[No. 202] Takumi Shinohara

It is a great honor to have been given this opportunity to write for the "Jukuin Raio" (Alumni Column).

As an undergraduate, I was in the Department of System Design Engineering, and in the Master's Program at the Graduate School of Science and Technology, I was in the Department of Integrated Design Engineering, where I conducted research on control theory under Professor Toru Namerikawa. After completing my master's degree, I joined Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc., where I am primarily engaged in research and study projects for government agencies. Additionally, since September 2021, I have been enrolled in the Ph.D. program as a working professional, continuing my research on control theory as I did in my master's program.

Although I am still young, I would like to share my experiences as both a Keio University alumnus who graduated from Keio University and a current Keio student.

I recall that my interest in the sciences was sparked by a novel I read in junior high school. At the time, I loved reading mystery novels, and when I read Hiroshi Mori's "The Perfect Insider," I was amazed by how interesting it was. It was also my first encounter with the concept of programming, and I learned about the depth of computers. In junior high, I wanted to learn more about programming and decided to attend a technical high school to study in the information systems field. In high school, I not only learned the fundamentals of computers and programming, such as Linux, C, and Java, but also fulfilled my budding ambitions from junior high by developing an Android AR app for my graduation project (which was a bit advanced for the time). I believe I acquired foundational programming skills that are still useful today.

After entering the Faculty of Science and Technology, during my first year of university, I decided I wanted to build on my knowledge of information engineering while also acquiring skills in a wide range of fields, which led me to choose the Department of System Design Engineering (SD). Then, as I studied across multiple disciplines such as mechanics, electricity, and information in my second and third years, I became fascinated by control theory—a field that treats various phenomena as mathematical models and manages them through mathematics. This led me to choose the laboratory of Professor Namerikawa, which focuses on control theory. I believe it was because SD allowed me to study various fields that I was able to broaden my perspective and ultimately find a research area I could immerse myself in.

After joining the lab, my undergraduate research focused on self-localization for small unmanned aerial vehicles like drones. During my two years in the master's program, I was engaged in theoretical research on the cybersecurity of control systems. I consider those three years a time when I was completely immersed in my work and came to understand the profound depth of control theory. Furthermore, my research on cybersecurity during my master's program was the catalyst for my current professional career. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to participate in multiple domestic and international conferences, which allowed me to learn about the world of research and understand the position of my own work within it.

Additionally, through an introduction from Professor Namerikawa, I was given the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Oslo (UiO: Universitetet i Oslo). My research topic at UiO was different from my topic at Keio, and I was initially bewildered by conducting research in a foreign country, but I was able to move forward by discussing it with other members and professors. Although my time abroad was short, just under two months, I am confident that I had an intense experience that I would not have had otherwise.

After completing my master's degree, I joined Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc., where I am primarily engaged in research and study projects for government agencies. Stemming from my research during my master's program, I am mainly in charge of research and studies related to cybersecurity policy. While I feel the difficulty of solving social issues through research and studies, I find daily enjoyment in thinking about how to exceed client expectations. One of our company's characteristics is being a comprehensive think tank. Looking back at my work, I have not been limited to solving problems in the simple cybersecurity field but have also tackled cybersecurity challenges in various industrial sectors, including electric power, buildings, and space. I mentioned that I was able to study multiple fields across disciplines at SD during my university years, and on reflection, I may have already felt the excitement of being involved in various fields back then.

And, as mentioned earlier, I enrolled in the Ph.D. program at the Graduate School of Science and Technology in September 2021 and am engaged in theoretical research on cybersecurity under Professor Namerikawa, just as I was in the master's program. Embarrassingly, the reason I decided to enroll was the simple fact that "I loved academic research." However, I believe that by being involved in both policy-based solutions through my job and theoretical/technical solutions through my research for the social issue of cybersecurity, I am creating a positive synergy between my work and my studies. Although life is a bit hectic while working and studying, I am leading a very fulfilling life.

Looking back, a certain mystery novel sparked my interest in science, which led to a fascination with programming, which then expanded to an interest in control theory, and finally to the field of cybersecurity, which has now become my livelihood. My current self has been shaped by exposure to various fields and the gradual broadening of my interests, and I am convinced that my life at Keio University has contributed greatly to this. In particular, by studying at Keio University and meeting various people, I believe I was able to broaden my horizons and understand the importance of taking on challenges in new fields. I intend to continue my commitment to learning and strive every day to encounter new interests.