My interest is in the origin of our solar system. Asteroidal samples, such as meteorites and spacecraft returned samples, are fossils early solar system. I am working on direct measurements of these extraterrestrial samples. My resent project is the direct measurements of fluid inclusions (a drop of asteroidal water) preserved in mineral grains in extraterrestrial samples. In this project, our research group explores fluid inclusions using synchrotron X-ray CT and analyzed their compositions using microscopic tools. These analyses will reveal origin and evolution of asteroidal water through reactions with minerals and organics. This will lead to origin of water and life on the earth.

Lectures and laboratory training on meteoritics in my student days let me take into study of extraterrestrial samples. At that time, U.S. Stardust and Japan's Hayabusa missions successfully returned samples of small bodies to the earth. Researchers in the university let me know their experience in the missions and studies of meteorites, and motivated me to start my study on extraterrestrial samples.

You will see many researchers when you enter university. They will tell you about their experiences in their research through lectures and some other contents. If you are interested in their studies, I would like to recommend you have opportunities to talk directly with the researchers. I hope you'll talk to a variety of people, discover what you want to do and what you find interesting, and enjoy your campus life to the fullest.