On February 21–22, we went on a two-day lab trip to Hakone.
In the warm air that hinted at the arrival of spring, we enjoyed sightseeing around the beautiful town of Hakone while taking in the faint scent of the hot springs.

During a workshop on Hakone’s traditional yosegi (wood marquetry) craft, we made hexagonal coasters featuring unique geometric patterns.

At the evening gathering, we cooked together and enjoyed dishes such as stew, yakitori, and tortillas, complimenting one another on our creations.

The recreational activities—including quizzes, gesture games, and even sumo wrestling—revealed unexpected sides of our lab members and led to waves of laughter throughout the night.

This was our first lab trip since the Itami Lab moved to RIKEN, and thanks to the excellent planning by the organizers, it became an unforgettable experience that further strengthened the bonds among our members.