26 Sep

Meros’ fall research assistant Nodoka Kudo has arrived – welcome!

Posted by Team Meros in News

Nodoka is about to finish his Master of Public Policy degree from the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany and had previously completed his undergraduate degree at Keio University with a degree in Environment and Information Studies. Nodoka has had a fascinating background and experience growing up in various countries, including graduating from high school at an international school in Tanzania and spending his school years in Slovakia, Malaysia and the US.

“I was initially drawn to Meros by their international team working in the intersection between Japan and abroad. Having an international background myself, this company profile and working environment was ideal for me,” he explained. “More importantly, however, I applied because the work they do felt exciting. Because Meros is a rather small company with passionate people, I thought I could learn a lot while make some meaningful contributions.”

Nodoka has already joined a major Meros project related to carbon insetting standards, and he is helping us better understand EU funding and programs related to GHG emissions within key supply chains, such as dairy and meat.

He is luckily well-prepared to jump into these projects. “I have been interested in social and public issues throughout my studies, and I am interested in joining projects related to sustainability, particularly pertaining to carbon credits and the initiatives being taken to reduce GHG emissions. I hope to gain more practical insights about sustainability through these projects.”

To further dig into issues of carbon reduction and sustainability, Nodoka will also be working on an independent research project related to comparing current methods for measuring soil carbon, from satellite data to soil sensors, in order to identify the advantages and disadvantages of different technologies and the relationship between accurate soil carbon measurement and carbon markets.

Nodoka will also get a chance to work with some of our other teams, including our seafood team which is about to launch into interviewing industry experts on the potential for farmed eel and other premium farmed seafood in the Japan market

After many years out of Japan, Nodoka is looking forward to being back in Tokyo and exploring the city – and its foods. “I enjoy cuisines from around the world but I tend to have sustained preferences for dishes that have a good balance of tastiness and healthiness. A standard Japanese teishoku set with rice, miso soup and grilled fish, is one of my go-tos. That said, lately, I have definitely been indulging rather excessively in Hakata tonkotsu ramen!”

10 May

Welcome to our summer research assistant, Tsukasa Iinishi

Posted by Team Meros in News

Meros is excited to welcome our new summer research assistant, Tsukasa Iinishi!

Tsukasa has just finished his third year at Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business in Boston, with a focus on corporate innovation and economics. He has also been working at the Antimicrobial Discovery Center at Northeastern as a research assistant to support experiments, particularly related to DNA technologies and antibiotic testing.

“I was interested in working at Meros because of the unique environment where everyone in the company is bilingual and values Japanese and English,” he says. “As a Japan-based company, Meros works with both Japanese and international governments and private companies. I want to be involved in as many projects as possible to get exposed to diverse projects and clients and learn new things.”

At Meros, Tsukasa is eager to develop a wide range of professional skills during his time with the team. “I hope to learn and improve my desktop research skills, interview skills, data analysis skills, and other skills that are necessary to become an effective consultant.”

This summer, Tsukasa will also be working on an independent research project related to the Japan market for blue carbon credits – carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems, like mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. The project will allow him to explore the intersection of environmental sustainability and business, and to contribute to Meros’ broader work in climate and ocean-related topics.

Tsukasa brings a mindset of curiosity to our team. “Any topic is interesting to me,” he says. “From small conversations that happen throughout the day, to my personal project, as well as real projects that we are working in the company, every conversation and work that I do is an opportunity to learn new things and that drives my curiosity.”

Outside of work, Tsukasa enjoys exploring new foods and places. “I love almost all cuisines,” he says. “I obviously like Japanese cuisine, as well as Korean and Chinese, especially Sichuan. I also really enjoy Vietnamese food such as pho and other Southeast Asian food.” He’s also a coffee enthusiast and travel lover: “I love to go sightseeing in nature as well as historic buildings and sites. I also enjoy drinking coffee, so I am always interested in going to cafes and trying coffee from all over the world.”

He will have a chance to try cafes around the world after he completes his summer work with Meros – he will be joining the Japan-based international organization Peace Boat as an on-board interpreter, for the ship’s upcoming 121st Global Voyage around the world, as it promotes world peace and human rights during its four-month journey.

17 Jun

Welcome Mako Irisumi, our summer research assistant!

Posted by Lucia Vancura in News

Meros is geared up and ready for our new summer research assistant Mako Irisumi. Welcome!

Mako is an undergraduate student at Wellesley College in the US, with a major in Computer Science and also a student researcher this past year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) D-Lab. She previously interned with the Japanese development consulting company Padeco on an infrastructure project in Romania. Mako is a Tokyo native but has been studying in the US since high school.

Meros is extremely busy right now and Mako has been able to jump right into projects and support our current work. She has been researching the sustainability goals of global start-ups related to regenerative agriculture and as well as supporting the kick-off of a new project with Hokkaido University and the Japan International Cooperation Agency that will focus on cassava and carbon markets in Vietnam.

Mako was an obvious fit for Meros. “I am strongly inspired by Meros’s global contributions to the food and agriculture sector, especially in agri-tech, and its diverse team. As a student researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) D-Lab, I conducted research on passive solar desalination to address water sanitation challenges in Madagascar last year. Our fieldwork in Madagascar for three weeks in January allowed me to witness firsthand realities of global poverty, especially food insecurity issues, fueling my desire to solve food insecurity worldwide. I also enjoyed collaborating with diverse teammates and engaging in global collaboration. Additionally, as a computer science major, I was very curious about how to solve this food insecurity issue from an agri-tech perspective. Therefore, Meros’s international impact in the agri-tech sector and its diverse team and clients align perfectly with my passion.”

Mako will be working on an independent research project that combines her interest in technology and economic development, by looking at Japan’s Rural 5G initiative that is exploring ways to bring 5G telecommunications to rural and agricultural communities in Japan. This will allow her dig into the various financing models for rural infrastructure, the benefits 5G can bring to farmers, the level of demand among farmers and the potential technologies that it may allow.

“This fall, I hope to improve my research skills. In addition to desktop research, I am excited to develop my abilities in conducting interviews and field research. Learning from experienced team members at Meros will be an invaluable opportunity for my professional growth.”

Like the rest of the Meros team Mako loves discovering new foods. “I love exploring new restaurants and have around 20 saved on my Google Maps just in the Meros neighborhood alone. I particularly love fish, especially mackerel (saba), as it is delicious whether grilled, stewed, or served as sushi.”