What is the difference between the Department of Applied Physics and the Department of Physics?

I don’t know how it is at other universities, but at Waseda I think the two are close. They have many classes in common, and while there are differences in which courses are required or electives, you can attend them all.
In a word, the difference is that the Department of Physics explores fundamentals, while the Department of Applied Physics focuses on “actual use.” In applied physics, the required courses tend toward applications, such as programming or the basics of electrical circuits. In electronic engineering, I studied the working of diodes and other semiconductors.

What made you decide to choose to the Department of Applied Physics?

That happened at an open campus day. Applied Physics had the most impressive exhibit. I was particularly impressed with research involving liquid crystal and the analysis of human faces using computer graphics.

What sort of research do you want to do in the future?

At first I was interested in information engineering systems, such as computer graphics, programming, and robotics, but among the classes I’m taking now, I am attracted to research involving light. I would like to do research that is related to products that make use of the properties of light.
Products that make use of light include both communications systems, such as those which use optical fiber, and hardware systems, such as those used for machinery control. The latter is attracting attention because light allows faster control than can be achieved electrically. This also includes antennas, since the electromagnetic radiation which they receive is a form of light. Liquid crystal products also make use of light.

What sort of career path do you have in mind?

About 80% of undergrads go on to graduate school, so of course I am thinking about that, but recently I’m also thinking about pursuing a career after graduating from undergraduate school. The fact is, I am more interested in working with products than in research. It might not be possible to jump straight into an R&D career from undergraduate school, but using what I’ve learned studying engineering, I think I might find work involving products.
Of course, once I join a laboratory, I might get so involved in research that I decide to go on to graduate school anyway. The future is not clear yet.