Ken Wakashimazu is a Japanese football player excelling as both goalkeeper and forward. His career began in elementary school at Meiwa FC, initially playing forward alongside close friend Kojiro Hyuga. When the team required a stronger goalkeeper, he transitioned positions, leveraging his karate expertise to forge a unique goalkeeping style. This approach featured acrobatic saves such as the Triangle Jump, earning him the moniker "Karate Keeper." A car accident temporarily interrupted his elementary school play, but he returned to help Meiwa defeat Furano Elementary Soccer Club. He continued at Toho Academy through middle and high school, maintaining his goalkeeping role while rivaling Genzo Wakabayashi for Japan’s primary goalkeeper spot. During this period, familial pressure mounted for him to inherit his father’s karate dojo. A critical agreement mandated Toho’s national tournament victory for his continued football participation. Despite injuries—including aggravated damage to his left side during the high school finals against Nankatsu SC—Toho emerged as joint champions, securing his father’s approval to pursue football. Internationally, he served as Japan’s primary goalkeeper during World Youth Tournament qualifiers and group stages. His performances included victories against Italy and Argentina, though injuries compromised his reliability. Notably, a weakened right hand contributed to conceded goals during a penalty shootout against France, leading to his benching in the finals against West Germany. Disagreements over his status as Wakabayashi’s replacement during Asian qualifiers prompted a temporary exit from the national team. He joined Yokohama Flugels in the J-League, publicly expressing no regret, and later played for Nagoya Grampus Eight and FC Porto. Physically, his height increased from 159 cm in elementary school to 185 cm professionally, with weight rising from 50 kg to 74 kg. He evolved into a dual-position player for Japan’s U-22 and Olympic teams, termed "Two Swords Style" for his versatility. His professional statistics reflect this adaptability across national and international tournaments.