INTERVIEW | Naomi Harada: First Female Leader Gears Up for Antarctic Expedition

Geoscientist Naomi Harada will lead Japan's 66th Antarctic research expedition. Harada is a professor at the Center for International Collaboration at the University of Tokyo's Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute. Her team is set to depart this December. Harada will be the first female leader in the history of Japan's Antarctic expeditions.

Antarctic ice is melting at an alarming rate, with some experts warning that we could reach an irreversible tipping point by the middle of this century. However, limited observational data makes precise predictions difficult. This uncertainty places Japan's Antarctic research team — renowned for their expertise in navigating icy waters to the edges of massive glaciers — in the global spotlight. Harada spoke with The Sankei Shimbun and Japan 2 Earth about her determination as she prepares for this crucial mission.

Excerpts follow.

Naomi Harada, just before departing as deputy chief of the 60th Antarctic expedition, with the icebreaker Shirase in the background. The Shirase is the lifeline for research near Totten Glacier. November 2018, Harumi Wharf, Tokyo. (©Sankei by Nobuo Serizawa)

Studying the Earth

What changes have you observed in the representation of women in this field?

This will be my third time joining the Antarctic expedition. My first was in 1991 with the 33rd expedition. At the time, I was a graduate student at Nagoya University and "the second female member of the Japanese team." My second expedition was in 2018 with the 60th team, where I served as "the first female deputy chief and summer team leader." I've often felt like I was in the media spotlight. Now, with 25% of the 66th expedition team being women, it truly feels like we are in a new era.

Continue reading the full interview on Japan 2 Earth (J2E), our affiliated website sparking a transition to a sustainable future by spotlighting the latest environmental innovations from Japan.