Career
He is the current Japanese record holder for the mile run, with a personal best of 3:58.89 minutes. His time, set on 11 May 1996, made him the second Japanese man to run a sub-four-minute mile, after Takashi Ishii, who had done so nearly twenty years earlier in 1977. Shibata"s 1500 metres best of 3:39.45 minutes is also among the best times for the event by a Japanese, behind Fumikazu Kobayashi and Ishii.
He also ran at the 1998 Asian Games and placed seventh in the 1500 m final.
He represented his home region, Toyama Prefecture, twice at the All-Japan Interprefectural Ekiden Championships.