MOTOKO KOTANI

I was very shy as a child. I enjoyed reading books and studying, but not really talking to my classmates. I would read books, and ask my junior high and high school teachers questions. Not necessarily just in mathematics, but in many other fields. However, I found that the only subject where a child like me could talk on equal footing with the grownups – the teachers – was mathematics.«

»I chose mathematics despite not being very confident in my abilities. I made that decision because I thought, I only have this one life. If I do not do what I want, I will not get a “redo.” I think you should do what you really want to do.«

»In terms of hardship, you struggle and struggle without any hints. You really want to understand, but you have no idea what to do. It is to the point where you are happy when you have any idea which direction to go, or an idea on how to move forward, even if it is not the best idea. I think many mathematicians experience this kind of frustration, but it is because of this frustration that you feel so happy when you finally have a breakthrough.