The PoliTO Japan Hub Fellow Academy is an initiative launched with the aim of strengthening ties with Japanese partners.
The Academy’s fellows are colleagues whose long-standing collaboration with the Politecnico di Torino is formally recognized.
Based on this established relationship, they may:
- act as ambassadors of the Japan Hub
- share Japan Hub initiatives within their local networks
- promote new scientific collaborations, teaching activities, and science outreach initiatives
- support and facilitate relations with their home institutions
The appointment is intended as an honorary and friendly title, lasting two years and renewable upon approval by both parties.
Takashi Ariga- Waseda University
Takashi Ariga, Ph.D., is a professor of the Department of Architecture and the former dean of the School and Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering at Waseda University, Japan. He has been practicing and teaching urban and environmental design for 30 years. He currently serves as a vice president of the Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ). His academic field encompasses the collaborative planning theories and methods with citizen participation.
(JH Fellow since 2025)
Tomoya Nishiwaki- Tohoku University
Dr. Tomoya Nishiwaki is an Associate Professor at Tohoku University, Japan. His research focuses on sustainable and functional concrete, including concrete 3D printing, fiber-reinforced cementitious composites, self-healing, and advanced non-destructive evaluation. He works to extend the service life of buildings and promote low-carbon construction.
(JH Fellow since 2025)
Wataru Sakai- Kyoto Institute of Technology
Dr. Wataru SAKAI holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from Kyoto University. Specializing in polymer reactions, Dr. SAKAI joined Kyoto Institute of Technology in 1994. For over 30 years, he has successfully analyzed radical reactions involved in degradation and functionalization using electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques based on the spin-trap method, serving as a driving force behind dynamic research and education both in Japan and internationally.
(JH Fellow since 2025)
Yukio Takeda- Institute of Science Tokyo
Yukio Takeda is Vice President for Admissions and a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Institute of Science Tokyo. His research interests lie in the fields of robotics and mechanical design. He has contributed to the activities of several academic societies, including the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME), the Robotics Society of Japan, the Japan Society for Precision Engineering (JSPE), the Japan Society for Design Engineering (JSDE), the Japanese Society of Regenerative Medicine and Rehabilitation (JSRMR), and the International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science (IFToMM).
(JH Fellow since 2025)
Naoko Oishi- Ryukoku University
Professor at the Faculty of Policy Science, Ryukoku University (since 2023), following service as Associate Professor. She earned a PhD in Social Innovation from the Graduate School of Policy and Management, Doshisha University. Her research focuses on social innovation, human resource development, and sustainable regional development in rural and local communities. She has led and contributed to numerous domestic and international research projects funded by JSPS and Japan’s Ministry of Education. She has also participated in international collaborative research, including work with the OECD and as a visiting researcher in Italy. Since 2026, she has served as Director of the Yunus Social Business Research Center at Ryukoku University.
(JH Fellow since 2026)
Akito Murayama- The University of Tokyo
Akito Murayama is a Professor at Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo. He is also a member of UTokyo Center for Climate Solutions. As an expert on urban land use planning and urban development, he is currently conducting several research projects on planning methodology for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
(JH Fellow since 2026)
Seiji Yamaguchi- Chubu University
Dr. Seiji Yamaguchi is a Professor at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University, Japan. He develops advanced titanium materials for orthopedic and dental implants. His research uses surface treatments to add beneficial metal ions, giving titanium the ability to bond with bone and resist bacteria while remaining safe for the body. He also applies 3D printing to create porous titanium implants that support faster bone growth. His recent interest is anti-inflammatory polyphenol coatings through collaboration with Politecnico di Torino.
(JH Fellow since 2026)
Eiichiro Tanaka- Waseda University
Eiichiro Tanaka is a Professor at the Graduate School of Information, Production and Systems, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, located in Kitakyushu, Japan. His research interests include assistive devices, rehabilitation robotics, machine design, emotion and fatigue recognition, gear mechanisms, and gear vibration and noise analysis. He has invented several human motion assistive products, including RE-Gait® and e.z.UP®, which support rehabilitation and human movement assistance. Professor Tanaka has received numerous awards for his research and technological contributions, including the Excellence Award of the Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Award, two Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Awards, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association President’s Award at the Chugoku Region Invention Awards, the Practical Application Technology Award from the Robotics Society of Japan, two Excellent Design Awards from the Japan Society for Design Engineering, and two Technology Awards from the Japan Society of Welfare Engineering.
(JH Fellow since 2026)
Masaharu Komori- Kyoto University
Masaharu Komori received the Ph.D. degree from Kyoto University in 2002. In 2017, he became a professor in Kyoto University. He is a fellow of JSME. He has received awards, including The Young Scientists’ Prize of The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the WT Award, the four JSME Medals for Outstanding Paper, the Ichimura Prize in Science for Distinguished Achievement.
(JH Fellow since 2026)
Yasumasa Fujisaki- The University of Osaka
Yasumasa Fujisaki is a Professor in the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Osaka. His research focuses on control systems theory, including networked and distributed control, multi-agent systems, robust control, state estimation, and randomized algorithms for control and optimization. He is also interested in game-theoretic approaches to large-scale and social systems.
(JH Fellow since 2026)