After graduating from Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, he joined his local club Toyota Motors (later Nagoya Grampus Eight) in 1990.
However he could hardly play in the match in 1994 and he moved to Japan Football League club Vissel Kobe in 1995.
In July 2000, he returned as a player at Ventforet Kofu and played for the club until end of season.
After retirement, Tsuruta started coaching career at Nagoya Grampus Eight in 1997.
This biographical article related to a Japanese association football midfielder born in the 1960s is a stub.