Keisuke was born in
Shibukawa, Gunma, Japan, and originally played as pitcher in junior high, but upon his election as team captain, he also became the team's catcher. During his 3rd year in Maebashi Kogyo High School, his team competed with Kiryuu Daiichi High in the Gunma prefectural tournament, wherein despite cracking a 4-run homer from
Yasuhiro Ichiba (now with the
Swallows), they were defeated. Despite this, he was the Hanshin Tiger's 3rd pick in the 2000 draft. Due to his mature appearance in high school, he was dubbed as "Kakefu of Joshu" (
Joshu no Kakefu or 上州の掛布), in reference to former Tigers player
Masayuki Kakefu. ==References==