What motivated you to join Tokyo Techies?
Well, you know, I'd spent time doing both deep academic research and leading research teams in industry. I was really looking for a place where that cutting-edge work could translate directly into real-world impact, without getting bogged down trying to navigate a huge, slow-moving system.
When I first heard about Tokyo Techies, it immediately sounded like the 'sweet spot' I was looking for. It just seemed like a really dynamic environment. What caught my eye was that they were tackling all sorts of challenging AI problems – computer vision, chatbots, the works – but the key thing was, they were actually shipping solutions, getting them deployed and used. That made a big difference.
Plus, honestly, I like the feel of a smaller company. Here, you can really be involved in the whole process. Right from kicking around ideas for a proposal, designing the plan, building the solution, and seeing it through to delivery. You learn so much seeing every step.
Another big thing for me was the culture here at TT. It's genuinely multi-cultural – colleagues from everywhere, bringing all sorts of viewpoints, which is fantastic. And I really value the flexibility; the focus is truly on doing great work efficiently, not just on how many hours you spend at your keyboard.
So yeah, pulling all that together – the chance to work on diverse projects start-to-finish, the focus on real impact, the great culture – it just felt like the perfect fit for my background, mixing research and practical application. It seemed like a place where I could really contribute and help build some cool, meaningful tech!
Please tell us about your career history.
My career's been a bit of a mix, jumping between the academic world and the hands-on tech industry – kind of like bouncing between ivory towers and server rooms!
It really kicked off with my Ph.D. at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT). I was deep in research mode, focusing on a pretty tough challenge: getting computers to understand complex, messy handwritten math. That definitely meant diving headfirst into deep learning!
Interestingly, while I was still doing my Ph.D., I also got the chance to lead a team at a venture company. We actually turned the my Ph.D. research into real commercial products that many clients started using. That was incredibly cool – seeing research make it out into the world! It taught me so much about bridging that gap between pure research theory and what people actually need in the market.
I stayed at TUAT for a couple of years as an Assistant Professor in WISE program. That was different again – I dived in AI appilcations in fields like robot and agriculture and focus on building partnerships. It really broadened my view on all the different ways AI could be used.
But, I always felt that pull towards building and launching cutting-edge technology more directly. That's honestly what led me straight here to Tokyo Techies. It feels like the perfect place to combine everything I've done – the deep research, the team leadership, the academic perspective, and the industry experience – and apply it all to the really exciting AI challenges we're tackling now.
What are your recent work goals?
Well, right now, being one of the core AI team members, my main focus is really on pushing what we can achieve with our key projects – especially all the exciting things we're doing with the Kotae chatbots.
And it's not just about tweaking algorithms in the lab. I'm really focused on making sure our AI works reliably out in the wild, you know? It needs to be robust, scalable, and integrate smoothly into the tools our clients use every day. Honestly, bridging that gap – taking something from a research experiment and seeing it become a real-world application that people actually find useful – that's incredibly satisfying. It makes you feel like you're really contributing something meaningful. The goal is to make Kotae genuinely helpful, maybe even feel a bit magical for the people interacting with it.
On a personal level, just keeping up is always a goal! This field moves incredibly fast, so standing still isn't really an option – continuous learning is key. A great way I find to do that is by tackling problems directly – I usually have a few side projects running where I can play around with the newest state-of-the-art techniques or just explore tech that sparks my interest.
And, of course, there's the ongoing mission to make sure our AI doesn't suddenly become self-aware and start demanding coffee... mostly joking! But really, what drives me is delivering solutions that have a real impact and are truly cutting-edge.
How do you maintain work-life balance? Please also tell us about the company's support system.
Ah, work-life balance... it's a real thing here, not just a buzzword! Tokyo Techies operates on trust, giving us the freedom and autonomy to get our work done effectively without someone constantly looking over our shoulder. For me, having a young child at home, that flexibility is everything. I can really zero in on complex AI challenges, but also properly disconnect and enjoy family time – you know, swap debugging code for debugging toddler tantrums! My kid has even joined meetings sometimes, usually making everyone laugh rather than causing chaos. The whole team environment is incredibly supportive too. If you hit a wall, smart people are eager to help you find a solution. Management genuinely cares about us as people, not just resources. It feels like we're all pulling together. And the office itself helps you recharge – we've got spots for naps, games, exercise, endless coffee, and a snack corner that's a testament to our team's diverse backgrounds. It all adds up to making it much easier to balance demanding work with a life outside it.
How do you approach new projects or challenging tasks?) How do you approach new projects or challenging tasks?
Oh, I actually really enjoy tackling new projects and challenges! To be honest, that's usually where the most exciting breakthroughs happen, don't you think?
So, when something new lands on my desk, the first thing I do is really try to dig deep and understand what we're actually trying to achieve. What's the core problem here?
After we settle on a potential direction, it's all about breaking the task down into manageable steps. Then we start experimenting, building, testing, tweaking... iterating, basically. And hey, we're not afraid if things don't work perfectly the first time! My background taught me that persistence pays off, and sometimes the 'failures' teach you the most. You just learn fast and adapt.
So, yeah, you could say it's a mix of doing the homework, getting creative, lots of teamwork, and probably a fair bit of coffee! What's great is that Tokyo Techies really supports this way of working. We get the freedom to explore and innovate, which is exactly what you need when you're facing those really tough, interesting challenges.
What kind of person would you like to work with in the future?
I like this question! Honestly, I'd love to work with people who are just genuinely passionate about tech – you know, folks who get really excited about figuring out how to use it to solve real problems.
Curiosity is a big one for me too. I really enjoy working alongside people who aren't afraid to ask 'why?' or 'what if?' – people who love digging into new things and are willing to experiment.
And collaboration is huge here! So, definitely team players. People who are open to sharing their own ideas but are just as happy listening to others, giving good feedback, and receiving it too. Someone who enjoys tackling the tricky stuff together. It's not about knowing everything, either. Honestly, having different skills and viewpoints on the team makes us way stronger.
And maybe a good sense of humor? Let's be real, it definitely helps when you're deep in debugging mode or trying to explain something complex!
So yeah, to sum it up: I guess I thrive working with curious, collaborative people who are passionate about building cool things and solving problems, and who can share a laugh while we're at it. That’s the kind of person who really fits in well here at Tokyo Techies.
