Nelson Ishiwatari

Nelson Ishiwatari
石渡 ネルソン
Personal information
Full name Ischivatar Nelson Jujichirow
Date of birth (2005-05-10) 10 May 2005 (age 21)
Place of birth Kyoto, Japan
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Sint-Truiden
Number 18
Youth career
2012–2017 Nishikyogoku JSC
2018–2023 Cerezo Osaka
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2026 Cerezo Osaka 18 (0)
2024 → Ehime (loan) 12 (1)
2025 → Iwaki (loan) 29 (4)
2026– Sint-Truiden 7 (1)
International career‡
2023 Japan U18 1 (0)
2025 Japan U20 8 (0)
2025– Japan U22 1 (0)
2026– Japan U23 8 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Japan
AFC U-23 Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place2026 Saudi Arabia
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place2026 Aichi–Nagoya
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 October 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 3 October 2026

Nelson Yuichiro Ishiwatari (石渡 ネルソン, Ishiwatari Neruson; born 10 May 2005) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Belgian Pro League club Sint-Truiden.

Club career

Ishiwatari made his J1 League debut for Cerezo Osaka in a 4–0 loss to FC Tokyo.

On 17 July 2026, Ishiwatari signed with Sint-Truiden in Belgium, joining six other Japanese players on the club's squad.

International career

Ishiwatari represented Japan at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where they reached the Round of 16, and at the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup, which Japan won.

Personal life

Ishiwatari was born in Kyoto to a Nigerian father and Japanese mother.

Career statistics

Club

As of 11 October 2026.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cerezo Osaka 2022 J1 League 100010—20
2023 J1 League 001110—21
2026 J1 (100) 1700000—170
Total 1801120—211
Ehime FC (loan) 2024 J2 League 12120——141
Iwaki FC (loan) 2025 J2 League 294—12—306
Sint-Truiden 2026–27 Belgian Pro League 7100—30101
Career total 666313230759
  1. ↑ Includes Emperors Cup, Belgian Cup
  2. ↑ Includes J.League Cup
  3. ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, one appearance in UEFA Conference League

Honours

Japan U23

References

  1. ↑ Nelson Ishiwatari at WorldFootball.net
  2. ↑ "【C大阪】４失点大敗…17歳石渡ネルソンほろ苦デビュー「ユースで通用することが通用しない」" [[C Osaka] Lost 4 goals... 17-year-old Nelson Ishiwatari's bittersweet debut "What works for youth doesn't work"]. nikkansports.com (in Japanese). 12 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  3. ↑ "Nelson Ishiwatari van Cerezo Osaka naar STVV" [Nelson Ishiwatari from Cerezo Osaka to STVV] (in Dutch). Sint-Truidense VV. 17 July 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Japan U20 v France U20". FIFA. 8 October 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "China U23 v Japan U23". AFC. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "石渡 ネルソン". cerezo.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "C大阪から新たなスター候補生、17歳MF石渡ネルソンがJ1デビュー「チームを勝たせられる選手に」" [New star candidate from C Osaka, 17-year-old midfielder Nelson Ishiwatari debuts in J1 "A player who can lead the team to victory"]. web.gekisaka.jp (in Japanese). 13 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  8. ↑ Nelson Ishiwatari at Soccerway
  9. ↑ "Nelson Ishiwatari Players All-Time Record". Soccer D.B. Japan. Retrieved 23 March 2026.