Have you ever observed the aurora from Antarctica ?

Taking part in aurora research and staying in Antarctica as a member of the wintering party seem like incredible opportunities. Why did you choose such research ?

Ever since childhood, I have loved nature. I was especially interested in stars and other heavenly bodies. While at university, I did a special geophysics study which included research on earthquakes, the atmosphere and the ocean. Out of those three, I took special interest in the physics of the upper atmosphere. I think that was the start. This was also just after one of my professors at the time had just returned to Japan after leading one of the Antarctic wintering parties. I may have been influenced by that, as well.

It is a hard place to imagine, but what is Antarctica like ?

As long as you stay inside the Syowa Station, it is quite comfortable and not as severe as you might think. Hokkaido's cold climate may be rather severe. However, at the inland Dome Fuji Station, the average temperature is -35°C in the summer and about -65°C in the winter. This is because it is located on the top of an ice sheet with an altitude of over 3,800m. It is a very severe environment with 60% air density compared with that of the surface of the sea. If I step out of the station, the barren landscape is very beautiful. I often took pictures, and not only of the aurora but also of the glowing skies of the morning and evening. These views were stunning. There are certain clouds that only appear in the stratosphere around the polar regions, called Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs). These clouds shine with a reddish-violet light after the sun sets over the horizon. The views I had there made a strong impression on me.