Making the relationship between humans and machines more intimate through physics. Continuing the quest to give shape to infinite possibilities.

Profile

Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics (Major in Advanced Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Master's Program 1st Year [*])

Graduate of Shiba High School, Tokyo

During high school, he was absorbed in skiing with the goal of competing in tournaments. Developing an interest in Physics and seeking a wide range of encounters, he decided to enroll in the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University. During his undergraduate years, he also devoted himself to club activities and immersed himself in his studies while being inspired by many friends. Currently, he is researching control technology that reproduces temperatures applicable to robots and other devices. To share his research with the world, he has also taken on the challenge of studying abroad and presenting at academic conferences. We asked him about his energetic university life.

I attended a combined junior and senior high school, and during those years, I belonged to the Ski Team and was devoted to competitive skiing. With the goal of participating in the Kanto regional tournament, I trained on land in the summer and stayed in the mountains at ski resorts in the winter. In my second year of high school, I passed the qualifiers and was set to compete, but it is a regret of mine that the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After retiring from the club, I spent my third year of high school focusing on studying for university entrance exams. Since it was a boys' school with many science students, I chose the science track somewhat naturally, but as I studied, I became interested in Physics. Physics is very simple, and most phenomena in the world can be expressed by equations. I thought such a world was beautiful and interesting.

Initially, I was aiming for a national science-only university, but I thought that going to a comprehensive university would offer more diverse encounters than a specialized one, so I decided on the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University. My father graduated from a specialized science university, and it left an impression on me when he said, "It's easy to meet like-minded people because there are many science-oriented people, but I wish I had also tried going to a comprehensive university." At Keio University, there are a wide range of faculties, and you can spend time on the same campus as students from other departments. I thought I could meet people with a wide variety of backgrounds that go beyond just the sciences. After enrolling, I actually made many friends whom I probably wouldn't have met on any other path.

During my undergraduate years, I belonged to the orienteering club. I hesitated about whether to continue skiing, but I thought university was the perfect time to start something new and I wanted to build a new community. I was drawn to the kind and friendly atmosphere of the seniors in the club and joined. Orienteering is a sport where you use only a map and a compass to run through the mountains and compete for speed. Almost every weekend, I would travel by car to Tochigi or Shizuoka for competitions. It was tough because I couldn't write my lab reports on weekends, but I tried to manage my time on weekdays, such as doing the preparation for reports in my spare time, so that I could enjoy the competitions on weekends. I not only connected with peers and seniors/juniors from other faculties but also made acquaintances at other universities, expanding my community beyond just the Faculty of Science and Technology.

The Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics mainly deals with quantum mechanics, condensed matter physics, and control, allowing students to acquire a wide range of knowledge. These three are fields where the government is promoting industrialization for the next generation—such as quantum computers, superconducting technology, control AI, and robotics—so there are business opportunities, and I think it's a department where dreams and the world expand. Compulsory subjects are relatively numerous, so it's hard work, but there are various laboratories, and in a good way, it's hard to decide what you want to do.
In the third year of undergraduate studies, a four-term system (quarter system) [*] has been introduced, making it possible to earn credits at overseas universities. I was also able to study abroad without taking a leave of absence.
Also, the fourth-year compulsory subject "Presentation Techniques" is unique to the department. From the perspective that the technology to communicate research content to others is also important, you can learn how to create slides, how to structure a presentation, and practical presentation techniques. I think these will be useful skills not only for thesis presentations and academic conferences but also after entering society. Many professors in the Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics are friendly and approachable. Since the number of students in the department isn't huge, it was also easy to make friends.

What sparked my interest in studying abroad was a class by President Kohei Itoh that I took in my first year. I thought studying abroad sounded interesting after hearing him say, "Learning is universal. You can only say you have truly learned once you know the world, not just Japan." Since going on a long-term study abroad program right away was a high hurdle, I used the second quarter and summer vacation of my third year to study at UCLA for about three months. I participated in the summer session held during the summer break and took two courses, mechanics of materials and control, alongside local students to earn credits. The American students were more full of motivation than those in Japan, and I was very inspired. After class, they would ask the professor questions and then study in the library. I was invited and studied with them. Communication was difficult because I'm not very good at English, but I think it's thanks to studying abroad that my attitude toward research changed, making me want to work harder on it.

Presenting my research at an international conference remains in my heart. I didn't expect to be able to attend an international conference as a fourth-year undergraduate, but Senior Lecturer Osawa, who belongs to my laboratory, encouraged me to take on the challenge. It was my first time presenting to an outside audience, and writing the paper and presenting in English was difficult, but it was the culmination of my hard work in research. I received various reactions and questions, so I want to connect those to my future research. My current goal is to present at an international conference once more before graduation.
Winning the Outstanding Graduation Thesis Award is also a good memory. Even at the end of the year, I stayed in the lab and conducted experiments while encouraging my peers, and my seniors and academic advisor gave me advice on the fine details of the thesis format and structure. I was evaluated for doing my research proactively, but I think I was able to work hard because I was able to decide on the research theme myself. I am grateful for the environment of the Osawa Laboratory.

The research vision of the Osawa Laboratory, to which I belong, is to develop technologies to enrich the interaction between robots (machines) and people. We are conducting research focusing on how to provide natural tactile sensations and feelings when a person touches an object. This is a technology called haptics, a field that is currently attracting attention. Within that, I am working on constructing a theory to control the temperature and vibration of an entire space as intended using only a limited number of sensors and heaters. For example, to reproduce the warmth or coldness felt when touching something, it is necessary to create the temperature distribution of the entire surface as intended. Therefore, I am using temperature as a subject to verify a common theory of where sensors should be placed and how they should be operated. Since it is basic research, social implementation is still a way off, but it should eventually lead to the realization of VR where you can experience temperature changes, or robots that have body temperatures just like humans. This theory can be applied to various phenomena beyond just temperature, so I feel it is research hidden with infinite possibilities.

I wanted to join a laboratory related to control, which manages the movement of objects. Also, if I was going to spend a long time researching, I wanted to decide the research theme myself. In the Osawa Laboratory, instead of being given a pre-existing research theme, you can proactively decide on a theme while receiving advice from your academic advisor regarding what you want to do. Since I wanted to work hard enough on my research to share it with the world, the fact that they encouraged me from the start, saying "I want you to go to conferences," was also a deciding factor. I was also drawn to the very peaceful atmosphere of the laboratory, where there is no clear hierarchy.

I am still exploring my career path, and while keeping enrollment in Doctoral Programs in view, I am looking for a path I can be satisfied with through job hunting. In the future, I am interested not only in conducting research and development myself but also in work that acts as a "supporter" to deliver new science and technology and innovation to society. To implement advanced technology in society, not only the technology itself but also multifaceted support and approaches are necessary. The specialized knowledge and ways of perceiving things cultivated in the Faculty of Science and Technology should be applicable in various industries, not just at manufacturers. I want to test my possibilities with a broad perspective without narrowing my focus to a single industry.