Taiga Kasuya - Appointed in AY2019

Since I was a child, I have had a strong interest in fields related to the natural environment, such as biology and earth science. I spent my days wandering through the woods and parks around my house observing various creatures. I was particularly amazed by the diverse shapes and forms of the colorful mushrooms I saw in the forest, which appear suddenly one day and vanish just as ephemerally. I was surprised that so many mushrooms of various colors and shapes were hidden, unknown to people, in the forest. This led me to wonder just how many kinds of mushrooms exist on Earth and how they live. Since entering university, my main research has focused on clarifying the diversity of fungi, particularly mushrooms.

Mushrooms are organisms familiar to our daily lives, adding color to our dinner tables and playing a role in promoting health. However, a number of unknown mushrooms far beyond our imagination are hidden on Earth, and the full extent of their diversity is not yet clear. Therefore, I conduct research on their systematic taxonomy and biogeography. My main fields of research are the coastal areas, satoyama (village forests), and subalpine and alpine zones of regions centered on East Asia, such as Japan and Northeast China. I collect mushroom specimens through fieldwork and analyze them based on their morphological and ecological characteristics, as well as genetic information. When you look at the natural world from the perspective of mushrooms, you realize that an unknown world is spreading out right beside us. For example, even on the lush green Hiyoshi Campus, you might find mushrooms whose names are completely unknown (meaning they could be new species), or mushrooms not yet recorded in Japan might suddenly appear. While conducting fieldwork overseas or in mountainous regions and remote islands that are usually difficult to access is very appealing, I also find it fascinating that new discoveries can be made one after another in such familiar places.

Through my biology lectures and practical training, I hope to provide students with opportunities to experience and understand the complexity of the natural environment, the diversity of life on Earth, and the connections between organisms and their environment. Learning about the natural world, which is formed by the complex interplay of diverse elements, also leads to understanding the complexity and diversity within human society and to mutual recognition. During your university life, it is important to cultivate a rich sensibility by connecting with diverse people and fields, sometimes taking detours, and accumulating a wide range of experiences. I expect all students at Keio University to cultivate their logical thinking and expressive skills and to find their own direction. At the same time, I hope that while honing your expertise, you will also maintain a broad perspective and proactively approach different fields.

(Interview conducted in December 2019)