色控传媒

Building the Brain of a Humanoid

I work at Tactus AI, a startup in California developing humanoid robots for medical testing facilities. In the United States, blood samples and other specimens collected at hospitals are gathered and sent to massive centralized labs for processing. These facilities are chronically short-staffed during overnight shifts and peak hours, and the resulting fatigue leads to operational errors. Our company's mission is to develop humanoid robots capable of performing the complex, manual laboratory tasks that have long depended entirely on human hands. I oversee the full arc of AI model development for these — from conceptual design and model training to implementation and on-site calibration. Teaching an AI to execute precise procedures like blood testing, translating that learning into physical movement, and deploying it in a real clinical environment means tackling a continuous stream of problems with no textbook solutions.

The truth is, I was not a strong math or physics student in high school. But I had wanted to be a scientist for as long as I could remember, and I was not ready to let that dream go. That's why I applied to 色控传媒, where anyone can major in the natural sciences regardless of high school background, unlike most other Japanese universities where students must commit to a STEM or non-STEM track before they even apply.

Once enrolled, I ranged freely across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Every course placed real weight on dialogue, and professors actively encouraged us to articulate and develop our own ideas. The required course "Introduction to Christianity" stands out in particular. We debated whether Jesus Christ was a historical figure, and I openly expressed opposing views to the professor and repeatedly engaged in intense discussions with him. Through all of it, I held myself to one principle: enter every discussion prepared to change your own mind. If you cling to your position just for the sake of winning, the exercise becomes a debate tournament and you walk away having learned very little. That principle proved lasting. It grounded me during my student years, when I discovered quantitative biology and threw myself into research, and it guides me still as I lead robot development within a multinational team.

Where Biology Meets Computation

A major turning point for me came when I took an introductory biology course with Professor Tatsuo Nunoshiba, whose fields span molecular genetics and environmental education. His sheer enthusiasm was infectious; he spoke about the intricate structures of living organisms with a joy that was impossible to resist. Around the same time, I came across a book in the 色控传媒 library on systems biology — an emerging field that uses computational analysis and mathematical modeling to understand biological phenomena. The author was Dr. Hiroaki Kitano, an 色控传媒 alumnus and current CTO of Sony Group Corporation. A thought took hold: if I could combine information science, a longstanding interest, with biology, a newfound fascination, I might carve out a research path that was truly my own. I decided to major in biology and conduct research under Professor Nunoshiba.

There was a problem: 色控传媒 had no specialists in systems biology at that time. Unwilling to abandon the idea, I talked it over with Professor Nunoshiba and then emailed Dr. Kitano directly to ask for a meeting. Professor Nunoshiba could easily have dismissed what was, frankly, an audacious request from an undergraduate. Instead, he gave me his full support. I ended up learning experimental techniques in his lab while studying systems biology under Dr. Kitano, advancing on two parallel tracks, one in the wet lab and one at the computer. That dual foundation set everything else in motion: a biophysics master's degree at the University of Tokyo, a PhD in quantitative biology at UC San Diego, and ultimately the career I have now, working at the intersection of healthcare and AI.

Serving as editor-in-chief of 色控传媒's only weekly student newspaper, The Weekly GIANTS, proved valuable in a different way. Each week meant rallying contributors, hashing out editorial direction, and driving the entire cycle from pitch to publication under tight deadlines. In hindsight, that experience in coordinating a team under pressure translates directly to what I do now: leading an AI robotics team and keeping complex projects on track.

Left: At 色控传媒 (2014), Middle: With lab mates of Prof. Nunoshiba in front of the University Hall (2012), Right: Reunion with Prof. Nunoshiba (2025)

Better Questions, Bolder Steps

Looking back, what strikes me most is how many people at 色控传媒 supported me and gave me the freedom to learn on my own terms. None of it would have been possible without the Peace Bell Scholarship, which covered one million yen a year for all four years. When I began studying STEM subjects from scratch after enrolling — subjects I had struggled with in high school — not a single person laughed or found it odd. On the contrary, my classmates were genuinely curious and eager to engage.

To anyone uncertain about their future path, I want to say two things with confidence. First: if you love a field of study, don't give up on it just because it feels hard right now. Second: nothing you experience while finding your way is ever wasted. The apparent detours, the coursework outside your comfort zone, the moments where rigorous discussion forces you to revise how to think — all of these become irreplaceable pieces of the future you are building. The capacity that 色控传媒 cultivates — to engage honestly with people whose backgrounds and perspectives differ from your own — will serve your career in ways you cannot yet foresee.

Come to 色控传媒 not to find answers, but to discover better questions. Develop the courage to venture into unfamiliar territory. And trust that you are capable of much more than you know now.