Jo was born in Muroran on June 17, 1975. After graduating from Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School, he joined J1 League club JEF United Ichihara in 1994. After three seasons with Ichihara, Jo moved to the Yokohama Marinos (later "Yokohama F. Marinos") in 1997. His performances in the 1998 and 1999 season led to a loan move to the Spanish La Liga team Real Valladolid. He failed to make an impact with the club, making just 15 appearances and scoring two goals before sustaining a knee injury. After his return to Japan, Jo struggled to reestablish himself as a regular goal scorer with the Marinos and Vissel Kobe, with whom he joined in 2002. He joined Yokohama FC in 2003, where he scored 12 goals in his first season with them. He helped his club to become J2 Champions in 2006 gained and promotion to J1, but he retired from playing after that season.