Hi! My name is Ryusei Sakoda, and playing American football in the United States has always been a dream of mine. Growing up in Japan, I was surrounded by the sport—my grandfather and father both played, and my father still competes professionally. That passion led me to take a big step: moving to the U.S. to continue my journey as a student-athlete at Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC). Every day here challenges me to grow—not just as a football player, but as a student and as a person.

What is your background with American football?

That’s actually a long story. My grandfather and father both played American football in Japan. My father still plays professionally in Japan’s X-League. He is a running back, and I was always inspired by both my grandfather and father to play. I chose the running back position because it’s the same position my father plays.

I learned to love contact sports through karate training, but I stopped karate in 5th grade. Karate really helped with my balance and getting comfortable doing contact sports. I started playing football in middle school, but really dedicated myself to football in high school. I developed a love for the sport during this time, especially running back, because there’s always contact, which is my favorite part of the game.

Why did you choose Santa Rosa Junior College?

Playing college football in America has long been a dream of mine, and the education agent I worked with in Japan helped connect me with SRJC coaches Lenny Wagner and Dante DiPaola. I also learned that SRJC has a great college environment and a safe campus, which made my decision even easier. It has been a great place for me to focus on training, school, and improving my English.

Describe a Day in Your life.

It starts early! I wake up at 6 a.m. on weekdays to make breakfast and get ready for the day. I’m at the gym before 7:30 a.m. for stretching and core training. I then have class from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. Next, I’ll study in the library or go to another class, depending on the day of the week. After that, I’ll have a quick lunch, followed by more class or time in the library until about 1:30 p.m.

I get a break before football meetings begin at 4:00 p.m., and then we practice from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. After practice, I head back to the dorms, make dinner, hang out with friends, and study. I usually go to bed between10:30 p.m. or 11:00 p.m. We are in the middle of our Spring Ball practice right now. My schedule will look a little different when we get into the season this fall and when my class schedule changes.

It’s definitely a busy schedule, but I feel myself getting better every day, and that motivates me to keep going.

How do you balance schoolwork and football?

I make a to do list every day because routine and good habits are very important to my success. Sleep and recovery are so important as a student-athlete as well. There is a course called Kinesiology 300 that is required for SRJC student-athletes. It is essentially a study hall. It is a great opportunity to review homework assignments, check-in about grades, and get support for my classes. I like it because it helps build in academic accountability and it is essential to my success as a student.

What has been the most challenging part of being a student-athlete at SRJC?

Obviously, I have been adjusting to a new environment and the next level of football. So right now, the biggest challenge is eating a good diet and getting good sleep. This can be a challenge living in the dorms because my lifestyle is much different from a typical college student, so staying discipline is very important.

With football, I am focused on learning new drills and improving my speed in the drills. Since I started at SRJC in Spring, this is my first school semester too. So, I am also adjusting and preparing for Fall Semester, when my class load will be a little bit more challenging.

What has been the most rewarding part so far?

I have been using each day an opportunity to get a little bit better and am noticing results! I have really improved my speed in the 10- and 20-yard sprints. I have also made a lot of progress with my English and have made a lot of new friends. Seeing the early rewards of a discipline routine has been very rewarding.  

What advice would you give to other student-athletes who are thinking about studying in the U.S.?

I would tell them to keep going and chasing their dream. Remember what motivates you to be successful and how many people have made sacrifices for you to be here. For me, this is my father. He inspired me to play football and believes in my dream enough to support it by sending me to college in the United States.