He then played for another Belgian club, Standard Liège, from 2012 to 2015, Dundee United in Scotland from 2015 to 2016; Metz and Strasbourg in France from 2016 to 2023 before returning to Japan with Júbilo Iwata in 2024.

[15] It wasn’t until on 12 June 2004 when he made his league debut for Nagoya Grampus and kept a clean sheet, in a 3–0 win against Urawa Red Diamonds.

[30] In the knockout rounds, Kawashima allowed no regulation goals in the quarter finals against Iran's Sepahan club, but Kawasaki Frontale ended up losing 5–4 in the penalty shoot-out.

[41] At the start of October, Kawashima helped Kawasaki Frontale go on a winning streak against Yokohama F. Marinos, Kashima Antlers, Omiya Ardija, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and JEF United Chiba in the league to keep their fight for the title alive.

[48] Prior to an AFC Champions League match against Melbourne Victory on 31 March 2010, he suffered a hand injury in training, but made his recovery and started the whole game, as Kawasaki Frontale lost 1–0.

[60] Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Kawashima made an impressed display for the next two matches against Lokeren and Club Brugge, which saw Lierse secure its status in the league for the next season.

[64] Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Kawashima was linked a move away from Lierse, with clubs like Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and VVV-Venlo keen on signing him.

[67] After the match, manager Chris Janssens praised his performance and contributing to Lierse’s defence, conceding six goals by the end of September.

[78] The club's statement enraged Lierse, who took the matter to the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) and soon after, Beerschot posted an apology to the Japanese on their website.

[105] Throughout the UEFA Europa League qualifications playoffs campaign, Kawashima helped Standard Liege reach the group stage after beating KR, Xanthi and FC Minsk.

[114] In the 2014–15 season, Kawashima helped Standard Liege beat Panathinaikos 2–1 on aggregate in the second qualification round for the UEFA Champions League.

[119] As a result of his poor performances, Kawashima lost his first choice goalkeeper role to Yohann Thuram-Ulien[120] and was demoted to the substitute bench.

At the end of the 2014–15 season, he subsequently left the club when his contract expired to pursue more first team football after losing his place to Thuram-Ulien.

[133] On 8 January 2017 when he played the full 90 minutes against RC Lens in the first round of the Coupe de France, as the club exited the competition.

[138] However, following FC Metz’s first three defeats, Kawashima played his first match of the season against SM Caen on 26 August 2017 and despite some impressive saves, the club eventually loss 1–0.

[149] Following the club winning the Coupe de la Ligue final, he expressed mixed opinion of the achievement, due to not playing in the match.

[161] But he regained his first choice goalkeeper role for the club in the last two matches of the 2020–21 season and helped RC Strasbourg finish fifteenth place.

[163] Kawashima spent the next two seasons at RC Strasbourg as the club’s second choice goalkeeper behind the returning Sels and was featured on the substitute bench.

[169] After a decade playing in Europe, Kawashima returned to Japan for the first time in 13 years, where he signed for newly promoted J1 League side Júbilo Iwata on 12 January 2024.

[180] Kawashima represented the Japan U20 side impressing in the AFC Youth Championship and being named Goalkeeper of the Tournament despite losing 1–0 to South Korea U20 in the final.

[190] He played his first Group E match against Cameroon on 14 June 2010, where Japan recorded its first World Cup win on foreign soil with a score of 1–0.

[191] Five days later, on 19 June 2010 between against the Netherlands, Kawashima was the starter; he deflected a shot from Wesley Sneijder but it went in his own net as the Samurai Blue loss 0–1.

[192] In the match against Denmark on 24 June 2010, Kawashima allowed one goal through Jon Dahl Tomasson's penalty kick, but Japan still won 3–1 and advanced to the round of 16.

[219] However, after leaving Standard Liège, Kawashima was called up to Japan’s squad and lost his place to Shusaku Nishikawa and Masaaki Higashiguchi.

[225] After being selected for the World Cup, Kawashima started as the first choice goalkeeper for the Samurai Blue and helped Japan beat Colombia 2–1 on the first match of the group stage.

[230] Due to receiving fewer yellow cards than Senegal Japan qualified to the knockout stage, becoming the only Asian team to do so in the 2018 World Cup.

[236] After being placed on the substitute against Chile, Kawashima replaced Keisuke Osako as a starter and helped Japan drew 2–2 draw against Uruguay.

[240] Kawashima spent two years on the substitute bench for Japan without playing, due to facing competition against Daniel Schmidt and Shūichi Gonda.

CEO Neil De Kewler said of him: "The movement within the goal is quick, the processing of the ball on the line is skillful, furthermore, the player with the leadership that can lead the defense line", while technical director Root Kelzer said: "I can not think of any bad points about him, I will not have anyone who dislikes him, He is a very professional athlete, seriously and disciplinedly open for everyone, every time he looks up, he asks for a handshake with a friendly smile, not only as a player but also as an individual.

[257] In his early football career at Nagoya Grampus Eight, Kawashima voluntary took up as a police chief in effort to tackle crime prevention in Japan.