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Training progresses to next stage JAXA Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa
Satoshi Furukawa:
Born in 1964 in the city of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan; graduated from the University of Tokyo's School of Medicine and specialized in surgery of digestive organs; continued research activities at the First Department of Surgery of the University of Tokyo while working for the anesthesiology department of the JR Tokyo General Hospital, the surgical department of the Ibaraki Prefecture Central Hospital, and the surgical department of the Sakuragaoka Hospital to gain clinical experience; selected as an astronaut candidate for a flight to the International Space Station (ISS) in February 1999, started basic training in April of that year; and was certified as an ISS onboard astronaut in January 2001 after completing basic training; also certified as a flight engineer for the Soyuz. He is now undergoing MS training at NASA


An unexpected meeting in the locker room with an old friend
While I was training in Russia, somebody who looked familiar said "Hi!" in the locker room at the training gym. "English in Russia?! Oh! Michael Foale!" It was a surprising reunion with a NASA friend in a different corner of the globe. Michael Foale came back to Earth only four days earlier after a long stay at the International Space Station (ISS) as the Expedition 8. As he had only just returned on the Soyuz, I initially thought, "He should be under doctor's care for rehabilitation after a six-month stay in space, and shouldn't be here.

However, he actually looked very healthy as he walked steadily with his swimming goggles in his hand. I thought, he must have exercised well at the ISS.

I was very impressed by his health condition after his unique experience as a NASA astronaut. He is one of the longest-serving astronauts in space.

I enjoyed a talk with him for the first time in a long while, and what was most impressive to me among was when he said, "I enjoy training sessions (more than thinking about why I have to wait for my turn to go to space for such a long time.)"

All my astronaut friends are forward looking and positive, but the words from someone with lots of experience like him sunk deeply into my mind.
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