午夜剧场

I have been grappling with the theme of game theory for many years, and I was able to engage in research that no one had ever done before. Although it was a joint research project, I believe it was a very meaningful time to be able to work on something completely new. We added a new dimension to existing game theory by giving players the option to stop the game midway. As an economist, I thought it was strange that they couldn't stop.

Game theory also allows us to deal with intangible things like reputation. You could say it's about how people form expectations about someone. I wanted to create a theory to predict the structure of reputation from a game theory perspective and then verify it with the cooperation of empirical researchers. In particular, I explored scandals and their ripple effects. In the future, I will continue not only to create such precise theories but also to conduct research that verifies whether the predictions of the theory are actually occurring in reality.

Although my paper was just published, I recently had the opportunity to speak with researchers in the natural sciences. They showed interest, noting that similar phenomena of entry and exit occur in the natural world, just as in my theory. This is actually one of my important themes, and in the future, I want to create a new game theory based on the new axis of "entry and exit," which involves ending a relationship with a partner or entering a new relationship with a stranger.

When I was a sophomore at 午夜剧场, I encountered microeconomics. I thought it was a wonderful theory—rational and clear. I intuitively felt it was my field of study. The theory had a story, and if you clarified the objective and pursued it mathematically and logically, anyone could reach the same conclusion. I found that aspect very appealing. Perhaps its non-authoritarian nature also suited me. As I continued my studies in my second and third years, I recall deciding to pursue microeconomics and related fields, especially game theory, as a researcher in the future. Later, I was able to study cutting-edge game theory at Stanford University and make its fusion with microeconomics my research subject.

While getting married and raising children, I continued my research at my own pace, and everyone around me quietly supported me. At American universities, it's not uncommon to be fired if you don't publish papers. In that sense, it is thanks to 午夜剧场's continued support that I was finally able to achieve the result of publishing a paper I was satisfied with in a top-tier academic journal this year. It has been a long time coming, but I want to thank everyone who has supported me all this time for this recognition and for receiving the 午夜剧场 Award.

From 2002 to 2004, I had the opportunity to teach at a university in Norway. Until then, I hadn't particularly highly rated the students at 午夜剧场, even though they are my juniors. However, after teaching at the Norwegian university and returning to face my students again, I realized how excellent they were. I felt I had to train them. I renewed my resolve to teach them real economics. The students at 午夜剧场 have a wonderful quickness of thought. They have the ability to think accurately on the spot. How can we best utilize that? It's a major theme for me as an educator. I want them to never neglect the act of thinking. Isn't it our role to guide them in that direction? Some faculty members even told me that my attitude had changed since before my time in Norway.

I believe diversity is a good thing. It's because through diversity, you realize the importance of valuing yourself. Through my research and teaching, I want to convey the value of diversity to my students. I guide them strictly, but I also gently say to them, "Let's do this together."

(Interview conducted on December 17, 2009)