Michael Yano (矢野 マイケル, Yano Michael; born January 22, 1979) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer, kickboxer, and musician.
Early Life and Background
Yano was born in Accra, Ghana, to a Japanese father and a Ghanaian mother. He moved to Japan at the age of 10.
Football Career
Yano began his professional football career as a forward. He joined Vissel Kobe (newly promoted to the J1 League) from the Shimizu S-Pulse youth team in 1997. In his debut season, he made 10 league appearances and scored 1 goal. The following year, he played only 3 matches. After a one-year hiatus, he joined Mito HollyHock (J2 League) in 2000, making 13 league appearances. In 2001, he moved to Sagan Tosu (also J2 League), where he played 20 matches and scored 2 goals before retiring at the end of the 2001 season.
Club Statistics (J.League):
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Vissel Kobe | J1 | 10 | 1 |
| 1998 | Vissel Kobe | J1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 | Mito HollyHock | J2 | 13 | 0 |
| 2001 | Sagan Tosu | J2 | 20 | 2 |
| Total | 46 | 3 |
Post-Football Career
After retiring from football, Yano became a kickboxing competitor and a musician. He has written songs for artists including 2PM and AAA. He is also known as one of the Yano Brothers, a musical group that includes his siblings David and Sanshiro Yano, blending Japanese and Ghanaian cultural influences.
