 Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - Pasinei nokuputsa kwake chinyorwa chenyika chenguva refu, Shibata akakunda chete paJapan Championships muAthletics pane imwe nguva, achitora zita re 1500 m muna 1997. Mugore rimwe chetero akahwina menduru yegoridhe mumutambo uyu kuEast Asian Games nenguva yaaive marekodhi yemitambo ye3: 49.90 maminetsi. Gore rakatevera akahwina menduru yechipiri uye yekupedzisira yepasi rose yebasa rake pa1998 Asian Athletics Championships nekupedza semumhanyi kumashure kwemakwikwi mazhinji eAsia Mohamed Suleiman. Akamhanyirawo kumitambo yokuAsia ya1998uye akaiswa pachinhanho chechinomwe mumakwikwi okupedzisira emamita 1 500. 