After graduating from Tokai University, he joined new club Shimizu S-Pulse based in his local Shizuoka Prefecture in 1992.
In 1999, the club won the 2nd place in J1 League and he was selected Japanese Footballer of the Year awards.
In April 1993, Sawanobori was selected Japan national team for 1994 World Cup qualification.
In September 1999, he played for Japan for the first time in 5 years.
This biographical article related to a Japanese association football midfielder born in the 1970s is a stub.