Humans of MST: Bun the Undercover Beekeeper

Is Tomofumi Ito, or Bun as he is known among friends, the most interesting man at MST? We know Bun as the tireless, wise, and joyful facilities wizard, often working weekends, holidays and nights making sure our buildings are safe and repaired. And doing it in style. But before he came to MST, he had traveled the world as an intelligence officer, with stints in beekeeping and drumming and achieving a Guinness record along the way. Most interesting? Most definitely.

Edokko Boy

Where are you from and what was your town/neighborhood like?

I was born and raised in Jujo, a traditional downtown area of Tokyo.I’m a third-generation Tokyo native, or “Edokko.” Edokko are known for being straightforward, warm, and down-to-earth, and that kind of neighborhood really shaped who I am.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

As a kid, I dreamed of living close to nature. I imagined becoming a marine researcher in the South Pacific, or studying in Tibet. I was just really drawn to nature and that kind of life.

What were your favorite toys and games growing up?

Probably stilts (takeuma). I liked being able to see the world from a higher point than everyone else.

What’s your favorite place in Tokyo?

The Bellustar on the 45th floor of Kabukicho Tower. I love how it feels like a castle in the sky, right in the middle of the chaos of Kabukicho.

How do you spend your weekends?

I usually start with volunteer cleaning around my local station. Then I meditate at a temple, go for a swim, and finish the day with drinks with friends. I try not to mess up that order.

What’s your biggest passion these days?

Lately, I’ve been making my own original chai. I mix Bangladeshi black tea with Ceylon cinnamon sticks, cardamom, cloves, and also things like reishi mushroom—what we call “monkey chair” in Japanese—ghee, and makomo, a kind of fermented extract rich in microorganisms. I drink it before and after my morning chanting.

I get to enjoy the best cup every day.

Adventures in Beekeeping

How did you get into beekeeping?

It actually started when we were trying to develop a biological pesticide using ladybugs (Harmonia axyridis) that eat aphids. While searching for food for them, our team, out of curiosity, tried feeding them drone bees.

To our surprise, they loved it. So we freeze-dried the drones and successfully raised ladybugs over 19 generations. This achievement was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records, and the freeze-drying technique was patented.

That experience sparked my interest in beekeeping.

As for drone bees—the word “drone” can also mean someone lazy, which seems to reflect their lifestyle. In spring, they go out in search of love—drawn to a single queen—but only a few succeed. Most return without a chance and spend their time simply eating and sleeping, only to be driven out of the hive when winter comes.

Their lives are not just unique—they’re actually a bit tragic. In contrast, worker bees live incredibly hard-working lives, and the queen is always active. I found that contrast within their society truly fascinating.

What do you miss the most about beekeeping?

What I miss the most is how worker bees communicate with each other. When they discover a nectar source, they share it with others through a “dance.” I was especially fascinated by the vibration and energy they express during that moment.

Adventures in Intelligence

What was the most interesting thing about being an intelligence professional?

When I was living in a Malay community in Kota Bharu, Malaysia, I once received a visit from a local man who had heard that a Japanese person was living there. He had been a child during World War II, and he shared a story with me.

Months before the Japanese landing, there had been someone living among the community—educating people—who was later understood to have been working in intelligence. He told me that this person had been very kind, and that he had liked him very much as a child. That encounter stayed with me and sparked my interest in how unseen efforts can shape history.

After returning to Japan, I joined a think tank affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where I worked on projects across ASEAN and in former Soviet regions.

As part of this work, I was also involved in initiatives with professionals from various fields—including military officers, journalists, and researchers—many of whom held positions of significant influence in their respective countries. Through these exchanges, we were able to foster a deeper understanding of Japan and build genuine affinity toward it.

In this role, I had the opportunity to collaborate with multiple former Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs, as well as ambassadors who had served in key diplomatic posts in major countries such as the United States and Russia, gaining insight into diplomacy at the highest levels.

Together, we supported and developed 124 young leaders who built strong connections with Japan. Over time, some of them went on to become key figures in their governments, including close advisors to presidents. Through this experience, I came to feel that contributing to peace does not always happen in visible ways—but it can still leave a lasting impact.

During my work in intelligence, I learned that what truly matters is human connection and sincerity. Intelligence can involve acts of destruction, but I am grateful that my work contributed to confidence-building.

Did you ever get into trouble from intelligence work?

I once guided an important visitor from a socialist country around Ginza. Since I grew up in a downtown area of Tokyo, I wasn’t very familiar with Ginza and ended up getting lost.

Interestingly, they were the ones who showed me the way. They said it was their first time in Japan, but they clearly knew more than I did.

Although he said it was his first visit to Japan, I had a feeling that wasn’t entirely true.

What did you teach at your former school?

I taught children organic rice cultivation through hands-on experience. We actually grew rice together, and I also taught them how to market and sell the harvested rice. Through this, they could learn not only agriculture, but also how production and business are connected.

What is your favorite song to play on the drums?

I like songs with a strong groove. There’s a famous quote by Jimi Hendrix: “Don’t listen to music — feel it.” I resonate with that deeply. When I play, I focus on feeling the music rather than just playing the notes.

Recommendations

What are you reading right now?

I’m really into books about Sakamoto Ryoma, a historical figure from Japan. He’s often seen as a key figure in the Meiji Restoration, but I’m especially interested in his connections with people like Thomas Glover and the kind of deals they might have been involved in.

I like looking at history from that kind of perspective.

What are you watching these days?

These days, I don’t watch much TV. But when I was in junior high school, I watched a program on NHK called the “Young Music Show,” where I saw The Rolling Stones perform live at Madison Square Garden.

The energy and excitement of that performance left a strong impression on me, and I still remember it vividly.

What’s a movie you recommend?

I recommend Papillon, starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. It is based on the true story of a man who was wrongly imprisoned and kept trying to escape from Devil’s Island. What touched me deeply was his unbreakable will to seek freedom. His persistence eventually leads him to success, and I found it very powerful and moving.

What do you say to children who want an interesting life?

The most meaningful thing in life is your physical strength, energy, and inner force. Treat your body as something sacred, and take good care of it.

When you eat, remember to be grateful—to the people who made the food possible and to the universe itself. Each grain of rice and each drop of water is a gift.

Take the energy you have been given and use it for the sake of others. Energy is meant to flow. By giving, you keep that flow alive—and it will eventually return to you.

If you stay healthy and full of energy, you will always discover something that truly matters. And a wonderful life will surely come your way.