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Ataru Esaka
Personal information
Full name	Ataru Esaka
Date of birth	May 31, 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Sanda, Hyōgo, Japan
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team	Ulsan Hyundai
Number	31
Youth career
2008–2011	Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School
2011–2014	Ryutsu Keizai University
Senior career*
Years	Team
2015	Thespakusatsu Gunma
2016–2017	Omiya Ardija
2018–2021	Kashiwa Reysol
2021–2022	Urawa Red Diamonds
2023–	Ulsan Hyundai
International career‡
2021–	Japan
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 02:24, 14 January 2024; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 March 2021

Ataru Esaka (江坂任) (born May 31, 1992) is a Japanese football player who currently plays for Ulsan Hyundai in the K League 1.^[1]

Early life

Ataru was born in Sanda. He went to the Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School and the Ryutsu Keizai University.

Career

Ataru made his debut for Thespakusatsu Gunma against Yokohama FC on the 8 March 2015.^[2] He scored his first goal for the club against Roasso Kumamoto on the 15 March 2015, scoring in the 5th minute.^[3]

Ataru made his debut for Omiya against Gamba Osaka on the 11 March 2016.^[4] He scored his first goal for the club against Sagan Tosu on the 21 May 2016, scoring in the 74th minute.^[5]

Ataru made his debut for Kashiwa against Vegalta Sendai on the 25 February 2018.^[6] He scored his first goals, a brace, against Gamba Osaka on the 18 March 2018, scoring in the 8th and 18th minute.^[7]

Ataru made his debut for Urawa against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo on the 9 August 2021.^[8] He scored his first goal for the club on the 14 August 2021 against Sagan Tosu, scoring a penalty in the 84th minute.^[9]

Ataru made his debut for Ulsan against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on the 25 February 2023.^[10] He scored his first goal for the club on the 10 June 2023 against Jeju United, scoring in the 52nd minute.^[11]

International career

He made his debut for Japan national football team on 25 March 2021 in a friendly against South Korea.^[12]

Club statistics

Updated 12 December 2023^[13]^[14]^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Thespakusatsu Gunma	2015	J2 League	42	13	0	0	–		–		–		42	13
Omiya Ardija	2016	J1 League	31	8	3	0	8	2	–		–		42	10
	2017	J1 League	34	7	2	1	2	1	–		–		38	9
	Total		65	15	5	1	10	3	0	0	0	0	80	19
Kashiwa Reysol	2018	J1 League	33	9	2	2	4	0	6	1	–		45	12
	2019	J2 League	38	11	1	0	4	1	–		–		43	12
	2020	J1 League	32	9	–		4	2	–		–		36	11
	2021	J1 League	16	2	0	0	3	0	–		–		19	2
	Total		119	31	3	2	15	3	6	1	0	0	143	37
Urawa Red Diamonds	2021	J1 League	16	5	4	1	4	1	–		–		24	7
	2022	J1 League	30	2	2	0	3	1	7	1	1	2	43	6
	Total		46	7	6	1	7	2	7	1	1	2	67	13
Ulsan Hyundai	2023	K League 1	21	3	2	0	–		6	1	–		29	4
Career total			293	69	15	4	32	8	19	3	1	2	361	86