▁the ▁first ▁event ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁taking ▁her ▁sixth ▁title ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁ ▁She ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁international ▁female ▁ste e ple chas er ▁from ▁her ▁country , ▁following ▁the ▁event ' s ▁introduction ▁to ▁the ▁World ▁Championships ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁where ▁she ▁set ▁an ▁Asian ▁record . ▁She ▁has ▁featured ▁in ▁the ▁World ▁Championship ▁ste e ple ch ase ▁event ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁and ▁represented ▁Japan ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁ever ▁Olympic ▁women ' s ▁ste e ple ch ase ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁Be ij ing ▁Olympics . ▁ ▁In ▁regional ▁competition , ▁she ▁was ▁the ▁bronze ▁med all ist ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁Asian ▁Games ▁and ▁took ▁the ▁contin ental ▁title ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁Asian ▁Athletics ▁Championships . ▁She ▁is ▁a ▁five - time ▁particip ant ▁at ▁the ▁I A AF ▁World ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships ▁and ▁a ▁two - time ▁med all ist ▁at ▁the ▁East ▁Asian ▁Games ▁( 1 9 9 9 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 9 ). ▁ ▁Career ▁ ▁Early ▁career ▁Born ▁in ▁Ky oto , ▁Hay ak ari ▁attended ▁Ky oto ▁Y aw ata ▁High ▁School ▁and ▁later ▁graduated ▁from ▁D osh ish a ▁University ▁with ▁a ▁degree ▁in ▁business ▁studies . ▁She ▁began ▁her ▁athlet ics ▁career ▁as ▁a ▁middle ▁distance ▁runner . ▁She ▁broke ▁onto ▁the ▁national ▁scene ▁with ▁a ▁high ▁school