Okano was born in Taito, Tokyo on August 28, 1931. His parents ran a well-established confectionery shop in Tokyo’s Ueno district. During the war his family escaped from the American air raids to Gunma Prefecture, but Okano stayed to attend a high school. In April 1949 he enrolled to the University of Tokyo and joined a football club there. In 1953 his team won the first national university championships. In 1955, he was selected the Japan national team. He played 2 games for Japan in 1955.