Career
Cerezo Osaka
Kakitani joined Cerezo Osaka"s youth team at the age of 4. In 2006, he signed his first professional contract with Cerezo at 16 – the club record for the youngest player signed to a professional contract. He played his first J-League game on 26 November 2006.
He also trained with the Arsenal F.C. and Inter Milan youth teams.
Kakitani entered the e-School of Human Sciences, Waseda University in 2008. Kakitani was loaned to Tokushima Vortis on 18 June 2009 and returned to Cerezo Osaka in 2012.
Basel
Kakitani joined Football Club Basel to the start of the 2014-2015 Swiss Super League season. However, Kakitani failed to make a lasting impression in this season under trainer Paulo Sousa.
Of the 65 matches (36 Swiss League fixtures – 6 Swiss Cup, 8 Champions League and 15 test matches) Basel played that season, Kakitani appeared in just 28 – 14 League, 3 Cup, 3 Champions League and 8 test games – scoring a total of 11 goals.
Having again been unable to establish himself at Basel in the first half of the 2015–2016 season, Kakitani left the club in early January 2016 returning to his home club Cerezo Osaka which had been relegated to the J2 League during his absence. Return to Cerezo Osaka
Kakitani scored two goals at 2007 Fédération internationale de football association U-17 World Cup in South of Korea. Against France he scored a spectacular goal from the halfway line.
Kakitani debuted for the Japan senior team at the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup.
He played his first international match against China, scoring his first international goal in the 59th minute.