Welcome
My name is Seiichi Sakamoto. I am an astronomer currently working for Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). As a professor and director for space science outreach, I am in charge of education, public outreach, and external relations with respect to space science. My major goal is to popularize science in general (with particular emphasis on space science, of course), and to promote scientific way of thinking.
My major research field is radio astronomy, particularly interstellar molecular clouds' structure, spatial distribution, kinematics, physical and chemical conditions, and formation and evolution. I am also interested in the formation of stars and planetary systems, and the formation and evoluton of galaxies, on which interstellar molecular clouds play major roles. My Ph.D. thesis is on "Physical conditions of molecular gas in the Galaxy" based on the Galactic plane survey observations with one of the world's smallest radiotelescopes (Very Small Telescope-1) located at Nobeyama, Japan. At National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) where I spent years as a postdoc, research associate, and associate professor, I observed with the radio telescopes at Nobeyama Radio Observatory. I later joined Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) project -- the largest radio telescope under construction in Andean 5000-m altitude plateau in Chile. I believe the know-hows on project management and external relations that I have accumulated will help promoting space science.
I have very wide field of interest other than my major research field. For instance, I enjoyed working as a leader of site evaluation and safety operations teams and conducted atmospherical and geophysical measurements and mountain sicknesses.
I am a rare "maccho" astronomer. When I was an undergraduate at the University of Tokyo, I was a member of the Light Blue Blades (University of Tokyo Rowing Club). Our eight won the All-Japan Intercollegiate Championship and the Japanese Delegationship of the Universiade Games (Zagleb) in 1987. In 1988, I captained the Club, and our eight got the second grade of the All-Japan Championship. Trying very hard to be a top athlete during these four years made me a scientist.
My family name "SAKAMOTO" resembles "SAKE MOTTO (More Sake!)". I thus love drinking, but recently had a gout...