Niigata University of Health and Welfare: Announcement of Haruto Tachikawa, Men's Soccer Club Member, Approved as 2026 JFA・J-League Special Designated Player
Key facts
- Niigata University of Health and Welfare: Announcement of Haruto Tachikawa, Men's Soccer Club Member, Approved as 2026 JFA・J-League Special Designated Player
- Haruto Tachikawa, a second-year student in the soccer club at Niigata University of Health and Welfare, has been approved as a "2026 JFA・J-League Special Designated Player." This is an exceptional case for a second-year student nationwide. Tachikawa is slated to join Kyoto Sanga F.C. from January 2029, and this approval allows him to participate in official J-League matches while still enrolled at the university.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: April 10, 2026
Direct answer
Haruto Tachikawa, a second-year student in the soccer club at Niigata University of Health and Welfare, has been approved as a "2026 JFA・J-League Special Designated Player." This is an exceptional case for a second-year student nationwide. Tachikawa is slated to join Kyoto Sanga F.C. from January 2029, and this approval allows him to participate in official J-League matches while still enrolled at the university.
- Citation
- Niigata University of Health and Welfare: Announcement of Haruto Tachikawa, Men's Soccer Club Member, Approved as 2026 JFA・J-League Special Designated Player (April 10, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- April 10, 2026
Haruto Tachikawa, a second-year student in the soccer club at Niigata University of Health and Welfare, has been approved as a "2026 JFA・J-League Special Designated Player." This is an exceptional case for a second-year student nationwide. Tachikawa is slated to join Kyoto Sanga F.C. from January 2029, and this approval allows him to participate in official J-League matches while still enrolled at the university.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 19:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 11, 2026 at 00:27 (5h 17m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 01:21 (216h 53m after Collected)
We are pleased to announce that Haruto Tachikawa (second-year student in the Department of Health and Sports Science) of the Niigata University of Health and Welfare Soccer Club, part of the NSG Group, has been approved as a "2026 JFA・J-League Special Designated Player" as of April 10th.
Tachikawa is slated to join Kyoto Sanga F.C. from January 2029 (2028/29 season). With this approval, he will be able to participate in official J-League matches and other competitions as a member of Kyoto Sanga F.C. while still belonging to our university.
This year, only 24 university students nationwide (as of April 1st) have been approved by the JFA as Special Designated Players, and most of them are fourth-year students nearing graduation. Among them, approval at such an early stage as a second-year student is extremely rare nationwide, indicating that Tachikawa has been highly evaluated as an "immediate asset capable of competing at the highest professional level right now."
By applying this system, Tachikawa, unlike regular committed players, will be able to participate in official matches such as the J1 League and Levain Cup from this season without waiting for university graduation. By balancing his activities with the university soccer club and the top-level environment of professional competition, further leaps are expected.
### Haruto Tachikawa Player Profile
**[Position] MF**
**[Date of Birth] February 20, 2007 (19 years old)**
**[Height/Weight] 183cm / 70kg**
**[Hometown] Shiga Prefecture**
**[Career History] Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15 → Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 → Niigata University of Health and Welfare**
**[Characteristics] An attacking midfielder with soft ball control and abundant ideas, capable of creating decisive opportunities in front of goal.**
**[Niigata University of Health and Welfare] https://www.nuhw.ac.jp/**
It is one of the few comprehensive medical universities in Japan with 6 faculties and 16 departments, where students can study nursing, medicine, rehabilitation, nutrition, sports, welfare, and medical IT. Maximizing the advantages of being a comprehensive medical university, our university offers practical learning in "team medicine," which is essential in the medical field. We have also established a university-wide organizational support system for qualification acquisition and employment, achieving top-class national examination pass rates and high employment records nationwide. Furthermore, leveraging the unique environment of our university with sports-related departments, we promote "sports" x "medicine," "rehabilitation," and "
Tachikawa is slated to join Kyoto Sanga F.C. from January 2029 (2028/29 season). With this approval, he will be able to participate in official J-League matches and other competitions as a member of Kyoto Sanga F.C. while still belonging to our university.
This year, only 24 university students nationwide (as of April 1st) have been approved by the JFA as Special Designated Players, and most of them are fourth-year students nearing graduation. Among them, approval at such an early stage as a second-year student is extremely rare nationwide, indicating that Tachikawa has been highly evaluated as an "immediate asset capable of competing at the highest professional level right now."
By applying this system, Tachikawa, unlike regular committed players, will be able to participate in official matches such as the J1 League and Levain Cup from this season without waiting for university graduation. By balancing his activities with the university soccer club and the top-level environment of professional competition, further leaps are expected.
### Haruto Tachikawa Player Profile
**[Position] MF**
**[Date of Birth] February 20, 2007 (19 years old)**
**[Height/Weight] 183cm / 70kg**
**[Hometown] Shiga Prefecture**
**[Career History] Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15 → Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 → Niigata University of Health and Welfare**
**[Characteristics] An attacking midfielder with soft ball control and abundant ideas, capable of creating decisive opportunities in front of goal.**
**[Niigata University of Health and Welfare] https://www.nuhw.ac.jp/**
It is one of the few comprehensive medical universities in Japan with 6 faculties and 16 departments, where students can study nursing, medicine, rehabilitation, nutrition, sports, welfare, and medical IT. Maximizing the advantages of being a comprehensive medical university, our university offers practical learning in "team medicine," which is essential in the medical field. We have also established a university-wide organizational support system for qualification acquisition and employment, achieving top-class national examination pass rates and high employment records nationwide. Furthermore, leveraging the unique environment of our university with sports-related departments, we promote "sports" x "medicine," "rehabilitation," and "
FAQ
Which team has Ryo Sho Tachikawa been signed to?
Ryo Sho Tachikawa is set to join Kyoto Sanga F.C. starting January 2029 (2028/29 season).
What is the Special Designated Player system?
The Special Designated Player system allows players to participate in J.League official matches while still enrolled in university, providing them with the opportunity to play professionally before graduation.
Why is it unusual for Tachikawa to be approved as a second-year student?
Most Special Designated Players are fourth-year students, so Tachikawa's approval as a second-year student indicates that he is highly regarded as an immediate contributor.