Rintaro Sonoda

Rintaro Sonoda

OTHERS

Interests

I have always been interested in learning about World Heritages and its sites and related history behind them. I have visited two-thirds of the Japanese World Heritage sites which are listed below.

  • Tenth grade: Hiroshima Genbaku Dome. I attended the“Visiting Hiroshima and learn from Hibakusha study tour” for 4 days

  • Ninth grade: Izumi Temple: I attended the “Visiting Tohoku and learn from Tsunami victims“ tour for 5 days

  • Eighth grade: Visited Kyoto: Toufuku-temple, Koudai-temple, and Yasaka Shrine

  • Seventh grade: Visited Yakushima and climb Yakushima with Yakushima specialist guide for three days

  • Seventh grade: Visited Kyoto, Arashiyama and Chikurin no michi, Koudai-Temple

  • Sixth grade: Visited Toyooka Seishijou

  • Sixth grade: Visited Kyoto with Kyoto specialist guide (Kiyomizu temple, Nijo-jo, Toji-temple, Yakushiji-temple, Kinkaku-temple, Shogun Temple, Kitano Tennman Temple)

  • Fifth grade: Nikko Tosho Temple, Hiroshima Gennbaku dome, Itsukushima Shrine, Kumanokodou, Himeji Castle, Nara Temple

  • Fourth grade: Mt. Fuji,

  • Fourth grade: Shiretoko/Hokkaido

Music Admirer

  • I play piano, and drums.

  • I love listening to music from across the world.

    My favorite singers include US 80’s singers, Il DIVO, U2, Enya, Beatles, BTS, and Enrique Iglesias, Zion y KenroX, Florida Georgia Line, Sia. I have gone to a couple of concerts, and the most impressive concert I ever gone was a U2 concert in Saitama Arena in 2019. This was my favorite experience because the concert contained extraordinarily strong messages towards world issues such as hunger, Climate Change, Hate Crime & Gender issues. I truly felt the deep impact of music itself in this concert.

  • I have “very good and sensitive ears” for music. As a music admirer, I can sing songs in any languages with Native pronunciation if I listen to the music about twenty times repeatedly.

Hobbies (sports)

  • I am a great skier.

    I am certified in Grade 3 level of skiing techniques which Ski Association of Japan (JSA) provides officially. I had my private Ski coach, Mr. Imaizumi, to train with since I was in first grade. I go to Niseko, Hokkaido every winter, and Mr. Imaizumi has been my private coach since then. He used to be a representative of Japan Team of Alpine Ski competition and he is also CEO of Alpine Ski School. I am in the process of practicing to pass the Grade 2 level.

    These photos were taken by my private coach at Niseko in 2019.

  • I can drive a boat.

    When I am sixteen years old, I went to school to get a boat license. One day I would like to have my own private boat and sail away by myself.

    This photo was taken by my coach at Chiba Prefecture after practicing with him

  • I enjoy playing basketball, and volleyball.

  • I am beginner golfer

    This photo was taken by coach at Fuji Sakura Country Club in 2020
    before COVIT 19 became an issue in Japan

  • I used to take lessons for horseback riding in Nasu, and I enjoyed it very much.

  • I am a major fan of NBA.

    My favorite team is Miami Heat. I have been watching NBA games on YouTube almost every day for 30 mintues since the ninth grade. This is “killing two birds with one stone” for me because while I am enjoying the games, I can learn to listen English, and also it gives me an idea to apply their strategy to my water polo team game as well.

Experiences abroad

  • First grade: Home Stayed about a month in summer in 2014 at Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

  • Second Grade: Home Stayed about a month in 2013 at Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA

    -Attended Cape Elizabeth Summer School for 2 weeks

  • Third Grade: Home Stayed from about 5 weeks in 2012

    -Attended Cape Elizabeth Summer School for 2 weeks
    -Attended Cutting Edge Summer Camp for 1 week
    -Visited different homes and stayed at Gainesville, Florida for 2 weeks

  • Fourth Grade: Home Stayed for a about month at Cape Elizabeth, Main, USA

    -Attended Cape Elizabeth Summer School for 2 weeks

  • Fifth Grade: Home stayed about three weeks at Calgary, Canada

    -Attended British Columbia local Summer Camp for one week

My travels

I want to see the world and learn about the diversity of people and culture around the world. So, I am eager to travel to more countries when I become economically independent. Here are the cities /countries I have visited so far.

  • San Francisco, USA

  • Silicon Valley, USA

  • Maine, USA

  • Florida, USA

  • Hawaii, USA

  • New Mexico, USA

  • Massachusetts, USA

  • Soul, Korea

  • Hong Kong

  • Vancouver, Canada

  • British Colombia, Canada

  • Calgary, Canada

  • Singapore