ˈæftɚ ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ fɹʌm tˈɑːkaɪ jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi, hiː dʒˈɔɪnd ˈɔːl nˈɪpən ˈɛɹweɪz lˈeɪɾɚ jˌɑːkoʊhˈɑːmə flˈuːdʒəlz ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti wˈʌn.
After graduating from Tokai University, he joined All Nippon Airways (later Yokohama Flügels) in 1991.