As part of our 20th anniversary efforts, following the previous interview with Mr. Takahiro Ode, Nanophoton’s first president, we interviewed Mr. Shoichi Nakano, who served as a director of Nanophoton and supported Nanophoton at the time of its founding. (Newsletter Editor / Ryo Harada)

Mr. Shoichi Nakano　 (Former Deputy General Manager, R&D Headquarters, Sanyo Electric Co.)

ーPlease tell us how you became involved with Nanophoton at that time.

Nakano – – I was working at Sanyo Electric’s research laboratory, developing sensors and other solar cells. While I was working as the head of the research laboratory there, I had the opportunity to listen to a lecture by Dr. Kawata. I remember how impressed I was with what I heard. I continued to listen to Dr. Kawata’s lectures and thought it was truly amazing that he wanted to innovate the university. So, hoping to inspire young researchers, I asked Dr. Kawata to come to Sanyo Electric’s research center and give a lecture to our researchers. That was my first opportunity to get involved with Dr. Kawata.

Nakano – – After retiring from Sanyo in 2003, I wanted to assist Dr. Kawata in his university reform efforts, which the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology was also focusing on, so I asked him and he said, “By all means,”. I was assigned to Osaka University’s FRC (Frontier Research Center, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University) as a specially-appointed professor. There, I supported Dr. Kawata’s university reforms.
Later, Dr. Kawata started Nanophoton as a way to solve the problem that the results of university research were not being connected to society. I felt that what Dr. Kawata was doing was very important, so I quit my position as a special-appointment professor at Osaka University and joined Nanophoton in 2004 as an advisor. I wanted to support Nanophoton in any way I could by utilizing my experience in the private sector.

─ What did you do at Nanophoton?

Nakano – – I became an advisor in 2004 and a director in August 2005. I then became an auditor in October and served until December 2013. I have supported Nanophoton by leveraging my experience at Sanyo Electric, a large corporation. Specifically, I shared with Nanophoton the research procedures and rules that I had developed at Sanyo Electric. In addition, Dr. Kawata was an all-around leader of the company, so I acted as a buffer between the younger generation and Dr. Kawata. Also, as an auditor, I closely watched how money was used and so on.

ーWhat kind of company was Nanophoton at the time?

Nakano – – Unlike the way large companies do things, I was impressed that everyone at the company was actively conducting research under the direction of the professor. In a private company, there is a strong hierarchical relationship, and things are done under the flow of instructions, but at Nanophoton, each person was an expert in his or her field of research at the university, so there was a lot of vitality. The level of researchers at Nanophoton was really high. Because the number of employees was small, the roles required of each person were large.

ーWhat kind of presence did Chairman Kawata have in your life? Do you have any memories that stand out in your mind?

Nakano – – Mr. Kawata was a very powerful and strict boss for the employees, but we all wanted to follow him because we all admired his technical skills and his way of thinking. When I had the opportunity to go on business trips with Dr. Kawata, I remember how he would quickly figure out which way to go, which car to take at the station, and how to get to his destination efficiently. I was amazed that he had the information of a navigation system in his head. In addition, while he was a rational person, I was also amazed at his willingness to create new mechanisms while overcoming them and creating the next one.

ーWhat do you think of Nanophoton today from an outside perspective compared to back then?

Nakano – – Nanophoton has developed steadily and grown into a solid company. You have achieved a lot of success in getting your products out into the world and receiving recognition, and I can feel that you are working with confidence. I understand that you are aiming to expand overseas in the future, and I hope that you will continue to make great strides overseas.

ーLastly, do you have a message for Nanophoton?

The reputation of Japanese science and technology is declining, so I hope that Nanophoton will continue to make progress as a company with high aspirations to enhance Japan’s reputation.

ーThank you very much, Mr. Shoichi Nakano. 20 years ago, you were involved with Nanophoton, and I could feel your warm feelings for Nanophoton even now. We will do our best to carry on Mr. Nakano’s thoughts and wishes, and all of our current employees will do their best to make even greater strides. In the next issue, we will continue to unravel the history of Nanophoton by interviewing everyone who was involved in the early days of Nanophoton.

（Translated by DeepL）