Kazuma goes from backyard cricketer to international player

Like many high school graduates, Kazuma wasn’t sure what he wanted to do after finishing school. While university was an option, he wasn’t convinced it was the right path.

That changed when his dad sent him an article about TAFE Queensland’s Academy of Sport partnership with Queensland Cricket.

“Throughout my entire schooling journey, I was never really sure what I wanted to do after school, but when I read about this course, I thought it could benefit me,” he explained.

“I love cricket, and this was a great opportunity to stay involved while getting skilled and qualified to explore career options beyond playing and outside of the sport entirely.”

Enrolling into the Queensland Cricket Institute of Sport and Business offers Kazuma a comprehensive 12-month dual award program that includes the Diploma of Leadership and Management and the Diploma of Sport (BSB50420/SIS50321).

While he has ambitions to take his cricket playing career as far as possible, he’s also passionate about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the game. Coaching, development, administration, and helping to grow the sport all appeal to him.

“I love developing cricket and bringing it to more people. Whether it’s coaching, administration, or operations, I want to be involved in making the sport bigger and better,” he said.

With his studies giving him valuable insights into the professional side of the sporting world, he’s gaining an understanding of how cricket operates as a business.

His classroom is based at the premier Elite Cricket facility in the precinct, where he receives specialised coaching, learns from expert guest speakers, and gains practical experience within the professional cricket industry.

Participants in both programs will benefit from exclusive access to Queensland Cricket headquarters, gaining invaluable insights into event management, community engagement, facility operations, fan interaction, and match-day protocols.

Importantly, the TAFE Queensland-delivered dual diploma is supplemented by 100 hours of work-integrated learning across Queensland Cricket and Brisbane Heat operations, designed to enhance students' resumes and equip them with job-ready skills essential for success in the industry.

Additionally, TAFE Queensland has several tertiary pathway options, allowing graduates to move into the second year of several bachelor's degrees with a broad range of university partners.

“This course has helped me understand how cricket is organised behind the scenes and what goes into running the sport. I’m learning about leadership, management, and working effectively with different people,” he said.

Kazuma credits the adult learning environment at TAFE Queensland for keeping him engaged and motivated.

“I prefer this over school. I’m surrounded by like-minded classmates with the same passion for cricket in an adult learning environment. It’s engaging, practical, and relevant to what I want to do,” he said.

A standout unit for Kazuma was Emotional Intelligence, which gave him a deeper understanding of workplace dynamics.

“Understanding how different people work and how to adapt to different situations has been insightful. It will help me in any career,” he said.

Kazuma’s passion for cricket extends beyond Australia. As a dual citizen, he has travelled to Japan for cricket since he was 11 years old, played for the national Under-19 team since he was 15 and now travels there annually to compete in domestic tournaments and international series.

“My dad saw a documentary about a former Japanese baseball star who transitioned to cricket, and that led us to reach out to Japan Cricket. I started playing for their Under-19 team, and now I also play for the men’s national team,” he explained.

This year, Kazuma will head to Japan in April for the Under-19 World Cup qualifiers, playing against other international teams to secure a spot in the tournament.

“My goal is to play for Japan’s men’s national team for as long as possible and then transition into a career growing the sport there,” he said.

“I’m passionate about growing cricket in Japan globally while working with our sponsors, Mizuno and MKI. This course gives me the skills and experience to work with corporate sponsors and put the best interests of cricket in Japan first.” 

With Japan Cricket looking to expand the game beyond its current base in the city of Sano, Kazuma sees a future where he can combine his passion for cricket with his leadership and management skills to help grow the sport.

“I love Queensland, and moving to Japan full-time would be a big step, but I’m passionate about helping cricket grow. This course is setting me up with the confidence and skills to make that a reality wherever life takes me,” he said.