Ogawa built his career through the Japanese domestic racing ladder, competing regularly in the Fuji Grand Champion Series throughout the 1980s. The series served as one of the primary proving grounds for professional drivers in Japan at the time, and Ogawa's consistent appearances there established his credentials as a serious competitor in the national scene.
The peak of Ogawa's single-seater career came in the All Japan Formula 3000 Championship, the premier domestic open-wheel series. He won the championship outright in 1989, demonstrating the speed and consistency needed to beat the field over a full season. The following year he finished as runner-up in the same championship, confirming that his title win had not been a one-off achievement.
Alongside his Formula 3000 campaign in 1990, Ogawa also competed in sportscar racing. Partnering Masanori Sekiya, he took victory in the JAF Grand Prix All Japan Fuji 500km held at Fuji Speedway. The win illustrated his adaptability across car categories and cemented his reputation as one of the most complete drivers on the Japanese circuit.
Ogawa also made inroads at international level. In 1992, partnering Geoff Lees, he won the opening round of the World Sportscar Championship at Monza in the C1 class — a strong result that pointed toward an expanding international program. Later that year he was set to race for the Toyota TOM'S team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a debut that would have marked his most prominent appearance on the world stage.
On May 24, 1992, Ogawa was involved in a fatal accident during an All-Japan Formula 3000 race at Suzuka Circuit. On lap 27, he attempted to overtake Andrew Gilbert-Scott along the main straight, but Gilbert-Scott held his line while Ogawa moved fractionally to the side. The contact caused Ogawa's front wing to become lodged in the rear bodywork of Gilbert-Scott's car. Both cars continued down the straight at speed before entering the gravel trap, which proved insufficient to slow either vehicle. Gilbert-Scott's car spun, struck the tyre wall, and overturned. Ogawa went in nose-first, hit a mound in the gravel trap, and was launched over the tyre barrier, colliding with a post supporting the spectator fence.
Both cars were destroyed and the race was immediately red-flagged. Several photographers and at least one cameraman sustained injuries, as did Gilbert-Scott himself. Ogawa was extracted from the wreckage but had suffered severe injuries to his head, neck, and legs; he was pronounced dead on the way to hospital. He was 36 years old.
Because Ogawa died aged 36, the Toyota TOM'S team chose to run the number 36 at the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans — the race for which he had been entered — as a tribute. David Brabham substituted for him in the car. The gesture became one of the better-known commemorative acts in Japanese motorsport.
Ogawa's son, Ryo Ogawa, followed his father into racing and became the 2015 Japanese Formula 3 champion, carrying on the family's connection to the sport.