My research focuses on observational studies of high-energy celestial objects, such as black holes, by detecting cosmic X-rays from space. Because Earth's atmosphere absorbs cosmic X-rays and they cannot reach the ground, they must be observed from space using X-ray instruments onboard satellites. I am actively involved in developing these onboard instruments. In the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) project, which is an international collaboration led by JAXA in partnership with NASA and ESA, I led the development of the onboard X-ray instrument, which was successfully launched in September 2023. Currently, I am primarily using observational data from XRISM to study the vicinity of supermassive black holes, which exist at the centers of galaxies. In parallel, I am also conducting the fundamental development of next-generation X-ray detectors designed for future astronomical satellites.

During my undergraduate years at the Astronomical Institute, Tohoku University, I learned that the universe naturally presents a wide variety of celestial objects in extreme states that humanity cannot achieve on Earth. Among them. I became fascinated by supermassive black holes and jumped into this field, eager to unravel their mysteries through observations using detectors I develop myself. As a student, I was a member of the university's Kendo club, where I worked hard alongside my teammates, aiming for higher goals. Even now, my current research, collaborating with many scientists and engineers to build a scientific satellite, feels deeply connected to my experiences in the Kendo club, achieving ambitious targets through teamwork.

I believe that if you are truly passionate about something and hold it dear, it is essential to stay committed to the end, no matter what obstacles stand in your way. XRISM, which is currently observing a wide variety of celestial objects, actually originated as a recovery mission for the Hitomi satellite, which was taken out of service shortly after launch in 2016 due to an accident. Having dedicated nearly seven years, from my graduate studies through my postdoctoral research, to developing the onboard instruments for Hitomi, that event was such a critical blow that I felt my career as a researcher might come to an end. However, without giving up, I continued to dedicate myself to developing the successor mission, XRISM, alongside many of my colleagues. As a result, today we can marvel at an unprecedented view of the universe brought to us by XRISM. Even when you hit a wall, as long as you pursue your goal with passion, a wonderful sight awaits you at the end of the road.