The universe is often seen as a symbol of constancy, but there are several explosive phenomena that change dramatically on human timescales. I study such powerful cosmic explosions through astronomical observations.
Recently, I am focusing on “neutrinos” that travel across the Universe. The IceCube Neutrino Observatory, buried deep in the Antarctic ice, has discovered that extremely high-energy neutrinos are streaming down from the Universe. However, it is difficult to pin down the locations of such high-energy neutrino sources by the observations of neutrinos alone. Therefore, it is still unclear where and how these energetic particles are produced.
Cosmic explosions are considered promising candidates for the origins of these high-energy neutrinos. By combining observations of visible light, which allow us to pin down each of these explosions individually, with neutrino observations, I aim to test whether these events can indeed be the sources of high-energy neutrinos.

I think my fascination with the astronomy began when I was a child, looking through a picture book called “Space Exploration” (written by Peter Bond, translated by Yumi Oba). It was filled with images of the universe, including those captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, such as the “end of a star.” At that time, I remember thinking that the universe was a place where anything could happen — full of mysterious and exciting phenomena that we could never see on Earth.
In university, I can study the physics behind astronomical phenomena and gained the ability to analyze real observational data. By combining these data with physical insights, I have found great fascination in understanding cosmic phenomena in the distant universe.

I’m really glad that I’ve always expressed what excites me to the people around me — saying, “I like this! I want to try it!”.
The research group and topic I’m working on now are both the result of those kinds of interactions.
In fact, when I first joined the lab, I never imagined working on my current research theme.
By expressing my interests and curiosity in words, I’ve found new possibilities and encounters that have broadened my path. I hope you’ll enjoy unexpected encounters that come from interacting with people from various fields at university.