Kaishu Sano
Kaishu Sano is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for club Mainz 05 and the Japan national team.
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.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.
Mainz 05
On 3 July 2024, Sano signed for Bundesliga club Mainz 05 on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.Personal life
Sano is the elder brother of fellow professional footballer Kodai Sano.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. He was released on July 29, and prosecutors decided not to indict him on August 8.On 5 June 2025, he was selected for the Japan national team for the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, scheduled to be held on 10 June, marking his return to the squad.
At a press conference, head coach Hajime Moriyasu stated, "I have been observing him all along, and after personally reaching out to him, I strongly felt that he is truly remorseful." He continued, "When we consider each team member as part of a family, I asked myself—as a coach facing an individual player—whether we should simply cast someone out of society or the football world for making a mistake. I decided it would be better, as a family, to give him a path to try again."
Sano also held a press conference on the 28th, where he offered a direct apology in his own words.
Honours
Individual- IFFHS Asian Men's Team of the Year: 2025