Sora no Akari Self-Introduction

I have loved looking up at the starry sky since I was too young to even remember.

I have always loved science and have lived my life with an interest in topics across many different fields.

For example, for my elementary school summer independent research project, I made my own insect encyclopedia by filling drawing paper with watercolor paintings of insects, and I used a microscope I received as a birthday present to sketch microorganisms living in the local rice paddies and summarized my thoughts on the ecosystem.

When I became a junior high school student, I started to become concerned about environmental issues, and I remember talking to my teachers about my dream of becoming a researcher who would protect the Earth. When I became a high school student, I returned to my roots and started wondering why the stars shine so powerfully, which led me to want to learn about nuclear fusion, the source of that power. The university I chose to attend was one with a major strong in nuclear fusion, nuclear power, and radiation within the field of physics.

I still remember how excited I was to learn that the source of energy for all the twinkling lights in the sky—the stars floating in the night sky and the sun illuminating the earth—is deeply connected to nuclear fusion and radiation.

I walked the path of a postdoctoral researcher at a laboratory and a university faculty member, but after leaving my job due to personal matters at home, I was unable to return to the path of academia.

However, I have truly gained a wide variety of experiences. Because I wanted to research nuclear fusion and studied radiation, I was able to gain knowledge in a truly broad range of fields, including food analysis technology, cancer treatment drugs, civil engineering technology for looking underground, and research in the field of archaeology for examining the contents of ruins. Having studied nuclear reactions, I was able to gain some knowledge not only about nuclear fusion but also about elementary particles. Speaking of elementary particles, I have also captured many muons, the elementary particles that come from space and are popular these days.

And then, it suddenly occurred to me. Although I cannot return to academia, I want to share with everyone these broad insights that the lights in the sky have guided me to. I have visited elementary schools to talk to children about science, and I have sat at tables with people involved in citizen science to introduce research. I remember receiving comments from everyone at those times saying that my explanations were easy to understand.

I want to share even more about science. I have long been involved in science communication and have experience as a lecturer and facilitator, but now I want to convey science through my pen. Naturally, I chose the path of a science writer.

Yes, the driving force that moves the lights in the sky is the joy and excitement I learned from the lights in the sky. I will share it all!

Everyone, I look forward to working with you from here on out.