Shomei Kobayashi

Disclaimer

This transcript is based on a written interview conducted between Shomei Kobayashi and Beatriz Martinez-Rius. The content was developed through email correspondence and finalized during an in-person meeting at JAMSTEC (Tokyo, Japan).

The transcripts of the research project Oral Histories of Scientific Ocean Drilling are polished representations of oral conversations, and are intended solely for the purpose of preserving and documenting personal accounts and memories. They are not a literary product, and are not intended to exhibit literary qualities.

The primary goal of this transcript is to capture the spoken words and memories of the interviewee as accurately as possible. Minor editing and polishing works have been performed to enhance clarity and readability while maintaining the authenticity of spoken discourse, including non-standard grammar, inconsistencies, repetitions, and pauses.

The reader must be aware that memories of an event can vary between individuals and may evolve over time due to various factors, such as subsequent experiences, interactions with others, and personal emotions.

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Please cite the interview as:

Interview of Emily Brosdky by Beatriz Martinez-Rius on 2025 May 15, JAMSTEC Tokyo Office (Japan) [link]

Beatriz Martinez-Rius (BMR): This is Beatriz Martinez-Rius, historian of science at JAMSTEC, and I am with Shomei Kobayashi. Thank you very much. Can you please introduce yourself?

Shomei Kobayashi (SK): My name is Shomei Kobayashi. In Chinese characters “(照明) Shomei” means to light up / brighten, which is pronounced “Shomei” in Chinese reading, and that is my nickname. The correct name is pronounced “Teruaki” in Japanese reading.　After graduating from university, I joined JAPEX (Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd.), the state-owned Oil company. Since I joined JAPEX, I started working as a drilling engineer at the Oil field on land, wellsite people have started calling me “Shomei”. This is because “Teruaki” is difficult to pronounce and can be mistaken for “Chicken Teriyaki“. After that, no matter where I go, I was called “Shomei“.

BMR: Where are you from and How was your childhood like? What did your parents do for work? Was anyone in your family related to energy industries?

SK: I was born in Nagasaki City in western Japan. During the Samurai period, Nagasaki was the only trading port in Japan open to foreign countries. As a child, I used to run around in the nearby woods without doing my school homework. My father worked at the Shochu (Japanese distilled spirit) distillery in Nagasaki. No one in my family works in the natural resources industry. I am the only one.

BMR: Why did you choose to become a natural resources engineer? Why did you join the Oil company?

SK: In university, I selected natural resources engineering. This choice was made when I saw an Oil drilling rig across the ocean from my secondary school in Nagasaki. I was very interested to see the drilling rig with derrick standing in the middle. And, I wanted to find a job that would give me the opportunity to go abroad, work in the field rather than in an office, and work with people from other countries in Japanese natural resource exploration and development. Perhaps my childhood dreams for the future made me want to work in the natural resources industry and the Oil company. And the reason I like working in the field is probably due to the fact that I have been a mountain climber since my college days, where I ran around the mountains of Japan with a heavy pack on my back.

After graduating from university, I was able to get a job with an Oil company JAPEX, that fulfilled my dream.

BMR: Can you please tell me about your first job at JAPEX? What was your position, and what did you learn in your early years…

SK: I spent my first three years working in the Oil field as a drilling crew on a JAPEX-owned land rig. I met many pleasant colleagues in the field.  At the JAPEX well site, I learned a lot about the basics of Oil and Gas drilling and how to improve teamwork. I also met many great colleagues there. After that, I started drilling engineer task in the office, and with increasing experience, the responsibility increased from drilling supervisor to operations manager in Oil and Gas wells at the mountains of Japan, the deserts of Oman, the jungles of Indonesia, and remote offshore in Japan and offshore Australia and China.

BMR: That’s impressive, getting to travel so much. I think it’s something that the people who works for the Oil and Gas industry has in common. So, how did you become involved in the CHIKYU’s project?

SK: That’s right. People in the Oil and Gas exploration industry travel all over the world. In particular, they often go to places with harsh environments, such as deserts, jungle and remote offshore.

In 2001, I was called to JAMSTEC, having already 25 years of drilling expertise at JAPEX. Prior to my assignment to JAMSTEC, I was working as  JAPEX’s operations manager in the north west shelf offshore Australia. I think I was nominated because I am the person within JAPEX who had the best understanding of the CHIKYU project. And, one of the reasons I decided to go to JAMSTEC was to work with [Asahiko] Taira-san and his drilling colleagues who supported him. And, I had been deeply moved by the enthusiasm of the scientists who spoke of Japan’s desire to build CHIKYU and achieve great scientific goals.

BMR: Why experts from JAPEX were requested to come for CHIKYU’sdeep-water operations?

SK: I suppose the reason for the dispatch from JAPEX to JAMSTEC was that JAPEX was one of the Japanese leading Oil companies and, with its affiliate JDC (Japan Drilling Co., Ltd.), was involved in JAMSTEC’s preliminary study of CHIKYU. And, JAPEX felt understanding and passionate about the CHIKYU project.

BMR: If I got it right, at the time CHIKYU was developed, the Japanese offshore drilling industry had a rather limited experience in deep-water riser operations. Is that right? What was the state of Japan’s offshore capabilities when you got involved in the CHIKYU project?

SK: At that time, JDC had medium-water class offshore rigs, and they had the capabilities to handle deep-water riser systems, also. As hardware, the deep-water riser drilling technology was developed by a Houston-based company in US and installed in world drilling Contractor’s rig, and the Oil company used the Contractor’s deep-water rig for their Oil exploration and they acquired the know-how of the deep-water riser technology from the Drilling Contractor as software. One of those Oil companies is JAPEX.

BMR: I see. So, the experience on riser operations was within Japan’s main Drilling Contractor, JDC, which then provided this type of riser operations to Oil companies like JAPEX. So, if I understood it, there was already some know-how and some systems within Japan that could serve as models to run the future CHIKYU deep-water riser operation. What was your role within JAMSTEC, for the CHIKYU project?

SK: When I was assigned to JAMSTEC, CHIKYU was in the construction phase. I was assigned as operation team leader of CDEX (Center for Deep Earth Exploration), JAMSTEC, together with other three JAPEX’s specialists: the “Drilling Engineer,” “Operation Geologist” and “Geophysicist” — which I call the “three sacred treasures (professional E&P Oil and Gas engineers),” necessary to develop a safe and efficient drilling program and operation for the CHIKYU’s 1st deep water riser hole, where there may have a potential hazard of hydrocarbon influx. Actually, the 1st riser training site for the CHIKYU was to be selected to avoid hydrocarbon potential areas as much as possible in offshore northern Japan.

From the time I was assigned in 2001 until 2008 (Note: In 2008, MQJ (Mantle Quest Japan) started CHIKYU ship and drilling operation), the operation structure of All-Japan in CHIKYU had not yet been established.

I was thinking it would be best if Japan’s shipping company and Japan’s offshore drilling company worked together as one Drilling Rig Contractor to manage and operate the actual CHIKYU ship and drilling Rig operations.

BMR: What do you mean, by an “All-Japan structure”? And why was it a preferred choice for operating CHIKYU?

SK: All-Japan structure means that CHIKYU was operated by a Japanese company in both, Ship operation & Drilling Rig operation, as one single company. The JAMSTEC external committee pointed out that if there are companies in Japan that have the capabilities to operate CHIKYU using Japanese taxpayers’ money, Japanese company should be selected. This would enable Japan to make an international contribution to the IODP operation.

In 2008, our long-awaited All-Japan structure in CHIKYU was finally achieved, and the first scientific IODP drilling by MQJ was to be carried out in the Nankai Trough. CHIKYU was called at Shingu port, southern part of the Kii Peninsula, to load drilling materials and equipment. Taira-san, CDEX and MQJ staff who had just achieved All-Japan gathered in Shingu.

One day, Taira-san, myself, and MQJ executives went together to the Kumano Hongu Shrine in the mountains to pray for a safe drilling in the Nankai Trough. On the way back to Shingu, as we drove down beside the beautiful Kumano River, I naturally started humming the Beatles’ song “All You Need Is Love“. It became a chorus of everyone in the car.  It was a moment when Taira-san, myself, MQJ Uetake-san and Mizufune-san became one team, rejoicing in the achievement of the All-Japan structure in CHIKYU project. The memory of this scene was unforgettable.

BMR: I see. So, how CDEX compared to your previous workplaces? I guess that the context was quite unique, for an Oil and Gas engineer.

SK: That’s right. Coming from an Oil industry that is in the business of Oil and Gas exploration, we initially had a hard time adjusting to the culture of government research institute of JAMSTEC, where research and exploration is done for Scientific purposes.

During our period in the first 5 years in JAMSTEC until the CHIKYU started the drilling operations, we JAPEX secondee had a difficult time when we came from a private sector in the Oil industry to help building riser operation management and a CHIKYU’s operation structure. At that time, JAMSTEC people did not show the respect to us of outsiders, who brought in different cultures and riser operation management as the well operator to conduct deep-water riser drilling in the world; JAMSTEC had never done before.

We struggled to gain JAMSTEC’s understanding for the deep-water riser drilling management and industry’s safety culture, which consisted on taking responsibility for the entire offshore drilling operation based on the industry’s HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) management system for a 24-hour safety and high quality operations. My boss, Taira-san encouraged me, “You should be yourself, don’t hesitate to continue to speak out the need of All-Japan in CHIKYU. And, bear with me for a while.”

JAMSTEC people started to understand what drilling management as a well operator was when they actually saw JAPEX-seconded people working hard for JAMSTEC, managing the 1st riser hole operation 24 hours a day as a Well Operator in 2006. Since that time, JAMSTEC people began to understand and respect the JAPEX engineers who were seconded to JAMSTEC since 2001.

In 2008, the DV/ Chikyu featured on TV. Both images above are captures of that documentary, where Kobayashi talked about the drillship’s operations. Courtesy of S. Kobayashi.

BMR: Now that you mention some of the cultural differences that you encountered at JAMSTEC, you noted that Oil engineers had a high regard for HSE standards. I was wondering what safety model prevailed at JAMSTEC at that time.

SK: At CDEX, JAMSTEC’s previous safety system was based on the idea of accident prevention, based on previous experiences in research vessels’ operation on JAMSTEC ships.

In contrast, the HSE system of the Oil industry was based on conducting Quantitative Risk Assessments based on reviewing the Piper Alpha tragic accident in UK (note: in 1988), to systematize management regulations concerning Health, Safety, and Environment. The goal was to prevent accidents before they happen by conducting potential Hazard Identification and its Quantitative Risk Assessment. Also, to clearly state the responsibilities of the organization and each individual, and to declare that the top management of the company would take full responsibility for safety; rather than leaving safety to the field. The top management of the company itself declares that it is fully responsible for safety.

Recently, following the Oil industry’s HSE system, the safety system of ship operations has also been reflected in international standards for world ship operations.

The relationship of responsibility between JOIDES Resolution and TAMU in ODP was almost the same as the one that JAMSTEC used to do before start managing CHIKYU operations as a well operator.  For this reason, we believed that the industry’s HSE management system wsa very important for CDEX to manage the CHIKYU project — an HSE management system that has been built up over many years in the Oil industry and now became the global standard in the world. However, instead of bringing it as it is, we tried to integrate it within the safety culture of JAMSTEC. It was very difficult to introduce a different culture from outside, in the industry, into the already established the culture of JAMSTEC. To be honest, we struggled with suffering.  Such a time, Taira-san has always supported us, I can’t thank him enough.

BMR: And how was the overall atmosphere, the expectations regarding CHIKYU, during those first years at CDEX, JAMSTEC? I’m thinking in the fact that, as you mentioned, it involved the collaboration of different groups of experts, with different cultures, who had to get to understand each other.

SK: When we were assigned to CDEX, Taira-san was at CDEX. Taira-san warmly welcomed us, who came from outside the Science community.

There is a slideshow movie that shows the period from the construction of CHIKYU to the 1st riser drilling testing in offshore Hachinohe in 2006. At that time, the All-Japan structure was not yet achieved. In that movie, Taira-san’s favorite Diana Ross’s song, “If we hold on together, I know our dreams will never die —” and Japanese translation is scrolled at the end of the movie. There, Taira-san wanted to convey to the CDEX staff, a message of gratitude to everyone for what they had done so far and that, we will continue to overcome difficulties that will come in the future.

When the movie was over, Taira-san closed the party with the following words and calls, “Antonio Inoki, a legend of the world professional Japanese wrestler said, “Do you have energy? (Note: Genki desu ka? in the original Japanese. This phrase is commonly used to mean “How are you?”, but in this context, genki refers more specifically to being energetic or in good health, which aligns better with the intended meaning), You can do anything if you have energy”, and in closing, “Everyone, are you ready? One, two, three, dah!!“. The hearts of everyone at CDEX became one. In those days, I was screaming “love, love” at every word. Taira-san laughed at me, saying, “Is it Shomei’s ‘love’ again!”  Through the CHIKYU project, we wanted to provide something that people can share and be moved by. It may be the dream of a Scientist, Engineer’s passion to achieve the project with the advanced gigantic drilling equipment of CHIKYU.

BMR: What were the initial challenges in planning, designing, and building CHIKYU?

SK: When we were seconded to JAMSTEC from JAPEX in the Oil industry, it was the time when most of the CHIKYU specifications had already been finalized. At the beginning of our assignment in JAMSTEC, CDEX construction team was in the process of considering where to locate the CDEX OSI client office. The people in CDEX’s construction team did not understand the role of an OSI; they took up a large amount of maintenance and storage space in the office deck for the Wireline Logging company — which is provision of a sub-contractor, not of a JAMSTEC’s client — and tried to squeeze the OSI office into the small space vacated there. Compared to Rig Contractor MQJ’s Captain and OIM (Offshore Installation Manager, MQJ’s Drilling top) office, JAMSTEC office, which is the Well Operator & Rig Owner of CHIKYU, had a very small room layout. Even the CDEX construction team couldn’t imagine they would one day board the CHIKYU and turn it into their office, also.

In response, the operation team issued a complaint and moved the Wireline Logging space to another area, at the top of the Drill Floor, where it is efficient to operate Wireline Logging, and placed CDEX’s OSI office in the current Core cutting area, on the opposite side of the MQJ’s Tool Pusher (Drilling) office. Now, we could have a good enough space for the CDEX office. In commercial drilling, we were able to provide this enough space for the Oil company as the “Company office”, and CHIKYU were able to raise its reputation for Oil companies.

BMR: How CHIKYU’s design compares to a commercial platform? And also, I’d like to ask you about the uses of CHIKYU beyond sciences. How that idea develops? Or, was CHIKYU designed to conduct multiple types of operations from its conception?

SK: The design of the CHIKYU at the end of its construction phase did not have sufficient capacity in the equipment specifications to fully control hydrocarbons that might be encountered during riser drilling, which would allow it to be used for commercial Oil and Gas well drilling.

A major point that our operation team commented on about the CHIKYU’s specifications was that it was so specialized in Scientific drilling, that it was not sufficiently equipped with hydrocarbon control equipment — not only for Oil & Gas riser drilling, but also in Scientific Riser drilling.

In response, we invited ModuSpec, a company specializing in Rig Inspection, to perform the Rig Inspection that Oil companies perform before contracting a Drilling Contractor’s rig. As a result of this Rig Inspection, JAMSTEC was able to verify and grasp what additional modifications should be made so that the condition of CHIKYU after construction could be used not only for Scientific riser drilling, but also for commercial Oil & Gas drilling. CHIKYU was sequentially modified according to the ModuSpec Rig inspection report. This allowed for multiple operations of scientific and commercial operation.

 In this way, we were able obtain a commercial drilling contract for the CHIKYU from world Oil companies, thanks to the CHIKYU’s high capabilities. This provided additional funding for CHIKYU’s scientific operations, modifications and maintenance of the CHIKYU, which had been inadequate. When CHIKYU ran out of operating funds and could not perform Scientific drilling sufficiently, I started working to promote to Japanese and world Oil companies that CHIKYU‘s high drilling capacity could maximize their commercial Oil and Gas Exploration and Production project. It was Taira-san’s idea which paved the way for CHIKYU to conduct commercial Oil and Gas drilling and obtain external funds for the CHIKYU Scientific drilling. And under that foundation, I worked hard on marketing the CHIKYU.

 As a result, several commercial drilling contracts were signed, and the funds were used to successfully carry out CHIKYU’s Scientific drilling. And also, the funds were spent on the necessary modifications to install CHIKYU‘s hydrocarbon control equipment for commercial drilling, as well as Scientific Riser drilling.  It was indeed a revolutionary idea that surprised the government office. From 2006 to the present, CHIKYU has made significant collaboration and contributions to Oil companies and the Japanese organization JOGMEC (Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security) through commercial drilling contracts for CHIKYU. Contracted commercial Oil and Gas drilling are as follows: offshore Kenya in 2006, offshore Australia in 2007, offshore Sri Lanka in 2011, offshore Japan Joetsu/Sado in 2013; MH (Methan Hydrate) drilling offshore Japan Atsumi peninsula in 2011, 2012 & flow test: in 2013, MH drilling: offshore India in 2015; Seabed boring surveys: offshore Japan Mutsu in 2014.

BMR: Let’s talk about the first operations at sea. What were the initial challenges of running the ship, and what was the role of JAPEX in handling them?

SK: This was JAMSTEC’s first experience managing the drilling operations of a drillship as a well operator.  In addition to being the owner of the Drillship / Rig, JAMSTEC had to develop and manage the drilling program;  to supervise the Contractor’s (MQJ) operations of CHIKYU; andthe Company / Operator role in the Oil company. At the early stage, JAPEX engineers (Drilling, Operation geologist and Geophysicist) seconded JAMSTEC in order to challenge the new field of Scientific drilling in deep water and at deep drilling depth. They also established at  CDEX the operation management system for CHIKYU, which contributed greatly to the success of the JAMSTEC CHIKYU project — which is now in its 17th year of operation. And with the great challenge of drilling to deep water and deep depths, excellent results have been achieved.

For the 1st Shimokita riser test hole, we had introduced the preparation of a detailed drilling program prior to spud-in the hole, in accordance with the standard procedures of the Oil company and also a drilling completion report after drilling the hole. These detailed planning and reviewing efforts were followed by subsequent 1st IODP drilling of the Nankai Trough in 2008.

At the IODP Operations Review Task Force meeting in Washington, D.C., I reported result of 1st IODP scientific expeditions by CHIKYU in 2008 Nankai Trough, which are summarizing CHIKYU drilling operations, achievements, operational issues and mitigation strategies to Co-Chief Scientists, IODP management, TAMU, NSF and Specialty coordinators based on the drilling completion report. After my presentation, participants applauded my presentation and CHIKYU. it was something the IODP had never experienced before that Operator’s report of an expedition drilling results received such praise from Scientists.

BMR: Now that you mention the scientists – when CHIKYU is at sea, there are different groups that need to work in the same direction: scientists, drilling operators, crew… Do you have any example of how these different groups manage to communicate, to understand each other?

SK: In meetings with Scientists, even when the Scientific drilling targets presented by the Scientists seemed to be difficult to achieve with the current world drilling technology, CDEX drilling engineer did not simply denied that it was difficult or impossible to achieve the target plan, but tried to explain the limitations of the current CHIKYU’s drilling technology, provide an alternative plan and lay out future possibilities while constantly communicating with the Scientists, saying, “If we do it this way, it can be done.”

I have told CDEX drilling engineers that “once a drilling plan has been agreed on after sufficient consultation with Scientists, it is your responsibility to do their utmost to complete it.” Scientific drilling has limited budget and time constraints. In order to maximize the results of drilling and science, I have told our drilling engineers to contribute as much as possible to the success of the science.

We introduced know-how for the Riser drilling management to CDEX, which JAMSTEC didn’t have, and aimed to execute operations safely and efficiently. There, CDEX managed CHIKYU operations 24 hours a day while giving work instructions to MQJ Rig contractor on a daily basis – that is, JAMSTEC acts as a Well operator. It was the first time for JAMSTEC to work as a Well operator, and had no experience at all, so there was a lot of resistance within JAMSTEC about taking responsibility of the entire operation of drilling a well below seafloor and to give 24-hour supervision and direction to the MQJ’s CHIKYU operations, where there may be a potential hazard of hydrocarbon influx, hole collapse and drill-pipe stuck.

BMR: For someone who has never been onboard, it’s challenging to understand the CHIKYU’s onboard structure, the responsibilities of each group and the relations between one and other.

SK: At the Pre-Spud meeting of the science cruise on board, I always explained to the Scientists and MQJ crew onboard about CHIKYU onboard organization structure at the scientific drilling. Unlike commercial Oil & Gas drilling, and it was a different system from JOIDES Resolution’s scientific drilling organization. I used the example of the “Fruit Basket” provided to each main office onboard CHIKYU.

Under the contract for CHIKYU management and operation services between JAMSTEC and MQJ, CDEX (note: from 2018, CDEX was reorganized to MarE3) is the “Well Operator / Client” & “Rig / Ship Owner”, MQJ is the “Rig Contractor & Rig Manager“ that provides the service of ship and drilling operation of CHIKYU for CDEX, so that CDEX’s OSI (Operation Superintendent, CDEX‘s representative) on board is the boss on the CHIKYU; but in the case of Scientific drilling, there is a big boss above CDEX’s OSI, and that is the Scientists. Therefore, for the Scientist’s office, MQJ’s catering crew should respectfully provide the largest “Fruit basket”, and the CDEX OSI office could have a small “Fruit basket”. The MQJ Filipino catering crew onboard CHIKYU understood this very well and put it into practice.

BMR: Having worked in both the offshore industry and scientific ocean drilling, what differences and similarities have you observed?

SK: In an IODP project, Scientists sleep and eat together on a drillship, and Scientists from different countries work together as a team to ensure the success of the science project. In other words, “Eating from the same kettle” creates teamwork.　The same is true for Oil & Gas well drilling, where the various professional engineers on board respect each other and overcome together various difficulties and challenges they will encounter.　It’s just like the movie “Armageddon“, about a team of drilling professionals who face the threat of a planet colliding with the Earth. 

I found the IODP project to be similar to the spirit of the drilling industry. Even after decades, I still have strong ties with our colleagues from around the world who worked together at same well sites in the harsh environments such as deserts, jungles, mountains and remote offshores.

One day, when I was explaining at the CHIKYU public opening while wearing CDEX coveralls, a child called me, “Oh, Armageddon.” In response, I said, “You saw the movie Armageddon, do you know why the main character, Bruce Willis, was left behind on the planet?　That’s because —, He made a mistake in choosing a Drill Bit to drill the planet’s hard rocks. And, of course, it was because he didn’t use this Diamond bit that we use in this CHIKYU, the rocks were too hard to drill a hole to load explosives to prevent the planet collides with Earth.”　”Is that’s right??”, the child’s eyes lit up as he became interested in the scientific drilling. It was the moment when the successor of the CHIKYU driller was born.

BMR: I like this comparison between Armageddon and the spirit of ocean drilling (both scientific and industrial)! This comparison might connect with some of your previous experiences and learnings in the Oil industry that were reproduced in your work in scientific ocean drilling.

SK: Here’s a summary of the common drilling engineer temperaments in the world: they prefer to work outdoors, they enjoy traveling and working in remote areas with harsh environments, they like challenge and variety in their work, they can solve problems as they arise, they are tearful people who care about friends, and they can communicate effectively with all involved in a project.

And, here’s drilling engineer’s role and responsibility: A major responsibility of the Drilling Engineer is to accomplish the objects of the well, develop a drilling program in cooperation with geologists and geophysicists; on designing a well, keep it simple, don’t make it complicated; our goal is to drill the hole safer, faster and cheaper. We must accomplish the objects at a minimum cost, listen and imagine what is happening down the hole – the well will want to talk to you.

BMR: How has your relationship to scientific ocean drilling and CHIKYU evolved, after your time at CDEX?

SK: After I retired from CDEX, JAMSTEC, I left scientific drilling, but as a senior technical advisor on drilling, I have worked on Geothermal drilling projects in Kenya, Germany, and Japan until last year.

And, I have told the Kenyan people a lot of stories about CHIKYU, which drilled for Oil and Gas at offshore Kenya.

BMR: What have been the most rewarding aspects of your career as an ocean drilling engineer, and what valuable lessons have you learned from your time in scientific ocean drilling?

SK: I think the reason why I have been able to work as a drilling engineer over 45 years is because I was blessed with good colleagues. I have overcome many hole troubles and difficulties in the past, but what I remember now is not the details of such troubles and difficulties that I met, but the smiling faces of the friends who solved problems with me at the same drilling wellsite.

I think the important thing in collaboration between Scientists and Engineers is to listen to each other’s opinions and respect each other. After all, I think the most important thing in IODP’s ocean drilling community is the relationship between people, beyond countries and technology.

For my CDEX life, I was fortunate to meet Taira-san and many respected Scientists, my colleagues in the Oil industry who worked together in a harsh wellsite environment and CDEX and MQJ colleagues who worked together for the success of the CHIKYU science project. And, I thank my family for watching over me. “Arigato-gozaimashita”.

Group photo with some of members of CDEX during Kobayashi’s farwell party. Photo courtesy of S. Kobayashi.

A gift from the CDEX team to Kobayashi, in commemoration of his roles at JAMSTEC. Courtesy of S. Kobayashi.