Having a dream of becoming a pilot

In the astronaut selection test conducted by JAXA on March 5, 2023, two individuals were chosen from over 4,000 applicants. One of them is Ayu Yoneda, a 28-year-old surgeon, who has the possibility of becoming the first Japanese to set foot on the moon. It’s truly envy-inducing.

Having a dream of becoming a pilot

After the war, civilian aircraft operations resumed at Itami Airport when I was in fifth grade. As I looked up at the sky from the grassy field near the airport, I felt a thrilling sensation as the planes landed with a thunderous roar, as if my whole body was being drawn in. My home is over two hours’ walk from the airport, but sometimes I would hitch a ride on a cart and spend the entire day from morning to dusk, never getting tired of watching. At that time, I had a dream of becoming a pilot in the future, but I never even considered becoming an astronaut.

Date: April 26, 2023.