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VOLUME 22・SPRING 2024
Find Hiroshima University's latest news
and high-impact research here!

HIROSHIMAUNIVERSITY
Embodying its founding
principle of “a single unified
university, free and pursuingpeace,” Hiroshima University
is one of the largest
comprehensive research
universities in Japan.
Today, HU is making steadyprogress as a global university,
taking on worldwide challenges
and strengthening its global
educational network by signinginternational exchange
agreements with universities
around the world and opening
overseas bases at strategic
locations.

CON
TE
NTS

RESEARCH FOCUS
Study examines relationship of rate ofwound healing, circadian rhythm, and‘hair’ on cells

09

Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences

Researchers develop DANGER analysis
tool for safer design of gene editing

09

Genome Editing Innovation Center

In an ancient hot spring haunt of
Inca rulers, scientists discover new
shrimp-like species

10

Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Dragonfly wings used to study
relationship between corrugated wing
structure and vortex motions

10

Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life

SPECIAL FEATURE

RECENT NEWS
Poetry reading with Sayuri Yoshinaga:
Wishing for a world without war andnuclear weapons04

HU’s 75+75th Anniversary Project

06

Introducing some of the commemorative
events leading up to Hiroshima University’s
75+75th anniversary this year.

07

The 13th Japan-China University
Presidents’ Forum unfolds in Hiroshima07

Two HU professors honored with Prime
Minister’s award for disaster prevention
work
Professor Takashi Yamamoto wins
80th Chugoku Culture Award
Executive VP Junko Tanaka chosen as 1 of 7
hepatitis elimination champions for 2023

11

MEET OUR RESEARCHERS

HU and Nissan drive towards
carbon neutrality

HU faculty recognitions

HU’S WPI RESEARCH CENTER
SKCM2’s mission to knot and knit asustainable world

HU researchers talk about their exciting
fields of study and latest outcomes!

08

Scientists recognized as among theworld’s best | Issue 3

13

We asked scientists, recognized as among thebest in Japan by Research.com, questions about
their fields and exciting developments in theirwork.

Women in academia | Issue 8
Hiroshima University Associate Professor
Kaori Wakabayashi talks about her research on
marine invertebrates.

HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE

15

Actress Sayuri Yoshinaga led a poignant poetry reading eventat the Satake Memorial Hall, marking the university's 75+75th
anniversary and inspiring reflection on peace.

A poetry reading event featuring
renowned Japanese actor Sayuri
Yoshinaga was held at the Satake
Memorial Hall, Higashi-HiroshimaCampus on November 23.
The event, titled "Poetry Readingwith Sayuri Yoshinaga: Wishing for
a World Without War and Nuclear
Weapons," attracted over 500 attendees, including students, faculty, and staff.

This occasion commemorated the75+75th anniversary of the university's founding, set to be celebrated
in 2024. It also featured guitarist
Soichi Muraji, known for his
performances with the NHK
Symphony Orchestra
and other prestigious
orchestras inJapan andabroad.

Yoshinaga and Muraji were presented acertificate of appreciation from President Ochi
(From left: President Ochi, student representative
Inoue, Yoshinaga and Muraji)

03 HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE | Spring 2024

I hope that
this event willencourage people
to contemplate thetragedy of war andthe value of peace,
especially in a time
when global unrestis spreading.

A lifelong
dedication toreciting A-bomb
poems
President Mitsuo Ochi opened theevent by acknowledging Yoshinaga's
lifelong dedication to reciting Abomb poems.
"Ms. Yoshinaga, one of Japan's most
famous actors, has devoted her life
to reading A-bomb poems, emphasizing the tragedy of war and thepreciousness of peace both in Japanand abroad. This reading session
was made possible by the passionate wishes of many students andyoung doctors at the university. I
hope that this event will encourage
people to contemplate the tragedy
of war and the value of peace, especially in a time when global unrest is
spreading," he said.
Before the reading session, the Hiroshima University Shinonome
Mixed Chorus Pastoral, a student
group affiliated with the Hiroshima

University MusicalConference on the
Higashi-HiroshimaCampus, performed three choral
pieces centered on the theme ofpeace, including "Orizuru" (Paper
Cranes) by Shihei Umehara.

President Ochi
delivering a speech

Duringthereadingsession,Yoshinaga recited A-bomb poems,
such as "Prologue" by Sankichi Togeand “Umashimenkana” (Bringing
Forth New Life) by Sadako Kurihara,accompanied by Muraji on the guitar.
The audience was captivated by
Yoshinaga's evocative narration andMuraji's melodic tones. This event
provided a valuable opportunity forattendees to reflect on the significance of peace, aligning with one of
the university's guiding principles,"the pursuit of peace.”

Members of the chorus
showcasing their splendid
harmony

Guitarist Soichi Muraji hasformed with various
orchestras in Japan andabroad, including the NHK
Symphony Orchestra and theMonte-Carlo Philharmonic
Orchestra’s world tour.

Sayuri Yoshinaga began
reading A-bomb poems in
1986, and after the Great
East Japan Earthquake of2011, she began reading
poems by poets and children
in Fukushima.

HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE

04

21
OCT

International
Exchange Event:

EuropeanSaturdayStudents and staff from Germany,
France, Spain, Ukraine, Finland, andBritain shared insights on their countries with the locals. Commissioned by
Higashihiroshima City, this initiative
fosters communities, encourages exchange, and contributes to the city's
internationalization.

Explore some of the commemorative events
leading up to Hiroshima University’s 75+75th
anniversary this year.

28 4th Student

Sustainable Brands (SB)International Conference

OCT

Ambassador
Chugoku Regional
Competition

HU co-hosted the 4th SB Student Ambassador Chugoku Regional Competition, organized by Sustainable Brands
Japan. A total of 176 high school students participated to learn about SDG
initiatives of local companies and propose solutions to local issues with theSDGs in mind. Two teams from the 27
participating schools were eventuallyqualified as SB Student Ambassadorsfor the SB International Conference
to be held in Tokyo.

of Education
11 School
Performs Operetta:

NOV

05

HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE | Spring 2024

Die Fledermaus

Students and faculty specializing inopera training at the School of Education's Music Culture Education program presented Johann Strauss II’s
operetta “Die Fledermaus” (The Bat)
during the 17th Homecoming Day.

15 Tram and Bus
HU’s Original

JAN

Wrap Designs
Take theSpotlight

Trams and buses wrapped in the university's original designs will
run through Hiroshima City as part of the anniversary project
In collaboration with Hiroshima Electric Railway, HU revealed its speciallywrapped tram and bus designs. The
event, attended by Hiroshima Electric
Railway President & Representative
Director Masao Mukuda, illustrator
Hirofumi Kamigaki, and HU President
Mitsuo Ochi, celebrated the uniquedesigns created by an HU student anda staff member. During his speech,
President Ochi expressed the univer-sity’s commitment to being “chosen
by the world and loved by the community.” The project, part of the75+75th-anniversary festivities, features streetcars and buses with original designs, running throughout Hiroshima City for a year. The designs,
selected through an internal competition, were made possible with crowdfunding support.

The designs were created by
Haruki Yoshiasa, a student
from the School of Science,and Natsuko Hikiji, a staff
member at HU.

Upcoming
eventsLeading up to November, HU will host
two key events in Kansai and Tokyo as
part of its 75+75th anniversary project.
These gatherings will feature enlightening lectures from special guests,
providing insights into HU's offerings.
The highlight of this celebration will be
a commemorative ceremony in Hiroshima, seamlessly blending the richness of the past 75 years with thepromise of an exciting future.

Discover our latest
and upcoming eventson our special website(in Japanese):

SB Student Ambassador event

Die Fledermaus performance

HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE

06

HU targets carbon
neutrality in campus
energy use, including
commuting, by 2030,aligned with the "2030
Carbon Neutral ×
Smart Campus 5.0
Declaration."

Commemorative photo
photo
Commemorative
NissanZeroEmission
Emission Forum
NissanZero
Forum2024
2024

HU and Nissan Motor unite fora green campus initiative,
using "Nissan Energy Share"to achieve carbon neutrality
through electric vehicles andrenewable energy.

Hiroshima University, in collaboration with Nissan MotorCo., Ltd., is embarking on a
groundbreaking initiative withthe goal of achieving carbon
neutrality on its HigashiHiroshima campus. Starting inMarch, the project will leverage Nissan's cutting-edge energy management system, “Nissan Energy Share,” to manage the charging anddischarging of electric vehicles (EVs) andtheir batteries.
This was unveiled during the Nissan Zero
Emission Forum 2024 on February 2,
where Nissan introduced its new projects
targeting carbon neutrality. The collaboration positions HU as a pioneer in Japan,
leading the change toward 100% electrification of campus vehicles. It involves

implementing energy management with
100% renewable energy and promoting
localized consumption through the Mobility x Energy framework.
Under the Hiroshima University Smart
City Co-Creation Consortium, the initiative leverages the university’s EVs and the
Nissan e-share mobi car-sharing service(for students, faculty, and staff), creatinga network for charging and discharging
energy. EV batteries will serve as storage
units during parking, connecting to oncampus energy resources and solar power generation facilities.
Aligned with the university's commitment
to carbon neutrality by 2030, this initiative also aims to enhance disaster resilience through EVs and instill sustainability awareness across the HU community.

Presidents from leading universities in Japan and China participated in
the 13th Japan-China University Presidents’ Forum held in Hiroshima
Hiroshima University hosted the 13th
Japan-China University Presidents' Forum on November 28 and 29. About 160
participants, including presidents andvice presidents from 37 universities inJapan and China, along with representatives from the Chinese Embassy, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology, andother related organizations, engaged in
discussions on enhancing academic andstudent exchange and exploring new
approaches to university education andresearch.
Coordinated by the University of Tokyoand Peking University, this marked thefirst in-person meeting in four years.

07 HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE | Spring 2024

"As the environment surrounding theinternational community is changing
drastically, discussions on common issues and cooperation between universities in both countries are of great significance. I hope that this conference will
provide an opportunity to further develop exchanges between Japan and China,”
said HU President Ochi during the plenary session on the 29th.
The theme, "Diversity and Integration Human Resources and Higher Educationin the Coming Era," guided the keynote
speeches and discussions. Topics included utilizing ICT in post-COVID education and the challenges for climatechange and global issues.

President Ochi and President Gong
Qihuang of Peking University

In the front row, Professor Kubo stands second from the left, while
Director Kaibori is positioned seventh from the left in this group photo.
(Photo provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism)

Professor Tatsuhiko Kubo from the
Graduate School of Biomedical and
Health Sciences and Director Masahiro Kaibori of the Resilience Research Center received the 2023
Prime Minister's Commendations toContributors for Disaster Prevention.
The award recognizes outstanding
contributions to disaster prevention
efforts, including saving lives, preventing damage, and enhancing disaster prevention systems.

The Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE) selected Hiroshima University Executive Vice President Junko
Tanaka as one of seven Elimination
Champions for 2023 for her contributions to the eradication of hepatitis.

Tatsuhiko Kubo

Masahiro Kaibori

As a disaster management expert, Kubo
focuses on establishing standards fordisaster information management from apublic health perspective. During disasters, he collaborates globally with DMAT,
international emergency teams, WHO,and others, contributing to international
advancements in disaster medicine
through data-driven activities.

As a leading expert in Sabo-Engineeringand community-based disaster prevention, Kaibori has significantly advanced
regional disaster prevention throughextensive research and field surveys.
His contributions are integral to thepractical
developmentof
SaboEngineering, shaping effective disasterprevention strategies.

Professor Takashi Yamamoto of the
Graduate School of Integrated Sciencesfor Life was awarded the 80th Chugoku
Culture Prize sponsored by the Chugoku
Shimbun.

treatment of diseases. He served as thefirst president of the Japanese Society
for Genome Editing and launched theHiroshima University venture PtBio Inc.
in 2019.

Yamamoto was recognized for hisachievements in leading the researchand development of genome editing inJapan and applying that technology to
the breeding of agricultural, livestock,and fishery products, as well as the

The Chugoku Culture Award is presented to individuals and organizations thathave made outstanding achievements inthe fields of culture, art, academics, andeducation in the Chugoku region.

“The award recognizes the remarkable
contributions of individuals to improved
political commitment, policies, and programs that expand access to interventions and accelerate progress toward
hepatitis elimination, particularly withlimited resources,” CGHE said.
Tanaka has been acknowledged for her
contributions to epidemiology and public health in Japan and her groundbreaking work that estimated undiagnosed
chronic hepatitis B and C cases.

Her recognition extends
internationally, underscoring
the global significance ofher work.
HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE

08

Study examines relationship of rate of woundhealing, circadian rhythm, and ‘hair’ on cells
Most organisms on Earth follow a natural circadianrhythm coded by clock genes. Mammalian cells typicallyhave cilia of some sort, hair-like structures with functions like movement and structural support. Primarycilia, in particular, serve as a sensory organ for cells,
revealing their potential role in the healing process andhow bodies heal at a different rate according to ourcircadian rhythm.
In a new study published in EMBO Reports, researchersconcluded that clock proteins have much to do with theregulation of the primary cilia. The primary cilia act inaccordance with the oscillations of theclock gene’s expression and can shorten
or lengthen throughout the day. The
length of the primary cilia can vary andis tied to the healing process of a wound.
The shorter the length of the cilia, theshorter the wound-healing time appears
to be. The study observed cells frommice over 72 hours and the rise and fallof the length of the cilia seems to be inline with the rhythm of a 24-hour cyclical period.
Primary cilia (red)© Ryota Nakazato“This suggests that the 24-hour cycle ofprimary cilia on fibroblasts may underlie inpart the difference of wound healing speed between

daytime and nighttime,” said Ryota Nakazato, assistantprofessor in the Graduate School of Biomedical and
Health Sciences. Fibroblasts are cells that contribute toforming connective tissue and are a major part of thehealing process. The circadian rhythm in the primarycilia of these fibroblasts is more involved in woundhealing during the day than at night.
The reason for this daytime-induced enhanced healing
process appears to be from the relationship the 24-hourcycle has on the length of the primary cilium. During
the day, the cilia are shorter and are more easily able toconvert to a cell type that can invade the wound to
begin the healing process. Primary cilia are possibly also
involved in receiving and sending signals to the rest of
the body which can also enhance wound repair. The
cells with shorter primary cilia are more easily released
from their “anchor” to start cellular migration to thewound site at an earlier time and might also more readily send out signals to increase the rate of wound repair
than when the cilia length is longer.

About the study
Nakazato, R., Matsuda, Y., Ijaz, F., & Ikegami, K. (2023). Circadian oscillation in primary cilium length by clock genes regulates fibroblast cell migration. In EMBO reports (Vol. 24, Issue12). Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.202356870

Researchers develop DANGER analysis
tool for safer design of gene editing
Researchers created DANGER (Deleterious and ANticipatable Guides Evaluated by RNA-sequencing) analysis,a software tool facilitating safer genome editing designin all organisms with a transcriptome. With potential
applications in medicine, agriculture, and biologicalresearch, their work was published in Bioinformatics
Advances.
Gene editing using CRISPR technology, known for its
speed, accuracy, and cost effectiveness, presents somechallenges: 1) unquantified monitoring of phenotypic
effects from unexpected CRISPR dynamics, and 2) dependence on basic genomic data, including the reference genome. The team’s DANGER analysis software
overcomes these challenges. They used gene-edited
samples of human cells and zebrafish brains to conduct
their risk-averse on- and off-target assessment in RNAsequencing data.

09

HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE | Spring 2024

The DANGER analysis detected potential DNA on- andoff-target sites in the mRNA-transcribed region on the
genome using RNA-sequencing data. It evaluated phenotypic effects by deleterious off-target sites based on
the evidence provided by gene expression changes. It
quantified the phenotypic risk at the gene ontology
term level, without a reference genome. This successshowed that DANGER analysis can be performed on
various organisms, personal human genomes, and atypical genomes created by diseases and viruses.

About the study
Nakamae, K., & Bono, H. (2023). DANGER analysis: riskaverse on/off-target assessment for CRISPR editing withouta reference genome. In A. Ouangraoua (Ed.), Bioinformatics
Advances (Vol. 3, Issue 1). Oxford University Press (OUP).
https://doi.org/10.1093/bioadv/vbad114

In an ancient hot spring haunt of Inca rulers,scientists discover new shrimp-like species
In an ancient hot spring haunt of Incan rulers, researchers discovered a new species of tiny, shrimplike scavengers known as amphipods thriving at record temperatures that can cook other crustaceans todeath.
Typically, amphipods dwell in cool aquatic and semiaquatic habitats. So researchers were stunned whenunidentified Hyalella species
showed up during a hot
spring biota survey of Bañosdel Inca (Baths of the Inca)
near Cajamarca, Peru. A detailed description of the new
species, Hyalella yashmara,
was published in the journal
Invertebrate Systematics.
Hyalella yashmara© Dr. Nilton Deza

Clues to adapting to climate change
Temperatures at Baños del Inca hit around 78°C
closest to the thermal spring’s origin. Field surveys
revealed that these amphipods hang around pools
simmering at 50°C not far off the hot spring’s source
and in channels cooled down to 35°C.

Researchers noticed that these creatures are virtually inert early in the morning when temperatures are
between 35–40°C and bustling with activity as it
grows warmer during the day. Tests revealed they
can survive temperatures of up to 52.1°C, the hottest
recorded for amphipods.
“Many animals cannot tolerate high-temperatureenvironments because proteins are thermally denatured at high temperatures. We guess the new species found in the hot spring of Peru has acquired a
protein that is highly active at high temperaturesduring the course of evolution,” explained Ko Tomikawa, professor in the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Unraveling its unique adaptations can give clues onbolstering the heat tolerance of freshwater animals
threatened by our warming climate.

About the study
Tomikawa, K., et al. (2023). Description of a new thermal species of the genus Hyalella from Peru with molecular phylogeny of the family Hyalellidae (Crustacea,
Amphipoda). In J. Wolfe (Ed.), Invertebrate Systematics(Vol. 37, Issue 4, pp. 254–270). CSIRO Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.1071/is22060

Dragonfly wings used to study relationship between
corrugated wing structure and vortex motions
Corrugated wings exhibit larger lift than flat wings
The wing surfaces of insects like dragonflies are notflat like the wings on a passenger plane. Because
insects possess low muscular strength, in some way
their corrugated wings must give them aerodynamic
advantages. Yet scientists have not fully understood
the mechanism at work because of the complex wing
structure and flow characteristics.
In a study published in Physical Review Fluids, researchers used direct numerical calculations to analyze the flow around a 2D corrugated wing and compared its performance to that of a flat wing. They
focused on the period between the initial generationof the leading-edge vortex and subsequent interactions before detachment. They discovered that thecorrugated wing performance was better when theangle of attack, that angle at which the wind meetsthe wing, was greater than 30°.
The corrugated wing’s uneven structure generates
an unsteady lift because of complex flow structuresand vortex motions. “We've discovered a boosting liftmechanism powered by a unique airflow dance set
off by a distinct corrugated structure. It can be agame-changer from the simple plate wing scenario!”

said Yusuke Fujita, a PhD student at
the Graduate School of Integrated
Sciences for Life.
The researchers constructed a 2Dmodel of a corrugated wing using areal-life dragonfly wing. The model
Dragonfly and corrugated wing
consisted of deeper corrugated© Yusuke Fujita
structures on the leading-edge side
and less deep, or flatter, structures on the trailingedge side. Using their 2D model, they further simplified the wing motion and focused on unsteady lift
generation. Translational motion, or sliding motion,
is a principal component of wing motion, in addition
to pitching and rotation. The researchers’ analysis
expands the understanding of the nonstationary
mechanisms that dragonflies use during flight.

About the study
Fujita, Y., & Iima, M. (2023). Dynamic lift enhancement
mechanism of dragonfly wing model by vortexcorrugation interaction. In Physical Review Fluids (Vol.
8, Issue 12). American Physical Society (APS).
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevfluids.8.123101

HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE

10SKCM2’s mission to knot and knit a sustainable world

HU’s World Premier International
Research Center Initiative Institute
SKCM2 is weaving
together mathematical knot theory,chirality knowledge, and a vision ofa more sustainable future.
Any knitter knows the secret to transforming a fabric’s characteristic lies within
the artful manipulation of the knot.
Choosing to make the material stretchy,
resilient to wear and tear, cozy for winter,or breathable for summer all hinges on
your pick of interlocking loop patterns.
Imagine doing the same with nature’s
building blocks. By deftly manipulating
molecules into their different knottedversions, you can surpass what nature has
already perfected and develop novel materials with highly desirable properties.
Scientists at the International Institutefor Sustainability with Knotted ChiralMeta Matter (SKCM2) are doing just that.
In interlinking mathematical knot theory,chirality knowledge, and a vision of a more

More about
SKCM2 here:

sustainable future, they aim to create synthetic versions of nature’s building blocks
that transcend the limitations of natural
systems and unravel solutions to pressing
global challenges.
The guiding philosophy of SKCM², encapsulated in the slogan “building a sustainable world, knot by knot,” propels its multifaceted mission. At its core, the Institute’s
dedication to “mastering the knot” canendow them with the ability to create newmaterials, cure diseases, and understandnature’s inner workings. But their ambitious endeavor extends beyond scientificexploration. They also serve as a testbed
for research-based graduate education
reforms that can connect young talentglobally, fostering the next generation of
innovators.
The Institute is led by Professor Ivan
Smalyukh, a world-leading physicist in

developing artificial forms of matter. His
fundamental research aims to address
challenging problems like the growing
energy demand and climate change. Professor Smalyukh has published over 250
peer-reviewed articles, including many inNature and Science. He has also received
many awards, such as the Bessel andGlenn Brown Awards, the NASA iTech
Award, and the Presidential Early CareerAward from the Office of Science andTechnology of the U.S. White House.
Since its establishment, SKCM² has rapidly
emerged as a premier global center for
developing artificial analogs of atoms andeven smaller building blocks of nature.
With its dedication to introducing designable materials with unique properties notfound in nature, the Institute positions
itself at the forefront of confronting society’s knotty problems.

Established in 2022, SKCM2 is the latest addition to the World Premier International ResearchCenter Initiative (WPI), a program by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Scienceand Technology to support Japanese institutions in setting up centers of research excellence.
There is a total of 16 WPI centers located throughout Japan as of 2022.

About the Institute
Introducing some of the minds forming the fabric of SKCM2!

'Masters of the Knots'
Our Institute is dedicatedto building a sustainable
world through highly
fundamental
researchand through reforming
graduate education. We
IVAN SMALYUKH
create entirely new forms
Director, SKCM 2
of matter, and its building
blocks, in addition to revealing mysteries of the matter thatnature gave us, while innovatively educating PhD students and sharing our excitementwith the public. Often hiking in Colorado and in
Hiroshima, I enjoy observing how mountains andislands connect into a beautiful scenery. It is much
like this in science, where in a view from above I
aspire to see how mountains of fundamental
knowledge in different disciplines can be tied together. We feel excited, like masters of the knots
ready to untie the mysteries of the world and readyto save the world by solving its knotty problems.

11 HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE | Spring 2024

Fusion of fields
My research interests arein the field of topology
in mathematics. I study
the properties of the
shape of a string by considering it as the same
YUKA KOTORII
shape even if it is continDeputy
Director for Outreach
uously deformed, as longand Dissemination, SKCM 2
as it is not cut or pasted. Any
object that has a string-likeshape can be abstracted and treated as a target of knot theory. Therefore, I think it
can be applied to various string-like materials foundin nature.
I have high expectations for the interdisciplinary
research that can be done only by bringing together
members from various fields of SKCM2. I am looking
forward to being able to apply my research in mathematics to this interdisciplinary research. And I lookforward to the creation of new fields.

Publications
Introducing some of the most recent research outcomes at SKCM2!

NATURE COMMUNICATIONSSCIENCE

NATURE PHYSICS

Nature Communications Volume 14,
Article number: 4581 (2023)

Science Volume 380,392-398 (2023)

Nature Physics Volume 19, pages 451–459 (2023)

Topological solitonic
macromolecules

Ultrafast reversible self-assemblyof living tangled matter

Liquid crystal defect structureswith Möbius strip topology

Researchers experimentally create andmodel soliton polymers called polyskyrmionomers, composed of individual
solitons, particle-like entities with atomlike characteristics. Polyskyrmionomers
have the potential for data storage inmagnetic nanostructured analogues.

Tangled active filaments, elongatedstructures exhibiting self-propulsion
such as the tassel of cilia that cells use
to move around, are common in nature.
Researchers look into how their activity
and elasticity contribute to collective
topological transformations — reorganizing from an entangled network into anordered structure without changing
their fundamental nature.

Researchers show how twist domain
walls and vortices can co-self-assemble
to form a new type of stable, spatiallylocalized objects called möbiusons with
Möbius strip-like topology and can foldinto various structures in a nonpolarchiral liquid crystal system. Möbiusons
have potential applications in designing
topology-enabled lightsteering systems.

EventsLearn more here:2023
11 SKCM
Winter School
2

DEC(Dec. 11 - Jan. 12)

The SKCM² Winter School provided
young scientists with an interdisciplinary learning experience alongside
top researchers in knotted chiral meta
matter. Topics included metamaterials, knot theory, solitons, chirality, soft
matter, magnets, colloids, polymers,
quantum materials, biomaterials, proteins, active matter, origins of life, andenergy efficiency. The program featured lectures, hands-on training, andspecial events.

to Promote
27 Symposium
Gender Balance and

FEB

Diversity in Science

Library Hall & Online, Hiroshima
University Central Library

12.26 |Miyajima Outreach Symposium

8

MAR

SKCM 2 Spring Symposium
Nara Kasugano International
Forum - IRAKA

12.25 |Career ForumMy advisor Jörn Dunkel is a principal investigator at
SKCM2. He hosted one-day conference last year at
MIT where SKCM2's director, Ivan Smalyukh,
came and advertised the Winter School at
Miyajima Island. So I signed up and I'm
glad I did. I love Japan. I love Hiroshima. The institute brought together
people from unique backgrounds.
There's some people in puremath, applied math, chemistry,
biology, physics, and I thinkthat's made for a lot of interesting conversations. I'm definitely going to try to convince
people to come here.

I was working on applied mathematical researchat my previous university when I heard about thisnew project at Hiroshima University. Within puremathematics, I study topology and geometry
in three dimensions but I am happy to findthat I can be useful in interdisciplinary
research as well. Currently, I am also
working on describing the structureof textiles. Textile research has thepotential to develop materials withnew structures. I would like to do
applied research where I can use
my skills, and also consider feedback from applied research topure mathematics.

ALEX COHEN

KEN’ICHI YOSHIDAPhD student
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Postdoctoral researcher
SKCM2

HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE

12

Takeshi Shiono
Professor

Issue

3|

Graduate School of Advanced
Science and Engineering

Since 2023

SCIENTISTS
RECOGNIZEDAS AMONG THE
WORLD’S BEST
Meet some of our researchersnamed to be among the best
scholars in their fields by
Research.com.
We asked three scientists, recognized as among thebest in the world by Research.com, questions about
their fields and exciting developments in their work.
These researchers are some of the leading scholars intheir disciplines, demonstrated by their impressive
rankings on Research.com's best scientists list. The
rankings are based on the Discipline H-index (Dindex), calculated by considering only the publications and citation values belonging to a given field.
Top researchers from over 3000 universities andresearch institutes are featured on the list.

About Research.com
Research.com is a research portal dedicated to promoting high-quality research and inspiring young
scholars to contribute to the advancement of science.

*Answers in the questions were edited forclarity and brevity.

Check out the
rankings here.

13 HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE | Spring 2024

Learn more about
Prof. Shiono’s
research here.

Best Scientists - Chemistry& Material Sciences

Small molecules are gas or liquid, but once they can bepolymerized, they give a solid product whose properties
can be controlled by molecular weight and molecularweight distribution. A huge number of small molecules
called monomers are chemically connected to form alarge molecule, macromolecule, or polymer. Materials
scientist Takeshi Shiono is exploring the catalysts that polymerize very simple monomers such as ethylene andpropylene in well-controlled manners.

Q: What scientific problem are you trying to answer?
A: I’m trying to find a new way to synthesize tailor-madecopolymers from simple monomers that are difficult tocopolymerize. If two monomers can be copolymerized, theproperties of the product, copolymer, can be controlled by
not only the composition of the monomers but also thesequence structure of the comonomers such as random,alternate, and block. Even from the same monomer, we canget various polymers that differ in stereoregularity by suitable catalysts.
Q: What are the discoveries that haveled up to your current work?
A: We accidentally succeeded in the synthesis of a new titanium complex that canconduct living polymerization of propylene by combining asuitable activator, cocatalyst. The stereoregularity of thepolymers can be controlled by the ligand of the complex,
solvent, polymerization temperature, and propylene concentration. The catalytic systems can promote living copolymerization of a cyclic olefin, i.e. norbornene, and 1alkene, which enables the synthesis of tailor-made copolymers composed of them. The International Union of Pureand Applied Chemistry defines living polymerization as achain polymerization from which chain transfer and chain
termination are absent. Living polymerization is used to
produce materials with narrow molecular weight distribution, an important property for many polymer applications.
Q: What are the economic or social stakes of yourstudy from your perspective?
A: Amorphous ethylene/norbornene copolymers, of whichglass transition temperature can be controlled by norbornene content in a wide range, are commercialized as
optical plastics with superior properties, but their brittleness is the weak point. We have found the gradient andblock copolymers obtained by our catalysts overcome thisproblem. My research concerns SDGs 9 and 12. It is inevitable to consider SDGs when we do anything.

Ikuo Katayama

Yasushi Fukazawa

Professor

Professor

Graduate School of Advanced
Science and Engineering

Graduate School of Advanced
Science and Engineering

Learn more about
Prof. Katayama’s
research here.

Best Scientists Earth Science

There is three to four times more water inside the Earth in
the form of hydroxyl in rocks compared to the world’s
seawater. Plate subduction transports rocks deeper into
the Earth where the temperature rise dissolves them intoa thick, syrup-like liquid. Such water is released back to
the Earth’s surface via volcanic eruption. Geoscientist
Ikuo Katayama examines this circulation of water in the
Earth’s interior, which is closely tied to phenomena likeearthquakes.

Q: What do you find most exciting in your field of
research?
A: In the paper published in Nature in 2009, we explained
the seismic signatures observed in the Ryukyu arc by the
deformed serpentinite, which represents the hydration
products of the mantle. This finding suggests that a significant amount of water is transported along the deeper
parts of the subduction zones.
Q: What got you into this field?
A: Since childhood, I have been interested in the stars,
mountains, and the wonders of nature. However, my initial
motivation for studying Earth science was impure, as itallowed me to go abroad to remote areas for research. My
first field was in Kazakhstan, where the diamond-bearing
high-pressure metamorphic rocks were exposed.
Q: Is there anything that surprised you the most in yourcurrent research?
A: We have joined the international continental drilling
project in Oman and found that carbonate mineralization
is ubiquitous in the mantle. Carbon capture and storage(CCS) is one of the ways of reducing carbon dioxide fromthe atmosphere, which could help to solve global warming.
If carbon can be trapped in the mantle rocks in the world,
it has a huge potential for subsurface carbon storage.
Q: What are the discoveries that haveled up to your current work?
A: Mars is a dry planet, with no liquid
ocean on the surface, but water can betrapped in the subsurface. A recent
lander on Mars has detected the seismic
discontinuity in Mars, which can be explained by the presence of an aquifer. If there is liquid water beneath the surface of Mars, it is not surprising that there is extraterrestrial life.

Learn more about
Prof. Fukazawa’s
research here.

Best Scientists Physics

As an astronomer, the telescopes Yasushi Fukazawa has
been involved in are located in space, orbiting aroundthe Earth. He investigates X-rays and gamma rays which
are difficult to detect for ground telescopes as our atmosphere absorbs these electromagnetic waves. To
observe them, astronomers rocket-launch telescopes
into orbit where they circle the Earth as satellites. Fukazawa worked on projects to develop instruments forthree telescopes and most recently helped build
nanosatellites sent to space to monitor gamma-ray
bursts, an astrophysical event believed to result in a
black hole. He serves as the director of Hiroshima University’s Core of Research for the Energetic Universe(CORE-U).

Q: Can you please describe your fieldof research?
A: My research field is to study high-energy astrophysicalphenomena with X-ray and gamma-ray observations. Blackholes, jets, and gamma-ray bursts are target objects. They
are bright in X-ray and gamma-ray bands, indicating thathigh-energy heating and particle acceleration occur. The
development of observation instruments is also performed,
especially for silicon sensors and scintillation detectors.
Q: What do you find most exciting in your field of
research?
A: There are many astronomical objects which are brightin the gamma-ray band. The biggest object is found as a
gamma-ray cloud around one galaxy. Its size is aroundthree million light years. It is still not understood how sucha cloud is generated.
Q: What scientific problem are you trying to answer?
A: Black holes at the center of galaxies are known to ejectcosmic jets as plasma flows with almost the speed of light.
This ejection mechanism is not yet understood. such jets
are also formed at hypernovae where massive star explodes and a black hole is born.
Q: What are some of the major projects you areworking on now?
A: One is a CubeSat project CAMELOT (CubeSats Appliedfor Measuring and Localising Transients) which is in collaboration with Hungary and Czech Republic teams. This
project aims to launch about 10 CubeSats, nanosatellites
that observe gamma-ray bursts to localize their direction.
Another is next generation MeV gamma-ray satellite
AMEGO-X which is in collaboration with GSFC/NASA.

Issue8|Since 2021

Scientist taps into lobsters’
inner weirdo to conquer the over
120-year quest to farm them
Their dragon-like appearance has earned lobsters the moniker“dragons of the sea.” It is one reason why they are a favorite fixture
during Lunar New Year banquets. And in some Asian cultures, eating them means imbibing the good fortune, rosy health, and formidable power embodied by the dragon — the most auspicious of the
12 zodiac animals.
While the former is a real-life creature and the latter an imaginary
beast, fascinating similarities can be drawn between lobsters anddragons. For one, both don’t stop growing, a unique ability that
fueled the myth of lobster immortality. And as scientists discovered, trying to farm lobsters is a feat as elusive as taming firebreathing dragons of lore. But marine biologist Kaori Wakabayashi
is inching science closer to conquering its over 120-year pursuit byletting these “dragons of the sea” get real weird.

Dr. Kaori Wakabayashi,
Hiroshima University

Swiss army knife-like appendages
Zooming in on appendages, they noticed the larvae’s walking
legs, called pereiopods, are barbed with hard spikes perfect forlatching on jellyfish. They also found comb-like protrusions
styling the tip of the third maxilliped, an elongated appendage
for grooming. As a defense, jellies slime their predators so having specialized limbs to scrape off mucus that may harbor bacteria can be handy.
Wakabayashi wondered if a diet exclusively on jellyfish could
sustain the free-floating slipper lobster (Ibacus novemdentatus)
larvae until they molt into bottom-dwelling juveniles — thestage they start resembling their adult form.
They found that a diet solely of jellyfish not only suppliedenough sustenance but also fast-tracked the usually 1.5-2months-long planktonic larval phase by letting the slipper lobster skip one development stage.

Surf ‘n slurp

An appetite for venom

It all began with a chance inquiry over a decade ago. Wakabayashi
said the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology laboratory she would later be a part of was shown bizarre “jellyfish
riders” a diver couldn’t identify.

Wakabayashi was also curious if slipper lobster larvae
could afford to be picky with jellyfish or if theyacquired an appetite for venom. The phyllosomata
suffered no harm even as they gobbled the deadlier
species, venomous tentacles and all.

“The diver actually collected these animals together with the jellyfish, brought them to our laboratory, and then asked my exsupervisor what they were,” said Wakabayashi, now an associate
professor at Hiroshima University’s Graduate School of Integrated
Sciences for Life.
The thin, flat, and transparent creatures with spindly legs clinging
to the jellyfish turned out to be phyllosomata, the larval form ofslipper and spiny lobsters. In particular, the ones brought to themby the diver were slipper lobster larvae, which have been documented to hitch rides and munch on jellyfish. Intrigued by thisbehavior, the laboratory embarked on a project to further explore
its ecological role and tapped her expertise on marine invertebrates’ younger stages.
Slipperlobster(Ibacusnovemdentatus)

15 HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE | Spring 2024

The secret is in their digestive system. The larvae are shieldedfrom the venomous stingers by an armor of chitin — the same
biological polymer making up their tough exoskeleton — lining
nearly their entire intestines. They also secrete an impenetrable membrane that seals in the stingers but lets nutrients passthrough so exposed parts of their gut are protected.
“Exhibiting that lobsters cling to and eat jellyfish in the tankcondition is our original finding. Then finding out that this species can eat not only one but a variety of species of jellyfish isalso our original finding. Demonstrating that they can complete
larval development by only feeding on jellyfish is also our original finding,” Wakabayashi said. “So I am now trying to combine
these to develop a technique for commercial farming.”
Her initial trials have already shown progress. Only the jellyfish
diet produced adults with pale pink exoskeletons compared tothe auspicious reddish hue of wild slipper lobsters coveted in
Asian markets. Wakabayashi is working to raise slipper lobsters
that exhibit the same flushed tones as the wild-caught ones.
And as her strides in the secrets of lobster lives taught her,she may soon find the answer to this in its oddest behaviors.

WHAT’S NEW ON CAMPUS

cafe in the
1 New
Ryoun Lecture Building

NOV (Kasumi Campus)
2023

Experience the convenienceof our recently launched selfservice cafe, now available on
the 1st floor of the Ryoun Lecture
Building at the Kasumi Campus.

HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY UPDATE | Spring 2024

4

NOV

HU launches
local 5G network

2023
Hiroshima University held aceremony to commemorate
the opening of its local 5G
network as part of the Town &Gown Initiative.

HU Original Goods

HU has launched a new line oforiginal merchandise, including agreen hoodie and dry t-shirt. Bothitems incorporate the university's
emblem and its signature green
color, blending tradition with atimeless design aesthetic.

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75+75th Anniversary Project
Commemorative Goods
Available now are a 315-piece jigsaw
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created by Hiroshima-based illustrator
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Hiroshima University
75+75th Anniversary
Project
Introducing newcatchphrase and logo
Born under a new system in 1949, Hiroshima
University's history dates back to 1874, when
the Hakushima School — its oldest predecessor
school — was founded. In over 140 years, theuniversity has produced numerous talented
individuals.
In this sense, 2024 marks 75 years since thefoundation of HU and 150 years since thefounding of its oldest predecessor school.
As part of HU's 75+75th anniversary project, theuniversity has created a new catchphrase andlogo.

Catchphrase

Row out into a sea of chaos; gobeyond the horizon of creativity.

University of World-wide Repute andSplendor for Years into the Future
Hiroshima University
Public Relations OfficeE-mail: koho@office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp