Dr. Takao K. Hensch Group Director, Neuronal Function Research Group During brain development, there is a time known as the "critical period" when the brain absorbs various stimuli and shapes its neuronal circuits accordingly. Dr. Takao K. Hensch, Group Director of the Neuronal Function Research Group says, "The most intriguing aspect for me is brain development related to language acquisition. However, the linguistic system is rather complex and multi-modal, so I have been investigating critical period mechanisms using visual pathways which are relatively approachable." What motivated Dr. Hensch to become involved in studying the mystery of language acquisition can be found in his background, which was marked by an exceptional childhood. "I was born in Tokyo but my family moved to New York when I was two years old. My family consists of a German father, a Japanese mother, and myself, an American," says Dr. Hensch in recollection. "I cannot recall it clearly, but according to my parents they spoke to me only in their native language ever since I was bornﾐ namely, I was addressed in German by my father and in Japanese by my mother, and neither would respond if I spoke to them in the other's language." As a result he "learned" to speak German with men, Japanese with women, and English when outside of the house. He first appreciated this unique environment when he started to learn French as a second language in school. "I witnessed my friends struggling to learn a second language and wondered why. I must have thought everyone was bilingual at home (laughs)," says Dr. Hensch. He found no major difficulty in learning French and recognized the significance of environment for the first time. He, thus, harbored an interest in language acquisition based on his own experience. "When I entered Harvard University, I first intended to take up mathematics and artificial intelligence which was then very popular. During my summer vacations, I worked at IBM research labs as an intern but soon came to realize the sobering fact that most brain functions were poorly understood" he recalls. "I began to think that I should look at biological systems first, and thus shifted my course of study. Since then I have been examining brain function with a biological approach. In my research, I focus on the ways in which the brain processes information, as well as how this "processing" is expressed in development." "After graduating from University, I wanted to see the world and search out my family roots if possible. Fortunately, I was granted a Ministry of Education (at the time) and Fulbright Fellowship. I first went on to attend Tokyo University," says Dr. Hensch. It was there that he met Dr. Masao Ito, later Director of the BSI, in his lab at Tokyo University. "The approach Director Ito adopted was very impressive. In order to understand a particular function of the brain, every aspect was systematically analyzed from behavior to molecular levels, leaving no stone unturned. My interest in computation matched his style," Dr. Hensch says. After completing his master's degree at Tokyo University, he later moved to the Max Planck Institute in Germany, the homeland of his father. As it turned out, he had indeed been able to trace his parent's roots. "Naturally, the experience made me aware that both Germany and Japan have their own 'uniqueness' that is inherently different from the U.S.," he says. "Since culture and language are inseparable, I could understand this to a reasonable extent, yet I often asked myself, 'Who am I?' during this period" After returning from Germany, Dr. Hensch completed his doctoral degree at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Just when he was contemplating his post-doctoral choices, he received a fortunate surprise. "I was honored to have Director Ito himself call me at the graduate school, and he invited me to partake in a brain research project that was being planned for RIKEN," says Dr. Hensch. "When I left Tokyo University, I never expected that I would have an opportunity to return to Japan, except for the occasional academic meeting. The offer from RIKEN provided me with a rare chance, which is why I decided to accept it." At that time, the BSI had not yet been founded and his first assignment at RIKEN was in the International Frontier Research Program. This marked the debut of a 29 year old laboratory head who had just completed his doctoral degree. The BSI was subsequently founded and his lab has been an integral part from the start. Dr. Hensch has designed several programs new to Japan which have become regular events at BSI, including the "RIKEN BSI RETREAT," when researchers annually leave behind the bustle of lab life to meet together outside RIKEN, and the "RIKEN BSI Summer Program" which gathers young researchers and faculty from Japan and abroad for an intensive lecture course or lab internship. "I believe the RETREAT significantly contributes toward establishing friendship and collaboration within BSI while helping to develop presentation skills," Dr. Hensch says. "And I am also glad to hear that already five former Summer Program participants have actually started working at RIKEN, which shows that the Program has been effective." Dr. Hensch emphasizes the importance of teamwork and balance in his research. Each individual tries to improve his or her own capabilities, so that all members can make their best combined efforts, leading to a team 'victory.' He tries to maintain an equal number of foreign/Japanese and male/female researchers. All technicians are also given their own projects. "I hope the BSI itself will extend its horizons without limiting its operational scope to just individual research teams," Dr. Hensch adds. "We may consider BSI to be a successful institute only when a super-additive effect is achieved by working and interacting together." In 2000, with the members of lab. at Naeba. Third from the left is Dr. Hensch.