I joined Nikon Corporation (Nikon) in 2002. After having firsthand experience at the company’s semiconductor lithography system manufacturing facilities, I moved into the technology development department at the Imaging Business Unit in 2006. Over the following 16 years, I gained experience across a wide range of roles, including examining camera system specifications, evaluating images captured by prototypes, and providing professional support. These experiences gave me the opportunity to develop a multifaceted understanding of the entire manufacturing process as an engineer. As I accumulated these experiences, I grew ever more eager to take on new challenges at the forefront of overseas operations, leveraging the expertise I had built as an engineer. In 2022, I took up my position as a technical engineering liaison at Nikon Inc. (NI), which is the Imaging Business Unit’s regional headquarters in the Americas. As a technical engineering liaison, I bridge Nikon and NI in exchanging technical information, and connect local customers with Nikon, playing the role of a versatile engineer who handles a wide range of responsibilities in the engineering field. I am committed to accurately identifying the challenges faced by our customers and working together with various departments within Nikon to find the best possible solutions. While there is no set routine in my work, I approach each day with a fresh mindset, supported by the wonderful colleagues around me.

One of my key responsibilities is serving as the primary contact for Nikon's collaborative project with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Since its collaboration in the 1971 Apollo 15 mission, Nikon has been cooperating with NASA for more than 50 years. As a Technical Engineering Liaison, I carry on this long tradition while supporting day-to-day communications between both organizations. I closely work with both NASA and Nikon, and I work hard as a “bridge” for the two parties to build an even stronger relationship of trust, providing technical support for difficult requirements and proposing optimal solutions. As a result of making steady collaborative efforts, we were able to deliver our mirrorless camera, “Nikon Z9,” to the International Space Station in January 2024. The Z9 is now being utilized as an important "eye" at the station, supporting scientific research and image recording in space. Furthermore, most recently, we have been making a concerted, company-wide effort to support the development of a specialized camera for the Artemis program — a mission aimed at returning humans to the Moon. During camera operation tests conducted to simulate the harsh lunar environment, we encountered a series of issues that would never arise on Earth, and spent considerable time identifying root causes and implementing countermeasures. Throughout this process, navigating between NASA and Nikon's development and design teams was no easy task, but we put our heads together as one united team and took steps one by one to develop concrete solutions. The moments when I am able to share the joy of overcoming these many challenges together with both the NASA and Nikon teams are, without a doubt, the most irreplaceable source of fulfillment as a technical engineering liaison.
At the Nikon Museum located on the premises of Nikon’s headquarters in Tokyo, prototypes of the special camera customized for use in the manned lunar exploration program are currently on special display. I hope you will visit the museum to see the exhibits, which will show you the journey the special camera will take after departing the Earth for the moon.
Nikon Museum: https://www.nikon.com/company/corporate/museum/

In my work, I always place great importance on visiting customers’ sites in person, meeting them face to face, and directly sensing their expectations and requests for Nikon. Whenever there is a need, I travel anywhere across the Americas, and indeed, I spend much of my time with customers. For me, facing challenges, thinking through solutions, and putting in the hard work alongside customers and colleagues is the true essence – the greatest reward – of being a technical engineering liaison. Supporting all of these activities is the organizational culture of NI. NI has an open, flat culture where everyone, from the president to general employees, can freely voice their opinions, and it is a warm, “big family”-like organization, where everyone genuinely cares for one another. The moment when I feel these family-like bonds most strongly is when attending exhibitions and events held across the country.
When NI colleagues, who are spread across the vast expanse of the United States, all come together at these events, it truly feels like a “family reunion”. At these events, colleagues, who usually work at distant locations, work together as a single team for their customers. Their strong sense of unity offers a powerful driving force for the fan-focused activities that Nikon values.

Taking walks around New York with my camera in hand, away from my busy work life, is a true source of vitality for me. Having long enjoyed photography as a hobby, I take great pleasure in capturing the many different expressions of this city. Long Island, where my office and home are located, is an area blessed with abundant nature. I cherish the slow, relaxed pace of life there, watching the animals that wander into my garden and going on drives to the sea or local farms with my family. Spending time casually with my family and taking photos of beautiful scenery makes me feel so happy, taking my mind off the busyness of daily work. In contrast, in Manhattan and Brooklyn, I find myself overwhelmed by the powerful, ever-changing energy of the city. Walking these streets with my camera, pressing the shutter as I am inspired by the urban landscapes and the daily lives of the people who live there, feels like recharging my own energy. In this wonderful environment, where I can experience both the healing power of nature and the stimulation of a great metropolis, I will continue to take on new challenges together with my colleagues as we work toward a future where the Nikon brand is cherished by people around the world.