Spring 2022

A news magazine presented by Hokkaido University

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

01

R ec ent Ne w s f rom
Hok k a ido Un iver sit yContents

04

Hokkaido University’s Specially Appointed Professor 		

06

Feature: Create

Benjamin List Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry

06

		

10
		

12

Litterae Populi
Litterae Populi is a bi-annual magazine
with the latest news about Hokkaido
University. Its name is Latin for “lettersof the poplar trees.”

Hokkaido University COI Site :innovative Food & Healthcare MASTER
Core Station for the Management ofOpen Facility & Skills (CoSMOS)
Ano Greenhouse

14

Interview with the president

20

Refining: Biochemistry22

Alumni Interview

24

Letters from Ambassadors and Partners

26

140 Years of Challenge

28

Topics30

Campus Landscapes

MAYUMI Akihiko
Chairman of the Board, Hokkaido Electric Power Company

KAMADA Rui
Associate Professor, Faculty of Science

YABUUCHI Naomi
Asano Farm Dairy Farmer

This magazine is an English translation ofLitterae Populi Vol.68, published in March 2022.

Litterae Populi Spring 2022
Published by Public Relations Division
Kita 8, Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0808, JAPAN.
pr@oia.hokudai.ac.jp
https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp
Edited by the Litterae Populi Planning and Editing Team
Cover photo by Akihito Yamamoto (HARE-BARE SHA-SHINN)
Photos by Hiromi Terashima (Kotoha-sha)
Production assisted by Morikatsu Sato (Morikatsu Sato Design Office)Printing by Iword Co., Ltd.
Cover photo taken at School of Engineering

02

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

Photo of near Kita 18

Looking Ahead to
the Future
In December 2021, Benjamin List, a Specially Appointed
Professor of the Institute for Chemical Reaction Design
and Discovery (ICReDD) at Hokkaido University, wasawarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
In 2010, Professor Emeritus Akira Suzuki was awarded
the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and the Graduate Schoolof Chemical Sciences and Engineering, a graduate school
specializing in chemistry, was established. The Institute for
Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery was establishedin 2018 as part of the World Premier International
Research Center Initiative (WPI) by the Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The
field of chemistry is one of Hokkaido University’s corestrengths.
The opening of this issue spotlights Specially
Appointed Professor Benjamin List, while the special
feature introduces three initiatives under the theme of“creation.”

Litterae Populi Spring 202203

Hokkaido University’s Specially
Appointed Professor Benjamin List
Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced on October 6, 2021, that it would
award the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Benjamin List, a director of the Max Planck
Institute for Coal Research in Germany, and Professor David MacMillan of Princeton
University in the United States. The two received this award for their contribution to
the development of asymmetric organocatalysis. Their development of small molecule
catalysts that are simple in structure, easy to handle and more environmentally friendly
than conventional catalysts has advanced the manufacture and development of a wide
range of industrial products, from pharmaceuticals to solar cell components.

04

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

Dr. List at the Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery(ICReDD) in Hokkaido University
In October 2018, the Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (ICReDD)
at Hokkaido University was established as a new center under the World PremierInternational Research Center Initiative (WPI) by the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Dr. List shares the vision of ICReDD,
which aims to develop new chemical reactions efficiently by combining computational,
information, and experimental sciences, and has been involved in research related tothe development of novel reactions using organocatalysis as a Principal Investigator
at ICReDD since its inception. ICReDD’s slogan, “Revolutionize Chemical Reaction
Design and Discovery,” was conceived together with Dr. List. He has also served as aSpecially Appointed Professor at the University since May 2020.
Although the research that led to Dr. List’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry was notconducted at Hokkaido University, ICReDD—together with top-class researchers
from around the world—is conducting world-leading research in the field of chemistry.
● Litterae Populi Vol. 66, Chemical reaction design and discovery (CReDD) changes society
https://www.hokudai.ac.jp/pr/webpamphlet/litterae_vol.66/html5.html#page=5

The research group at ICReDD led by Dr. List

Dr. Benjamin List
Born in Germany in 1968. Received
his Ph.D. (Chemistry) from Goethe
University Frankfurt in 1997.
Current position: Director, Max
Planck Institute for Coal Research/ Professor Emeritus, Universityof Cologne / Specially Appointed
Professor, Institute for Chemical
Reaction Design and Discovery(ICReDD), Hokkaido University.

ICReDD has nearly 20 principal investigators, each forming their own research group.
The group led by Dr. List consists of three researchers and aims to create a sophisticatedplatform that will enable a more efficient search for optimal catalysts and chemical
reactions. Nobuya Tsuji, a Specially Appointed Assistant Professor in the List group, isa researcher who earned his Ph.D. under Dr. List. He communicates with Dr. List inGermany on a daily basis via e-mail and other means, as well as through weekly online
meetings to check on the progress of research. Although Nobel laureates are extremely
busy after the announcement of their awards, Dr. List continues to attend weekly
meetings as usual. Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Tsuji says he is thrilled tosee how Dr. List values his research time at ICReDD.
● Like! HokudaiIn-depth article on the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 (1)Asymmetric Organocatalysis: Discovering the Third Realm of Catalysis
https://costep.open-ed.hokudai.ac.jp/like_hokudai/article/23860

Specially Appointed AssistantProfessor Tsuji of ICReDD. Born
in Kyoto in 1989. As Co-PI of the
List group, he is engaged in daily
research.

In-depth article on the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 (2)The Future of Nobel Prize Research at Hokkaido University
https://costep.open-ed.hokudai.ac.jp/like_hokudai/article/23848

Message from
Dr. List to young researchers
This is a simple message. Follow your enthusiasm and dowhat you really love to do. Don’t anticipate the outcome.
Don’t get attached to the outcome. If you realize that thiswork doesn’t make you happy, maybe, it’s a good idea to try
something else that you really love. I think this will makeyou happier.
● Research Times
Dr. List: Thoughts and Message on Receiving the Nobel
Prize in Chemistry
https://www.hokudai.ac.jp/researchtimes/2021/12/
post-43.html

President Kiyohiro Houkin and others held an online meetingwith Dr. List in December 2021 to congratulate him. (From left:
Vice President Koichiro Ishimori, ICReDD Director Satoshi
Maeda, President Houkin, Executive Director/Vice President
Takao Masuda, and ICReDD Vice Director Hajime Ito).

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

05

A Place for Co-Creation with Full Diversity
Hokkaido University COI Site :innovative Food & Healthcare MASTER
The Innovative Food & Healthcare MASTER
center was launched in FY2013 with the aim ofrealizing a healthy society. Since November 2021,
it has worked with the new Life Design Cocreation Center for the Mind and Body to createa society in which everyone can live happily whilefurther developing its past efforts. A new challenge
has begun, looking ahead 10 to 20 years into the
future.

A society where mothers and children can live in good
health and with peace of mind. The Innovative Food &Healthcare MASTER center develops industry-academiaregion collaborative activities at the Global Research Center
for Food & Medical Innovation in the Hokkaido University
North Campus. Adopted by the Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and theJapan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a Centerof Innovation (COI) in FY2013, it has been establishedwith the University of Tsukuba and Kitasato University
as satellite sites, more than 10 universities and research
institutes, over 30 food- and health-related companies, andlocal governments in Hokkaido and Iwamizawa City.

Smiles for the community“We are striving to create a society where everyone has asmile on their face,” says Visiting Professor Masanori
Yoshino, project leader of the Innovative Food & Healthcare
MASTER center. Its goals are to reduce the number ofchildren born with low birth weight, to make mothers andchildren healthier through food and exercise, to realize
a society that is friendly and enjoyable for mothers andchildren, and to overcome the problem of declining birthrates by reducing the burden of child rearing.

emmy fes.: event 0 in
December 2021 (in a hybrid
format of online and in-person
communication). Professor
Akiko Tamakoshi of Hokkaido
University speaks during atalk session under the themeof Social Needs and R&D. She
serves as the research leader
for the Innovative Food &Healthcare MASTER center.

06

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

create | Hokkaido University COI Site : innovative Food & Healthcare MASTER

Traditionally, hospitals and other medical institutions
have played a central role in managing health information.
If this information can be shared with households andgovernments, and if information on optimal diet andexercise tailored to each individual’s health condition can beprovided, it will help prevent disease and reduce the burdenof medical treatment. Creating a system that supports
local health management leads to business opportunities.
Researchers from diverse fields such as health, medicine,
food, hygiene, information and communication gather here
to implement a system that provides society with a richliving environment.
“We see and notice new phenomena, set challenges, andcreate new sciences. We wanted to attract such researchers.
People change, as do societies and universities. It is humanresource development in a broad sense,” Dr. Yoshino says.
The Innovative Food & Healthcare MASTER center is
expected to play a key role in connecting residents, local
governments, and companies. “Natural science is not very
good at reaching out to people and society. I think many of
our staff members were at a loss at first about how to proceedwith their research, but now they are all working freely andhappily,” he says.

Innovative Food &Healthcare MASTER
Logo mark for the Innovative Food &Healthcare MASTER center.
The Chinese character for “life” (命) is
used to symbolically express the ideaof “healthy living.”

Bring what you can’t do“At university, researchers tend to bring theirexpertise to the table and try to accomplish
something. But in this attempt, residents bringwhat they can’t do and what they are having
trouble doing,” he says. Dr. Yoshino’s aim is
to create a place where people can easily bringanything they like, and to reflect the needsof residents in industry and government. For
example, in Iwamizawa City’s mother-childhealth survey, as many as one-third of themothers before and after delivery volunteered
to help collect data on food intake, theintestinal environment, breast milk, and theneeds of expectant and nursing mothers. They
talked with each other about their problems
and difficulties, sought solutions, and sharedwisdom and ideas at birth preparation
seminars. After birth, the health of the children
is monitored regularly to collect data on theirfood intake and development. The government
uses this information to consider together withcompanies and other organizations what can

Initiative with Iwamizawa City. The photo above showsa four- or five-month checkup in a mother-child healthsurvey. Starting with an understanding of the environment
and lifestyle during pregnancy, the lifestyle and health ofnewborn babies are continuously monitored until they reachschool age. The photo below shows a quick health check.
Measuring devices have been installed at five Tsuruha Drugstores in Iwamizawa City and other parts of Hokkaido,
where local residents can get health checks free of charge.
The data obtained from quick health checks has shown thatage, previous bone fractures, gender, and calcium intake, inthat order, affect the state of bone density.

08

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

Feature: create

be done to improve the health of mothers and children,and the results are utilized by the government for policy
creation and by companies for business. The government’s
involvement has been met with a favorable response, andthis initiative has been well received. Visible results havebeen achieved by encouraging behavioral changes, suchas improving and enhancing dietary habits based on thesurvey results. Although there are difficulties, the enjoyment
outweighs them. This initiative with Iwamizawa City was
highly evaluated and led to receiving the Japan Open
Innovation Prize’s JSPS Chairman’s Award in February
2021 and the Platinum Prize (Minister of Internal Affairs
and Communications Award) in October of the same
year. Based on the know-how gained in Iwamizawa City,
nationwide expansion is also envisioned.

Aiming to realize a society where people canlive happily in their own way
The Innovative Food & Healthcare MASTER center has
made a new start together with the Life Design Center for
the Mind and The Body, which was adopted in October
2021 as part of the Co-Creation Center Support Program(COI-NEXT) by the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology and the Japan Science andTechnology Agency. The kick-off event “emmy fes.: event0” was held in December 2021. “Emmy means smile,” hesays. This event is the result of Dr. Yoshino’s desire to createa place where young people can gather with smiles on theirfaces, meet, talk, empathize, and experience science. The

social backgrounds of the speakers at talk sessions were
diverse. The speakers shared their various thoughts on
topics such as childcare, medical care, industry, researchand development, and youth culture, and talked about how
they would take action. This project focuses on identifying
problems and taking on challenges rather than the scienceof finding the right answer. Creating opportunities for thisis another important activity.
This open-ended initiative aims to help people live
joyfully in society. It is a different approach from medicalcare, which you turn to when your health is failing. Art,
music, entertainment including movies, and gastronomy
make healthy people even more energetic. He hopes todevelop a creative industry in society, which makes people
happy through such enjoyment.
“Our current activities involve the pregnancy andchildbirth phase of life events,” Dr. Yoshino says. “Although
this phase relies heavily on medical expertise in mostsituations, the story of life doesn’t end there. In COI-NEXT,an expansion of our current activities, we’d like to completea full cycle of life by covering children’s infancy, growth
period, and the point where children become adults andgive birth to the next generation. Lifelong ‘empowerment ofmind and body’ is the slogan of this activity.” He strongly
identifies with the line “You change the world when you
change your mind!” sung in the musical “Kinky Boots,” andis looking for people who want to participate in activities
aimed at delving into issues and changing society.
From Hokkaido University to the community and into
the future, a smiling society will spread.

The free magazine live is published by Iwamizawa City and
Hokkaido University’s Innovative Food & Healthcare MASTER
center. Launched with the desire to create the town with the mostsmiles in Japan, the magazine provides a variety of health-related
information primarily aimed at the child-rearing generation.

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

09

Adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology for its FY2020 Project for
Promoting Public Utilization of Advanced Research
Infrastructure (the Core Facility Construction Support
Program), the Hokkaido University Core Facility Initiative
is now under way. Under this initiative, CoSMOS playsa central role in promoting the project. In addition to
overseeing the University’s technological infrastructure andresearch support personnel development system, it supports
sustainable achievements and their application in society.
Professor Hiroshi Amitsuka, director of CoSMOS,
says, “A major development was the establishment of acooperative framework between the Global Facility Centerof the Creative Research Institution and the Office forTechnical Support, both of which already existed within
the University.”
Since the incorporation of the University, the current
Global Facility Center has taken the initiative in promoting
measures for equipment sharing, such as enhancement ofopen facilities and upgrading of contract analysis functions.
At the same time, a university-wide organization and humanresource development system for technical staff has been
established. However, after about 15 years of incorporation,
more substantial collaboration was required.
“The two pillars supporting the foundation of education
and research are facilities and technical support personnel.

Core Station for the Managementof Open Facility & Skills (CoSMOS)

A Driving Force for Sustainable
Achievements
CoSMOS promotes the shared use of
facilities and equipment and integrally
manages the development of researchsupport personnel.
It aims to improve the qualit y ofresearch and education and strengthen
innovation creation.

Professor Hiroshi Amitsuka,
director of CoSMOS (second
from left), Professor Toshifumi
Igarashi, who oversees
human resource development
operations as a vice director(second from right), Specially
Appointed Assistant Professor
Ryuta Sasaki as a project
manager (far left), and SeniorResearch Manager Masaki
Kato as a coordinator.

10

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

Both have developed through the two organizations,
respectively, but each has also faced its own challenges.
With a view to sustainable development, and based on
the philosophy that both should be firmly positioned andmaintained within the University’s management strategy,
CoSMOS was established as the parent
body forcollaboration,” says Professor Amitsuka.
To ensure that the functions of both organizations are
not compromised and that they work well together to create
a synergistic effect, this station has been placed under the
direct control of the Executive Vice President responsible foruniversity management. Each program is steadily promoted
through collaboration with the Research Development
Section—an organization comprised of experts in researchand business management—in innovation-related projects,
and with the support of the administrative organization.

Facility strengthening and human resource
development as the two wheels of a cart
A project to support the upgrading of existing facilities
and equipment that are in high demand in education andresearch is also underway through open invitation at the
University. This project named REBORN* is intended topromote the shared use of existing facilities and equipment
on campus, and to add or update facilities and equipment,
thereby improving the productivity of education andresearch.
“Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, upgrading of
remote and automated devices has been a major challenge,”says Professor Toshifumi Igarashi, a vice director of
CoSMOS.
As a growing number of shared devices can be remotely
controlled, the number of users, both on and off campus, is
expected to increase.
“We use a portion of the fee income to upgrade theskills of our technical support personnel,” Professor
Igarashi says. The University’s technical support personnel
have a wide range of expertise in areas including analytics,
machine engineering, and field techniques. The goal is todevelop such personnel and eventually establish a systemthat will enable them to acquire multiple skills and design
their careers. As part of this effort, cross-departmental
training and management seminars are also conducted to
improve the skills of technical staff.
Plans are also slated to launch a system called Engineers
Guide, which will allow our faculty members to search forengineers with any skill on campus. “Hokkaido University
has a wide range of engineers with a variety of skills. I thinkthat if we can enlist the help of such people, we can makea lot of progress in our research,” says Professor Igarashi.

A room where contract analysis is performed. With many
samples arriving daily from the University’s chemistrylaboratories, it is an ideal place for learning techniques.

Supporting the challenge of Hokkaido
University students
Human resource development is not limited to staff. The
door is open to Hokkaido University students as well.
As part of the project, Hokkaido University Tech
Garage (HUTG), which provides manufacturing supportfor Hokkaido University students, is operated to help
students propose and develop products that do not yet exist
in the world. With the wisdom of the University’s faculty
and staff, and utilizing a variety of technical support
available only at the University, HUTG supports future
entrepreneurs from Hokkaido University.
“It’s like a secret base where funding and space areprovided for Hokkaido University students so that they cantake on the challenge of creating new products they wantto make. In the future, we hope that some students will
use their HUTGexperience to start their own businesses,”says Masaki Kato, a Senior Research Manager in charge ofplanning and supporting Tech Garage.
The HUTG program is offered twice a year, in thespring and summer, providing funding, work space andequipment, and hosting regular meetings to learn fromentrepreneurs and other guests. Being able to network withlike-minded people is also appealing.
“What is particularly important is the formation of
a community base through manufacturing,” says SeniorResearch Manager Kato. The connection between Tech
Garage graduates and Hokkaido University throughmanufacturing allows Hokkaido University students
themselves to build connections with society. To this end,
it is important to continue activities over a long span oftime. The continuous human resource development for the
purpose of instilling a manufacturing culture within the
University will be the driving force that opens the window
to the future for the University.
*REBORN: An acronym for Research Equipment Boosting and Reusing 		Network project

Telekocha, developed by a team (i.e., three fourth-year engineering students) participating in the2021 Summer Hokkaido University Tech Garage, won the “toio SDK for Unity Award” at the
Heroes League 2021 hosted by MA, a general incorporated association. Telekocha is a telepresence system developed based on the concept that you can join together with a circle of friends
even when you are apart. For more information, please check the QR code below.
CoSMOS website (article on winning the award)
URL: https://cosmos.gfc.hokudai.ac.jp/news/1194*Hokkaido University Tech Garage is supported by the Hongo Tech Garage of the University of Tokyoand the Hokkaido University Entrepreneurship Development Fund, which is operated by the Institute for
the Promotion of Business-Regional Collaboration, Hokkaido University.

Litterae Populi Spring 202211

An old greenhouse used as the base for
Ano Greenhouse.

Ano Greenhouse

Art Project Utilizing Unparalleled
Campus Resources
The vast campus, rich in nature.
Research and educational activities in a variety of fields ranging fromhumanities and social sciences to natural sciences.
The art project, Ano Greenhouse (lit. That Greenhouse), connects these
activities and promotes various initiatives to create new value.
There is an old greenhouse on the premises of the nurseryof the Sapporo Experimental Forest along Ishiyama-doriAvenue near Soen Station. In September 2020, a newart project using this greenhouse as a field was launched.
The project was initiated by Hyunjung Park, a Specially
Appointed Lecturer at the Communication in Science &Technology Education & Research Program (CoSTEP),
Center for Open Education, Institute for the Advancementof Higher Education.
Specially Appointed Lecturer Park conducts researchand education on communication in art and science,
and also works extensively as a contemporary art artist.
CoSTEP’s Communicators in Science and Technology
Education Program offers practical classes in which students
consider how to understand and express science andtechnology through art. The art project, Ano Greenhouse,

12

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

was launched after Dr. Park met Tadakazu Hayashi, atechnical specialist at the Field Science Center for Northern
Biosphere, who participated in the program and introduced
the greenhouse to her. It was love at first sight when she
saw the building and its surroundings, including the uniquestructure built in the 1970s, the trees around it, and theoverpass leading there. “I was attracted to the building
itself, with its skylights that could be opened and closed bypulleys with chains, and its R curve, which was fashionable
at the time. I was also very attracted to the idea of planninghow to preserve the former research field in the present,”
Dr. Park says.

Memories of That Bridge
Ano Greenhouse’s goal is the exchange of people’s

The overpass connecting to the Sapporo campus. Nearly 50 years after its
construction, it was removed in October 2021 because it no longer compliedwith current structural standards.

experiences and knowledge beyond the boundaries
between the university and the community, science and art,and other areas through activities such as the creation ofartworks centered on the greenhouse and its surrounding
environment. Various projects are conducted with a focus
on bio-art, using plants and other natural and scientificsubjects.
One of the projects, “Farewell, That Bridge,” is aboutan overpass spanning Ishiyama-dori Avenue. This overpass
was built to connect the campus and the experimental
forest, which were divided by Ishiyama-dori Avenue
when it was constructed to host the 1972 Sapporo WinterOlympics, and was used by those conducting field researchin the forest and residents of the adjacent staff quarters. It
is a concrete bridge where a single car can pass, and where
people and vehicles were seen passing on the busy Ishiyamadori Avenue. Dr. Park says she will never forget the feeling ofcrossing the bridge. The scenery changed as you entered thebridge from behind the School of Agriculture and aroundeach of the several curves. In some spots, you could see carspassing by on Ishiyama-dori Avenue below, and in others,
you passed through dense trees. After the last sharp turnwith various views, you would arrive at the greenhouse. She
was attracted to this unusual space where one could have alittle adventure in a landscape that is known only to a few
people on campus. With the removal of the bridge due toaging, this project is seeking memories of the bridge andpreserving them for posterity.

different perspectives brought about new insights. “I don’t
want this dialogue to be a conclusion, but rather a beginningof something new,” says Dr. Park, who coordinated the
dialogue. She looks forward to the unexpected developmentsthat are sure to arise from such interactions.
The logged wood is also used as a material for woodsmoking. Together with RITARU COFFEE, a cafe in
Sapporo, she developed a smoked coffee called Anotoki (lit.
That Time) using the wood to smoke the beans. “I’d liketo continue to consider not only the effective use of loggedwood but also ways to deal with nature on campus and how
to make the best use of it,” says Dr. Park with enthusiasm.
Although there were some difficulties in the process of
implementing the project at the University, which was
unfamiliar with contemporary art practices, the project
has moved forward with the cooperation of the Field
Science Center for Northern Biosphere, which manages
the greenhouse, and other related departments andorganizations. Dr. Park has come to be known as “Ms. Parkof Ano Greenhouse” among contemporary art professionals
in the Sapporo area.
Ano Greenhouse has installed art at the University andis creating new value for the University’s resources. Further
activities are expected in the future.

Exchange of people, space, and knowledge
centered on art
As many as 320 trees were cut down for construction
and road maintenance associated with the removal of theoverpass. In Ano Greenhouse, various initiatives are being
undertaken to make effective use of the logged timber.
One such initiative is a collaborative project with Tree in
Sapporo, Chair in Hokkaido, an exhibition event of the
Sapporo Association of Woodworkers (SAW), a group of
woodworkers and designers in Hokkaido. Twelve original
chairs were completed using ginkgo wood, which is not
usually used for such purposes. In addition to the creationand exhibition of the chairs, the project also included a
dialogue between the creators and researchers mainly fromthe University. Sharing ideas about wood and chairs fromAbove: Breath of Moss, an exhibition event held in the greenhouse in
December 2021 to consider the place of plants. A collaboration between
ceramic artist Ikuno Abe and Specially Appointed Lecturer Park. The
exhibition features moss from the University’s Tomakomai Experimental
Forest and sound-making pottery in the shape of stones.
Below: Smoked coffee “Anotoki,” available for sale to the public from February
2022 and at the University’s Information Center, “Elm Forest.”

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

13

14

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

Interview with the president

Guest

MAYUMI
AkihikoChairman of the Board, Hokkaido ElectricPower Company

Hokkaido Electric Power Company (HEPCO)
follows the three management philosophy of
Respect for Humanity, Contributions to Local
Communities, and Efficient Management, as
well as the corporate slogan, Light up Your Future. Since its establishment in 1951, the company has inherited the wisdom and ideas of its
predecessors and continues to support life andindustry in Hokkaido as a leader in energy supply, with electricity at its core.
President Kiyohiro Houkin, who is reforming
the University with the aim of making it unparalleled, spoke with Akihiko Mayumi, the chairperson of the board of HEPCO and an alumnusof the University, about his life and corporate
philosophy, as well as the future of Hokkaido.

Confronting Challenges andCreating New Value throughthe All-Hokkaido Approach
Litterae Populi Spring 202215

With the desire to work for Hokkaido
Houkin: First, please tell us about your background andhow you came to enter Hokkaido University.
Mayumi: I was born in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, in 1954,
and lived in Asahikawa City until I graduated fromhigh school. As a child, I was rambunctious andloved playing outside more than studying. I joined
the Boy Scouts, went camping, and enjoyed otheroutdoor activities. In my junior high school days, I
played soft tennis in summer and skied with the ski
club in winter.
		When I took the university entrance exam,
I set my sights on medical school because my
brother had gone to Sapporo Medical University,and I wanted to become a doctor myself and dosomething for Hokkaido. Unfortunately, however,
I was not successful. After that, I decided to stay in
Hokkaido as an engineer and do something, so I
went on to study electrical engineering at the Schoolof Engineering.

recommendations, and only one undergraduate
student could be recommended for admission to
HEPCO, and I ended up being that student. WhenI later asked the professor in charge of employment
why, he told me, “Because you were well-suitedfor HEPCO.” Each company had its own culture,and the professor may have assigned students thatmatched the culture of the company.
Houkin: I strongly sense your desire to contribute to the
local community and see that it remains to thisday. Are there any people in your life who haveinfluenced you?

Houkin: You are the same age as me. What was your family
like?
Mayumi: My father was born in Himeji City, Hyogo
Prefecture, and moved to Asahikawa City relying
on his uncle to run his own lumber business. My
mother was passionate about my education, so fromthe time I was an elementary school student, I took
lessons in calligraphy, piano, abacus, and more in
addition to attending cram school. I was the middle
child of three male siblings. My older brother studied
hard to become a doctor, my younger brother was
spoiled because he was the youngest, and I guess I
wound up somewhere in between the two.
Houkin: Why did you decide to work for Hokkaido
Electric Power Company when you had a variety ofoptions?
Mayumi: Even after entering university, my desire to dowhat I could for Hokkaido did not waver. There aremany companies related to electrical engineering,but they are limited when it comes to working
in Hokkaido, so my first choice was to work for
Hokkaido Electric Power Company. At that time,
there were 63 students in the electrical engineering
department. There was a quota for professor

16

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

I strongly sense your desire tocontribute to the local communityand see that it remains to this day.
– Dr. Houkin

Mayumi: Professor Jun Hasegawa, my mentor when I wasa student. He also supervised my thesis. In addition
to Professor Hasegawa, people from his laboratory
have helped with various studies and evaluations for
HEPCO, and I have maintained a good relationshipwith them even after joining the company.
		
Immediately after I joined the company, I spenta year and a half working in the field constructing
and maintaining power lines. Sometimes I had
to climb a 70-meter steel tower to do the work.
Professor Hasegawa advised me on various problems
at that time as well. Professor Hasegawa is also
currently an outside auditor of HEPCO. I see him
in person every month at a board meeting where heshares various opinions, so I feel like I am attending
one of his lectures once a month.

From engineer to manager
Houkin: What kind of work have you been doing sincethen?
Mayumi: I worked at a construction site doing major powerline work in Sapporo and worked at the Head Officeon the power transmission network. I also went toEngland for six months for overseas training. At thetime, the British power company was state-owned,
but was to be privatized the following year. The
employees seemed to be confused about what would

Even after entering university, mydesire to do what I could for Hokkaido
did not waver.
– Mr. Mayumi
happen when privatization took place, so it was
instructive to hear numerous on-site stories.
		
I then became a recruiter in the personnel
and labor relations department, secretary to thepresident, site manager, and then head of engineeringin charge of the electrical system at the Head Office.
At that time, I spent much of my time negotiatingwith the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
during the phase of introducing a feed-in tariff
system for renewable energy. It was hard work, but
it was also a great experience for me because I wasable to communicate with the national government
in many different ways.
		 During the period when nuclear power
plants were shut down after the Great East Japan
Earthquake, the supply and demand of electricity
was extremely tight, and for several years wewere under considerable strain to ensure a stablesupply during the winter months. Also, when
I was president, a blackout (large-scale power
outage) occurred due to the Hokkaido Eastern
Iburi Earthquake. The blackout was caused by a
combination of various conditions, and I apologize
once again for any inconvenience this may havecaused for Hokkaido residents.
Houkin: The energy industry is the very foundation of ourlives. Japan has stated that it aims to achieve carbon
neutrality by 2050. In recent years, global warming
countermeasures have been looming as a reality,
and the sense of speed is overwhelming. HEPCO
celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2021 and has
formulated a vision for 2030. How do you plan totackle the practices that are unique to Hokkaido?
Mayumi: The HEPCO Group Management Vision 2030
is positioned as a roadmap for moving forward as acomprehensive energy company while responding totrends such as liberalized competition in electricity
and carbon neutrality, and starting a gas business.
		Consideration for the formation of a sustainable
world is both a corporate and human responsibility.
Since Japan is a country that must import various
types of energy from overseas to meet its energy
needs, securing energy is also a major issue in termsof national security. It is important to address issues
such as stable supply and the burden on the public
while gaining public understanding.
		
The Hokkaido Government is also promoting
the Zero Carbon Hokkaido initiative, and we
intend to cooperate as much as we can. Hokkaido isblessed with natural energy sources such as livestock
manure and woody biomass as well as wind andsolar power, so it is expected to form a zero-carbon
system that is unique to Hokkaido. Since CO2
emissions from households in Hokkaido are muchhigher than in other regions due to winter heatinguse, we also recommend that efforts be made to havehouseholds think broadly about what measures they
can take to reduce CO2 emissions at home first.
		
In Japan, which relies on foreign countries forthe majority of its energy, securing and balancing
energy is also a major issue. In addition to nuclear
power, oil, coal, LNG, and renewable energy, it isalso necessary to work on ammonia co-firing to
replace coal and hydrogen-fueled power generation.

Litterae Populi Spring 202217

Toward the future of Hokkaido
Houkin: Since you also have the important responsibilityof chairing the Hokkaido Economic Federation,please tell us about your thoughts on the future of
the Hokkaido economy.
Mayumi: The fundamental problem in Hokkaido is a
declining and aging population. Furthermore, inthe wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial
damage to companies has been very severe. On theother hand, Hokkaido has a lot of potential. As
Japan’s food base and energy base, we need to takefull advantage of these resources to solve various
problems. The Hokkaido Economic Federation
has published its 2050 Hokkaido Vision, setting
milestones for 2030 with six goals and 47 initiatives,and has been going around explaining them invarious areas. In the future, we need to work withlocal governments and companies to build on our
successes.
Houkin: I feel that Hokkaido is strongly dependent on

I am advocating a winning culture
to create an upbeat and positive
atmosphere.
– Dr. Houkin

HOUKIN Kiyohiro
President, Hokkaido University
Born in Hokkaido in 1954. Graduated from Hokkaido
University School of Medicine. Doctor (medicine) (HokkaidoUniversity). Worked for Hokkaido University Hospitaland other facilities since 1979. After working as a visiting
researcher at the University of California, Davis, became
an assistant professor at the Hokkaido University Graduate
School of Medicine in 2000, professor of Sapporo Medical
University School of Medicine in 2001 and professor of the
Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine in 2010.
After becoming the director of Hokkaido University Hospital/vice executive of Hokkaido University in 2013 and the
director of Hokkaido University Hospital/vice president of
Hokkaido University in 2017, assumed the present positionin October 2020.

18

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

the national government. From now on, Hokkaido
needs to make decisions independently andautonomously.
Mayumi: Reflecting on the past, there was a time whenpeople said, “Hokkaido has no ‘head.’” Hokkaido
relied on the national budget for Hokkaido
development, and even when it attracted large
companies, the brainwork such as research anddevelopment was carried out in Honshu, themainland of Japan, and Hokkaido lacked the ability
to create its own industries. As a result, the primaryindustry is the mainstay of the region, with the
manufacturing industry accounting for only about
half the share of the mainland.
		
In the future, rather than leaving it to thecentral government, each region and company mustcome up with their own particular industrial visionand put it into practice. The investment should notjust end with the construction of public buildings.
It should make profits, lead to reinvestment, andcreate jobs. In other words, it will not lead to therevitalization of Hokkaido unless we create a systemthat enables money to circulate inside the region.
Houkin: Universities also need to become more
independent. In this sense, I felt that the visionannounced by the Hokkaido Economic Federation
conveys a very strong message. I hope that the vision
will be widely read by the people of Hokkaido andthose in industry. Finally, could you leave us witha message for the students, faculty and staff of the
University?
Mayumi: It’s an old story, but in 1972 the Wakkanai region
experienced heavy snow damage, and a transmission
tower collapsed due to snow accretion. It was a big
problem at the time, and with the cooperationof the Institute of Low Temperature Science at
Hokkaido University, we developed a ring that wasdifficult for snow to adhere to. This has drasticallyreduced the number of snow damage accidents, andI am truly grateful to the people who worked at theInstitute of Low Temperature Science at that time.
This technology is still being used by electric powercompanies nationwide.

		When I speak to young people, I introduce
an aphorism of Honda founder Soichiro Honda.
“Youth is the courage to face challenges and thewisdom to create new value outside the box.”
Another is the equation of “work performance= approach × ability × passion.” This approach
involves positivity and cheerfulness. This balance isextremely important, and I urge all students to beaware of it. One last thing is “glorious discontent.”
This refers to complaining in a constructive andpositive manner. It is important to say out loud,“This is how I would do it,” and move on.
Houkin: I was once told by a previous professor that
Hokkaido people are very nice, but quiet. I believe
this is also true for Hokkaido University, so I am
advocating a winning culture to create an upbeat
and positive atmosphere.
		We need to turn the winning of major projects
and awards into something that faculty, staff, andstudents feel they deserve because they are part of
Hokkaido University. Thank you very much foryour time today.

The equation of “work performance= approach × ability × passion.”
This approach involves positivity
and cheerfulness.
– Mr. Mayumi

MAYUMI Akihiko
Chairman of the Board, Hokkaido Electric Power Company
Born in Hokkaido in 1954. Graduated from the Departmentof Engineering at Hokkaido University and joined Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc. in 1979. Served as general manager of the Asahikawa Branch Electric Power Department,
manager of the Iwamizawa Branch, director, and generalmanager of the Engineering Department. Appointed executive managing director in 2012 and president in 2014. Assumed his present position in June 2019.

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

19

Refining: Biochemistry

Elucidation of the innate immune system asa basis for the development of novel therapies
Pursuing a love of research to become a researcher

KAMADA Rui
Associate Professor, Faculty of Science

A Doctor of Science, Rui Kamada specializes in biochemistry,
peptide chemistry, bio-related chemistry, cell biology, andfunctional biochemistry. Kamada completed a doctoral programin chemistry at the Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido
University. After working as a research fellow at the Graduate
School of Engineering, Kyoto University and a visiting fellow at
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States, shebecame an assistant professor at the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido
University in 2014. She assumed the current position in 2020
under the Ambitious Tenure Track System, which was establishedby the University to foster future research leaders. Kamada isresearcher of great promise for the future.

20

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

Immunity refers to the mechanism that protects the bodies
of living organisms from pathogens including bacteria andviruses, eliminates cancer cells and dead cells that develop in
the body. There are two types of immunity: innate immunity
and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity, first defense of
immune system, reacts rapidly and nonspecifically upon
encountering a pathogen. On the other hand, adaptive
immune response is slower to develop but is specific andresults in classical immunological memory.
Adaptive immunity stores the genetic information of apathogen that has invaded body tissue once and produced

antibodies in the tissue, thereby preventing recurrenceof the disease when the same pathogen invades the bodyagain. Such a mechanism is called immune memory andhas been considered to exist only in the case of adaptive
immunity. Recently, however, it has been confirmed that
immune memory is retained even in innate immunity.
Dr. Rui Kamada of the Faculty of Science is conducting
research to clarify how the various cells involved in innate
immunity are produced and function.
“When I was a child, my parents would take me to scienceand other museums, so I became interested in science. Evenin high school, I liked science subjects and chose chemistry
and physics. I found chemistry to be particularly interesting,”
Dr. Kamada says. After graduating from Iwamizawa
Higashi High School (Iwamizawa City, Hokkaido), sheentered the Department of Chemistry, School of Science,
Hokkaido University in 2002, where she encounteredbiochemistry, her current field of specialization. “During
the course of my studies in the Department of Chemistry,I also became interested in organic chemistry, and I was a
bit confused about which field to go into, but when being
assigned to a laboratory in my junior year, I decided to go
into biochemistry. I didn’t take biology in high school, but
I wanted to do research on the life sciences from a chemistry
perspective,” she says. As she pursued her undergraduate
and graduate studies, she wondered what she could do tocontinue the research she loves and chose the path of a
researcher. After working at Kyoto University’s Graduate
School of Engineering and at the National Institutes of
Health in the United States, she was appointed in 2014 as
an assistant professor at the Faculty of Science of Hokkaido
University, where she spent her student days. She has been
conducting research on innate immunity in humans andother living organisms ever since.

Unraveling the mechanism of immune cells
Innate immunity is the mechanism by which immune cells
take up and process pathogens to protect body tissue from
pathogens. Immune cells that protect the body include
neutrophils and other granulocytes, macrophages, T cells
and B cells, and other cells with different functions. Outof these, Dr. focuses on neutrophils and has continued
engaging in her research. “One hematopoietic stem celldifferentiates to become immune cells with a variety offunctions. Among them, I have analyzed how neutrophils,
immune cells that have not received much attention, aredifferentiated and regulated. As a result, it has become clearthat various types of neutrophils are produced in the cells,
including cells that not only eliminate pathogens but also
suppress the immune system. However, the mechanism bywhich the neutrophils that suppress the immune system
are produced is not clear. I am identifying the factors andstudying how cells go from a undifferentiated state toneutrophils and how they change into slightly specialized
cells that suppress immunity, focusing on the proteins

Suppression

T cellCancer cell

Neutrophil
Differentiation

Adipocyte

Bone marrow-derived immunosuppressor cell
Focusing on cells responsible for innate immunity, such as
neutrophils, she is conducting research on immune cells
and cancer cells.

Immune cells and cancer cells that Associate Professor
Kamada studies day and night.

that regulate them,” Dr. Kamada says. In the course ofher research on cells involved in innate immunity, she has
also revealed the existence of immune memory in innate
immunity and elucidated that interferon (a type of protein
produced in the body when pathogens invade body tissue)
is responsible for the mechanism behind innate immune
memory.
“Focusing on phosphatases (enzymes) that catalyze
chemical reactions called dephosphorylation amongproteins that play various roles in immune cells, I’d liketo clarify neutrophils, which play an initial role in innate
immunity; bone marrow-derived immunosuppressor cells,
which are barriers to cancer immunotherapy; and thefunctional control of adipocytes, which is deeply associatedwith cancer immunity. I hope this research will lead to thedevelopment of new treatments for immune disorders andnew immunotherapies for cancer,” Dr. Kamada says. She
will continue to take on the challenge of conducting research
to elucidate the innate
immune system.

Engaging in wintersports—to refresh!
“Being from Hokkaido, I like winter sports, so I enjoy skiing in
winter to refresh myself,” Dr. Kamada says. “I probably get moresunburns in winter because I don’t like the heat and don’t go outsidethat much in summer.” In addition to winter sports, she sometimes
enjoys watching movies or baseball games for a change of pace.

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

21

In Search of the Ideal Way of Life
A Fulfilling Life on a Dairy Farm in the Land of the North

A lumniw
Inter vieYABUUCHI Naomi
Asano Farm Dairy Farmer| School of Agriculture – Graduate School of Agriculture Graduate |Naomi Yabuuchi moved to Kushiro City and has been
engaged in dairy farming, growing and selling vegetables, andforming a group called “Becotto” with other female farmersof the same generation to communicate the appeal of farming
through photo exhibitions and social media. She talked about
how she got to where she is today, the life she now lives, andmemories from her school days.

I was interested in plants, so I joined the Laboratoryof Crop Physiology of the Department of Agrobiology andBioresources at the School of Agriculture, and I studied
basic crop research, specifically the suppression of Japaneseradish bolting, a phenomenon in which its stems elongate
and flowers bloom, through my undergraduate and graduate(master’s) school years.

—What motivated you to apply to Hokkaido University?

—What did you focus on in your extracurricular
activities?

When I went to my grandfather’s house, who was a farmer, I
often played in the fields of rice paddies and sorts . There,
I became interested in agriculture and began to think about
going on to the School of Agriculture. I had a good imageof Hokkaido, having visited there on a family trip, and I
thought that Hokkaido University would be the right choice
for studying agriculture.
22

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

I belonged to a club called Agees, where members experiencefarming through helping farmers, and we visited farmers on
weekends and during extended vacations. At that time, I
could sense a distance between agricultural science and actual
agriculture practice. Some farmers accepted me with interest,
wondering what agriculture students at Hokkaido University

were learning.
Since most of the farmers in Hokkaido are full-time
farmers, I was surprised by and interested in the fact thatthey make their living solely by farming in this vast land. I
still keep in touch with some farmers who grow tomatoes andsoybeans for miso.
Now that I am hosting students as a farmer, I have started
to think about what I can do for students and what I can tellthem. It’s interesting how my perspective has changed.

Towels designed by Becotto.
They are also sold at roadsidestations in Kushiro City.

—What prompted your move to Kushiro?
After completing graduate school, I worked for an agricultural
material sales company in Mie Prefecture, and while working
there in sales, I began to think that I wanted to work inagriculture myself. At that time, my senior at Agees andcurrent partner asked me if I’d like to work with him on adairy farm. I was also missing Hokkaido.
—How is your work going now?
Our ranch is trying to streamline its management and may—Tell us about Becotto.
There were about five women of the same age in the youth clubof the Akan Agricultural Cooperative, and we started talking
about having a women’s party, which got the ball rolling. It’s
hard to make friends when you marry into a farming family.
We talk about work, share our problems, and hold study
sessions on cattle feeding. Empathy is important for women.
When deciding on a name for the group, we all tossed aroundideas and settled on Becotto.
Partly because of my love for photography,
I started to show how the members are wearing
colorful T-shirts and having fun together at
photo exhibitions and on social media sites. We
are working with the idea that if we enjoy dairy
farming ourselves and take pictures of us doing
so to show others, more people will become
interested in dairy farming.
—Do you feel that your experience at
Hokkaido University has been useful?

have shorter working hours than other ranches. I usually workfrom about 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to
6:30 p.m. I think I only work about five hours if there are nodeliveries or problems. During the day, I work in the fields
in summer and I do whatever I like in winter. I also likegrowing vegetables, so I don’t mind the work involved. We
grow a variety of vegetables, mainly cherry tomatoes, as wellas cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, corn, pumpkins, spinach,and radishes, although the growing season is short.
On Sundays, we directly sell the vegetables we grow at a
nearby onsen facility. Direct sales are a great experience where
I get paid for my crops.
—What are the interesting and difficult aspects of yourcurrent job?
I enjoy everything about my life as a farmer. I produce food, I
have milk and vegetables, and I can fish. I also have a hunting
license, so I can hunt deer. I can raise goats. I can pick walnuts
and Siberian onion. I have always longed to be self-sufficient,and I am now leading a life that is close to it. It’s fun to live amore “analog” life.
I don’t feel inconvenienced. As long as an optical fiberconnection for the Internet is in place, I can live a comfortable
life. Speaking of hardships, it is difficult when cows give birthin succession. Sometimes we have to take care of sick calves orcalves that can’t stand up. When a cow escaped from the barn,
we had a tough time bringing it back.

In the end, it’s all about personal connections. I
really like Hokkaido University students because
they are rather relaxed but also very capable. It’s a great asset.
Also, if I have a problem out in the fields, I can study
and solve it. I think my problem-solving abilities were
cultivated through the process of writing and presenting myundergraduate and master’s theses.
—Finally, could you please offer a few encouraging
words to Hokkaido University
students.
I hope students will value
people, listen to others, andsimply expand and practice what
they are interested in. Learning
is deepened not only by input
but also by output.

PROFILE
Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1987, Naomi Yabuuchi graduated from the Schoolof Agriculture at Hokkaido University in 2011. She completed the master’s
program at the University’s Graduate School of Agriculture in 2013, and joinedan agricultural material sales company in Mie Prefecture. Sheoved to Kushiroin Hokkaido in 2015 and started working as a dairy farmer at Asano Farm.
She set up Becotto, a group of female dairy farmers in the Akan and Kushiro
areas, to promote the appeal of dairy farming and agriculture on social media
and other media.

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

23

From

Vietnam/Malaysia

A bridge between Hokkaido University and the world

This issue features contributions from Dr. Dzung Viet Le, who is active as a Hokkaido University ambassador
in Vietnam, and Dr. Charles S. Vairappan, who is active as a Hokkaido University ambassador in Malaysia.

1

2

Dr. Dzung Viet Le
Vice Rector for International Research Affairs and Quality Management, Can Tho University

W

hen I received an email
from So Kawanobe, Director of Institute for International
Collaboration of Hokkaido University informing that I had been
nominated as an HU Ambassador,
at first I was surprised and was alittle nervous. It is perhaps due topeople’s strong impression on theword “Ambassador”, because of
the great honor and responsibility
that many are looking forward to.
I was very lucky to have studied at
Hokkaido University and to have
lived in the cozy and friendly environment of Sapporo City. Even
before having become an HU Ambassador I always did everything I
could for the good name of Hokkaido University and for the cooperation with Can Tho University (CTU), and Vietnam as wellto which I have been attached all
my life.
The years at Hokkaido University have left me with many goodand warm memories. The professors were always interested inhelping me to study and researchin the best way. Others in the
Faculty of Agriculture, International Student Center, and friends
in Sapporo were always keeping
warm by saying, "Sapporo samuikedo demo minna kokoro atatakai
desu!!" (Sapporo might be cold,
but everyone has warm hearts!!)
Agriculture is a well-known

and long-standing field of Hokkaido University. I was fortunate
to study here not only for specialized knowledge on rice genetics
but also to learn how to live andwork. Thanks to that, my personality has been formed as it istoday.
Since completing my studies
and returning to Vietnam, I always think about Hokkaido University, Sapporo City, Hokkaido,
and Japan. Whenever I read an article or watch a TV program about
Japan, my soul seems to settle
down. From then on, I tell myselfthat I would do my best to bring
the two countries together for
deeper understanding. Besides mymain job at CTU, I also have other responsibilities as the Presidentof the Vietnam - Japan Friendship
Association of Can Tho City andVice President of the Vietnam Japan Alumni Association (VAJA)
over the past 15 years.
Since assuming the position of
CTU’s Vice President in charge ofthe international cooperation, myconnection role is even stronger.
The number of delegations fromJapan to CTU increased markedly
hundreds of visitors every year. In
response, I also send many delegations to Hokkaido University andJapan every year aiming to findout a chance for further mutual
collaborations.

In 1993 I was the only Vietnamese international student
studying at Hokkaido University, but when my whole family returned to visit the University in
2018, I was very pleased to hearthat the number of Vietnamesestudents studying at Hokkaido
University was quickly increasing. CTU alone also has a marked
increase in the number of students studying at Hokkaido University in recent years.
The coronavirus pandemic is
disturbing the whole world. Likeother parts of the world, CTU
has moved its teaching, meeting,etc. activities to online platforms.
It was also quite difficult at first
because of the sudden change ofteaching and working ways. Online has made it possible for people who are geographically distant to become side-by-side on ascreen. In fact, within the framework of the JICA-CTU projectof which Hokkaido University is
one of nine partner universities,
Hokkaido University professors
are now teaching online master's
students studying at CTU majoring in agriculture, fisheries, andenvironment.
For all current students andalumni of Hokkaido University, I
hope you will study and contribute your best for the sake of Hokkaido University.

1. 2. Can Tho University Main Building and Central Library.
3. Can Tho City by night.
4. With my supervisor, Prof. Yoshio Sano (Graduation, 1999).

3

24

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

4

Letters from Ambassadors and Partners

1

2

Dr. Charles S. Vairappan
Professor of Natural Products Chemistry, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia SabahI

A trilateral Webinar between
Hokkaido University, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Kagoshima University was just concluded on the 18th
Nov 2021. A total of three researchers from each of these institutions,shared their research findings and it
was joined by many post-graduate
students and researchers from Malaysia and Japan. We initiated thismeeting to keep each other informedof our respective group’s research
progress and to explore new scope of
research to complement each other.
I should say that the most striking features are the obvious differences between my home institution andHokkaido University. The climate
is totally different, Kota Kinabalu,
where I live and teach, has a striking
difference in climate from Sapporo.
Sapporo has four distinct seasons
whereas Kota Kinabalu has only
sunny and rainy seasons. Also, themost unique feature is the differencein biodiversity. Most of my researchcollaborations with researchers in
Hokkaido University involve different aspects of tropical biodiversity
in Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is in the
Sulu Sulawesi Coral Triangle region;

was excited when Prof. Tatsufumi Okino (Faculty of Environmental Earth Science) suggested me
to be HU Ambassador, as I saw it asan opportunity to contribute to Hokkaido University. It would also provide a platform for me to be a bridge
between my country and Hokkaido
University.
I am very impressed with theoverall “Frontier Spirit” demonstrated
in endeavors and initiatives taken byresearchers in Hokkaido University
to be engaged with their counterpartsin other Asian countries, especially Malaysia. Now, we are planning
for a “Global Career Design”, wherestudents in both Hokkaido University and Universiti Malaysia Sabah
will be able to share experiences andlearn from their counterpart in other countries. This is a very important
approach for today’s generation thatis facing a crisis in learning and sharing experiences due to the pandemic.
The whole approach to teaching andlearning has changed from face toface to virtual. Hence, new ideas that
could tap into aspects of “virtual andonline platform” aided teaching areimportant and much needed.

the marine ecosystem is rich withbeautiful coral reefs, and these sustains a wide diversity of marine life.
In the terrestrial ecosystem, we havetropical rainforest that is known as
the hotspot for unique plants andanimals. We have animals like theproboscis monkey and Bornean elephant that are unique to Borneo.
I have enjoyed my student years
at Hokkaido University, and evenmore the experiences that I have
had by collaborating with researchers from Hokkaido University. The
aspirations and research directions
projected by researchers in Hokkaido University are very refreshingand inspiring. We have been able to
do interesting research projects andeducate many students both from
Hokkaido University and Universiti
Malaysia Sabah. I would like to encourage readers and our students tounderstand the core values in the education and research culture of Hokkaido University, “Frontier Spirit.”
This is an important value to live by
and it has inspired many to be motivated and aspire for the best in one’s
abilities.

1. Marine coral reef ecosystem in Borneo: Source of
biodiversity and potential treasure for biomedical
discoveries.
2. Tropical forest ecosystem in Borneo where Mount
Kinabalu is the highest mountain in this region at
4095 m.
3. Borneo elephants inhabiting Borneo Island.
4. Proboscis monkeys inhabiting Borneo Island.

3

4

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

25

Hokkaido University Archives

140 yearsof
Challenge
SCENE-16

1886-1976
Establishment ofGraduate School
2

1

4

3

6

5

southern Sakhalin Island, and Professor Kingo Miyabe(phytopathology) of Sapporo Agricultural College was assigned
Japan’s graduate schools began with the establishment of
to conduct a survey of Sakhalin plants. Miyagi accompanied
Imperial University (later Tokyo Imperial University) in 1886.
Miyabe’s survey of Sakhalin as his research assistant. Miyagi
The first nineteen graduate students included eight in law, four in
was incredibly strong and jumped up on the beach before theliterature, three in science, and four in engineering. In the samebarge even reached the shore. Then, like a hare, he rushed into
year, Sapporo Agricultural College, which was not a university
the forest to collect seaweed. Miyagi later returned to Okinawa
and therefore could not have a graduate school, officially started
and became a legend in the educational and agricultural fields.
a research student system in which students could continue their
From these examples, one can see that the school and thestudies after graduation from the regular course. The Sapporo
professors were benefiting by employing Sapporo Agricultural
Agricultural College Official Regulations enacted in December
College research students. These students were closer to research1886 stipulated that research students selected from amongstaff than to graduate students. However, such work was a
graduates with excellent academic ability and outstanding talentvaluable experience for these students.
would receive school funds and study various matters related
to academics during a period of enrollment of one to three
Research at graduate school
years, and that in some cases they would assist classes. After the
In 1907, Sapporo Agricultural College was reorganized into
governing agency of Sapporo Agricultural College was changed
the College of Agriculture of Tohoku Imperial University
from the Hokkaido Government to the Ministry of Education,and promoted to an Imperial University. Then, in July 1908,
the Sapporo Agricultural College School Regulations enacted
regulations concerning graduate school were established. The
in September 1896 stipulated that research students would be
graduates of the regular course who wish to further
pursue a subject they have already studied and“Sakamura talked about the carrier of genetic characteristics,
who pay their own tuition and engage in researchthat the theory of human improvement is based on genetic
for a period of up to two years of enrollment.

Sapporo Agricultural College’s research student system

Lives of research students

minutes giving a detailed and scientifically knowledgeable
we need to conduct general genetic research” (Kobushi Vol.2,

Shonen Matsumura (1872−1960), who graduatedfrom the Sapporo Agricultural College regularcourse in July 1895, recalled that he wanted to continue his
research on insects, so he volunteered to remain at the school
as a research student. As a research student, he received amonthly stipend of 12.50 yen and was assigned to give lectureson entomology through the course for teaching agricultural
technology at the Agricultural College. A year later, Matsumura
became an assistant professor at Sapporo Agricultural College,earning a monthly salary of 30 yen.
Tetsuo Miyagi (1877−1934), who graduated from theregular course in July 1906, also became a research student. At
that time, as a result of the Russo-Japanese War, Japan possessed
26

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

first four graduate students at the College of Agriculture of
Tohoku Imperial University were Tetsu Sakamura (botany),
Hirokichi Nakajima (forestry), Koichi Ichikawa (animal
science), and Fumio Henmi (agricultural chemistry), whoentered the school in 1913.
Tetsu Sakamura (1888−1980) had been studying
chromosome morphology before entering graduate school.
In November 1912, during his third year at the Agricultural
College, he gave a lecture titled “Carriers of Genetic Material” at
Kaishikisha, a speech meeting held by the Keitekiryo dormitory.
Hitoshi Kihara (1893−1986), who was a first-year preparatory

7

8

9

10

course student at the time, said of the lecture, “This was the firstacademic lecture I heard on cell nuclei and chromosomes. All of
the dormitory students were very deeply impressed.” The second
issue of Kobushi, a literary magazine of Keitekiryo at thattime, also praised him highly, saying, “It was one of the most
exceptionally eloquent speeches made at Kaishikisha in recent
years.” Sakamura entered graduate school with a research themeof plant genetics and cytology, and conducted research on wheat
chromosomes. In 1918, when he was completing his graduate
studies, he made the landmark achievement of determining thenumber of chromosomes in wheat. After completing graduate
school, Sakamura became an assistant professor at Hokkaido
Imperial University, which was established by reorganizing
the College of Agriculture of Tohoku Imperial University, andtraveled to Europe and the United States to study. Hitoshi
Kihara, who entered graduate school while Sakamura wasoverseas, took over the wheat research that had come to a halt
while Sakamura was studying abroad.

that heredity is limited to living organisms, andphenomena. He spent exactly one hour and 10
speech on the subject, based on the premise that

December 1912).

Wheat Research Monument

After returning to Japan, Sakamura was transferred from a
professorship at the School of Agriculture to a professorshipin the newly established Course of Botany at the School of
Science, where he made significant achievements in the field ofplant physiology and was honored as a Person of Cultural Meritin 1976. Meanwhile, Kihara soon moved to Kyoto Imperial
University to continue his research on wheat, receiving theImperial Prize of the Japan Academy in 1943 and the Order ofCulture in 1948 as a leader in cytogenetics research.
In 1976, on the 100th anniversary of the founding of

1. Shonen Matsumura (1901, Hokkaido University Archives)
2. Behavior investigation of Tetsu Sakamura and Hirokichi Nakajima conductedby the Academic Affairs Department for the student supervisors (1913,
Hokkaido University Archives). This is thought to have been an investigation
carried out for graduate school admission.
3. Greeting postcard from Tetsu Sakamura announcing his departure for study inEurope and the United States (1917, Hokkaido University Archives)
4. Autograph by Hitoshi Kihara (Hokkaido University Archives). 無与等者
(Muyotosha) is a Buddhist term meaning that nothing is the same, and 一粒舎主人(Hitotsubusha Shujin) is Kihara’s alias.
5. Faculty and students of the Department of Botany at Sapporo Agricultural
College (ca. 1906, Botanic Garden) Back row, right: Tetsuo Miyagi; front row,second from right: Professor Kingo Miyabe
6. Faculty and students of the Department of Botany, School of Agriculture,
Hokkaido Imperial University (1918, Botanic Garden) Back row, far left:
Hitoshi Kihara
7. Tetsu Sakamura (1926, Hokkaido University Archives)
8. Notebook by Tetsu Sakamura transcribing the work of French plant physiologist
Guilliermond(Hokkaido University Archives).
9. Kobushi No. 2 describing Tetsu Sakamura’s lecture at Kaishikisha (1912,
Hokkaido University Archives)
10. The Wheat Research Monument (photographed in 2019) stands to the west of
the School of Science Building No. 6.

Hokkaido University, the Wheat Research Monument waserected at the site of the wheat field on campus that provided
research materials for Tetsu Sakamura and Hitoshi Kihara. It
is a monument to the research story of one of the first graduate
students of Hokkaido University and his junior who took over
the research.
Ho k k a i d o Un i ve r s i t y

HISTORY
1886-1976

1886 March
December			1896 September
1907 September			1908 August			1913 September			1918 April			
September
December						1920 April			
July		
			
1921 December
1924 April						July		
			
1930 April			
1976 September
			

The Imperial University Order regulates graduate schools.
Sapporo Agricultural College’s research students are officially 		
recognized.
Sapporo Agricultural College’s research student system is revised.
Sapporo Agricultural College is reorganized into the College of 		
Agriculture of Tohoku Imperial University.
Regulations for the Graduate School of the College of Agriculture of
Tohoku Imperial University are established.
The first four graduate students (including Tetsu Sakamura) enter theCollege of Agriculture of Tohoku Imperial University.
The College of Agriculture of Tohoku Imperial University gains its
independence as Hokkaido Imperial University.
Hitoshi Kihara enters graduate school.
Tetsu Sakamura, who has completed his graduate studies, goesabroad to study as an assistant professor, and Hitoshi Kihara takes
over his wheat research.
Hitoshi Kihara becomes an assistant at the School of Science of Kyoto
Imperial University.
The Doctor of Science degree is awarded to Tetsu Sakamura (Tokyo
Imperial University).
Tetsu Sakamura is promoted to professor at the School of Agriculture.
Hitoshi Kihara is appointed associate professor at the newly 		
established School of Agriculture of Kyoto Imperial University 		(becomes a professor in 1927).
The Doctor of Science degree is awarded to Hitoshi Kihara (Kyoto
Imperial University).
The School of Science at Hokkaido Imperial University is founded;
Tetsu Sakamura is transferred to a professorship at the School of Science.
The Wheat Research Monument is erected on the site of the wheat
field at Hokkaido University.

Hokkaido University Archives
This facility collects, classifies and preserves historical documents andrecords of Hokkaido University. It also conducts investigations andresearch on its history.

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

27

To p i c s
The Start of Elm Forest Project, Connecting
the Value of Historic Buildings to the Future
The Elm Forest Project is designed to preserve and renovate
the former Department of Entomology and Sericulture
and the former Entomology Specimen Room, the oldest
buildings on the Sapporo Campus, which are located in the
Elm Forest, and to revitalize them as the Hokkaido Wine
Education and Research Center building, thereby linking
their legacy to the future campus.
Although these buildings still make a beautiful
addition to the campus, they do not meet current seismic

standards, so people are not allowed to work in thesebuildings. Therefore, we are planning to preserve, repair,and restore the original buildings as much as possible bycarefully reading the architectural design of the buildings
at the time of their creation, but currently lack the budget
to do so.
We would very much appreciate your help in passing
on the value of the University’s historic buildings to the
future 100 years from now.

Contact Us
Hokkaido University Public
Relations Division Office for Alumni
Relations and Funding
Tel. 011-706-2017
E-mail kikin@jimu.hokudai.ac.jp

エルムの森プロジェクト

Donation thanksgiving gifts
Miyako zo Yayoi Set
Ham and sausage made with time-honored techniquesfrom the Hokkaido University farm and cider madefrom apples grown in the Yoichi orchard are packaged ina wooden box made from a tree grown in the Hokkaido
University Experimental Forests.
Miyako zo Yayoi is the song of the Hokkaido University
Keitekiryo dormitory written in 1912, and has been sungalong with the school song Tokoshie no Sachi. Each item
is named after a landscape from Hokkaido University as
depicted in the lyrics of the song Miyako zo Yayoi.
*You may donate as many units as you wish at 200,000 yen per unit. The
names of donors who contribute one million yen or more will be placedon the nameplate for the Hokkaido Wine Education and ResearchCenter building.

28

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

467 Students selected for the 2021 Hokkaido
University DX Doctoral FellowshipAward Ceremony and Guidance Session Held
The Hokkaido University DX Doctoral Fellowship award
ceremony and guidance session were held on December 21(Tue.), 2021.
The Hokkaido University DX Doctoral Fellowship
program was established after the University’s Research
Support Project for DX Doctoral Students to Lead Society
5.0 was adopted as part of the Support for Pioneering
Research Initiated by the Next Generation program of
the Japan Science and Technology Agency. The fellowship
program provides selected outstanding doctoral students
with a stipend equivalent to living expenses and researchexpenses as well as career development and training tosecure an environment in which doctoral students candevote themselves to research and improve their researchskills.

In FY2021, the first year of the program, applications
were accepted from September to October, and 467 students
were selected. The award ceremony was held online, andPresident Kiyohiro Houkin and Executive Director/Vice
President Junji Yamaguchi sent messages of encouragement.
On behalf of the selected students, two students expressed
their enthusiasm and aspirations for their future research
activities.
At the guidance session, Koichiro Ishimori, program
director and professor of the Faculty of Science, and others
outlined the procedures necessary for doctoral students to
independently pursue research as researchers, including
how to use the research funds and research incentive funds
provided.

Hokkaido University DX Doctoral
Fellowship portal site
https://sites.google.com/eis.hokudai.ac.jp/
dxphd-fellow/home

President Houkin sends a message of encouragement.

Representative students whoshared their aspirations (fromleft, Tonozuka of the Graduate
School of Education andKajihara of the Graduate Schoolof Medicine).

Litterae Populi Spring 202229

Campus LandscapesHistoric Buildings that Watch Over the Campus
Photographer: Hiromi Terashima / Akihito YamamotoaSapporo experienced the heaviest snowfall on record, covering thecampus with much more snow than usual.
Many historic buildings remain on campus, and a project is under
way to revitalize and make effective use of these buildings that haveaccompanied the development of the University (see Topics).
We are committed to linking the historical value of the University to
the future.
Soon the campus will be covered with budding grass and trees, creating
lush, historic and atmospheric landscapes.
Note: For videos showcasing the natural splendor of the campus in different seasons, please
visit the University website.

30

Litterae Populi Spring 2022

Videos ofcampus views
QR code

b

c

d

e

a. Former Department of Entomology and
Sericultureb. South Gatec. School of Agricultured. The Hokkaido University Museum
e. The Second Farm (Model Barn)

Main
Gate

North13
Gate

Litterae Populi Spring 202231https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp/

32

Litterae Populi Spring 2022