[No. 110] Keisuke Takemori

My childhood dream was to become a researcher. And I became one.

I first found studying enjoyable when I was assigned to a laboratory in my fourth year of university. Meeting Professor Sasase of the Department of Electrical Engineering, whom I consider my lifelong mentor, was invaluable. The laboratory, a place for proposal-based intellectual exploration starting from my fourth year, is the origin of my learning. It was great to be in a place of proactive learning during this period, where I could think for myself, identify issues, acquire necessary knowledge, propose and implement solutions, and present my findings at international conferences. As a "player" in research, I developed the creativity to generate new ideas and the perseverance to continue until I succeeded. As a "coach" in research, by adopting an attitude of hopeful observation, I fostered proactivity in my team members, who went on to become pioneers in their respective fields.

The laboratory at that time was full of people who loved sports and drinking, and we still deepen our friendships by participating in marathons, cycling, and triathlons together. I often have the opportunity to work with Professor Sasase on national committees and in academic activities. Perhaps my love for wine was contagious, as the biannual wine parties organized by Professor Sasase at the co-op lounge have become a tradition. Twenty years have passed since I graduated, but I still visit the Yagami Campus as a lecturer for classes and as an organizer for the wine parties.

From my fifth year at the company, I began researching computer security, spending my days on studies related to viruses, remote control, and web tampering countermeasures. For one year during that time, I returned to my old laboratory to obtain my doctorate as a working professional. For the past five years or so, I have been overseeing the security technology for au smartphones, including security design for the devices and privacy reviews for smartphone apps.

In 2008, during a joint research project with Carnegie Mellon University in the US, I was captivated by a smartphone a professor was holding. "This era is coming!" I launched a smartphone research project when smartphones were not yet on the Japanese market. I believed that to introduce smartphones to the Japanese market, where easy-to-use, convenient, and stable feature phones were widespread, it was necessary to appeal to a sense of fun based on a foundation of security and safety. Therefore, at KDDI, we launched au Market to directly distribute fun apps, and my team took on the responsibility for privacy and security reviews. The head office and the research institute worked together as one. At the time, there was no legal framework for smartphone privacy measures, so we lobbied relevant government bodies and associations to advance discussions on customer protection. Our expertise was compiled into a national proposal called the "Smartphone Privacy Initiative," which has also contributed to society in terms of legislation. Thanks to the support of colleagues both inside and outside the company, and through collaboration with government agencies, universities, and corporations, Japan has become a global leader in smartphone privacy protection initiatives. For example, if you have ever downloaded an app from au Market, do you recall seeing the privacy confirmation screen? That screen is the world's first framework for communicating the results of app reviews based on the latest technology, taking legal considerations into account. In terms of security, we have also worked to harden au smartphone devices, implementing designs to prevent virus infections and to block complete remote control or failure even if an infection occurs.

To ensure that people can use smartphones with peace of mind, I am also involved in dissemination and awareness-raising activities through lectures, magazines, books, newspaper interviews, and news programs. You may have seen me in the Nikkei, Yomiuri, or Asahi newspapers, or on programs like "Dawn of Gaia," "NHK News," or "Niconico Douga."

I try to choose new and difficult challenges in my work. It seems that the most intractable projects and unpleasant roles always find their way to me. I take on as many as I can. I also actively engage with people from different fields of expertise. By doing so, I can pave the way for creating new domains and bringing results to the world.

I seem to have a strong desire to pursue ideals based on how things "should be." While it feels like sound reasoning to me, others have pointed out that my ideas are too radical for them to follow. It's true that I can be too forward at times, a classic example of "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down." But by being hammered down, I can take deeper root and grow even taller. I hope to one day reach a height that cannot be hammered down. Every day, I continue to ask myself if I can humbly reflect when I'm struck down and turn it into growth.

Isn't the greatest joy in life being in an environment where you can feel yourself growing through learning? I have had the opportunity to give many lectures and write articles in recent years, and I find that people who come to these learning opportunities are positive and eager to gain something, even when faced with unfamiliar and difficult topics in security. And the discussions that follow, with their eyes shining, are always lively. Humans are creatures whose DNA is encoded with the drive to keep learning. Opportunities to learn are precious. How you spend your time proactively in a stimulating environment with good mentors will change your future. When you are choosing a university or laboratory, why not consider what you can learn, what experiences you can have, and how you can connect them to your growth?