Jun Mihara

Jun Mihara
三原純
Born (1981-06-16) June 16, 1981
Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Other occupation Civil servant
Domestic
Years League Role
2013–present[1] J1 League Assistant referee
International
Years League Role
2017–present FIFA listed Assistant referee

Jun Mihara (Japanese: 三原純, Hepburn: Mihara Jun; born June 16, 1981)[2] is a Japanese football assistant referee and video assistant referee who has been listed on the FIFA International Referees List since 2017.[3]

Career

Mihara was born in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan,[1] and began playing football while he studied at the Shimane Prefectural Matsue Higashi High School.[4][5] During his university years, Mihara continued playing football and gained experience in refereeing.[5] Shortly afterwards, he dropped out of college and returned to Matsue, working for the city's government.[5] After obtaining a referee certification, Mihara was promoted to the school of refereeing of the Japan Football Association (JFA) in 2010.[5] He graduated as a professional referee in December 2011.[5] Mihara took inspiration from watching the 1998 FIFA World Cup.[1]

Since his graduation from the JFA in 2011, Mihara has served in the J.League, where he pursued a career as an assistant referee. In 2017, Mihara obtained his FIFA badge and took part in his first international game in the 2017 AFC Cup.[5][6] He was also selected to oversee games at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, serving under referee Yusuke Araki.[6] Mihara also took part in the second leg match between Iraq and the UAE during the AFC fifth round qualifier to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[6] He was subsequently appointed to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, serving as an assistant referee to pitch referee Araki.[6][7]

Mihara was chosen as the best assistant referee of 2025 in the J. League and continues to work as a civil servant in Matsue.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "W杯審判団の三原純副審、市職員が世界最高峰の舞台に 「二足のわらじ」も同僚の信頼厚く(時事通信)". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 18, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  2. ↑ "JFA Referees List" (PDF). Japan Football Association (in Japanese). Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Inside FIFA". inside.fifa.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  4. ↑ "ジャッジの技術 更に磨き". YOMIURI ONLINE(読売新聞) (in Japanese). March 13, 2017. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "ジャッジの技術 更に磨き". YOMIURI ONLINE(読売新聞) (in Japanese). March 13, 2017. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "FIFA ワールドカップ2026に荒木友輔、三原純審判員が選出". www.jfa.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  7. ↑ "サッカーW杯担当審判員に選出 サッカーの競技経験は無く、市の職員になってから審判のキャリアをスタート 異色の経歴…三原純さん、上司である市長を訪ね抱負を述べる 島根県松江市". TBS NEWS DIG (in Japanese). May 28, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.