Immunology is profound. Channeling that sense of wonder into the power to discover new therapies.

Seeing my sister struggle with allergies, I thought I might be able to help her if I got involved in the process of making medicine.

This desire eventually led me to the Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy,

and I am now working on developing new cancer treatments from an immunological perspective in the Laboratory of Clinical Physiology and Therapeutics.

On the other hand, I have loved music since I was little. I learned piano in elementary school

and was active in music-related clubs, playing in a brass band in junior high and singing in a choir in high school.

In university, I joined a pop music club and perform on stage as a vocalist.

I believe this is an environment where I can better myself, and there are many opportunities to do so.

(As of March 2024)

From elementary to junior high school, I already knew I wanted to work in a healthcare-related field in the future. One of the reasons was seeing my sister struggle with allergies, which made me want to pursue a profession where I could help alleviate her symptoms. In high school, I became interested in medicine, particularly pharmaceuticals, and began to think about how I could get involved in the process of creating them. This naturally led me to apply to a faculty of pharmacy for university.

I chose the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences because my goal is to be involved in the "process of creating medicine," so I wanted to enter a department focused on research rather than obtaining a pharmacist license.

Along with my interest in medicine and pharmaceuticals, I have always had a love for music since I was a child. I started learning piano in the third grade, joined the brass band in junior high, and was in the choir club in high school. I've always loved singing, and that passion led me to join the Faculty of Pharmacy's pop music club. I'm the vocalist and occasionally play the keyboard. I get to sing in front of an audience at a live music club about once every two to three months. I had piano recitals when I was little and experienced school festivals and competitions in junior high and high school, so I might have more stage presence than others when it comes to music. Still, I was nervous at my first live show. I'm happy that I've recently started to enjoy singing more.

I've always loved music, but I've never thought of making it my career. I hope to continue it as a hobby. More than that, my desire to work in a healthcare-related field, to be useful to people, and to help save lives is much stronger.

At a pop music club live performance

Many Faculty of Pharmacy students also belong to university-wide student organizations.

Right after I enrolled, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic, so classes were mainly online. However, even in that environment, I made friends, and thanks to them, I had a fulfilling life from my first year.

The class that left the biggest impression on me was immunology. I became more and more interested as I learned that there are such mechanisms inside our bodies... that even seemingly simple actions involve various elements intricately and precisely interconnected. It was difficult, but the more I learned, the more interesting I found it. This fresh sense of wonder led to my choice of laboratory, which I joined in the fall of my third year.

Thinking that part-time jobs would also be a good experience during my student life, I work at a Juku (cram school) and a restaurant. I started as an instructor at the Juku right after enrolling, so it's been three years now. I started at the restaurant in my second year. At first, I just served food, but now I make light meals like sandwiches and brew coffee. I've gradually gotten used to cooking and enjoy working with the rest of the staff.

My desire to be involved in the process of making medicine was sparked by my sister's allergies, but as I learned more about medicine and diseases, I came to believe that cancer is perhaps the greatest enemy afflicting humanity. Also, my grandmother suffered from cancer, so when it came time to choose a laboratory, I had already decided to join one where I could conduct cancer-specific research.

I chose the Laboratory of Clinical Physiology and Therapeutics because I was drawn to its approach of tackling cancer from an immunological perspective. Having been exposed to the profundity of immunology in class, I thought that research based on immunology would surely be interesting.

Currently, I am conducting research that could lead to new treatments for prostate cancer, focusing on a protein called KU-MEL-9 that appears on cancer cells. Specifically, I am creating TCR-T cells by introducing a T-cell receptor (TCR) gene that targets KU-MEL-9 into T cells, and I am confirming their reactivity against prostate cancer cells. TCR-T cells are a cornerstone of the cell therapy that our laboratory is independently developing, and they work by strengthening the patient's immunity.

What I realized after enrolling in the Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy is that many students are sincere in their approach to their studies. They prepare thoroughly before class and are fully prepared for tests. Influenced by them, I became more determined to establish my own proper study style. I believe that being surrounded by people with high aspirations allows you to better yourself. The Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy offers such an environment for self-improvement, and you are sure to find what you want to do. I think it's a place of learning you won't regret joining.