 Her father gave her the name Seiko after the Olympic Flame (seika 聖火), inspired by the Tokyo Olympics that year.She graduated from a high school affiliated with Komazawa University in 1983 and joined the Fuji Kyuko railway company.She appeared in her first Olympics in 1984 in Sarajevo, competing in 500, 1000, 1500 and 3000 m speed skating events.