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.