日本人がフィリピン1部で大爆発中！17戦17得点、FW嶺岸光を知っているか [Part 1]" [Japanese making waves in the Philippines with 17 goals and appearances [for his club]. Do you know about FW Hikaru Minigeshi?]. Quoly Football Web Magazine (in Japanese). 5 October 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
4. "日本人がフィリピン1部で大爆発中！17戦17得点、FW嶺岸光を知っているか [Part 2]" [Japanese making waves in the Philippines with 17 goals and appearances [for his club]. Do you know about FW Hikaru Minigeshi?]. Quoly Football Web Magazine (in Japanese). 5 October 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
5. Tupas, Cedelf (19 November 2016). "Global, Minegishi share spotlight". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
6. Diaz, Rey Charlie (21 December 2017). "Global Cebu FC midfielder transfers to Pattaya United". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
7. Guerrero, Bob (5 November 2016). "Azkals-Kyrgyzstan preview: Fitness a concern". Rappler. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
8. "リーグMVPの嶺岸光、ついにフィリピン代表デビュー！" [League MVP Hikaru Minegishi finally makes his Philippine national team debut!]. Quoly Football Web Magazine (in Japanese). 20 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
9. Ventura, Sid (19 November 2016). "Azkals held to frustrating 0-0 draw by 10-man Singapore". Sports 5. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
10. Tan, Gabriel (19 November 2016). "Ten-man Singapore hold on to draw with Philippines in 2016 AFF opener". ESPN FC. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
11. "Younghusband Keeps Suzuki Cup Semis Bid Alive in Draw vs Indonesia". Football.com.ph. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
12. Go, Beatrice (22 March 2018). "Azkals survive late scare in friendly win over Fiji". Rappler. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
13. "Minegishi, Hikaru". National Football Teams. Retrieved 22 March 2018.