Contributing to Fundamental Research for a Future Where Humanity Lives in Space
— Associate Professor Yuji Yamashita, Chiba Institute of Science
| 2020/09/10 | Associate Professor Yuji Yamashita, Department of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba Institute of Science *Currently Professor, Department of Life Function Science, Faculty of Chemistry and Life Science, Kanagawa University |
Associate Professor Yuji Yamashita Associate Professor Yuji Yamashita specializes in interfacial and colloid chemistry, focusing on fundamental research into the emulsification of compounds found in cosmetics, as well as studies on solution properties and skin physiology.
His research has received high acclaim both in Japan and internationally. In 2013, his work on “Development of a Novel Index Representing Surfactant Properties” earned the Gold Poster Award at the Materials Technology Research Association Symposium, and in 2015, his study on “Emulsion Breakdown Processes: A Novel Evaluation Method Using a Simulated Microgravity Field” won the Poster Award at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Japan Oil Chemists’ Society. He was also selected as a finalist for The Cosmetic Victories 2020, hosted by Cosmetic Valley in France.
Currently, he serves as the project leader for the Japanese team in the international collaborative “EDDI Project,” which continues to advance research in this field.
EDDI Project:
An international project approved by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2018, aimed at investigating and elucidating the properties and behaviors of surfactants, foams, and emulsions under microgravity conditions. The project brings together a team of interfacial science researchers from Europe, the United States, Japan, and other countries.
Ongoing International Collaborative Project
――― Kyowa/Kamei: Could you tell us about your research field?
Assoc. Prof. Yamashita: At the Cosmetics Science Laboratory at Chiba Institute of Science, I work with students on fundamental research related to emulsification, as well as functional evaluations of emulsifiers (surfactants).
Most of our work focuses on basic research that cosmetic companies or raw material manufacturers can’t really tackle. That said, sometimes raw material manufacturers do ask us to evaluate the interfacial properties of new active ingredients. For those evaluations, we often make use of Kyowa Interface Science’s tensiometers.
――― Kyowa/Kamei: You’re serving as the project leader for the Japanese team in the international collaborative “EDDI Project,” right?
Assoc. Prof. Yamashita: Yes. This project is focused on observing emulsions under microgravity conditions. For example, on Earth, water and oil won’t emulsify without surfactants or other agents, but in the zero-gravity environment of space, they can. That raises questions, like whether emulsions would remain stable indefinitely in microgravity. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the properties and behavior of emulsions under such conditions, and uncovering those mysteries is the main goal of our research.
The fundamental data we gather from this work could be extremely useful when humanity eventually starts living in space. I began this research back in 2013, and over time, we’ve had support from Kyowa Interface Science as well as JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). Then in 2018, the European Space Agency (ESA) approved it as an international collaborative project, which allowed us to work together with universities and research institutions, mainly in Europe.
――― Kyowa/Kamei: Have there been any experiments conducted before that observe emulsions under microgravity conditions like this?
Assoc. Prof. Yamashita: Actually, there’s only been one experiment conducted so far. But carrying out experiments in space is expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, in our collaborative research, we use a tabletop device that can simulate microgravity on Earth. This allows us to study the mechanisms behind emulsions and also gain insights that could be applied to our field of expertise, cosmetic science.
Kyowa Interface Science: The Strongest Ally in Our Research
▲President Kamei and Mr. Chiba 
――― Kyowa/Kamei: So, what inspired you to start this project in the first place?
Assoc. Prof. Yamashita: It all started when Tokyo University of Science approached me about a project with JAXA. At first, I didn’t really plan to pursue it seriously. Our lab didn’t even have the necessary equipment, like tensiometers, and I wasn’t sure if the theme would even work as a research project. But as I got into the experiments, I started noticing unexpected and interesting results. Looking at the data, I thought, “If I really dive into this, it might even be applicable to my current research.” Before I knew it, I was completely absorbed. It was a theme that no one had tackled before, and as a researcher, I found it really fascinating.
――― Kyowa/Kamei: So, as you really got into the research, what made you reach out to our company?
Assoc. Prof. Yamashita: To carry out this research, we needed an optical microscope with a small camera. The problem was, there just wasn’t a commercially available model that fit what we needed. We even asked a few lens and camera manufacturers if they could make a custom unit for us, but they said making just one for our use would be really difficult.
That’s when I thought, "Maybe Kyowa Interface Science could lend us a hand." You’re well-known in the field of interface science, and I hoped you’d be able to understand what our research was all about. So, we reached out to you.
And just as I expected, Kyowa was really interested in our research theme and we clicked right away. Since then, you’ve helped us not just with developing the optical microscope, but also with other equipment we need for our experiments, like tensiometers. I’m truly grateful for all the support you’ve given us right from the very start of our research.
――― Kyowa/Kamei: From our side, we’ve provided the small camera and microscope, but I’ve heard from the development team that this was a really challenging order. Mr. Chiba, could you tell us what kind of difficulties you faced?
――― Kyowa/Chiba: I remember the first time I joined the project meetings. Every time we heard requests from Dr. Yamashita, JAXA, and the professors at Tokyo University of Science, the level of difficulty really hit me. For example, to observe the emulsion under the microscope, we needed a camera, lens, and light source. But the heat from the light could actually move the emulsion, so we had to keep anything that generated heat as far away from it as possible. There were many other challenges too, and it felt like solving a puzzle in a very tight space. We tackled each problem step by step, experimenting and figuring out what we could do within the limits.
Even though the observation setup isn’t perfect yet, I was really thrilled the first time Dr. Yamashita could actually see the emulsion he wanted to observe—it was amazing to see him so happy.
――― Kyowa/Kamei: This is such an exciting project, and we really wanted to be part of it and support the research. I think we share the same feeling as Dr. Yamashita—a desire to contribute to the future of humanity. While supporting this project, we also hope to grow together.
Students Praise the Device for Its Easy and Intuitive Operation
――― Kyowa/Kamei: Dr. Yamashita, your lab has been using our surface tensiometer, the DY-300, quite a bit. How are you finding it?
Assoc. Prof. Yamashita: We mainly use it for student experiments, and the students really appreciate how easy it is to use. Any questions about the settings or operation are explained very clearly, so everyone finds it really handy. Also, the manuals are in Japanese, which makes it much easier to understand compared to instruments from overseas manufacturers that are usually in English.
――― Kyowa/Kamei: When choosing instruments like this, what aspects do you usually prioritize?
Assoc. Prof. Yamashita: After-sales support. Compared to manufacturers who just sell the equipment and move on, I feel much more comfortable using instruments from companies that continue to provide support after installation. Kyowa Interface Science is great in that regard—the response is quick whenever we reach out by email. When we introduce new equipment, Kyowa meets the delivery deadlines, which makes it easier for us to plan our experiments.
――― Kyowa/Kamei: Thank you. Do you have any other requests or suggestions for our company?
Assoc. Prof. Yamashita: As a researcher, I really appreciate getting information about new evaluation methods. Recently, for example, Kyowa introduced us to software for evaluating the stability of liquid films, which is used to measure the stability of beer foam. It makes me think, "How could we apply this to something in our own work?" It’s really helpful to regularly receive information like this about new evaluation methods or products.
――― Kyowa/Kamei: We’d also like to continue moving forward with the EDDI project.
Assoc. Prof. Yamashita: Our research has only just started, so it hasn’t drawn much attention yet. But we plan to continue building the fundamental research, and we hope to grow it into something that will attract interest from many directions. I also hope that we can maintain a good relationship with Kyowa Interface Science, sharing ideas and information with each other as we move forward.
――― Kyowa/Kamei: We also look forward to taking on various challenges together with you, Dr. Yamashita. Thank you very much for your time today.