My favorite phrase: Watching deeply, richly, and beautifully. Go beyond the secrets of life.

Q: Why did you choose this phrase?

The world as we know it is just a small part of a larger world. Even a small flower blooming on the side of the road has a magnificent drama of life hidden in it. I believe that the hidden mechanisms of life can be revealed only through beautiful observations using imaging and a deep understanding of the function of genes. I want to reveal the hidden secrets of life with an approach that no one else can imitate! This is why I chose this phrase.

Q: What is your research topic?

There are many flowering plants in the world. Flowers are the organs that allow plants to produce seeds and pass on life to the next generation. I am trying to understand why seeds are not produced and how more seeds can be produced by using an original microscopic imaging and genetic technology. By understanding how seeds are produced, my research aims to enrich our lives by increasing food production and creating plants that can produce seeds even in harsh environments.

Q: How did you embark on your research?

I first encountered Mendel's laws in elementary school, and became interested in the balance between ambiguity and precision that life possesses. I chose the field of plants because I grew up in an environment where plants were close to me, as my parents were both graduates of the Faculty of Agriculture. On the other hand, I studied painting from the age of five until high school, and was considering entering the art field. Therefore, I decided to combine the two and started working on Science meets Art, an initiative to clarify life phenomena through beautiful imaging and genes. With plants at the core, I am constantly incorporating new fields of agriculture, science, and chemistry, which has led to my current research.

Q: What is special about the YLC program(*) you are participating in?

Many professors are conducting research on what you may not see or hear about in the plant field, such as pyramids, the universe, ancient documents, and mathematical modeling. This is why the YLC seminars and symposia are so refreshing, because you get opinions and perspectives that you would otherwise never get. Everyone is very passionate about their research, and there is a lot of interdisciplinary and international research going on. The way they think and conduct their research gives me a chance and encouragement to rethink my own studies.

Q: What made you apply for the YLC program?

It was the last year of my research under the JST "PRESTO" program, and I was looking for a position that would allow me to balance childcare and research, as my husband was a faculty member at the university and our first son was small. In this context, I decided to apply for the YLC program when I learned that it was flexible enough to accommodate my life events and that the Institute for Transformative Biomolecules (ITbM) had a women's rest room and various other support services. When I bring my eldest son to the laboratory for on-campus events, I am happy to see that everyone accepts him with a smile, and I hope to be a good role model for students who want to become researchers.

Q: When did you realize that research is interesting or rewarding?

When you encounter a moment, no matter how small, when you realize that you are the only person in the world who knows and can do this! I am currently working on a live imaging project to observe the fertilization process deep inside a flower. I was very moved when I saw the moment of fertilization for the first time, which no one had been able to see before. Discovering phenomena and genes that I did not know existed and having my world expand all at once is one of the most exciting parts of research.

Q: Please tell us about an experience that you can only talk about now.

Immediately after finishing graduate school, I had not decided on a career path. However, I knew that I wanted to study imaging, so I asked my advisor and current professor to let me go back and forth between the National Institute of Genetics and Nagoya University for about a year to learn the technology. I stayed at a different hotel every week, so I became familiar with the cheap hotels in Kanayama and Fushimi [in Nagoya City] (LOL). It was a very important experience that allowed me to think carefully about my research and future, packing as many clothes and things as I could fit in my trunk like a backpacker.

Q: What are your goals and ambitions for the future?

I would like to always take in new things, regardless of the field, and master the research that only I can do. In addition to academia, I have started collaborating with companies regarding basic research at universities. In addition to conducting more innovative research, I would like to work on initiatives that contribute to society as a whole. I would also like to continue my efforts to introduce my research with beautiful images and easy-to-understand words so that I can properly convey the excitement to my own children in the future.

* YLC Program:

The YLC program is a young researchers' development program conducted by the Institute for Advanced Studies. The YLC Program aims to train and support outstanding young researchers who have recently completed their doctoral degrees and are working for a fixed term to contribute to the development of education and research at the university, toward the goal of creating a "World-Class Research University."