hello. My name is Takeo Sato, and I am enrolled in Graduate Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University University. I am researching the mechanism by which genes work at the appropriate timing during spermatogenesis. I also belong to the rakugo study group, and although I am currently refraining from doing so due to measures against the new coronavirus infection, I used to talk at nursing homes and neighborhood associations in Sapporo almost every weekend.

さて、理系大学院生の私が落語をしていると、「意外だね」とよく言われます。しかし、これまた「意外と」落語で培った経験は研究でも生きています。一番鍛えられたのは「対話力：コミュニケーション力」です。落語をしている最中は、自分ひとりの長話を聞いてもらうことになります。そのとき、演者はお客様の顔、笑い声、そして空気感を掴み取って、語りや所作を調節します。つまり、お客様と対話しながらお話を作るわけです。また、古典落語には八五郎（はちごろう）やご隠居といった様々な架空の人物が登場します。「八五郎は何を考えていたんだろう」、「ご隠居なら何と言うだろう」と、時空を超えて彼らと対話をすることも、人物描写のために重要です。加えて、落語を通して、様々な年代や職種の方と接する機会を持てたことで、多様な考え方や価値観への理解が深まりました。

At university, we report on our research progress and introduce papers to other members, and at symposiums and conference presentations, we discuss our research with people from different fields. In addition, through research outreach, dialogue with non-specialists is also required. In this way, dialogue skills are important in various situations, and the experience of the rakugo study group is being utilized. As a graduate student, I have only experienced the entrance to academia, but I think that the ability to communicate will be required in all aspects of society, such as the industrial world and the educational world, which will lead to future research activities and career paths. No matter how much AI dominates the world, I believe that the relationship between human beings who have emotions will never disappear.

Of course, the dialogue skills required in research are not the same as rakugo skills. Professional rakugo performers are recognized as full-fledged at the end of about three to five years of zenza training. By the time I complete graduate school or ALP, I will devote myself to becoming a splendid futatsume.