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Toyota Central R&D Labs. has a Frontier Theme Proposal System for researcher proposals involving
groundbreaking themes that would make us global pioneers. The researcher who makes a proposal that is
accepted as a frontier research theme is assigned as the leader of his or her own research group. We also
have a Pre-Frontier Theme system aimed at making preliminary studies of frontier proposals, and
recognized themes can be pursued as a part of our work.
The research by the Electric Mechanism Lab where I work was initially recognized as pre-frontier research,
and while it did not subsequently become frontier research, it did become the official task of the
department. The research theme is a new gear changing principle that is completely different from that in
existing automobile transmissions. If it is made possible, it is expected to make transmissions
significantly more compact and have applications to various fields, such as robotics.
We are currently at the prototyping stage. Complex design and
manufacturing is sometimes entrusted to specialized departments in the company, but we make a lot of
prototypes ourselves. The advantage of doing it ourselves is that we directly come to realizations and get a
sense of the difficulties involved. We have a lot of individual leeway in how we proceed with not only the
prototypes, but also other aspects of the research. This high level of freedom is part of what makes Toyota
Central R&D Labs. distinct. I am personally often told “You have lots of freedom” or “You seem to be having
fun”, so I might be exceptionally free (laughing).
For the last two years, in parallel with work, I have been attending doctorate courses three times a month
at the same laboratory as when I was a university student, under the guidance of the same teacher, although
our relationship is different now.
My current research approach of making prototypes on my own has been influenced by my training at
university. Back then, I was conducting research on raising productivity by performing machining via a
technique called vibration cutting, which involves the use of ultrasounds to make the tools vibrate. My
current research is in a different field, but my knowledge of vibration is both highly relevant to the
automotive field, which is intrinsically associated with vibration, and also contributes to bringing out new
ideas such as my current research project. Everyone who sees my current research theme is surprised that it
is a new invention. I’m often asked how and where I came up with the idea. The answer to “where” would be a
flash of inspiration while in the bath or while relaxing. But in the context of research carried out in the
real world, it is the ability to identify the essence of things that is important in bringing about
revolutionary concepts. While digging into things and asking yourself “Why?”, I believe it is important to
avoid the security of translating it into phenomena you already know and to focus on
understanding their essence.
I think there are three points that bring significant joy during the research process. The first is when I
create an invention. The second is when theory becomes an object that functions. The third is when it
becomes a product. I have achieved the first two in my current research, and am now aiming to turn it into a
product.
One source of encouragement in staying the course on the long road to creating a product is the presence of
researchers from a broad range of fields at Toyota Central R&D Labs. It is reassuring to know that somewhere
in the laboratory there will be someone who can give me advice when I start to work on a new technology that
combines with technology from a separate field. Reaching out to connections within the company will always
let me find a professional with expert knowledge. Following the instructions of that expert and having the
required technology provided leads to joint research between different fields: this is a work environment
that defines Toyota Central R&D Labs.
Similarly, the enjoyment of being involved in the entire process from nurturing new principles I have
uncovered myself to eventually installing them and having them function in vehicles is a feature of Toyota
Central R&D Labs. being the research institute for the Toyota Group. In a world of institutes where bringing
out new principles is difficult, the greatest pleasure for a researcher is to be in an environment where
many people, including those in the Toyota Group working around the production sites, are both caught off
guard and provide support when we uncover and announce theories that take everyone by surprise.
I use the morning for “relaxed research”, such as checking the results of an analysis I had running since the day before, and I use the afternoon to collate experiment results, create new simulation models, or engage in other types of “focused research”. I lose track of time when I do “fun research” involving activities like brainstorming new ideas or preparing physical models of prototypes. My wife also works for Toyota Central R&D Labs., so we split the housework evenly. I’m in charge of breakfast every morning.
*Details in the article are those at the time of the interview.
