“Creating a satellite that can be used at an altitude of zero meters”. Ryosuke Itai, the CEO of UMIAILE Co., Ltd., shares his grand vision for challenging marine observation. Meeting like-minded individuals transformed his personal passion into a business. In Part 2, we explore how Mr. Itai and his colleagues built their team and embarked on a collaborative journey with Starlite. We will unravel what lies behind it.
I met my colleagues at the TV show "The Night of Magical Modifications".
Starlite (S)：To bring such a significant challenge to the next level, I believe having reliable colleagues is essential. How did you meet your team members?
Itai from UMIAILE (I)：The founding members—myself, Unno CTO, and Nakajima COO—are all former Honda engineers. Unno and I joined the company at the same time, but we hardly spoke at the beginning. Our real interaction occurred during our participation in the NHK TV show “The Night of Mad Modifications”.
S：Did you appear on that show famous for its wild creativity and teamwork!?
I：Yes. The theme of the show was “seriously modifying things and pushing ourselves to the limits”. We worked through the night on the design and built prototypes by morning… At that time, I felt that his approach to manufacturing was very similar to my own.
S：That sounds like the “hobby” you were doing while at Honda. Did you feel like you were doing things as a team that you used to do alone?
I：That is exactly how it feels. In a world where there is no single right answer to manufacturing, we keep moving to find the best solution in any situation. So, I asked him, “Let’s do this together!”, but he turned me down.
S：Wait, given how things were going, I thought he was definitely going to join right away.
I：That was what I thought too. But back then, he had already decided to change jobs, and he told me, “It’s a bit difficult right now”. After some time, I happened to be watching TV and there he was. He was on “The Night of Mad Modifications” as an employee at his new job. I was surprised, but I also felt a sense of fate. I realized he really loves making things. So, when I asked him again, he said, “Then let’s do it!”. From then on, the two of us kept talking about who to bring in next. The first person who came to mind was Nakajima.
S：I understand that at the time, Mr. Nakajima was working on the administrative side of the IGNITION program.
I：Yes. Typically, Honda employees who were engineers at R&D, like me, apply as proposers. However, engineers do not have much business sense when it comes to business development. To support the proposers, there is a system in place where administrative staff members join projects as accompanying support. Nakajima was the one who had been involved from the very beginning as my supporter.
S：In other words, Mr. Nakajima was already involved in supporting.
I：Nakajima is an enthusiastic guy. As we worked together, he grew increasingly drawn to our project. He was also right before getting his MBA. Unno and I talked about how we need someone with a business perspective, like a COO, and thought he would be perfect for UMIAILE.
S：The miraculous synergy of passion and expertise!
I：So, Unno and I asked Nakajima to join our team with a fair amount of resolve, but he accepted immediately, as if he had been waiting for us to ask.
S：Oh, I was wondering how you managed to poach the IGNITION administrative staff. That is how it happened!
I：He had always believed that if he were going to accompany someone, he would have to do so with the mindset of starting a company together. That said, it is rare to find someone who will commit that much. In a sense, we had already been bound by deep trust since the company’s founding. Then the three of us took a step forward together as UMIAILE.
Creating together before specifications are set—What is the relationship between UMIAILE and Starlite?
S：We understand that collaborating with Starlite is also key to achieving UMIAILE’s mission of “visualizing the ocean”. The first contact was back in Honda, and you were drawn to Starlite’s BARIAS even back then.
I：Our small ASV requires maximum lightness, high rigidity, and durability to perform long-term autonomous navigation at ocean. Since there is no one aboard, the structure must manage everything from wave impacts and wind-induced attitude control to maintenance. In other words, the material itself is the “foundation of reliability”. BARIAS is remarkably lightweight yet durable, withstanding the impact of waves. I thought, “This is perfect for our hull”.
S：At Starlite, we often collaborate from the very early stages of design, shaping the concept through discussion. With UMIAILE, our interactions began even before the specifications were finalized.
I：Yes. We typically consult on whether this material is feasible after specifications and drawings are finalized, but Starlite got involved right from the concept stage. Starlite’s suggestions like “With this shape, we can make these design adjustments during molding,” and “With that strength, there are alternative approaches available” were truly reassuring.
S：We were thinking together about how to make it happen, going beyond the framework of simply supplying materials.
I：That is right. Even when I have not fully articulated my ideas, Starlite anticipates what I want to do and says, “This is what you are aiming for, right?”. Your company supported me as if we were on the same team.
S：I heard that we also wanted to assess how our technology could contribute to your challenges. That is one benefit of collaborating.
I：I really think so too. Not only the technical aspects, but also Starlite thinks together about how to bring UMIAILE’s vision of societal implementation closer. To us, Starlite does more than just help us and is the colleague that helps us turn our dreams into reality. I am not just saying this. This is something I really want to tell everyone, so please leave it in!
Creating a satellite that can be used at an altitude of zero meters
S：Listening to you so far, it seems UMIAILE is attempting to redefine the very act of “observing the ocean”. What kind of world is the future you envision?
I：We promote “visualizing the ocean”, but this is not simply about collecting data. Although the ocean covers 70% of the Earth, only a tiny fraction of it is actually understood. For example, meteorological observations, crustal movements, fishery resources—all these lack sufficient real-time information on the ocean.
S：The universe may seem distant, yet satellites constantly observe it. On the other hand, the ocean right beneath our feet is actually more difficult to observe. UMIAILE fills the blank space that you cannot see, access, or reach.
I：It is precisely why we are creating a system that allows us to thoroughly observe the vast ocean using small, unmanned boats. In a sense, it is like a satellite that can be used at an altitude of zero meters.
S：Just as satellites watch over the Earth from space, UMIAILE observes the planet from the ocean’s surface. What a wonderful and inspiring concept.
I：Thank you. Of course, there are technical challenges, but more than that, it is the pure curiosity of wanting to see data that no one has ever seen before. If that data helps protect the future of our planet and the lives of the next generation, I believe there is no greater sense of purpose.
S：It holds great promise for applications across various fields, including research and social infrastructure.
I：Yes. Currently, its primary use is for research purposes such as crustal movement observation, but I believe it will be applicable in various fields in the future, such as disaster preparedness, environmental conservation, and energy. In a society where small ASVs are a common sight on the ocean, we should be able to feel the Earth’s breath much more closely.
S：By solving the challenges facing the ocean, you are looking ahead to the future of our entire planet.
I：Yes. What we aim for is not merely advancing technology but creating a society where people and nature connect more seamlessly. We hope activities of UMIAILE will help pave the way for a future where the next generation is close to the ocean.
🔗Related Links
・UMIAILE Co., Ltd. (Available only in Japanese)
・Honda Corporate Website | UMIAILE Co., Ltd. is a startup company established through IGNITION, Honda’s new business creation program. (Available only in Japanese)