Tomoya is one of the few journalists who write professionally in both English and Japanese. During the 10 years he worked for American newspapers, he wrote about various topics from crime and politics to pop culture and sports. Fluent in English and Japanese, he now specializes in writing about Japan and its culture for American audiences and vice versa.

 

He has won journalism awards for his reporting on Southern California’s housing crisis and the influence of super PACs on local elections. His articles have been featured in prominent news outlets in America and Japan. His columns are often ranked among the most read articles in Japan.

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He also appears on TV and radio shows to discuss his reporting. He is regarded in Japan as one of the most sought-after journalists and sources of information on U.S. domestic issues. His article has been used in a college entrance exam in Japan. He hosts a popular YouTube channel "Sho-Time Talk," where he and other experts discuss all things baseball. His first book, "Shohei Ohtani Report," became one of the best sellers on Amazon Japan in 2022.

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Tomoya grew up in the outskirts of Tokyo, dreaming of one day living in the U.S., drawn by its scale and diversity. He majored in liberal arts with a concentration in American Studies at International Christian University in Tokyo before moving to the U.S. for graduate school.

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His original plan was to become a sports marketer, but a journalism class he enrolled in by mistake at the University of Tennessee changed his path.

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He spent five years working for the Victor Valley Daily Press, a daily newspaper in a California desert, before taking a job at the Orange County Register, a metro paper in a Los Angeles suburb.

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He became a freelancer in 2018 so that he can split his time writing in English and Japanese.

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"I’ve interviewed celebrities and covered high-profile events. What has impacted me more personally, however, are the times I spent talking to people who rarely get a spotlight, such as hard-working parents who drive several hours every day to provide a better life for their children. As a nonfiction writer, I strive to tell stories that otherwise would go untold."

 

He lives in Orange County with his wife, Yuko, and his son and dog. You’ll probably spot them taking a walk along pristine Orange County beaches on weekends.

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M.S. Sport Studies (University of Tennessee, Knoxville)

​B.A. Liberal Arts (International Christian University, Tokyo)

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Click here to read Tomoya's full resume.

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​Media appearances

​Television

​CBS Sports, TV Asahi, Tokyo Broadcasting System, Nippon TV, Fuji TV, Yomiuri TV, Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting

Newspapers/Magazines

Jiji Press, Weekly Toyo Keizai, Shukan Shincho, AERA, Sports Nippon, Tarzan, Weekly SPA!, Weekly Post, GOETHE, CNN English Express、KyodoWeekly

Radio

KNX, KUCI (U.S.), talkRADIO (UK), RKB Radio, J-WAVE, Tokyo FM/JFN Asahi Radio (Japan)