[2] After graduation from Shibuya Makuhari High School in Chiba Prefecture in 2001, Tulio joined the J1 League club Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

After the strong performance in 2006 season, which led Urawa to win their first ever J1 League title, he received J.League Most Valuable Player.

On 22 December 2009, after falling out with the management at Urawa as he was deployed in an unfamiliar position at the back, Tulio joined Nagoya Grampus.

Tulio made his debut for the Japan's senior national team on 9 August 2006, against Trinidad and Tobago.

On 4 June, he scored for Ivory Coast against Japan in the form of an own goal in the 13th minute of a friendly match.

Three minutes later, he injured Côte d'Ivoire attacker Didier Drogba's elbow which was fractured by a high challenge from Tulio.

At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he played full time in all four matches as center back with Yuji Nakazawa.