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Recipients of the 2015 Waseda Research Awards
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Recipients of the 2015 Waseda Research Awards

Mon, Dec 7, 2015
Recipients of the 2015 Waseda Research Awards
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WASEDA RESEARCH AWARD

Waseda University established the Waseda Research Awards in 2014 to promote and spread creative research around the world. The awards honor researchers spearheading largescale research projects as well as young researchers whose work has had significant impact abroad. The awards are separated into two categories: Large Research Project Awards and High-Impact Publication Awards. Each award includes a certificate and monetary prize (¥500,000 for a Large Research Project Award and ¥100,000 for a High-Impact Publication Award).

Waseda Research Award (Large Research Project) Winners

Year Name Research project title
2015 Yoshimichi Ohki Assessment of Electrical Equipment Ageing for Nuclear Power Plants
Tetsuya Osaka Diagnosis Technology Development of Energy Storage System for Grid Stabilization
Yasuhiro Daisho A Study on Improving Thermal Efficiency by Adopting Hybrid Combustion with a Fuel Reforming System
Kohei Tatsumi Research and development of high temperature resistant SiC module technologies for hybrid electrical vehicle applications
Hiroyuki Nishide Charge-Separation Gel-Based Solar Cell Operated with Interior Lighting
Yasuhiro Hayashi Next-generation Energy Technology Demonstration Projects

Waseda Research Award (High-Impact Publication) Winners

Year Name Reason for selection
2015 Saori Osuga Over the years, Ms. Osuga has been dedicated to writing books and academic papers, and giving presentations in French. Among her many accomplishments is the acclaimed Séraphîta et la Bible: Sources scripturaires du mysticisme balzacien, which was published in Paris in 2012 and is based on her doctoral thesis. It repaints the existing image of Balzac as a secular novelist and has been praised for revealing charming qualities that even the French were unaware of. The book’s influence has reached not only Balzac scholars but also mysticism enthusiasts. Her work proves that mysticism does not stop at Balzac but also influences later generations of writers such as Gautier and Baudelaire, and clarifies previously uncertain aspects of 19th century French literature. Ms. Osuga’s positive and significant impact on the subject of Balzac and others is a sign of further success to come.
Yoshiyuki Kuroda Mr. Kuroda’s research is based on the structural design of a new inorganic porous body using colloid crystals as a mold material. The research’s creative approach is unique and by conducting hierarchical structure control that accurately reflects particle arrays, he has established a structural design method that utilizes the essential qualities of colloid crystals. He has also proposed structural designs by skillfully utilizing structural changes in mold material when a target substance is produced. He has pursued research into a new kind of matter system called a macro-porous body, which is attracting attention domestically and overseas.
The nanomaterial production technique developed by Mr. Kuroda is a future core technology that will form the basis of applied technology development. Not only is his research original, but his methods and developed materials are expected to have widespread academic and social applications. His research has attracted significant international attention through their numerous appearances in leading chemistry journals.  Mr. Kuroda collaborates with internal and external research institutes, which has allowed him to develop a broad perspective praised by colleagues and others in his field. More success is expected of him in the future.
Norihiko Takeuchi Among all Japanese university researchers in his field, Mr. Takeuchi has had the greatest impact abroad. Business administration is a difficult field for researchers to make an impact because the appraisal of research is entirely dependent on the researcher’s discipline and methods. Mr. Takeuchi however, has developed a body of research based on social psychology that can stand alongside academic societies and publications. His research strategy of exploring the unique human resource administrative practices of Japan should also be commended.
Mr. Takeuchi has consistently approached his career from an international perspective and has authored and co-authored an impressive number of books in English. He has also published an astounding number of English papers for business administration studies and has been featured several times in the International Journal of Human Resource Management, which is considered one of the leading journals in the field by the Financial Times *. His presentations made at conferences of top class academic societies such as the Academy of Management have been listed in peer review proceedings and he has received Best Paper Awards at other top level academic societies. With his network of overseas researchers, Mr. Takeuchi is expected to continue producing internationally impactful research going forward.
*According to the Financial Times 40 Journals (2006 Edition).
Hiroaki Tachiwana Amid intense global competition in physical life sciences research, the young Mr. Tachiwana has set himself apart from other researchers of his generation with his remarkable research achievements. Many of his articles have been featured in reputable general science journals around the world, which is proof of his impact on scholars in a wide range of fields. Mr. Tachiwana produced the world’s only atomic resolution of the chromosome’s centromere region, which clarifies its chromatin basement structure and offers some closure to this fiercely debated subject. This is a global achievement in terms of progressiveness, creativity and uniqueness. He has also co-authored numerous papers, demonstrating his abilities to conduct research in collaboration with many internal and external researchers. Mr. Tachiwana has received awards from external foundations and academic societies. He is an exceptional researcher that brings international attention to Waseda University’s research strengths.
Takashi Hasuike Mr. Hasuike’s primary operations research theme is decision-making amidst uncertain conditions. His research has been highly praised for its creative content. His research consists of new evaluation and optimization techniques for dealing with his major research field of asset allocation, which he applies not only to future revenue but also to various practical issues with uncertain parameters. Mr. Hasuike’s research has been published in high-level international scholarly journals such as Information Science, Fuzzy Optimization and Decision Making, attracting significant attention in the academic world.
He has also demonstrated the international impact of his research by announcing his research results at the FUZZ-IEEE and IEEE-SMC international conferences and serving as a program member at IEEE-IEEM. He approaches his research not only through theoretical study but also by applying developed mathematical models to real world problems. He conducts numerical research using real examples in a wide range of areas such as finance, tourism, agriculture, and more. He is a researcher who develops unique mathematical models and creates high level knockon effects.
Shogo Haraguchi Steroid hormones have been researched many times over the years and are regarded as important biological regulators. Mr. Haraguchi discovered the existence of new synthesized neurosteroids that  function in the cerebral nervous system. Mr. Haraguchi’s research is unique and he has discovered that most neurosteroids are formed in the pineal body adjacent to the central nervous system. This is a remarkable discovery with endless possibilities that could help unravel the mysteries of animal behavior, memory and emotion. This research has been published in numerous prestigious international journals, and has garnered a high degree of visibility.
Mr. Haraguchi’s research is also having considerable social effects by offering important information for modern mental health issues such as aggression, depression, and sleeping rhythm. It may also provide new perspectives for understanding people’s inner psyche.
Airo Hino Mr. Hino is a researcher gaining international prominence as a specialist in comparative politics. His key work, New Challenger Parties in Western Europe: A Comparative Analysis (London and New York: Routledge, 2012), is an original experimental study that has contributed to the international development of comparative politics. In his research, he applies his original double hurdle model, based on elections held in 15 Western European nations between 1950 and 2004, to address the universally important question of the emergence and rise of new political parties. This book has already received critical acclaim from European political science associations including the journal European Political Science and is expected to have a major impact on future research into the world’s political parties. The extent of his success is not limited to Europe and he has had a number of papers published in top American political science journals prior to the release of his book. Mr. Hino’s success has earned him international acclaim as a scholar researching European countries in Japan, and is recognized as an important role model for spearheading international research.
Katsumi Watanabe Mr. Watanabe has made remarkable achievements in cognitive science, psychology and neuroscience by devising a number of experimental techniques that utilize external measurements to objectively interpret how the human mind perceives and experiences subjective events. A unique attribute of his research is its attempt to verify that the details of subjective cognizance are organized by events that follow after. His experiments incorporate several techniques such as behavioral testing, motion analysis, and new forms of functional brain imaging. The results of his experiments have appeared in numerous academic papers and many international journals. Mr. Watanabe’s research has opened up opportunities to participate in editing work for international journals, conduct joint research with overseas universities and institutions, and obtain large sums of research funding.
In addition to scientific elucidation of the human mind, Mr. Watanabe’s research has affected other social areas such as therapy and education for developmentally disabled individuals, sports coaching, sales strategies, and more. Further success is expected of Mr. Watanabe going forward.

 


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