KEK(-iTHEMS) Theory Workshop 2026

Workshop

Date: November 25 (Wed) 9:00 - November 27 (Fri) 12:00, 2026 (JST)
Speakers: Hirotaka Hayashi (Professor, Department of Physics, School of Science, Tokai University)

Hikaru Kawai (Visiting Professor, Nambu Yoichiro Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (NITEP), Osaka Metropolitan University)

Takato Mori (Ph.D. Student, Department of Particle and Nuclear Physics, School of High Energy Accelerator Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI))

Masaya Nakagawa (Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo)

Masaki Shigemori (Professor, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University)

Tadashi Takayanagi (Professor, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University)

Norihiro Tanahashi (Program-Specific Associate Professor, Department of physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University)

Tatsuya Yamaoka (Ph.D. Student, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, The University of Osaka)
Venue: Seminar Hall, Building 3, KEK Tsukuba Campus
Register: Event registration form
Language: English
Host: Wei-Hsiang Shao

The KEK Theory Workshop is an annual workshop on string theory and quantum field theory.
Since 2014, it has been held every winter as an international workshop and has become one of the major annual events in the high-energy physics community in Japan.
This year’s workshop will be held on site at the KEK Tsukuba Campus from November 25 to 27, and it will be jointly organized with RIKEN iTHEMS.

The workshop this year aims to provide a forum for extensive discussions on recent developments in string theory, matrix models, gauge/gravity duality, black-hole microstates, lattice constructions of chiral gauge theories, and open quantum systems.

List of the invited speakers and tentative titles:

Hirotaka Hayashi (Tokai University)
"6d/5d gauge theories from web diagrams"
Hikaru Kawai (NITEP, Osaka Metropolitan University)
"Emergence of space-time and matter from matrix model"
Takato Mori (Rikkyo University)
"Information theoretic approaches to closed universe"
Masaya Nakagawa (The University of Tokyo)
"Open quantum systems: From many-body physics to feedback control"
Masaki Shigemori (Nagoya University)
"Microstates of black holes and of whatnot"
Tadashi Takayanagi (YITP, Kyoto University)
"Extending holography to non-Hermitian systems"
Norihiro Tanahashi (Kyoto University)
"Optimal transport, holography and chaos"
Tatsuya Yamaoka (The University of Osaka)
"Advances in Hamiltonian lattice theory for realizing chiral gauge theories"

There will also be short talk sessions on more diverse topics, for which participants can apply.

Registration Deadline:
October 16 (Friday), 2026

Organizers:

Chien-Yu Chou (RIKEN iTHEMS)
Yuta Hamada (KEK/RIKEN iTHEMS)
Kohtaroh Miura (University of Tsukuba/KEK)
Jun Nishimura (KEK)
Hiroki Ohata (KEK)
Wei-Hsiang Shao (RIKEN iTHEMS)
Daichi Takeda (RIKEN iTHEMS)

This is a closed event for scientists. Non-scientists are not allowed to attend. If you are not a member or related person and would like to attend, please contact us using the inquiry form. Please note that the event organizer or speaker must authorize your request to attend.

Inquire about this event

Speakers

Hirotaka Hayashi

Professor, Department of Physics, School of Science, Tokai University

Hikaru Kawai

Visiting Professor, Nambu Yoichiro Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (NITEP), Osaka Metropolitan University

Takato Mori

Ph.D. Student, Department of Particle and Nuclear Physics, School of High Energy Accelerator Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)

Masaya Nakagawa

Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo

Masaki Shigemori

Professor, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University

Tadashi Takayanagi

Professor, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University

Norihiro Tanahashi

Program-Specific Associate Professor, Department of physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University

Tatsuya Yamaoka

Ph.D. Student, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, The University of Osaka