Daizen Maeda has spent a decade sprinting past defenders, yet his marriage has stayed almost entirely off the pitch and out of view. The Japan forward, who joined Ipswich Town from Celtic in July 2026, married on 10 July 2018, when he was just 20. His wife is four years older. She has not been named in his club announcements or in major Japanese profiles of him. Even so, the record holds some telling details: a shirt number linked to her name, three children, and a mother who says her son never sits down while his wife is doing housework.
Daizen Maeda at a Glance
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Daizen Maeda |
| Date of birth | 20 October 1997 (age 29) |
| Birthplace | Osaka Prefecture, Japan |
| Current club | Ipswich Town (since 25 July 2026) |
| Previous clubs | Matsumoto Yamaga, Mito HollyHock, CS Marítimo, Yokohama F. Marinos, Celtic |
| Marriage date | 10 July 2018 (announced 14 July 2018) |
| Wife | Name not public; four years older than Maeda |
| Children | Three, including a daughter and a son born 31 August 2021 |
| Celtic squad number | 38 |
Is Daizen Maeda Married?
Yes. Matsumoto Yamaga announced on 14 July 2018 that Maeda had registered his marriage four days earlier. He was 20 and playing in Japan’s second division. The club published a short statement from him, and its core was a promise about the future:
“I now have a family to protect,” Maeda wrote, adding that he would take on even more responsibility and resolve in his football.
That was a young player describing marriage as a reason to work harder. It set the tone for how he has spoken about his family since.
Who Is Daizen Maeda’s Wife?
Her name has never been published. She is referred to only as “his wife” in club statements and Japanese media. A June 2026 interview with Maeda’s mother, Yukie, in the Japanese outlet Gendai Business adds the few specifics available.
Age and timing. Yukie said Maeda married at 20 and that his wife is four years older.
The shirt number. The same interview says Maeda’s No. 38 is a wordplay on his wife’s name. Celtic’s squad page lists him as No. 38, so the number was a public nod to her long before anyone explained it.
How it started. Maeda’s autobiography, Gamushara (Gentosha), was published in 2026. According to his mother, it reveals that his wife first turned him down because of the age gap. He evidently changed her mind.
Daizen Maeda’s Children
Maeda is a father of three, according to the Gendai Business interview. The confirmed details on each child are sparse:
- A daughter. J.League’s profile of Maeda says the No. 13 he wore at CS Marítimo marks his daughter’s birth date. His mother says the girl once told him she disliked his shaved head, and he grew his hair out.
- A son. Yokohama F. Marinos announced on 4 September 2021 that Maeda’s second child, a boy, had been born on 31 August. In the club statement he thanked his wife for her effort during the birth and said he would push harder for the league title.
- A third child. Nothing beyond the number has been made public.
Life at Home, According to His Mother
Yukie Maeda describes her son as an involved husband and father. After long days, she says, he cleans the bath, calls the children in and hangs out the laundry. She credits his own father, who also does housework. The detail that gave the interview its headline is that Maeda will not sit down while his wife is working around the house.
Maeda is also the second of five siblings, and all of them have nature-inspired names. His own comes from the Japanese for “great nature.”
Marriage, Children and Career: A Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1997 | Born in Osaka Prefecture |
| 2016 | Joins Matsumoto Yamaga after high school |
| 10 Jul 2018 | Marries, aged 20 |
| 2019–20 | Plays on loan at CS Marítimo, wearing No. 13 |
| 31 Aug 2021 | Second child, a son, is born |
| Jan 2022 | Joins Celtic; scores inside four minutes on his home debut |
| Jun 2026 | Reported as a father of three |
| 25 Jul 2026 | Signs a three-year deal with Ipswich Town |
Family as a Source of Motivation
At Celtic he won the 2021–22 league title, the 2022–23 treble and the 2023–24 league and Scottish Cup double. When he signed for Celtic, he said it was “a very happy moment for me and my family.”
At a July 2026 event for his autobiography, he said he plays for the people who supported him when he stumbled. He did not single out his wife or children, but the sentiment fits his 2018 statement about having a family to protect.
His move to England followed a World Cup in which he scored once for Japan. Asked about a summer transfer, he said he had always wanted to play in the Premier League. When the Ipswich deal was announced, he said: “I am very proud to sign for Ipswich Town.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Daizen Maeda’s wife?
Her name has not been made public. All that is confirmed is that she is four years older than Maeda and that his No. 38 shirt number is a wordplay on her name.
When did Daizen Maeda get married?
He registered his marriage on 10 July 2018. Matsumoto Yamaga announced it on 14 July 2018.
How many children does Daizen Maeda have?
Three. They include a daughter and a son born on 31 August 2021.
Why does Daizen Maeda wear number 38?
According to his mother, the number is a wordplay on his wife’s name.
Does Daizen Maeda share his family life on social media?
J.League’s profile says his Instagram features many photos with his daughter. His wife has not been named or profiled in the coverage I found.
Where does Daizen Maeda play now?
He joined Ipswich Town from Celtic on 25 July 2026 on a three-year contract, in a deal reported at £10 million.
Conclusion
Maeda married young, kept his wife’s identity private and has said little about his home life, but what is on record is consistent. He announced his marriage as a source of responsibility, honoured his wife with his shirt number and thanked her publicly when their son was born. His mother says he does the housework. Her name may stay private, but her place in his story is clear.
