Proteins for Peace: A Chance Discovery in Advanced Biosciences Research

Kazuhide Sekiyama

Graduate of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies

Oct. 29, 2021

- Mr. Sekiyama, you've studied at Keio since you were a child, starting your academic career at the Keio Yochisha Elementary School. Were you interested in science and entrepreneurship as a teenager?

Not really. In fact, I never had any particular goals for the future when I was in elementary and junior high school. As someone who never stood out much at school, I constantly wondered why I had to study.

A turning point came when I was a freshman in high school, and our class watched a documentary on the theme of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Rwanda. I remember being profoundly shocked that so many people had to look death squarely in the face for no good reason. Who is to say that I wouldn't be caught up in some conflict or war in a few years myself, I thought. That thought made me begin investigating the reasons behind war and conflict: why do people and countries engage in warfare? When I looked into it, I found that the cause was usually competition for resources such as food and water. As the global population continues to grow, people will increasingly compete for resources, and the gap in living standards between developed and developing nations is only widening. I began to feel a sense of crisis about the future of humanity, which made me start to think about what I could do to come up with a business idea that would contribute to averting human-induced catastrophe. But at the time, nothing came to mind.

- What eventually helped you find your way?

Meeting Prof. Masaru Tomita from the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies. He came to Keio Senior High School in my senior year to promote Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC). I remember how enthusiastic he was about his field of research, which integrates biotechnology and information technology, and hearing him speak, I realized that his research would produce critical technologies to solve a host of problems on a global scale. I was so drawn to Prof. Tomita's passion and personality that I decided then and there that I wanted to join his laboratory. But my grades at the time weren't good enough to get into the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, so I started cramming for the entrance exams, and somehow, I managed to get in. I think that was probably the first time in my life that I proactively chose to study. [laughs]

- What kind of student were you when you studied with Prof. Tomita at SFC?

Since high school, I had focused on the liberal arts, so my professors were appalled by my lack of basic scientific knowledge. [laughs] I knew that I wasn't cut out to be a researcher myself, but I was confident that my motivation was second to none. 2001 was the year I started university. It was also the year Tsuruoka Town Campus of Keio (TTCK) was born, with Prof. Tomita at the helm as the director of the Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB). I really wanted to get involved in the cutting-edge research that Prof. Tomita was doing, so I pleaded with him to let me go to Tsuruoka in the fall of my first year, even though students were usually only allowed to go from their second year onward.

- What was it like when your dream of studying at the IAB came true?

I suppose I may have been the odd one out at the IAB. I was hoping to hit on an early-stage research idea that I could develop into a business, but it was challenging to find a theme that aligned with my goals. I kept trying to find a research topic that would contribute to world peace, and by the time I was in my third year, I felt as lost as I did in junior high school.

- How did you get out of your slump?

At first, I thought about moving to the United States as soon as I graduated to study at Harvard Business School. I thought it would be good for me to have proper business training before launching my own company, and there was a renowned biotechnology lab near Harvard. I thought to myself, who knows, I might even get to know some American researchers and start a business there. At least that was the idea until I asked Prof. Tomita to write me a letter of recommendation. Upon hearing my plans, he completely shut me down saying, "What a shame, I didn't think you were so small-minded." He told me that if I couldn't find my research topic here, I wouldn't find it anywhere since the IAB was the world's most advanced bioscience institute. At first, I was taken aback by his disapproval. I got frustrated and tried arguing my case. But once I calmed down and thought it over, Prof. Tomita had spoken nothing but the truth. I was trying to find success by riding the coattails of a world-leading business school and a famous laboratory in the US. But genuinely impactful research has to be created on your own if you want to change the world. Now I understand the weight of what Prof. Tomita meant when he said that I was being "small-minded."

- It wasn't long after this that you started working on spider silk research.

After much trial and error on a variety of research themes, I stumbled upon spider silk. If spider silk—said to be the strongest and most flexible fiber in nature—could be produced artificially, it might be possible to create a revolutionary material that does not rely on fossil resources like petroleum. I realized that this kind of research could contribute to the world peace I had dreamed of since high school. The fact that no one had succeeded in harnessing its potential also meant that it could be a great business opportunity. I thought it was precisely the topic that I should pursue, so I started doing serious research into its feasibility as an undergrad. In 2007, the first year of my doctoral program, I launched Spiber with a friend from high school and a fellow student at Prof. Tomita's Lab. It was so tricky using technology to artificially produce spider silk that not even NASA or the US Department of Defense could make it. And to be honest, we started our business with nothing to lose since we were doing everything ourselves.

- What made you so obsessed with spider silk?

I wasn't necessarily interested in the spider silk itself. I was fascinated with the fact that it was made up of the same proteins as human skin and hair. Proteins are made up of 20 different amino acids. In theory, it is possible to make synthetic proteins by incorporating DNA—the blueprint for the amino acid sequence—into a microorganism and fermenting and culturing it. Since this fiber doesn't require petroleum or other fossil resources as a main raw material, it may help delay the progress of global warming if it becomes widely used. Moreover, as a biodegradable material, I believe that it may also reduce the impact on the soil and marine environment compared to conventional artificial materials. Furthermore, we were able to modify the function of a material by changing the DNA blueprint of its protein. Since we can now manufacture a wide variety of materials in a single factory, costs are drastically cheaper than conventional manufacturing, which usually requires the establishment of a new factory or production line for every material. This can also significantly reduce the environmental load.

- We've heard that although producing the silk was theoretically possible, it wasn't easy to create enough that you could put it to practical use.

Yes, at first, we were only able to make a tiny amount so little that people laughed us out of the room. The thing is, I didn't give up. I was impressed with what we were able to achieve, so we pushed forward with our ambitious research, increasing our production volume as we went. After investment by a venture capital firm in 2009, we were finally able to present a blue dress made of synthetic protein fibers in 2013. Then, in 2015, Spiber entered a business alliance with sports apparel manufacturer GOLDWIN INC. In 2019, The North Face released the "Moon Parka," the world's first outdoor jacket made of synthetic protein-based materials. Our research and development in apparel is still a work in progress, but I realized that if we only sought to recreate the characteristics of spider silk, we wouldn't be able to make materials that address the needs of the market. That meant that we wouldn't be able to make commercially viable products. In overcoming this challenge, we have established technology for producing various protein-based materials fine-tuned to application and purpose. We have named these new materials Brewed Protein™ in a nod to the way in which we produce them. Today, the world of bioscience is making progress in leaps and bounds. The success of Spiber, which we began with nothing to lose, has no doubt been aided by the rapid advancements we've seen in biotechnology. Several other companies overseas are working on similar research and development, but it has been essential for us to be the first to achieve success.

- I understand you're currently developing materials for a variety of purposes.

Yes, if you can master protein as a material, you can use it for many different applications. As we launch more viable products, we will form more alliances with other companies and research institutes, which will lead to significantly more opportunities to expand as a company. We are also currently conducting research and development on several new products, including materials for car doors, medical treatments, and plant-based meat. Development in apparel and transportation equipment is our main focus, but in the long term, we would also like to branch out into developing materials and products in medicine, food, and other industries related to health and well-being. I dream of formulating a business model aimed at creating a sustainable society and human well-being based on collaboration with other companies in the hopes that we can design a circular industrial ecosystem that considers every step in the process, from production to recycling.

- What kind of place is Tsuruoka to you?

At this point, I've spent more than half my life in Tsuruoka. Most of the relationships I've made as an adult have been made since coming here, and I've even settled down and started raising a family here. It's a very comfortable place to live, near the sea and the mountains, and we're blessed with a bounty of delicious local foods like rice, vegetables, and fish. I think it's an excellent environment for raising children.

Many early-stage research seeds—including Spiber—have grown out of the IAB over the last 20 years thanks to the leadership of Prof. Tomita, who I am indebted to, both personally and professionally. I hope that the next 20 years will be the next phase of growth when we transform our business from a small sapling into a giant oak and open up potential for a massive new industry. Tsuruoka has an environment fit for the IAB, which is already a world leader in bioscience.

- Could you say a few final words to current students?

Just like Prof. Tomita took care of me, your parents and teachers have your best interests at heart. But in the end, you have to be the one to find happiness for yourself. I want students to think about the kind of life they want for themselves and what happiness means to them—without being swayed by the voices of those around them. There is no better time to contemplate life's big questions than when you're at university.

- Thank you for your time.

Kazuhide Sekiyama
Director and Representative Executive Officer, Spiber Inc.

Kazuhide Sekiyama graduated from the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies in 2005 and completed his master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance in 2007. He was one of the only first-year undergraduate students to study under Prof. Masaru Tomita at the Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB) at the Tsuruoka Town Campus of Keio (TTCK), which opened in 2001, the year he began his studies at Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC). As a graduate student, he launched Spiber Inc. to commercialize and mass-produce synthetic proteins. Spiber has garnered attention worldwide for successfully producing the world's first Brewed Protein™ outdoor jacket in 2019. Sekiyama is now expanding R&D and manufacturing of materials beyond textiles and apparel.

*This article originally appeared in the 2021 spring edition (No. 310) ofJuku.