Disclaimer: machine translated by DeepL which may contain errors.
The Two Roles of Coffee
Asuka Takatsu (Graduate School of Mathmatical Science / Professor, Department of Mathmatics)
“What kind of theorems do you create?” “What exactly do you do at the university?” “How do you dress for work?” “What do you usually eat? What are your hobbies??”
These are the kinds of questions I am often asked by friends I haven’t seen in a while or by people I meet for the first time when I tell them I am a mathematician at a university.
What kind of theorems do I create?
Personally, I don’t feel that I have ever created a theorem. I’m not sure of the true meaning of Alfréd Rényi’s words, “a mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems.” But I believe theorems are not produced out of nothing; they already exist, and we simply discover them. People often ask me, “Are there still new theorems nowadays?” Just as advances in science have expanded our possibilities—allowing us to dive into the deep sea or observe black holes—mathematics, too, evolves and reveals new landscapes in unexplored territories. At the same time, the foundational structures laid down by our predecessors remain active—for example, Euclid’s Elements, established in antiquity, has undergone renovations and additions, yet it still stands firm today.
What do I do at the university?
The easiest part to explain is lectures and seminars. A common question about lectures is the class size. In my case, the smallest was 1 student (a specialized subject), and the largest exceeded 100 (a general education course). The number and content of lectures vary depending on one’s affiliation, and even when the content is the same, there are many different ways to present it—something faculty often talk about among themselves. Mathematics seminars are usually small and involve 輪講 (reading sessions), where participants take turns presenting from textbooks or research papers on the blackboard. Other duties include research and administrative work. When I mention the latter, people are often surprised—“Wait, that’s part of a professor’s job?”—which always makes me chuckle.
What about clothing?
There are no formal rules, but each discipline has its own “color,” and mathematics is extremely free in this regard. I usually go to class and give lectures in casual clothes, though people generally assume that formal talks require a suit. I still remember, back in graduate school, when I stopped by my parents’ house before a research meeting. My mother and sister immediately began debating whether to rush out and buy me a suit or make me wear one of my sister’s, since there wasn’t enough time. When I told them I would just go in casual clothes, they scolded me harshly. But after much explanation, they finally understood it wasn’t a problem. Strangely, though, they insisted that red shoes were unacceptable, so I ended up borrowing my sister’s white sneakers for the talk. To this day, however, I happily give lectures wearing my red shoes.
And food?
After the lecture, my jeans almost always end up looking white. (and the red shoes ) Of course, there’s no special mathematician diet. Some people are particular about food, while others have no interest at all. Personally, I love eating but am poor at cooking, so I usually eat granola and drink soy milk coffee—lots and lots of coffee. (These days, I even bring a coffee grinder and a travel kettle with me on overseas trips.) For me, coffee is not only fuel that sharpens concentration and feeds mathematics but also a palate cleanser that loosens up my mind when it gets stuck.
Just like with food, hobbies and ways of spending free time vary widely. As for me, my favorite band resumed activity three years ago, so lately I’ve been going to their live shows. The title of this essay is also borrowed from one of their songs. If you happen to know which band it is, please do let me know.
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