From Childhood Curiosity to R&D in Japan: My Journey of Research & Development

As far back as I can remember, I have always been the kind of person who wanted to know why things worked the way they did. While other kids were satisfied just using toys, I wanted to open them, explore their mechanisms, and understand the secrets inside. That curiosity stayed with me throughout school, pushing me deeper into science, technology, and eventually research.

While growing up, I discovered something fascinating: Japan holds some of the highest numbers of patents in the world and has a long history of groundbreaking inventions. From advanced robotics to world-leading manufacturing, Japan wasn’t just a country of technology — it was a country where ideas became reality. That fact became one of my biggest motivations. I wanted to learn from the best innovators on the planet.That curiosity eventually led me to Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech), where I joined as a research student. Living and studying in Japan didn’t just improve my academic skills — it shaped the way I think. I learned that innovation is not magic. It is the result of discipline, patience, and a deep respect for solving real-world problems.

After months of research, growth, and exploration, I decided to take my next step: joining the company where I now work as an R&D Engineer. It wasn’t just a job change. It was a continuation of the journey I started as a child — the journey of understanding how things work and how to make them better. Working in Research and Development here has taught me valuable lessons about innovation, lessons that I use every single day. One of the most powerful ideas I’ve learned is the importance of starting with the real problem, not the trend. Technology trends come and go, but real pain points stay until someone solves them. True innovation begins when you stop chasing hype and start listening to real needs.

Another lesson is understanding that constraints are not limitations — they are catalysts for creativity. When resources are limited or when challenges seem too big, innovation becomes sharper. Constraints force you to think smarter, simplify your approach, and come up with ideas you wouldn’t have considered otherwise.

I also discovered the value of momentum. In R&D, big breakthroughs rarely happen in one moment. They happen through continuous progress. That’s why we think long-term but ship short-term. Even small improvements, when done consistently, become powerful over time. And at the heart of our development process lies a mindset that keeps us moving: build small, test fast, learn constantly. Instead of spending months perfecting an idea in theory, we prototype quickly, gather feedback early, and improve continuously. This approach not only reduces risk but also accelerates learning and builds confidence in our direction.

Today, as I work on new projects and explore new possibilities, I’m reminded of the same curiosity that pushed me to open my childhood toys. That curiosity brought me to Japan, shaped my research career, and continues to guide me as an engineer.

Innovation isn’t just a career for me — it’s a lifelong journey. And every day in R&D feels like one more step in turning curiosity into something real, something useful, and hopefully, something meaningful.