THE ACE-
ENGINEERS
01
Takeshi
Kamikawa
Aiming to illuminate society and
people's lives through the technological
advancements in micro-LEDs.
#GroundbreakingMethodForMicro-LEDManufacturing
#DiveDeepIntoThoughtAndLoseYourself
#PersistEvenInTheFaceOfRepeatedFailures
#CultivateTheAbilityToConverseWithThings
Compared to conventional LEDs, micro-LEDs boast high performance despite
their small size. They are expected to be used in a variety of digital devices in
the future, but the difficulty of manufacturing micro-LEDs has been a challenge.
Takeshi Kamikawa from Kyocera has succeeded in developing a revolutionary
manufacturing method and is taking on the challenge of
commercializing a new generation of micro-LEDs.
PERSONALITY
- Name
- Takeshi Kamikawa
- Company
- KYOCERA Corporation
- Department
- Research Institute for
Advanced Materials and Devices
- Career History:
- In his previous position, he was involved in the development projects of LEDs and lasers, from basic research to mass production of nitride semiconductor light-emitting devices. Takeshi joined Kyocera to explore further possibilities in semiconductors. After working in an international laboratory in the U.S., he is currently focused on the development of a proprietary “Epitaxial Lateral Overgrowth GaN On Substrate” (EGOS) for Micro-LEDs.
- Achievements:
- Conducted fundamental research and contributed to the mass
production of nitride semiconductor laser devices for Blu-ray. - Led the research and development of high-efficiency solar cells.
- Spearheaded the development of proprietary EGOS for micro-LEDs that won
the Grand Prix in the Advanced Technology Category at CEATEC 2023.
- Hobbies / Interests:
- Mountain climbing
(has climbed 99 of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan). - Japanese paintings (especially from the Edo period).
How are you different from others?
I tend to get absorbed in things that interest me. When I get passionate about research, I concentrate so hard that I can't get anything else done.
What does your job mean to you?
It is a means to prove the significance of my existence and how far I can contribute to society as a researcher.
When is the most thrilling moment for you in your work?
The moment when I am convinced of success after repeated failures and the investigation of cause and effect relationships.
What is the biggest failure and lesson you have learned in your life?
When I was on a solar cell development team, I was embarrassed because my knowledge and experience were not applicable. I leveraged this chance to relearn and renew my mind.
Tell us a secret confession.
I often find that my thoughts become organized and self-resolved while engaging in conversation with others. Additionally, there are times when a new inspiration strikes, prompting a desire to conclude the discussion as fast as possible.
If you could take one thing with you
to a deserted island,
what would it be?
Maps. I can spend forever looking at them, helping me pass the time.
If you could make anything, what would it be?
I like the Edo period, so I would like to build a time machine and go and explore the real conditions of that time.
What do you do on your days off?
I often go mountain climbing. I enjoy relaxing in an environment full of nature, which is the complete opposite of the lab. I climbed a lot of mountains during my assignment in the U.S., including the World Heritage Site of the Canadian Rockies.
What is your most prized possession?
A traditional Japanese craft Iga pottery vase that I have. I think it is supposed to be around 400 years old. I am interested in antiques as well as paintings from the Edo period. It is not particularly expensive, but I like it because I can appreciate its charm and the passage of time.
INTERVIEW
School Days
Determination to enjoy my research changed my life.
Although I had been involved in the semiconductor field since I was a student, I did not find it particularly rewarding, and I even thought that research was boring. The turning point was an encounter with a fellow researcher. I had an opportunity to talk with a researcher from a company with which we had a joint development project, and I could tell that he was truly enjoying his research. I was deeply impressed by the idea that it is up to you whether you enjoy your research or not. Once I started trying to enjoy my research, my behavior changed, and positive results soon followed naturally. Today, I am still challenging myself to do my own original research in the industry, repeating trial and error every day, but I believe that a research career is my true calling. That experience completely changed my way of thinking and was a major turning point for me.
Impressive Episode
Success awaits those who overcome insecurities and difficulties.
After joining Kyocera, I was given the opportunity to conduct research in the United States in the laboratory of Dr. Shuji Nakamura, a leading LED researcher and a Nobel Prize recipient. I started my research there in an attempt to tackle a theme that no one had yet achieved, but when I was unable to produce any results, I became despondent and lamented to Dr. Nakamura, "Will my research be successful?” His reply was, "I wouldn't know. Research is a gamble."
I remember feeling ashamed of myself for having decided to take on such an intractable theme and then nearly failing. He also told me, " When someone achieves it, it will become the norm." What is now considered impossible will easily become ordinary if someone succeeds in making it happen. I believe that this is an encouragement that success awaits us after we overcome our insecurities and difficulties. It is often said among researchers that "there is no limit to technology" and "where there is a will, there is a way." I realized once again that it is important to keep challenging without giving up.
FUTURE VISION
As a researcher, I want to master the essence of "light" as I work on the commercialization of LEDs.
Research is not all fun and games; in fact, it is a series of failures. What I try to do is to think of models in order to approach success while repeating failures. From "facts" such as experimental results and data, I evaluate and consider them from all perspectives to extract as much information as possible. I value the process of exploring the path to success, learning from failures, and being taught by facts. Furthermore, while it is important to "sell chips (semiconductors)" through commercialization, as a researcher, I also want to pursue the true essence of matters, so I hope to take on the challenge of "selling light" and "illuminating the world" through my research in LED technology.
To learn more, please visit:
https://global.kyocera.com/newsroom/news/2022/000652.html
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Comment from a fellow colleague
Yoshinobu Kawaguchi
- A junior employee in the same department
People around us often say, “Kamikawa’s ideas are bold and unique.” However, I think the fact that he has studied so much to come up with such ideas is what we should really respect. He is also enthusiastic about mentoring younger employees and has remarkable leadership skills.