[No. 160] Tomonori Shinozaki

Ever since I was in elementary school and read biographies of people like Thomas Edison and Momofuku Ando that my parents bought for me, I had wanted to be someone who invents something useful for the world. I went through my days with this vague image of the future, but when the father of a close high school friend died of cancer, I began to wonder, "Can't science solve this?" This sparked my interest in cutting-edge technologies like nanorobots that work inside the body. And because I was already drawn to the keyword "invention," I decided to pursue a path in the sciences.

However, I was a fool who had carelessly enrolled despite not being particularly good at math and science, so I struggled just to keep up with the classes in the Faculty of Science and Technology. Still, I found it incredibly stimulating, as each subject felt like it was uncovering the "principles" of a world I had never known. The classes that left a lasting impression on me were thermodynamics and fluid dynamics, which I had to study repeatedly after failing to earn credits, as they were packed with hints for actual manufacturing. I also remember the ergonomics and design engineering classes, where I would get excited just taking notes each time.

At the end of my second year, we had an independent research project, and I remember studying programming from scratch to build a "robot that mops the room." It's a fond memory, including the repeated failures during the running tests, even though a graduate student senior helped me. Then, in my fourth year, I was assigned to a laboratory. I conducted research on "magnetic fluid," a special liquid with magnetic properties developed by NASA, in Professor Tatsuo Sawada's lab.

My university years may have been more fulfilling outside of my studies. I joined a band circle and started playing music, ran the "Mr. Keio Contest," and launched a student group that published a free paper. The friends I made in my circle and at the Faculty of Science and Technology have remained connected with me in both my professional and private life even after entering the workforce, and these are lifelong bonds.

After graduation, I felt that shaping various ideas was a better fit for me than dedicating my life to a single research topic, so I started job hunting early and joined the advertising agency Hakuhodo Inc. My work at Hakuhodo was truly "training in invention." As a newcomer, I was assigned to promotions and later transferred to the creative department. There, I worked with companies in every industry imaginable—automobiles, cosmetics, beverages, food, electronics, IT, apparel, and more—relentlessly generating "plans to make people want to buy a product or fall in love with a brand." After creating an incredible number of concepts over 10 years, I was trained to the point where I could come up with three new products, their advertisements, and sales strategies in about an hour.

Then, in 2017, based on my experiences at Hakuhodo and the connections I made with the people I worked with, I founded CREATOR BOX Inc., a company that produces all kinds of creative work with over 100 creators. I also have contracts with multiple companies as a creative director through my personal office. Recently, I have been involved in new product development for food, beverages, and cosmetics, as well as advertising, real estate, and education businesses. My ultimate goal is to one day release an "invention" on a scale that can make people all over the world HAPPY.

As you can see, my professional life began not with a typical "science and engineering career" but with a "liberal arts career," and has continued to this day. However, I believe the pure ambition and excitement for the future I felt while taking classes at the Faculty of Science and Technology remain unchanged in my heart.