Toshihiko Kubo was born on 5 April 1999 in Okazaki, Aichi. He started his professional career at Fujieda MYFC in J3 before joining Nagoya Grampus in July 2023. After a loan spell at Sagan Tosu (7 J1 matches with 2 goals in 2024), he moved permanently to Kashiwa Reysol in January 2025.
His Kashiwa career has been outstanding. The 2025 J1 season has produced 31 J1 League matches with 7 goals and 4 assists, plus a J.League Cup appearance — top-scoring performance for an attacking midfielder.
For Japan, Kubo was a member of the squad that won the EAFF E-1 Football Championship in 2025, contributing 1 goal and 1 assist in the tournament and 11 senior friendlies in the calendar year.
A 167cm two-footed attacking midfielder with elite ball-control, vision and goal-scoring instinct, Kubo is one of the J1 League's most exciting young creators. He is in the wider 2026 FIFA World Cup squad picture as a J-League-based attacking midfielder option.