Asahi Education Forum 2020 "Space Research that Japan Boasts to the World: From Space Exploration to Business" (10/17 Forum Report)
On Saturday, October 17, 2020, the Asahi Education Forum 2020 (sponsor: Asahi Shimbun Co., Ltd., co-sponsor: Tokyo University of Science) was held as a live streaming Web event, based on the theme of "Space Research that Japan Boasts to the World: From Space Exploration to Business".
After opening remarks by Masataka Watanabe, President/CEO of Asahi Shimbun Co., Ltd., and TUS President Yoichiro Matsumoto, Specially Appointed TUS Vice President and Director of the Research Center for Space Colony, Chiaki Mukai, who is also Japan's first female astronaut with two spaceflights, took the stage as keynote speaker. Mukai introduced the advancement of space stay technology at TUS and approaches toward promoting its social implementation, centering on the topic of "Do you think about living on the moon?" She also touched on the space education program and delivered to the audience the message, "Take one more step towards your dream! Education realizes dreams."
Under the title, "Learning About Space at the Tokyo University of Science", presentations were made by Professor Koichi Yonemoto of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Faculty of Science and Technology on the theme of "Space Planning by a University-based Venture" and by Professor Shinichi Kimura of the Department of Electrical Engineering in the Faculty of Science and Technology on the theme of "Aiming for Space from Various Specialties", based on diverse experiences regarding the possibility of new space businesses and living sphere of space. After a break, a panel discussion was held, joined by the designer and artist Tomoe Shinohara, who had been interested in space and starry skies since she was a child, and who had studied Astronomy during her university years, in which the participants passionately discussed, "What kinds of dreams will come true in a future where mankind lives in space?"
The audience asked many questions, such as, "Can children also go to space?" and "What kinds of studies are necessary to be involved in space research?" The discussion was an extremely lively one, and the forum ended in success.
the Asahi Shimbun website
■<https://www.asahi.com/articles/DA3S14699240.html?iref=pc_ss_date>
Asahi Education Forum 2020
■<https://aef.asahi.com/2020/>
 Greeting by Masataka Watanabe, President/CEO of Asahi Shimbun Co., Ltd. |
 Greeting by President Yoichiro Matsumoto |
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 Specially Appointed Vice President Chiaki Mukai |
 Professor Koichi Yonemoto |
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 Professor Shinichi Kimura |
 Tomoe Shinohara |
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 Panel discussion |
 Group photo of speakers |