Kozo Tashima elected president of the Japan Football Association

On 27 March 2016, Kozo Tashima was elected president of the Japan Football Association (JFA), the governing body of the sport in Japan. He took over from Junji Ogura, who had led the association before him.

Tashima was a former Japan national team player and had worked his way up through football administration before reaching the top post. His election gave the JFA a leader with a playing background at a time when Japan was an established presence at the men's World Cup and was investing in its national teams and domestic leagues.

He remained president for eight years, until 2024, when Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, another former national team player, succeeded him. During his tenure Tashima became a prominent figure in Asian and global football politics, which is why his name resurfaced when he was reported as a challenger to Gianni Infantino in the FIFA presidential race.