16 years in volcanology-Part 2

In year 2000: I started my master. I studied about the dynamics of eruption and numerical models.
In this year, there were two major eruptions in Japan. "Usu" and "Miyakejima". However, I couldn't see any of these eruptions by myself. I only listened to TV news.
For my study, many seniors of our group helped me.  Master's degree in Japan is two years generally. After that, I decided to work for a computer company.

2002: I started to work for a computer company. Fortunately, I could work for the systems and analysis for hazard mitigation. One of my important projects in this company was to make an educational tool "Volcanic Simulator" for high school student (all in Japanese). So, I worked for some volcanological projects.

2003: I attended Cities on Volcanoes 3 in Big Island, Hawaii. It was a conference for volcanic eruptions and its hazard mitigation. At that time, volcanic activity in Kilauea was active and we enjoyed watching lava flows around the foot of Kilauea. I am attracted by Pele a goddess of Hawaiian volcanoes even though she is a woman!

Field trip of COV3. We were on the lava flow of Kilauea.

2005: I decided to quit my job for challenging to study abroad. It was my sister and her husband whom affected me. They had just finished their MBA in France. I said "Wow, it must be really nice experience to study abroad. I would like to try one day".

2007: Finally I got a PhD offer from University of Geneva in Switzerland. It was fantastic to have a PhD opportunity with good financial support. At the very beginning of my PhD, I went to Ecuador for the field work with other members from Geneva and from Italy.

Cotopaxi volcano and our group of field work from Geneva and Italy.

2008: I attended the meeting of International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI, 2008) in Reykjavik, Iceland. At that time, I talked with many researchers from other countries, but I tended to stick to Japanese acquaintance. I was not very open to other people because I had a lot of stress by living in foreign country. I wanted to speak in JAPANESE! I didn't feel that I was sad or lonely. However, I felt frustration of communicating in foreign language at that time. 
  Later, I got used to live in Geneva. I enjoyed a life in Geneva because I could take good classes of ballet and found some friends and nice cafés to enjoy. Probably, the life got easier when I started to speak French.

2010: Cities on Volcanoes 6 was held in Tenerife, Spain. In this conference, I started to communicate other researchers from all over the world. I was very busy everyday for discussions. Until the last moment of the last day of the conference, I discussed with someone about my research. I thought this conference was very successful for my study and career. After this conference, I started to contact other researchers from other countries.

Columnar joint of lava like a rose flower in Tenerife island

Discussing with other attendant of COV6

Year 2011 was hard time for me because I was writing my thesis. Early 2011, Japanese were shocked by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I guess all Japanese had somewhat mental problem even we are out from Japan. This hard period continued until very end of the year.
I canceled to attend the IUGG conference but I participated in the conference about Lagrangian modeling of atmosphere. (Conference site is here) It was unexpectedly interesting conference!
I could meet many people working for atmospheric modeling. My presentation was poster presentation and we discussed until midnight! I was exhausted but felt so satisfied. 
I finished writing my thesis about numerical modeling of Tephra dispersal and ballistic bombs on 30th December. I sent it to my supervisor and had a warm new year party at my friend's house.

2012: I defended my PhD! I became a doctor.

However, I had some problems of revising my thesis. And so, even though I moved to Hawaii, I couldn't enjoy my life 100%. I used my time and money for healing myself. I guess this period was very important for me because I looked myself and tried to understand. With this process, I met many great people. The land of Hawaii healed me gradually. Finally, I noticed that I love this land very much! So, you can see my posts in this blog.

This year (2013), I moved back to Japan. 
Just before coming back to Japan, I stayed in  Big Island with Prof. Ui (professor emeritus of Hokkaido University) and Prof. Yoshimoto (assistant professor of Hokkaido  University). We had field trip together in Big Island and I could have chance to see many geological points where I wanted to visit. Actually, these two professors were supervisor and student. They are connected strongly. Although I was not in Hokkaido University, I feel strong connection with them probably because we all have a passion for hazard mitigation and geological work of volcanology.

Field trip around Green Sand Beach in Big Island with students and two professors from Hokkaido University.

Then, IAVCEI meeting was held in Kagoshima from 20 to 24 July.

My poster for IAVCEI 2013

Now, I have many friends in Japan and in other countries. They all support me. Otherwise, I would not be here as a volcanologist. I feel wonderful to work as a volcanologist and I would like to say THANK YOU to everybody who supported me.
My work and my life as a volcanologist continues...

16 years in volcanology-Part 1

I attended the meeting of International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI, 2013) in Kagoshima, Japan. 
One professor gave me photo files with a USB stick. When I opened it, I found a lot of photos in these 15 years. It reminds me of these 16 years since I started my volcanological career.

1997: I firstly joined the meeting of young volcanologist in Japan. It was in Unzen area.
I met Mr. Y, Mr. I, Mr. F, Mr. M, Mr. G, Mr. T etc... whom I met in the meeting this year. I didn't know anything about the volcanology, but they taught me a lot and I enjoyed this meeting. Especially, I was impressed by a guy who had already started the activity of hazard mitigation even though he was a young master student. He had an enthusiasm for hazard mitigation.

1998: This is a year I found my mentor. Prof. Okada was a professor of Hokkaido University and he worked in the Usu Volcano Observatory. I asked him for the internship during summer vacation. He accepted me and I stayed at volcano observatory for 10 days. He took me to many volcanoes in Hokkaido.

1998 Kid's school of Usu volcano

At first, we climbed up to the top of the volcano with kids. They repeat this summer school for an education of hazard mitigation for long years. (Maybe around 20 years) Some famous volcanologists joined this program and it was my honor to join this program.

Steam vent of Hokkaido  Komagatake volcano

We went to Hokkaido  Komagatake, which is located in the Oshima peninsula in Hokkaido. This volcano make really explosive eruptions and there are some steam vents on the summit area. We observed these vents with handy thermal camera. Jun, son of Prof. Okada joined this trip. He was a first year student of the university and I was a third year student at that time. Now, we are both researchers of volcanolgy!

Outcrop of Komagatake

As I was more geologist than geophysicist at that time, Prof. Okada showed me an outcrop of deposits from Komagatake volcano. Even though he has a meeting in Sapporo next day, he decided to stay around volcano in the night. In the next morning, we approached the outcrop. 

Kameiwa of Showa shinzan

Showa Shinzan is a special volcano for me. I read a book about Mr. Masao Mimatsu who observed the eruptive activity when the lava dome of Showa Shinzan is formed. I was moved his passion for observing the eruption and I started to think about becoming a volcanologist. On the day we climbed up to the volcano, we measured temperature of Kameiwa which is a part of volcano where we can detect high emission of heat.

Lava dome of Tarumae volcano

Tarumae volcano is mysterious. Its dome emerged in only two days of 1909. The top of the volcano was covered by cloud for two days and nobody could see how it formed. Lava of this dome is rich in plagioclase. When I saw the rock, I was happy to find a big crystal in it.

It was only 10 days but I felt it was like a month because I learned a lot. A passion for hazard mitigation of Prof. Okada was great!! I am very impressed by him and I thought "I would like to be a volcanologist like him". He tried to make a good relationship with people around the volcano. He talked to people and ask how they were. People know him and talk to him wherever we go.  He was a  "home doctor" of the volcanoes. I am very much impressed. I think this was my starting point. I started to think to be a professional volcanologist after this experience.

In year 2000, I entered graduate school of University of Tokyo for my master's degree.
Just one day before I start my master's degree, Usu volcano started its eruption.

Eruption of Usu volcano in 2000
(reference: http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=867)

I chose University of Tokyo because I wanted to study numerical simulation. If I had chosen Hokkaido University, I could have worked for this eruption. I thought "Oh my god! I made a wrong choice!".

To be continued...