Takashi Ikegami (born February 1961) is a professor at the University of Tokyo. He specializes in artificial life and…Takashi Ikegami (born February 1961) is a professor at the University of Tokyo. He specializes in artificial life and complexity, and has been known to engage on the border between art and science.
Masachi Osawa (大澤 真幸, Ōsawa Masachi; born October 15, 1958 in Nagano, Japan) is a Japanese sociologist and philosopher.…Masachi Osawa (大澤 真幸, Ōsawa Masachi; born October 15, 1958 in Nagano, Japan) is a Japanese sociologist and philosopher. Outside Japan, he is best known as a social scientist, often mentioned in reference to sociological and philosophical research on otaku culture and popular Japanese animation series such as Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.
Shunsuke Mutai (務台 俊介, Mutai Shunsuke; born 3 July 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who…Shunsuke Mutai (務台 俊介, Mutai Shunsuke; born 3 July 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He was first elected in the 2012 general election. He is a former career bureaucrat in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (briefly serving as Director of the CLAIR London Office) and graduate of University of Tokyo. Having unsuccessfully contested the Nagano 2nd district in the 2009 general election, he then served as a professor of local administration at Kanagawa University. Mutai was Secretary to the Alliance of Legislators who wish to legislate for Mountain Day, which was inaugurated in August 2016. In 2016 Mutai was appointed Parliamentary Vice Minister for Reconstruction and shortly after hit global headlines concerning an incident concerning a ministerial visit to a disaster-hit region. Half year later at a campaign party Mutai joked about the incident only to be criticized by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. Mutai resigned from his post on the following day. At the 2017 general election Mutai was defeated in his Nagano constituency but re-elected to the Diet under his party's proportional representation bloc. He was reappointed to government as a State Minister for the Environment in October 2021 but relieved of his position in the August 2022 Kishida reshuffle .
Masafumi Matsui (松井 正文; born 1950) is a Japanese zoologist and herpetologist, and a professor emeritus at Kyoto…Masafumi Matsui (松井 正文; born 1950) is a Japanese zoologist and herpetologist, and a professor emeritus at Kyoto University. He is a leading researcher in amphibian studies and a recipient of the Zoological Society of Japan Prize. He also served as president of the Herpetological Society of Japan.
Okihide Hikosaka is a neuroscience research professor who specializes in the mechanisms of motivation, learning, skill…Okihide Hikosaka is a neuroscience research professor who specializes in the mechanisms of motivation, learning, skill, decision-making, attention, and oculomotor control. His research into neuronal mechanisms of voluntary behavior and basal ganglia function created breakthroughs in the understanding of the neurochemistry behind information-seeking behavior and the efficacy of grouping motor sequence learning actions (otherwise known as “chunking”) in order to remember more than individual actions. Hikosaka’s research proved that the brain is chemically wired to be rewarded with dopamine for learning information about the future. “This result supports the notion that midbrain dopamine neurons are coding for both primitive and cognitive rewards. So why do dopamine neurons treat information as a reward? It’s easy to see how treating information this way might be a useful evolutionary adaptation. For many animals, each day consists of numerous decisions that pertain to eating, reproducing and socializing. Obviously, having access to more relevant information – such as knowing where the food is located - allows animals to make better decisions. Furthermore, having access to such information might give us better control over our environment, thus increasing our chances of survival.” Hikosaka's research impacts the understanding of drug abuse, Parkinson’s and many other aspects of behavior and brain function and dysfunction.
Morinobu Endo (遠藤 守信 Endō Morinobu, born September 28, 1946) is a Japanese physicist and chemist, often cited as one of…Morinobu Endo (遠藤 守信 Endō Morinobu, born September 28, 1946) is a Japanese physicist and chemist, often cited as one of the pioneers of carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotubes synthesis at the beginning of the 1970s. He demonstrated carbon fibers can be grown by gas pyrolysis and traveled to Orléans, France in 1974 working with Madame Agnès Oberlin at CNRS in her laboratory. He discovered carbon nanotubes in 1976 as part of his studies at University of Orleans in France. He has been awarded the Charles E. Pettinos Award from the American Carbon Society in 2001, "For his pioneering work and applications of carbon nanotubes", Medal of Achievement in Carbon Science and Technology from the American Carbon Society in 2004, "for the discovery of, and early synthesis work on, carbon nanotubes". Born in Nagano Prefecture in 1946, he studied electrical engineering and received his Bachelor of Engineering and master's degree in 1969 and 1971 from Shinshu University, Japan, respectively, and obtained "Docteur d'Universite" in 1975 from University of Orléans, France, then Ph.D. in 1978 from Nagoya University, Japan. In his works, he developed the structural, synthetic research as well as physical properties analysis, mainly on multi-walled carbon nanotubes. He showed that they had a tubular structure of graphite layers grown by ultra-fine iron particle by catalytic process, and developed to mass production process for the first time. This catalytic CVD process has been used as an industrially available mass production method, both substrate and floating catalyst processes. Present CCVD process has been expecting to grow the wide range of carbon nanotubes by controlling the growth site as well as their nanostructure. His main research interests are science and applications of "nanocarbons" such as carbon nanotubes, and he has contributed to development of new composites and high-performance energy storage devices such as lithium ion battery, electric double layer capacitor, and fuel cell, based on such structure controlled advanced carbons. Since 1990, he is a professor of education and training of electrical and electronics engineers, and now is also the director of Institute of Carbon Science & Technology, both at Shinshu University. He is one of the international advisory members of CARBON journal. He has been invited at many international conferences and symposium as a plenary lecturer/key-note speaker. In addition, he has joined many international conferences as a chairman, organizer and advisory board member.
Yoshiko Miya (Japanese: 宮淑子, romanized: Miya Yoshiko; 18 February 1945 – 4 April 2015) was a Japanese freelance writer…Yoshiko Miya (Japanese: 宮淑子, romanized: Miya Yoshiko; 18 February 1945 – 4 April 2015) was a Japanese freelance writer and journalist, social critic and feminist. She published one of the first books about sexual violence experienced by Japanese women and the impact of recently implemented laws in 1984.
Noriko Kamakura (鎌倉 矩子; September 29, 1939 – June 16, 2023):22 was a practitioner, researcher, and academic leader in…Noriko Kamakura (鎌倉 矩子; September 29, 1939 – June 16, 2023):22 was a practitioner, researcher, and academic leader in occupational therapy. She was in the initial generation of people who became occupational therapists in Japan. She greatly influenced how occupational therapy developed in that country, contributing especially in clinical approaches to persons with central nervous disorders of executive functions. In addition, she explored function of the hand in enough detail to develop a system of taxonomies that can account for the vast majority of postures and movements of the hand.
Daizō Nozawa (野沢 太三, Nozawa Daizō; 6 May 1933 – 12 December 2024) was a Japanese politician who served as the Justice…Daizō Nozawa (野沢 太三, Nozawa Daizō; 6 May 1933 – 12 December 2024) was a Japanese politician who served as the Justice Minister of Japan from 2003 to 2004. Nozawa was born in Tatsuno, Nagano. He graduated from the University of Tokyo with a bachelor of civil engineering degree and joined Japanese National Railways in 1956. During his career at JNR, he obtained the degree of Ph.D. He was first elected as a member of the House of Councillors in 1986. He served as a member of the house until 2004 when he did not run for reelection. He led the leader of the Japan-Korea Tunnel Research Institute, an organization trying to create a tunnel link between Japan and South Korea. He died on 12 December 2024, at the age of 91.
Syun-Ichi Akasofu (赤祖父 俊一, Akasofu Shun'ichi; born December 4, 1930, Saku, Nagano, Japan) is a Japanese-American…Syun-Ichi Akasofu (赤祖父 俊一, Akasofu Shun'ichi; born December 4, 1930, Saku, Nagano, Japan) is a Japanese-American geophysicist known for his research on auroras, auroral substorms, and magnetospheric physics. He is the founding director of the International Arctic Research Center of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), serving in that position from the center's establishment in 1998 until January 2007. Previously he had been director of the university's Geophysical Institute from 1986.
Yoshikazu Hasegawa (長谷川 善和) (12 March 1930 – 2 September 2026) was a Japanese vertebrate palaeontologist and honorary…Yoshikazu Hasegawa (長谷川 善和) (12 March 1930 – 2 September 2026) was a Japanese vertebrate palaeontologist and honorary museum director. The Pleistocene anatid Shiriyanetta hasegawai was named in his honour, in recognition of his "outstanding contributions" to the field.
Hisao Yamada (山田 尚勇, Yamada Hisao; June 8, 1930 – May 21, 2008) was a Japanese computer scientist, known for his…Hisao Yamada (山田 尚勇, Yamada Hisao; June 8, 1930 – May 21, 2008) was a Japanese computer scientist, known for his influential contributions to theoretical computer science, as well as for the development of Japanese keyboard layouts, a challenging practical problem. From 1972 to 1991, he was professor of the formal languages division at the Department for Information Science at the University of Tokyo.
Teruaki Mukaiyama (向山 光昭, Mukaiyama Teruaki; January 5, 1927 – November 17, 2018) was a Japanese organic chemist. One…Teruaki Mukaiyama (向山 光昭, Mukaiyama Teruaki; January 5, 1927 – November 17, 2018) was a Japanese organic chemist. One of the most prolific chemists of the 20th century in the field of organic synthesis, Mukaiyama helped establish the field of organic chemistry in Japan after World War II.
Kenzō Yagi (八木健三, Yagi Kenzō; 5 September 1914 – 18 July 2008) was a Japanese mineralogist and petrologist who…Kenzō Yagi (八木健三, Yagi Kenzō; 5 September 1914 – 18 July 2008) was a Japanese mineralogist and petrologist who specialized in experimental mineralogy and petrology. Yagiite, a new mineral found in the Colomera meteorite, was named after him for its contribution to the petrology.
Masao Oka (岡 正雄, Oka Masao; 1898–1982) was a Japanese ethnologist and Japanologist. Oka is considered the leading…Masao Oka (岡 正雄, Oka Masao; 1898–1982) was a Japanese ethnologist and Japanologist. Oka is considered the leading figure in the establishment of Japanese ethnology since the 1930s.
Nobuo Noda (野田 信夫, Noda Nobuo; April 24, 1893 – 1993) was a prominent Japanese business scholar professor of management…Nobuo Noda (野田 信夫, Noda Nobuo; April 24, 1893 – 1993) was a prominent Japanese business scholar professor of management at the Seikei University and president of the Seikei University in Tokyo, known as one of Japan's longstanding leaders in the field of management theory, a specialist in productivity matters.
Makoto Nishimura (西村 真琴, Nishimura Makoto; 1883 – 1956) was a Japanese biologist. He is most renowned as the inventor…Makoto Nishimura (西村 真琴, Nishimura Makoto; 1883 – 1956) was a Japanese biologist. He is most renowned as the inventor of Gakutensoku, Japan's first functional robot. He was the father of actor Kō Nishimura.
Seiichi Hatano (波多野 精一, Hatano Seiichi; 21 July 1877 – 17 January 1950) was a Japanese philosopher, best known for his…Seiichi Hatano (波多野 精一, Hatano Seiichi; 21 July 1877 – 17 January 1950) was a Japanese philosopher, best known for his work in the philosophy of religion dealing mostly with western religion and also western philosophical thoughts in theological aspects of Christianity.
Etsujirō Uehara (植原 悦二郎, Uehara Etsujirō; 15 May 1877 – 2 December 1962) was a politician and bureaucrat in the early…Etsujirō Uehara (植原 悦二郎, Uehara Etsujirō; 15 May 1877 – 2 December 1962) was a politician and bureaucrat in the early Shōwa period Japan, who subsequently was a politician and cabinet minister in the immediate post-war era.
Paul Yachita Tsuchihashi (土橋 八千太, Tsuchihashi Yachita; 4 December 1866 – 3 March 1965) was a Japanese Roman Catholic…Paul Yachita Tsuchihashi (土橋 八千太, Tsuchihashi Yachita; 4 December 1866 – 3 March 1965) was a Japanese Roman Catholic priest, mathematician, astronomer, Sinologist, lexicographer, academic and administrator. Father Paul is known for having developed extensive tables for converting traditional Japanese era dates into Gregorian calendar equivalents — compare, e.g., Calendrical Time Conversion Table which is derived from a formula for determining the numbered date in the Japanese month.
Tanaka Yoshio (田中 芳男; 27 September 1838 – 22 June 1916) was a Japanese civil servant and naturalist. Born to a doctor…Tanaka Yoshio (田中 芳男; 27 September 1838 – 22 June 1916) was a Japanese civil servant and naturalist. Born to a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Iida, Shinano Province, Tanaka studied pharmacognosy in his youth with Keisuke Ito. In 1861 he moved to Edo and joined the Bansho Shirabesho (Office for the Investigation of Foreign Documents) the following year. In this job, he worked on the documentation of local produce. He was part of the Japanese delegation at the 1867 Exposition Universelle in Paris, where he exhibited a number of entomological specimens; this journey also gave him the opportunity to learn about Western museum curation. After the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese Civil Service was reorganised. Within the Daigaku (later the Ministry of Education) Tanaka joined the Bureau of Local Products, and then moved to the Museums Bureau in 1871. A decade later, his services were sought by the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce to oversee the menagerie attached to the National Museum of Natural History; Tanaka took advantage of the opportunity to create Ueno Zoo. Opened in 1882, it was Japan's first zoological park. The creation of the zoo resulted in Tanaka's promotion to Director-General of the Natural History Bureau, however he received little ministerial support for his botanical and zoological planning and resigned from the post the following year. In 1878 he helped to set up a school of agriculture in Komaba (which later became the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Agriculture) and in subsequent years was responsible for the founding of several societies, including the Dainippon Nokai ("Greater Japan Agricultural Society"), the Dainippon Sanrinkai ("Greater Japan Forestry Society") and the Dainippon Suisankai ("Greater Japan Fisheries Society"). He also published several books on botany and agriculture. In 1890 he was elevated to the House of Peers and in 1915 he was granted the title of danshaku (baron). Tanaka died in 1916. The Saxifragaceae species Tanakaea radicans is named after him. The standard author abbreviation Yo.Tanaka is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.
