Hikaru Minegishi

In this article, the surname is Minegishi (Japanese patronymic surname), and his middle name is de Asis (Philippine matronymic surname).

In this Japanese name, the surname is Minegishi.

Hikaru Minegishi (Japanese: 嶺岸 光, Minegishi Hikaru), also known by his nickname Pika, is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Philippines national team.

Hikaru Minegishi
嶺岸 光

Personal information
Full name	Hikaru de Asis Minegishi
Date of birth	(1991-06-05) 5 June 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth	Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
	Urawa Red Diamonds
2007–2009	Seiwa Gakuen High School
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2013	Sendai University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2017	Global Cebu	49	(30)
2018	Pattaya United	7	(0)
2019	JL Chiangmai United	6	(1)
2019–2022	United City	16	(2)
2023	Uthai Thani	8	(1)
International career‡
2016–	Philippines	18	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 May 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 06:40, 19 June 2023 (UTC)

Early life and education

Minegishi was born on June 5, 1991.^[1] His Filipino mother is a native of Olongapo^[2] while his father is Japanese. He studied at the Seiwa Gakuen High School for his secondary studies and later attended the Sendai University for his collegiate studies.^[3]

Club career

Youth

Minegishi was part of the youth system of the Urawa Red Diamonds. He also played as part of the football team of Sendai University.^[2]

Senior

Global Cebu

Fellow Filipino-Japanese, Daisuke Sato invited Minegishi to play club football in the Philippines.^[4] In early 2015, Global F.C. of the United Football League had signed Minegishi.^[2] Minegishi scored 17 goals in 17 league matches for Global in the 2016 UFL season reportedly by October 5, 2016.^[3] He was awarded the Golden Ball at the end of the season.^[5] Minegishi ended his stint with Global Cebu with a runner-up finish at the inaugural season of the Philippine Football League in 2017.^[6]

Pattaya United

He moved to Pattaya United F.C. and will form part of the club starting in the 2018 Thai League 1 season.^[6]

International career

Philippines

By November 5, 2016, Minegishi was processing his Philippine passport for him to be eligible to play for the Philippines national football team.^[7]

Minegishi made his debut for the Philippines^[8] in their first group stage match against Singapore, coming on as a half-time substitute. The match ended in a 0–0 draw.^[9][10] In the next group stage match where the Philippines settled for a 2–2 draw with Indonesia, Minegishi made his first international start.^[11]

On 22 March 2018, Minegishi scored his debut international goal for the Philippines, scoring the Azkals' second goal in a 3-2 friendly win over Fiji.^[12]

International goals

Scores and results list the Philippines' goal tally first.^[13]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
2018
1.	22 March	Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila	Fiji	2–0	3–2	Friendly