Learned golf from his father, a former club champion.

Was a student at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai, Japan when the city was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, but was in Australia training at the time. Returned to find his dorm room destroyed and struggled to find food. A few weeks later, made his debut at the Masters having won the Asian Amateur.

Wore buttons at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2016 to show support for Japan after the Kumamoto earthquakes in April 2016.

Became the first Japanese player to win a men's major championship when he won the 2021 Masters Tournament.

Received the Prime Minister's Award in Japan following his 2021 Masters win. Was the first player from Japan to win the Masters Tournament.

Entered the 2011 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters. In the weather-shortened event, won his first professional title, playing his final 36 holes in 12-under to beat Toru Taniguchi by two shots. His second-round 64 is still his low 18-hole Japan Golf T

Played in six Japan Golf Tour events in 2012, making the cut in all six. Despite limited playing schedule, had a pair of runner-up finishes. First came at the Sun Chlorella Classic. Opened with a 71 then peeled off rounds of 66-69-69 to T2, two shots behi

Was second again in November, at the Dunlop Phoenix. Shot rounds of 70-67-69-67 to solo second, five shots short of winner Luke Donald.

Had two other top-10s, at the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters (T4) and the Japan Open (T7).

Successfully defended his Asia-Pacific Amateur title, again earning a trip to Augusta National for the Masters with his victory at Singapore Island CC.

Won the 2010 Asia-Pacific Amateur, a triumph that earned him a playing position in the Masters Tournament. Finished at 15-under at Kasumigaseki CC in Kawagoe, Japan.

Made his first Japan Golf Tour cut, finishing T30 at the 2009 Mitsubishi Diamond Cup Golf. A year later, he earned his first top-10 on the Tour, shooting four par-or-better rounds at the 2010 Japan Open to T3.