Being based in the snowy north of the country, with poor training facilities and having no managerial experience, Kuroda was faced with many challenges at the start of his career.
[3] In 2000, they advanced to the top four in the high school championships and became the first team from Aomori Prefecture to play at the National Stadium.
[6] Their success continued with Kuroda at the helm – they appeared in four of the next five All Japan High School Soccer Tournament finals, winning in both 2018 and 2021.
The season started incredibly well for Kuroda and his new club, winning six and drawing one of his first seven games in charge and taking Machida straight to the top of the league table.
[14] In October, the club clinched promotion with a win over Roasso Kumamoto and confirmed their status as league champions in the following week.