 She competed at the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, also held in Fukuoka, and took sixth place in the long race – one of only two non-East African runners to make the top ten.Her finish also led the Japanese women to the bronze medal in the team competition.She claimed a bronze on the track at the 2006 IAAF World Cup, coming third over 5000 m and took the 10,000 m gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games – her first major championship win.