Yamada was educated at and played for Fujieda Higashi High School.
He made his first league appearance on 27 April 1994 against Shimizu S-Pulse at Kusanagi Athletic Stadium.
He was a member of the Japan U-20 national team for the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship hosted by Qatar.
He made his full international debut for Japan on 20 November 2002 in a friendly against Argentine at Saitama Stadium 2002.
His first international goal came on 7 February 2004 in a friendly against Malaysia at Kashima Soccer Stadium.