Japan
News
04 Nov 2026
Kanazawa University
Researchers at Kanazawa University and the National Institute of Genetics in Japan have used high-speed atomic force
microscopy to observe how a group of proteins known as Smc5/6 interacts with DNA. The images reveal how this structure opens and closes, captures DNA and brings separate sections together. The researchers also observed Smc5/6 holding twisted sections of DNA in place, producing more tightly packed arrangements. The findings provide new insights into the molecular processes that contribute to the maintenance and repair of genetic material.
04 Nov 2026
Osaka Metropolitan University
Healthcare costs fall from a peak at just 2,500 steps a day then plateau near 11,000
04 Nov 2026
The University of Osaka
A team led by researchers from the University of Osaka has devised a unique technology that forms layers of the natural substances pectin and cellulose to produce biodegradable, sustainable materials that are as highly reflective as metals. These materials, some of which can reflect 95% of light, have a wide range of potential applications in sensors, anti-counterfeiting systems, and specialized windows capable of keeping houses cool.
02 Nov 2026
Kanazawa University
A research team led by Associate Professor Yasuo Murayama of Kanazawa University identified longitudinal associations among loneliness, depressive symptoms, and social behaviors in children affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. The findings highlight the importance of integrated mental health support for children in disaster-affected communities.
02 Nov 2026
The University of Osaka
Researchers at The University of Osaka developed an automated robotic system that monitors perovskite film formation in real time while tracking environmental and processing conditions. By combining these measurements with automated characterization and machine learning, the system identifies factors affecting film quality and optimizes antisolvent coating. The approach produced a perovskite solar cell with 24.4% efficiency, demonstrating its potential for faster, more reproducible photovoltaic research.
02 Nov 2026
Kanazawa University
Poorly crystalline material may help explain how early Solar System chemistry survived alteration by water
30 Oct 2026
Hiroshima University
Rather than converging toward Western managerial models, China’s leading universities appear to combine professional and political forms of authority as they navigate global academic competition and national strategic priorities, according to a study published in the journal Studies in Higher Education.
30 Oct 2026
Hiroshima University
In a study published in Communications Biology, researchers found that hyperactive YAP and TAZ, cancer-promoting proteins regulated by the Hippo pathway, were associated with genomic instability that may make cancer cells more recognizable to the immune system and also increased PD-L2, which helps the cells evade T-cell attack. That combination may help explain why certain Hippo pathway alterations were linked to better outcomes among cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, which can block inhibitory signals that restrain T-cell activity.
30 Oct 2026
Kanazawa University
Neutrophil RAGE drives cerebral vasospasm and impaired cortical circulation after subarachnoid hemorrhage, revealing a new therapeutic target.
30 Oct 2026
Kanazawa University
Creatinine rose in nearly all patients on abemaciclib, while cystatin C fell. Half already differed before treatment, so a baseline value is needed.
28 Oct 2026
Hiroshima University
A Hiroshima University researcher outlines advantages of Japan's new law that prohibits the transfer of genome-edited human embryos or germ cells into the human reproductive tract and imposes criminal penalties for violations. The law leaves somatic gene-editing therapies unaffected and allowing basic research under legally binding oversight.
27 Oct 2026
Osaka Metropolitan University
Evidence from an ancient fault may help understand how earthquakes cause tsunamis
27 Oct 2026
Kanazawa University
Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University have discovered that tiny structural defects can trigger the breakdown of microtubules, the microscopic structures that help cells maintain their shape, transport materials and divide. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy, the team observed how these defects develop and sometimes cause microtubules to collapse, even in the presence of paclitaxel, a widely used cancer drug that stabilizes them. The findings, published in ACS Nano, challenge the conventional view that microtubule breakdown begins primarily at their ends and offer new insights into the structural processes that may influence responses to cancer treatment.
26 Oct 2026
Osaka Metropolitan University
Five leading AI models showed biases towards a limited number of products
26 Oct 2026
Osaka Metropolitan University
Japan’s Depopulated-Area-Designation policy linked to population decline in small and medium-sized cities
26 Oct 2026
Kanazawa University
KRAS G12C inhibitors provide an important treatment option for patients with KRAS G12C-mutant lung cancer, but some tumors respond poorly from the outset. Alterations in KEAP1, a gene involved in cellular stress responses, are associated with reduced sensitivity to these drugs.
Some KRAS G12C-mutant lung cancers are resistant to KRAS G12C inhibitors from the outset. Loss of KEAP1 increases expression of pyruvate carboxylase (PC), allowing cancer cells to maintain metabolites required for growth during treatment. Genetic deletion of PC restored sensitivity to sotorasib and enhanced tumor suppression in mouse models.
26 Oct 2026
The University of Osaka
Researchers at the University of Osaka and their collaborators found that the structure of water directly next to carbon electrodes strongly affects their durability. Carbon corrosion accelerated when the network connecting water molecules became disrupted. By controlling this interfacial water with ion-conducting polymer coatings, the team suppressed corrosion while maintaining catalytic activity. The findings offer a new design strategy for longer-lasting carbon electrodes in water electrolysis, chlorine production, fuel cells, and other electrochemical technologies.
26 Oct 2026
The University of Osaka
Researchers at the University of Osaka developed an “orbital band engineering” approach that adds an auxiliary quantum dot to semiconductor spin qubits. Electrically tuning the extra dot helped balance fast operation with resistance to electrical noise, two properties that normally compete. Combined with machine-learning-based frequency correction, the method enabled fast, high-fidelity qubit control and could provide a useful strategy for post-fabrication tuning and scaling of semiconductor quantum computers.
23 Oct 2026
Hiroshima University
Hiroshima University researchers investigated the effects of hydrogen supplementation on sleep quality in healthy human volunteers. While hydrogen supplementation had no significant effect compared to a placebo, individuals in the hydrogen-supplementation group reporting better sleep quality were discovered to have a lower abundance of hydrogen producing bacteria in their gut microbiome.
22 Oct 2026
Hiroshima University
A study by Professor Miki Shibata at Hiroshima University, published in the International Journal of Multilingualism, examines how multilingual international students in English-taught programs in Japan navigate language use and develop a sense of belonging in the academic community. The findings offer insights into the challenges of multilingual communication and the development of more inclusive learning environments.
22 Oct 2026
Osaka Metropolitan University
A new polymerization method harnesses Laplace pressure generated within microscopic droplets to synthesize degradable plastics.
21 Oct 2026
The University of Osaka
Researchers from the University of Osaka have shown how a protein complex called CCAN assembles at chromosomes inside the cell, forming a spherical shell-like structure inside the nucleus. The protein CENP-C is critical for building this shell, with cells that fail to form it showing defective chromosome segregation. These findings suggest that the ordered shell-like configuration of CCAN is critical for accurate chromosome segregation during cell division.
21 Oct 2026
The University of Osaka
A team led by researchers from the University of Osaka has investigated the physical properties of a liquid membrane. Using vesicles whose membranes are made of a coacervate, a type of liquid, the team measured how these membranes bend. This liquid membrane was found to bend more easily than the lipid membranes that enclose cells. The findings deepen our understanding of soft, liquid-based membranes and may inform studies of protocells and other liquid compartments.
19 Oct 2026
The University of Osaka
Researchers from the University of Osaka uncovered the first steps of disease development in ANCA-associated autoimmune glomerulonephritis. Injured kidney cells send signals to attract immune cells, including neutrophils, and induce inflammation. The researchers tested the effects of modified antibodies on halting disease progression in a mouse model, showing that the modified antibodies successfully reduced kidney injury. The findings offer hope for a potential treatment aimed at stopping the disease at its earliest stage.
16 Oct 2026
Kanazawa University
Researchers from Kanazawa University and AIST, in Japan, have demonstrated the world's first trench-type inversion-channel diamond MOSFET with normally-off operation.
16 Oct 2026
Kanazawa University
Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University have developed a way to observe how antibodies interact with a cancer-related protein carried on tiny membrane-bound vesicles released by cells. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy, they found that measuring how much of the protein is present does not necessarily show how accessible it is to antibodies. The findings reported in the journal Small Methods provide a new way to investigate differences between individual cancer-derived vesicles although further research is needed before the approach can be used clinically.
16 Oct 2026
Kanazawa University
Large-scale study of more than 16,000 disaster-affected residents highlights the importance of distinguishing social networks, loneliness, and purpose in life during long-term recovery.
16 Oct 2026
Ehime University
Tomomichi Itoh and his colleagues at Ehime University have shown how tiny light-induced molecular shape changes can be amplified into visible deformation of polymer microparticles. The team developed light-responsive particles containing azobenzene molecules and revealed how structural changes triggered by light spread through the material, ultimately deforming particles several to tens of micrometers in size. These findings provide new insights for designing light-driven microscale materials and devices.
15 Oct 2026
Osaka Metropolitan University
Light may be the key to creating bendable displays and wearable sensors
15 Oct 2026
Ehime University
Only four enzymes including D-apionate oxidoisomerase (ApnO) are known to catalyze distinct, sequential chemical reactions at a single active site. Biochemical and crystallographic analysis revealed the catalytic mechanism of ApnO containing zinc and manganese ions as metal cofactors, and unique tetrahedral coordination geometry of the later. This study provides new insight into the molecular evolution of rare enzymes that defy the general paradigm wherein a single enzyme's activity is classified under a single reaction mode.
Events
11 Nov 2025
The Joint 'PCST Japan Symposium' and '7th JSF Conference' will be held from 11 to 13 November 2025 in Tokyo, Japan organised by Japan Scicom Forum (JSF) and hosted by Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Tokyo.
The joint symposium will focus on the strategic development of science communication and public engagement in Asia by highlighting innovative practices and solutions from around the world for engaging diverse audiences in non-Western contexts to create a sustainable ecosystem within the region.
08 Oct 2025
Meet your potential business partners in this Asia's Largest Partnering Event.
08 Jun 2025
The 2025 Symposium on VLSI Technology and Circuits will be held on June 8-12, 2025, JST. All the meetings will be held at RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto, Horikawa Shiokoji, Shimogyo ku , Kyoto 600 8237, Japan.
Held as a five-day at the Rihga Royal Hotel, as well as selected presentations and panel sessions, the Symposium will feature advanced VLSI technology developments, innovative circuit designs, and the applications they enable, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, wearable/implantable biomedical applications, big data, cloud / edge computing, virtual reality (VR) / augmented reality (AR), robotics, and autonomous vehicles.
The weeklong Symposium will continue its reputation as the microelectronics industry’s premiere international conference integrating technology, circuits, and systems with a range and scope unlike any other conferences. In addition to the technical presentations, the Symposium program will feature a demonstration session, evening panel discussions, joint focus sessions, short courses, and workshops.
26 May 2025
Tohoku University Hospital
18 Mar 2025
This Forum will be held on 18 March 2025 in Kobe, Japan, and will be hybrid (on-site and virtual).
26 Aug 2025
ISFMS 2025 is anticipated to attract over 200 participants, including
a diverse international community of researchers, professionals, and
experts in the field of molecular sciences as well as the broader life science community
08 Feb 2025
A symposium that will discuss how to address multifaceted challenges of inequality and promote science for sustainability will take place in person and online on February 8, 2025.
23 Jul 2024
The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), in collaboration with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and Future Earth Japan, will host the Partnerships for Sustainability session (PS-2) at the International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific on 23 July 2024 at 15:30-16:30 (JST/GMT +09:00), Pacifico, Yokohama and via Zoom.
24 Oct 2023
This Forum will take place on 24 October 2023 in Kobe, Japan. It will be held in hybrid format (on-site and virtual).
21 Nov 2023
Japan Scicom Forum brings together communicators, writers, scientists and journalists in Japan. Registration is free and the event will be in English.
11 Oct 2023
Meet your potential business partners in this Partnering Event. Asia's Largest Partnering will be held in both digitally and physically.
23 Dec 2022
This Forum will take place on 23rd December 2022 in Kobe, Japan. It will be held in hybrid format (on-site and on-line).
13 Feb 2022
A joint forum by APN, ADRC, JICA Kansai, and Graduate School of Disaster Resilience and Governance, University of Hyogo
26 Jan 2022
Since 2001, the "nano tech" exhibition is one of largest exhibition in the world held in Tokyo, Japan. In 2022, it will be held in On-site and On-line format as a Hybrid event.
09 Sep 2021
Tohoku University will be hosting the 8th German-Japanese (HeKKSaGOn) University Presidents' Conference from Sept 9-10. The online event includes an Academic Conference on the first day that is open to the general public. See article for details.
09 Sep 2021
Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) will launch a new Master-PhD course on origin-of-life science and astrobiology at Tokyo Institute of Technology. The five-year ELSI course is open for domestic and international students who wish to tackle fundamental questions in natural science such as the origin and evolution of living planets. ELSI will provide financial support (as salary of a research assistant) for all the students, except for ones who are going to be supported by JSPS DC fellowships (Japan) or equivalent fellowships.
12 Oct 2021
The Asia's Largest Partnering “BioJapan” will be held both digitally and physically. Meet your potential business partners in this Partnering Event!
14 Jul 2021
Intelligent Mobility 2021 will offer a platform for industry experts, thought leaders, policy makers, city planners and researchers to discuss the future of mobility, growth opportunities emerging as a result of disruptive innovation, and the potential impact of new business models.
10 Mar 2021
Upcoming side event at the 7th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum: Partnerships to harmonize science information and knowledge at regional scales for enabling adaptation
26 Mar 2021
Springer Nature and the University of Tokyo to hold SDGs Symposium 2021, “Interdisciplinary science solutions for food, water, climate and ecosystems Sustainable Development Goals”
09 Mar 2021
The SciREX Open Forum’s 10th session will invite Dr. Yoichiro Matsumoto who assumed the position of the 2nd S&T Advisor to Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs as a speaker to talk about what we can see from the pandemic, how S&T Diplomacy should be in the ongoing pandemic, and what actually can be done.
24 Feb 2021
INTERPHEX Week Osaka is Asia's leading exhibition for pharmaceutical industry, consists of 2 exhibitions for pharmaceutical technologies - INTERPHEX OSAKA (Manufacturing & Packaging) and PharmaLab Expo OSAKA (Pharma R&D and Drug Discovery).
09 Dec 2020
The 20th International Nanotechnology Exhibition & Conference will be held in onsite-online hybrid format.
25 Nov 2020
Asia's Leading Pharma & Bio Tech Show will be held as scheduled from November 25-27, 2020 at Makuhari Messe, Japan. It will be held both on-site and online.
10 Jul 2020
Tohoku University is hosting an online lecture on COVID-19 on July 10. Led by top virologist Hitoshi Oshitani, the panel will share the latest on the pandemic, and discuss how history, culture and religion can help us understand the challenges ahead.
04 Jul 2020
Tohoku University's Graduate School of Education is hosting a three-part webinar series on how the COVID-19 pandemic is transforming education in the Asia-Pacific region. The event is in English and open to everyone. But spots are limited and registration is required.
Details: https://bit.ly/2MT2UFA
14 Oct 2020
Asia's Premier Partnering Event for the Global Biotechnology Industry. This year’s exhibition will be held as originally planned at Pacifico Yokohama. BioJapan partnering is available both physically and virtually. Plus some seminars will be available online.
19 Mar 2020
Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology(ASHBi) holds the annual symposium with twenty-one speakers who are leading human biology including human development, genetics, and evolution.
Researchers
Professor Mikiya Fujii is an expert on materials informatics at Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan.
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Group Leader, Frontier Molecules Group, Nanomaterials Field, Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan.
I am a japanese physician-scientist in gastroenterology, especially in neurogastroenterology.
Hokkaido University
Dr. Eisuke Hasegawa is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, where he heads the Animal Ecology Laboratory. His research interests include animal ecology; evolutionary biology; natural selection; sociality; and ethology.
Dr. Yukio Yasui is an Associate Professor at Kagawa University. He has dedicated his research work to ecology, ethology and evolutionary biology studies, with his more recent work on the evolution of sex.
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Dr Naoka Nagamura is senior researcher at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) and visiting associate professor at Tokyo University of Science. She researches advanced materials, electrochemistry and photoemission spectroscopy.
Dr. Hiroki Ago is a Distinguished Professor of the Global Innovation Center at Kyushu University. His research focuses on nanomaterials, particularly graphene and related 2D materials, and their applications.
Tohoku University
Prof. Hiroshi Yabu is a Professor and Principal Investigator at the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR) at Tohoku University. His research interests include self-organization, biomimetics, and bio-inspired materials for energy and low environmental impacts.
Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU)
Ken’ichi Nomoto is a visiting senior scientist at Kavli IPMU and Professor Emeritus at The University of Tokyo. He is one of the best experts in the world in astronomy and astrophysics, particularly on stellar evolution and supernovae. He was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Japanese government in 2020.
Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU)
Jia Liu is the Director of the Center for Data-Driven Discovery and associate professor at CMB Group at Kavli IPMU. Her research integrates data science techniques in the study of large-scale structures of the universe (dark matter, halos, filaments, voids).
Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU)
Elisa Ferreira is Assistant Professor at the Kavli IPMU and at the Institute of Physics of the University of São Paulo. Her research deals with the interface between cosmology, astrophysics, and high energy physics, focusing mostly on dark energy and dark matter.
Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU)
Man Wai Cheung is a Project Researcher and the first Chien-Shiung Wu Prize Postdoctoral Fellow at KAVLI Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU). Her research lies in the interplay between algebraic geometry, combinatorics and representation theory.
Hokkaido University
Dr. Akira Kakugo is an Associate Professor at Hokkaido University. He has researched biomolecular motors and swarming of active matters.
Kyoto University
Dr. So Iwata is a Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine Kyoto University and the Group Director of the SACLA Science Research Group, RIKEN SPring-8 Center. He has investigated how specialized membrane channels remove antimicrobial drugs from inside bacterial cells.
Her current research focuses on the synthesis of semiconducting polymers for organic electronics and has published >100 papers in this area of research.
Assistant Professor Izumi Fukunaga grew up in Japan and Malaysia and went to London to study neuroscience. Her research focuses on how sensory circuits in the brain function.
Professor Gail Tripp is a neurobiologist who established the OIST Children’s Research Center to undertake research on the nature, etiology and management of ADHD with English and Japanese speaking children and families.
Assistant Professsor Lauren Sallan is a fish paleobiologist who uses big data — the fossil record — to study how some species win and others lose. Her multiple TED Talks on the evolution of fishes, mass extinction and paleontology have received over 3 million views.
Professor Shinya Maenosono leads his research group at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST). His research in JAIST has focused on two main areas of interest in the field of materials chemistry and nanotechnology. The first area involved wet chemical synthesis of semiconductor nanoparticles with controlled size, shape and composition for energy conversion device applications. The second area has focused on the synthesis and bioapplication development of monometallic and alloyed multimetallic nanoparticles.
Osaka City University
Prof. Shigekawa's research interest includes fabrication of heterointerfaces and advanced hybrid semiconductor devices such as multijunction solar cells and heterojunction bipolar transistors using surface activated bonding and their characterization.
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Ken-ichi Uchida is a group leader in the Spin Caloritronics Group, Research Center for Magnetic and Spintronic Materials under the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Satoshi Ishii is a principal researcher at International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan. He also holds an adjunct associate professorship at University of Tsukuba.
Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) at Kyoto University
Hiroshi Kageyama is a professor in the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University, Japan.
Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tomohiro Mochizuki is a specially-appointed assistant professor at Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) - Tokyo Institute of Technology.
Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Tokyo Institute of Technology
Mayuko Nakagawa is a biochemist at Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) based at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan.
Hitoshi Gomi is an Earth scientist at Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) based at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan.
Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tony Z. Jia is a researcher at Japan’s Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), based at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. His research focuses on astrobiology, prebiotic chemistry, and origins of life.
Giants in history
Japanese biochemist Akira Endo (1933 – 2024) discovered the first statin, called mevastatin, which lowered cholesterol levels in the blood by inhibiting a key enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. His work laid the foundation for the development of statins to help patients lower their blood cholesterol levels and reduce their risk of heart disease or stroke.
Ruby Sakae Hirose (1904 – 1960) was a Japanese-American scientist whose research contributed significantly to our understanding of blood clotting, allergies and cancer.
Haisako Koyama (1916 – 1997) was a Japanese solar observer whose dedication to recording sunspots – cooler parts of the sun’s surface that appear dark – produced a sunspot record of historic importance.
Michiaki Takahashi (17 February 1928 – 16 December 2013) was a Japanese virologist who developed the first chickenpox vaccine.
Toshiko Yuasa (11 December 1909 – 1 February 1980) was the first Japanese female physicist whose research on radioactivity shed light on beta decay – the process in which an atom emits a beta particle (electron) and turns into a different element.
Baron Kitasato Shibasaburo (29 January 1856 – 13 June 1931) was a Japanese physician and bacteriologist whose work led to a new understanding of preventing and treating tetanus, diphtheria and anthrax.
By isolating soil microorganisms and studying the compounds they produce, Satoshi Omura (born 1935) discovered almost 500 organic compounds with unique properties that were produced by these microorganisms, including many new antibiotics.
Husband and wife team, Kimishige (3 December 1925 – 6 July 2018) and Teruko Ishizaka (28 September 1926 – 4 June 2019) discovered the antibody class Immunoglobulin E (IgE) that triggers allergic reactions. They also discovered that IgE antibodies attach to white blood cells, known as mast cells, releasing histamine, which causes allergic reactions.
Husband and wife team, Kimishige (3 December 1925 – 6 July 2018) and Teruko Ishizaka (28 September 1926 – 4 June 2019) discovered the antibody class Immunoglobulin E (IgE) that triggers allergic reactions. They also discovered that IgE antibodies attach to white blood cells, known as mast cells, releasing histamine, which causes allergic reactions.
Reiji Okazaki (8 October 1930 – 1 August 1975) and Tsuneko (7 June 1933) were a Japanese couple who discovered Okazaki fragments – short sequences of DNA that are synthesized during DNA replication and linked together to form a continuous strand.
In 1915, Koichi Ichikawa along with pathologist Katsusaburo Yamagiwa became the first to prove that chronic exposure to chemicals can cause cancer.
In 1915, pathologist Katsusaburo Yamagiwa and his research assistant Koichi Ichikawa became the first to prove that chronic exposure to chemicals can cause cancer.
Ogino Ginko (3 March 1851 – 23 June 1913) was the first registered female doctor to practise modern medicine in Japan.
Michiyo Tsujimura (17 September 1888 – 1 June 1969) was a Japanese agricultural scientist and biochemist recognized for her research of green tea components.
Hitoshi Kihara (1893 – 1986) was one of the most famous Japanese geneticists of the 20th century. One of his most significant contributions was identifying sex chromosomes (X and Y) in flowering plants.
Kono Yasui (16 February 1880 – 24 March 1971) was a Japanese botanist who researched the genetics of poppies, corn and spiderworts and surveyed the plants that had been affected by the nuclear fallout after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Umetaro Suzuki (7 April 1874 – 20 September 1943) was a Japanese scientist best remembered for his research on beriberi, a disease caused by vitamin B1 deficiency, characterized by limb stiffness, paralysis and pain.
Kikunae Ikeda (8 October 1864 – 3 May 1936) was a Japanese chemist who discovered the fifth basic taste, umami.
Osamu Shimomura (27 August 1928 – 19 October 2018) was a Japanese organic chemist and marine biologist who dedicated his career to understanding how organisms emitted light.
Motoo Kimura (13 November 1924 – 13 November 1994) was a Japanese theoretical population geneticist who is best remembered for developing the neutral theory of molecular evolution.
Chika Kuroda (24 March 1884 – 8 November 1968) was a Japanese chemist whose research focussed on the structures of natural pigments.
The field of solid-state ionics originated in Europe, but Takehiko Takahashi of Nagoya University in Japan was the first to coin the term ‘solid ionics’ in 1967. ‘Solid-state ionics’ first appeared in 1971 in another of his papers, and was likely a play on ‘solid-state electronics’, another rapidly growing field at the time.
The techniques that make industrial pearl culturing possible were developed over a century ago at the Misaki Marine Biological Station in Japan. The station’s first director, Professor Kakichi Mitsukuri, emphasized to Kokichi Mikimoto in 1890 that stimulating pearl sac formation was important for pearl growth, and they went on to successfully develop methods for culturing pearls.
Japanese physicist Ukichiro Nakaya (1900-1962) made the world’s first artificial snowflakes. He started his research on snow crystals in the early 1930s at Hokkaido University, where there is an unlimited supply of natural snow in winter. By taking over 3,000 photographs, he established a classification of natural snow crystals and described their relationship with weather conditions.
Minoru Shirota (April 23, 1899 – March 10, 1982) was a Japanese microbiologist who invented the popular fermented drink Yakult.
Japanese chemist Kenichi Fukui (4 October 1918 – 9 January 1998) was the first Asian scientist to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Together with Roald Hoffman, he received this honour in 1981 for his independent research into the mechanisms of chemical reactions.
Shinichiro Tomonaga (31 March 1906 – 8 July 1979), together with Richard Feynman and Julian Schwinger, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965, for their contributions to advance the field of quantum electrodynamics. Tomonaga was also a strong proponent of peace, who actively campaigned against the proliferation of nuclear weapons and promoted the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Hideki Yukawa (23 January 1907 – 8 September 1981) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1949 for predicting the existence of the pi meson subatomic particle. Japan’s first Nobel laureate, Yakawa also expressed his support for nuclear disarmament by signing the Russell–Einstein Manifesto in 1955.
Japanese chemist Takamine Jokichi (3 November 1854 – 22 July 1922) founded the Tokyo Artificial Fertilizer Company, where he isolated a starch-digesting enzyme (named takadiastase) from the fungus Aspergillus oryzae.
Tsuneko (7 June 1933) and Reiji Okazaki (8 October 1930 – 1 August 1975) were a Japanese couple who discovered Okazaki fragments – short sequences of DNA that are synthesized during DNA replication and linked together to form a continuous strand.
A Japanese surgeon, Tetsuzo Akutsu (20 August 1922 – 9 August 2007) built the first artificial heart capable of keeping an animal alive.
Japanese geochemist Katsuko Saruhashi developed the first method and tools for measuring carbon dioxide in seawater