Profile

He joined Yokohama Flugels in the J-League in 1992 after graduating from the Kagoshima Commercial High School. In 1994 he became a member of the U-21 Japan aiming to be qualified for the Atlanta Olympics Games. As a captain, he led the team for the Olympic Games, for the first time in 28 years. At the same time, he was selected for the Japan national team by the coach, Falcao.

At the Atlanta Olympic Games of 1996, the team beat Brazil. It was called, the “Miracle of Miami” and he got the attention not only from football fans but also from ordinary people.
Afterwards his player’s career continued in Verdy Kawasaki (Today: Tokyo Verdy 1969), Santos FC, Goias EC (both in Brazil), Shonan Bellmare, Tokyo Verdy, Anyang LG Cheetahs, Incheon United (both in Korea). He announced his retirement as a player on May 19th, 2005.

He started his new career as a sports journalist at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. At the Beijing Olympic Games of 2008, he reported other competitions as well as football. Today he is working as a football commentator and a talent. Also he organises the ZONO boys’ soccer school to promote football competitions. He was asked to join the Japan national beach soccer team by its coach, Ramos, in 2009. He contributed to the victory of the team in quarter finals in the World Cup in Dubai in November 2009. He loves his pets, mini pigs.