[2] During that time, his fastballs already sparked the interest of some scouts as it reached the 145 km/h levels, but in the end, none of the 12 NPB teams drafted him when he graduated high school.

Wanting to pursue a career in baseball, he joined the industrial leagues under Shin Nittetsu Sumikin Kashima.

[4] With a stroke of luck, the altered form worked to his advantage, bringing his pitches to a maximum of 151 km/h, making him indispensable to the team.

[8] He debuted as a reliever during the March 29 opening card with the Dragons in Kyocera Dome, where he retired 3 consecutive batters in the 8th inning, helping the Tigers sweep their opponent in their first 3 games for the season.

[3] And while he can deliver a slider and occasional change-up, he relied mostly on his fastballs during his career in the industrial leagues.