How has Singapore been for you so far – is it your first time here?
This is maybe my 5th or 6th time. I’m on sabbatical leave at the moment, I can choose to go anywhere in the world for 1 year and I decided to come to Singapore because I like the research and education system here. And I’m really interested in the educational aspect of RVRC, where it integrates living and learning. It’s uncommon to live on campus in Japan, students usually live off campus and commute to the university. So it’s quite interesting to see how students are staying on campus in NUS and how you make it succeed. Students take classes while in RVRC too, so living on campus is also educational for the students at the same time. I have more than 20 masters and PhD students in Japan so I travel back from time to time, but most of the time I like to stay here. I will be here until mid-April. Afterwards, I will go to Germany for the other half of my sabbatical.
Is there anything in particular that you find interesting here?
Takoyaki! In Japan, takoyaki is made with tako (octopus). But for the takoyaki sold here at Yusof Ishak House, the octopus is optional and there are other flavours like prawn, ham and crabstick instead. It’s interesting that it is still called takoyaki, even though there is no tako (octopus). To be popular here, its form of existence had changed. This is very important for innovation, something must adapt to its new environment to be successful. The transformation of something from one country to another is a strategy for survival.
What local food do you like the most?
Mee Pok (dry). It is supposed to be spicy (for Japanese people) but the more I try it the more I like it. The mixture of the spice and sauce is great. I always order it when I go to the hawker centre.
What impression did you have of RVRC/NUS?
First impression is that it is a very multicultural environment. Japan is quite monolingual, but here you are integrating multiple cultures and languages smoothly in your daily life. I was surprised to see people interacting using Chinese, English and Malay here. You are quite accommodating of such differences here.
What is your research background? Would you like to share with us what you are researching on here?
My personal background is in aerospace. I spent 10 years in Japan working at the Space Agency. Then I joined Keio University, Tokyo to teach aerospace engineering, before moving to Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. I started to work on systems design engineering. At the moment I’m working more on the innovation and management aspect – I’m interested in how cutting-edge technology can change society. I’m working with Desmond and Florence here at RVRC to see how using Lego bricks can help people communicate smoothly, as a form of multiple domain thinking. For engineering, communication is important since we have to work together with groups of people from different backgrounds. When I teach, I try my best to communicate with my students too so they can understand what I am saying. It’s a dialogue with the students – that’s education.
Do say hello to him if you see him around in RVRC! He is very friendly and nice.
Credits to the RVRC Communications Team.
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