From the Magazine: Cleats & Cello
After a heartbreaking end to the 2025 soccer season, striker Tomoki Hirayama ’26 retreated to the music studio and found solace in his cello. Playing the instrument has been a cure for the teenager’s stresses around juggling academics, college applications, and NCAA recruiting while far from his home in Lusaka, Zambia.
“I started playing the cello after I moved to Zambia, and it allows me to pause and take a deep breath,” says Hirayama, who relocated from his native Japan to Zambia at age 8. “I play the cello to calm myself. It’s meaningful.”
Cello and soccer have been two constants in Hirayama’s life since early childhood, and both have served him in profound ways during his time on The Hilltop. Hirayama was introduced to KUA after meeting Varsity Boys’ Soccer Head Coach Charles Muhlauri at a camp. In Muhlauri, a native of Zimbabwe, Hirayama found familiarity.
“In Zambia, everyone is like him—not too serious and with a very happy outlook,” says Hirayama. “Charles is just having the time of his life. In Japan, it’s completely different.”
Although the African nation now feels like home, adjusting to life in Zambia brought initial shock for the young Hirayama. Eager to continue his soccer skills, his mother took him to the local pitch. What he discovered was barefoot children kicking a ball made of plastic bags and rubber bands on a sandy field of sharp stones. It was unlike any experience he had in Japan, but it became part of his day-to-day life until he landed a spot in a nearby international soccer academy. The disparity of equipment and access was palpable.
Although the African nation now feels like home, adjusting to life in Zambia brought initial shock for the young Hirayama. Eager to continue his soccer skills, his mother took him to the local pitch. What he discovered was barefoot children kicking a ball made of plastic bags and rubber bands on a sandy field of sharp stones. It was unlike any experience he had in Japan, but it became part of his day-to-day life until he landed a spot in a nearby international soccer academy. The disparity of equipment and access was palpable.
“I began by giving away my old football boots and equipment,” he says. “They were things I no longer needed, but they made a world of difference to these players. They had never worn football boots before. Their gratitude sparked something in me.”
With the help of a contact in Japan, Hirayama set up a foundation called Second Life Zambia that provides used equipment to Zambian “football” players. With the assistance of Japanese clubs and supporters, Zambian children have received more than 1,000 pairs of cleats, 2,000 jerseys, and 200 balls.
“As Second Life grew, so did my understanding of how small initiatives can have large impacts on so many people and their lives and careers,” he says, noting that some players he supported are now playing professionally in Spain, Russia, and Italy.
In 2024, Hirayama moved to Meriden with his cleats and cello in tow, ready to immerse himself in American culture. As a “third-culture kid,” Hirayama has navigated his developmental years in a country outside of his homeland. Coming to the United States would add a new dimension to his experience.
“When I was just in Zambia, I couldn’t see the similarities to Japan as much,” he says, “but now being in the United States introduces a new perspective. It’s like I was seeing in only two dimensions before and now I can see things in 3D.”
In the off-season, Hirayama focuses on his music, playing in the Chamber Ensemble and the Winter Musical. He jumped at the chance to see world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma at the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College. While the sold-out audience enjoyed Ma’s charismatic performance, Hirayama found something deeper: “It was like his cello was speaking to me.” He has since adapted his bowing style.
Next year, Hirayama will attend the University of Rochester, where he’ll play soccer. Academically, he’d like to leverage his strength in math and science to study economics or statistics. However, he continues to develop both body and mind, music will remain a profound part of his life.
