In the Early Summer of 1988 in Japan

Since I was a university student, it has been my dream to stay abroad in order to study something which I can't do in my country. I am really happy because the dream has come true. At the same time, however, I have realized that living in the United States is not so easy as I expected due to the differences between　the two countries such as languages and cultures. And, I can say that the experiences and troubles that my family has come across because of those differences are not uncomfortable and that everyday life in Boulder has been enjoyable and exciting to all of my family since we arrived here on April 1st. this year.

This opportunity to stay in U.S. is quite meaningful to me in the sense that this might change my whole life and influence my family. In order to explain about this, I have to date back to four years ago when I was working for a construction company as a research engineer. It was also right after the time when I had obtained the Doctor Degree from the University of Tokyo.

It was in the early summer in 1988 when I was strongly recommended to move to a certain university as a full-time teaching staff member, resigning from the company for which I had been working thirteen years. Many companies in Japan actually adopt a life-employment system so that Japanese employees regard it an ordinary way to stay at the same company for their whole lives. In that situation, I was really surprised and hesitated to answer 'yes' immediately when I was offered, even though working in an academic society was very fascinating. I might be a kind of conservative person like old-fashioned Japanese.

It was then proposed that I would be provided with a chance to go abroad for the purpose of specific research work for one year when I stayed at the university more than three years after starting to teach there. So the proposal gradually revived my dream to study abroad, which I had during university student days, but that I had long forgotten.

My dream had certainly been buried under my busy routine jobs in private enterprise. Eventually, I made up my mind to join the present university (Musashi Institute of Technology which we call Mi-Tech) as an associate professor, after leaving the construction company. (Precisely speaking, I resigned from the company on March 31 in 1989 and started to work in the university on April 1, which was just the next day.) My wife agreed with my decision in quite a favorable manner although my annual salary dropped a lot.

Coming back again to this summer, I still have a vivid and clear memory such as the strong offer from the university, conflicts with my superiors in the office and my hope for and fear of changing the direction in my life, which I had come across during the summer of 1988. Beautiful scenery which my family enjoys everyday and kind residents whom we got to know in Boulder, convince me and my wife that our decision is right and successful. I am also convinced that the United States that accepts any people from all over the world and provides various opportunities is no doubt a great country!!