Dr. Wakayama, what is the first microscope that you ever used?
A child's microscope that one of my uncles bought for
me when I was in elementary school. It was a cheap one, but with
1000 times magnification, and you could see things that were invisible
to the naked eye close up and clearly through it. I was so excited.
I also used a microscope for the first time when I was
in elementary school, in science class.
When did you first come across Olympus then? And what was
your impression?
The laboratory I belonged to in college had microscopes
from a number of manufacturers, and I don't know when I first encountered
an Olympus product; at that stage I wasn't yet aware of the differences
between manufacturers. I will say, though, that when I first saw
an inverted microscope (*6) with built-in manipulators, it really
did impress me.
You do use them very well, I must say.
When I went to the University of Hawaii to get involved
in cloning research, someone from the local Olympus distributor
turned up quite often to adjust the microscopes for us. Because
he seemed to know everything about microscopes, we would ask him
to adjust other companies' units as well.
People with a high level
of technical skill tend to be innately suited to that kind of
work - don't you find that's the case? I
imagine you were one of the army, Mr. Miyazawa?
I always liked making things, and I do feel assembly work
suits me. But even I never expected to devote myself to microscopes
to this extent.
What led you to microscopes?
I never had any ambitions to be the best technician at
this plant, and I still don't.
What inspired me to be so particular about technical skills was
witnessing the skill of the senior technicians training me when
I went to work on the AX Series (*7). They were just incredible:
the speed and efficiency with which they put together the microscopes,
the optical performance of the finished products - everything was
superb. The difference between their work and my own was so patently
obvious. So what's this all about, I wondered, and vowed to come
close to their skill level.
At the Ina Plant, skill development is something of concern to the
entire organization. The qualification system is part of this, but
the general atmosphere of the workplace also helps to push you just
that bit further.
Now that I come to think of it, when we launched the PM Series (*8),
the first microcomputer-controlled model , one of the senior employees
would come once a week to give us training. That continued for a
year or so, and it was enormously helpful for me. Training took
the form of study sessions after work for employees in the manufacturing
section. I'd always disliked studying and schoolwork, plus it was
after hours, so I wasn't very enthused, but now I'm really grateful:
the time spent was well worth it. |
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| *6––Manipulation system for the Power
IX Series of inverted microscopes The solidity of Power IX Series microscopes
with
their low center of gravity gives them a powerful advantage in manipulator
operation. Holes for fixing manipulators in the optimum positions and
angles are found on the main body of the microscope, while large work
spaces to the left and right allow the operator to place equipment in
the preferred positions. |
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| *7––AX Series AX80 system microscope
A premier photomicroscope, the AX80 uses a fully automated contrast adjustment
system with superb resolution for comfortable viewing and a variety
of photography options. |
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| *8––PM30 photography system Can be used to take superior photographs with any fluorescence specimen. |
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