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211 ニュース
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2026-04-02
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KEK-iTHEMS Workshop “Concepts of Quantum and Spacetime” on March 9, 2026
We held the workshop “Concepts of Quantum and Spacetime” (at KEK in Japan from 9 to 12 March 2026), a joint workshop organized by KEK Theory Center and RIKEN iTHEMS. The two fundamental questions, “What is quantum?” and “What is spacetime?”, are deeply intertwined. The workshop discussed the question “How can quantum theory and spacetime be understood in a consistent manner?” from a fundamental and broad perspective and shared various ideas with open minds, to find directions guiding quantum theory over the next 100 years. The topics were diverse: foundations of quantum theory, quantum gravity, emergence of spacetime, formulation of semi-classical gravity, experimental aspects of fundamental properties in nature, and foundations of quantum many-body systems and thermodynamics. Around 90 researchers from various countries, generations, and fields came together. (Around 40% of these were from overseas.) The 14 keynote speakers—many of whom are rarely seen in Japan—shared their visions on quantum theory and spacetime. (The talk slides are available in the website.) The 13 selected short talks and the 22 poster presentations were of a high standard, leading to lively discussions; we also held a poster award competition. Interestingly, the disagreements and confusion arising from differences in their expertise and viewpoints actually gave rise to new discussions and ideas. This was likely due to the open atmosphere of sincere engagement that emerged because the thema was not confined to specific methods or theoretical frameworks. Furthermore, small yet significant touches—such as providing boxed lunches to keep the lively atmosphere of the lecture hall going during the lunch break, and setting up whiteboards in open spaces to encourage discussion—proved effective. These efforts fostered constant, natural interaction and lively discussion throughout the venue. Participants did not merely listen; they truly shaped the workshop. (Visit the website to see photos during the event.) Many participants commented that it was an interesting and wonderful workshop. We also received feedback such as, “I gained ideas for future research,” and “This provided valuable insights for organizing future workshops.” These are the result of the deep curiosity shared by all participants regarding fundamental questions, “What is quantum?” and “What is spacetime?” It is precisely such curiosity that will naturally give rise to new ideas and collaborative research and connect the world. I hope that workshops embodying a similar spirit will be held around the world on a variety of themes in the future. Reported by Yuki Yokokura, chair of organizing committee.
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2026-03-31
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Farewell message from Takashi Satomi
Our colleague, Takashi Satomi, will be joining Tokyo Denki University as a Lecturer starting April 2026. We will all miss him and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Takashi: I would like to share that I will be leaving my position as an SPDR at iTHEMS. Although my term was originally planned to continue, I have decided to end it early as I will start a new position as a lecturer at Tokyo Denki University from April. I have been a member of iTHEMS as an SPDR from April 2024 to March 2026. During this time, I greatly enjoyed the open and interdisciplinary environment. Discussions with researchers from different fields gave me many new ideas and perspectives, and these experiences have been very valuable for my research. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the members at iTHEMS for their support and kindness. From April, I will continue to be affiliated with iTHEMS as a visiting researcher. I hope to continue discussions and collaborations in the future. Thank you very much for everything.
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2026-03-31
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Farewell message from Ryosuke Iritani
Our colleague, Ryosuke Iritani, will be joining the Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, as a Project Associate Professor starting April 1, 2026. We will all miss him and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Ryosuke: I have spent a rewarding seven years at iTHEMS. My research interests and vision have broadened significantly thanks to the research environment here. Since joining iTHEMS in 2019, I have become increasingly interested in learning and applying mathematics to biological questions. Whenever I encounter new mathematical techniques, I naturally consider how they might be applied to biological systems and how they can bridge our fields. Through this process, I have come to appreciate the truly interdisciplinary nature of science. This shift in my mindset was made possible by the opportunity to interact with such a diverse group of researchers. My goal over the next decade is to conduct biological research that also inspires other communities, such as mathematics and physics. I look forward to seeing where this path leads. The year 2020 was an unprecedented time, not only for iTHEMS but for society as a whole. During that period, we frequently discussed how to maintain an open and productive community, considering various ways to foster engagement within iTHEMS. As we move past the pandemic, I realize that navigating those challenges was an invaluable experience. It served as an important reminder that our research is fundamentally driven by human connection, passion, and well-being, and that we are individuals first and foremost. Finally, I would like to thank all the colleagues, technical staff, assistants, promotion office staff, and directors with whom I have been fortunate to work, discuss, chat, and dine. While I cannot list everyone by name here, I am deeply grateful for every interaction that enriched my time at iTHEMS. Special thanks to Adachi-san and Hamazaki-san for our continued collaboration; to Biology Seminar, Math Seminar, and Information Theory WG members for sharing their time and ideas through our daily interactions; to Catherine, Hatsuda-san, and Iso-san for their encouragement and for fostering such a great environment; and finally, to Wada-san for the continuous support in almost all aspects of my time at iTHEMS.
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2026-03-31
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Farewell message from Ryo Namba
Our colleague, Ryo Namba, will be joining the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Shizuoka University, as a Lecturer starting April 1, 2026. We will all miss him and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Ryo: It has been an incredibly stimulating and encouraging five years since I joined iTHEMS in 2021. When I first arrived, restrictions due to COVID-19 limited how often we could come to the office, and I did not have many opportunities to meet other iTHEMS members in person. However, through online meetings and seminars, I sensed a strong and growing enthusiasm for intellectual exchange within the community. Once these constraints were relaxed, people naturally began to gather, and I had many valuable opportunities to interact with colleagues across a wide range of disciplines, including particle and nuclear physics, biology, and mathematics. It was during this time that I was able to expand my research directions significantly. I had the opportunity to participate in study camps with mathematicians and to organize a couple of intensive lecture series spanning physics and mathematics. These experiences have played a central role in shaping my current research focus. iTHEMS offers a truly unique research environment -- not only in its interdisciplinary nature, but also in its openness to member-driven initiatives such as workshops, seminars, and other academic activities. I am deeply grateful for my time at iTHEMS, and I look forward to building on these experiences in my research and educational aspects at Shizuoka University. I sincerely wish for the continued flourishing and development of iTHEMS, and for its current and future members to enjoy their own vibrant and productive time there.
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2026-03-31
ホットトピックFarewell message from Sotaro Sugishita
Our colleague, Sotaro Sugishita, will be joining Hokkaido University as an Associate Professor starting April 1st, 2026. We will all miss him and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Sotaro: I joined iTHEMS in April 2025 as a research scientist in a cross-appointment position with Kyoto University. Although my time at iTHEMS has been short, I am very grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this unique and inspiring group. Due to my busy work and life in Kyoto, it is a little unfortunate that I did not have many opportunities to visit the Wako campus in person. Nevertheless, every time I visited, I was reminded of what a remarkable place iTHEMS is. There are so many outstanding researchers at iTHEMS, and each visit provided me with new stimulation. The open and interdisciplinary atmosphere of iTHEMS is truly special, and I feel fortunate to have had the experience. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the assistants at iTHEMS. Their support was always thoughtful and incredibly supportive, and it helped me greatly throughout. I am deeply grateful not only for the academic environment, but also for the professional and welcoming support system that makes iTHEMS such a pleasant place. I would like to thank everyone at iTHEMS. From April 2026, I will join Hokkaido University as an associate professor. I will also be affiliated with iTHEMS as a visiting researcher. I sincerely look forward to staying in touch and to future interactions and collaborations.
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2026-03-31
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Farewell message from Yuta Sekino
Our colleague, Yuta Sekino, will be joining the Institute for Advanced Research at Nagoya University as a YLC Assistant Professor starting April 1st, 2026. We will all miss him and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Yuta: I have been at RIKEN for seven years. Starting this April, I will join the Institute for Advanced Research at Nagoya University as a YLC Assistant Professor. I first joined the Quantum Hadron Physics Laboratory (Hatsuda Lab.) at the Nishina Center in April 2019 as a JSPS fellow, and from that time I also began attending iTHEMS activities. In October 2021, I moved to the Astrophysical Big Bang Laboratory (Nagataki Lab.) at RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research and started a concurrent position in iTHEMS. In July 2024, I officially became a member of iTHEMS as a postdoctoral researcher associated with RIKEN Quantum, and a concurrent member in Hamzaki Hakubi Research Team. During my seven years at RIKEN, I have greatly enjoyed the research environment embracing the iTHEMS spirit of "under one roof." Since I was an undergraduate student, I have been interested in interdisciplinary studies because my main research field, cold atoms, is strongly influenced by other subfields of physics, such as solid-state, nuclear, and particle physics. Therefore, I have greatly enjoyed interactions with researchers not only in physics, but also in mathematics, biology, and data science. I have also appreciated the availability of quantum computing resources. Although I am moving to Nagoya University, I will remain affiliated as a visiting scientist. I would like to continue participating in iTHEMS activities, and I look forward to further interactions with everyone. Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all the researchers and assistants of iTHEMS for their kind support throughout my time at RIKEN.
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2026-03-31
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Farewell message from Shigenori Otsuka
Our colleague, Shigenori Otsuka, will be joining the Center for Environmental Remote Sensing, Chiba University, as an Associate Professor starting March 2026. We will all miss him and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Shigenori: I came to RIKEN in January 2013 as a postdoctoral researcher at R-CCS, and I joined iTHEMS as a concurrent member in April 2018. Since then, I have learned a lot from various iTHEMS activities, such as the iTHEMS colloquium series, the lecture series at Nara Women's University, coffee meetings, and collaborations between iTHEMS and Kyoto University. Although my research field, meteorology, has not been a major topic within iTHEMS, I found that we shared many common interests, including fluid dynamics, chaos, data assimilation, and machine learning. After my 13-year career at RIKEN, I moved to Chiba University in March 2026 as an associate professor at the Center for Environmental Remote Sensing. In May 2026, I will return to iTHEMS as a visiting scientist in the Prediction Science Research Team, so please keep in touch. Thank you very much!
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2026-03-24
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Farewell message from Kan Kitamura
Our colleague, Kan Kitamura, will be joining the Department of Mathematics, College of Science, Rikkyo University as an Assistant Professor, starting April 1, 2026. We will all miss him and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Kan Kitamura: I joined iTHEMS as a special postdoctoral researcher (SPDR) in April, 2024. It has been a great pleasure to spend these two years in such a wonderful research environment. This department is built on a unique concept where researchers from diverse fields of theoretical science work together under one roof. Being able to casually interact with colleagues from different areas has continually stimulated my intellectual curiosity and provided me with a lot of inspiration. In 2025, iTHEMS transitioned into a center, and I feel fortunate to have been there at that time. The evolving environment kept my research experience fresh and exciting. I feel that my research has progressed well during my time here, and I have no doubt that the creative atmosphere of iTHEMS played a significant role in this. I would like to express my deep gratitude to my colleagues for the discussions, both formal and informal, and to the staff for their support. Although I will be leaving my current position, I will remain affiliated as a visiting scientist, and I hope to continue interacting with all of you. I wish iTHEMS every success and continued growth.
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2026-03-11
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XIIIth International Symposium on Nuclear Symmetry Energy (NuSym25) on September 8-13, 2025
The XIIIth International Symposium on Nuclear Symmetry Energy (NuSym25) was held from September 8 to 13, 2025, at the Integrated Innovation Building, RIKEN Kobe Campus. The symposium brought together approximately 78 researchers working on nuclear physics, astrophysics, and related fields to discuss recent developments in the study of the nuclear equation of state (EoS) and nuclear symmetry energy. The nuclear symmetry energy plays an important role in understanding properties of neutron-rich nuclear matter, which is relevant for nuclear structure, heavy-ion collisions, and astrophysical phenomena such as neutron stars and their mergers. The symposium aimed to connect experimental, observational, and theoretical efforts across these areas. The scientific program included invited and contributed talks covering a broad range of topics, including nuclear structure and reactions, heavy-ion collision experiments and transport model simulations, microscopic calculations of dense neutron-rich matter, and astrophysical observations of compact stars. Recent progress in multi-messenger observations of neutron stars and their implications for the nuclear equation of state were also discussed. The symposium provided an opportunity for researchers from different communities to exchange ideas and strengthen collaborations in addressing common challenges related to the nuclear equation of state. Following the main scientific sessions, a meeting of the Transport Model Evaluation Project (TMEP) was held to discuss benchmarking and uncertainty quantification in transport model simulations for heavy-ion collisions. Reported by Shuntaro Aoki
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2026-03-09
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理化学研究所-奈良女子大学理学部合同 ダイバーシティ推進ワークショップ2026が開催されました
奈良女子大学の数学、物理学、化学、生物科学、環境科学など異なるコースの学生たち（学部1回生/2回生/3回生、大学院博士前期課程1回生の合計21名）が3月2日と3月3日の2日間に理研を訪問し、多階層精神疾患研究チーム(CBS)、RIBF施設、光量子制御研究チーム(RQC)を見学、iTHEMSでは大矢めぐみ (iTHEMS医科学データ駆動数理チーム 特別研究員)とレオ・シュパイデル（iTHEMS ECLユニットリーダー）の講演を聞きました。 それぞれの研究室で、実験機器の近くで最先端の研究の一端に触れるとともに、夕方からの理研研究者との交流会では、iTHEMS研究員に質問したり、研究者の日常生活やキャリアについて知り、学生たちにとって充実した交流と有意義な意見交換の場となりました。 このダイバーシティ推進活動は、奈良女子大学理学部と理研iTHEMSが共同で推進する事業として、奈良女子大学での連続講義とセットで行われているものです。
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2026-03-04
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五神理事長が理研バークレーセンターを訪問
2026年2月26日、理化学研究所理事長の 五神真 氏が理研バークレーセンターを訪問されました（写真左）。 当日は、理研バークレーセンターの設立趣旨および活動コンセプトの紹介、オフィスの視察に続き、UC Berkeley (UCB)およびLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) で研究を行っている理研バークレーフェローとの懇談が行われました（写真右）。フェローからは、それぞれの研究内容に加え、バークレーにおける研究・生活環境についての紹介があり、充実した研究活動の様子や今後のさらなる発展に向けた展望が共有されました。 また、センター訪問の前後には、五神理事長と Steve Kahn 氏（UCB数学・物理学部長）、野村泰紀 氏(UCB, Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics 所長)、村山斉 氏(UCB, 物理学部 教授)らとの意見交換が行われ、UCBの量子計算機施設の視察も行われました。 本訪問を契機として、理研とバークレーの研究者間の連携・交流が一層深化することが期待されます。理研バークレーセンターは、今後も両機関をつなぐ研究交流の拠点として活動を推進してまいります。 写真左：理研バークレーセンター看板前にて。左から、磯センター長、五神理事長、Wick Haxton氏、長瀧理研バークレーセンター長、初田領域総括。 写真右：理研バークレーフェローとの懇談の様子。左から、Gabriele Di Ubaldo氏、Jan Shuette-Engel氏、金久保優花氏、初田領域総括、磯センター長。
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2026-02-03
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企画展「ミッション∞インフィニティ」で「Black Hole Recorder」を展示
株式会社ADKマーケティング・ソリューションズは、東京都現代美術館で開催中の企画展「ミッション∞インフィニティ｜宇宙＋量子＋芸術」（2026年1月31日〜5月6日）にて、 iTHEMSと制作した体験型サイエンスアート作品 「Black Hole Recorder（ブラックホール・レコーダー）」 を出展中です。 この作品は、量子ブラックホール理論に着想を得た未来の情報ストレージのプロトタイプ模型。膨大なデータを蓄えるブラックホールをモチーフに、人間の声や音を記録し、遠い未来や宇宙へ届けるというコンセプトで展示されています。 企画展では、宇宙や量子とアートを融合した作品を通じて、「見えない世界」や未来の可能性を体感できます。 詳細は関連リンクをご覧下さい。
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2026-01-15
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iTHEMS Colloquium by Hiroki R. Ueda on October 10, 2025
On October 10, 2025, Dr. Hiroki Ueda, Professor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Medicine and former Team Leader at RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), delivered a splendid iTHEMS Colloquium talk on the Wako campus. His lecture, titled “Why Do We Sleep? The Role of Calcium and Phosphorylation in Sleep,” attracted a wide audience—not only researchers from iTHEMS but also colleagues from other RIKEN centers, including the Pioneering Research Institute (PRI) and the Center for Brain Science (CBS), as well as administrative staff. The talk was highly engaging and accessible to specialists and non-specialists alike. Dr. Ueda began with an overview of the long history of sleep research and the major unsolved questions that continue to inspire the field. He then presented his group’s recent discoveries on the role of calcium in sleep regulation. He also introduced a new theoretical framework—the WISE (Wake Inhibition Sleep Enhancement) mechanism—together with its mathematical modeling. Because sleep is closely connected to our daily lives, the audience had many questions from diverse perspectives, and Dr. Ueda kindly addressed each of them in detail. During and after the colloquium, including at the dinner that followed, we had stimulating discussions with him about his group’s model and potential new directions for sleep research and related areas of life science. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Ueda for his inspiring lecture and for sharing his broad expertise with our community. (Photos: courtesy of Assistant Chikako Ota, RIKEN iTHEMS.) Reported by Gen Kurosawa
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2026-01-08
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RIKEN–IBS Joint Workshop on Mathematical Approaches to Nature Held in Daejeon, Korea, December 9–12, 2025
In December 9–12, 2025, a collaborative workshop jointly organized by the Institute of Basic Science (IBS, Korea) and RIKEN was held in Daejeon, Korea. The workshop aimed to explore the unifying mathematical principles that underlie diverse natural phenomena—from the fundamental interactions that shape the universe to the complex behaviors observed in living systems. From RIKEN, iTHEMS researchers including Derek Inman, Ryo Namba, Alvaro Pastor Gutierrez, Shuntaro Aoki, Sungsik Kong, Amaury Micheli, Puttarak Jai-akson, Ryoko Oishi-Tomiyasu, Che-Yu Chen, and Christy Kelly delivered talks. All the presentations were impressive and thoughtfully prepared so that researchers from different fields could follow and appreciate the content. Indeed, there were many stimulating cross-disciplinary questions, and we enjoyed lively discussions over lunches and dinners, accompanied by excellent (and wonderfully spicy) food. Although the workshop was originally designed to foster collaboration between RIKEN and IBS, connections were already present—for example, through Shuntaro Aoki, a physicist at iTHEMS formerly at IBS, and Shingo Gibo, a mathematical biologist at IBS formerly at iTHEMS. This workshop further strengthened these ties and created new ones. The planning and local organization of the workshop were led by the center of Masahide Yamaguchi (IBS), Yusuke Yamada (IBS), and by Yuto Yamamoto and Ryo Namba at RIKEN iTHEMS, with strong support from IBS and the International Collaboration Section of the Global Strategy Division at RIKEN. We are deeply grateful for their dedicated efforts. I hope that the successful interactions fostered through this workshop will continue to develop even further. (Photos: courtesy of Director Satoshi Iso, RIKEN iTHEMS.) Reported by Gen Kurosawa
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2025-12-12
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Computing n-Time Correlation Functions without Ancilla Qubits
A research team led by Xiaoyang Wang (Postdoctoral Researcher, Quantum Mathematical Science Team, iTHEMS) has proposed a new method for computing n-time correlation functions, which play a central role in understanding the dynamics of quantum many-body systems. The proposed approach requires neither ancilla qubits nor controlled operations, and evaluates correlation functions using only the unitary time evolution of the system of interest. Conventional methods, such as the Hadamard test, rely on ancilla qubits that control the entire system, posing significant challenges for digital quantum processors with limited qubit connectivity and for analog quantum simulators where controlled operations are difficult or impossible to implement. The present work overcomes these limitations and broadens the range of quantum platforms on which multi-time correlation functions can be experimentally accessed. The protocol was demonstrated on IBM quantum hardware with up to 12 qubits, where the team successfully measured the single-particle spectrum of the Schwinger model and the out-of-time-order correlator (OTOC) in the transverse-field Ising model. In addition, an error-mitigation strategy based on signal processing—combining signal filtering and correlation analysis—was introduced, enabling the recovery of ideal noiseless simulation results from noisy experimental data. This work provides a new foundation for experimentally probing complex quantum many-body correlation functions under realistic hardware constraints, thereby strengthening the connection between theoretical predictions and quantum experiments.
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2025-11-12
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The 1st Joint General Meeting of RIKEN Quantum and the QII RIKEN User Group on October 24, 2025
On Friday, October 24, the 1st Joint General Meeting of RIKEN Quantum and the QII RIKEN User Group was held at Okochi Hall on the RIKEN Wako campus, bringing together RIKEN researchers who utilize the ibm_kawasaki quantum computer. The meeting featured lively discussions on quantum computing research at RIKEN across a wide range of disciplines, including condensed matter physics, particle, nuclear and astrophysics, biomedical sciences, and the humanities. With over 60 participants, including members from IBM Quantum, the event was a great success. This meeting is expected to further accelerate the development of quantum computing research at RIKEN in the future.
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2025-11-06
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超小型衛星 NinjaSatが異常に短いX線バースト周期を発見
土肥 明 基礎科学特別研究員を含む国際共同研究グループは、理研が主導するキューブサットX線衛星「NinjaSat（ニンジャサット）」を用いて、X線バーストを決まった時間間隔で起こすX線連星系（クロックバースター）を観測し、この天体の観測史上最も短い1.6時間のバースト繰り返し時間(再帰時間)を発見しました。 詳細は関連リンクをご覧下さい。
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2025-10-22
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白色矮星の“潮汐加熱”が明らかに
京都大学 白眉センター 特定助教／iTHEMS 客員研究員の Lucy Olivia McNeill さんを中心とする研究チームは、短周期連星系にある白色矮星（星の燃焼を終えた超高密度天体）が、強い潮汐力によって理論予測よりも高温・膨張していることを明らかにしました。 この「潮汐加熱」により、白色矮星は通常の約2倍に膨らみ、表面温度が1〜3万Kに達することが示されました。その結果、質量移転が始まる軌道周期は従来の予想よりも最大3倍長くなる可能性があるとされています。 本研究は、白色矮星の進化やIa型超新星の起源理解の深化に寄与する成果として注目されています。 詳細は、関連リンクより京都大学のプレスリリースページをご覧ください。
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2025-10-20
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AI分野における世界最高峰の国際会議「NeurIPS 2025」で論文採択
立教大学・増村翔氏と瀧雅人准教授（iTHEMS客員研究員）の論文が、機械学習分野の国際会議NeurIPS 2025に採択されました。 本研究では、連想記憶モデルの原理をTransformerに組み込むことで、学習過程で生じる「ランク崩壊」と呼ばれる問題を理論的・実験的に抑制できる新しい構造を提案しました。 追加パラメータを導入せずに性能を向上させることに成功しており、大規模言語モデルや画像生成AIのさらなる高性能化に貢献する可能性が期待されます。 NeurIPS 2025は2025年12月に米国サンディエゴで開催されます。 詳細は関連リンクより立教大学のプレスリリースをご覧下さい。
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2025-10-16
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大手前高校が「マスツアー」で iTHEMS を訪問しました
2025年10月2日〜3日にかけて、大阪府立大手前高等学校の生徒が理化学研究所数理創造研究センター（iTHEMS）を訪問し、「マスツアー」研修プログラムが実施されました。 生徒たちは iTHEMS の研究者による講義を通じて、数理科学の魅力と最先端の研究に触れました。田中章詞上級研究員による「機械学習入門」、入谷亮介上級研究員による「生物の増殖原理と進化ゲーム理論」、佐野岳人研究員による「球面と次元のはなし」といった多様な分野の講義が行われ、参加者は普段の授業では得られない刺激的な学びを体験しました。 生徒からは「進路を考える上で大変参考になった」「数学の新しい面白さを知った」といった感想が寄せられました。今回の訪問を通じて、数理科学への理解と関心を深める貴重な機会を提供することができました。
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2025-10-01
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Farewell message from Tomoya Naito
Our colleague, Tomoya Naito, has left iTHEMS at the end of September 2025 to join the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo as a Project Assistant Professor. We are grateful for his many contributions during his time with us and wish him every success in his new position. Here is a message from Tomoya: I first joined the Quantum Hadron Physics Laboratory (Hatsuda Lab.) at the Nishina Center in June 2017 as a student trainee, and from that time I also began attending iTHEMS activities. In April 2022, I officially became a member of iTHEMS as an SPDR, and from April to September 2025 I was a JSPS PD. During these three and a half years (or unofficially, more than eight years!), I really enjoyed being a member of iTHEMS. Although I was often away on business trips in the last two and a half years, I have always appreciated the activities of iTHEMS. My research is on low-energy nuclear physics and quantum many-body problems using density functional theory. Only a few people in iTHEMS are working in this field, but I had many opportunities to learn about other areas such as physics, mathematics, mathematical biology, and machine learning. These experiences gave me new knowledge and even led to new research topics. In particular, during the pandemic, I was not officially a member of iTHEMS, but I still joined many activities and had many discussions with iTHEMS colleagues. These experiences strongly influenced my current research direction. From this April, iTHEMS has been expanding and the atmosphere is also changing. It was a great honor to be a member during such an important period. In October 2025, I moved to the Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, as a Project Assistant Professor. Since RIKEN is still geographically close, I would like to continue joining iTHEMS activities, and I look forward to further interactions with everyone. Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all the researchers and assistants of iTHEMS for their kind support.
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2025-09-04
ホットトピックFarewell message from Seishiro Ono
Our colleague, Seishiro Ono, has left iTHEMS at the end of August 2025 to join the Division of Condensed Matter Theory, The Institute for Solid State Physics (ISSP), The University of Tokyo as an Assistant Professor. We are grateful for his contributions and wish him every success in his new position. Here is a message from Seishiro: I joined iTHEMS in April 2023 as a Special Postdoctoral Researcher, and as of August 31, I have left iTHEMS to start my new position as a Research Associate at the Institute for Solid State Physics, the University of Tokyo. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all members and staff at iTHEMS. Without such a supportive environment, I would not have been able to devote myself entirely to my research over the past two and a half years. I believe that iTHEMS is a truly unique research institute, and I have been continually impressed by its inspiring and researcher-friendly environment since I first joined. I sincerely hope to stay in touch, and I look forward to seeing you again in the near future. Once again, thank you very much for all your support in every respect.
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2025-08-26
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Workshop: N3AS Annual Meeting 2025 (August 5–7 @ UC Berkeley)
We (Keiya Hirashima, Camilia Demidem, Gabriele Di Ubaldo, Jan Schuette-Engel, Yuuka Kanakubo, Yuki Fujimoto, Shuntaro Aoki, Hiro Nagataki, Satoshi Iso, and Tetsuo Hatsuda) attended the N3AS Annual Meeting 2025, held at UC Berkeley (UCB) on August 5–7. N3AS stands for the Network for Neutrinos, Nuclear Astrophysics, and Symmetries, an NSF-funded program that began in 2016. iTHEMS and ABBL joined N3AS in 2020. During the meeting, Keiya, Camilia, Jan, Yuki and Shuntaro gave excellent presentations on their recent research. We also enjoyed many fascinating talks from N3AS members, including Mia Kumamoto and Kelsey Lund, both of whom participated in iTHEMS Now and Next 2025. Tetsuo and Hiro reported on the activities of iTHEMS, RBC, and ABBL, while Wick Haxton (PI of the N3AS program) provided an update on the status of N3AS. The meeting took place in the Physics building, where the RIKEN-Berkeley Center (RBC) is located. RBC is a hub for international collaboration of iTHEMS, such as researcher exchanges, joint workshops, and long-term fellowships. Now 3 researchers of iTHEMS (Jan, Gabriele, Yuuka) are staying there and engaging in international research collaborations. We made good use of the RBC office during our stay in the week of August 3. While at Berkeley, we (Satoshi, Tetsuo, and Hiro) had the opportunity to meet with Steve Kahn (Dean of Mathematical & Physical Sciences, UC Berkeley) and Martin Olsson (Chair of the Department of Mathematics, UC Berkeley) to discuss future communication and collaboration between iTHEMS and the Departments of Physics and Mathematics at UCB. We also visited Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), where another iTHEMS office is located. This visit reaffirmed the importance of the strong connection between RIKEN and Berkeley, and the key role of the RBC in supporting this collaboration.
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2025-08-26
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「Black Hole Recorder」を大阪・関西万博に出展―未来へメッセージを記録する量子重力サイエンスアート
iTHEMSは、外部クリエイターと2021年に制作した、量子ブラックホール理論に基づくサイエンスアート作品「Black Hole Recorder」を、2025年日本国際博覧会（大阪・関西万博）の企画展「エンタングル・モーメント ―[量子・海・宇宙]×芸術」（内閣府・文部科学省主催）において、2025年8月14日（木）～8月20日（水）の期間、展示しました。 本展の会場には、20近くの研究機関や企業の研究と約20のアート作品が、9つのセクションで紹介されました。会場はミクロの量子から広大な宇宙がまるで「ウロボロス」のようにうながり再生しつづけるこの世界をイメージした構成で、iTHEMSは9つめのセクション宇宙の最後の展示で、説明と共に作品を鑑賞いただきました。そして「Black Hole Recorder」により会場の音は常に全て記録されており、将来的には記録された音をブラックホールに電波で送る計画を説明しお客さんに1500年後に向けたメッセージを録音していただきました。 万博での開催ということで多い日は1日に9千人以上（7日間で62360人）のお客さんが訪れる会場で、非常に多くの方々に鑑賞・体験いただくことができました。時間帯によってはかなり混み合いゆっくりご覧いただけないこともありました。アート作品を通じることで、ブラックホールそしてその理論である量子重力理論を知っていただき、多くの方に基礎理論が将来の役にたつ技術になるかもしれないというメッセージを持って帰っていただけたと思います。万博での本企画展への出展は、サイエンスに普段はあまり関心がない方々にも研究成果やメッセージを届けるよい機会となりました。他の出展者との交流もありiTHEMSの社会連携活動において今後の発展につながるものとなりました。
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2025-08-20
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Farewell message from Congcong Le
Our colleague, Congcong Le, will be leaving iTHEMS to join the Hefei National Laboratory as a Research Scientist. Since joining iTHEMS in August 2021 as a Postdoctoral Researcher, he has spent four wonderful years making progress in research and actively engaging in our community. We will all miss him and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Congcong: I joined iTHEMS in August 2021 as a Postdoctoral Researcher and have spent four wonderful years here. Looking back on this journey, I have not only made significant progress in my research but have also felt immense warmth and care in my daily life. For researchers, the most valuable thing is to have an open environment where we can freely explore ideas, follow our curiosity, and ask every question that comes to mind. iTHEMS has provided such an environment, and I consider myself very lucky to have been part of it. In our weekly Coffee Meetings, I always benefit from the vivid biological facts and mathematical tricks. In the weekly group discussions hosted by Chingkai, I can share the new problems and the new ideas, and these exchanges have continually broadened my perspective and strengthened my research abilities. On a personal note, I am especially grateful to Hatsuda-san and all the iTHEMS assistants. During a challenging time for my family, they offered us sincere support and help. I still clearly remember that when we arrived in Japan from Germany in 2021, my wife was pregnant. Due to COVID-19, we needed to quarantine. To ensure my wife’s safety, Tomoko-san and Sasaki-san helped us find a hotel near the hospital, and after the quarantine, Hatsuda-san personally drove my family and me to RIKEN. This kindness and care will always remain in my heart. Next, I will be moving to the Hefei National Laboratory in China. Although I am embarking on a new journey, I sincerely hope to return often to visit and continue enjoying the unique academic atmosphere here. Let’s stay in touch and keep enjoying the beauty of both research and life.
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2025-08-18
ホットトピック大阪・関西万博の企画展「エンタングル・モーメント ―［量子・海・宇宙］× 芸術」に サイエンスアート作品「Black Hole Recorder」を出展
iTHEMSが外部クリエイターと2021年に制作した、量子ブラックホール理論に基づくサイエンスアート作品「Black Hole Recorder（ブラックホール・レコーダー）」を、2025年日本国際博覧会（大阪・関西万博）の 企画展「エンタングル・モーメント ―[量子・海・宇宙]×芸術」（内閣府・文部科学省主催）において、2025年8月14日（木）～8月20日（水）の期間、展示します。 出展にあわせてYouTubeに「Black Hole Recorder」紹介および物理学者対談〜量子重力・ブラックホールを語る〜 DIGEST 理研iTHEMSセンター長 磯 暁 X バークレー理論物理学センター長 野村 泰紀の動画を公開しました。 詳細は関連リンクをご覧下さい。
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2025-08-18
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Farewell message from Misako Tatsuuma
Our colleague, Misako Tatsuuma, will be joining the Department of Electronic Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tokyo College as an Assistant Professor starting September 2025. She will continue to be involved with iTHEMS as a visiting scientist. We will all miss her and wish her the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Misako: Although it has only been about two years since October 2023, my time at iTHEMS has been a lifelong treasure for me. My research field is planet formation theory, but by joining seminars from many different fields, I was able to learn a lot of new things and gain many new ideas for future research. I also had opportunities to engage in outreach and teaching, which gave me valuable experiences. I am especially grateful that, during the most difficult period of childcare, I was allowed to work flexibly, including working from home. I will continue to be involved with iTHEMS as a visiting scientist, so I look forward to staying connected with you. From September 2025, I will be teaching in the field of information engineering at a National Institute of Technology (KOSEN), which is a five-year school for students from the equivalent of the first year of high school to the second year of university. This will be a new field for me, so I hope to learn a lot while also incorporating what I can into my research. Thank you very much for everything.
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2025-08-06
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RIKEN和光サイエンス合宿2025 ― 高校生が量子コンピュータでベルの不等式の破れに挑戦
全国からの応募、選抜をくぐり抜けた高校生16名が、理化学研究所和光キャンパスで開催された「RIKEN和光サイエンス合宿2025」に参加しました。参加者は応募時に選んだABCの3つのコースに分かれ、個体間脳ダイナミクス連携ユニット（CBS）、分子リガンド標的研究チーム（CSRS）、そして数理創造研究センター（iTHEMS）にて、2025年7月28日〜31日の4日間にわたって、最先端の研究や技術を合宿形式で体験しました。 iTHEMSでは、本多正純と難波亮がCコース「量子の世界に迫る ～量子コンピュータで見るベルの不等式の破れ～」を担当しました。このコースでは、IBM Quantumが提供するクラウド型量子コンピュータの実機を用いて、量子論が古典論から本質的に逸脱していることを示す「ベルの不等式の破れ」の検証・実測を行いました。 集まった高校生たちの熱意と推進力は非常に強く、高校段階の数学や物理の枠を大きく超える内容にもかかわらず、実際に自分たちの力で量子コンピュータにベルの不等式の破れを検証するためのプログラムを実装するだけでなく、独自の方法を自分たちで編み出すなど、担当研究者たちを驚かせました。 実習以外にも、高校生たちは理研が保有する量子コンピュータ「叡」やスーパーコンピュータ「HOKUSAI」の見学、「叡」のVR体験、仁科センターの展示見学などを通して、理研の研究環境に触れました。また、昼食やコーヒータイムを通じてiTHEMSの研究者たちと自由に交流し、自分と興味を同じくする同世代と親睦を深めるとともに、等身大の研究者を知ることで自分の将来へも思いを馳せているようでした。 合宿の最終日には他のコースの参加者や担当研究者、理事長・理事の前で、合宿での体験や学んだことを発表し、4日間の合宿は幕を閉じました。RIKEN和光サイエンス合宿は理研が毎年開催している高校生向けの合宿プログラムで、これまでは実験系の実習が中心でしたが、今回初めて理論系のコースが設けられ、iTHEMSの研究者がその担当を務めました。
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2025-07-25
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Investigating the World Inside the Atom: Interview with Yan Lyu published on the JICFuS Website
An interview with Dr. Yan Lyu (Postdoctoral Researcher, iTHEMS), titled “Investigating the World Inside the Atom” has been published on the JICFuS (Joint Institute for Computational Fundamental Science) website. Dr. Lyu explores lattice QCD (quantum chromodynamics) through large-scale numerical simulations using supercomputers. In the article, he discusses how he became interested in this field, the interplay between theory and computation, collaborative research through JICFuS, and his personal approaches to research. This inspiring interview offers insight into his journey as a researcher striving to understand the hidden structure of matter. Please see the related link below to read the full article.
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2025-07-03
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Farewell message from Yuki Fujimoto
Our colleague, Yuki Fujimoto, left iTHEMS on June 30 and has moved to Niigata University to take up a position as Assistant Professor. We thank him for his time at iTHEMS and wish him all the best in this new chapter. Here is a message from Yuki Fujimoto: As of June 30, I have left iTHEMS, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the members of iTHEMS. I am moving to Niigata University to take up a position as an assistant professor. I joined iTHEMS in October 2024 as a RIKEN-Berkeley Fellow and was primarily based at the RIKEN center at UC Berkeley. Although my time at the Wako campus was brief, I greatly enjoyed the interactions and discussions with colleagues from a wide range of fields. I will continue to be affiliated with iTHEMS as a visiting scholar, and I look forward to seeing you all when I visit Wako. You are all very welcome to visit me in Niigata as well. I wish iTHEMS continued growth and success in the future.
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2025-04-23
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iTHEMS x academist online event was held on April 19, 2025
iTHEMS held an online lecture event for the general public with the help of Academist Inc., on April 19, 2025. This year’s speakers were Yuuka Kanakubo, Kan Kitamura, Leo Speidel, and Yuki Yokokura, who delivered clear and easy-to-understand lectures that even middle school students could comprehend. Each speaker also served as a commentator for other lectures and facilitated Q&A sessions based on audience questions. During the lunch break, as part of the lunch program, Director Iso, a physicist, and Prof. Fumiharu Kato, a mathematician, engaged in a discussion about the future possibilities of mathematics, moderated by Ms. Shinozaki. The event was organized and hosted by Ms. Michibayashi and Mr. Katada from Academist, who helped make the event a success. The event was attended by 414 people, and at one point there were over 250 in the audience.
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2025-04-09
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センター長 磯暁のご挨拶
この4月、iTHEMS（数理創造研究センター）は、組織を大きく拡充しセンターとなり、次のフェーズへと歩みを進めました。今後も成長と進化を続けていきますが、iTHEMSの根幹にある精神は変わりません。
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2025-04-08
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iTHEMS Starter Meeting for FY 2025 on April 4, 2025
On Friday, April 4, 2025, the annual iTHEMS Starter Meeting was held at 12:30 PM in Suzuki Umetaro Hall. Unlike the regular Coffee Meetings that take place every Friday at the same time, the Starter Meeting marks the beginning of the academic year and serves as a special occasion to introduce new members, allow existing members to reintroduce themselves, and share the outlook for the year ahead. This year’s meeting was held on a larger scale than usual to commemorate a major organizational milestone—the transformation of iTHEMS from a program into the newly established RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences. The meeting opened with a commemorative talk by Tetsuo Hatsuda, former Program Director, who reflected on the history of interdisciplinary mathematical science research at RIKEN, beginning with the iTHES program and leading up to the evolution of iTHEMS. He also expressed heartfelt appreciation for the contributions of former Deputy Program Directors Takashi Tsuboi and Takemasa Miyoshi. Following his talk, the new Center Director, Satoshi Iso, provided an overview of the structure and vision for the newly reorganized iTHEMS, including the establishment of new research units and teams designed to further expand and deepen the center’s interdisciplinary mission. Flower bouquets were then presented to Hatsuda-san and Tsuboi-san as a gesture of gratitude, while Miyoshi-san, who was absent, was also acknowledged for his contributions. After a brief intermission, Tsukasa Tada, Deputy Director, introduced the newly adopted iTHEMS Code of Conduct. He emphasized its core principles—mutual respect, scientific integrity, inclusivity, and responsibility—and explained how the Code reflects the ethical foundation that each member is encouraged to uphold and shape as the community evolves. This was followed by a series of one-minute self-introductions by all members, each using a single slide, continuing the tradition of fostering familiarity and collaboration across disciplines. The meeting concluded slightly before 5:00 PM, after which participants returned to the Main Research Building to attend a reception in the open space on the third floor. The reception provided an opportunity for further discussion and networking among iTHEMS members and affiliated researchers, marking a warm and promising start to the new academic year under the expanded vision of the iTHEMS Center.
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2025-04-08
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Takashi Tsuboi Appointed Honorary Research Fellow at RIKEN
The former Deputy Program Director of iTHEMS, Takashi Tsuboi, has been appointed "Honorary Research Fellow" at RIKEN by President Makoto Gonokami, effective April 1, 2025.This honor recognizes Takashi’s many years of distinguished service as Deputy Program Director of iTHEMS (FY2017–FY2024), as well as his outstanding achievements and dedicated contributions. He will continue to support iTHEMS as a Senior Visiting Scientist. Congratulations, Takashi!
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2025-04-01
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Farewell message from Daiki Kumakura
Our colleague, Daiki Kumakura, joins R&D Division at Daiichi Sankyo Co. as Translational Scientist after receiving PhD last week from Hokkaido University. We wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Daiki: I joined iTHEMS as a Junior Research Associate (JRA) in April 2022, and since then I have been fortunate to experience a wealth of opportunities and engaging discussions that go far beyond what I encountered at university. When I started as a JRA, I set myself the dual goals of advancing both research and education. In research, I pursued mathematical and computational analyses with a focus on microbial themes. In education, I established a Young Researchers in Mathematical Biology group for students and organized a summer school. Additionally, I participated in public outreach by designing a “one poster per family” project, and through appearances on FM radio and our university’s YouTube channel, I helped spread the excitement of mathematical science and the unique identity of iTHEMS to students throughout Japan. I am deeply grateful to the many individuals at iTHEMS whose support made all of these endeavors possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Starting in April 2025, I will be embarking on a new chapter as a Translational Scientist at Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. In this role, I will analyze and interpret clinical trial data across various disease areas, including cancer, with the aim of enabling faster and more appropriate drug prescriptions for patients. I look forward to applying the invaluable experiences I gained at iTHEMS to establish a strong position for mathematical science in industrial applications. My career has flourished thanks to iTHEMS, and I sincerely wish for the continued growth and success of the iTHEMS community. I hope to maintain close ties with all of you in the future. Thank you very much for everything.
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2025-03-24
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Farewell message from Akihisa Yamamoto
Our colleague, Akihosa Yamamoto, will be joining Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Faculty of Systems Design at Tokyo Metropolitan University as an Associate Professor starting April 1st, 2025. We will all miss him and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Akihisa: I joined RIKEN iTHEMS as a research scientist in April 2024. Although it has only been a year, I truly enjoyed my time here. I have encountered many exciting and diverse research topics that have significantly expanded my scientific horizons and thoroughly enjoyed attending seminars across various fields. Due to the great diversity and high quality of the presentations, it has not always been easy to grasp the key take-home messages and formulate relevant questions. Nonetheless, I have always enjoyed the opportunity to immerse myself in these stimulating discussions. I am also very grateful for the positive atmosphere of iTHEMS, fostered by talented and considerate colleagues. It has been a great pleasure to be a part of this fantastic institute, and I sincerely thank the Program Director Hatsuda-san and every member of iTHEMS including all the assistants for collectively maintaining such a supportive environment. I will be appointed as an Associate Professor in the Biomechanical Engineering Area in the Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Faculty of Systems Design at Tokyo Metropolitan University on April 1st, 2025. I plan to continue my exploration of the mechanistic understanding of homeostasis and the dynamics of living systems. I am sure that the scientific perspective and thought processes I have developed during my time at iTHEMS will remain with me throughout my scientific career. I sincerely wish for the continuous and even greater success of iTHEMS, and I look forward to staying in touch with iTHEMS members.
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2025-03-23
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Farewell message from Rongyang Sun
Our colleague, Rongyang Sun, will be joining Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Northridge, as a postdoctoral researcher, starting April 2025. We will all miss him and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Rongyang: I joined iTHEMS in April 2023 as part of RIKEN Quantum, and you may not even meet me on campus as my base is at R-CCS in Kobe. Although my time in iTHEMS has been short, formally only half a year, and I participated in the events remotely most of the time, I learned so much, far more than I expected, from this active research institute, which owns the best diversity and productivity. I would like to thank all the members of iTHEMS, including the directors, researchers, and assistants. Thank you for giving me such a unique experience in my research career! While I am moving to the US, a physically very far away place, I will continue to follow the development of iTHEMS and share in its success. Starting in April 2025, iTHEMS will be upgraded to a research center. I sincerely wish all the members and the institute greater success in this new era!
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2025-03-18
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Farewell message from Steffen Backes
Our colleague, Steffen Backes, will be joining the RIKEN TRIP Research DX Team as an Expert Technician, starting April 1, 2025. We will all miss him and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Steffen: I joined iTHEMS and RIKEN in August 2023, so only about 1.5 years ago, but this time had a lasting impression on my personal life and scientific career. It is hard to overstate how much I enjoyed being part of iTHEMS, as it has been an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding time. Being able to meet so many knowledgeable and kind people from different fields and parts of the world, and coming up with new and unconventional ideas due to different backgrounds, was truly amazing. I am very grateful for having been accepted to iTHEMS, which I think is a very special and outstanding place due to this diversity and scientific freedom, that is hard to be found elsewhere. In FY2025 (April 1st) I will change to an Expert Technician position in the RIKEN TRIP Research DX Team, Wako Campus, so I will still stay close to iTHEMS! As far as time allows, I will make sure to drop by and say hello :) Thank you everyone for this great time, and let's meet again soon!
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2025-03-12
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Farewell message from Jizhou Li
Our colleague, Jizhou Li, will be joining Professor Akira Shudo's group in the Department of Physics at Tokyo Metropolitan University as a postdoctoral researcher, starting April 1, 2025. We will all miss him and wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor. Here is a message from Jizhou: As I move on to my next position at Tokyo Metropolitan University, I just wanted to say a big thank you to all of you. I’ve really enjoyed the discussions, collaborations, and all the insightful talks at iTHEMS. The biology seminars and coffee meetings, in particular, have been a fantastic learning experience for me. Luckily, since I live just 1 km from RIKEN, I’m not going too far! I still plan to drop by for the biology seminar every Thursday, so I’m looking forward to more chats and discussions with you all. Thanks again, and see you around!
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2025-03-06
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理化学研究所-奈良女子大学理学部合同 ダイバーシティ推進ワークショップ2025が開催されました
奈良女子大学の数学、物理学、化学、生物科学、環境科学など異なるコースの学生たち（学部1回生/2回生/3回生、大学院博士前期課程1回生の合計19名）が3月3日と3月4日の2日間に理研を訪問し、RIBF施設、iTHEMS、知覚運動統合機構研究チーム(CBS)、光量子制御技術開発チーム(RAP)、 分子生命制御研究チーム(CSRS)を見学しました。それぞれの研究室で、実験機器の近くで最先端の研究の一端に触れるとともに、夕方からの理研研究者との交流会では、iTHEMS研究員のポスターでより深く研究内容について聞いて質問したり、研究者の日常生活やキャリアについて知り、学生たちは研究現場から刺激を受けていました。 このダイバーシティ推進活動は、奈良女子大学理学部と理研iTHEMSが共同で推進する事業として、奈良女子大学での連続講義とセットで行われているもので、次年度以降も継続する予定です。
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2025-02-25
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Farewell message from Jeffrey Fawcett
Our colleague, Jeffrey Fawcett will move on to a new career as a Chief Scientist at Regional Fish Institute, Ltd. as of March 1st, 2025. We all will miss him and wish him the best of luck in his latest endeavor. Here is a message from Jeffrey Fawcett: I will be moving to Kyoto to work at a company called Regional Fish from March. I will also most likely have a joint position at Kyoto University at a lab funded by the company. The company was started a few years ago mostly be people from Kyoto University, Graduate School of Agriculture, where I did my study, and specializes in breeding and developing fish and aquatic species using genome editing and various other techniques. My task will mainly be to perform genomic data analysis for the company, although I will also have some freedom to pursue my own research. I am looking forward to the new challenge to utilize my expertise and work for a company whose I mission I can identify with. I have been in iTHEMS for exactly 7 years, which say how much I enjoyed and appreciated the setup of iTHEMS. I remember some people telling me its their first time meeting a biologist, whereas I never imagined I would ever have the opportunity to enjoy talks on pure mathematics and theoretical physics. I would like to thank all the people involved in iTHEMS and hopefully I will be able to visit iTHEMS from time to time and keep up the connection.
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2025-02-10
ホットトピックFarewell message from Nozomi Kakinuma
Our administrative staff member, Nozomi Kakinuma, will be leaving RIKEN on February 14 to return to academic research. We will greatly miss her and wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Here is a message from Nozomi: Since April last year, I have been part of iTHEMS as a staff member in the iTHEMS Promotion Office. However, I have recently decided to pursue a career in research. Through coffee meetings, where researchers passionately discussed their work and explained it in an accessible way, I came to deeply appreciate both the excitement and significance of fundamental research. Inspired by these experiences, I am now committed to dedicating myself to research. I am truly grateful for all the support and guidance I have received. Thank you very much.
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2025-01-24
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Farewell message from Liang Zhang
Our colleague, Liang Zhang, has returned to the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences to complete his PhD thesis. We will all miss him and wish him the very best of luck in successfully defending his thesis ! Here is a message from Liang Zhang: I joined iTHEMS in January 2023 as a joint student and completed my two-year journey here in January 2025. I initially joined iTHEMS to study lattice QCD and the HAL QCD method, and I am deeply grateful to Hatsuda-san and Doi-san for guiding me into this fascinating field. However, I soon realized that my experience at iTHEMS extended far beyond my original purpose. For example I had a discussion with Namba san on chiral symmetry breaking which is studied in both particle physics and cosmology. It left an immediate impression that physics is so universal other than reading such sentences in textbooks. And the interdisciplinary energy at iTHEMS constantly amazed me. When I first came here I always struggled to pinpoint people’s major. In some seminars, theoretical physicists gave a biology talk (like Christy)! I vaguely feel like there is a group theory for nature which can be expressed to different representations, biological, mathematical, physical, etc. Is this what the “i” in iTHEMS means? At last I would like to thank everyone in iTHEMS again for my two-year experience here. This experience gives me a great impulse to expand the possibilities of my future research life. iTHEMS’s uniqueness lies in its boundless possibilities. And I dearly hope our paths will cross again!
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2025-01-17
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Farewell message from Lucy McNeill
Our colleague Lucy McNeill has moved on to a new career as a Hakubi Assistant Professor at The Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University as of January 16, 2025. We all will miss her and wish her the best of luck in her latest endeavor. Here is a message from Lucy McNeill: During my 1 year at iTHEMS as a postdoctoral researcher, I was presented with opportunities to further both my own research and professional development at every turn. I am especially grateful for iTHEMS directors and colleagues' support in starting the "asymptotics in astrophysics" iTHEMS study group, ample chances to travel abroad to share my work, and the frequent international workshops organised at iTHEMS. In particular, workshops co-hosted with RIKEN-Berkeley left this lasting impression on me; that new stellar astrophysics and supernova physics paradigms are creatively and efficiently conceived when physicists, mathematicians and data scientists join forces to solve longstanding astrophysical puzzles. iTHEMS is such a special place where those necessary first interactions are regularly facilitated, and I am sad to leave. But... "I'll be back"!
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2025-01-10
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Farewell message from Yantao Wu
Our colleague Yantao Wu will move on to a new career as a faculty member at Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences as of January 10, 2025. We all will miss him and wish him the best of luck in his latest endeavor. Here is a message from Yantao Wu: I joined iTHEMS in June 2021 as a RIKEN-Berkeley fellow, and have stayed here for three years and a half now. iTHEMS is a precious rare place in the academic world, where there seems to be no responsibility, no one telling you what to do, and infinite space for travel; where there seems to be a curious mind on every subject and every question ought to be asked. The interdisciplinary nature of the group has forever left an imprint on me, and I will always remember the vivid biological facts and mathematical tricks that I have learned here. Entering as a condensed matter physicist and leaving as a condensed matter physicist, my heart will always have a spot for the particle theory which I have learned from here. It has been an unexpected, yet very pleasant mix. Sadly, it appears that every gathering ends somewhere, and I need to leave this warm and protective bubble to a new place, to really enter the grown world of independent research and start my own group. iTHEMS will always remain as a source of lasting encouragement. I will move to the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing to start a faculty position. If you ever want to visit, please let me know you are from iTHEMS and I will make you a cup of tea (amidst taking you to the great wall and covering your travel costs.)
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2024-12-24
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iTHEMS Science Outreach Workshop 2024 was held on November 15-17, 2024
On November 15-17, we had Meeting on Outreach of RIKEN iTHEMS 2024 @Sendai & Zoom. This year as the last year the meeting was held at TOKYO ELECTRON House of Creativity 3F, Lecture Theater, Katahira Campus, Tohoku University. It was organized by RIKEN iTHEMS and Mathematical Science Center for Co-creative Society of Tohoku University and co-organised by Tohoku Forum for Creativity, Organization for Research Promotion, Tohoku University and RIKEN CPR, Prediction Science Laboratory. There were 39 people participated at TOKYO ELECTRON House of Creativity and 16 more by zoom. There were 20 talks at the venue and 2 talks by zoom. There were 2 posters, one photo exhibition. There were really a variety of thought around the past and the future of mathematics. Some of highlights are: talks concerning about causality from designers and physisists; about teaching mathematics in Art University; about the preparation of "Mathematics Connecting to the World: One S&T poster for Every Household"; etc. 7 talks were given by journalists and 1 by MEXT. The on-site participants consist of 10+1 members from RIKEN, 14+3 from universities and institutes, and 12+5 journalists (at venue + by zoom). We organized a social gathering on the first evening which was successful. We thank very much for the help of Tohoku University for the warm hospitality. By the success of this meeting, we hope the continuation of Journalist in residence program and this workshop next year. Reported by Takashi Tsuboi
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2024-12-17
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Hadrons and Hadron Interactions in QCD -- Experiments, Effective theories, and Lattice -- (HHIQCD2024) was held from Oct. 14 to Nov. 15, 2024
On Oct. 14 (Mon) - Nov. 15 (Fri), a long-term workshop "Hadrons and Hadron Interactions in QCD -- Experiments, Effective theories, and Lattice -- (HHIQCD2024)" was held at Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics (YITP), Kyoto University. The week of Oct. 28 (Mon) - Nov. 2 (Fri) was held as "Nishinomiya-Yukawa symposium". The workshop was sponsored by YITP and supported by RIKEN-iTHEMS and several JSPS/JST programs. We had 193 participants from all over the world, with most of them attending in-person. There were 64 invited talks and 49 contributed talks. The international school, "Introduction to QCD and related topics", was also held and 5 lectures were given. The purpose of this HHIQCD2024 workshop was to bring researchers in lattice QCD, various effective field theories and also experimentalists together and make extensive discussions on hadron physics. Furthermore, the workshop also focused on formal developments of quantum field theories and frontiers of first-principle calculations (quantum computation and tensor network methods). The workshop expected to bring a new direction of researches to understand the nature of QCD. This long-term workshop was a "stay-and-discuss" style workshop in a relaxed atmosphere, where each participant was encouraged to stay long. With this style, participants had intensive discussions with other participants, and even started new collaborations during the workshop. Presentation slides can be downloaded from the HHIQCD2024 web page.
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2024-12-16
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The second internal meeting of RIKEN Quantum on December 6, 2024
On Dec. 6 (Fri), the second internal meeting of RIKEN Quantum was held at Room 359, Main Research Building, RIKEN (Wako), attended by over 40 RIKEN Quantum members and related researchers. At this meeting, Yantao Wu, Himadri Pathak, and Xiaoyang Wang who have become RIKEN Quantum researchers this fall gave presentations on their recent research. In addition, 8 researchers from outside RIKEN who have become RIKEN visiting scientists in September to conduct collaborative research proposals also gave short talks to introduce themselves. They had a very lively discussion that will deepen understanding of their research. During the banquet following the meeting, participants deepened exchanges in a relaxed atmosphere and engaged in various conversations that will lead to the future development of RIKEN Quantum's activities.
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2024-11-26
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Farewell message from Shingo Gibo
Our colleague Shingo Gibo will move on to a new career as senior researcher at Institute for Basic Science (IBS), South Korea as of December 1, 2024. We all will miss him and wish him the best of luck in his latest endeavor. Here is a message from Shingo Gibo: I joined iTHEMS in September 2018 and spent six years as a postdoctoral researcher at iTHEMS. During this time, I have theoretically studied biological oscillations with Kurosawa-san. Additionally, I collaborated on interdisciplinary research on waveforms in circadian clocks with physicists, Hatsuda-san and Kunihiro-san. I would like to thank all the members for the valuable discussions and support. I have learned a lot and truly enjoyed my time at iTHEMS. From December, I will be moving to Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea as a senior researcher. Thank you for the great six years and see you again!
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2024-11-12
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Farewell message from Yaokun Lei
Our colleague Yaokun Lei will move on to a new career as associate research fellow at Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, China as of November. 11, 2024. We all will miss him and wish him the best of luck in his latest endeavor. Here is a message from Yaokun Lei: I joined iTHEMS last August. Although it’s a short time, it has been a truly enriching experience to be a part of iTHEMS. The support and collaborative spirit here have been invaluable, and I am especially grateful for the guidance and help from Hatsuda-san and Sugita-san, whose encouragement has greatly impacted this journey. I am thankful for the friendships and knowledge shared, and as I step forward, I carry with me not only the insights from my research but also the inspiration from our exchanges. I hope our paths cross again in future collaborations. Thank you all for everything, and wishing you continued success and discoveries.
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