Tomoki Hayakawa was born on 3 March 1999. He came through Kashima Antlers' youth setup and developed into one of the J1 League's most reliable young goalkeepers. A 187cm shot-stopper, he has been Kashima's first-choice goalkeeper for multiple consecutive seasons.
His Kashima career has been exceptional for consistency. Across both 2024 and 2025 he played 38 J1 League matches in each season as Kashima's everyday starter, plus J.League Cup and Emperor's Cup contributions. The 2025 season also produced an assist — rare for a goalkeeper.
For Japan, Hayakawa was a member of the squad that won the EAFF E-1 Football Championship in 2025, playing 1 tournament match. He has continued to feature in 2 senior friendlies in 2025.
A 187cm goalkeeper with elite shot-stopping range, calm distribution and the modern footwork required of an international keeper, Hayakawa is one of the most exciting young Japanese goalkeepers in the J1 League. He is in the wider 2026 FIFA World Cup squad picture as a senior backup option behind Zion Suzuki.