PROFILE

1982

Born February 7, 1982 in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

1990

I had my father take me to Lake Biwa (the largest lake in Japan) and I caught a bass for the first time on live bait. At that time, an unfamiliar old man was casting a glittering object with a cool rod and caught a big bass. It made me long for lure fishing. Thinking about it now, it was a spinnerbait.

1992

I caught a bass with a lure for the first time, when my acquaintance took me to a pond!

1995

I started fishing at ponds and rivers in Kyoto prefecture. This is when I started thinking about fishing all the time.

1997

I longed for the professional bass fisherman that I had seen in the magazines. I started participating in the NBC Junior Chapter because I thought I could win if I participated in the tournament! I luckily won the debut match and misunderstood me as a genius.

1999

Konan (i.e., South Lake Biwa) Chapter Junior overall victory. Seven wins in total for Junior Chapter. I aimed to become a professional bass fisherman after graduating from high school without hesitation.

2000

Kyoto Chapter Senior overall victory. However, in the professional games, I completely lacked skills and experiences. So, I decided to go to Lake Biwa as much as possible to close the gap in experience and settled on the shores of Lake Biwa from winter.

2001

Started bass fishing guide service at Lake Biwa. I went fishing on Lake Biwa for more than 250 days and participated in 30 tournaments.

2002

To fulfill my original dream since I was a junior, I gave up participating in the next years' pro tournaments.

2003

I sold my Ranger boat and went to the United States for the first time to watch the FLW Tour with the money from selling my boat. Seeing the “home of bass fishing” with my own eyes, I decided that I would definitely participate as a player, and after returning to Japan, I got a job at a major transportation company and started saving money.

2005

I traveled alone to the United States with the funds saved from my job. I managed to finish the FLW Tour as a co-angler while having a huge language barrier. I participated in the Championship. My first partner was Rick Clunn, I thought I was a nuisance because I could not understand the language at all. This year was full of the most surprising in my life! I got a lot of things, including my friends I had made in the United States.

2006

Relying on Toby, a friend in the United States, I returned to the United States and Toby’s family let me stay with them. I spent a total of eleven months in the United States this year, after returning to Japan, my Japanese became awkward!

2007

The 3rd year as a co-angler. Finished 4th overall and I qualified for the 2008 FLW Tour as a boater but decided I could not participate under the current situation and gave up participating in the next year.

2008

As I could not catch up with the American professionals as it was, I firmly vowed to return to the United States again, and then I honed my skills while running a bass fishing guide service at Lake Biwa. Won the final round of the Lake Biwa Open and finished 2nd overall in the year.

2009

Won the Lake Biwa Open 1st and 3rd rounds, and overall victory of the year.

2010

Participated in the Bassmaster Central Open as a boater. Although I did not get the results I had expected, it was a year when I was able to make a big step toward my dream.

2011

The Lake Biwa Open overall victory of the year.

2013

Participated in the Bassmaster Central Opens. Finished 5th at the Ross Burnett.

2014

Participated in the Bassmaster Central Opens, finished 2nd on the Arkansas River. Lure Magazine (popular bass fishing magazine in Japan) Land King Champion Carnival Winner. Lure Magazine Mobile Boat King Champion Carnival Winner.

2018

Participated in the Bassmaster Central Opens, finished 4th on the Red River.

2019

Participated in the Bassmaster Central Opens, finished 7th on Smith Lake and 4th on Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees. Became the representative of the anglers' association that preserves the environment at the Lake Biwa in Japan.

2020

Participated in the Bassmaster Central Opens and the Bassmaster Eastern Opens. Finished 5th on Neely Henry and finished 3rd in the Central Opens Points overall. Qualified to fish the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series.

VOLUNTEER

Representative of Oumi* anglers' association preserving environment at the Lake Biwa in Japan - engaged in cleaning and PR activities (* Oumi is an ancient name of the Lake Biwa)