KOBE UNIVERSITY 2019-2020

1-1 Rokkodai-cho,Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
Phone: +81(0)78-803-5928
http://www.ans.kobe-u.ac.jp/english/

November 2019For Sustainable Agriculture and Human Health− From Farm to Table –Message from the Dean
History

Welcome to the Kobe Global Graduate Programfor Agricultural Science
Our mission is to investigate and elucidate various issues related to food, environment, and healthy life through world-class education and research. We carry out
this mission with the motto: “For Sustainable Agriculture and Human Health”.
It is vitally important for humans to produce quality food in order to maintain life.
Agricultural science is a comprehensive discipline covering diverse fields based onnatural science, bioscience, chemistry, engineering and social science. Food is an
essential energy source for human activities, and agricultural science covers fields
from the mass production of food to the environment that supports these endeavors.
One of our initiatives is our new doctoral program “Kobe Global Graduate Programfor Agricultural Science” starting in October 2019. We have already had a global
master’s program since 2017. Students do not need to study Japanese to obtain adoctoral or a master’s degree as all lectures and research guidance are provided in
English. Students can acquire advanced knowledge, skills and research abilities intheir respective fields through these programs, in addition to gaining international
perspectives and deep insights into agricultural science.
The Graduate School consists of three departments and six divisions. The Department of Agricultural Engineering and Socio-Economics aims to develop an integrated system for the production, distribution and consumption of foods throughcollaboration between agricultural engineering and socio-economics. The Department of Bioresource Science aims to develop, utilize and improve animal and plantresources to ensure the production of high quality foods and other biological materials for human use. The Department of Agrobioscience aims to understand theunderlying mechanisms of complex agro-life systems to enhance food safety and todevelop high quality agricultural products through the combined disciplines of
biology and chemistry. We promote deeper understanding of each specialized field
and also carry out interdisciplinary, integrated research that crosses the bounds ofacademic disciplines in cooperation with the Food Resource Education andResearch Center, Center for Regional Partnership, Research Center for Food andSecurity and other research institutes. We cultivate individuals who can set ambitious goals and stick to them, while recognizing the value of both autonomy andcooperation. Our graduates can also demonstrate nuanced and balanced points ofview.

Contents

April 1949

Hyogo Prefectural School of Agriculture wasinaugurated in Sasayama.

April 1952

Hyogo Prefectural School of Agriculture wasrenamed Hyogo University of Agriculture.

April 1966

Hyogo University of Agriculture wastransferred to Kobe University and became theFaculty of Agriculture.

June 1967

The Experimental Farm was established.

October 1967 The Faculty of Agriculture moved from
Sasayama to Rokkodai Campus.

Toshinori KAWABATA
Dean, Graduate Schoolof Agricultural Science

March 1969

Hyogo University of Agriculture was disestablished.

April 1972

The Graduate School of Agriculture (Master's
degree program) was established.

April 1981

The Graduate School of Science and Technology (Doctoral degree program) was established.

April 1993

The Faculty of Agriculture was reorganized
and 5 Departments and 12 divisions were
established.

April 1994

Master courses of the Graduate School of
Agriculture, the Graduate School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Science werereorganized, and the Graduate School of
Science and Technology (Master's degree
program) was established.

April 2003

Experimental Farm was upgraded to Food
Resources, Education and Research Center.

April 2004

Kobe University became a national university
corporation.

April 2007

Graduate School of Agricultural Science wasestablished by reorganizing the Graduate
School of Science and Technology.

April 2008

The Faculty of Agriculture was reorganizedand 3 Departments and 6 Divisions were
established.

Message from the Dean ............................................... 1
History ........................................................................... 2
Graduate school of Agricultural Science .................... 3
Number of Faculty Members and Staff ....................... 5
Number of Students and Academic Agreements ....... 6
International Exchange Program ................................ 7
Departments ................................................................ 8
Agricultural Engineering and Socio-Economics
Agricultural Engineering........................................... 9
Food and Environmental Economics ...................... 10
Bioresource Science
Animal Science ........................................................ 11
Plant Science ........................................................... 13
Agrobioscience
Applied Chemistry in Bioscience ............................ 15
Applied Biology....................................................... 17
Facility ......................................................................... 19
Access .......................................................................... 21

Kobe is a very beautiful city with many tourist attractions. It is adjacent to both theport and the Rokko mountain range. Our city is home to various high-tech industries, research institutes and governmental facilities for agriculture, among others.
We hope you come to Kobe to enroll in our program and enjoy university life.

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Graduate School of Agricultural Science
Training Researchers to Develop Creative Scientific Research and Technologies
Kobe University Graduate School of Agricultural Science consists of the Department of Agricultural Engineering and

Degree Conferred
Program

DegreeCompletion Requirements

Master’s Program (2 years)

Master’s degree in Agriculture

Obtain 30 credits or more in
their major, and to pass themaster’s thesis screening andfinal examination.

Doctoral Program (3 years)

Doctor of Philosophy inAgricultural Science

Socio-Economics, the Department of Bioresource Science, and the Department of Agrobioscience. Focusing on topics
from the farm to the table, we provide a world-class education on subjects related to food, environment, and healthscience. The faculty members are dedicated to promoting and expanding their expertise. Our education fosters aninterdisciplinary and integrative approach, and our curriculum policy allows students to earn credits from other departments of the school. We train students to adopt a multifaceted research approach, encouraging them to exchange
information and examine different viewpoints. We aim to cultivate researchers and educators who will develop

Doctor of Philosophy

creative scientific research and technologies, advanced professionals who will serve in leadership positions, and otherObtain 10 credits or more in
their major, and to pass thedoctoral dissertation screening and final examination.

experts who contribute to local and global communities.

Admission Policy
Master's Program
The Master's Program of the Graduate School of Agricultural Science aims to train individuals to gain a broad range of knowledge intheir respective fields, as well as problem-solving skills and the ability to think creatively with an interdisciplinary perspective. For thisreason, the Graduate School accepts persons with solid fundamental academic ability in the field of agricultural science, persons
excelling in rational thinking, persons with a strong desire to study agricultural science, persons with a passion for science and strong
intellectual curiosity, as well as persons who wish to utilize their knowledge in the science at public institutes and in the industrial
sector.

Prospective Graduate Students (Admission Examination) for
the Kobe Global Graduate Program for Agricultural Science
According to the educational principles presented in the admission policy statement above, the Graduate School of Agricultural
Science explores agricultural topics, particularly those related to food, environment, and health science, and provides education andtraining to promote a sustainable symbiotic society and its underlying foundation of advanced technology and knowledge base. In
order to enter degree programs, prospective students will participate in the evaluation process. They are selected by means of acomprehensive evaluation of application documents and interview through e-mails or skype. For detailed information, please checkthe following website; http://www.ans.kobe-u.ac.jp/english/
We require prospective students to find the academic supervisor prior to applying for the Graduate school.
※Global Graduate Program will be contlucted in English.

Doctoral Program
The Doctoral Program of the Graduate School of Agricultural Science aims to train individuals to gain a high level of expertise andbroad perspectives in their respective fields, as well as outstanding creativity and innovative thinking. For this reason, the School
accepts persons with fundamental academic aptitude in agricultural science or related fields at the master's program level, persons
with critical thinking and presentation skills, persons with intellectual curiosity and passion for agricultural science research, persons
who wish to become researchers or educators and those who are already working in public institutes or in the industrial sector andwishes to advance their careers as professionals with advanced specialized skills.

We provide academic paths appropriate
for students with different levels of skills and abilities:
Graduate School of
Agricultural Science

Graduate School of
Agricultural Science[Master’s Program][Doctoral Program]

Agricultural Engineeringand Socio-Economics

Agricultural Engineeringand Socio-Economics

Agricultural Engineeringand Socio-Economics

Bioresource Science

Bioresource Science

Bioresource Science

Agrobioscience

Agrobioscience

Agrobioscience

Faculty of Agriculture

Students may either move on to doctoral studies or seek nonacademic career paths.

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Number of Faculty Members and Staff

Number of Students(As of July 1, 2019)

Departments

DivisionsFieldsProf.

Associate
Prof.

AssistantProf.

Number ofInternational Students
by Countries of Origin

Number of Graduate and Undergraduate Students(As of May 1, 2019)(As of May 1, 2019)

Environmental Engineering for Water

International
student
60

Geotechnical Engineering for Agriculture
Geo-Environmental Engineering for Agricultural Facilities

AgriculturalEngineering andSocio-Economics

AgriculturalEngineering

Rural Planning
Agri-Food Process Engineering

4

5

4

Biosystem Analysis
Mechanical Engineering of Bioproduction

Graduatestudent
314

Food Economics and Policy Science
Farm and Rural Management

41International
student
1,399
Graduatestudent
4,649

Total
1,062

Information Engineering of Bioproduction
Food andEnvironmental
Economics

Undergraduatestudent
688

Undergraduatestudent
11,577

Total
17,625
Taiwan20International Food Information Science

Bangladesh
3

Faunal Diversity Sciences

Faculty of Agriculture

Reproductive Biology
Developmental Biotechnology
Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Animal Molecular Morphology

8

5

Area

Animal Genetic ResourcesCountry
Bangladesh

Devision of Cell Signaling
Plant Breeding

China

Forest Resources
Horticultural Crop Production and Development

5

9

3

Plant Germplasm Enhancement
Food and Nutritional Chemistry

Area

Natural Products Chemistry
Organic Functional Chemistry

University of Lampung

Philippines

University of the Philippines Los Banos

VietnamHue University of Agriculture and Forestry

8

Country

5
Indonesia

Applied Microbiology

Sri Lanka

Environmental Microbiology

Asia

Biochemistry Frontiers

Thailand

Soil Science
Vietnam

Plant Genetics

9

5

2

Middle East

TurkeyEgyptRegulatory Function in Cell Signaling

AfricaPlant Pathology
Molecular Biology of Insect Functions

Kenya
Sudan

Insect Biodiversity and Ecosystem Science
Total

Staff

5

38

33

19

Bulgaria

EuropeAdministration
27

TurkeyHarran University

AfricaEgypt

Cairo University

North
America

UnitedStates

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Belgium

EuropeGhent University
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Universities and Institutes of
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Germany

University of Hohenheim

Overseas University/InstituteBeijing Forestry University(As of July 1, 2019)
Faculty/Graduate School

The College of Forestry

Northwest A&F University

College of Agronomy, College of Plant Protection

Andalas University

Faculty of Agricultural Technology

Hasanuddin University

Faculty of Animal Science

University of Ruhuna

Faculty of Agriculture

Chiang Mai Univesity

Faculty of Agro-Industry

Suranaree University of Technology

Institute of Agricultural Technology

International University-Vietnam National University Ho
Chi Minh City
Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Crop Evolution
Environmental Material Science

Overseas University/Institute

Nong Lam University

Plant Nutrition

Applied Biology

Country

MiddleEast

Bogor Agricultural University

China

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Chemistry and Utilization of Animal Production Resources

Cell Function and Structure(As of July 1, 2019)
Area

Inter-Faculty/Graduate School Agreements (21 institutions)Biological Chemistry

Agrobioscience

Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Indonesia

Tropical Crop Science

Functional Phytochemistry

Bangladesh Agricultural University

Dalian University of Technology

Asia

Horticultural physiology and biochemistry

Applied Chemistryin Bioscience

Overseas University/Institute

China Agricultural University

Crop Science

Horticultural Breeding and Propagation

Faculty of Agriculture

Inter-University Agreements (15 institutions)

Microbiology and Immunology

Plant Science

Kobe University

Academic Agreements

5

Histophysiology

Bioresource
Science

China
37

Total
60

Animal Breeding and Genetics

Animal Science

Others18

Germany
Netherlands

University of Adiyaman
Al-Azhar University (Assiut Branch)

Faculty of Science

Assiut University

Faculty of Science

Maseno University

Faculty of Science

National Center for Research
Sudan Academy of Science
Trakia University

Faculty of Agriculture

University of Food Technologies
University of Göttingen

Faculty of Biology and Psychology

University of Siegen

School of Science and Technology

University of Groningen

Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute(GBB)

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International Exchange Program"Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science“
SAKURA Exchange Program in Science
Under the Japan–Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science, funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, theGraduate School of Agricultural Sciences provides promising Asian students with learning and research opportunities.
Participants will experience a short-term stay in Japan, where they will interact with Japanese students and experts inscience and technology in order to gain new scientific knowledge.

Past Activities
Timein JapanJune 8-22,
2015

ThailandActivity Report
One graduate student, nine undergraduates, and one faculty
member from Thammasat University, Thailand, were invited. The
invitees participated in a joint research project on advanced foodproduction technologies.

China

Two graduate students, eight undergraduates, and one faculty member from the Inner
Mongolia Agricultural University, China, participated. The invitees attended lectures andvisited facilities related to the program’s objective: “to learn human and animal life
sciences, acquire leading-edge knowledge and techniques to ensure food safety andquality, and develop motivation for advanced research and education.”

Philippines

Ten undergraduates students, and one faculty member from University of the Philippines
Los Baños, Philippines, were invited. The invitees attended lectures and visited facilities
related to the program’s objective: “Introduction to advanced technologies for foodproduction in agriculture and food industries in Japan.”

July 24-August 3,
2016

ThailandTwo graduate students, six undergraduates, and one faculty member from Chiang Mai
University, Thailand, were invited. The invitees attended lectures and visited facilities
related to the program’s objective: “Characterization of thermotolerant soil microorganisms isolated in Thailand field and its enzymes.”

November 27-December 4,
2016

Thailand,Sri Lanka,
Indonesia

Eight graduate students, thirteen undergraduates, and three faculty member fromThammasat University, Thailand, University of Rufuna, Sri Lanka, Bogor Agricultural
University, Indonesia, were invited. The invitees attended lectures and visited facilities
related to the program’s objective: “Advanced technology of biosystems engineering for
promoting sustainable agriculture.”

July 23-August 1,
2017

ThailandTwo graduate students, six undergraduates , and one faculty member from Chiang Mai
University, Thailand, were invited.
The invitees attended lectures and visited facilities related to the program’s objective:”Characterization of thermotolerant soil microorganisms isolated in Thailand field and its
enzymes.”

July 30-August 6,
2017

Thailand,Sri Lanka,
Indonesia

Four graduate students, seventeen undergraduates, and three faculty members fromThammasat University, Thailand, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, Bogor Agricultural
University, Indonesia, were invited. The invitees attended lectures and visited facilities
related to the program’s objective: ”Advanced technology of biosystems engineering for
promoting sustainable agriculture.”

July 23-August 1,
2018

ThailandTwo graduate students, six undergraduates , and one faculty member from Chiang Mai
University, Thailand, were invited.
The invitees attended lectures and visited facilities related to the program’s objective:”Classification and characterization of thermotolerant soil microorganisms isolated in
Thailand.”November 25-December 2,
2018

Thailand,Sri Lanka,
Indonesia

Seven graduate students, fourteen undergraduates, and three faculty members fromThammasat University, Thailand, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, Bogor Agricultural
University, Indonesia, were invited. The invitees attended lectures and visited facilities
related to the program’s objective: ”Advanced technology of biosystems engineering for
promoting sustainable agriculture.”

September 24-October 3,
2015

July 18-27,
2016

7Country/
RegionDepartments

Agricultural Engineering and Socio-Economics
With the advent of a population explosion and increasing global environmental problems there is a growing concern for the world food supply inthe near future. In particular, the considerably low food self-sufficiency
ratio of our country requires the establishment of a stable food supply
system. In the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Socio-Economics educational research is carried out that aims at the systemization of allprocesses from agricultural infrastructure to distribution and consumptionof foods so that producers and consumers alike may coexist in an environmentally sustainable society. The department has two divisions: theDivision of Agricultural Engineering and the Division of Food and Environmental Economics which foster humanresources and provide them with a broad knowledge with regards to food and the environment and skills so that they
can play an active role in the public or private sector.

Bioresource Science
Animals and plants are essential as reproducible resources of food andvarious materials for our life. The Department of Bioresource Science
provides education and research on animals, plants and microorganisms at
the gene, molecule, cell, individual, group, species and ecosystem levels.
The research and education also include the management and efficientutilization of bioresources for sustainable food production and safe foodsupply. Our goal is to develop outstanding bio-specialist with comprehensive knowledge and thinking power who can play an active role in avariety of fields ranging from food production to new biotechnology. To
achieve the goal this department has two divisions, the Division of Animal Science and the Division of Plant Science.

Agrobioscience
The Department of Agrobioscience nurtures human resources that havethe ability to understand and analyze a variety of functions and phenomena of organisms related to food and agriculture from the molecular to theecosystem level from various perspecives, and those who can support
society leveraging applied biology in the 21st century by utilizing,developing, and controlling organisms and their functions such as indeveloping bioindustries related to agricultural crops, food, chemistry,
medicine, etc. and cultivates excellent scientific powers for environmental
conservation. The department has many fields that encompass food,chemistry, biology, etc. and culivates excellent scientific powers of thinking, experimentation, and expression by providing students with a systematic lecture curriculum which takes actual career paths into consideration. To achieve thesegoals, the department has two divisions: the Division of Applied Chemistry in Bioscience and the Division of Applied
Biology.

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Agricultural Engineering and Socio-Economics

AgriculturalEngineering

This Division promotes agricultural engineering research and education
programs relating to use and control of water and land resources; maintenance of agricultural facilities; and development of machinery and equipment for crop cultivation, harvesting, and processing.

Biosystem Analysis
This laboratory aims to promote identification and analysis of
biological information signals, diagnostic techniques for plant andanimal lesions and diseases, and elucidation of the physiological
functions of living organisms. Specifically, its research and educational focus includes spectrometry, optic imaging, and othernon-destructive and non-invasive photosensing measurement
techniques, as well as statistical analysis.

Collection of raw milk
samplesSpectral analysis

Disease diagnosis
using aquaphotomics

Mechanical Engineering of Bioproduction
With a primary interest in outdoor plant farming, this laboratory pursues research and education on crop production, leveraging cutting-edge cultivation methods, knowledge of plant characteristics, and optical techniques.

Environmental Engineering for Water
The research and educational topics include: the basin-widehydrological cycle, evaluation of the aquatic environment fromboth water quantity and quality aspect, model development forwater and material cycle, and its applications for water resource
management.
V-notch weir for observation of river
flow discharge

Auto sampler and turbidity meter forwater quality observation

Students conducting flood simulation experiments using dry sandField experiment for underground
pipeline installation (courtesy of
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries)

Geo-Environmental Engineering for
Agricultural Facilities
This laboratory aims to develop optimal regional agricultural
infrastructure models that incorporate water and land resources
and irrigation facilities. Its research and educational topics
relate to groundwater dynamics; water–soil interactions;
groundwater and soil pollution; and investigation, design, andmaintenance of irrigation installations.

Food andEnvironmental
Economics

Distribution of nitrateconcentration in
spinach leaves

MRI imaging of water Cultivation of Saffron in
distribution in a cucum- a growth chamberber

We conduct social scientific research and teaching on theories and policies forsolving food, farming, and environmental issues; policies for revitalizing ruralcommunities and developing farm management; and statistical procedures
addressing the production, distribution, and consumption of food with an emphasis on the food and agriculture-related industries.

Food Economics and Policy Science

Compressive test of concrete

Groundwater contaminant behavior
in laboratory experiments

Rural Planning
Rural and agricultural communities in Japan and many otherparts of the world are undergoing rapid changes. This laboratory seeks to contribute to sustainable management of natural
resources and community development by leveraging a varietyof analytical approaches such as remote sensing, analytical modeling, environmental and ecological surveys, and interview
investigation.

Information Engineering of Bioproduction
This laboratory focuses on plant production system that links
production in closed-system to post-harvest processing techniques. Its research and educational programs relate to non-destructive spectroscopic measurements and theoretical understanding of crop response during growth and storage, as well as
development of an integrated production system to give
research findings back to points of production.

Geotechnical Engineering for Agriculture
The mission of this laboratory is to create safe and clean ruraland agricultural environments. Its research and educational
topics include: efficient design and construction methodologies
for agricultural irrigation and drainage facilities (e.g., farming
reservoirs, pipelines, and open channels) and mitigation offlooding and drought disasters.

A machine for removing weeds inrice paddies

A spot pesticide applicator

We face a lot of dilemmas concerning food, such as food poverty, food waste and loss, and fluctuations in international pricesof agricultural commodities mainly caused by climate change,
globalism, and geopolitical risks. We conduct researches basedon economic analyses with quantitative tools to clarify how
food, agricultural and environmental policies should be. And
we teach students basic skills to apply economic theory and analytical tools in our field.

Grocery store under globalism

Bazaar in India

Field research in rural areas

Farmer's Market

Threshing work in India

Rice terraces in Indonesia

Farm and Rural Management

A student conducting a dragonfly
field survey in a pond

Students in a hillside land use survey
in Awaji Island, Hyogo

Our program specializes in researching farm and regional
resource management, food system, rural development, and thewellbeing of rural communities based on the theories of business administration and sociology. We place great importanceon research which is responsive to social need and embedded incommunity action.

Agri-Food Process Engineering
International Food Information Science

This laboratory offers research and education programs related
to physicochemical and functional characterization of agricultural resources and food products; theories and technologies forfood processing and bioprocessing; and management of thefood supply chain, from production to consumption to disposal.
Fluoroscopic detection of Kobe beef
tallow

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Methanogenic bacteria in biogas
production

Our research and teachings are based on empirical and theoretical studies on eating behavior of children, adolescents, and theelderly; household food insecurity and malnutrition for thepoor; rural development and poverty eradication; and survey
and statistical methodologies with respect to rural, agricultural,and dietary issues in both developed and developing countries.

10Animal Molecular Morphology

Bioresource Science

Animal Science

The Division of Animal Science is dedicated to promoting the safe, effective,
and sustainable management of animal resources. To fulfill its mission, The
Division conducts research and education on animal biology based on genetic, biochemical, morphological, and immunological approaches, with an emphasis on understanding various biological functions and their regulation at
the molecular, cellular, individual, and population levels.

Some examples of cattle breeds fromaround the world

Control

Dissection ofmouse embryo forgonadal culture

Immunofluorescencestaining of gonadal
tissue harvested
during the developmental stage

Treatment with the study
agent in combination
with physical stress

Diagrams illustratingchemically inducedchanges in murine behavioral patterns

Histophysiology
This laboratory aims to understand the processes underlying
animal cell and tissue formation, as well as their complex biological activities. For this purpose, this laboratory promotes
research on host defense mechanisms against the microbes inthe digestive and respiratory systems. In addition, taking advantage of the research outputs, the laboratory provides education
related to histology and physiology.

Animal Breeding and Genetics
The research and educational focus of this laboratory is on
genetic breeding. By leveraging cutting-edge genomics methodologies, this laboratory searches for and identifies livestock
genes useful for breed improvement. This laboratory also conducts genetic research on the origin and evolution of domesticated animals.

With our vast morphological findings and the latest knowledge ofmolecular biology, our laboratory aims to elucidate the sex determination and differentiation process of the vertebrates. We arealso studying the biological effects and epigenetic alterations byenvironmental chemicals. Methodological approaches focus onmorphology and vary from the molecular to the biological level.

Chromosomal and genetic identification of useful breed traits

Antibody
uptake insmall intestinal villi.

Tr a n s m i s s i o nelectron microscopic image ofsmall intestinal
epithelial cells

Tr a n s m i s s i o nelectron microscopic
image of indigenous bacteria in theintestinal chyme

Follicle-associatedintestinal cryptwith a peculiar
cellular composition

Faunal Diversity Sciences
Microbiology and Immunology

Genuine appreciation like “How interesting intestinal bacteria
are!” is a moving force of our study efforts. Bacteria we study
range from pathogenic ones like E. coli O157 to probiotic bacteria found in fermented food while their host range from koalas
to humans.
From E. coli O157 to bifidobacteria with
their hosts from koalas to humans.

Human Intestinal Microbiota Model

Reproductive Biology
The research and educational interests of this laboratory focus
on improving reproductive techniques for the livestock (e.g.,
cattle and pigs) to achieve higher efficiency. For this purpose,
this laboratory seeks to discover biomolecules engaged in theformation, maturation, fertilization, and freezability of malegametes (sperm). These biomolecules are used to develop novel
molecular profiling protocols for gamete classification.

Even now in 21st century, we-human beings, still fight against
various infectious diseases with great effort. By adopting molecular biology approaches, the research and education of ourlaboratory address issues related to human and animal pathogens, specifically focusing on three key questions: “What are
the current problems related to infectious diseases?” , “Whatcaused these problems?” and “What should we do to overcome
them?”.

Differentiation induction of mouse embryonal carcinoma cells (P19C6 cells, left) to neuron (right)

Electron microscopic
image of Ibaraki virus
particles

Animal Genetic Resources

Microscopic image of stained porcine
testisImmunofluorescence staining ofbovine sperm acrosomal proteins

Research in this laboratory focuses on improving economicallyimportant traits and evaluating and maintaining genetic diversities of livestock by the methods based on population andstatistical genetics. The laboratory also promotes farm-oriented
research, such as studies on feeding and management of Japanese Black ( “Wagyu” ) cattle.

Feeding experiment on cattle

Improved Japanese Black cattle

Cultured human cells

Fission yeast cells

Developmental Biotechnology
Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of mammalian
gametogenesis, fertilization, and embryonic development is key
to effective livestock production and human reproductive medicine. This laboratory conducts research and education related tothe elucidation of reproductive regulatory pathways at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels, as well as the development of
new technologies for in vitro culture and manipulation ofoocytes and embryos.

Cell Signaling

Micromanipulation of a porcine
oocyteImmunofluorescence image ofmurine spermatocytes

This laboratory explores the life phenomena at the molecularand cellular level. Using fission yeast and mammalian cells as
models, the researchers investigate the regulation mechanismsof cell functions in response to extracellular stimuli, such as
physiologically active substances, stresses, and nutritionalchanges through the intracellular signal transduction pathways.

Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Research in this laboratory focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying appetite regulation, adipogenesis, and myogenesis in chickens. The laboratory also has a major researchinterest in the development of functional ingredients toimprove meat and egg production in chickens.
D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e C h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f Development of funcmethod for preventing skeletal muscles in chick- tional eggs
excessive accumulation en thigh meatof body fat in broiler
chickens

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Plant Science

Provides students with research and education programs that aim at improving the productivity and quality of food crops, horticultural crops, industrial
crops, and trees all as resource plants that support our daily life throughstudying their physiology, ecology, and genetic characteristics.

Crop Science
This laboratory aims to improve plant resource productivity,
establish safe and sustainable cultivation methods, and identify
new applications and usages of plant resources. The researchand education specifically relate to physiological mechanisms
underlying stress tolerance and lipid synthesis in food andindustrial crops, weed control, as well as utilization ofplant-derived materials for new purposes, e.g., as sources ofrenewable energy.

0.5mm

Weed Echinochloa spp. overgrown inrice paddy field

Cross-pollination in rice

Laboratory members with rice seedlings

Pitaya fruit (Hylocereus undatus)

DNA sequencing analysis

There are a wide variety of plant species in tropical regions,which have a diversity of ecological environments, ranging fromarid to humid. This laboratory promotes research and education
concerning the adaptive mechanisms of tropical plants at theorganismal and molecular levels, with the goal of ensuring astable supply of valuable tropical plants.

Floating rice plants (right and left)
and Amazonian wild rice plants(center) grown under deep waterconditions

Images illustrating photosynthetic
measurement (right) and gene
expression analysis (left) of rice
plantsWild pear germplasm collection

Laboratory members in Food Resources Education and Research Center

Plant Germplasm Enhancement
This laboratory contributes to sustainable food production.
With the goal of developing efficient breeding programs andnovel breeding materials, this Laboratory provides also researchand education on the collection, identification, preservation,
evaluation, control, and utilization of plant genetic resources.

Forest Resources
Our goal is to provide students with fundamental knowledge
and experience in the forest sciences (tree physiology and functional anatomy, forest ecology and pathology), which are necessary for sustainable management of forests ecosystems. Our
research sites include plantation forests, “Satoyama” (secondary forests used for fuel), primary forests, shrine/temple forests,
and urban green space.

Fresh fruits and vegetables enrich our diet. The goal of this laboratory is to optimize methods for management of cultivation,
postharvest transportation, and storage. By applying biochemical
and molecular biology techniques, we are engaged in analyzing
the physiology of horticultural products in all stages from farm totable.

Tropical Crop Science
Genetically engineered Arabidopsis
thaliana with increased seed oilcontent

Plant Breeding
The research of this laboratory is focused on developing new
cultivars and improving breeding efficiency. Their research
efforts include generation of novel breeding materials by
exploiting genetic resources of local varieties and wild relatives,
identification of agronomically important genes using molecular markers, and elucidation of the mechanisms underlying thephenotypic expression of those genes.

Horticultural physiology and biochemistryOld-growth Sequoia forest (California, USA)

Cross-sectional microscopic image ofa fig stem (Ficus carica)

Field Science for Food Production (Cooperative division)
Horticultural Breeding and Propagation
Horticultural plants propagate either via seeds (sexually) or byvegetative reproduction (asexually). Seed propagation involves
pollination, fertilization, and formation of seeds and fruit,
whereas vegetative propagation proceeds in the absence ofgametes. Seed formation plays a key role in fruit development.
The research and educational activities of this laboratory are
centered on the elucidation and control of these propagation
mechanisms, with the goal of enhancing fruit, seed, and seedling productivity.

How is self-incompatibility
regulated?

How is heterosis mediated?

(This course is only for doctoral program students.)

Field Science for Food Production

Compatible
pollen tube
growthIncompatible
pollen tube
growthSeed parent

F1

Pollen parent

This laboratory promotes research to enhance quality and productivity of crops (e.g., rice, wheat), horticultural products (e.g.,vegetables, flowers, fruits), and livestock animals (e.g., cattle,
chickens) and promote ecologically and human friendly agricultural practices. Their research projects are academically based
and field-oriented.

UV-B lighting system in greenhousestrawberry

Captivate the world’s tongue"kobebeef"Horticultural Crop Production and Development
This laboratory aims to enhance the productivity and utility ofhorticultural products. We improve light use efficiency and theoperability of cultivation facilities with the goal of launchingeffective production systems. This laboratory will develop the
potential of plants by breeding of cultivars with improved stress
tolerance and functionality.

13

Le ttu ce g ro wn
under pulsed
LED light

Dry-fog sprayfertigation forgrowing
strawberries

Flowering regulation of carnation(upper),Breedingof stress-tolerant
Tg lettuce (lower)

Analysis of strawberry allergen andanti-allergic effect(upper),Antherculture of African
violet (lower)

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Agrobioscience

Applied Chemistryin Bioscience

Functional Phytochemistry

Provides students with research and education programs that clarify theliving organisms ingest and produce, the chemical structure and action in
the environment around the organisms, and diverse life systems at themolecular level, and that leverage, synthesize, control and develop them.

Left: Fluorescence charts of qRT-PCR analysis.
Middle: Arabidopsis seedlings of wild type (upper left) and plastidic RNA polymerase-deficient mutants.
Right: Brain of Bombyx mori. Arrow; neural cells to express eclosion hormone.

Food and Nutritional Chemistry
Nutritional and non-nutritional components of food mediate,
either directly or indirectly, the physiological functions of thehuman body via the signal transduction pathways. This laboratory focuses on the elucidation of regulatory mechanisms at themolecular and organismal levels. It also provides research andeducation concerning the development of functional foods.

Isolation, determination, and structural
expansion of strigolactones (joint
project with the Laboratory of Natural
Products Chemistry)

Destruction of root parasitic
weeds by induced suicidal
germination

DGKβ KO mouse, which shows
impairment of memory and its
neurons has less branches, indicating
importance of DGKβ in morphologicalchange of neurons and higher brain
function.

A photograph of myofibrils fromchicken skeletal muscle. Myofibrils
are an organellar developed formuscle contraction and haveprofound effects on meat quality due
to the large mass in muscle fiber.

Chemistry and Utilization ofAnimal Production Resources

Biological Chemistry
Our laboratory investigates the biological and biochemical
activities of animals (eel, silkworm), plants (Arabidopsis, herbs),
and microbes (E. coli, koji) on the basis of gene expression protein structure and function, and their molecular regulatory
systems. Furthermore, our research and education are aimed tocontribute the application of the biological enzymes and chemicals in the agricultural, food, and fine chemical industries.

This laboratory implements research and education aimed at promoting basic understanding and practical applications of plant
functions. The interests of this laboratory include analysis andelucidation of the following topics: chemical structure, biosynthesis, and mechanisms of action of secondary metabolites of plantorigin; interactions between plants and living organisms in their
periphery; and plant responses to environmental stimuli.

Anti-allergic
potential

Esthetic
potential

Anti-tumor
potential

Environmental Microbiology

Detoxification
Immunemodulation

Diseases

lifestyle-related,
immunologic, andother disorders

Students actively engaged in experimentation with laboratory animals
and cell cultures

By investigating the biological functions of proteins and lipids
of animal origin, the researchers of this laboratory seek todevelop new food quality markers, functional foods, and medicinal products. In a separate line of research, they investigate theprocess of meat aging and the mechanisms affecting palatability. Their activities also include the development of methods forevaluating and improving the quality of meat and related products.

Discovery of the functions of foodelements will contribute to disease
prevention

Natural Products ChemistryThis laboratory is devoted to research and education for chemical synthesis of biologically active natural organic compounds
and the identification of structure–activity relationships, leveraging organic synthetic approaches.

For the purpose of utilizing microbial resources, this laboratory
isolated useful natural microorganisms and characterizes their
enzymatic and genetic traits. The research and educational
activities of this laboratory are aimed at applying microbial
enzymes to selective useful compounds and extraction of biologically active substances from biomass residues. This laboratory also focuses on essential understandings of reaction mechanisms and structures of biologically functional proteins by utilizing methodologies of biophysical chemistry.

(Clockwise from upper left) Halotolerant hydrolytic enzymes producing Bacillus sp., Aspergillus repens and A. glaucus for Katsuo bonito fermentation,
eggshell membrane degrading Pseusomonas sp., thermotolerant Streptomyces
spp. isolated from Thai land, photosynthetic Cyanobacterium, thermophilic
purple sulfur photosynthetic bacterium

Biochemistry Frontiers
Parasitic plant Strega hermonthica
at Sudan (center). Germination
stimulant:stigolactone (Upper left).
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometer(Upper right).

Glowing bivalve mollusk Pholas
dactylus (Upper left). its blue bioluminescence(Upper right).
Organic substance for the bioluminescence; dehydrocoelenterazine(Center).

Structure Determination of Organic
Compounds by NMR

Experiments of organic syntheses.
Reaction, extraction, and column chromatography.

The research and education interests of this laboratory relate toovercoming challenges concerning human health, food supply,and environmental conservation. For this purpose, researchers
work to identify useful biological capabilities and functional
biomolecules, and to clarify their mechanisms of action.

Organic Functional Chemistry
The research activities of this laboratory relate to developmentof efficient methods for synthesizing useful organic compounds.
In particular, activities include development of novel, environmentally friendly organic synthetic reactions.

15

16

※

Applied Biology

This division has changed its name from
Agroenvironmental Biology to Applied
Biology since 1 April,2020

This Division fosters scientists who contribute to plant health maintenance and promotion and biosphere conservation. Students learn clinicalplant science and environmental science concerning plant stressors (e.g.,
climate change, soil salinities, low-level nutrients, pollutants, disease,insects) and plant stress responses (e.g., by changes in cell structure, signaltransduction, gene expression).

Plant Genetics
Using crops and their wild relatives, this laboratory engages in
identifying specific genes responsible for natural variations andgenetic differentiation. We also analyze genetic factors involvedin genome-genome interactions based on interspecific hybridization. Special attention is paid to the genetic mechanisms underlying speciation and allopolyploid establishment, as well as application of the research findings for crop breeding.

Environmental Material Science
Using a wide variety of techniques, including genetic engineering, biochemistry, precision measurements, nanotechnology,
plant physiology, environmental plant science, and instrumental
analysis, this laboratory investigates the safety and distributionof substances relevant to agriculture and food, such as pesticides, food constituents, and environmental pollutants.

Spikes of threewild wheat
relatives

A ultra-high-density
genetic linkage map ofcommon wheat

Crop Evolution
Micro-patterned model
biological membrane

Zucchini

Evaluation of human safety ofenvironmental chemicals

Molecular Biology of Insect Functions
This laboratory investigates the following topics with various
species of insects: evolution of morphology and behavior, metamorphosis, diapause, endocrinology, neural transmission, sensory reception, biological clock, and photoperiodism. Molecularunderstanding of physiological characteristics and adaptation
mechanisms of insects contributes to pest control and utilizationof beneficial insects.

Scanning electron
microscopic image ofthe cross-sectionalsurface of the grainof common wheat

Employing multifaceted approaches that combine genetics, ecology, and fieldwork, researchers of this laboratory identify thegenes involved in crop plant domestication and investigate theirroles, with the goal of elucidating the genetics of domesticationand locating genes useful for agricultural applications.
DNA gel electrophoresis

Fieldwork in a crop market in South
India

Plant Nutrition
DNA microarray analysis of silkworm gene
expression.

Photoperiodic response curveof silkworm.

Pupae: silkworm(left) and Chinese
oak silkmoth(right).

Plants are frequently exposed to environmental stressors, in particular, reactive oxygen species resulting from photosynthesis,
which may compromise plant growth and productivity. The
research activities of this laboratory focus on helping plants
acquire nutritional support in order to overcome stress crises,
thereby allowing them to grow throughout their full life cycles.

Sunlight is very dangerous for chilled plants.

Insect Biodiversity and Ecosystem Science
Insects are the most diverse group of organisms on the planet,
and they include pests, their natural enemies, and pollinators ofcrops. We study insect diversity, biology of insect pests and theirnatural enemies, and the ecological role of insects in agricultural and forest ecosystems.

Plant Pathology

Insects are dissected with tweezers
under a stereomicroscope.

A moth larva is attacking by a parasitoid.

Cell Function and StructureThis laboratory studies plant-microbe interactions with a particular interest in microscopic morphological changes and epigenetic modifications of the genomes during their interactions. The
research and educational activities are aimed at elucidation of
the underlying molecular mechanisms and application ofresearch findings for human benefit.

Canidia of the rice
blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae

Rice leaf infectedwith the blast fungus

Field study of white rust
infection of Chinese
cabbage

Soil Science

Elucidation of plant-pathogen interactions by cytological and genomics
approaches

17

How have plant pathogens obtained their ability to parasitize
particular hosts? How have certain crop individuals gained theirdisease resistance? This laboratory seeks to answer these questions at the genetic, chromosomal, and genomic levels with thegoal of developing new cultivars with durable resistance. Fostering professionals capable of plant disease diagnosis is also a
mission of this Laboratory.

To address the problems of climate change and global warming,
we investigate soil carbon dynamics and these processes inpedosphere around the world. Especially, we focus on roles ofthe soil organic matter which supports the plant productivity inforests and agricultural lands. In addition, we promote researches and educations directly linked to food supply and environmental problems.

A vertical soil profile to analyze
relationships between the radioactive cesium and the plant root or
the soil organic matter.

An analysis of various chemicalelements in the pedosphere.

18

Center for Regional Partnership

FACILITY

The Center for Regional Partnership was established to meet regional challenges, promote value creation and act as a hub ofregion. Our missions are to contribute solving regional issues using knowledge of the Graduate School of Agricultural Science,
provide a field for learning to students and citizens based on experiences of local people, and contribute regional self-development
in Japan and world creating new knowledge. The center is tackling the following topics with two field stations in Tamba-Sasayama
and Higashi-Harima.
Cooperative Research: With the participation of members of the local government agencies, regional community groups, non-profit
organizations, and cooperatives, faculty staff members lead research projects for sustainable local development. In addition, thecenter assists the researchers of the Graduate School of Agricultural Science to initiate cooperative research and provide logisticalsupport for their implementation.
Collaborative Practical Activities: The center promotes practical activities for creating and sharing knowledge between region anduniversity. Other activities of the center include: provision of support to student and group activities that implement community
empowerment activities in rural areas, collection and publication of literature and materials relating to regional partnership, andsocial networking and learning opportunities, such as workshops and seminars.
Consultation and Information Dissemination Services: As a point of contact between the local community and Kobe University, thecenter provides consultation services for a diversity of clients. In addition, the center actively provides accessible information by
hosting open workshops on the outcomes of cooperative research and collaborative practical activities, as well as
community-oriented workshops. The center’s website (http://kobe-face.jp/renkei_en/) presents a summary of past cooperative
research, as well as information on past and upcoming collaborative practical activities.
Cooperative Education on Food and Agriculture: The educational program aims to learn regional situation from the standpoint offarm producers and local residents, and foster human resources who can contribute to practical problem-solving in the field of foodand agriculture. The program consists of the following lectures: ‘Introduction to Practical Agronomics’, ‘Practical Agronomics’
supported by farmers in Tamba-Sasayama and ‘Theory on Agricultural Environment in Hyogo Prefecture A and B’ undercooperation with MAFF, JA and Hyogo prefecture.

Food Resources Education and Research Center
The Food Resources Education and Research Center is located in the central area of Banshu Plains in Kasai City. It is approximately 70
km west of Rokko-dai campus where the Graduate School of Agricultural Science is located. The Center holds 40 ha land areas including 28.3 ha of field areas for cultivation (paddy rice fields, orchard, grass and forage field, etc.). There are three agricultural production sections: crop (e.g., rice, soybean, cabbage, onion, potato, and sweet potato), fruits (e.g., grape, pear, and kaki) and livestock(e.g., beef cattle along with forage crops and grasses). The Center engages in educational, research, and local-community activities
based on the real-scale and high-quality agricultural production.
The importance of practical training never decreases because there are misunderstandings between food production and consumption nowadays. Our aim is to provide an opportunity to capture the essence of agriculture and to deepen the thoughts for agriculturalscience by experiencing real scale agriculture. The Center was approved as a Joint Usage/Education Center in Japan by the Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2014. The Center carries out the farming practices for undergraduates of otheruniversities from the Kansai region as well as Kobe University.
To accomplish sustainable agriculture, researches are conducted primarily through genetic approaches such as genetic improvementin plants and prediction of genetic merits in animals. We research on exploration, collection, identification, preservation, evaluation,
control, and utilization of plant genetic resources to find efficient breeding programs and develop new breeding materials forsustainable food strategies. More efficient and sustainable animal breeding systems are researched through the analyses of genetic
evaluation and structure in animal resources. Two research fields “Animal Genetic Resources” and “Plant Germplasm Enhancement”
of the Graduate School of Agricultural Science are stationed in the Center, which provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to earn Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degrees.
Agricultural products as outcomes of education and research activities are sold at market, known as Kobe University's "Beef","Potato", "Onion", "Pear", "Grape", etc. High quality Japanese sake with a brand name of "Kami-no-Manimani" was also producedby our collaboration with sake-brewing company.
For more details about the center, please access our website: http://www.edu.kobe-u.ac.jp/ans-foodres/.

Cooperative research

Collaborative practical activities

Consultation and information
dissemination services

Cooperative education onfood and agriculture

Research Center for Food Safety and Security (RCFSS)
Since its establishment in April 2006 as the first food safety orientated academic institution
in Japan, the RCFSS has been pioneering a comprehensive research area for establishment ofa global standard of scientific theory and technology which contributes to food safety and its
security.
The RCFSS has recently developed Kobe University Human Intestinal Model (KUHIM) system,
which consists of both in vitro cultured (1) immune intestinal model and (2) large intestine
flora model in order to promote research and education to validate the function and safetyof the food using KUHIM as a core technology. In addition we are going to put efforts on
research and education for stable food supply.
The RCFSS is engaged in not only stand-alone research and education programs that employ
its own facilities and equipment but also various joint research and educational activities incooperation with many laboratories within Kobe University and other universities. In
addition, the RCFSS promotes food-safety research and social awareness campaigns in collaboration with local governments, national institutes, non-governmental organizations, foodand drug manufactures and other universities who share the same food safety and security
oriented discipline.

19

Grass cutting for cattle feed

Sweet potato planting

Cattle barn

Greenhouse

Pear picking

Feeding to cattle

Japanese black cattle

Rice transplanting

For more details about the RCFSS, please visit our website: http://www.research.kobe-u.ac.jp/ans-foodss/index.html.

Multi-channel anaerobic fermenter

Real-time PCR system

High performance liquid chromatograph20

Graduate School of Agricultural Science

ACCESSROUTE MAP
Hōjōmachi

Food Resources Education and Research Center

Hokkeguchi

Hojo
Railway

Kobe
Electric
Railway

AoOsaka International Airport

Shinkaichi
Kakogawa

Akashi

Rokko
Sannomiya

JR Kobe Line

Kyoto

Juso

Hankyu Kobe Line

Rokkomichi

Hanshin Main Line

Kawaramachi

Shin-Osaka

Kobe University

Kobe Municipal
Subway

JR Kakogawa Line

Hotarugaike

HankyuTakarazuka Line

JR Shinkansen

Shin-Kobe

Osaka Monorail

Amagasaki

Osaka(Umeda)JR Osaka Loop Line

MikageJR
Osaka Municipal
Tozai
SubwayLine

Port Liner

Kyobashi

Namba

Kobe Airport
Nankai
Airport Line

TennojiKansai International Airport
JR Kansai-airport Line

KOBE

Food Resources Education and Research Center

Sapporo

Kyoto

Tokyo
Fukuoka

Kobe, Japan

Graduate School of Agricultural Sciencein Rokko-dai Campus

NagoyaOsaka

1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501 Japan
Phone: +81(0)78-803-5928

Food Resources Education andResearch Center in Kasai City
70km west of Rokko-dai Campus

1348 Uzurano-cho, Kasai, 675-2103 Japan
Phone: +81(0)790-49-0341

Web siteNaha(Okinawa)

Famous of Kobe

Ijinkan21

Meriken Park

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

http://www.ans.kobe-u.ac.jp/english/
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