[No. 137] Yoshinori Momose

I am deeply honored to have been asked to write for this Keio University alumni column. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved. As a technical official at the Ministry of the Environment—a position where I use my scientific knowledge to create laws and systems—I work daily to solve environmental problems. I hope that by writing here about my time as a student and a professional, I can be of some help to current students as they decide on their future paths.

I originally wanted to go to the School of Medicine. I even spent a year after high school studying for the entrance exams, but in the end, I didn't get in. I barely managed to get accepted into the Faculty of Science and Technology. As a result, I initially didn't know what to do at the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University. I had lost my sense of purpose, and my student life began without any clear direction.

At first, I was more absorbed in clubs and hanging out with friends than in my studies. (I joined a basketball club and a rock band club). During the summer break of my second year, I had the opportunity to study abroad for a short time at Stanford University. Spending time with the brilliant students at Stanford on its beautiful, heavenly campus is one of my best memories.

While participating in clubs and studying abroad, I encountered a field of study called "quantum mechanics" in my university classes. Unlike "classical mechanics," which is taught in high school and includes concepts like the law of universal gravitation, the many laws derived from "quantum mechanics" were so strange and hard to accept from an everyday perspective that I was captivated as if I were reading a fantasy novel. For example, the idea that physical phenomena are created by an observer's observation (as if humans were creators!), quantum teleportation (quanta instantly moving!), or that worlds are superimposed (the many-worlds interpretation!)—things that sound like science fiction—were part of a serious academic field, and I became fascinated by the wonders of modern science.

At the same time, I remembered how shocked I was by the "ozone layer depletion" I had read about in my elementary school textbook, and I recalled the pure desire I once had to "study science and solve environmental problems!" I realized that my wish to become a doctor was just me trying to look cool as I got a little older, thinking "a person who can study science = a doctor." I discovered that what I truly wanted to do was "solve environmental problems."

From the fourth year of university, students are assigned to a laboratory. I thought that by applying the "quantum mechanics" I was so passionate about, I could create amazing technology that would bring a breakthrough to environmental problems. With this in mind, I was accepted into the "Kaminari Laboratory," which researched "quantum teleportation."

I was able to experience the theories of quantum mechanics as real phenomena using lasers and optical fibers, which was academically very enjoyable. However, what was even more wonderful was the passionate guidance of Professor Kaminari. I was so impressed by his dedication that I thought, "Is there really a professor who provides such personal guidance even to university students?" Meeting Professor Kaminari is a treasure of a lifetime. The skills I learned in the laboratory—communication, the ability to tackle challenges as a team, and problem-solving—have become the foundation of my current professional life.

Driven by my original ambition to "solve environmental problems," I wanted a job that would allow me to do just that. At first, I considered a path in research, aiming to use quantum mechanics to create a breakthrough in solving environmental issues. On the other hand, I learned that there were already many environmentally friendly technologies, such as electric vehicles, and that there was a path to work at the Ministry of the Environment as a technical official to help these technologies permeate society. I decided that working with various people through communication suited me better than researching a single topic, which ultimately led me to aspire to join the Ministry of the Environment.

The Ministry of the Environment is an organization tasked by law with "ensuring the conservation of the global environment, the prevention of pollution, the protection of the natural environment, and other aspects of environmental conservation." Within this organization, as a technical official, I work every day toward the goal of a civilized society that is more in harmony with nature, where everyone can live safely and prosperously. To date, I have been involved in administrative work such as promoting the spread of eco-cars, implementing soil contamination countermeasures, and tackling air pollution issues like PM2.5, all while fully utilizing my scientific knowledge.

Among these tasks, one of the most memorable for me is the work related to the recovery of Fukushima Prefecture, which was contaminated by radioactive materials. I worked on-site in Fukushima for about two years. There, I exchanged opinions with local residents through community briefings, commissioned general contractors to carry out decontamination projects, and supervised their work. During that time, I was deeply moved when a surprise message of support from the Kaminari Laboratory arrived at my workplace. It was a moment that made me feel truly glad to have encountered Keio University and the Kaminari Laboratory.

This March, I gave a presentation at the OECD in Paris, France, on Japan's initiatives in chemical substance management and air pollution control. In May, I was partially involved in the preparations for the G7 Environment Ministers' Meeting, and from September to October, I gave lectures in Singapore and China. Recently, I have had more opportunities to be active in the international community.

On my days off, as a father of two children (a four-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son), I enjoy playing with them in the yard, having BBQs, and setting up a pool. I also occasionally enjoy my hobbies of running and yoga. In the future, I want to try trail running!

I believe I am who I am today thanks to everyone I met at the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University, and I am still deeply grateful. To express my gratitude, I want to continue working hard and enjoying the process of aiming for a civilized society that is more in harmony with nature, where everyone can live safely and prosperously.

I hope that what I have written here will be of some help to all students in leading even more fulfilling lives. Thank you for reading to the end.