Encouraging Independence and Self-Respect

Over the past year, I have attended and presented at international conferences in my research fields held in Seattle, Xi'an, and Montreal. Having attended these conferences for many years, I am reminded of a simple truth: as a gathering of experts, it is naturally expected that participants bring new information to the table. What I mean is that the organization you belong to is of secondary importance. In short, it doesn't matter whether you are from a large company or a famous university.

My research field includes studies related to devices that apply magnetic fields, such as motors, as well as research on superconducting applications like magnetic levitation and the reliability of electrical contacts. One of my recent topics is small motors for driving automotive fuel pumps. These are special motors installed inside the gasoline tank to send fuel to the engine, and surprisingly, they rotate while submerged in gasoline.

I have been researching their characteristics for about 10 years, and it has recently become more exciting as inquiries about the research have been coming in from both within Japan and abroad. The research began with an inquiry from a materials manufacturer, and while it generated interest, there was initially no response from a practical application standpoint. I sometimes wondered if it was useless, but I continued because the research itself was fascinating.

Furthermore, with the current rise in gasoline prices, the performance of motors in ethanol has become a significant issue, particularly in the Americas. On this matter, I have been approached for consultation by the Research Centers and Institutes of a British-affiliated company in Detroit.

Although this is a story from a very narrow, specialized field, I have come to realize the importance of original research that is not merely derivative. I retired this past March and am now continuing my research as a member of a project at the K2 Town Campus. I hope that all of you will base your studies not on imposed values like standardized test scores, but on what you truly want to do and what interests you. This is the spirit of independence and self-respect taught by Yukichi Fukuzawa.