Richard Sasaki wakes up as early as 2 a.m. in Tokyo to watch Miami Hurricanes football — a routine that has turned the Japan-based fan with no South Florida ties into one of the team’s most recognizable supporters online.
Sasaki first went viral on TikTok on Dec. 8 after posting his day-in-the-life of being a Miami Dolphins fan in Japan. He later went viral on Instagram, gaining more than 14,000 followers.
“I enjoy football because the scale and passion of the fans is very different from professional sports in Japan,” Sasaki says. “The energy in the stadium and how deeply fans are involved really stands out to me.”
In his first viral video, Sasaki documented waking up at 2 a.m. Japan Standard Time to watch a Dolphins game.
His Instagram bio states, “No Miami roots,” leading his followers to wonder where his love for South Florida sports began.
Sasaki discovered his love for football while studying abroad in Hawaii in 2015. The host family of one of his friends was both Seahawks and Patriots fans, who spent the week leading up to the Super Bowl bantering back and forth.
He started to learn about the rules of football while following Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota, who attended the local high school near where Sasaki stayed in Hawaii.
“I also love the strategic side of the game and the human drama behind it. Every play is planned, but at the same time, players are making split second decisions under huge pressure,” said Sasaki.
In 2017, Sasaki became a Miami Dolphins fan because he loved the logo. He says its tropical vibe reminded him of Hawaii.
After receiving advice from a Dolphins fan, Sasaki decided to start watching college football because he heard it offered more energy and excitement.
“They have a really good history and have been trying to get back a championship win,” he said.
Sasaki is also a Miami Marlins fan as baseball is the most popular sport in Japan. He attended a game here against the Phillies.
This true fan depicts his schedule on his Instagram reels where he wakes up as early as 2 a.m. to watch the games happening in Miami, due to the 14-hour time difference. When he isn’t watching sports, he balances his full-time sales job during the day.
To maintain the demanding routine, Sasaki said he relies on consistency — working out, limiting alcohol and going to bed early.
Despite these early mornings, Sasaki stayed up to date with Hurricanes football throughout the season. He said his favorite games to watch were the FSU and Notre Dame games but, like most UM fans, he tries to forget about Louisville and SMU.
“When the Hurricanes lost to SMU, I thought the season was over,” Sasaki said. “To be honest, I didn’t think they would make it to the National Championship.”
He also mentions that Malachi Toney is his favorite player, calling him a “superfreshman.”
When the ’Canes played in the College Football National Championship on Jan.19, Sasaki was hoping to see Toney score two to three touchdowns at the game.
He was also excited to see Carson Beck possibly win a National Championship with the Hurricanes as he’s only been here for one year.
Beyond watching games, Sasaki keeps up with Hurricanes football through shows, schedules, podcasts and articles. He notes that his favorite podcasts to watch are Behind the U and Through the Smoke.
He even launched his own podcast called Richard Sasaki’s NFL radio, where he did a Week 11 recap before deciding not to continue it.
Most importantly, he is excited that the ’Canes were facing off against Fernando Mendoza, who attended high school here in Miami, and to watch the ’Canes first championship game “at home.”
Sasaki hosted a national championship watch party in Tokyo with 10 to 15 UM study abroad students, decorating the space and watching together despite the 9:30 a.m. local start time.
He said, “Things like tailgating and all the different ways people support their teams make football feel like a full-day experience, not just a game.”
Many fans see Sasaki as a “‘lucky charm,” but he says the real stars are the team.
“The ’Canes are superstars. Not because of me but because of the players and the fans,” Sasaki said.
Sasaki wants the players to know they are super amazing, and he has a message for the fans.
“You have the greatest energy,” Sasaki said. “Keep up praying with me and keep cheering with me.”