ˈæftɚ ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ fɹʌm hˈaɪ skˈuːl, hiː dʒˈɔɪnd dʒˈeɪ wˈʌn lˈiːɡ klˈʌb ʃɪmˈɪzuː ˈɛspˈʌls bˈeɪst ɪn hɪz lˈoʊkəl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti θɹˈiː.
After graduating from high school, he joined J1 League club Shimizu S-Pulse based in his local in 1993.