Please tell us about your field of expertise.
My field of specialization is natural product chemistry and bioorganic chemistry, where I study the chemical substances involved in biological phenomena and aim to clarify their functions.
Living organisms produce both primary metabolites and secondary metabolites. My research focuses on the synthesis of secondary metabolites.
Primary metabolites—such as sugars, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids—are essential for life. In contrast, secondary metabolites are not necessarily required for an organism’s survival, but many of them exert specific biological effects on other organisms. The most familiar example of a secondary metabolite is an antibiotic. When one organism (A) suppresses another organism (B), it may produce an antibiotic compound that weakens B. By isolating these secondary metabolites (antibiotics) from microorganisms, determining their chemical structures, and investigating their biological mechanisms, we can apply this knowledge to develop pharmaceuticals such as anti-infective agents.
In short, my research focuses on artificially synthesizing and applying secondary metabolites—natural resources created by living organisms—through organic chemistry.
What inspired you to pursue this research?
I have been fascinated by chemistry since high school and always knew I wanted to graduate from a chemistry-related field. Among the many branches of chemistry, I was drawn to organic chemistry, particularly the study of natural products (secondary metabolites). During my university years, I worked in a laboratory that investigated how the biological functions of natural products could be explained through chemical principles. Over time, I became especially captivated by synthetic chemistry. After completing my bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies in science and engineering, I joined a pharmaceutical company. I saw medicine as the most tangible way to contribute to humanity through chemical compounds. Later, an opportunity arose for me to enter the agricultural sciences, which led me to my current research.
Although my work in the agricultural field does not directly involve pesticide synthesis, I apply my expertise in natural product chemistry and bioorganic chemistry to contribute to agricultural research and innovation.
What do you find most rewarding about your research?
In the world of natural product chemistry, there is a kind of friendly competition—to be the first to achieve the total synthesis of a compound that no one else has yet synthesized. When I succeed in creating such a compound, it’s an incredibly satisfying moment.
Those results lead to publications and open new avenues for further research, such as exploring more efficient synthetic pathways and expanding applications to pharmaceuticals or agrochemicals.
The process itself is steady and meticulous, like climbing a mountain one careful step at a time—falling, adjusting, and moving forward again. That makes reaching the summit all the more rewarding.
What is your current research theme?
My current theme focuses on the chemical synthesis of chalcone-related compounds aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Chalcones are a type of secondary metabolite—specifically, members of the flavonoid and polyphenol families found in plants. Since these compounds are naturally present in plants that humans consume daily, they are considered to have high potential for environmental safety, even if used in agricultural applications.
However, the use of artificial compounds in the field must always consider soil load, ecosystem balance, and environmental impacts. Agriculture is directly linked to both human life and the environment, so I conduct my research with safety as the highest priority.
How does your research connect with other studies within Gtech?
Through genetic analysis by other Gtech researchers, we already know the gene sequences of microorganisms that contribute to reducing methane emissions in paddy fields. But even if we understand genetic information, that doesn’t mean we fully understand the biological phenomena themselves. My role within Gtech is therefore to approach the issue from the chemical side—specifically through secondary metabolites, rather than genes. Based on genetic sequences identified by other teams, I can hypothesize: “Perhaps these microorganisms produce this particular secondary metabolite.”
I then synthesize those candidate compounds—or structural variants of them—and use them to explore new mechanisms of interaction among microorganisms, plants, soils, and chemical compounds, aiming to uncover functions that contribute to greenhouse gas reduction.
What are your goals and mission in this research?
My goal is to create novel agricultural materials that have never existed before.
At Gtech, our research considers microorganisms, plants, soil, and the entire growing environment to determine how to effectively reduce greenhouse gas and methane emissions. I believe that within this process, we may discover new secondary metabolites with unique functions. In modern research, the concept of chemical biology has become increasingly important. With advances in this field, we now have powerful tools—for example, we can administer a secondary metabolite to a living organism and observe chemical reactions occurring instantaneously within its cells. This approach helps elucidate the functions of primary metabolites (such as proteins) involved in signal transduction.
By actively adopting such advanced techniques, I strive to conduct research that never loses sight of the guiding principle: creating compounds that are safe for the environment.
Do you have a message for those interested in Gtech?
While Gtech aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, I believe that at the heart of our work lies a more familiar theme—agriculture.
Agriculture is an indispensable human activity for food production, and I hope people will see that engaging in agriculture itself can be an act that contributes positively to the global environment.
Do you have a message for students?
Life can be understood through chemistry!
If you continue your research steadily and persistently, without giving up, you will eventually experience success—and that success will become your confidence.
My own motivation today is built upon the sense of achievement I gained from my research experiences as a university student.
Let’s take on challenges together through trial and error and discover new compounds that can change the world.