From Ōshū, Iwate, she attended high school in Iwate Prefecture and took up running there. She gained international selection for the 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and was the team's best performer in 50th place in the short race. Following graduation from high school, she joined a corporate team, training under Yoshio Koide at Sekisui Chemical. She later moved to run for Aruze (now Universal Entertainment Corporation). She won the 3.3 km leg at the All-Japan Women's Corporate Ekiden Championships in both 2000 and 2001.