Satoru Shida

Please tell us about your current job (responsibilities, challenges, rewards, etc.).

I currently work at the Water and Disaster Management Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. After making budget requests to the Ministry of Finance, I allocate funds to various implementing bodies. As I work with a budget calculated in trillions of yen, considering what businesses are assets for the future of Japan is part of my daily life. In 2015, to counter the frequent floods in Japan, I worked on the creation of hazard maps and law amendments to promote evacuation measures in underground urban facilities. In the previous year, under the Kanto Regional Development Bureau, I participated in the survey and design of installations along the Arakawa River, held meetings with local citizens, and planned the dispatch of engineers in case of emergency. Visiting actual sites while working on laws and budgets allows me to really feel the dynamics of the organization.

How is the knowledge and experience gained at Tokyo Tech being utilized in your current position?

While dealing with the nation's finances, I have learned how the home is a microcosm of the country as a whole. A household must ensure that the size of a loan is proportionate to the size of the family's income. It must gauge what investments are required to ensure the security of that family, and decide how much is spent on nursing care, housing, and education. Governments do the same, but on a much larger scale. My university experiences were like a rehearsal for my current position. To use a few more analogies, the experiment equipment I worked with in the lab have now become large actual sites. My thesis corresponds to national measures and policies. My friends at university have now become the people around me who makes projects work. I am making use of everything I picked up at Tokyo Tech. The experience and quality of learning at the Institute is such that it can be directly applied to work life.

What are your future goals?

By working together with many different people and clearing various obstacles, sometimes through the sacrifices of local residents, we are improving social infrastructures. While the work I do is never mine alone, the final product is often so significant that I cannot help but feel a sense of accomplishment. My motto is "Leave something better for future generations." These things should serve their purpose for decades. Whether they are new and improved laws, policies, or designs, it does not matter, as long as they serve and move the heart of the people.

Please write a message to students aiming for Tokyo Tech.

University is like a transit point in life. Having Tokyo Tech as that transit point gave me lots of options. As a result, I was able to choose a life that I am happy with. Even if you are not sure what lies ahead, even if you don’t know what you want to do in the future, be confident and aim for Tokyo Tech, because there you will most certainly find what you want to do in life.

The content of this article was accurate at the time of the interview.

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