A Love for my Hometown Found in the Pursuit of my Favorite Things

Ryosuke Shinohara, a native of Tochigi Prefecture and a third-year student in the Faculty of Humanities’ Department of History began playing the trumpet in high school as a way to continue supporting his baseball team even as a sports injury forced him to take a step back from playing. Talking about what he has learned so far living in Tokyo and about his studies, Ryosuke says “As I started playing, I began to want to learn more about music, and decided I wanted to learn about it from a historical perspective.”
The Appeal of Sophia University: Prime Location and an Environment Conducive to In-depth Learning
Having lived in Tochigi for my entire life, I wanted to go to college in Tokyo to experience living somewhere other than my hometown. The deciding factor in choosing Sophia University was its location – close to all of the major terminal stations and convenient to anywhere I would want to go.
I have been a professional baseball fan since I was a child. The Yomiuri Giants are my favorite team, and therefore, the Yotsuya Campus’s location, just a few train stops away from the Tokyo Dome and a short walk to Jingu Stadium, was really appealing to me. Having the opportunity to cheer on my favorite team so close to my university campus has only increased my love for baseball.
In addition to being a dedicated baseball fan, I am also a member of the orchestra club, and I often go to orchestra concerts given my easy access to Kioi Hall, just adjacent to the campus, as well as to NHK Hall and other major concert halls.
During my high school years, I was introduced to different universities through information sessions held in my hometown, and later through informational entrance exam booklets and social media. Many people around me, including myself, were aiming to attend national universities, but looking back now, I am glad that I enrolled in a private university.
Private universities, especially Sophia, have low faculty-to-student ratios and provide great education. Before entering university, I was worried about whether I would be able to keep up with the pace of schoolwork, but now I am just enjoying the process of learning. Of course, there are many difficult things, but more often than not, I find them interesting. I think this is because students at Sophia are close with their professors and there is an environment of being able to freely ask questions and talk about even the smallest things.
Developing Independence in an Environment that Demands Self-Sufficiency

I was somewhat anxious about living away from my parents, but I think I’ve adjusted to life in Tokyo more quickly than I had expected. I thought Tokyo would be filled with people that were cooler in their nature than those in Tochigi but there are many warm and kind people who have helped me along the way.
As for why I chose to live alone, based on my experience cooking at home, I thought that I could save more money alone than in a dormitory by making good use of foodstuff. While I did struggle at first with household chores, like laundry and cleaning, the inevitably of needing to get it done meant it quickly became a natural part of my life. The most challenging though is that even when I am tired, I have to do everything by myself, but I also believe this has contributed to my personal growth and independence. One of the reasons I’m able to enjoy my college life to the fullest is that I can now spend my time as I choose. I can play music in my room without worrying about whether it is bothering my family, and as I enjoy spending time both alone and with friends, living alone allows me to easily come and go from home with my friends. I’ve also found that living alone creates an environment conducive to concentrating on my studies alone and in a way that suits me, without worrying about how other people perceive me.
Baseball, Music, History: My Passions and Driving Forces
I am a member of the Sophia Philharmonic Orchestra, where I play the trumpet. I played baseball until junior high school, but an elbow injury prevented me from continuing to play in high school.
Although I could not play in games as a player, I wanted to be involved in baseball as a supporter, so I joined the orchestra club in high school and became involved in music. In addition to Sophia students from different backgrounds and faculties, there are also international students and students from other universities in our orchestra and it has provided me with a good chance to interact with a variety of different people.
What first got me interested in music was actually its history. While enjoying music in high school, I became interested in learning more about music. I chose the history department because I wanted to understand music’s history. When it comes to international issues, I’ve found it very interesting to learn the historical background that is vital to understanding cause-and-effect relationships at play. I view baseball, music, and history as connected things, and none of them are indispensable to me today. Whether it’s watching baseball games, playing in the orchestra, or studying history, it is my love of each of them that is my major driving force.
Before entering the school, I didn’t think much about my future career and didn’t have a clear image of whether I wanted to work in Tochigi or Tokyo. However, living in Tokyo has made me realize the advantages of my hometown’s rich nature and calm setting, which is something I might not have realized had I not left my hometown. I now have a strong desire to return to Tochigi and work there so I can contribute all that I have learned at Sophia and in Tokyo.
How would you compare Sophia University to a local specialty or landmark?
-Gyoza, Tochigi’s Specialty
Tochigi is known for its gyoza. Gyoza contains many different ingredients such as cabbage, chives, minced meat, ginger, garlic, etc., and tastes good because all the flavors meld together. Sophia is a bit like this: people of various backgrounds, from overseas and all over Japan, come together on one campus. Just like how delicious gyoza is made by mixing different ingredients together, I believe that Sophia University’s fulfilling learning experience and vibrant campus life is created by the diverse range of people we get to mingle with on campus.
*Please note that the content of this article is current as of July 2023.