Riding high after winning five of its first seven games this season, the University of Hawaii football team is preparing for a key road matchup at Colorado State this weekend, with one of the program’s brightest stars continuing a season for the ages.
Senior place-kicker Kansei Matsuzawa, a Tokyo native, has become a sensation both in Hawaii and abroad. The four-time Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week was recently named a midseason All-American by CBS Sports.
Known affectionately as the “Tokyo Toe,” Matsuzawa has been perfect this year, converting all 38 field goals and extra points combined. Last week, he tied Jason Elam’s program record of 20 consecutive made field goals, cementing his place among Hawaii’s all-time greats.
Matsuzawa’s consistency and charisma have made him a national media darling. He’s set to appear this week on CNN and the Heisman Trophy Podcast, shining a spotlight on both his individual success and Hawaii’s resurgent season.
Despite the growing attention, Matsuzawa, who famously picked up kicking by watching YouTube videos in his native Japan, said his focus remains steady.
“I’m enjoying it, that’s the most important thing,” Matsuzawa said. “Coach [Thomas] Sheffield told me this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so I’m enjoying it. But on the field and off the field, it’s different. My job is simple: make field goals. That’s my priority, and I just control what I can control.”
His celebrations after each kick have become part of his signature, reflecting both gratitude and teamwork.
“Other kickers don’t celebrate that much, but we celebrate every single one,” Matsuzawa said. “People underestimate how difficult it is to make a field goal. For us, me, Jack [Mowrey], and Caleb [Freeman], every kick is its own. We treat each one like 1-0. My success is everyone’s success, so we celebrate every single one and enjoy the moment.”
Matsuzawa and the Rainbow Warriors return to action on Saturday at Colorado State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm HST. The game will be televised on Spectrum Sports with radio coverage via ESPN Honolulu.