DIRECTIONS FOR APPLICATIONFORTHE SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR BIORESOURCEUTILIZATION SCIENCE OF FUNGUS
AND MUSHROOM, 2022
(THREE-YEAR DOCTORAL COURSE)
The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences
Tottori University
Japan

The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences (UGSAS), Tottori University, was founded in 1989 as anindependent three-year Doctoral course. The UGSAS is organized on the basis of the three Master's Courses of Tottori,
Shimane and Yamaguchi Universities, and the research facilities at the Universities. The UGSAS is operated in close
alliance and cooperation with the Master's Courses of the three constituent Universities.

The Special Program (SP) for bioresource utilization science of fungus and mushroom in the UGAS is designed for
those students who have finished the Special Program of the Master's courses (Pre-Doctoral Courses) at the constituent
Universities; Tottori, Shimane and Yamaguchi. Because the SP at the UGAS is to be open as of October 2022
, the UGAS invites application from prospective foreign students who wish to study bioresource utilization scienceof fungus and mushroom.

１. PURPOSE OF THE SPECIAL PROGRAM
This Special Program (SP) is designed to provide academically advanced education to study bioresource utilization
science of fungus and mushroom, and aims to contribute to the development of superior human resources, promoting
research on bioresource utilization science of fungus and mushroom.

２. FIELDS OF STUDY AND NUMBER OF STUDENTS TO BE ADMITTED(1) Fields of Study: Applications for any field in bioresource utilization science of fungus and mushroom and relatedsciences are accepted, provided that each applicant finds a suitable academic major advisor in
the annexed "List of Supervisors and Their Research Interests".
(2) Number of Students to be admitted: A limited number of students funded privately or by the other sources(hereafter "Personal Funds").

1

３. QUALIFICATIONS(1) Nationality: Applicants with Personal Funds are welcome to apply for the SP regardless of their nationality or
residential experiences in Japan.
(2) Age: There is no age limitation for applicants with Personal Funds.
(3) Academic career: Applicants should have or be expected to earn a Master's degree or equivalent qualifications
by the end of September, 2022. Admission may be canceled, if successful applicants do not hold a Master's orequivalent degree by the end of September, 2022.
(4) Health: Applicants should be in good mental and physical health.
(5) Language proficiency: A good working level in English is required.
(6) Arrival in Japan: The admitted students must arrive in Japan between October 1 and 7, 2022.
(7) Note: Military related personnel are not eligible to apply, if they are to remain on duty during the period of study.
４. APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applicants should submit the following documents through the desired major advisor to the School by April 22, 2022.
Applications directly mailed to the School will not be accepted.
Documents:(1)

Application in prescribed form, APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION To THE SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR
BIORESOURCE UTILIZATION SCIENCE OF FUNGUS AND MUSHROOM, 2022 (Form No. 5).

(2)

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION in the prescribed form by those students who know the applicant’s
research/study capability, addressed to the Dean of the United Graduate School (Form No. 6).

(3)

LETTER OF APPLICATION (about 1,200 words). Use A4 paper and attach a cover sheet (Form No. 3).

(4)

One copy of the applicant's Master's degree certificate or a certificate issued by the applicant's graduate school
indicating that the applicant will be receiving a Master's degree.

(5)

Transcript of academic record issued by university authorities and its English translation.

(6)

A summary of the Master's thesis in English (about 1,200 words), or a summary of the research program in
English (about 1,200 words) in the case of applicants who anticipate a Master's degree. Use A4 paper andattach a cover sheet (Form No.4).

(7)

Certificate of citizenship issued by municipal authorities.

(8)

One copy of the record showing English ability such as TOEFL, TOEIC or IELTS objectively.

(9)

Photocopies of publications described in #10 in APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION.

(10)

Passport size Photograph (5 x 4cm), showing a picture taken from the front, from the chest up, bare-headed,
and taken within 6 months of the application date, indicating name and nationality on the reverse side (should
be attached to the designated place on the application form).

(11)

Entrance examination fee of 30,000 yen (to be paid in cash or a postal money order, but waived for current
Master students at the constituent Universities).
2Notes:①These documents should either be typed or printed neatly in English. Application forms can be downloaded
from the Website (http://rendai.muses.tottori-u.ac.jp/english/recruit/index.html).
②Applications will not be accepted unless all the documents mentioned above are fully and correctly
completed and delivered in due time.
③The letters of recommendation should include the writer’s assessment of the applicant's English proficiency
as Excellent, Good or Fair.
④The above-mentioned information for documents (1), (2), and (3) should be submitted on the forms
provided, and others on A4 size paper. Only originals, not photocopies, will be accepted.
⑤None of the documents submitted will be returned to the applicants.
⑥Each applicant should select a professor as a prospective major advisor from the annexed "List ofSupervisors and Their Research Interests" and contact professor in advance in preparing the application
documents. Application failing to nominate a professor as a major advisor will not be accepted.
⑦The application fee is nonrefundable once paid.

５. FEES ON ENTRANCE(1)

Admission fee: 282,000 yen (proposed) (waived for students continuing from the Master’s course at theconstituent Universities).

(2)

Tuition: 267,900 yen (proposed) for the first semester (annually 535,800 yen). Tuition may be revised eachschool year.

(3) ①Personal accident insurance for students pursuing education and research (Hereafter “Gakkensai”): This
insurance compensates for physical injuries suffered students in their intra-curricular activities both on and off
campus, and extra-curricular activities on campus. All students enrolled have to pay the premium of 2,600 yen
for three years.
For details, please refer to Health Science Center (TEL (0857)31-5065).
②Insurance for International Students (Type E)：This insurance covers (1) Personal compensation
responsibility：in case of causing injury to another person or damaging the property of others, (2) Rescuer
expenses, etc.：compensate for the payment of transportation and accommodation expenses in case family
members come to Japan to support the insured if he/she is hospitalized due to injury or illness for more than 3days. (3) Movable property for daily use：in case of incurs a damage because his household goods are subject
to fire or robbery in Japan. (4) Tenant Liability：in case of causing damage to a rented room due to an accident
involving fire or water leakage in Japan. (Unlike "Gakkensai", there is no restriction on time and place)

All

International students enrolled have to pay the insurance premiums (3 years): 9,270 yen
For details, please refer to Student Exchange Section, International Affairs Division. (TEL (0857)31-5056).
(4) Medical insurance of the National Health Insurance Program: The National Health Insurance scheme is a3

fundamental part of Japan's medical care system. It is designed to cover a portion of the medical expenses
incurred by citizens. To apply for National Health Insurance, go to your local municipal government offices
and follow the required procedures as instructed. After joining the scheme, you will only be responsible forpaying 30% of any medical expenses you incur. (Exceptions apply in some cases.)
６. SELECTION(1)

Examination period
From May 25, 2022 to June 8, 2022

(2)

Candidates will be selected through a comprehensive evaluation of the oral examination, the documents
submitted, and other elements.

(3)

During an interview for the oral exam, or via videoconference in case the applicant is a residence of foreigncountry, at least three members of the oral exam committee (who are one or more faculty members of each of
the constituent universities and which include the prospective major supervisor) will spend about 50 minutes
reviewing the master’s thesis and the research proposal (roughly 30 minutes for the description of the Master’s
thesis and 20 minutes for questions and answers).

(4)

The method of the oral exam is subject to approval by the board of representatives following the submissionof the Notice of the Method of the Oral Exam (Form No. 12) by the prospective major supervisor to the deanof the faculty.

(5)

Notification will be sent by the beginning of July to applicants.

７. EDUCATIONThe successful applicants will be enrolled as full-time graduate students and expected to complete their thesis
research for a doctoral degree within three years, under supervision and instruction mainly in English. Each student
is supervised by the faculty members of the three constituent Universities; a professor as a major advisor and two
professors as sub-advisors. Although each student studies at the constituent University where the student’s majoradvisor resides, the applicant can use training and research facilities at the other two constituent Universities.
８. ENROLLMENT DATE: October, 2022
９. RESERVATIONS(1) If false statements were made in the application documents, the applicant’s admission shall be canceled evenafter having been accepted in the United Graduate School.
(2)

With enrollment, new students are advised to become well informed about the Japanese climate, customs,
manners, and other cultural aspects in general before coming to Japan. It is strongly recommended that they
study the Japanese language. Knowledge of the Japanese language is very helpful to new-comers to Japan.

4More detailed information and all correspondence about this program is available from:The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences
Tottori University
4-101, Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8553 Japan
Tel: 81-857-31-5446 (81 is the international code for Japan)
Fax: 81-857-31-5683 (81 is the international code for Japan)
E-mail: ag-rengaku@ml.adm.tottori-u.ac.jp
Addressess of Constituent Universities:*Tottori University
Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University
4-101, Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8553 Japan
Tel: 81-857-31-5446 (81 is the international code for Japan)
Fax: 81-857-31-5683 (81 is the international code for Japan)*Shimane University
Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shimane University
1060, Nishikawatsu, Matsue, 690-8504 Japan
Tel: 81-852-32-6493 (81 is the international code for Japan)
Fax: 81-852-32-6125 (81 is the international code for Japan)*Yamaguchi University
Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University
1677-1, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-0841 Japan
Tel: 81-83-933-5800 (81 is the international code for Japan)
Fax: 81-83-933-5820 (81 is the international code for Japan)

5

List of Major Supervisors and their Research Interests
The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences offers doctoral programs in the following three major
courses : Bioproduction and Bioenvironmental Sciences ; Bioresource and Life Sciences and Global Dryland
Science. Each course contains one to four Divisions ; and each Division offers basic and applied research
programs. Faculty members (Professors and Associate Professors who serve as Major Supervisors) and theiractive research programs are listed below.

１．THE COURSE OF BIOPRODUCTION AND BIOENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES（a） Division of Agricultural Production Science
ASAO Toshiki (S)Vegetable and Ornamental
Science

Production of vegetables and ornamentals

ARAKI Hideki (Y)Agronomy

Function of plant production under environmental stresses andits agronomical application

OHTA Katsumi (S)Horticultural Plant Science

Studies on growth control in horticultural plants

KOBAYASHI Nobuo (S)Horticultural Breeding

Evaluation of plant genetic resources and applications forbreeding

TAKAHASHI Tadashi (Y)Crop Science

Establishment of low-cost and low-input crop cultivation
systems

TAKEMURA Yoshihiro (T)Horticultural Science

Studies on the crop ecophysiology in horticultural crops

TANAKA Hiroyuki (T)Plant Genetics

Genetic and breeding studies on improving quality of wheat
flour

TSURUNAGA Yoko (S)Food Processing

Studies on manufacturing method and functionality in foodprocessing

NAKATSUKA Akira (S)Molecular Breeding of
Horticultural Crop

Molecular breeding for agriculturally useful traits in horticulture
crops

NONAMI Kazuyoshi (T)Agricultural Production
Engineering

Mechanization of agricultural work

MATSUMOTO Shingo (S)Biochemistry of Soil and Plant
Nutrition

Studies on the mechanism of plant nutrient acquisition in
relation to soil fertility

MATSUMOTO Toshikazu (S)Fruit Science

Studies on fruit growing and processed foodYANO Akira (S)Bioenvironmental ElectricalEngineering

Application of electrical engineering to bioenvironmental
technologies

YAMAMOTO Haruhiko (Y)Environmental Information
Science

Growth diagnosis of plant canopies by optical measuringmethods（b） Division of Managerial Economics
INOUE Norikazu (S)Farm Management

Farming practices and resource management on farm businesses

TANEICHI Yutaka (Y)Agricultual Marketing

Study on distribution of agricultural products and agricultural
materials

TSUTSUI Kazunobu (T)Rural GeographStudies on regional economy and community development in
Rural areas

NOHMI Makoto (T)Rural Economics

Development and application of regional analysis methods

MATSUDA Toshinobu (T)Economics of Consumer
Behavior

Empirical analysis of consumer behavior, especially fooddemand

MATSUMURA Ichizen (T)Farm Management

Studies on the relationship between farm management and ruralsociety

WAN Li (T)Marketing Information Analytics

Agricultural products distribution channels and econometricanalysis of market information

YASUNOBU Kumi (T)International Agricultural
Development Studies

Agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia（c） Division of Forest and Watershed Environmental Sciences
ISHII Masayuki (S)Regional Infrastructure
Engineering

Development of designing method for renovation of irrigation
facilities

NAGAMATSU Dai (T)Plant Ecology

Population dynamics of forest and grassland, vegetation scienceand biodiversity conservation.

HIOKI Yoshiyuki (T)Conservation and Restoration
Planning of Ecosystem

Ecological planning and engineering for conservation andrestoration of biodiversity

FUJIMOTO Takaaki (T)Wood Physics

Analysis of wood property variation, and development of
measurement techniques（d） Division of Environmental Bioscience
UENO Makoto (S)Plant Pathology

Studies on the expression of resistance in plant-microbe
interaction

KAMINAKA Hironori (T)Plant-Microbe Interactions

Molecular mechanisms of immune response and mycorrhizal
symbiosis in plants

KARASAWA Shigenori (T)Biodiversity

Genetic diversity and species diversity of invertebrates

KIHARA Junichi (S)Plant Pathology

Photoresponces of the phytopathogenic fungi

KODAMA Motoichiro (T)Plant Pathology

Molecular mechanisms in plant-microbe interactions and plantdisease resistance

TAKEMATSU Yoko (Y)Ecological Entomology

Biodiversity and ecology of termites

MIYANAGA Ryoichi (S)Insect Ecology

Biology and management of wild bees

YAMAGUCHI Keiko (S)Aquatic Ecology

Studies on ecology of benthic animals and aquatic environments

２．THE COURSE OF BIORESOURCE AND LIFE SCIENCES（a） Division of Fungus and Mushroom Sciences
AIMI Tadanori (T)Biochemical Technology ofMicroorganisms

Biochemistry, molecular biology and biotechnology of
microbial production

SHIMOMURA Norihiro (T)Mushroom Breeding andCultivation

Studies on breeding and cultivation of mushroom resources

SOTOME Kozue (T)Mushroom Phylogeny andTaxonomy

Phylogenetic taxonomy of mushrooms, and ecologicalresearches of wood-decaying basidiomycetes.

（b） Division of Bioscience and Biotechnology
ARIMA Jiro (T)Bio-Functional Chemistry

Functional analysis of enzymes and microorganisms, and theirapplication to industry

ISHIKAWA Takahiro (S)Plant Molecular Physiology

Biosynthesis pathway of antioxidants and metabolism ofreactive oxygen species in photosynthetic organisms

IWASAKI Takashi (T)Bioregulatory Chemistry

Development and screening of bioactive substances regulating
biological function

KAWAMUKAI Makoto (S)Genetic Engineering

Signal transduction, cell cycle control andcoenzyme Q in yeasts

SHIOTSUKI Takahiro (S)Insect Chemical Biology andAgrobio-Regulators

Chemical biology and molecular mechanisms in regulation of
insect development and their applications

NAKAGAWA Tsuyoshi (S)Plant Molecular Genetics

Molecular mechanisms of plant development and technology for
analysis of plant genes

MATSUO Yasuhiro (S)Microbial Genetics

Cell signaling and cell cycle control in fission yeast

MANO Jun'ichi (Y)Mechanisms of Environmental
Stress-tolerance in Plants

Elucidation and application of plant tolerance mechanisms
against abitotic environmental stresses

MARUTA Takanori (S)Plant Physiology

Redox metabolism network and stress response in plants

biosynthesis of（c） Division of Applied Bioresource Chemistry
AZAKAMI Hiroyuki (Y)Molecular Microbiology

Molecular mechanisms of bacterial colonization to host surface

ISHIHARA Atsushi (T)Natural Product Chemistry

Function, Biological activity, and Biosynthesis of metabolites
produced by plants and microorganisms

ICHIYANAGI Tsuyoshi (T)Organic Chemistry

The molecular design and functional analysis of bioactive
compounds

KAWANO Tsuyoshi (T)Bioorganic Chemistry

Regulation of diapause, metabolism
corresponding to the growth environment

SHIMIZU Hidehisa (S)Nutritional Pathophysiology

Study on the relationship between food-derived bacterial
metabolites or cyanobacteria-derived toxins, and pathogenesisof diseases

TAMURA Jun-ichi (T)Organic Chemistry

Chemical
synthesisofbioactive
isolation/characterization of natural glycans

MUROTA Kaeko (S)Bioavailability and Food
Function

Bioavailability and physiological function of lipophilic foodfactors

YABUTA Yukinori (T)Nutritional Science

Studies on the function of antioxidant vitamins and oxidative
stress response

YAMAMOTO Tatsuyuki (S)Bio-molecular Spectroscopy

Spectroscopic studies on life science and medical applications

WATANABE Fumio (T)Food Science

Chemistry and nutrition of vitamin B12 and related compounds
in foodandlongevity

glycansand

３．THE COURSE OF GLOBAL DRYLAND SCIENCE（a） Division of Global Dryland Science
AKASHI Kinya (T)Molecular and Cellular Biology

Molecular responses of drought-tolerant plants and theirapplication to molecular breeding

AYEHU Nigussie Haregeweyn (T)Land Management

Watershed processes monitoring, modeling and management

AN Ping (T)Plant Eco-Physiology

Physiological responses and relative mechanisms of plants andplant ecophysiology in dry lands.

ICHINOHE Toshiyoshi (S)Livestock Feeding

Evaluation of ruminants production system

INOSAKO Koji (T)Soil and Water Management

Conservation, restoration and sustainable use of soil and water
environment

IBARAKI Yasuomi (Y)Bio-environmental Control
Engineering

Environmental control in plant production

ENDO Tsuneyoshi (T)Soil Chemistry

Influence of soil properties and irrigation water quality on soil
salinization/sodication in irrigated farmlands of arid regions

OGATA Hidehiko (T)Irrigation and Drainage Facilities
Engineering

Evaluation of construction materials and structural performanceof irrigation and drainage structuresKINUGASA Toshihiko (T)Dryland Restoration andConservation Ecology

Ecology and ecophysiology of plants in arid and semi-arid
grasslands

KIMURA Reiji (T)Boundary Layer Meteorology

Heat and water balance in arid lands

KUROSAKI Yasunori (T)Dryland Climatology

Climate change and variability, wind erosion, dust emission in
drylands, and impacts of aeolian dust on climate

SHIMIZU Katsuyuki (T)Water Use and Management

Monitoring and assessment of irrigation water managementSUZUKI Kenji (Y)Meteorology

Observational study on precipitation mechanisms anddevelopment of instruments for hydrometeor measurements

TANIGUCHI Takeshi (T)Microbial Ecology

Soil and root microbial ecology and the application

TSUJIMOTO Hisashi (T)Molecular Breeding

Breeding of drought tolerant crop lines by gene andchromosome engineering

TSUNEKAWA Atsushi (T)Conservation Informatics

Monitoring and modeling of plant production and ecosystemchange in drylands

TSUBO Mitsuru (T)Climate Risk Management

Dryland agrometeorology and climate-smart agriculture

TODERICH Kristina Nikolaevna(T)

Dryland Salinity and Landscape
Restoration

Salinization in drylands and restoration of affected landscapeusing halophytes and non-conventional crops

NISHIHARA Eiji (T)Crop Production in Drylands

Construction of crop production system in areas including
drylands

HYODO Masahiro (T)Facilities and Environmental
Materials

Rehabilitation management of agricultural irrigation facilities
and development of environmental materials

FUJIMAKI Haruyuki (T)Soil Conservation

Development of methods for proventing salt accumulation anderosion and remediation of degraded soils

MASUNAGA Tsugiyuki (S)Pedosphere EcologicalEngineering

Control and use of soil functions of environmental protectionrestoration and plant production

YAMADA Satoshi (T)Plant Nutrition

Mechanisms of Response to Stresses of Plants in Arid Regions

YAMAMOTO Sadahiro (T)Environmental Soil Science

Conservation of soil environment and sustainable use of
farmland in arid regions

Abbreviations; T : Tottori University,

S : Shimane University, Y : Yamaguchi University.