 Nyorai kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Musi wa 21 Chivabvu 1997, akatanga kutamba timu yenyika yeJapan vachipesana neSouth Korea. Kunyange zvazvo akatamba mitambo 4 uye akarova zvibodzwa zviviri pa1998 World Cup qualification muna 1997, haana kusarudzwa kuJapan nokuda kwe1998 World Cup. Muna 2000, akatambira Japan kekutanga mumakore matatu. Pa2000 Asian Cup muna Gumiguru, akatamba mitambo yese mitanhatu uye akarova zvibodzwa zvishanu. Japan yakakunda kuva shasha. Pa 2001 Confederations Cup, akatambawo mitambo 4 uye akarova zvibodzwa 1. Japan yakawana nzvimbo yechipiri. Akasarudzwa muJapan nokuda kwe2002 World Cup uye akatamba mutambo mumwe. Uyu mutambo wakanga uri mutambo wake wokupedzisira nokuda kweJapan. Akatamba mitambo 29 uye akarova zvibodzwa gumi zveJapan kusvika 2002. 