I can't imagine that he is working as a "space development engineer" in a "single company," but what kind of work is he doing?

Simply put, the job that was being done at the time will continue to be carried out as an external company. When a new device is created, we cannot take it to space right away, so we will conduct experiments under various conditions on the ground. We focus on consulting on these experiments, as well as designing and creating experimental environments.

Do you actually do it yourself before making it?

I agree. The other day, I just built and delivered an experimental facility myself (lol).
To tell you the truth, I liked to create things with my own hands, and I ended up quitting because I couldn't do that. After that, I started a company that manufactures and sells bicycles that are particular about handmade items, but my previous workplace asked me to help. I couldn't take a job at a bicycle company (lol), so I started a company called Hue CRAFT. Therefore, I focus on creating my own work, not leaving it to others.

Have you been interested in manufacturing since you were a child?

Well, that's true. I love LEGO and have been doing it for a long time. My father was a linear motor engineer, and my grandfather liked that. My grandfather was born in the Meiji era, but I fantasized about making models of electric railways from just one screw.

Perhaps because I grew up watching these things, I started playing with motorcycles when I was in high school, and I also worked on maintenance not only on my own bikes but also on the race team members.

In that sense, is it because of your father and grandfather who are currently working as engineers?

Due to various circumstances, my grandfather became a doctor rather than an engineer, but since he was a child, he was taken to family-invited events such as visiting a factory at my father's workplace, so I think he has been influenced by this. My father was a "desktop" developer who worked on designs and other things. I'm the type of person who wants to move my hands and make them. There are such differences though.

Is Nakajima likely to have an impact on your children too?

Everyone is already adults, but my eldest son, 23, has firmly inherited his desire to give up on his own, and is aiming to become an aircraft and ship engineer. He is completely science and engineering. My 20-year-old second daughter is currently looking for a job, but she seems to be aiming to work in aviation, and my 26-year-old eldest daughter is planning to design cycle wear in relation to the bicycle business I run.

amazing! In the first place, they're a very close family. Is there any secret?

Isn't it about not being forced? I have not generally done anything like "do it like this" about my career path or anything. All I did was support. As a result of growing up being told to study, I ended up not studying much, so I still work while studying every day (laughs). Can you say that you are using that as a negative teacher?

Has Nakajima ever taken his children to a factory tour or to an event at a company, as he had his father put them in his father's office? .

I agree. We also went to events open to the public and events for children to experience astronaut training menus.

My eldest son grew up to be a child who could play me and theories, rather than just me and my father's good habits. When I was 19, I was able to take my car apart and reassemble it (laughs).

That's amazing too. Nakajima and his family are close friends, how did they respond when they started their business?

I retired in 2019, but my children were quite large, so my wife and children didn't get any particular opposition. I started a bicycle shop with the feeling like, "I'll do whatever I want soon," and it was like that (laughs). After that, I was approached by a previous workplace and launched Hue CRAFT, a space development company.

My eldest son was in the year he was taking the university entrance exam, but he wanted to go to a Defense University, so he said, "I don't have to worry about money." On the other hand, my second daughter was in a second year of high school at the time, but she was a year when she was going to study in the United States, so I was quite busy (lol).

You are studying abroad, right? Did you have any purpose and let him study abroad?

No, no, he wanted to go at his own will, so he just pushed him. When I was in junior high school, my daughter suddenly brought me a pamphlet saying, "I want to study abroad," so I decided to just get the condition that I should get the Eiken Pre-2 or Level 2, but I quickly got it. "Well, it's a promise, so come on."

It's true that the Nakajima family's motto was "not force it." Is there anything else you have been trying to keep in mind when raising your child?

The basic premise is to understand the true meaning of "freedom" when you say "you can do it free," and keep it in a state where you can do it. As with the universe, things have a logic of "why is this way." I believe it is important to properly address the rules and background and communicate them, rather than pushing them over something without thinking about them.

I see. This means that the ability to think for yourself will improve through accumulation of these things. It looks quite difficult but...

In a specific episode, I think it was when my eldest son was in middle school. My eldest son, who was studying mathematics, asked me, "What will it be useful in the future, such as factorization or trigonometric functions?" So they opened Excel, wrote factorization formulas in cells and displayed calculations, and used CAD to draw triangles, displayed source code such as cosines, and showed them, and taught them, "Look, this is how adults use them."

I think it's cool to be able to face your child's questions seriously and present answers and hints. Finally, please feel free to send us any messages or advice for moms and dads raising children.

Although satellites are exposed to various uncertain disturbances, they have a solid axis so that they can stand independently and balance. If children are raised by that kind of skeleton, parents simply push them over, so it's easy (laughs). I think it's best to enjoy yourself without being too caught up in something like "responsibility" and do it while doing it.