Disclaimer: machine translated by DeepL which may contain errors.
In 2006, I withdrew from the doctoral program in the Department of Chemistry at the Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, after one year, and joined Bridgestone Corporation.At the time, while I was advised that “a Ph.D. becomes part of your identity,” I struggled with whether pursuing a Ph.D. and entering academia without any experience in the industrial world was truly the path I wanted to take. So, I decided to gain experience in industry first and tackle the Ph.D. eventually.Although I had decided that I would definitely return to complete my Ph.D. someday, before I knew it, nearly 20 years had passed.
At the company, I gained experience in many roles that seemed somewhat removed from the natural sciences—such as research and development, overseas sales, business strategy, corporate planning, and co-creation with external partners—and I am currently involved in exploring new business opportunities and industry-academia collaboration.Particularly memorable was a project in which I collaborated with the Okinawa Churaumi Foundation—which manages and operates the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium—to develop an artificial tail fin for “Sami,” a dolphin with a damaged tail fin.In addition to materials and design, we observed how the fin fit and how it affected the dolphin’s behavior, constantly asking ourselves, “What is the real problem we need to solve?” Through this experience, I realized that the “approach to getting to the heart of the matter,” which I cultivated through my studies in the natural sciences, is a powerful tool for solving problems even outside the laboratory.
Looking back on my career, there has always been a cycle of “inspiration → challenge → pioneering.” The insights I gained from encounters with people and my experiences served as inspiration, giving me the courage to take that first step. In a chemical reaction, molecules and atoms receive stimuli such as heat or light, and by overcoming the energy barrier required for the reaction, they transition to a new state. Furthermore, if a catalyst is present, that barrier is lowered.I believe life and careers share similar traits: I think the various encounters I’ve had, along with the understanding and support of those around me, act as catalysts that lower the barriers to taking on new challenges.
At the start of 2024, I received a New Year’s card from my mentor, Professor Atsushi Yoshinobu, with a handwritten note that read, “You have three years left until mandatory retirement. If you plan to pursue a Ph.D., please let me know as soon as possible.” Those words served as a powerful stimulus, transforming a long-held desire into action.I re-enrolled in a doctoral program while remaining employed at my company. Drawing on my experience of translating research findings into products and business ventures in the corporate world, I studied how electrons behave on material surfaces and how they interact with chemical reactions. In 2026, I received the Student Outstanding Presentation Award at the Spring Meeting of the Physical Society of Japan.Having my research recognized as a 45-year-old student taught me once again that age is no barrier to taking on new challenges, and that the courage to take that first step opens up new paths. Moving forward, I want to leverage the experience I’ve gained in both the corporate and academic worlds to serve as a bridge between the natural sciences and industry.
What I want to convey to current students is that you don’t have to choose a single “correct answer” right from the start. What you gain from the natural sciences is not just knowledge.It is the attitude of asking “Why is that so?” and getting to the heart of the matter. That attitude will serve as your foundation, no matter which path you take—whether as a researcher, a business professional, an educator, or a business developer. If you’ve been inspired, I urge you to take that first step. That challenge will surely open the door to a future you never imagined and pave the way for new possibilities.
“Sami,” a southern bottlenose dolphin, swimming with an artificial tail fin (the artificial tail fin developed for this project is shown in the upper right). Photo courtesy of Bridgestone Corporation and the Okinawa Churashima Foundation