Hi, I’m Shoma Okada, a senior at a university in Tokyo, majoring in marketing🎓
I’m naturally curious, love trying new things, and I make friends easily✨
When I was a high school exchange student in New Zealand, my English wasn’t perfect, but I quickly made many Kiwi friends, and we still stay in touch🇯🇵🤝🇳🇿

This summer, during my final student vacation, I’m taking on a big adventure: traveling around the world with my friend🌏

#Sports

⚽ Soccer
As a child, I played for the Kawasaki Frontale junior team. Kawasaki Frontale is a prestigious club that has produced players like Kaoru Mitoma and Takefusa Kubo, who are now playing in Europe⚡️

🏀 Basketball
I played basketball from junior high through high school and even joined a team while in New Zealand.
In university, I had the opportunity to support marketing initiatives for the Yokohama B-Corsairs in a class project, and I watched Yuki Kawamura—now in the NBA—play several times on the court🏀

I’d love to meet soccer and basketball fans from around the world!

#Fashion & Music

👕 Fashion
I’ve worked part-time at BEAMS, Japan’s most famous select shop, and UNIQLO. I also love vintage clothes.
Since this is a backpacking trip, I needed to minimize luggage, which made dressing fashionably a challenge 😅
So, just two days before departure, I went all-in and shaved my head red✂️🇯🇵

🎵 Music
I enjoy rap, R&B, and musical theater music, as I participated in musicals at university. I love both international artists and Japanese rappers🎤
I’m also a big fan of Studio Ghibli movies🎬

#Cooking

I’m a university student and also work part-time as a cook in a café-restaurant🍳
At work, I mostly follow recipes, but at home I enjoy cooking quickly with whatever ingredients I have in the fridge.
On this round-the-world trip, I want to combine meeting people with trying local ingredients. I prefer buying delicious, affordable local food rather than going to fancy restaurants, and if possible, cooking together with people I meet through Couchsurfing✨

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I believe the best way to really understand a country is by meeting the people who live there and sharing time together. 🌏
I want this journey to be more than just sightseeing—I hope to experience local cultures, have meaningful conversations, and create memories with the people I meet.

When I spent two years in New Zealand as a high school exchange student, I made many lifelong friends. Couchsurfing feels like the perfect way to do the same on this round-the-world trip—to connect with people from all over the globe and make friendships that last.

For me, Couchsurfing is about more than just being a guest or a host. It’s about building genuine connections that continue long after the trip ends, sharing experiences, and learning from each other. 🤝✨

Interests

• dogs
• fashion
• anime
• music
• fishing
• basketball
• martial arts
• adventure
• local food
• rap
• hip hop
• musicals
• cafe

Music, Movies, and Books

My Favorite Music
We Are the World

Movies
The Greatest Showman

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I founded a musical theater club at my university and had the incredible opportunity to produce several full-scale performances, including Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Sing, and Descendants. 🎭
Not only did I take on leading roles in these productions, but I also acted as the head organizer—overseeing everything from casting to stage production.
Bringing so many people together to create something truly unforgettable was one of the proudest and most rewarding experiences of my life. ✨

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach 🎓
I love sharing my culture and language with others. I can introduce various aspects of Japanese life—from everyday traditions to pop culture, music, and food. If you’re curious about Japan, I’d be happy to show you some fun and unique perspectives that only a local student could offer.

Learn 🌍
I’m always excited to learn from people around the world. Whether it’s a new language, cooking tips, local traditions, or hidden spots in your city, I want to experience it firsthand. Meeting locals is the best way to understand a culture, and I can’t wait to hear your stories and see your world through your eyes.

Share 🍳
I’m a university student and work part-time as a cook at a café-restaurant. While I usually follow recipes at work, I love experimenting at home with whatever ingredients are on hand. On this trip, I’d love to combine meeting amazing people with trying local ingredients. Instead of fancy restaurants, I prefer finding tasty, affordable local food and cooking together with people I meet through Couchsurfing. Sharing a meal like this is a fun way to connect, laugh, and make memories together!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I’d love to share Japanese language and culture with you—everything from daily life and traditions to pop culture and fun quirks only a local student would know.

If you’re interested, I can also cook homemade Japanese-style dishes, inspired by the kind of food you’d find at a cozy Japanese café. Nothing fancy, just tasty, heartwarming food made together with local ingredients. 🍳

I also love sharing stories, photos, and videos from my round-the-world trip, having fun conversations, and creating a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where everyone feels welcome.

Most importantly, I believe that meeting, talking, and connecting with people I really click with can lead to lifelong friendships. This is the biggest thing I want to share with my hosts, and it’s also the main goal of my round-the-world journey. 🌏💫

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, India, Italy, Jordan, New Zealand, Philippines, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, New Zealand