Professor Takuro Ideguchi, Project Associate Professor Ichiro Inoue, Project Associate Professor Yuki Ban at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences received Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for the year 2026.

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Awards for Science and Technology (Research Category)

Research on super-resolution infrared microscopy and high-speed infrared spectroscopy

Takuro Ideguchi, Professor, Department of Advanced Material Science

Message from Prof. Ideguchi
I am deeply honored to have received the MEXT Science and Technology Award (Research Category). I express my sincere gratitude to all those who have guided and supported me, to my affiliated institutions, and to the members of my group and collaborators with whom I have advanced this research. I will continue striving to advance science through the development of optical measurement techniques based on advanced laser technologies.

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The Young Scientists’ Award

Development and Applications of Novel Functionalities of X-ray Free-Electron Lasers

Ichiro Inoue, Project Associate Professor, Department of Advanced Material Science RIKEN SPring-8 Center, R&D of Technology and Systems for Synchrotron Radiation Applications Division, SACLA Beamline Research and Development Group, SR Physics Unit

Message from Project Associate Prof. Inoue
I am truly honored to receive such a prestigious award. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my collaborators and all those who have supported this work. The research on the development of X-ray free-electron lasers, which is recognized by this award, was initiated during my doctoral studies in the Department of Advanced Materials Science. Coincidentally, this year also marks the first time I have taken on the role of supervising students. I will continue to dedicate myself so as to live up to this honor, while striving to keep growing.

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The Young Scientists’ Award

Systematization and Applied Research of Haptic Display Technologies Based on Cross-modal Interaction

Yuki Ban, Project Associate Professor, Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies

Message from Project Associate Prof. Ban
I am deeply honored to receive the Young Scientists' Award, and at the same time, I feel a profound sense of responsibility for my future research. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the mentors who have guided me since my student days, to my collaborators and laboratory members who have engaged in many fruitful discussions, and to my family for their constant support.

Rather than physically reproducing haptic sensations with complete fidelity, our approach seeks to induce the desired perception by engaging other senses such as vision and hearing. This is opening up new possibilities for creating rich tactile experiences with relatively simple devices. By harnessing this fascinating aspect of human perception, I will continue to take on the challenge of transforming it into technologies that enrich people's lives.

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For more details, refer to the MEXT website. The awardee list is at the end of the page below. (PDF, in Japanese)
https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/houdou/mext_01620.html