Enigma encryption machine

Visitors to the exhibition space of the Science and Engineering: Academic & Research Networking Event were drawn in by the display Enigma encryption machine, one of only 2 such machines existing in Japan. The machine which was displayed belongs to Professor Shigeo Tsujii of the Center for Research and Development Initiatives.

The Enigma encryption machine is a military encryption machine that was used by the German Nazi army until the end of World War II.

The Enigma encryption machine displayed at the exhibition is a machine shaped like an old word processor. It is fairly big machine, shaped like a square of approximately 30 centimeters on each side. Upon closer inspection, viewers can see that the machine contains a portion for aligning the letters of a keyboard and a rotating disk known as a rotor. The machine is also equipped with a lamp printed with letters from A to Z.

I was told that the encryption machine could still be used, so I immediately asked for a demonstration. The operation of the machine was surprisingly simple, and even an amateur like myself was able to understand quickly. I was somewhat worried that such simple operation would result in messages that could easily be decrypted. However, I learned that even today's supercomputers would require a year to decipher the encryption.

The exhibition venue was filled with so many people that it was difficult to get close to the items on display. Many people observed the exhibited items in wonder and there were also many people who took commemorative photographs.

(Student Reporter: Naomi Hashimoto (3rd year Doctoral student in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering)