2010

Inter-University Research Institute Corporation

Research Organization ofInformation and Systems

National Institute ofPolar Research
National Institute ofInformatics
The Institute of
Statistical Mathematics
National Institute of
Genetics
Transdisciplinary
Research Integration Center
Database Center forLife Science

Greetings from the President

Collaborative organizations shedlight on the future of academic research
The Research Organization of Information and Systems had its beginnings in 2004 as an incorporatedorganization that brought together research institutes with complementary capabilities, not merely for the
purpose of bringing them together but also to enable them to cooperate based on a consistent researchvision. Thanks to this cooperation the first phase of our mission as an incorporated organization has
concluded successfully, and following an evaluation of the results, we have been able to start the second
phase with additional refinements.

Philosophy of the Research Organizationof Information and Systems
The Research Organization of Information and Systems establishes and operates acore research institute for promoting integrated research on a global level in theareas of polar sciences, informatics, statistical mathematics, and genetics, incollaboration with the research communities at universities and other organizations
all over Japan. The Organization also aims to conduct integrated research acrossdisciplines by addressing, from the perspectives of information and systems, issues
involving complex phenomena of life, Earth, the natural environment, humansociety, and other areas, as critical issues for the 21st century. To achieve this, acentral organization has been established to facilitate integrated research, and willattempt to construct a new research paradigm and to open up new research areas,
again adopting an information and systems perspective. Also, by offering an
information platform that supports the speedy and effective development of researchat universities and other academic research institutes in Japan and overseas, theOrganization seeks to raise the level of research in Japan.

The philosophy for establishing the Research Organization is now widely understood and accepted, and theinstitute has made steady progress with its reforms in line with academic trends. It is also important to notethat the Transdisciplinary Research Integration Center, established as a central organization, has been
active in research in interdisciplinary areas that are challenging for any single research institute. The Centerhas been undertaking activities that only an incorporated organization with its increased autonomy could
pursue, involving from this year people and society as major areas of research in addition to life and theglobal environment. Meanwhile, the Database Center for Life Science established in fiscal 2007 has moved
forward with the integration of databases that serve important roles as the base for future life sciences,drawing on its capabilities as an Inter-University Research Institute. Although the research environment inJapan faces many challenges, we are determined to use incorporation as an opportunity to raise the levelof sophistication of individual research institutes and open up new research areas. We hope that we cancount on your understanding and support for our mission and activities.

CONTENTS
Greetings from the President/Philosophy of the
Research Organization of Information and Systems
What are Inter-University Research Institutes?/History
TOPICS −Relocation to Tachikawa Campus−【Education】
Cooperation with the Graduate University
for Advanced Studies
Organization Chart

Transdisciplinary Research Integration Center

General Plannig Office/Intellectual Property Center

Database Center for Life Science

Research Organization ofInformation and Systems

National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR)

President

The Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM)

National Institute of Informatics (NII)
National Institute of Genetics (NIG)

8
10
12
14
16
18

Data

Research Organization of Information and Systems

22
23
24

Board of Directors/Management Council/
Education and Research Coucil/Membership
Accounting/External Funds/Number of Institutions and Joint
Researchers Enrolled in Inter-University Joint Research
Projects/Special Inter-University Researchers

Location

2

20【Organization】【Institute】
Inter-University Research Institute Corporation

Yoshiki Hotta

2
4
6

26

3

Outline

What are Inter-University Research Institutes?
Inter-University Research Institutes are unique researchorganizations in Japan that seek to promote joint researchacross disciplines among universities. The institutes offer
large-scale and cutting-edge facilities, large volumes ofacademic data, and valuable materials, which a single
university would find it difficult to create and maintain,
making them available free of charge to researchers inJapan as institutes shared by universities in different
disciplines.
The first Inter-University Research Institute was formed in
1971, and today there are 17 of them. They play anessential role in facilitating rapid progress in research and in
responding to demands from research communities toreorganize research institutes affiliated with national
universities.
Each of the institutes has undertaken joint research bypooling the wisdom of nationwide researchers, as the corebase of their respective research area. At the same time,the institutes have represented Japan at numerous
international conventions, and have served as theorganizers of research communities.
In 2004 the Inter-University Research Institutes werereorganized under four independent institutes, pursuant to
the National University Corporation Act. Each of these
institutes is charged with reinvigorating research in an
independent environment, facilitating strategic action toenhance inter-university use and research functions, while
creating new research areas.
Given this situation, close collaboration with universities isessential. Inter-University Research Institutes have been

History

established as research bodies that address areas outside
the reach of any single university, to pursue world-classstudies. Their most fundamental characteristic is to offer
the infrastructure needed to facilitate university-led
research, and they have made significant contributions to
the academic world. Inter-University Research Institutes
are likely to become even more important in the years
ahead.
Inter-University Research Institutes will continue to play
an important role in supporting education and research atuniversities, and in advancing the academic research thatis principally conducted by universities. In addition, we willcontinue our activities as research institutes of equivalent
standing to universities, aiming at genuine research thatoriginates from the independent
thinking of our researchers.

As “Centers of Excellence” in Japan

Inter-University
Research
Institute Corporation

Universities acrossthe country
Research facilities

N

I

H

U

● Graduate school

N

I

N

S

Research institutesof companies● Fostering ofK

K

Universities and research
institutes abroad● Extramural use● Joint Research

Graduate courses

Private research institutes

education

Affiliated research institutes
Undergraduate schools

advancedresearchers

R

E
O

I

Joint
researchS【Features of Inter-University Research Institutes】

1 Joint use of large-scale facilities and joint researchInter-University Research Institutes develop large-scale and advanced research centers that single universities wouldfind it difficult to maintain, in order to enable cutting-edge research and to offer facilities for researchers nationwide.

2 Collection, study, and provision of materials and data
Inter-University Research Institutes systematically collect and manage academically valuable materials and large-volume
data, and make them openly available for improving intellectual platforms.

3 Establishing academic information platforms and databases
Inter-University Research Institutes create networks for facilitating the exchange of academic information among
universities and research institutes, both within Japan and internationally. In addition, databases of the results of research
will be developed and made available.

1989
The Law on the Establishment of National Schools having been
amended, the National Inter-University Research Institutes wererenamed the Inter-University Research Institutes.

National Instituteof Polar Research

National Instituteof Genetics

Research Organization of Informationand Systems established

1986

2000
2005

Transdisciplinary
Research
Integration Centerestablished

1985

1944

1949

Research Organization of Information and Systems

2007

Database Center
for Life Scienceestablished

2009

2010

The National Institute ofPolar Research and theInstitute of Statistical Mathematics
were relocated to Tachikawa

1984
Establishment of Institution

4

Tachikawa Campus

2004

1973

National Instituteof Informatics

The Institute of
Statistical Mathematics

Independent administrative
agencies for R&D

Establishment as Inter-University Research Institute Corporation

5

Topics

TOPICS

Relocation to Tachikawa Campus

In 2009, the National Institute of Polar Research andthe Institute of Statistical Mathematics were relocatedto Tachikawa from their long-standing home bases in
Itabashi and Hiroo, respectively.
The relocation followed a Cabinet decision “On the
Relocation of National Government Organizations” inJuly 1988. Since June 1993, when the former U.S.
military base at Tachikawa was chosen for the newlocation, preparations have been under way for the
relocation.
Here at Tachikawa Campus, three researchorganizations, including the National Institute ofJapanese Literature, the National Institutes for the
Humanities, which had moved to Tachikawa earlier,began writing the next chapter in their histories.
The H shape seen from above is the general researchbuilding, with six floors and one basement level, and a
total floor space of 48,105 square meters. It houses

Training
Field

Polar Observation
Building

General Research Building

the laboratories and offices of the two institutes, including
the National Institute of Polar Research’s low-temperaturelaboratories, where the operating temperature is -50
degrees Celsius, and supercomputers in the basement
boasting world-class performance in the area of statisticalscience. Located on the south side of the general
research building is the polar observation building. It has a
training field on the opposite side, allowing more spacefor experiments involving equipment and trial assemblyof structures to take to the South Pole on Antarctic
expeditions. Also on the campus are the Akaike Guest
House, an accommodation facility for researchers, anda pavilion called the Polar Science Museum.
With the addition of the two institutes on the one
campus, the administrative facilities of the two
institutes were reorganized into the NIPR / ISM Joint
Administration Office in July 2010. Team systems wereintroduced to encourage administrative rationalizationand flexible responses, and to enhance the capabilitiesof the laboratories.
Having obtained ample space for joint research andresearch exchange on the Tachikawa premises, we will
redouble our efforts to accomplish our mission as an
Inter-University Research Institute and become a researchorganization welcomed by the local community.

General Research Building

Tachikawa Campus Site & Buildings

Polar Science Museum

Site Area

62,450m2

Buildings

54,023m2

General Research Building【48,105m2】
Polar Observation Building【4,043m2】
Akaike Guest House【766m2】

Tachikawa Campus Map
Experiment
Field

Polar Science Museum【1,109m2】

Akaike Guest House

Entrance & Relief

6Research Organization of Information and Systems

Polar Observation Building

Akaike Guest House

Polar Science Museum

Launched in June this year, the facility was built toaccommodate joint researchers for extended periods after the
relocation of the two institutes to Tachikawa and to facilitate alively exchange among researchers. It was named after Dr.
Hirotsugu Akaike, the eighth director-general of the Institute of
Statistical Mathematics. Three buildings are connected by acentral exchange lounge and there are 14 single rooms, threedouble rooms and one barrier-free room. We will provide
services to help people who visit and stay at the Research
Organization of Information and Systems to concentrate on
their research.

The Polar Science Museum is a new front in the
National Institute of Polar Research, providing
information on the forefront of Japan’s polar scientificresearch, as well as on the current situation,achievements, and history of Antarctic and Arctic
observation. Our vision is to act as a “Window on the
Global Environment” and as a “Time Capsule,” andwe aim to become a base for the distribution of
information on the latest research achievements andactivities in polar science research.

7

Institute
機構設置センター

Transdisciplinary Research Integration Center (TRIC)
Creating new research paradigms by transdisciplinary research

Grand design of the Transdisciplinary
Research Integration Center (TRIC)

New research projects of TRIC
In the second phase of operation that started in fiscal year 2010, TRIC has embarked on new
projects in the field of Human and Social Systems, in addition to the two fields of Life Systems
and Earth Environment Systems carried over from the first phase of operation. TRIC now
promotes a total of five transdisciplinary projects in these three fields in cooperation with theStatistical Mathematics Infrastructure and the Information Infrastructure.
TRIC will create action plans for cooperating not only with the four institutes making up ROIS
but also with other universities and domestic and foreign institutions, and for implementing
those plans.

The two activities of TRIC
TRIC has the following two activities.
1. Transdisciplinary projects
The five projects are distributed over the three fields of Earth Environment Systems, Life Systems,and Human and Social Systems in cooperation with the Statistical Mathematics Infrastructure
and the Information Infrastructure. These projects are operated in a functional and organic way
beyond the frameworks of the four institutes of ROIS.
2. Human resources development programThis is a program aimed at developing young researchers in institutes and universities, who willtake over future TRIC activities. The program has the following three core features.
1) An annual meeting called “Young Researcher Cross Talk” is held in order to enhancecommunication among young researchers.

Life Systems

Universities and institutes with expertise in the relevant fields

The Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS) was established in 2004,
integrating four institutes in the Inter-University Research Institute Corporation (IURIC), in orderto enhance the activities of IURIC and to produce a new style of cooperative research beyond
traditional academic fields. At the same time, the Transdisciplinary Research Integration Center(TRIC) was established within ROIS to carry out the basic plan of the IURIC and create newresearch fields. TRIC started transdisciplinary research for developing new and original
approaches to prediction and knowledge discovery based on data and statistical modeling, andultimately the creation of new research paradigms. This is achieved by combining vast andvarying amounts of experimental and observational data and knowledge about life science andearth science generated by the National Institute of Genetics and the National Institute of Polar
Research, statistical modeling and computing technologies developed by The Institute of
Statistical Mathematics, and informatics and information infrastructures developed by the
National Institute of Informatics.

Systems biology performed by analysis with genetics,
informatics, and statistics using massive genome
sequence and multidimensional phenotypic data.

National Instituteof Polar Research

National Instituteof Genetics

Life Systems

Systems biology performed by analysis with genetics,
informatics, and statistics using massive genome sequenceand multidimensional phenotypic data.
Abbreviation: Functional Genetics Systems

Abbreviation: Functional Genetics Systems

Project director: Professor, Nori KURATA (National Institute of Genetics)
Systems biology is a data-centric transdisciplinary study of genetics, informatics, and statistics
focusing on complex interactions in biological systems. This project aims to describe genetic andphenotypic variation of organisms as systems, using massive genome sequence, gene expression
and various phenotypic data from the unique and rich genetic resources at the National Institute of
Genetics (NIG), information technology at the National Institute of Informatics (NII), and statisticalmodeling technology at the Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM). The collaboration ofresearchers from these institutes and other universities will develop new methodologies tounderstand complex systems of morphological and behavioral variation of organisms.

Infrastructure forMathematical Modelingcooperation

Earth
Environment
Systems
Systematic analysis for
global environmental
change and life on earth

Feedback ofachievements

Abbreviation: SAGE

Data assimilation approaches for quantitative
estimation and measurement design ofcomplex systems
Abbreviation: Data Assimilation

Information Infrastructure
Building an information-sharing platform
for transdisciplinary research integration

Development of auto-instrumentation systems
for measuring phenotypic variations.

Elucidation of global systems through analysis
of individual genetic elements.

Informatic analysis of 3 dimensional graphic data,

We use QTL, e-QTL, association analysis,

and statistical analysis of sequential data, etc.

graphical modeling, etc.

Abbreviation: Science 3.0

Human and Social Systems

The Institute of
Statistical Mathematics

Data-centric human and social informatics
Abbreviation: Communication Informatics

National Instituteof Informatics
Human and Social Systems

2) Participation in relatively small-scale pilot projects, which may be the seeds of transdisciplinary
research and could be expanded into future transdisciplinary projects, is invited for all
researchers in ROIS.

Data-centric Human and Social Informatics
Abbreviation: Communication Informatics

3) Relatively small-sized research meetings and workshops, for developing action plans to create
new transdisciplinary research, are financially supported.

Project Director: Noboru SONEHARA (National Institute of Informatics)

Earth Environment Systems

Infrastructure for Mathematical Modeling

Systematic Analysis for Global Environmental Change
and Life on earth

Akaike Guest House
Launched in June this year, the facility was built toaccommodate joint researchers for extended periods after the
relocation of the two institutes to Tachikawa and to facilitate alively exchange among researchers. It was named after Dr.
Hirotsugu Akaike, the eighth director-general of the Institute of
Statistical Mathematics. Three buildings are connected by acentral exchange lounge and there are 14 single rooms, threedouble rooms and one barrier-free room. We will provide
services to help people who visit and stay at the Research
Organization of Information and Systems to concentrate on
their research.

Data Assimilation Approaches for Quantitative Estimationand Measurement Design of Complex Systems
Abbreviation: Data Assimilation

Abbreviation: SAGE

Information Infrastructure

Building an information-sharing platform fortransdisciplinary research integration
Abbreviation: Science 3.0

Project Director: Dr. Hideaki MOTOYAMA (National Institute of Polar Research)
Sub-Project Director: Dr. Satoshi IMURA (National Institute of Polar Research)

Project Director: Dr. Tomoyuki HIGUCHI (The Institute of Statistical Mathematics)

Project Director: Dr. Noriko ARAI (National Institute of Informatics)

Environments on the earth have been formed by the balance of the atmosphere, hydrosphere,
geosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere. By analyzing the relationship between theevolution of life and global environmental change, a de novo science of life systems on Earthwill be established.

Increases in computing power enable us to develop more sophisticated multi-dimensional
simulation models. Along with the advancement of observational techniques, databases holding
observations are also growing rapidly. For these reasons new data fusion platforms need to beconstructed for managing, fusing and serving massive data streams coming from simulations
and observations. In this project, we focus on the generalization and sophistication of integrated
operations that fuse together computational
studies with analyses of observational data.

Our project team launched a new web service called Research map, which is an
information-sharing platform for researchers. By unifying the data of researchers, such as
academic literature and conference talks, Research map helps researchers build their own
portal sites instantly and start collaboration with other researchers.
The user of Research map obtains three virtual spaces at different access levels. The firstone is called “My Portal,” which can be used as the homepage. The second is called “MyRoom” and is meant to be a virtual private space not accessible by anyone else. The third iscalled “Community” and can be used as a collaborative working/learning space with othermember researchers. Research map
provides more than 30 portlet applications
including Curriculum Vitae, Weblog, Cabinet
and Video Sharing. The user can arrange
the portlet applications intuitively on agiven page by drag-and-drop, just likearranging one’s own room to express
oneself. With a lot more functions to be
added shortly, Research map is now
expanding to act as a bridge between
researchers and the general public.

Deep ice core of Dome Fuji station, Antarctica.
Volcanic ash about 140,000 years before is seen as
strait thin layer at the depth 1,851m.

8Moss pillars found at about 3 m in depth in someAntarctic lakes. They are mainly composed ofaquatic mosses, algae and bacteria. The largest one,up to about 80 cm in height, is thought to have been
growing for about 1,000 years.

The data assimilation method will
combine a numerical simulation
model and observation data, thus
yielding more powerful algorithms
for the Earth's magnetospheric
dynamics.

The data assimilation method is applied to developmental
biology studies in order to construct quantitative models.
On-going topics include cell division in the C. elegans
embryo (A) as well as mouse embryogenesis (B).

Associate Project Director: Hiroe TSUBAKI (The Institute of Statistical Mathematics)
At present, scientific research is continuing to evolve with further innovative changes brought
about by the advent of the Internet and related information and communication technologies.
Thanks to the technology used in these sophisticated information systems, most of the hardware
and sensors used to gather information are linked to these networks. Information distributed indigital form technically allows anybody to access it at any time and from any place. The empiricalscientific research method based on complex large-scale data collected through these networks
is called Data-centric Science. The Knowledge Circulation infrastructure, which creates newvalue by projecting concrete information from our society into cyberspace, analyzing andsimulating it on the web, and enabling feedback from the web to real people and objects, will be
one of the major pillars of future Human and Social Informatics. We have focused on threepoints: [1] automatic collection and accumulation of a vast amount of data reflecting our society;[2] providing feedback to users based on models constructed by the collected data; [3] thepossibility of forming a site for Human and Social Data Sharing and Collaborative Researches.

The structure of data sharing/collaborative research infrastructure

9

Research Organization of Information and Systems

The data assimilation method will
combine a numerical simulation
model and observation data,thus yielding more powerfulalgorithms for the Earth's
magnetospheric dynamics.

◎The whereabouts and usage of each database are difficult to discover◎Databases are not available in Japanese◎New technologies must be developed to effectively utilize
databases◎The number of people who are capable of constructing andmaintaining databases is insufficient◎The results produced by national projects are not sufficiently
open to the public◎Databases can no longer be maintained when the funding oflarge-scale national projects ends
◎Experimental biologists and bioinformaticians rarely work
synergistically◎The association between experimental data and knowledge
extracted from the literature is insufficient◎Institutions responsible for coordinating database integration
on a long-term basis do not exist

Institute機構設置センター

Database Center for Life Science
The Database Center for Life Sciencecreates an intellectual information
infrastructure to develop life science.
To improve the accessibility of life science repositories, theDatabase Center for Life Science (DBCLS) was set up as a coreorganization to promote repository integration, to enable a
broad-based view of related knowledge resources, and toestablish a new knowledge infrastructure.
As a core institute of the Integrated Database Project funded by
the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology, DBCLS provides various services from the Project’s
portal site (http://lifesciencedb.jp/?lng=en/). Some of the services
available in English (most are available only in Japanese) include a
database cross-search service, a catalog that provides informationon large-scale genome and post-genome projects in Japan, andother useful tools and resources.
By providing these services, we hope to promote more efficientresearch and development in the field of life science at institutions
and in the bioindustry, and to develop a new paradigm that will
become a core model for a grand alliance in life science.

Issues in Life Science Databases in Japan・The whereabouts and usage of each database are difficult to discover・Databases are not available in Japanese・New technologies must be developed to effectively utilize databases
・The number of people who are capable of constructing and maintaining databases is insufficient・The outcomes and products of national projects are not sufficiently open to the public
・Databases can no longer be maintained when the funding of large-scale national projects ends
・Experimental biologists and bioinformaticians rarely work synergistically・The association between experimental data and knowledge extracted from the literature is insufficient・Institutions responsible for coordinating database integration on a long-term basis do not exist

Portal site of the "Integrated Database Project"

http://lifesciencedb.jp/?lng=en

Solutions
Design database strategies andperform feasibility assessments
Accept databases that can no longer bemaintained and archive them in repositories
Provide training and education forhuman resource development
Promote research and development in the information
technologies necessary to database integration

Strategy planning
While Japanese scientists have constructed a number of life science
databases (in most cases as part of national projects), thedatabases are infrequently used by domestic research communities
because relevant information exists across several databases. Todayan environment that allows the effective use of these data(bases)
has become essential for advances in life science research and thebioindustry.
To coordinate the domestic life science databases, DBCLS carries
out the following activities. First, DBCLS collects and compiles
details of the current situation and trend of life science databases
and makes these reports available from the Integrated Database
Project’s portal site.
Second, DBCLS organizes a committee that is comprised ofvarious stakeholders including Japan’s representative databaseproviders, and considers and plans strategies to integrate domestic
life science databases.
Third, issues surrounding data access, data sharing, copyright andprivacy policies have been and continue to be discussed andconsidered with experts in these fields. As part of this process,
DBCLS has organized conferences to discuss these issues.
Finally, the services developed as part of the Integrated Database
Project are made available to the public and annually reviewed byusers through a survey. The results of the survey are utilized to
improve the functionality of the database services.

10 Research Organization of Information and Systems

Annotate genomes of model organisms
manually and automaticallyIntegrating databases
Finding databases and retrieving records that fulfill one’s needs fromover 500 domestic databases or over ten million databases
worldwide have become time-consuming and difficult.
As part of the Integrated Database Project and to overcome thissituation, DBCLS is committed to providing various databaseservices. For example, there is a database of life science databases(“Database catalog”) from which users can browse and find out
about the life science databases that are currently available
worldwide. There are also movie tutorials (“togotv”) that describe
how to use a certain database or tool, and an archive (“Life Science
Database Archive”) where users can submit their datasets to bemade downloadable and maintained in a long-term and stable state.
In addition to these services, DBCLS carries out basic research anddevelopment of web services, tools and ontologies that are essential
information technologies for database integration.
A single integrated database cannot satisfy the interests of every
researcher in the life sciences, since there are specific research fields
within the life science community. Institutions participating in the
Integrated Database Project therefore develop databases for
specific research fields, such as medicine, pharmacology, andglycobiology. Along with the general integration tools mentioned
above, these specific databases should help to unearth useful
information that a researcher was previously unaware of. We hopethat these activities will take us a step further in resolving issues
surrounding life science databases.

Provide methods to access articles andpublications together with databases
Develop and maintain a portal site that presents
the whereabouts and usage of databases

Toward the integration of databases

Information technologies and services available from the Integrated Database Project

Catalogs of life science databases, national
projects, societies and academies, species

Tools and resources

Building dictionaries for life science vocabulary

Search systems using natural language processing

International conferences for developers
working on biological resource integration

Text and movie tutorials

Public relations and communications
In cooperation with institutions participating in the Integrated
Database Project, DBCLS holds training courses for potential
annotators, curators and system administrators on a regular basis.
These training courses cover basic to advanced uses of life science
databases and tools and are held at universities nation-wide.
DBCLS also exhibits its services at annual meetings and exhibitions
to receive feedback from users. Events and information related to
the Integrated Database Project are available from the “Information”
Section of the Project’s website.

11

InstituteNational Institute ofPolar Research (NIPR)
Investigating the earth’s system through the Antarctic and the Arctic
The National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) was established in 1973 as an Inter-University ResearchInstitute to pursue integrated research and to conduct observations in the polar regions. Since then,based on field observations in the Antarctic and the Arctic and using the results of modeling and dataand sample processing, the NIPR has been promoting joint research with a view to developing an
advanced earth system science that includes earth science, environmental science, solar-terrestrial
system science, space and planetary science, biological science, etc.
As well as being responsible for scientific observation and logistics in the Japanese Antarctic Research
Expedition (JARE), which is overseen by the JARE headquarters within the Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the NIPR also plays a principal role in Japanese Arctic
research with regard to managing the observational facilities, supporting field research, disseminating
information, and dealing with international relations.

Syowa Station

Dome Fuji Station

Ny-Ålesund Station

Syowa Station

Polar science as part of earthsystem science
Nature in the polar regions of the Antarctic and the Arctic is aninterrelated system consisting of space, the magnetosphere, theionosphere, the atmosphere, the cryosphere, the oceans, thelithosphere, and the biosphere. These components are closelyinteractive and form a large natural system of their own. The aim ofpolar science is to elucidate physical, chemical, and biologicalprocesses and their interaction as part of the earth’s system byutilizing the diverse natural science disciplines dealing with theabove components.

Ice shelf in the Antarctic Ocean

12 Research Organization of Information and Systems

Global environmental change fromthe vantage point of the polar regions
The cryosphere, which consists of the Antarctic ice sheet, glaciersin the Arctic region, and sea ice, plays an important role in the
global climate, affecting both the atmospheric and oceanic
circulation as the heat sink for the globe. The polar regions are
therefore the best place to observe global environmental change
because the extent of environmental changes is much enhanced inpolar regions by the natural feedback mechanism, the backgroundcondition of the earth’s environment can be most clearly monitored
in the Antarctic, which is remote from human activity, studies on
the ecosystem in the extreme polar environment can help develop
new viewpoints regarding life and the environment, and the historyof the global environment is recorded in the cryosphere.

Ice core drilling at Dome Fuji

Polar regions as a window for spaceand planetary research
The aurora that colors the polar upper atmosphere is a product of
the interaction of the solar wind and the earth’s magnetosphere,
and to study its behavior is so valuable in elucidating the physicalprocess of plasma and solar wind energy entering themagnetosphere and ionosphere that the polar regions arerecognized as an important window for research on the upper
atmosphere.
The Antarctic is also an indispensable research site for spaceand planetary science because in this region the meteorites andcosmic dust that form planetary material can be efficiently
collected, and cosmic rays and millimeter waves can be received
without excessive obstruction from the earth’s atmosphere. Thus
the Antarctic is a window through which space and the planets
can be observed.

Auroral observation at Syowa Station

Earth’s history explored in the Antarctic
Antarctica is a continental crust including a complex dating fromabout 3.8 billion years ago, implying that it is part of the earlycontinental crust formed on the earth. The Antarctic is the bestarea for investigating the formation of Gondwana 500 million
years ago and its separating process afterward, and thecharacteristics of the Antarctic plate involved in the formation of
the Antarctic ice sheet 40 million years ago. The Antarctic ice
sheet has been changed so much since its creation that it has
affected sea level change and crustal movement. The study ofEarth’s history as explored in the Antarctic involves theclarification of various phenomena on the inside of the earth andthe surface of the continental crust over the long timespan of 4.6
billion years.

Geological survey in the Sør-Rondane mountains

13InstituteNational Institute of Polar Research (NIPR)
Investigating the earth’s system through the Antarctic and the Arctic

National Instituteof Informatics (NII)

Institute to pursue integrated research and to conduct observations in the polar regions. Since then,Supporting the Foundations of ICT Society
as a Core Informatics Research Organization

based on field observations in the Antarctic and the Arctic and using the results of modeling and data

The National Institute of Informatics (NII) celebrates the 10th anniversary of its founding this year. As the sole coreand sample processing, the NIPR has been promoting joint research with a view to developing an

informatics research organization in Japan, the NII is involved in front-line research into information, which is a vital partadvanced earth system science that includes earth science, environmental science, solar-terrestrialof our daily lives, currently in demand by society in general and academia in particular. The NII is also involved insystem science, space and planetary science, biological science, etc.

establishing an academic information network for supporting research and education activities at universities and other

As well as being responsible for scientific observation and logistics in the Japanese Antarctic Research

institutions, and in providing academic content services, such as research paper databases, by creating an academic

Expedition (JARE), which is overseen by the JARE headquarters within

the Ministry of Education,

information base to support academic and research activities across all fields, not only informatics. The NII has alreadyCulture, Sports, Science and Technology, the NIPR also plays a principal role in Japanese Arctic

made significant social and international contributions by acting as a central hub for research in informatics through its

The National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) was established in 1973 as an Inter-University Researchresearch with regard to managing the observational facilities, supporting field research, disseminating
information, and dealing with international relations.

close ties with organizations in a wide range of fields both within Japan and overseas, including universities, researchbodies, and private-sector businesses.
Kitami Institute of Technology
Hokkaido University

Sapporo DC

Ho

Quantum Information Processing

Top SE Project
The Top SE Project involves incorporating research, education, and practical

The Science Information Network (SINET) is an information network supporting

vastly increased computational power compared to the supercomputers

experience into a world-class software engineering training program with thethe research and educational activities of universities and research institutions

currently in use today. The NII aims to become a world leader in this field by

aim of producing top-class software engineers. Twenty courses arethroughout Japan. Having currently been used by over 2 million people from overutilizing Japanese technology for quantum information processing,provided, enabling participants to gain applied skills through practical

700 member institutions in Japan, it has grown to become a vital network

conducting fundamental theoretical and experimental research towards theassignments and exercises based on actual development activities as wellinfrastructure forming an information lifeline for the academic community. The

realization of such devices.
Quantum information processing is a much sought-after technology whichis expected to revolutionize the fields of communications and information

as software engineering theory based on state-of-the-art technology andcurrent version, SINET3, provides a wide range of services that are highly reliable,

theory. To date, there have been four semesters, with a total of 105

and promotes international academic collaboration through interconnections withparticipants completing their courses. 30 companies have provided

processing, and may also reinvigorate the information, communications, andassistance, a figure which is increasing annually. The program has received

semiconductor industries.

attention as a means of producing engineers capable of applying

Sing

Science Information Network

Future computers known as “quantum computers” will offer the potential of

apore

Kon

g (6

22M

conventional university education.
Linear scalea

Logarithmic scale

bps

)

(622M

bps)

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)

Shinshu University
University of Yamanashi
Kamioka observatory, institute for Cosmic
Ray Research, The University of Tokyo

National Institute for
Fusion Science (NIFS)

High Energy Accelerator
Research Organization (KEK)
RIKEN
Gunma University

Kanazawa University

Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI)

University of Fukui
Tottori University
Hiroshima University

Sendai DC
Niigata University
Saitama University

Kyushu Institute of Technology
Hiroshima DC

Kyushu University
Fukuoka DC
Nagasaki University

Kobe University

Asian, European, and American research networks.

The University of Tokyo
Tokyo DC1
Chiba University

Matsuyama DC
Ehime University

Oita University

The Universityof Tokushima
Kagawa University

Kumamoto University

Osaka University

KansaiUniversity

Shizuoka
University

Doshisha University

National Instituteof Genetics (NIG)

Akihabara Cross Field

Institute for Chemical
Research, Kyoto University
Kagoshima University

National Institute of Natural Sciences (NINS-Okazaki)
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)

University of
the Ryukyus

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA-ARD)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA-ISAS)
Yokohama National University
Keio University

Academic Information

Institute of Medical Science,
The University of Tokyo

Nagoya DC
Osaka DCThe Institute for Solid State
Physics, The University of Tokyo

The Institute of Statistical
Mathematics (ISM)

Tsukuba DC
Tokyo DC2

NagoyaUniversity

University of Tsukuba

s
ele
ng
s A s)Lo Gbp(10

Waseda University

Kanazawa DC

Kyoto University
Kyoto DC

Tohoku University

ToyamaUniversity

Japan Advanced Institute of
Science and Technology

Okayama University

Yamaguchi Universityork
w Y s)Ne Gbp(10

Hirosaki
University

The University of Electro-Communications
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

state-of-the-art technology in the workplace in a way not possible through aJapan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)

Fig. SINET3 Network

Tokyo Institute of Technology

National Institute of Informatics (NII)
National Institute of Informatics (NII-Chiba)

10Gbps〜40Gbps
1Gbps〜20Gbps
Core node (DC : Data Center)
Edge node

CiNii (NII Scholarly and Academic Information Navigator) is a search engine
for academic papers published in society journals and university bulletins.
CiNii consists of a metadata database on 13 million papers and the full text

8 meV

Nature in the polar regions of the Antarctic and the Arctic is aninterrelated system consisting of space, the magnetosphere, theionosphere, the atmosphere, the cryosphere, the oceans, thelithosphere, and the biosphere. These components are closelyinteractive and form a large natural system of their own. The aim ofpolar science is to elucidate physical, chemical, and biologicalprocesses and their interaction as part of the earth’s system byutilizing the diverse natural science disciplines dealing with theabove components.

ng

8 meV

Polar science as part of earthsystem scienceof 3.5 million papers. Over 64 million queries are made on CiNii each year and 32
million papers are downloaded. Today the users are not only researchers andstudents but also members of the general public. Other specialized databases
such as Webcat Plus (NII Book Information Navigator), KAKEN (Grants-in-Aid for
Scientific Research), and JAIRO (Institutional Repositories Portal) have been

White line : Dispersion relationship below threshold (parabola)
Black line : BEC without interaction
Red line : BEC with interaction(Bogoliubov dispersion)

created and are actively sharing data with GeNii (NII Scholarly and Academic
Information Portal), a general portal site for academic information for research

Critical velocity : Moving particles at velocities exceeding the critical velocity cause
a breakdown of superfluidity (given by the gradient of the linear dispersion)
Exciton-polariton critical velocity (experimental results)

108 cm/s

One-hundredth of the speed of lightc=and education.

gnm

14 Research Organization of Information and Systems“IMAGINE Book Search” is a federated search service which collects related
information from various resources, such as library catalogue databases,
stock databases of second-hand bookstores in Jimboucho and otherbookstores, genre-based guides to paperback pocket editions, encyclopedias,
museum artifact databases, etc. Collected information can be dynamicallycorrelated by the association engine known as GETA. Contributions are also
made to the community and to culture by providing “BOOK TOWN JIMBOU,”
a portal site to the world’s largest book district; “Cultural Heritage Online,”
the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ cultural heritage portal site; and “Yuhokan,”(8 orders of magnitude greater than the critical velocity of hydrogen atoms,
and 4 orders of magnitude greater than the critical velocity of liquid helium)

Superfluidity observed for the first time in solid state(potential for application as quantum-effect device)

Informatics of Association

the National Museum of Art’s virtual brochure system, all of which use theassociative computational engine GETA.
A Top SE lecture in progress

15

Institute

The Institute of
Statistical Mathematics (ISM)
Promoting research on the mechanism of data-based rational inference
Extracting information from data forms the basis of such intellectual activities as prediction and knowledge
discovery. As our modern information society progresses, enormous amounts of data are being accumulated
continuously in many different forms.
The Institute of Statistical Mathematics is promoting research on the mechanism of data-based rational inference
within a wide range of diverse fields, such as life science, environment, society and economics. In the face ofincreasing complexity and uncertainty we aim to create added value in order to meet the growing needs ofpresent-day society, hence improving the valid utilization of data.
Through prediction and knowledge discovery, modeling of uncertainty, risk analysis, data design and investigation,and computational, statistical and fundamental mathematics, we research and develop solutions to a diverse
range of problems arising in Japanese science and technology. In particular, we are actively involved ininterdisciplinary and cooperative research within and across the boundaries of business and academia.

○Spatial and Time Series Modeling Group○Intelligent Information Processing group○Graph Modeling Group

Department of Data Science
This department carries out research regarding data design andinvestigation to cope with uncertainty and incompleteness of
information, and data analysis methods based on the advanced useof computers.
Group composition○Survey Research Group○Multidimensional Data Analysis Group○Computational Statistics Group

This department studies fundamental statistical theory and statisticallearning theory, optimization for statistical inferencing, and the theory
and fundamental mathematics of computational algorithms.
○Mathematical Statistics Group○Learning and Inference Group○Computational Mathematics Group

16 Research Organization of Information and Systems

Research Innovation Center

The Prediction and Knowledge Discovery
Research Center aims to create modeling andinferencing algorithms for prediction anddiscovery to utilize information extracted from thehuge data sets created by complex systems, andto develop statistical software based on thesealgorithms. Additionally, the center aims to solve
specific problems in substantial sciences such as
genomic, earth, and space sciences.

As uncertainty and risks in society increase withthe growing globalization of society and theeconomy, the Risk Analysis Research Center ispursuing a scientific approach to uncertainty andrisk, and is also constructing a network for risk
analysis to contribute to the creation of a safeand reliable society.

The objective of this center is to develop
innovative research in statistical science to keep
up with new trends in the academic and realworlds. The center carries out original research
projects, ranging over both pure and applied
frontiers.

Finance,economy,insuranceand pensions

The life science network model

Displayed as a model library

Plug-in to
SBML/CSML

Department of Mathematical Analysis and Statistical InferenceGroup composition

Risk Analysis Research Center (RARC)

Contribution to made-to-order online
medical treatment andpharmaceutical manufacture

Structure extraction model update

Group composition

Prediction and Knowledge
Discovery Research Center (PKDRC)

TuningThis department studies the modeling of complex causallyinterrelated phenomena which vary in time and space and of
intelligent information processing, as well as model-based statisticalinference methodologies.

As an Inter-University Research Organization charged with the central role ofresearching statistical mathematics and its applications, we recruit domestic
and foreign researchers and promote solicited cooperative research in thetechniques of prediction and knowledge discovery, data assimilation, andinvestigation technology.
From 2004 a strategic research organization was set up in aninterdisciplinary way involving researchers from diverse basic researchorganizations, and NOE (Network of Excellence) activities were started tobring various research organizations to work cooperatively from thestandpoint of statistical mathematics. One of the aims of the cooperative
research done within the NOE is to train young researchers with a practicalbias. As the only domestic full-scale statistical mathematics researchorganization which also trains researchers, we intend to accelerate
NOE-type cooperative research in the future and thus to carry out our
responsibility to society.

An organization to strategically create an interface between statistical mathematics
and cutting-edge technology and real society

TuningDepartment of Statistical Modeling

Collaborative Use and NOE activities

Data assimilation

Composition of the basic research organization

Artificial
objects / hugeorganizations

Risk research
network formation(40 organizations)

Food andpharmaceuticalsafetyRisk Analysis
Research Center(statisticalmathematics)

Environment
risk / global
environment

Naturaldisasters
Systemsecurity

The high-speed random number board which is being
developed at the Institute of Statistical Mathematic

Increase in suicide deaths by space-time clustering (males over 10 years old)

Sex

Network structure
search program

LISDAS

IncomeAgeFinancial
Area

Displayed
after plug-in

Outlook
Difference in cerebral activity according to different algorithms(cooperative research with Jichi Medical University)

1993-1997

Made-to-order pharmaceutical manufacture
through data assimilation technology

Age-adjusted mortality rate
(DAR, per 100,000 populations)Empirical Bayes estimates

Political

1998-2002

Age-adjusted mortality rate
(DAR, per 100,000 populations)Empirical Bayes estimates

Example of causal network using kernel methods

17InstituteNational Instituteof Genetics (NIG)
Exploring life systems through the gene and the genome
The National Institute of Genetics (NIG) was established in 1949, 4 years before the DNA double-helix discovery,
as a central institute to study various aspects of genetics. Since then the NIG has produced high-quality researchachievements during its 60-year history, overlapping with the recent revolution in the field of life science. Life is acomplex system, for which the methodologies of genetics form a powerful exploratory tool: since life isconstructed by interactions between genomic information and the internal and external environments, genetics
can be said to be the basis of all of life science.
The NIG carries out advanced research as a core institute of genetics in the field of life science, and works tobuild the necessary intellectual infrastructure to support life science research, promoting collaborative use andresearch.
Additionally, the Center for Frontier Research was established to develop new areas of research in life scienceand to further the development of young researchers. The NIG is also in charge of the department of genetics at
the School of Life Sciences in the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, producing the next generation oftalented researchers.

At the cutting-edge of life science research

Building the intellectual infrastructure to lead inlife science research

The NIG conducts research to reveal the individual mechanisms of biological systems, in such areas as chromosomes
and cells, epigenetics, development and differentiation, reproduction, neuroscience and behavior, genomics andbioinformatics, and evolution and diversity. We are also working toward clarifying the bigger picture of life systems using
computer science to deal with large-volume experimental data involving genomic information and gene expression.

The NIG operates the DNA data bank of Japan (DDBJ), the Bioresources Project,
and the DNA Sequencing Center as their core international base. The NIG
supports the scientific community and helps to lead life science research throughthese organizations in collaboration with other universities and research institutes.

DDBJ Project

Bioresources Project

DNA Sequencing Project＜From the Press Release＞

Together with Europe’s EBI/EMBL and the U.S.’s
NCBI/GenBank, the DDBJ makes up andadministers the International Nucleotide Sequence
Database (INSD). INSD data can be viewed,
downloaded, manipulated, and redistributed
regardless of intended applications or nationalboundaries. The INSD data is a shared resource
for all peoples.

NIG serves as a center for developing, collecting,and distributing biological resources of various
strains of experimental organisms for academic
research. NIG also plays an important role as acentral institute for the National BioResource
Project and functions as its information center topromote development of biological resource
databases in collaboration with universities andother organizations.

NIG is the national leader in technical knowhow
and success at complete sequencing ofmulticellular organism genomes. NIG has
conducted analyses of genes and genomes of 44
species in collaboration with 29 organizations(universities and research groups). NIG is a key
producer of genomic information for academia
and science.

Simulation of Genomic Evolutionof Plants

Discovering the rejuvenation
mechanism of cells

Constructing a system to induce
gene expression

Genomic evolution of plants mimicked with DNA
hypomethylation mutants of Arabidopsis.

A system copying junk genes contributing to resetof aging was found using yeast.

Successful development of high-efficiency transgenic
and gene expression using transposon in zebra fish.

Wild rice in Asia
and Australia

Fly

E coli.

Bacillus subtilis

Mice

Hydra

NormalGenBank
database
United States
NCBI/NLM
USPTO

In

te
rn
a ti
on
al

DDBJ
databaseJapan
CIB-DDBJ/NIG
JPO

io
n

EMBL
database
Europe
EBI/EMBL
EPO

AbnormalAged

18 Research Organization of Information and Systems

RejuvenatedTransposon-inserted zebrafish

SupercomputereC
N uc
leotideabas
Sequence Dat

a
or
ab
oll

t

DNA sequencer

19

Education

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies <SOKENDAI>

Cooperation with the Graduate University
for Advanced Studies
Cooperation with the Graduate University for Advanced Studies
The Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS) serves

one-to-one basis and have the opportunity to interact with researchers

as the platform for the educational activities of the Graduate University

working at the very forefront of their fields. Many of the students whofor Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)

graduate from the university go on to play important international roles

Founded in 1988, SOKENDAI is a dedicated graduate university,

as researchers.

offering no undergraduate courses but providing doctoral programs

The four research Institutes of the Research Organization of Information

taught by researchers and using the research facilities of theand Systems also take part in SOKENDAI and have been making

Inter-University Research Institutes. Students receive education on aoutstanding contributions.

School of Multidisciplinary Sciences○Department of Statistical Science
Amid a flood of information and uncertainty, statistical science researches statisticalmodels and methods for the use of data to enable rational inferences, discover scientifictruths, and make effective predictions. The Department of Statistical Science aspires toequip students with the confidence and research capabilities to help solve important andintricately interrelated problems. The department has accepted students from a wide
range of disciplines, and graduates have gone on to become university professors andlaboratory technicians, meeting needs from universities and other institutions forresearchers and teachers of statistical science.

Inter-University ResearchInstitute Corporation

University Organization
SchoolDepartment

Poster session

Location

School of Culturaland Social Sciences○Department of Polar Science
The polar regions encompass a grand natural system of polar space, the polar
atmosphere, the polar hydrosphere, the polar lithosphere, and the polar biosphere.

School of
Phycical Science

Building on a broad area of research, polar science seeks to investigate and clarify
physical, chemical, and biological processes and their interactions as part of the earth’s
system.

School of High Energy
Accelerator Science

The Department of Polar Science seeks to educate students and conduct research
Department of
Statistical Science

The Institute of Statistical
Mathematics (ISM)

Department of
Polar Science

National Institute ofPolar Research (NIPR)

Department ofInformatics

National Institute ofInformatics (NII)

Department of
Genetics

National Institute of
Genetics (NIG)

School ofLife Science

mainly on natural phenomena in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, taking a holistic view of

Research Organization ofInformation and Systems

School ofMultidisciplinary Science

the global environment and training researchers with sophisticated research capabilities
and competence as field scientists.

Auroral observation○Department of Informatics
Informatics is a new academic specialty that synthesizes a wide range of

School of
Advanced Science

information-related tasks. It is a complex science that traverses humanistic informatics andsocial informatics, dealing with people and society, stepping outside the traditional core of
information science and information technology.
The Department of Informatics covers a number of academic fields, from traditional
computer science and information technology to humanistic social science and life

■ Number of students enrolled (FY2009)

science. It aspires to train researchers through fundamental, applied, and practical levels
Number of students

SchoolDepartment

3-yearterm

5-yearterm

1st year

2nd year

Foreignstudents

3rd year

Foreignstudents

4th year

Foreignstudents

5th year

Foreignstudents

Total

Foreignstudents

of education and research, and to develop leaders who will play an active role inForeignstudents

Statistical Science
School ofMultidisciplinary
Science

3

2

1

0

1

0

8

0

6

0

11

1

27

1

Polar Science

1

2

3

0

2

0

3

0

6

1

4

0

18

1

Informatics

6

4

7

3

7

2

10

5

11

4

37

11

72

25

School ofLife Science

Genetics

6

3

8

2

3

2

9

1

12

0

12

0

44

5

Total

16

11

19

5

13

4

30

6

35

5

64

12

161

32

School ofMultidisciplinary Science
School of Life Science

Discussion

School of Life Science○Department of Genetics
Aiming to understand the phenomena of life in the context of genes, the Department of
Genetics educates students and conducts research in the fundamental areas ofmolecules, cells, individuals, and population genetics, as well as in fields that apply these■ Degrees Conferred (FY2009)

Schoolinformatics through highly sophisticated professional training.

Department

LocationTotal

fundamental areas, by utilizing bioinformatics based on numerous experimental organism

Statistical Science

The Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM)

4systems and DNA databases developed by the National Institute of Genetics and other

Polar Science

National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR)

4

Informatics

National Institute of Informatics (NII)

12

National Institute of Genetics (NIG)

11

Genetics
Total

20 Research Organization of Information and Systems

31

state-of-the-art research equipment.
Graduate programs provide a system in which students receive guidance from several
instructors, in addition to one tutor under the policy that all faculty members should be
involved in the education of each student.

High-Quality Research

21Organization Chart

General Planning Office/Intellectual Property Center

ROIS

General Planning Office

Auditors

President Nomination Committee

President

Executive Directors

Board of Directors

Management Council

Education and Research Council
GeneralPlanning Office

Conference of Directors-GeneralIntellectual
Property Center

Administration
OfficeFinancial Division

Planning Division

General Affairs Division

Advisory Board

Vice Director-General
Division for Research and Education

The Institute of
Statistical Mathematics
Director-General

Advisory Board

Vice Director-General
Department of Statistical Modeling

National Instituteof Informatics
Director-General

Advisory Board

Vice Director-General
Executive Director of Research

National Instituteof Genetics
Director-General

Advisory Board

Vice Director-General
Department of Molecular Genetics

Space and Upper
Atmospheric Sciences Group

Department of Data Science

Principles of informatics
Research Division

Department of Cell Genetics

Meteorology andGlaciology Group

Department of Mathematical Analysis
and Statistical Inference

Information Systems Architecture
Sciences Research Division

Department of Developmental Genetics

Geoscience Group

Prediction and Knowledge（PKDRC)
Discovery Research Center

Digital Content and Media
Sciences Research Division

Department of Population Genetics

Bioscience Group
Polar Engineering Group
Advanced Scientific
Research Group
Vice Director-General
Division for Polar Information
Polar Science
Resources Center
Polar Data Center
Public Relations Section
Vice Director-General

Risk Analysis ResearchCenter（RARC)

Research Innovation Center
Center for Engineering andTechnical Suppor

The Computing Facilities Unit
The Information Resources Unit
The Media Development Unit
Library
Administration Planningand Coordination Section

Planning Unit

Information andSociety Research Division
Center for Grid Researchand Development
Research and Development Center
for Informatics of Association
Grace Center: Center for Global Research in
Advanced Software Science and Engineering
Research Center forCommunity Knowledge
Strategic Research Projects
Incubation Center
Research and Development Center
for Academic Networks

A dedicated organization has been established within each ofdevelopment, execution, and evaluation of mid-term plans,

the research institutes as a counterpart to the General Planningannual plans, and public relations.

Office to facilitate the management of ROIS through

The General Planning Office comprises faculty in charge of thecooperation between ROIS headquarters and the research

management of each of the research institutes, including

institutes.

Organization for Scientific Resources
Operations and Coodination

Arctic Environment
Research Center

Intellectual Property Unit
NOE Forwarding Unit

Structural Biology Center
Center for Information Biology andDNA Data Bank of Japan

Center for Frontier ResearchExperimental Farm

Information andPublic Relations Unit

Organization for Value Creationin Informatics

Adjunct FacultyIntellectual Property Unit
Research Project

Collaborative Research UnitIntellectual Property OfficePlanning and Promotion
Strategy Department

International Affairs Section

Director

Archive

Global Liaison OfficeIntellectual Property Office

NIPR/ISM Joint Administration OfficeCyber Science Infrastructure
Development Department

Infrastructure Planning Division
Academic Network Division

General Service Center

President● Development of mid-term goals,

mid-term plans, and annual plans

Research Planning● ROIS Symposium

Review of mid-term goals, mid-term plans,
and other systems relating to research activities,
public relations and others

The General Planning OfficePlanning of “Information and Systems 2009”● Formulation of researcher exchange

promotion programs● Introduction of faculty appraisal systems

Evaluation● Preparation of ROIS operating statement

Response to corporate evaluation,
self-inspection, and evaluation● Preparation of ROIS Directory and others

Technical Section

Intellectual Property Center
The Intellectual Property Center was established simultaneouslywith the incorporation of the Research Organization ofInformation and Systems (ROIS) as part of headquartersorganization of ROIS to deal with ROIS’s business relating to“Cooperation among Businesses, Universities and Government”
and intellectual property. Later in fiscal 2008, each of the research
institutes established an Intellectual Property Unit to prepare forthe development of the system currently in place, which enabledmutual cooperation and a flexible response to intellectual
activities that required immediacy.
The Intellectual Property Unit has the mission of developing
and executing measures to make the best use of the research

results achieved by the research institutes in areas such as“Cooperation among Businesses, Universities and Government,”
intellectual property management, and copyright analysis. A
significant number of works, including software and content, areheld by ROIS. To resolve issues such as ownership of the rightsthat arise when these works are provided to society, actual
project support cases are used for case-based modeling. The
Intellectual Property Center is pursuing mutual cooperation andinformation exchange with the four Inter-University ResearchInstitute Corporations as well as the Graduate University for
Advanced Studies (“SOKENDAI”).

Department Administration

President

Research Promotion Section
Management Project Section

ROISIntellectual Property Center
Intellectual Property
Committee

Scholarly and Academic
Information Division
General Affairs Department

Planning Section (ISM)

Year 2009 Commitment and Results of
the General Planning Office

Center for Genetic Resource Information

Radioisotope Center

Center for Antarctic Programs

Planning Section (NIPR)

the organization.

to deal with cross-functional activities of ROIS such as the

Genetic Strains Research Center

SINET Promotion Office

Organization for Science Network
Operations and Coordination

Library

Department of Integrated Genetics

Research and Development Center
for Scientific Information Resources

Evaluation Unit

Division for Polar Researchadministrative staff work together to ensure efficient operation of(ROIS) as part of the headquarters organization of ROIS, aiming

ROIS

Database Center for Life Science

Director-General

headquarters and each of the research institutes. Faculty andwith the Research Organization of Information and Systems

vice-directors, as well as administrative managers of ROIS

Tachikawa Campus
National Institute ofPolar Research

The General Planning Office was established simultaneously

Research Promotion Division
Budget and Accounts Division
Information Technology Center
library
Organization for Promoting Cooperation
with Society and Industry

National Institute ofPolar Research

National Instituteof Informatics

The Institute of
Statistical Mathematics

National Instituteof Genetics

Intellectual Property UnitIntellectual Property UnitIntellectual Property UnitIntellectual Property UnitIntellectual Property
Committee

Intellectual Property
Committee

Intellectual Property
Committee

Intellectual Property
Committee

Transdisciplinary Research Integration Center

22 Research Organization of Information and Systems

23

Board of Directors/Management Council/
Education and Research Council/Membership

Data

Accounting/External Funds/Number of Institutions and Joint Researchers Enrolled
in Inter-University Joint Research Projects/Special Inter-University Researchers

Accounting, FY2009

Board of Directors
President

Yoshiki Hotta

President, Research Organization of Information and Systems

Executive Director

Masao Sakauchi

Director-General, National Institute of Informatics

Executive Director

Genshiro Kitagawa

Director-General, The Institute of Statistical Mathematics

Executive Director

Yuji Kohara

Director-General, National Institute of Genetics

External Executive Director

Mitiko Go

External Executive Director, Research Organization of Information and Systems

External Auditor

Jun´ichi Tsujii

Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Tokyo

External Auditor

Hitoshi Terao

Certified Public Accountant

Management Council

Education and Research Council

Senior Advisor, NTTData Corporation

Setsuo Arikawa

President, Kyushu University

Shunichi Amari

Director, Brain Science Institute, Institute of Physicaland Chemical Research (RIKEN)

Tomoko Ogawa

Vice President, Iwate College of Nursing

Toru Araki

Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University

Isao Koike

Inspector General, University of Ryukyus

Shirou Ishii

Professor Emeritus,The University of Tokyo

Takamitsu Sawa

President, Shiga University

Hitoshi Osaki

Director, NIFH (National Institutes for the Humanities)

Mutsuo Sekiguchi

Visiting Professor, Fukuoka Dental College

Hajime Sasaki

Director, NEC Corporation

Hidehiko Tanaka

The Head of the Department, Graduate School ofInformation Security, Institute of Information Security

Keiko Nakamura

Director General, JT Biohistory Research Hall

Chihiro Hirotsu

Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo

Atsuhiro Nishida

Professor Emeritus,Institute of Space andAstronautical Science
Principal Fellow, Center for Research and Development
Strategy, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)Syouichirou Fukao

Professor, Fukui University of Technology

Yoshiki Hotta

President, ROIS

Shinji Mae

Professor Emeritus, Hokkaido University

Masao Sakauchi

Executive Director, ROIS

Kenichi Matsubara

President, DNA Chip Research Inc.

Genshiro Kitagawa

Executive Director, ROIS

Yoshiki Hotta

President, ROIS

Yuji Kohara

Executive Director, ROIS

Sundry Income

Reversal of
appropriated surplus

Facilities construction/maintenance
Grants-in-aid for
Scientific ResearchDonations
Subsidies
Commissioned projects
Commissioned research

Operating expenses

Educational expenses forgraduate studies

29,594,424

TOTAL

Toshiharu Aoki

Kunihiko Niwa

Revenue(figures in thousands of yen)
Operating expenses
20,354,859
Educational expenses for graduate studies
236,294
Commissioned research
2,120,511
Commissioned projects
464,962
Subsidies
2,001,799
Donations
83,323Grants-in-aid for Scientific Research
1,780,288
Facilities construction/maintenance
1,152,068
Sundry Income
425,643
Reversal of appropriated surplus
974,677

Expenses(figures in thousands of yen)
Grants-in-aid for
Scientific Research

17,983,111
2,870,098
236,294
2,101,265
464,013
1,221,025
70,957
1,780,288
1,152,068
27,879,119

Research and education expenses
General administrative expenses
Educational expenses for graduate studies
Commissioned researchCommissioned projects
Subsidies
Donations
Grants-in-aid for Scientific Research
Facilities construction/maintenance
TOTAL

Facilities construction/maintenanceDonations
Subsidies
Educational expenses forgraduate studies
Commissioned projects
Commissioned research

Research andeducation expenses

General administrative
expenses

External Funds, FY2009(figures in thousands of yen)

Masao Sakauchi

Executive Director, ROIS

Mitiko Go

External Executive Director, ROIS

Genshiro Kitagawa

Executive Director, ROIS

Yoshiyuki Fujii

Director-General, NIPR

National Institute of Polar Research

44

203,912

1

2,829

0

0

2

8,375

12

6,488

National Institute of Informatics

101

391,521

16

10,824

16

224,63620

284,25021

34,214The Institute of Statistical Mathematics

54

104,42700

1

10,00015

170,14753,900

National Institute of Genetics

113

1,068,869

1

270

7

36,13213

1,384,629

20

36,689TRIC

910,550

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

DBCLS

1

1,008

1

432,038

0

0

1

2,340

1

1,200

Commissioned Projects

Project

Project※including other research subsidies

Yuji Kohara

Executive Director, ROIS

Natsuo Sato

Vice Director-General, NIPR

Mitiko Go

External Executive Director, ROIS

Jun Adachi

Director Cyber Science
Infrastructure Development Department, NII

Yoshiyuki Fujii

Director-General, NIPR

Hiroe Tsubaki

Vice Director General, ISM

Kazuyuki Shiraishi

Vice Director-General, NIPR

Toshihiko Shiroishi

Director, Genetic Strains Research Center, NIG

Yoh'ichi Tokura

Vice Director-General, NII

Takashi Nakamura

Vice Director-General, ISM

Takashi Gojobori

Vice Director-General, NIG

Shigeru Kure

Executive Secretary, ROIS

As of May 1, 2010

Institute

As of May 1, 2010
Director
GeneralResearch/
Education staff

Technical
staff

Administration Office

Administrative
Staff

TOTAL

19

19

National Institute of Polar Research

1

51

20

24

96

National Institute of Informatics

(1)

71

10

41

122 (1)The Institute of Statistical Mathematics

(1)

48

10

13

71 (1)

National Institute of Genetics

(1)

63

14

19

96 (1)

1

Database Center for Life Science
1(3)AmountAmount

Joint Research(private-sector)
Project

Commissioned Research

AmountProject

AmountDonations
Project

AmountNumber of Institutions and Joint Researchers Enrolled in Inter-University Joint Research Projects, FY2009

Membership

TOTAL

Grants-in-aid for
Scientific Research

234

54

116

Breakdown of organization to which joint researchers belong

No. ofinstitutions

Total

National Institute of Polar Research

190

562

310

13

National Institute of Informatics

225

702

410

21

The Institute of Statistical Mathematics

262

736

354

National Institute of Genetics

90

445

271

TOTAL

767

2445

1345

National
Inter-University
PublicUniversities Research Institutes Universities

PrivateUniversities

PublicInstitutions

PrivateInstitutions

Foreign
Organizations

Others

17

82

96

24

11

9

23

106

41

50

49

2

10

28

174

117

38

15

0

6

26

73

42

22

5

0

50

94

435

296

134

80

11

Special Inter-University Researchers, FY2009

1

National Institute ofPolar Research

National Instituteof Informatics

The Institute of
Statistical Mathematics

National Instituteof Genetics

TOTAL

405 (3)

15

16

2

1

34

※( )Includes Board of Directors

24 Research Organization of Information and Systems

25

Location.
chome St
Roppongi-ic

Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line

Hotel Okura

Takamatsu St.

Local Autonomy College

TEPCO

Tachikawa Police Station

Showa Kinen Park

JR OmTachikawa-kita St.

e LineTokyo
Tower
Akabanebashi St.

Research Organization ofInformation and Systems

Kamiyacho Sta.

Azabu-juban St.

The National Institutefor Japanese Language

Tachikawa
Tachikawa-minami St.

JR Nanbu Line

Kamiyacho Central Place 2F

i

or

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ob

to

u
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ot

Tokyo Universityof the Arts

e
Lin
ku
bo

Jimbocho St.
Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line

Ueno-onshi Park

tr
Me

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ine
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od

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oC

Hongo DoriThe Univ. of Tokyo
Hongo Section

Shinobazu
Pond

Ueno St.

et

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exit A8

za

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ffic
e

iL

Kyoritu
Women’s
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Bus stop(Idenkenmae)〒
Soba Restanrant
Bus stop B(Idenken-sakashita)

Mishimatamachi St.

Nishikida
Primary
School

e

uh

lic
e

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at

ak

St

to Numazu

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Daiba Gawa River

36

te 1

Tokyo
Regional
Taxation
Bureaute 1

Mishimafutsukamachi St.

National
Institute of
Genetics

Rou

The Imperial PalaceeMishima
City office

Kanda
Police Station

Japan
Meteorological
Agencyto Hakone

Line

Lin

MishimashrineMishimahirokoji St.

senaPalaceside Building
Takebashi S
t.

ido

kan

im

exit 1b

Tok
a

Shin

ish

se
Mu
nal
atio n Art
Nr
The ode
of M

JR

Dori

e

iD

ido

Hongo

Yushima Tenjin

Tokyo Metro
Ginza Lineum

Okachimachi

Toei Oedo Line

Uenohirokouji St.

Hongo Sanc
home St.
Tokyo Metro Marunou
chi LinYushima St.

Hongo Sanchome St.

un

Josui
KaikanENTRANCE
Uenookachimachi St.

Kanda
Tax OfficeineNational Instituteof Informatics

Kasuga Dori

uk

JR T
oka

MishimaM

The University ofTokyo HospitaloM

NipponBudokanShueisha
Shogakukan

iyo

Ya
s

Ochanomizu St.

Toei Shinjuku Line

Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line

Hakusan-dori Ave.

Toei Mita Linean

http://www.nig.ac.jp/index-e.html

Kudanshita St.

DBCLS

kyo

oN

http://www.nii.ac.jp/en/

Faculty of Engineering Bldg.
12, The University of Tokyo
To

etr

Yata 1111, Mishima, Shizuoka
411-8540, Japan
TEL : +81-(0)55-981-6707

Jimbocho St.

Asano
Section

St.

ky
oM

2-1-2 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 101-8430, Japan
TEL : +81-3-4212-2000(Exchange)ta St.

zu
Ne

t.

mae S

To

National Instituteof Genetics

Kudanshi1

Todai-

Yayoi Section

National Instituteof Informatics

ri

it
ex

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Uguisudaniin
Sh

NIPPON MEDICALSCHOOLHOSPITAL
Gaien Higashi
Dori

Faculty of Engineering Bldg. 12,
The University of Tokyo 2-11-16,
Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
113-0032, Japan
TEL : +81-(0)3-5841-6754

26 Research Organization of Information and Systems

Tokyo District Count
Tachikawa branch

JR Chuo Line
Kamiyacho
MT Bldg.

exit 4b

Toei Oedo LineBus stop(Saibansho-mae)

Disaster Medical Center

10-3, Midori-cho, Tachikawa,Tokyo 190-8562, Japan
TEL : +81-(0)50-5533-8500
http://www.ism.ac.jp/index_e.html

undergroundwalkway

IikuraAzabu-juban St.

Bus stop (Tachikawa Academic Plaza)

Toranomon

45 Bldg.
Sumitomo
Shin-Toranomon Bldg.

Gaien Higashi Dori

Tachihi St.

Tama Monorail

Tokyo
Tower

〒AzabuThe Institute of
Statistical Mathematics

Tokyo Tama Intercity
Monorail Co.,Ltd

Tachikawa
City Hall

Bus stop(City Hall)

10-3, Midori-cho, Tachikawa,Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
TEL : +81-42-512-0608
http://www.nipr.ac.jp/english/

Onarimon St.

Azabu
Elementary
School

JR Tokaido Line

Embassyof Sweden

TV Tokyo

Daiichikeihin Expressway

Atago-Jinja

Embassyof Spain

SuntoryHall

Toei Mita Line

Hotel Okura
ANAIntercontinental
Hotel

Hibiya DoriEmbassy of theUnited States

Tachikawa
Fire Station

Japan Ground Self defense Force

ShimbashiTokyo Metro Ginza Line

Database Center forLife Science

http://dbcls.rois.ac.jp/en/

Shimbashi St.

Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line

Kamiyacho Central Place 2F,
4-3-13 Toranomon, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
TEL : +81-(0)3-6402-6228
http://www.rois.ac.jp/tric/index.html

Toranomon
Toranomon St.

Sakurada DoriTransdisciplinary ResearchIntegration Center

National Institute ofPolar Research

Sotobori Dori

Kamiyacho St.

● 5 minutes on foot to Roppongi-icchome Station(Nanboku-Line)

Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports,
Science & Technology

Tameike-Sanno St.

【Closest station】● It is the second going up left building as for the escalator thatTokyo metro Hibiya Line Kamiyacho Station exit 4b(Hotel
Okura and TV Tokyo district) Toranomon district exit examination of tickets, goes out, and exists on the left side.

Ropp

no St.

Kamiyacho Central Place 2F,
4-3-13 Toranomon, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
TEL : +81-(0)3-6402-6200
FAX : +81-(0)3-3431-3070
http://www.rois.ac.jp/english/index.html

Tameike-San

Research Organization ofInformation and Systems

ongi D
ori

Inter-University Research Institute Corporation

27