Hideki Matsuyama carded a 2-under-par 70 on his season debut on the Japanese tour on Thursday in the first round of the Fukushima Open.
The 23-year-old Matsuyama, coming off an 18th-place finish at the British Open, carded six birdies against four bogeys at Grandee Nasushirakawa Golf Club in Fukushima Prefecture for a share of 34th.
Fifty-nine-year-old Kiyoshi Murota reeled off seven birdies against one bogey in a round of 66 to share first place with Hidemasa Hoshino, Ryuji Masuoka, and South Korea's S.K. Ho.
Last season's money rankings winner Komei Oda was one shot off the lead in nine-way tie for fifth place along with defending champion Satoshi Kodaira.
Sunday's winner will earn ¥10 million from the ¥50 million purse.