[1][2] His family migrated to Kagoshima when he was 3,[3] and he started playing softball in third grade all the way to junior high.

[4] Yokota entered Kagoshima Jitsugyō High School, and batted fourth in his first year.

[6] However, Yokota continued to be plagued by after-effects from his cancer treatment, forcing him to retire at the end of the season.

[8][9] He possessed arm strength worthy of a pitcher, and his speed (6.1 seconds for a 50-meter dash) was also one of his better selling points.

[6] Yokota later cited fellow teammate Fumihito Haraguchi, who also dealt with cancer, as an inspiration for his recovery.