[No. 81] Masahiro Motosuke

It's now past 10 p.m., and outside, it's twilight as the sun finally sets. I am writing this article in Copenhagen, Denmark, a city at 55 degrees north latitude. I am currently conducting research on the miniaturization of medical diagnostic equipment at the Technical University of Denmark as part of my overseas research. I was asked to write a message for my juniors, so I would like to share my experiences at Keio University and my current situation. I'm not sure if everyone reading this will be able to relate, but I hope you will read it as just one example.

I entered School 4 of the Faculty of Science and Technology with a vague notion that "mecha might be cool." During my time at Hiyoshi (*), the campus was shared with other liberal arts faculties, and I think it was a great benefit to be able to broaden my horizons by interacting with people from various faculties whom I met through clubs and classes. Then, during the information sessions and tours for choosing a department, I was swept up by the atmosphere of the Department of System Design Engineering, which was only a year old at the time, that radiated a sense of "let's do something new in a new department." I was drawn in and chose the Department of System Design Engineering. As I progressed through the academic years, the lecture content seemed to gradually shift from theoretical to more practical, real-world applications, and I didn't even mind the hill between Hiyoshi and Yagami that much.

*Editor's note: At the Faculty of Science and Technology, first- and second-year students study at the Hiyoshi Campus, while third- and fourth-year students study at the Yagami Campus. The two campuses are about a 15-minute walk apart.

When it came time to choose a laboratory, I was interested in global environmental issues, so I chose the Nagashima-Nagasaka Laboratory, thinking, "To consider global environmental problems, I need insight into energy!" My graduation research theme was the measurement of the physical properties of thermal storage materials, and so my laboratory life began. There was a lot of detailed experimental work, which was a little different from what I had initially expected. However, I was able to spend enjoyable days with my peers, impressed by the creative use of the brain required to overcome difficulties and move things forward on my own—a quality completely different from what was demanded in previous classes and assignments—and by the "sharp minds (in a good way, of course)" of my professors and senior students. At first, I planned to find a job at a company after graduating with my bachelor's degree, but my life in the lab was so enjoyable and intellectually stimulating that I wanted to stay a little longer. I chose to continue my studies and went on to obtain my doctorate.

When I was deciding to move from the master's program to the Doctoral Programs, I thought about "what I want to be in the future." What came to mind was the culture shock I experienced when I first joined the laboratory. The desire to become someone who could provide intellectual stimulation to others led me to consider becoming a university faculty member as my primary career path. After graduation, I was appointed as a research associate at the Tokyo University of Science and began my journey as an educator. Although I am in a position to teach, I feel that I am the one who is learning more by experiencing firsthand the different ways students perceive and react during classes and seminars.

I am currently in Denmark, a Nordic country far from Japan. It is a small country with a population of just over 5 million living in an area about the size of Kyushu. As part of my overseas research, I belong to the Department of Micro and Nanotechnology at the Technical University of Denmark. Here, I am engaged in research and development on an analysis device for microparticles used in biochemistry and medical diagnosis, known as flow cytometry. I conduct my research daily, dreaming of the day when a simple, compact device will be completed, enabling early diagnosis in developing countries and saving many lives. Here, more than half of the graduate students and researchers are from abroad. The process of advancing research while exchanging opinions with various people is sometimes difficult, but it is also enjoyable, with new discoveries every day. I also feel that there is a uniquely Nordic, sustainable style hidden in their ways of thinking, behavior, work, and life. I believe we Japanese have much to learn from their lifestyle.

One of the things I believe I learned throughout my university years is "self-design." Unlike in high school, a wide variety of choices opens up before you, including classes, clubs, career paths, and life plans. Faced with these options, you design your own future, think about what you need to do to achieve it, and proactively take action on what you can. This may seem obvious, but I think it is actually difficult and, more importantly, crucial. Since it's your own design, even if things don't go as planned, you can redesign it to connect to the next step (the future), which I personally believe creates a flexible strength. But wait, I feel like I've heard this phrase somewhere before... Perhaps this is the "independence and self-respect" that lies at the root of education at Keio University. It's not something you learn explicitly in class, but the atmosphere at Keio University is so full of it that it might be a skill you gradually acquire by enrolling and immersing yourself on campus for a long time. I highly recommend that prospective students also come and experience this atmosphere.