ˈæftɚ ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ fɹʌm hˈaɪ skˈuːl, hiː dʒˈɔɪnd dʒəpˈæn sˈɑːkɚ lˈiːɡ klˈʌb jˈænmɚ dˈiːzəl lˈeɪɾɚ səɹˈiːzoʊ ɑːsˈɑːkə ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti wˈʌn.
After graduating from high school, he joined Japan Soccer League club Yanmar Diesel (later Cerezo Osaka) in 1991.