Television and Mentors Launch Engineering Career

As a young child growing up in Kyoto, Japan, Atsuko Yano would watch a television series called the NHK Special. The series featured science based programing, including geography, geophysics, space, medical science, and electronics.

Her maternal grandfather was a mechanical engineer. Yano’s parents never pushed her towards a scientific career. But a junior high school math teacher recommended that she study engineering. Continuing in the engineering profession came natural to her.

Yano is now a department manager of the Core and Common Technology Department at HORIBA in Kyoto.

“The mission of our team is sharing and improving core and common technology in the HORIBA Group, especially in the engineering domain,” she said. “That includes electrical, mechanical and software technologies.”

She manages the common technology center under the research and development division, which has 45 engineers among the electrical, mechanical and software departments.

Examples of the electrical, mechanical and software technologies include embedded electrical technology, signal processing, CPU, FPGA, and analog circuitry; mechanical design for optical/ thermal/motor drive, and simulation; and testing; and Linux, Windows, mobile, and embedded technology in the software area.

The missions of her department include the enhancement of core and advanced technology, obtaining and transferring engineering core and advanced technology, sharing the engineering resources throughout HORIBA, enhancing engineering skills through co-development, and proactive and efficient technology management.

Yano lives in Joyo-city, Kyoto, with her husband.

As she progressed through her education at Doshisha University in Kyoto, and through her professional career, Yano never detected any biases against women in the sciences.

As for other girls that want to consider a career in the sciences, she says “Don't hesitate to challenge yourself when the chance comes to you.”

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