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- Mari Kuroiwa
- Professor, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University
Even if you take a break along the way, or ask someone for help,
Never give up on your research.
LILAS
Leaders for people with innovation,
Liberty and Ambitions.
A series of interviews with female researchers introducing leading female leaders who are at the forefront of their fields.LILASLilac means lilac in French, and is also known as the flower of Sapporo. Along with plant arrangements inspired by the interview content, we will be sharing this original interview series, conveying messages about the strength, flexibility, and diversity that plants possess.
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The third person featured is Mari Kuroiwa from the Faculty of Science. Ms. Kuroiwa studies sex determination, specifically how sex is determined in mammals and birds. Her research career, which began during her child-rearing years, has certainly not been easy, but she says she has continued her research to this point, cherishing the words of encouragement she received from a female researcher when she obtained her doctorate. She also says she wants to make Hokkaido University even better by actively participating in university affairs.
In research, originality; in education, autonomy.
As someone running a research lab, what are some of the strategies or challenges you face in balancing research and management?
I have two children, and although things are a little easier now that they're older, it was very difficult when they were little. I became a lecturer immediately after getting my degree and started teaching students, but at the time my children had illnesses and were in and out of the hospital for about 10 years.
In terms of research, I pursued originality, avoided following research trends, and adopted a policy of conducting research at my own pace.
Regarding education, I explained my situation to students before they joined the lab, emphasizing the need for them to approach research with independence, and I ensured they chose the lab after understanding and agreeing to my approach. Of course, neither research nor education always went as ideally as planned; there were times when competitors appeared, and I struggled with guidance strategies.
The professors and staff understood the situation, and even offered advice to students when I wasn't there. The support and understanding from those around me were invaluable.
Decide what you're going to do that day and just get on with it quickly.
Did you have any strategies for managing your time?
Since I had to pick up my child from daycare by 6 p.m., I had to leave the lab before 5:30 p.m. My husband helped with housework and picking up the child, so we shared the responsibilities, but I basically made sure to finish my tasks for the day by 5 p.m. every day. I haven't changed that routine now that my child is older, and I still do it because it's difficult for the students to leave until I'm gone.
My strength is my ability to quickly switch gears. I was able to switch between tasks as quickly as possible and finish various tasks within the given time.
However, this might not be a good thing. Because we have set time limits, there is no room for flexibility. In research and education, relationships are built and good ideas are born when there is flexibility, even in seemingly wasted time. Trust is built through casual conversations and chats during commutes, making work easier, and new ideas are born in unexpected moments. When supporting students, I try to keep discussions about experiments and research short so that students can maintain their concentration. On the other hand, I make an effort to spend more time talking to students about things outside of research, such as their future and anything that makes them anxious, and I also place importance on providing mental support.
Now we have two assistant professors and a postdoc, so having other people to consult with besides me is one way things are running smoothly.
Women often experience life events that interrupt their research. It's okay to interrupt it, but I want them to restart it, no matter how long it takes.
Do you have anyone you consider a role model?
My role model is Professor Hiroko Tsukamura (Vice President for Gender Equality and Diversity until March 2024) of the Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences at Nagoya University, where I was affiliated until obtaining my doctorate. She has been involved in gender equality activities for a long time and has been a great source of support for me. Professor Tsukamura and I are in different fields, so there is no research connection between us, but after my degree conferment ceremony, she spoke to me at a get-together and encouraged me by saying, "There are few women who have earned degrees recently, so I have high hopes for you and I want you to do your best." She also said, "Women often have life events that interrupt their research. It's okay to interrupt it, but never give up. It doesn't matter how long it takes, but I want you to definitely restart," and I vowed in my heart that I would never give up.
When my son was hospitalized and my research activities were interrupted, I worried that I might not be able to continue my research, but I remembered Professor Tsukamura's words.
My research role model is Professor Mary Lyon. She is famous for discovering the X chromosome inactivation phenomenon in mammals, and when she passed away, an obituary was published in Nature.
Another person I admire is Professor Jennifer Graves from Australia. She is a leading expert in the evolution of sex chromosomes and, even in her 80s, is still an active professor. She was someone I looked up to when I was a student. Now, as a researcher myself, I have achieved a certain level of success, and I have the opportunity to consult with her on research and even share wine with her.
You mentioned that your research models are based on researchers from overseas, but are there really few female researchers in Japan?
I think the number is small. Researchers from overseas often point out the scarcity of female researchers in Japan. Gender inequality in Japan is well-known abroad, and the situation is worse than in other Asian countries. In Japan, the gender ratio imbalance among university students is also a problem.
Regardless of gender, what I consider most important when nurturing doctoral students is helping them accumulate a large body of work. My supervisor told me to publish papers regardless of whether I was a woman or not. There are various approaches to publishing papers. Some researchers prioritize quality, while others prioritize quantity (number) over quality. My supervisor leaned towards the latter, always saying that even the smallest data is meaningless unless it is published as a paper. I take the same stance when guiding my students. I also try to give them as many opportunities as possible to present their work at academic conferences and other venues.
My biggest ambition is for my research to be included in a textbook.
Could you tell me about your contributions to the university organization and your research field as a university faculty member?
For the past seven years, I have served as an assistant to the president of this university, responsible for public relations and social engagement. Furthermore, Hokkaido University will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2026, and I am in charge of the planning and management committee for the commemorative projects. I took on the role of assistant to the president shortly after becoming a professor, so I was initially somewhat bewildered. However, I believe it is important for young people and women to be involved in university management, and I have continued in this role, considering it my mission.
I've been conducting research at Hokkaido University for a long time, and I have a strong attachment to it. I want to make Hokkaido University even better, and to that end, I want to be involved in and contribute to the university's management.
My biggest ambition in research is to have my research published in a textbook.
My research has been used in entrance exams at other universities and as material for lectures, so this ambition is gradually becoming a reality. I hope that my work will be featured in high school textbooks and books from other countries, so that people all over the world will get to know me, Kuroiwa of Hokkaido University, and help spread the name of Hokkaido University to the world.
I've gradually come to feel that my research is becoming more widely known both domestically and internationally for about the past ten years. Domestically, it's often featured on television and in newspapers. However, I believe that media appearances and academic recognition are two different things. I think that for a researcher to truly achieve results, they need to be recognized globally.
Two years ago, I achieved a result that I was personally very pleased with: the world's first discovery of a new sex determination mechanism in mammals. This was widely reported overseas, following an English press release from our university. At that time, I received congratulatory messages directly from prominent researchers abroad, and the news was also covered extensively in countries and regions outside of English-speaking countries.
When I visited Australia for an international conference, I told the abstract submission desk my research title and they said, "I know about your research. It was in the news and is well-known in Australia." The person was an employee of the event company that was contracted to run the conference, not a researcher themselves, but I was surprised that even members of the general public knew about it, and it made me realize that my research is widely known on a global scale.
As a way to contribute to research, I also place great importance on building international networks. Although I have no experience studying abroad and am not proficient in English, I have made efforts to increase opportunities to build networks by contacting prominent researchers overseas and inviting them to Japan, and by proactively engaging in conversations and communication at academic conferences. I encourage my students to study abroad, and we also have international students in our lab, so we encourage interaction with international students as well. I tell my students to look at the world, but due to the weak yen, it has become more difficult for them to participate in international conferences for financial reasons, and the submission fees for international journals are also high, making it difficult for them to publish papers.
Currently, there is a movement to request an increase in funding for scientific research in Japan, but I feel that if things continue as they are, Japanese scientific research will be ruined. Talented individuals are leaving the country to take well-paying positions overseas.
I personally focus on research topics that can only be pursued in Japan, and I consciously strive to possess strengths that can only be found in Japan. My goal is to contribute to scientific research in Japan.
What kind of activities do you engage in as a form of social contribution?
Regarding my contribution to society, since my research deals with the topic of "sexuality," I believe it is of high interest to the general public and easy to engage with. I am conscious of making my research known to many people, encouraging them to take an interest in the life sciences field, and raising awareness of sexual diversity.
The publisher comes up with the titles and blurbs for my books. They sometimes include slightly shocking taglines to make them appealing to a wider audience, but the main message I want to convey is about sexual diversity. I hope that this message reaches as many readers as possible.
My new book, "The Tragedy of 'Y': The Truth About the Disappearance of the Y Chromosome Faced by Men," published this year (May 2024), is a general-interest book, so I aimed for clarity while incorporating cutting-edge research. Also, because I carefully included citations to provide solid evidence, it ended up taking three years to publish.
My editor is incredibly enthusiastic, even going around to bookstores with self-made promotional materials. Whether it's research, teaching, or writing, I find the connections I make with people the most enjoyable. I'm somewhat introverted myself, but I value those connections in all my activities.
When things get tough, rely on someone, and never give up on your research.
Please give a message to researchers who are aiming for higher positions.
It's okay to take breaks along the way, but I want you to persevere. I absolutely don't want you to quit. What you can do may vary depending on your position, but no matter what form it takes, I absolutely don't want you to quit.
When things get tough, please rely on someone. Sometimes, you might find yourself in a situation where your position is promoted but your workload increases, even though the environment isn't suitable. When things get tough, please rely on someone. If you don't have anyone nearby to rely on,DEII encourage you to consult with the headquarters staff or any Hokkaido University faculty members (male or female) who are also involved in that role. Even if it doesn't directly lead to a solution, simply talking about it can lighten your burden and help you move forward. I've had that experience myself.DEIThe Promotion Headquarters values the network of female researchers, so we would love for you to expand your network of connections.
LILAS
Library
LILAS
Plant
Things that were taken for granted until now were not. It is composed of unlikely, or at least seemingly unlikely, combinations of things like trumpet lily buds and rose petals, grapes and carnations.
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Lily
Scientific name: Lilium maculatum Thunb Family and genus: Liliaceae, Lilium
- You can see giant lilies blooming on the Hokkaido University campus.
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Dianthus
Scientific name: Dianthus Family and genus: Caryophyllaceae, Dianthus
- Many varieties grow wild in Hokkaido.
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Hermanus
Scientific name: Rosa rugosa Family and genus: Rosaceae, Rosa
- It is very cold-hardy and grows wild in many coastal areas. It is a wild species of rose.
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Grape
Scientific name: Vitis Family and genus: Vitaceae
- The genus of the grape in the photo is unknown. It is thought to be either a reversion to an ancestral form or a hybrid with wild grape.
LILASThis is part of the Hokkaido University 150th Anniversary Project. Hokkaido University will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2026.
