In 1994 he signed with the Japanese team Urawa Red Diamonds before returning to Germany in 1998 to help the Karlsruhe avoid relegation. He could not save the team and after one more season playing in the second division he retired but stayed with the club as a director of sports. After a stop with the Stuttgarter Kickers (again as director of sports) he went back to Japan where he was managing his old club. He has become somewhat of a cult figure in Urawa and has recently lead his team to the 'closing' championship. Buchwald has just returned to Germany to become manager of Alemannia Aachen. After five months on duty he was fired by club management on November 26, 2007.