After graduating from University of Tsukuba, he joined Japan Soccer League club Honda in 1986.
The club won the 1991 JSL Cup and the 1991–92 Japan Soccer League.
In September 1986, he was selected by the Japan national team for 1986 Asian Games.
After retirement, Kurata started a coaching career at Avispa Fukuoka in 1995.
This biographical article related to a Japanese association football defender born in the 1960s is a stub.