Editorial Adviser: Noriko Osumi
Produced by the Tohoku University Internationa l Public Relations Section
2-1-1 Katahira Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8577© Tohoku University

Fall 2023 Edition

Introducing Tohoku University
Located in the city of Sendai, in Japan’s picturesque Northeast region,
Tohoku University is one of the country’s top institutions,renowned for its innovative research and dynamic global network.
Tohoku University was founded in 1907 and is known
for its original guiding principles of putting research
first, having an open-door policy and committing topractice-oriented research and education. Always atrailblazer, the university was the first in Japan to accept
women in 1913 and was one of the first to welcome
international students.
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international outlook and research influence, hasearned it recognition from the Japanese government. In
June 2017, it was conferred the status of a DesignatedNational University, and it is currently a candidate to bea “University for International Research Excellence.” If
selected, Tohoku University stands to gain access to therevenue from a 10 trillion yen government project.

These days, Tohoku University is home to 18,000
students across 10 faculties, 15 graduate schools andsix research institutes. About 10 percent of the students
come from abroad, contributing to one of the most
cosmopolitan academic environments in Japan.

For the last four years, the university has also held thenumber one spot in Times Higher Education’s annual
ranking of Japanese universities, a list that highlights
institutional resources, quality of education and overall
student experience.

Tohoku University’s excellent learning environment,

Tohoku University’s researchers are behind some of theworld’s most lifestyle-changing innovations, such as the
split-anode magnetron used in microwave ovens, thesteel-wire recorder and the Yagi-Uda antenna.
More recently, the university has been a global leader inthe development of disaster science and risk mitigation
strategies through the International Research Institute ofDisaster Science; and in personalized medicine researchat the Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, home
to Japan's largest population biobank.
A 40,000m2 Science Park is also currently in the works.
When completed it is set to become an international
hub for advanced science and technology research anddevelopment.
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In the News

Special Label Hime WhiteTo celebrate the 110th anniversary of the first female
university students in Japan, Tohoku University andmicrobrewery ISEKADO have collaborated to produce
a specially packaged version of the popular craft beer,
Hime White.

Tohoku University is committed to improving communities at home
and abroad through multidisciplinary research, green initiatives and thepromotion of diversity, equity and inclusion.

On August 21, 1913, three female students wereadmitted to Tohoku Imperial University, theprecursor to Tohoku University. The announcementin the official gazette broke the gender barrier inJapanese higher education, marking the first timein the country's history, that female students were
accepted to a national university.
Those three extraordinary women were Chika Kuroda,
Ume Tange and Raku Makita.

precedent for the admission of women. “At that time,
universities were the preserve of male students fromthe old high school system,” said Associate Professor
Satoshi Kato of the Tohoku University Archives. "Itwas unthinkable for women to enter university as aregular student."

ISEKADO, the brewing arm of Mie-based
Nikenjayamochi Kadoya Honten, was started in 1997
by Narihiro Suzuki, who graduated from Tohoku
University's Faculty of Agriculture in 1992.

But the university held firm, and Kuroda, Tange and
Makita became trailblazers not only as students but
also in their successful post-graduation careers.
In the 110 years since, Tohoku University’s unwavering"Open Doors" policy has welcomed talented students,
regardless of gender, ethnicity, nationality, or
economic background.

Their admission was controversial in the media, malestudents campaigned against it, and the Ministry of
Education even sent a letter of inquiry to Tohoku
Imperial University, claiming that there was no

The special edition beer will be sold with an originallabel designed by Nagi, a Tohoku University alumna
and professional illustrator. Nagi, a 2019 graduate of
the Faculty of Economics, said she designed the label
to reflect "the strength of positive will.”

In April last year, the university unveiled the “Tohoku
University Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Promotion Declaration,” renewing its commitment
to building an environment - on campus, in thecommunity and around the world - where all voices
are heard and respected.

Each bottle of the special label Hime White costs 572
yen, and a portion of the proceeds will go towards
the promotion of diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI)
through the Tohoku University Fund.

Science Ambassadors
The Science Ambassadors program, formerly known
as the Science Angels program, is a cornerstone of
Tohoku University's on-going efforts to promote
diversity, inclusion and the role of women in scienceand technology.
Members serve as a support network for each otherand as role models for children, especially young,school-age girls. Science Ambassadors regularly givetalks and host events to encourage the love of scienceamong young students.

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G7 Science and Technology
Ministerial Meeting
Ministers from the G7 and the European Union
met in Sendai in May to discuss how international
cooperation in scientific research and development
can help solve global problems. Tohoku University
hosted several events that showcased a cross-sectionof its science and technology initiatives.
At the International Research Institute of Disaster
Science, the G7 ministers learnt about the latest in
disaster risk reduction research, and the development
of disaster response robotics. They also toured
NanoTerasu, and attended a meeting on quantum
innovation, where stakeholders from government,
industry and academia discussed accelerating the
global implementation of quantum technologies.

The three-day ministerial meeting ended with therelease of a joint communique, in which the ministers
agreed on the importance of open science, whichmakes scientific research and its dissemination
accessible to everyone.

Science Park and NanoTerasu
A 40,000m2 Science Park is being built on the newextension of Aobayama campus. When completed,
it will serve as a hub for advanced science andtechnology research and development.

different objects, and of visualizing the microscopic
mechanisms by which these objects function.

NanoTerasu is so named because "nano" is the scale ofobservation at the facility, "terasu" is the Japanese word
The centerpiece of the Science Park is NanoTerasu, the for shining a light on something and Amaterasu is thenext-generation 3GeV synchrotron radiation facility
goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology. The projectthat is scheduled to begin operations in 2024. The
is led by the National Institutes for Quantum andgiant microscope will be capable of making nanoscale Radiological Science and Technology, and the Photon
observations of both the surfaces and interiors of
Science Innovation Center.

2023 Birdman Rally
Congratulations to the Tohoku University Windnauts
on taking second place in the human-powered
propeller-driven aircraft category at the 2023 Japan
International Birdman Rally.
Piloted by Daichi Iwata, and designed by a teamled by fellow third-year engineering student Kazuki
Ogawa, the Windnauts’ aircraft reached a distance of
42837.78m in under 2 hours of flight time, breaking
the previous record of 38010.28m held by Nihon
University.
“We would like to thank the companies that sponsoredus and provided us with materials, the alumni who
passed on their knowledge and experience, andeveryone who supported us,” said Takaaki Kawahito,
leader of the Windnauts.
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In the Lab
Tohoku University’s bright and vibrant researchers continually produce pioneeringresearch with wider society and application in mind. These innovations go a long
way to ensuring a pathway for a sustainable and bright future.

Breaking Down Walls:
How Algae Pass Nutrients to their Coral Host
Researchers have unveiled a hidden pathway for sugar
release by symbiotic algae, underscoring the crucialrole of the often-overlooked cell wall. This discovery

not only highlights the cell wall's protective function
but also its significance in symbiosis and carbon
circulation within the ocean. Microalgae's well-known
symbiotic relationship with cnidarians like corals andsea anemones involves the exchange of sugars andnutrients. This delicate balance, critical for fertile
coral reefs in nutrient-poor tropical oceans, faces
threats from environmental changes. The research
reveals that sugar release is triggered when the algal
cell degrades its own cell wall, a process amplified
by acidic conditions, even in the absence of a host.
Cellulase, an enzyme typically known for breaking
down plant cell walls, mediates this release.

Missing Island Explains How Endemic Specieson the Miyako Islands Emerged
Researchers from Tohoku University have presented
evidence that an ancient landmass, the OkinawaMiyako Submarine Plateau, facilitated migration
among the Ryukyu Islands—sometimes dubbed theGalapagos of Asia. Despite the Kerema Gap separating
them, species on the Miyako Islands share genetic
affinities with those on Okinawa and northern regions

rather than the nearby Yaeyama Islands. The plateau,
active from 5.5 million to 270,000 years ago, acted asa bridge for biological migration. This new hypothesis
integrates geological and biological data, explaining
discrepancies in the arrival of endemic species. The study
showcases the importance of conserving and protecting
the unique island biota found on Miyako island.

Creating Sustainable Coastal
Ecosystems and Fisheries
An international research team led by Tohoku
University has set up the SEAQUEST Project toaddress the fluctuating fishery population in the
Tohoku region caused by the 2011 Great East Japan
Earthquake and climate change.
According to Associate Professor Alyne Delaney, who
is leading the team, the project combines the use ofenvironmental DNA (eDNA) and AI, while embracing
Japanese socio-ecological concepts such as "satoumi"(the link between humans and marine ecosystems)and "umigyo" (ensuring community benefits throughthe maritime industry).
The research team hopes the project will help to foster
stakeholder collaboration and cultivate a holistic
approach to ensuring social and environmental
sustainability in the region.
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Discovering Features ofBand Topology inAmorphous Thin Films
Scientists have long focused on topological materials,
studying their unique electronic band structures
for potential next-gen devices. Initially limited
to ordered crystalline materials, a collaborative
research team, led by Associate Professor Kohei
Fujiwara and Professor Atsushi Tsukazaki fromTohoku University, has discovered that amorphousmaterials, with disordered atomic arrangements, canalso possess these special properties. Their work,
reported in Nature Communications, highlights thevalidity of band topology in amorphous states. This
breakthrough not only broadens material options
but also promises cheaper device development. The
team's experiments on iron-tin amorphous thin films
suggest novel applications in IoT-driven sensing
technology and beyond.

A Glimpse into the Very First
Processes that Could Have
Formed Life on Earth
A new technology has illuminated the age-old mysteryof life's origins on Earth. Researchers, led by Zhong
Yin at Tohoku University's International Center for
Synchrotron Radiation Innovation Smart (SRIS),
unveiled the secrets of prebiotic conditions on
Earth, where small water puddles containing urea—
an organic compound essential for forming nucleo
bases—became exposed to intense radiation. Using
X-ray spectroscopy, they examined urea molecules
at the femtosecond level, revealing how they react
after ionization by high-energy radiation. This
breakthrough not only sheds light on the formationof life but also pioneers the emerging field of
attochemistry, allowing scientists to witness molecular
reactions in real-time.
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Reading Chemicals Inside
the Brain with an Aptamer/
Microelectronic Fiber
Combination
A groundbreaking neural device offers a promisingavenue for understanding and treating brain
disorders. Developed by a research group at
Tohoku University's Frontier Research Institutefor Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), this device
combines multifunctional fibers with DNA molecular
probes, enabling high-sensitivity and selective
detection of neurotransmitters in the brain. Unlike
traditional electrical methods, this innovation taps
into the brain's chemical signals. To create the device,
Yuanyuan Guo, an associate professor at FRIS, andher team enhanced microscopic, thermally-drawn
microelectronic fibers to sense neurochemicals using
aptamers—customizable synthetic DNA strands that
act like molecular keys.

New Research Center to Bridge the Real and Virtual World
Tohoku University’s Research Institute of ElectricalCommunication (RIEC) has launched the New
Interdisciplinary ICT Research Center for Cyber and RealSpaces, which is dedicated to bridging the gap between
the physical and virtual realms. This interdisciplinary
center, merging AI research, psychology and VR/AR/MR
communication tech, aims to make it easier to transmit
nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions and bodylanguage, and make online communication more inclusive.

“The idea for the center came in the wake of the
COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of online meetings,”
says its director Yoshifumi Kitamura. The center’s
researchers have already been working closely withactors based in Sendai and Taiwan to capture body
movements linked with certain emotions. This
will be used to create the first motion data base in
Asia, adopting culturally specific emotions to makehumanized avatars more diverse.

Water Storage Capacity
in Oceanic Crust Slabs
Increases with Age
An international research team has unveiled a crucial
link between a subduction zone’s age and its capacity
to recycle water within the Earth’s layers. Whentectonic plates collide, causing one to subduct beneaththe other, rocks undergo metamorphosis due to shifts
in pressure, temperature and chemical conditions.
This process is pivotal for recycling water and vitalelements deep within the Earth. Surprisingly, the rockbelieved to store significant water, lawsonite eclogites,
does not form in cold subduction zones, as previously
assumed. Instead, it develops in more mature
subduction zones.

Lengthy Screen Time
Associated with Childhood
Development Delays
A study by Tohoku University and Hamamatsu
University School of Medicine has revealed that screen
time in one-year-olds is linked to developmental delays.
The research analyzed 7,097 mother-child pairs andassessed screen time exposure, finding that increased
screen time within a child’s first year of life correlatedwith developmental delays at ages two and four invarious domains, except gross motor skills. This suggests
the need to consider different domains separately
when discussing the screen time-child development
association. The researchers are hopeful that theirinsights will lead to further investigations into the impact
of various types of screen exposure on child development.
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In the Classroom
Tohoku University’s growing global network creates a culturally diverse learning
environment. Enhanced digital technology has also led to dynamic hybridclassrooms, and more programs with online / in-person options than ever before.

Tanabata season in August is when Sendai city isawash with the bright colors of beautifully handmade
traditional decorations hung on bamboo.

make up the decorations.

“The Tohoku University decorations are special
because the designs have a multicultural flavor,” says
Once again, the set made by Tohoku University
Associate Professor Yuka Sakamoto of the Global
students featured prominently downtown. A
Learning Center. “Sendai Tanabata is one of the major
combination of international and Japanese students – festivals in the Tohoku region. So, participating in thismost of them members of the International Program
festival is not only about making and appreciating thein Liberal Arts (IPLA) - spent eight weeks folding the beautiful decorations, it’s also preserving a tradition
2,000 paper flowers and 600 origami ornaments thatthat has been celebrated for a very long time.”

Summer, Winter and Online:

In-coming

Summer School, Winter Sessions and online
programs offer a quick taste of student life in Sendai.

For degree seeking students, Tohoku University
currently offers 10 International Joint Graduate
Programs in five leading fields such as spintronics andmaterials science; and five emerging fields, such as
Japanese studies and disaster science.

There is the Tohoku University Japanese Program(TUJP) where graduate and undergraduate
participants learn Japanese language and culture;and the Tohoku University STEM Summer Program(TSSP) which is designed to showcase the university’s
work in cutting-edge science and technology.
“We encourage intercultural collaborative learning
even in short programs, so international anddomestic students develop different perspectives
through interaction with each other,” says Kazuko
Suematsu, deputy director of the Global Learning
Center. “These programs are very well received, andmany participants have returned to do longer-term
exchange programs or even applied to our graduate
schools.”

There are also 23 graduate and three undergraduate
degree courses taught in English as part of the Future
Global Leadership (FGL) Program.
For shorter exchange opportunities, there are four
programs open to students from partner universities.
The Junior Year Program in English (JYPE) and the
Cooperative Laboratory Study Program (COLABS)
have research-oriented curricula that allow students
to explore topics in science. While the International
Program in Liberal Arts (IPLA) offers courses in
the humanities and social sciences that promote theunderstanding of Japanese language and culture.
Participants in the Direct Enrollment Education
Program for Natural Science Students (DEEP) mainly
take specialized science and engineering courses
taught in Japanese.

Out-going
To encourage a global mindset, there are myriad
short-term and double degree options for Japaneseor domestic students who are interested in studying
abroad.
These include the Study Abroad Programs (SAP)
which focus on improving practical language andcommunication skills; and Faculty-led Programs (FL),
which explore a single theme through problem-solving
projects, field work and other activities. SAP and FL
programs have dynamic curricula co-designed byfaculty members of Tohoku University and the partner
institutions involved.
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In the Community
Students and staff engage in various outreach programs
throughout the year. Alumni in Japan and around the world arealso active members of the Tohoku University family.

Katsurao Plant Factory Tomatoes
Tohoku University’s Katsurao Plant Factory inFukushima prefecture regularly hosts educational
events for the community. This summer, staff handedout 177 seedlings of Suzukoma tomatoes, and taught
local residents how to grow them.
The Katsurao Plant Factory is an initiative by Tohoku
University's Graduate School of Agriculture and the
Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework. The project,which began in 2018, aims to cultivate clean tropicalfruits and organic tomatoes, in response to concerns
about the safety of local produce after the Dai-ichi
Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011.
The facility has three greenhouses, each fitted withtechnology that can control temperature, humidity
and carbon dioxide concentration. The crops aremonitored by researchers and staff through multiple
cameras, an automatic data storage system and regularsite visits.
Over the years, staff at the facility have tried growing
bananas, rice and coffee beans, but mangoes andtomatoes seem to be the most viable.

TomoProVolunteer with SCRUM

Tohoku University launched another round of its
popular "Tomoni" crowdfunding program over thesummer. Known colloquially as “Tomopro,” theprogram was first introduced in 2021 to give students
an opportunity to impact their own future bycrowdsourcing their ideas and building a project withsponsors who share their vision.

One of the best ways to learn is through giving back,and Tohoku University offers many opportunities
for students to volunteer, to make a difference to thelives of others and gain a better understanding of thecommunities in the region.

Selected proposals are presented on the university's
crowdfunding platform and will receive fundingof up to 500,000 yen. Alumni and members of theuniversity will provide mentorship, professional
advice and other (non-financial) support.
For more details about the program, visit the Tohoku
University Fund website.
Tohoku University Fund

https://www.kikin.tohoku.ac.jp/news/news_detail/view_express_entity/51

Kazumasa Oda Notebook
Singer-songwriter and alumnus Kazumasa Oda,
has collaborated with Tohoku University to designa Tsubame-branded notebook, with motifs inspiredby his song "Midori-no-Oka." The notebook’s coverfeatures a sketch by Oda, while the inside pages
contain images and production notes of the song.
Each Notebook costs 440 yen. A portion of the proceedsfrom the sale will go to the Tohoku University Fund andearmarked for educational and research activities.

An active student-run volunteer group is SCRUM,
which organizes activities mainly in towns and cities
affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake andTsunami. In addition to helping in recovery efforts,
SCRUM also holds events to raise awareness of
disaster prevention and risk reduction.

Alumni Network
Tohoku University has alumni inover 145 countries and the Alumni
Association provides the best ways tostay connected. In Japan, the Alumni
Association hosts four main events eachyear in the Kansai, Kanto and Kyushu
areas, as well as regular campus activities
like Homecoming Day.
The association also has several overseas
chapters which can be accessed throughthe Tohoku University Alumni Network.
The online platform serves as a hub forthe latest university news and provides
a place for alumni across the globe toconnect, network and deepen their ties
with the university and with each other.
The international network hosts several
online gatherings each year.
Alumni Networkhttps://overseas-alumni.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/
alumni@grp.tohoku.ac.jp

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