He is the current Japanese record holder for the mile run, with a personal best of 3:58.89 minutes.

[1] His time, set on 11 May 1996, made him the second Japanese man to run a sub-four-minute mile, after Takashi Ishii, who had done so nearly twenty years earlier in 1977.

[2] Shibata's 1500 metres best of 3:39.45 minutes is also among the best times for the event by a Japanese, behind Fumikazu Kobayashi and Ishii.

[3][4] Despite his breaking a long-standing national record, Shibata only won at the Japan Championships in Athletics on one occasion, taking the 1500 m title in 1997.

[8] He represented his home region, Toyama Prefecture, twice at the All-Japan Interprefectural Ekiden Championships.