Former Trinity Bay school captain follows train-driving dream to Japan

A former high school captain from Cairns who received offers from two medical schools has changed track, pursuing a childhood dream to drive trains to a job in Japan’s rail system.

Former Trinity Bay State High School captain Taichi Sato.

Former Trinity Bay State High School dux and school captain, Taichi Sato, was among Cairns’ highest achieving students in 2024, receiving two offers for medical school and a 99.35 ATAR score, seemingly on a certain path to becoming a doctor.

But a setback prompted him to change track, quite literally, as he challenged the expectations on him and chose instead to follow a long-held fascination with railways and trains from his early childhood in Japan.

Mr Sato, who dreamed of being a train driver, started work in Tokyo this month with Japanese railway company, Keio, and at 18 is the youngest of the company’s new recruits.

Taichi Sato received offers from two medical schools, but has changed track, instead pursuing a childhood dream to drive trains in Tokyo.

“Throughout year 12, I was pretty much certain that I would go to university and study medicine, pursuing a career as a doctor. I’d always wanted to have a job where I could help people,” Mr Sato said.

The former school and sports captain and Queensland tennis champion said he studied hard and received offers from his second and third-preference universities to study medicine, but not his first preference, which he had his heart set on.

Trinity Bay Sate High School captain Taichi Sato (far right) pictured with his fellow 2024 school captains.

“To be honest, I was very shocked when I got the notification saying that I didn’t get into my first preference,” he said, explaining that it made him rethink his motivations and goals.

“I began to realise how big of an influence those academic expectations were.

“It’s obvious to me now that being a doctor isn’t the only job where you help people, and there’s no reason why a high academic achiever, with all due respect, can’t do a job that anyone can pursue.”

Mr Sato said he took a gap year and sought advice from friends, teachers and family to explore other career options, and was told repeatedly to “do what you love and what you’re passionate about”.

Former Trinity Bay State High School captain Taichi Sato had memorised the Tokyo metro subway map by the time he turned 5 and is now working for a Japanese railway company.

“This reminded me of my first ever childhood dream, which was to become a train driver. Until I moved to Cairns when I was 5, I lived in central Tokyo, which is home to the world’s most complex train network... I had the entire Tokyo Metro subway map memorised, and always put my nose against the driver’s seat window, admiring them.

“I spent my time building mini railway networks using plastic rails and toy trains.”

Mr Sato said he found a company recruiting in early 2025 and, after two interviews, secured one of 15 positions being offered by Keio.

“I was very nervous about stepping into Japan’s work culture, which is notoriously famous for its strict policies and structure ... but (my colleagues) have all been super nice and helpful to me and have shown interest in my life overseas, so I am now much more settled into my new work environment,” he said.

Former Trinity Bay State High School captain Taichi Sato received offers from two medical schools, but has changed track, instead pursuing a childhood dream and passion to drive trains – all the way to a job in Japan’s rail system.

Mr Sato encouraged his fellow young school-leavers to set their own pace and be open to change.

“I don’t know if I’m in a spot where I can give advice, as I’m only just out of high school, but I think there really is no rush when thinking about your future,” he said.

“Even just finishing high school already guarantees you countless open pathways, and if you are someone who has their future career set in stone, there is absolutely nothing wrong with changing your mind either now or later down the track.”

Originally published as Former Trinity Bay school captain follows train-driving dream to Japan