“I would like to pursue a question to its logical conclusion until I am satisfied.” A female engineer leads the way in a world-class steelworks.
Stainless Steel Technology Section, Stainless Steel Division,
East Japan Works (Chiba District), JFE Steel Corporation
Shino Asakura
Off to a world of 1500°C 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Challenge by a young female engineer
There is a world where it’s 1500°C 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In that world, with very high temperature unknown in daily life and advanced technology, iron ore is dissolved like hot water, which then forms the basis for products indispensable to everyday life. It is the world of a blast furnace, the symbol of a steelworks. Impurities are thoroughly removed from flowing pig iron, the iron is turned into steel, the steel is gradually cooled down and hardened, and it is eventually forged into steel sheets after going through a number of manufacturing processes. Featuring the best of engineering, the world of steelworks is both deep and wide, and it continues to send out technological innovation and convenience into society. In April 2013, a young woman ventured into this world which has a reputation for being a “man’s industry.” Her name is Shino Asakura. She received a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Tohoku University and chose to enter the world of steelworks. It is not a field with easy success; real success is required as well as being constantly up-to-date with the latest technology. However, she has a principle that she began to naturally follow while at graduate school. This principle that she learned from her professor propelled her to advance into uncharted territory.
Entry into higher education in science and engineering and an interest in environmental problems. “Tohoku University is the place to seek both of these thing.”
While she works at a world-class steelworks in Japan, Ms. Asakura learned to play the piano as a child and dreamed of becoming a kindergarten teacher. Advancing into junior high school from elementary school, she realized that she was good at math and that she liked it. After graduating from junior high school and wanting to do something different from what others were doing, she decided to continue her studies not at an ordinary high school but at a technical college. “Looking back, that was a turning point in my life. After entering a technical college, my desire to learn ballooned, and I continued my studies to take an advanced course,” she says. After receiving a bachelor’s degree, she wanted to widen her future options so she aspired to obtain a master’s degree. One of the options that she then considered was the Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University. “I wanted to study science and engineering, and I also wanted to be involved in solving environmental problems which were frequently brought up in the news at the time. The place where I could do both was Tohoku University. I also thought that, if I were to obtain a master’s degree, I might as well study at a university pursuing cutting edge engineering like Tohoku University. It is also located in Miyagi where I was born and raised, so I had no doubt whatsoever about my choice,” she adds.
Tohoku University was precisely the place that she was looking for. And her passion for research never weakened for two years.
Ms. Asakura had no doubt when choosing her research lab at the Graduate School of Engineering at Tohoku University either. She says, “When I toured Tohoku University when I was still in technical school, I truly felt ‘this is it’ after seeing the research subject of a certain lab. This lab was the lab of the Department of Materials Science that was researching next-generation energy which is directly linked to solving environmental problems.” She found the place that she was looking for, and this joy lit her passion for research. After entering graduate school, she chose combustion efficiency improvement through oxygen permeating membranes as her main research subject and she learned materials engineering related to energy. During the fall of her second year, she attended a conference on materials science and presented the experimental data she accumulated herself. There, she gained the experience of having her own research recognized on a higher level. And then, once again, she found herself at a turning point. That was finding employment. She explains, “I was introduced to various companies by my seniors who received their degrees from the School of Engineering. Among those companies, I was particularly attracted to energy-related companies such as gas companies, an environment-related research institute and a steel manufacturer that earnestly explained the satisfaction and appeal of their work.” It was a choice between a large-scale steel manufacturer where she could utilize her knowledge of materials engineering, or a long yearned-for energy-related company. Wavering for the first time, it was a decision that would determine her life. Application deadlines were fast approaching, and she was left with mounting frustration.
Stainless Steel Technology Section, Stainless Steel Division,
East Japan Works (Chiba District), JFE Steel Corporation
Shino Asakura
Graduated from the Materials Science and Engineering Program, Miyagi National College of Technology (presently the Sendai National College of Technology) in 2009. Graduated and received a bachelor’s degree in Production Systems Engineering from the aforementioned Materials Science and Engineering Program in 2011. Completed and received a master’s degree from the Department of Materials Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University in 2013. Joined the JFE Steel Corporation in April 2013, and was assigned to the Stainless Steel Plant of the Stainless Steel Division, East Japan Works (Chiba District). Transferred to and currently works at the Stainless Steel Technology Section of the aforementioned Division in April 2014.