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227 ニュース
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2026-08-17
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Farewell message from Sungsik Kong
Our colleague, Sungsik Kong, will be joining Sejong University in South Korea as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in September 2026. We will all miss him and wish him every success in this exciting new chapter. Here is a message from Sungsik: I joined iTHEMS in August 2025, and over the past year I have had the privilege of working in an exceptional research environment. Starting in September 2026, I will be joining Sejong University in South Korea as a tenure-track Assistant Professor. While I am excited about this move, I am also sad to be leaving my position as a Research Scientist at iTHEMS. My time at RIKEN has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. I am deeply grateful to RIKEN and iTHEMS for giving me the opportunity to pursue the scientific questions I am passionate about. I will miss iTHEMS' collaborative atmosphere. I have had the chance to learn from researchers across many different fields, many that I would never have had the opportunity to explore otherwise. Those seminars, colloquiums, and conversations have broadened my perspective, sparked new ideas, and made my time here truly valuable and memorable. If you ever visit Seoul, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Thank you all so much. It has been a real pleasure.
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2026-07-29
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2026 iTHEMS Visit by the National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
On June 25, a group of 3 professors and 13 students from National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, visited RIKEN . The purpose of the visit was to immerse the students in RIKEN’s multidisciplinary research environment and introduce them to stateoftheart scientific methodologies. It also aimed to inspire their future research careers while exploring opportunities for academic exchange and longterm collaboration between both institutions. First, the group visited RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science, hosted by Dr Claudio Santonastaso & Dr Seiya Sakai. Next visit was RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS), hosted by Dr. Gen Kurosawa. Last visit was RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing, hosted by Dr. Franco Nori. Gen Kurosawa, Senior Research Scientist, introduced iTHEMS’s interdisciplinary research environment and explained how mathematical methods from physics can be applied to important questions in biological clocks, leading to testable predictions that are verified experimentally.
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2026-07-24
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Farewell message from Puttarak Jai-akson
Our colleague, Puttarak Jai-akson, will be joining the Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, as a Program-Specific Researcher, starting in August 2026. We will all miss him and wish him every success in this exciting new chapter. Here is a message from Puttarak: I would like to share that I will be leaving my position as a Postdoctoral Researcher at iTHEMS. I joined iTHEMS in November 2022, and after nearly four wonderful years, I will be moving to a new position as a Researcher at Kyoto University, starting in August 2026. During my time at iTHEMS, I greatly enjoyed the open, friendly, and interdisciplinary research environment. The opportunity to interact with researchers from diverse fields has broadened my perspective, inspired many new ideas, and significantly enriched my research. I am deeply grateful to all the members of iTHEMS for their support, encouragement, and the many enjoyable discussions we have shared. I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful iTHEMS Assistants, whose kindness, professionalism, and constant support made my time at iTHEMS all the more enjoyable. Although I am leaving my full-time position, I am pleased to continue my affiliation with iTHEMS as a Visiting Scientist. I sincerely hope to continue our discussions and collaborations in the future. If you happen to visit Kyoto University, please don't hesitate to let me know. I would be very happy to catch up and continue our conversations. Thank you all very much for everything. It has been a privilege to be part of iTHEMS, and I wish everyone continued success.
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2026-07-16
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2026 iTHEMS Visit by the University of California San Diego Global Seminar Program
On July 8, Dr. Stanley Lo, Teaching Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the School of Biological Sciences, UCSD, visited iTHEMS together with 24 undergraduate students. The purpose of the visit was to learn about iTHEMS and its research activities while supporting the students’ learning about human diversity and the relationship between science and society. Thomas Hitchcock, Research Scientist at iTHEMS, hosted the lecture. He introduced his academic and professional background and presented his current research on evolution, ecology, and genetics.
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2026-06-11
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The First RIKEN Quantum International Workshop on Frontiers of Quantum Computing Applications and Quantum-HPC Integration on May 25-26, 2026
The First RIKEN Quantum International Workshop on Frontiers of Quantum Computing Applications and Quantum–HPC Integration was held from May 25 to 26 at the Large Conference Room on the 2nd floor of the Administrative Headquarters, RIKEN Wako Campus. The workshop featured an entirely invited program, consisting of 13 plenary presentations (40 minutes each) and 9 highlight presentations (20 minutes each). The presentations covered a broad range of fields—including quantum chemistry, life sciences, condensed matter physics, atomic physics, and high-energy physics—with a primary focus on the theme of quantum–HPC hybrid integration. With more than 130 registered participants, each presentation was followed by lively and engaging discussions. Furthermore, the networking reception held on the evening of the first day was well-attended, fostering active interaction and collaboration among researchers from universities, national research institutes, and private industries. This workshop is expected to drive further advancements in quantum computing through quantum–HPC hybrid integration. Reported by Shinichiro Fujii
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2026-05-18
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坂本健板橋区長が5月14日にiTHEMSを訪問
5月14日、坂本健板橋区長がiTHEMSの磯センター長を訪問されました。 坂本区長から板橋区の取組や基本構想についてご紹介いただいた後、磯センター長よりiTHEMSの理念や活動についてご説明しました。その後、研究本館東側2階から4階のiTHEMSスペースを見学され、議論中の研究員らと交流されました。 さらに、記念史料室において、板橋区ともゆかりのある貴重な史料をご覧になりました。
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2026-05-18
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トークイベント「役に立たない科学とアート vol.2」が東京都現代美術館で開催
東京都現代美術館で開催中の展覧会「MOTコレクション Mission∞Infinity：宇宙×芸術×量子」の関連イベントとして、2026年5月6日（水）、トークイベント「役に立たない科学とアート vol.2 〜“役に立たない“科学とアートを試作する〜」が開催されました。 本イベントは、量子ブラックホール理論に着想を得た作品《Black Hole Recorder》に関連して企画されたもので、研究者とクリエイターが登壇し、「一見すると役に立たない」発想がもたらす新たな可能性について議論が行われました。当日は約110名が参加しました。講演では、《Black Hole Recorder》のコンセプトや制作の背景にある理論的発想について紹介され、会場ではリスニングセッションを通じてその一端が体験されました。 登壇者は、初田哲男（理化学研究所 数理創造研究センター 量子数理科学チームディレクター）、橋本幸士（京都大学大学院理学研究科 教授）、小塚仁篤（ADKマーケティング・ソリューションズ クリエイティブディレクター）、児玉悠（同 エクスペリエンスデザイナー）の4名で、それぞれの専門分野の立場から科学とアートの協働について意見が交わされました。 橋本氏は、量子物理学の概念を音楽表現へと展開するなど、「量子×音楽」をテーマに科学と芸術を横断する活動にも取り組んでいます。 本企画は連続トークイベントの第2回として実施され、前回に引き続き、学術と創造的実践を横断する試みの意義について議論が深められました。 イベント終了後には、展覧会参加作家やアーティスト、研究者らによるラップアップトークが行われ、引き続き同メンバーが参加しました。
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2026-05-14
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iTHEMS × academist オンラインイベント「数理で読み解く科学の世界2026」を開催しました
理化学研究所 数理創造研究センター（iTHEMS）は、2026年4月18日（土）、アカデミスト株式会社と共同でオンラインイベント「数理で読み解く科学の世界2026」を開催しました。 本イベントでは、数理科学を軸として多様な分野にわたる講演が行われました。小泉淳之介、福島理、洪木子、大窪健児が登壇し、それぞれの専門分野について講演を行いました。各講演は具体例を交えながら進められ、コメンテーターとのやり取りや質疑応答の時間も設けられるなど、理解を深める工夫がなされました。 また、昼休みには甘利俊一栄誉研究員と磯暁センター長による企画「AI時代の知性と学び」が行われ、AIが人間の知的活動にどのように関わるのかや、学び方の変化について、具体例を交えた対話形式で議論が展開されました。 イベント後のアンケートでは満足度は高く、発表内容については「やや難しい」との声がある一方で、「分かりやすい」との評価も多く寄せられました。本イベントには303名（延べ528名）が参加し、最大同時接続数は184名を記録しました。
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2026-05-11
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数理遺伝学ECL研究ユニットが2026年4月27日–28日にリトリートを実施
2026年4月27日から28日にかけて、数理遺伝学ECL研究ユニットはSUURI-COOL Kyotoで二日間のリトリートを行いました。4月に新たなメンバーが加わったこともあり、今回は普段の研究環境を離れ、チーム全員で交流を深める良い機会となりました。 本ユニットは2024年に発足し、この一年半で6人体制へと成長しました。現在は、ユニットリーダーのシュパイデル玲雄、アシスタントの岩浪僚子さん、昨年加わったLucas SortさんとAina Colomer i Vilaplanaさんに加え、今年からはポスドク研究員のAlba Nieto Herediaさんと博士課程の平澤さつきさんが新たにユニットに加わりました。 私たちは、DNAが世代を超えてどのように受け継がれてきたのかを数理的・統計学的に解析し、ゲノムに刻まれた人類の歴史を読み解く研究を行っています。DNAには、人類の移動や適応、ヒトの起源といった人類史の痕跡が刻まれているほか、進化や健康に関わる手がかりも含まれています。私たちは、数万人規模の現代人ゲノムデータや、古代人の骨から得られたDNAを解析することで、人類集団の成り立ちを明らかにしようとしています。DNAに残された痕跡は、歴史書には記されていない人々の暮らしや移動の歴史を今に伝えています。 今回のリトリートでは、普段の研究活動ではあまり共有する機会のないテーマを持ち寄りました。まず、各自が科研費申請を想定した研究アイデアを発表する模擬グラントセッションを行いました。続いて、日々の研究で活用している実践的な技術を紹介するセッションを実施し、Ainaさんによる図表デザイン、AlbaさんによるVS CodeでのAIツール活用、LucasさんによるLaTeX、平澤さんによる古代DNAシーケンス、そして岩浪さんによる事務手続きのコツなど、多彩な内容が共有されました。最後には、日本の先史時代から古代国家の成立、平安貴族文化、さらに江戸時代に至るまで、日本史をたどるセッションも行いました。添付の写真は京都府宇治市の平等院で撮影したもので、平安時代の文化や歴史の面影を実際に感じることができました。
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2026-05-11
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RIKEN iTHEMSと台湾NCTSが優れた若手研究者の発掘を目的とした共同研究を開始、調印式を開催
2026年4月に理化学研究所数理創造研究センター (iTHEMS)と台湾・国家理論科学中心 (NCTS)との間で「数理を軸とする分野横断的手法による、物質、生命、宇宙の解明や、社会における基本問題の解決（Mathematical Frontiers for Matter, Life, and the Universe）」に関する共同研究を開始し、4月23日に国立台湾大学（NTU）において調印式を開催しました。 式典には、理研からはiTHEMS センター長 磯暁、副センター長 兼 国内外連携・人材育成部門長 長瀧重博、副センター長 河東泰之、コーディネータ 永井智哉の他、国立台湾大学からは、Executive Vice President Chih-Hsing Yang、Vice President of Research and Development (R&D) Chung-Chih Wu、NCTS Director Pei-Ming HoとNCTS Director Ming-Lun Hsieh、他、複数機関から物理、数学を中心とする理論科学分野の研究者が参加しました。 今回の共同研究により、研究者交流の拡大、国際シンポジウムの共同開催、最先端の理論科学分野における国際共同研究の推進等を通じて、両機関の協力関係を一層深めます。 また、本連携を通じて、若手理論研究者に対し、高い自由度のもとで研究に取り組める環境を提供するとともに、アジアを代表する理論物理・数学コミュニティーにまたがり、幅広い研究分野やその境界領域の研究者と協働できる貴重な機会の創出を目指します。
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2026-04-30
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Farewell message from Iao-Fai Io
Our colleague, Iao-Fai Io, will be returning to National Taiwan University starting in May to complete his Ph.D. We will miss him and wish him all the best in his future career. Here is a message from Iao-Fai: I joined iTHEMS in May 2025 as an International Program Associate (IPA). Over the past year, I have been very happy to be part of the iTHEMS member. RIKEN is one of national research institute in Japan, during my time here I had the opportunity to attend many high-quality seminars and workshops. I have also had the opportunity to visit and interact with member from different centers in RIKEN(such as CEMS, FQSP, RQC, etc.). I am also very grateful for the “coffee meetings” and “iTHEMS Now & Next” events, which helped me understand iTHEMS and learn about research which is beyond my own field. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my host researcher, Dr. Ching-Kai Chiu. He has taught me a great deal about research, particularly in superconductivity and altermagnetism, which has significantly improved my research abilities in condensed matter theory. Whenever I encountered difficulties in my research, he was always willing to discuss them with me and suggest valuable advice. I am also grateful to him for introducing me his collaborators, including Congcong Le (a former iTHEMS member) and collaborators from China. In addition, I would like to thank him for his support during my visits abroad. I would also like to thank Tomoko Iwanami-san and Chikako Ota-san for their administrative support. In addition, I am grateful to all the people I have met at iTHEMS over the past year (such as Yan, Xiaoyang, Duc-Truyen, Tianyin, Zhe, Jinyang, Rumi, Yuta, Brian, Shuntaro, Lingxiao, Muzi, Sho, Satsuki, Iso, Haruki, Tada, Hatsuda, etc.). Over the coming year, I will return to National Taiwan University to complete my Ph.D., while also beginning to apply for postdoctoral positions. In the future, if I have the opportunity, I would be happy to visit RIKEN iTHEMS again. I sincerely hope to see you all again in the near future.
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2026-04-23
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The third RIKEN Quantum internal meeting on March 30, 2026
On Monday, March 30, the third RIKEN Quantum internal meeting was held in the Large Conference Room (2F, Administrative Headquarters) at RIKEN, Wako, attended by a total of over 50 RIKEN Quantum members and related researchers. At this meeting, Yahui Chai and Danny Jammooa, who were invited from overseas, gave presentations on their recent research, 'Quantum Simulation of Particle Scattering' and 'Parametric Matrix Models,' respectively. Furthermore, Jian Xu, who recently joined RIKEN Quantum, presented the research he plans to pursue at the institute. In addition, 12 researchers from various fields associated with RIKEN Quantum, who also serve as RIKEN TRIP visiting scientists for collaborative projects, gave short talks to introduce their work. At the banquet following the meeting, members, including those meeting for the first time, exchanged ideas in a relaxed atmosphere, leading to fruitful discussions for the further development of RIKEN Quantum. Reported by Shinichiro Fujii
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2026-04-10
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東京都現代美術館でトークイベント「Useless Science & Art」を開催
東京都現代美術館「ミッション∞インフィニティ」展の関連プログラムとして2026年3月21日（土）にトークイベント「Useless Science & Art 〜“役に立たない”科学とアートの有用性〜」が開催され、119名が参加しました。本イベントは、2025年8月14日～20に大阪・関西万博 EXPOメッセ「WASSE」で開催された「エンタングル・モーメント［量子・海・宇宙］×芸術」（延べ入場者数約6万人）に続いて、企画されたものです。 本イベントでは、その流れを引き継ぎ、iTHEMS研究者とアーティストが登壇。「一見役に立たない」科学研究やアート表現の価値について議論が行われました。量子ブラックホール理論に着想を得た作品《Black Hole Recorder》を起点に、科学と創造性の関係について多角的な視点が共有されました。 また、来場者からは多くの質問が寄せられ、科学とアートの関係性や価値の捉え方について活発な意見交換が行われるなど、会場は大いに盛り上がりました。本イベントは、万博を契機とした科学とアートの融合の流れをさらに発展させ、長期的視点での知のあり方を考える貴重な機会となりました。 Useless Prototyping Studio《Black Hole Recorder》の展示を含む東京都現代美術館「ミッション∞インフィニティ｜宇宙＋量子＋芸術」展は、2026年5月6日（水・祝）まで開催中です。
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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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RIKEN–Berkeley Workshop on Quantum Gravity 2025 on October 23-24, 2025
The RIKEN–Berkeley Workshop on Quantum Gravity 2025 was held on October 23–24, 2025, at the RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS), RIKEN Wako Campus, Japan. The workshop marked the first meeting of a new collaboration between the Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics (LITP) at the University of California, Berkeley and iTHEMS. A total of 38 participants attended the workshop. The workshop brought together researchers working on quantum gravity and related areas to discuss recent developments and future directions in the field. The scientific program featured talks on a range of topics, including quantum aspects of spacetime, black hole physics, holography, and their connections to quantum information and condensed matter physics. The meeting provided an opportunity for researchers from Berkeley, RIKEN, and other institutions to exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations. Discussions during the workshop highlighted current progress in the field and encouraged interactions among participants from different research backgrounds. The workshop served as the first step in strengthening collaboration between LITP and iTHEMS, with the aim of promoting continued exchanges and future joint research activities between the two institutions. The workshop was organized by Gabriele Di Ubaldo (LITP Berkeley and RIKEN iTHEMS), Tetsuo Hatsuda (RIKEN iTHEMS), Masazumi Honda (RIKEN iTHEMS), Satoshi Iso (RIKEN iTHEMS), Masamichi Miyaji (RIKEN iTHEMS), Shigehiro Nagataki (RIKEN iTHEMS) and Yasunori Nomura (LITP Berkeley and RIKEN iTHEMS). Reported by Masamichi Miyaji
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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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2025-12-01
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Mathematical Sciences Outreach Workshop 2025 on November 14, 2025
2025年11月14日から16日にかけて、九州大学マス・フォア・インダストリ研究所（IMI）およびオンラインにて、「データ記述科学と数理科学のアウトリーチについての研究会」が令和4-8年度 文部科学省・科研費・学術変革領域 (A)「データ記述科学の創出と諸分野への横断的展開」の援助のもとで、開催されました。 本研究会は、ジャーナリスト・イン・レジデンス（JIR）プログラムの流れを受け、研究者とジャーナリストの対話を通じて科学コミュニケーションの在り方を探ることを目的としています。 本ワークショップには、研究者、科学ジャーナリスト、編集者、広報担当者など約40名が現地およびオンラインで参加しました。3日間にわたり、データ記述科学、最適輸送理論、統計などの研究紹介に加え、出版・取材・広報の現場からの報告が行われ、研究成果の社会への伝え方について活発な議論が交わされました。 研究者とジャーナリストが同じ場で意見交換を行う本研究会は、数理科学と社会をつなぐ重要な機会となりました。専門知の社会的共有に向けた多角的な視点が提示され、今後のアウトリーチ活動や科学コミュニケーションの発展に寄与することが期待されます。 撮影：河野 裕昭
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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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2025-08-01
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2025 iTHEMS Visit by the University of California San Diego Global Seminar Program
On July 10, the University of California San Diego Global Seminar Program visited iTHEMS. The delegation included Dr. Stanley Lo, Teaching Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the School of Biological Sciences, together with 28 undergraduate students. The purpose of the visit was to learn about iTHEMS and its research activities while supporting the students’ learning about human diversity and the relationship between science and society. Leo Speidel, Mathematical Genomics RIKEN ECL Research Unit Leader at iTHEMS, hosted the lecture. He introduced his academic and professional background and presented his research on development and application of new mathematical and statistical techniques to reveal the evolutionary forces that have shaped our DNA, from key events in a nation’s recent past to the earliest days of our species.
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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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