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)
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). He also served as a program officer at the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology during fiscal years 2002–2003.
(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)