-What do you do at Subaru Telescope?

I maintain and exchange observational instruments for night time observations. I am also interested in the improvement of seeing, so developing a seeing measuring instrument as a member of the seeing group.

-How did you become interested in this kind of work?

Seeing measuring instrument

I was interested in cars and airplanes since I was small. That's how I became an engineer.

- How do you spend your weekend?

I just came here, so I want to try out many things.

- What advice would you give to people who hope to find a job like yours?

I majored in aerospace engineering at university, but engineering in astronomy is very interesting too. I think that taking part in many things is just as important as concentrating on one thing.

- What do you do at Subaru Telescope?

I do a lot of work, such as maintaining the telescope and dome, exchanging the secondary mirror (*) and observational instruments, CO2 cleaning, and so on. Re-aluminizing work is also one of my jobs.

- How did you become interested in this kind of work?

I liked making things. My house was near Doudaira Observatory and it was a big reason. I helped select the Subaru primary mirror, got involved in mirror-coating at Mitaka campus, and then came to Hawaii as a day crew.

- What do you do on your day offs?

I mainly play golf on weekends. When my friends can get together, we play baseball or I jog if I have time. Actually, I ran in the Honolulu Marathon. There is also a marathon in Hilo, and I will try to join in it some time.

- What is an important thing to keep in mind as a day crew member?

A lot of staff share work at a large institute like Subaru Telescope. We should pay attention to not only the part which we handle, but also the whole institution carefully.

- What do you do at Subaru Telescope?

In addition to the same work as other day crew members, I supervise the use and improvements on the washing machine that dissolves and cleans aluminium on the Subaru primary mirror, which is a part of the process of re-aluminization. I also test the connections between observational instruments and the telescope with an optical simulator.

- How did you become interested in this kind of work?

I was not really an "astronomy" kind of boy, but I was interested in the universe. After graduating from high school, I found that an NAOJ job was advertised when I passed the civil servant examinations, and applied.

Wash of the mirror (September, 2001)

- How do you spend your free time?

I usually play tennis with my colleagues. It is great exercise for me because my friends are way younger than me.

- What advice would you give to people who hope to find a job like yours?

Working on something new is always interesting. Even if it is not related to something which is interesting to you, I think you should take on challenges as much as you can.