▁He ▁acquired ▁Japanese ▁national ity ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 5 ▁and ▁moved ▁to ▁Japan ▁the ▁following ▁year ▁with ▁his ▁family . ▁ ▁After ▁gradu ating ▁from ▁the ▁local ▁elementary ▁school ▁in ▁Tokyo ▁( where ▁he ▁played ▁s occer ), ▁he ▁lived ▁for ▁one ▁year ▁in ▁South ▁Africa ▁and ▁started ▁playing ▁rugby . ▁He ▁finished ▁his ▁junior ▁school ing ▁at ▁Gra eme ▁College ▁in ▁Graham st own , ▁Eastern ▁Cape . ▁He ▁played ▁for ▁the ▁U 1 3 a ▁rugby ▁side ▁and ▁won ▁the ▁most ▁out standing ▁player ▁of ▁the ▁year ▁award . ▁He ▁returned ▁to ▁Japan ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 3 ▁and ▁finished ▁his ▁school ing ▁at ▁T ō in ▁G ak uen ▁High ▁School ▁in ▁Y ok oh ama . ▁ ▁Club ▁career ▁ ▁Youth ▁rugby ▁/ ▁Sh arks ▁ ▁M ats ush ima ▁returned ▁to ▁South ▁Africa ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁en rolling ▁at ▁the ▁Sh arks ▁Academy ▁in ▁Dur ban , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁Japanese ▁player ▁to ▁do ▁so . ▁He ▁played ▁Under - 2 0 ▁club ▁rugby ▁for ▁Har le qu ins ▁and ▁started ▁twelve ▁matches ▁for ▁the ▁ ▁side ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁Under - 1 9 ▁Provin cial ▁Championship , ▁scoring ▁three ▁tries ▁as ▁his ▁side ▁reached ▁the ▁semi - final ▁of ▁the ▁competition , ▁where ▁they ▁lost ▁ 4 6 – 3 5 ▁to ▁the ▁ ▁side ▁despite ▁a ▁M ats ush ima ▁try ▁early ▁in ▁the ▁second ▁half . ▁At ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁ 2 0