Tomoe Kato

(former name; Tomoe Sakai, 酒井 與惠) is a former Japanese football player. She played for the Japan national team.
Biography.
Kato was born in Tokyo Metropolis on May 27, 1978. She played for Nippon TV Beleza from 1993 to 2008. The club won Nadeshiko League championship 8 times. She played 246 matches in Nadeshiko League. She was selected MVP awards 2 times in 2001 and 2002. She was also selected Best Eleven for 12 years in a row (1996-2007).
On June 8, 1997, when Kato was 19 years old, she debuted for the Japan national team against China. She was a member of Japan for 1999, 2003, 2007 World Cup, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. She played 114 games and scored 8 goals for Japan until 2008.
Personal life.
Kato got married and changed her name to Tomoe Kato (加藤 與惠) from Tomoe Sakai (酒井 與惠) in November 2007.