[89th Installment] Osamu Takahara

I am honored to have this opportunity as an alumnus.

I currently work at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. I belong to the Machine Dynamics Group in the Mechatronics Technology Department at the Advanced Technology R&D Center, where I am engaged in the research and development of vibration-related technologies.

I would like to briefly introduce my journey from choosing my career path to the present day.

Why did I aim for the Faculty of Science and Technology? It all goes back to a strong interest I had in aircraft and rockets as a child. In junior high school, I began to think about pursuing a career related to aerospace. This dream remained unchanged as I faced university entrance exams, and I decided to choose a science track where I could study aerospace engineering. Within aerospace engineering, which is a fusion of various fields, I had a vague interest in airframe design. As a result of taking exams for departments where I could study either aerospace or mechanical engineering, I ended up enrolling in the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University.

During my undergraduate years at the Hiyoshi and Yagami campuses, I was often busy with lab reports. I only occasionally showed up at the tennis club I had joined, spending most of my time with my peers from the Faculty of Science and Technology.

In my fourth year, I joined the Masuda-Obi Laboratory, hoping to study fluid dynamics, which is crucial for airframe design within the broader field of aerospace technology. My research was an experimental approach to the "linear stability theory of boundary layers." It was a very difficult field, and I struggled throughout the three years I spent in the laboratory. As I progressed with my research, I was deeply impressed by the advice from my supervisor, Professor Masuda, who told me, "Much of research is about clarifying the unknown, so don't be bound by preconceptions." This advice continues to influence my research activities today. Having received his precise yet strict guidance, I sometimes questioned whether I was suited for research and wondered what I was truly good at. During the summer break, I also participated in a language study program in the UK, gaining many experiences outside of my research activities (Photo 1).

I joined Mitsubishi Electric with the desire to be involved in the research and development of aerospace technology. For the first few years after joining the company, because I had majored in fluid dynamics as a student, I was assigned to a department involved in vibration and noise research, where I worked on studies related to reducing the noise of air conditioners and other products. Later, I was fortunate enough to be transferred to my current department, which has a research field related to artificial satellites, and I am now engaged in the research and development of vibration suppression technologies for artificial satellites, power equipment, and more.

I would like to introduce the research and development of artificial satellites, which is one of my current duties. My responsibility is the research and development of high-precision observation technology, which enables the acquisition of accurate images and data from observation instruments mounted on artificial satellites. The results of this research have been applied to high-precision observation satellites such as the solar observation satellite "Hinode" (SOLAR-B), launched in 2006 (Figure 1), and the meteorological satellite "Himawari-7" (MTSAT-2), launched in 2005. In particular, "Hinode" succeeded in capturing detailed images of solar surface activity that humanity had never seen before. It is a great source of pride for me to have played a part in the technological development of such a project.

Furthermore, contrary to my self-assessment during my student years that I was "not suited for research," after joining the company, I began attending academic conferences almost every year. I also experienced presenting at international conferences, such as the Council of European Aerospace Societies (CEAS) conference held in Berlin, Germany, in 2007 (Photo 2), and the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) held in Glasgow, UK, in 2008.

In June 2011, I received the prestigious Research and Education Encouragement Fund Award from the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology and Graduate School of Science and Technology Alumni Association for these research activities. I was also given the valuable opportunity to give a lecture at the Yagami campus, something I could never have imagined during my student days. I was extremely happy, and it renewed my determination to continue my research activities (Photo 3).

After graduation, I was assigned to a research center in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, a place where I had no connections. However, thanks to the senior alumni from the Faculty of Science and Technology at my new workplace, I was able to interact with many people, including graduates from both inside and outside the company, and my anxieties were easily dispelled. I am currently serving as a manager for the Faculty of Science and Technology Alumni Association Kansai Branch Tennis Club, organizing biannual tennis events with many people, including OB/OGs (alumni) of Keio University (Photo 4).

Through my six years of student life at Keio University and its graduate school, I met many people and was able to take on various challenges, making it a fulfilling experience. Even after graduation, I have been given various opportunities and continue to lead an even more fulfilling life.

To all of you who are about to enroll, I hope you will also experience this connection that Keio University provides.