About
Me
Hi, I’m Riku! I’m originally from Fukuoka, Japan, and now live and study in New York City as a high school student. I’m curious by nature and always eager to understand the world around me.
Outside the classroom, I pursue a range of interests through sports, internships, volunteering, and research. I currently play varsity baseball and have previously played soccer, golf, and table tennis. While I value teamwork, I also enjoy independent projects that allow me to explore my interests more deeply.
I’m particularly interested in the business of entertainment and beauty and in exploring how these industries influence society from a sociological perspective. I’m also passionate about sharing Japanese beauty, idol, and food culture through my research, volunteer work, and Japan Club. Looking ahead, I hope to continue exploring these interests, learning from those around me, and pursuing ambitious goals at university.
My Resume
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Léman Manhattan Preparatory School, New York, NY, USA | Sep 2023 - expected graduation 2027
Weighted GPA: 4.07
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Executive Office Intern, Creates, Inc., Tokyo, Japan | 2023 - Present
Interpret for meeting between CEO of Creates and CEO of Inventel for three meetings throughout the course of a year, leading to a distribution partnership and the sale of 400,000 hair straighteners
Build presentation for company-wide goals and benchmarks for US Headquarter expansion to NYC
Build presentation to introduce product launch for innovative comb-hair straightener for US-based staff
Give practical tutorials to hair and makeup artists on Creates hair products at company-sponsored NYFW event
Lead product design for new line of shampoos for shampoo technicians with sensitive skin
Youth Leader, Tokyo Girls Collection, Tokyo, Japan | 2024 - Present
Represent youth perspectives in eight collaborative strategy meetings with entertainment management company Twin Planet
Provide on-site assistance for annual 3-day high-profile fashion and music event featuring Japanese idol groups Nogizaka46 and Fruits Zipper, with over 12,000 attendees, including backstage assistance, manning pop-up shop of new product, preparing stage, and guiding press representatives for press conference
Business Analyst Intern, Ernst & Young (EY), Tokyo, Japan | Feb 2026 - Mar 2026
Researched the EV industry and Rivian, analyzing challenges on cash flow, production capacity, and market share
Created and presented a 5-minute strategic improvement plan to EY professionals
Summer Rotational Hospitality Intern, Doggy’s Island, Tokyo, Japan | 2025 - Present
Support daily operations by providing cafe and lounge customer service and preparing food and drink, while adhering to high hospitality standards, with over 50 tables of customers daily
Educational Intern, Future Education, Tokyo, Japan | 2024 - Present
Serve as assistant teacher in annual summer camp and on spring break field trip to Okinawa, planning 3 classes a day for a week and supervising 10 children
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Independent Researcher, NYU University, New York, NY | 2026 - Present
Conduct 5 qualitative interviews with industry leaders on culturally-specific beliefs and industry practices, analyzing the effects on the development of globalization practices in the Japanese beauty industries
Recognized as a Top 300 Paper in Synthica’s annual Global Research Challenge Competitions
Build on research on Japanese beauty industry to create accessible content for Youtube Channel through conducting interviews with professionals in traditional Japanese entertainment, such as Kyogen, Geiko, and Japanese idols
Youth Representative, UN ECOSOC Youth Forum, New York, NY | April 2026
Present for 5 minutes on sustainability in traditional beauty practices as a Youth representative at the 2026 UN ECOSOC Youth Forum to an audience of over 100 people
Assistant Coach, Léman Varsity Baseball | 2023 - Present
Play as pitcher and starting player for two years, demonstrating teamwork, discipline, and commitment
Initiate off-season training video project with Naoki Shirozu (Shohei Ohtani’s trainer) to implement 20 minute training menu
Support team in senior year as assistant coach
Co-President and Co-Founder, Léman Japanese Cultural Appreciation Club, New York, NY | 2023 - Present
Host 5 monthly Japanese food events at dorm, with student participation of over 30 members
Organize 2-3 field trips a year in local New York area for club members as well as weekly meeting
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Léman Manhattan IB Economics Award, 2026
TOEFL iBT Test, 5.5/6, August 2026
All League Baseball Award, Spring Season, 2025
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NYU Summer Precollege, 2026, Intro to Sociology
Cornell Summer Precollege, 2026, Risk Management in Emerging Markets
FIT High School Program, 2026, Introduction to Advertising and Marketing Communications
Columbia Summer Precollege, 2025, Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Changing the World Via Venture Creation