STUTTGART, Germany (Kyodo) -- From making his German top-tier debut on the opening weekend to facing Champions League holders Real Madrid within a month, Stuttgart defender Anrie Chase has had an eventful first half of the current campaign.

The athletic, afro-haired 20-year-old is still a raw talent but making big strides following an unconventional start to his footballing journey.

Born in Japan to a Japanese mother and an American father, Chase moved to Texas at the age of 3 and only started playing football after returning to Japan as a 12-year-old, according to an interview published on the website of the city of Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, where he was a student at Shoshi High School.

His rapid development there won him a call-up to Japan's under-22 side when he was only 17. The youngster has yet to confirm which country he plans to represent at the senior level.

After deciding to jump straight to Europe with Stuttgart and spending two seasons with their reserve team, Chase made his Bundesliga debut away to Freiburg on Aug. 24, this season's opening weekend. The 188-centimeter youngster subsequently played in 12 of the 15 games until the winter break, starting seven.

He scored his first goal for the club with a header during their 3-0 win at Regensburg in the German Cup round of 16 on Dec. 3.

"This year has been too good to be true," Chase said recently.

His continental debut could not have been more daunting, coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute against reigning European champions Real at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sept. 17. Despite the occasion, Chase gave a spirited display against Brazil's star winger Vinicius Jr.

He has also shown maturity when facing adversity, including a solid performance after conceding an avoidable penalty in Stuttgart's final game of the calendar year at home to St. Pauli in the domestic league.

"It really would not have been good if I dwelled on it and started playing badly. I thought I just had to fulfill my role," he said.

A natural center-back also capable of playing at either full-back position, Chase has worked on improving the technique and timing of his attacking involvement. His immediate target is to make a bigger impact after the Bundesliga gets back underway this weekend.

"I need to become a player who is more intimidating to opponents," Chase said. "I want to develop an aura that says I'm not a newcomer."