[No. 99] Miya Ishihara

Hello, everyone. In my profession, I have the privilege of watching up close as university and graduate students (medical and nursing students) grow through their dazzling student lives. I am honored to have been given this opportunity to write for the "Jukuin Orai" (Alumni Column), and as I look back on my own life, if I were to sum up my university and graduate school days in one phrase, it would be "six years of encountering good teachers and good friends."

Being good at science and with my father's encouragement, I chose to take the university entrance exams rather than applying through a recommendation from an affiliated school. I was successfully admitted to my desired Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University. At the entrance ceremony on the Hiyoshi Campus, I happened to reunite with a friend from the Faculty of Letters whom I had competed against in high school club activities, and another friend from the Faculty of Science and Technology with whom I had studied side-by-side at a preparatory school. Looking back, this was the beginning of a university life where I would meet many good friends.

When I think of classes on the Hiyoshi Campus, "Introduction to Science and Technology" comes to mind. It was the only opportunity for students from all departments in the Faculty of Science and Technology to attend lectures together. Although I belonged to the Department of Electrical Engineering, I was able to meet and expand my circle of friends from the Department of Physics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mathematics, and Department of Chemistry. We created a mailing list called "Gairon" to share updates and still keep in touch, getting together from time to time. Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide is also a "Gairon member." Among others are a cameraman for Nippon TV, a consultant, a trading company employee, and a patent attorney, in addition to, of course, those who pursued careers in science and engineering. I truly believe that many different paths are open to graduates of the Faculty of Science and Technology.

Without a doubt, the center of my university life from my first to third year was my involvement in the ski club (Elmo), which I decided to join on the very first day of the entrance ceremony. From spring to autumn, we devoted ourselves to dry-land training, and in winter, we spent our time on the snowy mountains. The sense of solidarity built through long training camps and rigorous practice, and the sense of accomplishment gained from giving our all in competitions, was, to use a slightly embarrassing phrase, "the very essence of youth." Since the club wasn't limited to students from the Faculty of Science and Technology, it was a time when I deepened my bonds with friends, upperclassmen, and underclassmen beyond the boundaries of my faculty. Even now, I occasionally feel that strong bond; we are truly comrades who have "eaten from the same pot."

In my fourth year, my life changed completely to center around research. I chose the Department of Electrical Engineering because it was close to practical applications, and when choosing a laboratory, I was interested in medical applications where the practical outlet was clear. I wonder if this was influenced by the spirit of jitsugaku of Mr. Yukichi Fukuzawa. The laboratory of Professor Minoru Obara and Professor Fumihiko Kaminari (the Obara-Kaminari Lab) had several doctoral students, including working professionals, and was very active in international research, so I applied, thinking of it as a challenge. Thanks to a connection with my senior in the lab, Professor Tsunenori Arai—who is now a professor at Keio University (Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology) but was then at the Department of Medical Electronics at the National Defense Medical College—I was given a graduation thesis topic. Starting in my fourth year, I commuted to the National Defense Medical College to work on applying the Obara-Kaminari Lab's core laser technology to the treatment of arteriosclerosis. At the National Defense Medical College, I spent my days keenly feeling the vibrant atmosphere of physicians balancing clinical practice and research, and their passion for applying research results to the clinical setting. Furthermore, under the guidance of Professor Minoru Obara, I had a very valuable experience. I was assigned the role of attending to Professor Nicolaas Bloembergen of Harvard University, a Nobel laureate in Physics for his work on laser spectroscopy, when he and his wife visited Japan for a lecture. The two weeks with Professor and Mrs. Bloembergen in Japan, and the memories of visiting Professor Bloembergen's laboratory at Harvard University and having dinner with him and his wife at their home—taking advantage of the opportunity to present a paper at an international conference in Boston afterward—are something I will never forget.

Guided by a blessed research environment and good mentors, I came to aspire to be a researcher, which has led me to where I am today. As an instructor, I conduct lectures, practical training, and information technology education for medical and nursing students. In my research, I aim to realize high-quality medical care by matching medical needs with engineering seeds, focusing on how engineering technologies, particularly optics, can be applied to medicine. I am researching cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic technologies in collaboration with physicians from various clinical departments such as orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, urology, and cardiology, as well as researchers from other fields. Being able to witness with my own eyes the technologies I have developed being used in clinical practice is truly rewarding. I am now eager to work toward increasing the number of international researchers involved at the intersection of medical sciences and engineering, and to contribute to the advancement of medical technology.

What image do you have of the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University? University life is a perfect time to discover your own potential by taking advantage of the many "opportunities for choice" in departments, laboratories, careers, and clubs. I believe that this potential extends infinitely in many directions. And after graduation, I am sure you will feel on various occasions that you are one of the Keio University alumni.