Waseda Institute for Advanced Study (WIAS)Waseda University

Introducing the new WIAS director and associate director

The following two individuals were appointed in September 2022 as Director and Associate Director, creating a new structure at the Institute.

Director　Ken-Ichi Akao (School of Social Sciences)
Associate Director　Chiharu Tokoro (School of Creative Science and Engineering)

The Waseda Institute for Advanced Study (WIAS) was established in September 2006 as an independent institute outside the existing faculties of the University. Since its inception, WIAS has been serving as an active matrix in which next generation leading researchers can conduct creative advanced research on a wide range of themes, beyond the constraints of conventional fields such as the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Within the new system, WIAS will continue making efforts in its established areas of endeavor, including the provision of opportunities for young researchers to develop in an atmosphere of friendly competition; collaboration with on-campus faculty members; the hosting of overseas researchers; and the promotion of interdisciplinary research projects.

Message from Director Ken-Ichi Akao

Ever since its inception in 2006, Waseda Institute for Advanced Study (WIAS) has accumulated a wealth of experience from world-class research activities and continues to bring together and foster promising young researchers hailing from the world over specialised in a wide range of disciplines in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Its ability to maintain a consistently high level of excellence in the selection process for open calls for researchers is a testament to the fact that the Institute is widely recognized as an attractive environment for young researchers from across Japan and abroad. My mission as Director of WIAS is to further develop this free-spirited, international, and interdisciplinary tradition built over the years and nurture the next generation of researchers. We hope to promote exchanges between researchers both within and outside the University, based on the university-wide advanced research projects such as the TGU projects and the declaration of carbon neutrality.
In cooperation with our Associate Directors, Professor Tokoro and Professor Yamamoto, WIAS will relentlessly strive to maintain an attractive environment for outstanding researchers from around the world.

Message from Associate Director Chiharu Tokoro

In recent years, there has been rapid progress in the development of diverse topics in science and technology. These technologies provide clues toward solutions to the diverse problems facing our society today. For example, environmental issues such as climate change and pollution are among the social issues of widespread concern. For the social implementation of science and technology to solve these social problems, it is essential to collaborate with researchers in various fields of the humanities and social sciences, not only for the sake of technological impact, but also economic impact, ethical considerations, and the design of laws and policies.
The Institute brings together leading researchers from a variety of fields, including science and engineering, social sciences, and the humanities: we engage in deep mutual exchanges while pursuing excellence in our own research. From this perspective, we hope to provide a matrix where new innovations can be born through mutual understanding and the fusion of diverse fields.

Introduction of our activities

1. 15th Anniversary Symposium (December 12 and 13, 2022)

Over a two-day period on the 12th and 13th of December last year, an international symposium entitled “Well-being in the time of uncertainty” was held to commemorate the 15th anniversary of WIAS.

With the cooperation of the Zukunftskolleg at the University of Konstanz, Germany, and the Institute for Advanced Research at Nagoya University, the symposium featured roundtable discussions on specific topics such as energy and inclusivity under the umbrella theme of “well-being.” Leading researchers in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and various other disciplines were invited to make presentations from their respective perspectives. Current WIAS researchers, alumni, and current graduate students also joined the event.
The roundtable sessions were quite challenging. In the sessions, speakers delved into the symposium’s overarching theme by associating it to their own respective fields. All the speakers prepared thoroughly for each session, exchanged opinions, and openly discussed their approach to each topic in advance, which led to original and meaningful talks. Each topic was sublimated into high-level and in-depth exchanges, making the two-day event a fruitful one for WIAS, which prides itself as a forerunner in international, diverse research.
During the two-day event, in addition to the presentations live at the Ono Memorial Auditorium on the Waseda University campus, a Zoom online webcast was also available. The event was a great success, with a total of 265 in attendance and online.
Photos and videos of the event have been posted on its designated webpage and WIAS’s online archives portal (YouTube channel).

2. Publication of Assistant Prof. Kakui’s Paper

An international study group led by Assistant Prof. Yasutaka Kakui of WIAS, discovered a common mechanism that shapes mitotic chromosomes according to the length of genomic DNA in different species by comparing the structure of mitotic chromosomes in yeast cells and cultured human cells. Their results appeared in the Scientific American journal “Cell Report,” published by Cell Press, on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. (EST). Below is a synopsis of their latest research.

“The Common Mechanism in Life for Shaping Chromosomes” – by Assistant Prof. Yasutaka Kakui

Cells use chromosomes^*1 to inherit genetic information, which acts as their blueprint. Chromosomes are known to be complex folded structures of a very long string-like genomic DNA^*2, but the mechanism that controls their shape was not known. In this study, Assistant Prof. Kakui and his team investigated the structure of chromosomes in yeasts and human cells in detail and discovered that the control of the loop size according to the length of the genomic DNA is a common mechanism for chromosome formation (Fig. 1).

(1) What we already knew from previous research (scientific and historical background, etc.)

When one cell divides into two, the structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) complex condensin^*3 embraces the genomic DNA like a loop to form chromosomes. When chromosomes are misshapen, cells cannot properly inherit genomic DNA, resulting in the production of abnormal cells such as cancer cells. Chromosomes are present not only in humans but also in yeast and other eukaryotes. Therefore, the mechanism of chromosome formation is thought to be common to living organisms, but the overall picture is still elusive.

(2) New findings from this study

To elucidate the common mechanism by which life forms chromosomes, the chromosome structures of three organisms with varying genomic DNA lengths, namely budding yeast, fission yeast, and human cells, were examined using the Hi-C Method.^*4 Results showed that, while budding yeast with short genomic DNA formed small loops (Fig. 2, left), fission yeast and human cells with longer genomic DNA had larger loops. This fact that the longer the genomic DNA, the larger the loop indicates that the control of loop size according to genomic DNA length is part of the common mechanism in life that shapes chromosomes.
To link the size of the DNA loops to the shape of the chromosomes, they precisely measured the thickness of the chromosomes using an super-resolution fluorescence microscope^*5 enabling the observation of extremely fine structures at the nanometre level. They found that the chromosomes of fission yeast with large DNA loops were thicker than those of budding yeast, which has small DNA loops (Fig. 2, middle). Furthermore, by measuring the chromosome dimensions of human cells, they newly discovered a power law relationship, or allometry, where chromosomes become thicker in proportion to their lengths (Fig. 2, right).
In addition, the relationship between the SMC complex condensin, which governs the loop structure of genomic DNA, and chromosome thickness was examined. They found that the SMC complex condensin is more densely distributed on genomic DNA in budding yeast with thin chromosomes than in fission yeast or human cells with thick chromosomes. This means that the density of SMC complex condensin may direct the size of genomic DNA loops and chromosome thickness.

Therefore, by closely examining yeast and human chromosomes, this study reveals that chromosome thickness depends on the loop size, which is determined by the genomic DNA length. This research has brought us one step closer to a full understanding of the common mechanism by which chromosomes are formed in organisms with different genomic DNA lengths.

(3) The future

More than 130 years have passed since Walter Fleming first observed chromosomes at the end of the 19th century, yet the overall structure of the fibrous genomic DNA inside them is still a mystery. The control of loop size by the length of genomic DNA revealed by this study is expected to lead to a greater understanding of how chromosomes are formed, which is common in various organisms. Furthermore, through further analysis of the density of SMC complex condensin and allometry of chromosome thickness and length, we expect to gain new insights into the evolution of genomic DNA.
It was reported that structural abnormalities in chromosomes, which are the entities of genome heredity, were found not only in cancer cells but also in oocytes taken from elderly women, and are strongly linked to infertility. By unravelling the mechanisms that control the shape of chromosomes, we expect to explore the causes underlying infertility in older women and contribute to reproductive medicine.

(4) Terminology

1. Chromosome
Mitotic chromosome. Genomic DNA is compactly folded and condensed when cells divide, resulting in an X-shaped structure.

2. Genomic DNA
A sequence of four bases, adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C), the combination of which is leveraged by life to store genetic information and pass it on to the next generation.

3. Structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) complex condensin
A ring-shaped protein complex common in prokaryotes such as E. coli and higher eukaryotes such as humans which plays a role in forming chromosomes by embracing genomic DNA like a loop in cells.

4. Hi-C Method
The Hi-C Method (high-throughput chromosome conformation capture) is one of the experimental methods used to examine the structure of genomic DNA in cells. The Hi-C Method can reveal the structure of genomic DNA by reading the genomic DNA sequence using a next-generation sequencer and determining the regions where genomic DNA strands are in spatial proximity.

5. Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy
General optical microscopes (fluorescence microscopes) are limited in their ability to see small structures (resolution) depending on the wavelength of light used. Super-resolution fluorescence microscopes are special devices that exceed this limit allowing us to see finer structures at the nanometre level.

(5) Thesis information

Journal: Cell Reports
Title: Chromosome arm length, and a species-specific determinant, define chromosome arm width.
Authors (Affiliation): Yasutaka Kakui^1,2,3, Christopher Barrington⁴, Yoshiharu Kusano⁶, Rahul Thadani³, Todd Fallesen⁵, Toru Hirota⁶, Frank Uhlmann³
(1. WIAS; 2. Department of Life Science and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University; 3. Francis Crick Institute, UK; 4. Bioinformatics Division, Francis Crick Institute, UK; 5. Advanced Optical Microscopy Technology Division, Francis Crick Institute, UK; 6. Cancer Institute Foundation (Cancer Institute))

(6) Research grant

Research grant: NPO Yeast Cell Research Society of Japan, Yoshifumi Jigami Memorial Research Grant
Theme: Regulatory mechanisms of chromosome structure in evolution
Principal Investigator’s Name(s): Yasutaka Kakui (WIAS)

3. Waseda Culture and Arts Week

“studioFLAT x WIAS: Art that Connects, the Practice of Social Inclusion” was held as part of the event, “Waseda University Arts and Culture Week” held from October 10 to 21, 2022. The event was organized by Satomi Yamamoto, Associate Director of WIAS. The following is her report.

This event was held in collaboration with studioFLAT, an NPO based in Kawasaki that aims to realise an inclusive society through art activities regardless of disabilities. It was an opportunity to think about a society where we can coexist from the point of contact between art and cognitive neuroscience.

The event began with a lecture by Associate Professor Yuko Okamoto of WIAS on the “Diverse Visual World Explored from Cognitive Neuroscience.” Our visual world exists in a variety of gradations with individual differences. This lecture addressed the characteristics of vision, with a focus on autism. While touching on the appreciation of paintings, the measurement of an artist’s gaze, and brain function measurement research, the topic expanded to the acquisition of knowledge and experience as a means of understanding the viewpoint of the person with disabilities, which is required in a wide range of support settings, as well as the possibilities of daily communication. How does the brain work when we “see” things? Is the world as we see it the same as the world as someone else sees it? The answers to these questions could lead to the creation of new art.

Next, Satoru Oodaira, Director of studioFLAT, gave a detailed explanation of the founding philosophy and activities of studioFLAT, which is a non-profit organisation. Being an artist himself, Mr. Oodaira explained how he came to collaborate with artists belonging to studioFLAT who have autism or other characteristics, how his NPO was established, the current activities at their base of operations located in a commercial, medical, and childcare complex in Kawasaki, and their student internship programs, etc. The activities he described, which are geared towards realising “flat” (equal or even) relationships through art, were full of surprises and discoveries.

Finally, two artists from studioFLAT (Kenji Yamauchi and Aoba Ohtsuki) held a workshop in which visitors participated in creating artwork. The participants used colourful paper and pens to colour in the letters of the alphabet W, A, S, E, D, and A, which were provided and prepared by studioFLAT. The paintings and textiles created at studioFLAT are not only sold as works of art in their own right, but works by Yamauchi and Ohtsuki have also been used as product designs for major companies, showing us their side as professional artists. They were very polite (but sometimes strict) in their advice and guidance to the students who participated in the event, and we had a very enjoyable time together.

 

The event was held on October 14, 2022, at the Ono Memorial Auditorium on the Waseda campus, and was open to the public and streamed online in real time in compliance with infection prevention measures.

studio FLAT official website
https://studioflat.or.jp/

 

Featuring WIAS Alumni

This page introduces the career paths and activities of WIAS alumni. In this issue, we introduce Hidetaka Hirota, who was a WIAS member from August 2018 to September 2019 and is currently Associate Professor of History at the University of California, Berkeley.

Hidetaka Hirota

Introduction of my study
My major area of research is the history of the United States, and I specialize in US immigration history. The United States has been known as a “nation of immigrants” that accepts diverse immigrants, but many immigrant groups have in fact been subject to discrimination and exclusion. Current US policies for deporting undocumented immigrants and restricting the entry of refugees are often reported in Japan. These policies can be understood as part of this history.

What caused the exclusion of immigrants in the United States? How did hostility toward immigrants develop? How were discriminatory laws and exclusive policies against “undesirable” immigrants, such as entry restriction, justified and implemented? My research has been driven by these questions.

Background
I received my Ph.D. in History from Boston College and continued my research and teaching at Columbia University and the City University of New York in New York City. In 2018, I joined WIAS as Assistant Professor. After spending one year at WIAS, I moved to Sophia University, where I taught North American Studies, Migration Studies, and English language courses as Associate Professor in the Faculty of Foreign Studies. In April 2022, I started my current position as Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of California, Berkeley, where I teach US immigration history at both undergraduate and graduate levels. While based in the History Department, I am also affiliated with multiple research organizations on campus, including the Asian American Research Center, Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative, the Center for the Study of Law and Society, and the Canadian Studies Program.

Current Position
The University of California, Berkeley is one of the most vibrant hubs for the study of immigration, race, and ethnicity in the United States. There are frequent opportunities to engage with leading researchers in these fields both inside and outside the university. In addition, the Bancroft Library and other research libraries on campus allow me to conduct archival research, which is the foundation of historical study. I feel that I am in a privileged environment as a historian of the United States.

The Department of History has approximately 50 full-time faculty members who specialize in different periods, places, and themes. While I learn a lot from other US historians in the department, my perspective is broadened through conversations with my colleagues in the fields of Latin American, East Asian, and European history. As a scholar of transnational history, which focuses on migration across countries and regions, I deeply appreciate my intellectual environment.

One of Berkeley’s characteristics is the diversity of its student body. Not only does it have students from all over the world, but many of them are immigrants themselves or have parents who are immigrants, making them keenly aware of cultural diversity and political issues related to immigration. The students also come from diverse social and economic backgrounds, which can appear as a range of academic abilities. Some undergraduate students are academically ready to start graduate work immediately, while others need basic instructions for writing assignments. In this respect, my previous experience of teaching students with diverse backgrounds at private and public universities in Japan and the United States helps me in many ways, and I find teaching students based on their academic abilities and needs quite rewarding.

Research Plan
I am currently working on several projects. One is titled “The American Dilemma” and examines a fundamental tension in US history between anti-immigrant sentiment and demand for immigrant labor. Since the nineteenth century, arguments for immigrant exclusion repeatedly flourished in the United States. At the same time, the country as a whole depended on immigrant labor for its economic, industrial, and commercial development. My book will explain how this dilemma developed since the mid-nineteenth century.

I am also writing another book, which examines the relationship between Japanese immigrants and US immigration law in the early twentieth century. Much has been written on the history of Japanese immigrants in both Japanese and English. However, this scholarship tends to analyze either the social and economic conditions in Japan for immigrants’ departure or their experiences after they settled in the United States. This project focuses on the middle point between those two, investigating the implementation of immigration laws against the Japanese upon their arrival in the United States. This project requires an extensive use of Japanese-language sources, and I have collected a large number of Meiji-era documents at Waseda University Library.

In addition to these publications in English, I am also working on a book in Japanese, which will be published by Iwanami Shoten. Tentatively titled “The History of Immigrant Exclusion in the United States,” the book will offer an overview of the history of anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States. How can we understand the paradoxical phenomenon of immigrant exclusion in a “Nation of Immigrants”? I will answer this question from ideological, cultural, social, political, and legal perspectives. The project has just been launched, but I look forward to writing it.

Hidetaka Hirota’s website
https://history.berkeley.edu/people/faculty/current/hidetaka-hirota

 

Information

WIAS invites outstanding overseas researchers who are active internationally, and contributes to the energizing of research activities at Waseda University through academic exchanges and seminars between our researchers and the invitees. Click here for more information.

Visiting Researchers

• August 31 – September 30, 2022
  DHAR, Pranab Kumar
  Professor, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Bangladesh)

• October 27 – November 26, 2022
  BECHT, Marco
  Professor, Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management (Belgium)

• October 31 – November 30, 2022
  SNAPE, Divya Jindal
  Professor, University of Dundee (UK)

• January 1 – January 31, 2023
  HESTVIK, Arild
  Professor, University of Delaware (USA)

• January 10 – February 9, 2023
  GIRARDELLI AOKI, Miyuki
  Assistant Professor, Istanbul Technical University (Turkey)

Visiting Scholar

• October 26, 2022 – December 10, 2022
  MCKELWAY, Matthew
  Professor, Columbia University (USA)

• November 14, 2022 – January 12, 2023
  BLOOMFIELD, Jacob
  Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Konstanz (Germany)

• January 9, 2023 – February 18, 2023
  KIM, Marie Seong-Hak
  Professor, St. Cloud State University (USA)

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We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please contact us at the coordinates below.

Waseda Institute for Advanced Study (WIAS)

1st floor, Nishi-Waseda Bldg.
1-21-1 Nishi Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0051, JAPAN
URL：https://www.waseda.jp/inst/wias/en/
TEL：03-5286-2460
FAX：03-5286-2470
E-mail：[email protected]