Satoshi OGIHARA

-By profession Professor Emeritus Osaka University. Ph.D.Former professor of biology at the department of biology, graduate school of science, Osaka University. Cell biologist. Der. Ogihara graduated from Shinjuku Hight School in Tokyo, studied at ICU/International Christian University, Osaka University Graduate School of Science, Physiology Major, and at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, USA, then he found a job at Osaka University. His field of speciality includes amoeboid movement and the repair mechanism of the plasma membrane.  Worked at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and Osaka University.

-In music Started studying piano at the age of five, only for the reason that he just wanted to go to the piano teacher who his classmate, an attractive girl, took lessons with. He ventured to tell his parents that "I wanna take piano lessons!". It was not music but something else that triggered him, however later on he was so much absorbed in music.  On way coming, he sometime seriously wondered if he should take music as future profession, but science overwhelmingly intrigued him, to become a scientist. Music and Science are not far away in some sense, but in reality he had had tough time not being able to secure time for practice at the piano. Music and Science therefore have been always around him as almost equal important existences, by which he has learnt a lot and now he feels honestly he is a fortunate person not to have given up music. This concert series is one of his challenges, and he believes that he will be supported by his tough and happy experiences in the past loving science and music equally in making this non-profit concert series activity.

Toshihiro HORII

-By profession a Ph.D. Professor at the Department of Molecular Protozoology, Research Institute for Microbial Disease, Osaka University. He was born in 1953 in Hirakata City, Osaka, and entered Osaka University, School of Science in 1972-- thus, ever since has been living in "Handai, Osaka University". When he was an assistant professor at Osaka University, he worked as an associate professor at Dartmouth College,  USA.  This opportunity provided him the big leap from a  molecular biologist to a research specialist in malaria, the so called marsh fever, a tropical parasitic disease. Ever since that time, he has dedicated himself to the development of the first human malaria vaccine, which remains unavailable for many reasons.  He often visits Uganda in Africa where malaria is highly prevalent and continues to do clinical testing.  Lately also he ventured into the development of a new-type malaria vaccine on which other researchers have been keen on his research, considered to be another leap in his scientific progress. 

-In music, he started studying flute during his junior high school days; and in fact his highly reputed performing skills had earlier brought him in the crossroad of either choosing music or science in his choice to enter the university.  As we see today, he eventually made the difficult decision to take music as an amateur music lover.  Currently he is the manager of OUCE (otherwise known as Osaka University Chamber Ensemble) as well as a performer.  At home, his favorite hobbies include playing the flute for his beloved Sera, a black Labrador retriever, and serving meals for his family, who considers him a talented chef.  In truth, both of these activities relieves him from daily stress.  His most recent activities include also working out in the gym (for muscle weights).  Likewise, he is a semi-professional skier.