Former Oiler Terai adjusting to hockey and life in Japan

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As a Japanese-American hockey player, Toshi Terai's dream is to represent Japan at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

After a season with the Connecticut Oilers, Terai, who was born in Japan, has returned to his homeland.

The Brunswick School graduate is now playing for Waseda, a prestigious private university located in Shinjuku, one of the key areas of central Tokyo. Shinjuku, with a population of slightly more than 300,000, is home to the world's busiest train station.

Terai came to the United States with his parents when he was 1 year old and grew up in Harrison, N.Y., before the family moved to Stamford. He spent a post-graduate year at Choate before joining the Oilers. His sister is currently attending Greenwich Academy.

Hour photo/John Nash Toshi Terai skates during a game for the Connecticut Oilers during the recently concluded Eatern Junior Hockey League season. Terai is now in school in Japan and hoping to play for his homeland in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. less Hour photo/John Nash Toshi Terai skates during a game for the Connecticut Oilers during the recently concluded Eatern Junior Hockey League season. Terai is now in school in Japan and hoping to play for his ... more Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Former Oiler Terai adjusting to hockey and life in Japan 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Terai has been in Japan for only a couple weeks and is enrolled in Waseda's school of international liberal studies. The Oilers' season ended on Feb. 27, so he wasted little time embarking on the next chapter of his life.

With many relatives living in Japan, Terai is keenly aware of his heritage. Following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the country in March of 2011, he helped organize a relief effort for the victims while still at Brunswick.

Being able to attend Waseda was something Terai, who has Japanese citizenry, couldn't pass up -- both from a hockey and educational standpoint. His parents strongly encouraged him to make the move.

"I thought by being able to take both English and Japanese classes, it would help me a lot in the future," he said via email. "My parents both attended school in Japan and thought it would be a good opportunity for me to attend school in my native tongue and master both languages."

Japanese hockey clearly isn't on par with Canada, the United States and the other traditional world powers. Japan last played in the Olympics in 1998, finishing 13th in Nagano, and placed 20th in last year's world championships. It failed to qualify for the last three Olympics and also won't be playing in Sochi next year (although Japan's women's national team did qualify for the 2014 Games).

There are no junior leagues such as those in North America, but the sport is played on the high school and college levels and there also is the professional Asian Hockey League comprised of seven teams in China, Japan and South Korea.

Waseda competes in the Kanto University Ice Hockey League, which starts in the fall, the Kanto University championship and the all-Japan championship. A big event in the spring is the Kanto University tournament.

"Skill-wise, I think it is pretty similar (to the EJHL)," Terai said. "But the EJHL is a lot more physical in terms of body contact, slashing, rough play, etc. The players here are very skilled and fast, so it is a bit different style than the EJ. Also, we play in an international size rink, so hitting is an important factor but speed and skill are really important."

Terai has been visiting his grandparents in Japan since he was 3 years old and was exposed to Japanese hockey when he attended the International Ice Hockey Federation's U-18 national camp in Hokkaido during his junior year in high school.

Waseda coach Takehiko Kusajima was supportive during the process of getting Terai into the school. He also received assistance from some Japanese Ice Hockey Federation coaches he met during his time in Hokkaido.

Another helpful source was an American friend, Taka Katsuta, who is a senior on the Waseda club and previously played for Rye High School and New York Apple Core of the EJHL.

"My experience has been great so far," Terai added. "The players were very welcoming and the rink and training room facilities are great. It is definitely fun to play with a half shield on as I have never played contact hockey without a full cage."

Terai is living in a hockey dormitory in Higashifushimi -- also part of Tokyo -- just outside the rink with his teammates. His says the biggest adjustment to living in Japan is not being able to drive everywhere.

"Growing up, I was so used to driving everywhere to the rink, home, etc.," he said. "But public transportation is the dominant choice here in Japan. I take a 15-20 minute train ride to school and it is pretty convenient because you can go to major cities just by pubic transportation."

Terai expects that he will spend the next four years at Waseda, leaving him on track to graduate in 2017, which would be just a year before the Olymics in South Korea. He now has the distinction of becoming the first Oiler to play abroad.

"I hope to gain exposure for the Japan Olympic team," said Terai, who won't be back in Stamford until July.