Plasma accounts for more than 99% of matter in the universe: a passion for endless possibilities.
Professor of Plasma Science Engineering Laboratory, Department of Electronic Engineering, the Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University
Toshiro Kaneko
Beyond a strong “desire to know” was the fourth state of matter, which could be called the “origin of life.”
The sun that nurtures life on earth, solar winds that shoot out enormous amounts of energy, lightning coursing beneath dark clouds, the aurora that beautifully paints the night sky: all of these are composed of a certain substance, and the name of that substance is plasma. After solids, liquids and gasses, this fourth state of matter, plasma or “ionized gas,” accounts for more than 99% of the matter in the universe. It could be called the “origin of life,” and in modern times, it is indispensable in our daily lives as it is used in televisions, fluorescent lights, air purifiers, car headlights, and more. About half a century has passed since research into plasma began in earnest. At the Tohoku University’s School of Engineering, various projects involving the application of plasma are presently in progress. One individual at the forefront of these projects is Professor Toshiro Kaneko of the Department of Electrical, Information and Physics Engineering. He actively promotes coordination between engineering and medicine, medical engineering, pharmacology, agriculture and other fields, and is a plasma researcher who receives many invitations to give lectures at overseas conferences. Recently, he has been involved in research on cancer treatments using plasma, and in organic strawberry cultivation. He has been fascinated with electricity from an early age, and it was his persistent, straightforward “desire to know” that led Professor Kaneko—who was attracted to the joy of immersing oneself in research—to become a researcher.
From the gates of engineering to the first days of experiment: a childhood fascination fulfilled.
Once, he dismantled a computer in order to investigate the design of its wiring and machinery. At another time, he frequented a science museum and researched electric motors so thoroughly that he attained enough mastery to enter his own work into an exhibition. “I was born and raised in Sendai, and when I was in elementary school, I visited the Sendai City Science Museum numerous times. For some reason or another, I liked electricity, science and those kinds of things. But from elementary school until high school, my club activities were all sports-related. I wasn’t even in the science club, and my days were only about sports, so it wasn’t like I was doing experiments as a hobby.” He reached a crossroads during his preparations for university entrance examinations. He wanted to go into the world of electricity that interested him so much as a child. Professor Kaneko, who felt that he was at a big turning point in his life, decided that he might as well take the examination for Tohoku University’s School of Engineering if he was going to be serious about his studies. He admirably passed. After entering the university and with a view toward the future, he added to his foundation of knowledge and waited to be assigned to his senior year laboratory. He was then assigned to the plasma laboratory. “It felt like ‘this is it.’ Truthfully speaking, plasma wasn’t that familiar to me then, and I remember being overwhelmed by a huge experimental device. It was my first time being immersed in experiments day after day. There were times when I even pulled all-nighters. But the nature of experimentation is that no matter what the style or set-up is, there will be some kind of result. That was interesting to me, and I went deep into it.”
An encounter with plasma research that taught the joys of accolade.
“They say that the origin of life probably lies in lightning. Lightning is composed of plasma. In other words, the plasma that I am doing my research on may be the key that will unlock the origin of life itself. That’s exciting.” An encounter with the appeal of research, an encounter with plasma: seeing doors open one after another only served to deepen Professor Kaneko’s fascination. After graduating from the School of Engineering, he continued his studies at Tohoku University’s Graduate School of Engineering. His research theme was nuclear fusion plasma, and he devoted himself to experiments for his master’s degree thesis. He then had an opportunity to present at a conference that greatly impacted his life. He says, “During the second year of my master’s degree program, I was given the chance to present at a conference regarding the results of my experiments on how to make an electric wall that would confine plasma. The people who listened to my presentation were people from research institutes and professors who were succeeding in the forefront of plasma research, and they appreciated my work, saying, ‘That new mechanism is interesting!’ Thinking that they thought of my research as something with value, I was happy.” Research also has appeal in the recognition received from others. To be recognized by researchers who were older than him, who had more achievements than him, made Professor Kaneko decide to continue researching for the rest of his life.
Professor of Plasma Science Engineering Laboratory, Department of Electronic Engineering, the Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University
Toshiro Kaneko
Graduated from the School of Engineering, Tohoku University in 1992. Completed the primary part of his doctor’s degree program from the same university’s Graduate School of Engineering in 1994. Completed the secondary part of his doctor’s degree program in 1997 and became a research associate of the same Graduate School of Engineering in the same year. After being an associate professor, he was appointed as professor in 2012. His research fields are: plasma science, plasma nanoelectronics, and electronic and electric materials engineering. He received the “Chen Ning Yang Award” from the Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies in which the Physical Society of Japan and the Japan Society of Applied Physics are members.