My name is Kosuke. I was born in Nagoya, Japan in April 1977. I have graduated from Higashiyama Technical High School in Aichi prefecture, with degree in Electronics Course. I came to Wichita, KS, USA in March 1996 to study at Wichita State University but first I had to learn English at the IELC (Intensive English Language Center) for about one and a half year. I started taking college classes from Summer of 1997 in Aerospace Engineering program, but later changed to Mechanical Engineering which became my first degree earned in December 2001. After the graduation, I have pursued my interest in aerospace and enrolled in master's program at Wichita State University in January 2002, graduated in July 2004. I worked for a short term at a Toyota related business but I did not like the environment, so I quit it and now working for a Japanese audio company in the U.S. In Japan, I live with my brother who is five years older than me, and my parents and grand parents.
My parents gave me the name Kosuke, meaning "Be broadminded, and be helpful" in Japanese and it has been my philosophy (Well, I still cannot quite be BROADMINDED, yet...). I like to help people out as much as I can, that is one reason why I became a lifeguard, and also an American Red Cross volunteer. Also, I am a kind of person who needs to try everything in first hand once interested, so sometimes I do dumb things because of that, but I believe I know and understand more things than other people around.
- Japanese (my native language)
- English
- German (took a class for a semester, I was not really good at it...)
Running (form medium distance to long distance. I have finished my first marathon in 2003)
Swimming (not so good in short distance, but I can swim 2 miles in 52 minutes)
Biking
Flying - I have a private pilot license (110 hours in C-172, 5 hours in PA-28R-180)
SCUBA diving (got certified, but never get to try it since I cannot afford a trip to exotic places)
Skydiving (Tried 4 times, will not continue since it's pretty risky)
Sailing (small water craft)
Motorcycle!
Photography (I have a Canon Rebel 2000; 35mm SLR, and a Canon Powershot G2; 4.0MP digital camera)
Traveling
United States:
American Red Cross
Lifeguard (including waterfront and waterpark module) (1999/06 - )
Community First Aid (1999/06 -)
CPR-PR (1999/06-)
Lifeguard Instructor (including waterpark module) (1999/06 -)
Automatic External Defibrillator essentials (2000/04 - )
Oxygen Administration for the Professional Rescuer (2000/04 -)
Water Safety Instructor (1999/05 - )
Safety Training for Swim Coaches (2001/08 - )
Pool management workshop (2002, 2003 and 2004)
Others
ARC and US Sailing - Basic Sailing Class(2003/07)
PADI Open Water SCUBA Diving (1997/08 -)
Private Pilot, (Single Engine, Land) (2000/07- )
EIT (Engineer in Training) (2001/12 -)
MSF Basic Rider Course (2003/07)
Japanese:
Hazardous Material Handler (Class: Otsu, Type: IV)
Amateur Radio Operator (Forth Class)
Japanese "EI-KEN" English Proficiency Exam (Third Class)
United Nations English Proficiency Exam (Class D)
Informational Technology Proficient Exam (Third Class)
(Last updated on 2002/12)
Lifeguard - I have worked at Heskett Center natatorium between May 1998 to Jan 2002.
Lifeguard Training Officer - Our facility did not have the aquatic coordinator once, so I was working with interim aquatic coordinator to run the pool. I have renewed the pool manual during the time, and became the official lifeguard manual from January 2002..
English - Japanese Interpreter - In summer 2001, I worked with Itochu Aviation, Inc. and the Japan Coast Guard during their third batch of Beechcraft Super King Air 350 pilot training program for the Japanese Coast Guard.
Swimming Instructor -
Masters Swimming Coach - Since Fall 2001, Heskett Center has resumed long lost Masters Swimming program.
Graduate Research Assistant - From Jan. 2002, I have been working under Dr. James Locke. The project involves NPS-100 and GE-37 blades
Project Support - I worked for Shinwa USA Corp for two weeks during the trial period. I did not like the job so I did not take it, but I have learned TPS (Toyota Production System), Toyota terms and
(as of 2003/07)
Outstanding Floor Leader, Fairmount Towers Third, North (May 1998)
Kansas City Lifeguard Tournament 3rd place, Co-ed Division (August, 1999)
Kansas City Lifeguard Tournament 3rd place, Co-ed Division (August, 2000)
Heskett Center Best Student Employees of the Month (August 2001)
American Red Cross Midway-Kansas Chapter Outstanding Volunteer Instructor (Fall, 2002)
(last updated on 2002/12)
Since after I become a lifeguard in May 1998, I have been volunteering for American Red Cross often. The activities include volunteer lifeguard during the aquatic school is in session, volunteer instructor for Learn to Swim program, lifeguard training, as well as CPR week. Here are the list of participation. The local Red Cross has a program called ACAS (Air Capital Aquatic School), which starts from April, ends in June every year to train lifeguard and water safety instructor candidates.
Learn to Swim Program (2 times)
CPR Week 2001 at Bright Spot
CPR Week 2001 at Wellington High School
CPR Week 2001 at American Red Cross office
Instructing ARC Lifeguard Training (May 2002)
Instructing ARC CPR-PR review (May 2002)
CPR Week 2002 at American Red Cross
CPR Week 2002 at Wellington High School
Instructing ARC CPR-PR Class in ACAS 2003
Instructing ARC lifeguard training class in ACAS 2003
Instructing ARC CPR-PR Class in ACAS 2004
Instructing ARC lifeguard training class in ACAS 2004
AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)
AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association )
SWE (Society of Women Engineers)
WSU-EC (Wichita State University Engineering Council ) - I was an official photographer 2002 and 2003
Run Wichita Member
Oz Bike Club of Wichita member
City of Wichita, Parks and Recreation: Swimming meet record keeper 2002~
Japan
- Osaka (2000/12)
- Hiroshima (2002/03)
- Kyoto
- Nara
- Tokyo 1993, 2002, 2004
- Mt. Fuji (1996/08)
- Nagano
- Hiroshima (2002/03)
- Nagasaki (2003/05)
U.S.
- Chicago, IL (Many times, including 2000/08, 2001/08, 2002/08, 2004/09)
- Denver, CO (1997/07)
- Phoenix, AZ (2001/03, 2002/08, 2002/11)
- St. Louis, MO (2001/08)
- Kansas City, MO (2000/08, 2003/12, 2004/06)
- Washington DC (1999/08, 2003/10)
- Niagara Falls, U.S. and Canada (1999/08)
- Dayton, OH (2001/08)
- Ann Arbor, MI (1999/?)
- Oklahoma City, OK (1999/11, 2002/01, 2002/05)
- Topeka, KS (2003/01)
- Atchison, KS (2003/06)
- Pensacola, FL (2003/08)
- Lawrence, KS (2004/01)
- Cincinnati, OH (2004/10)
- Detroit, MI (2004/11)