News

List of past news

2023

• July 12, 2024

  Prof. Takashi Kato (Project Leader, A01 Principal Investigator of Research Group A01-1, The University of Tokyo) and his colleague reported photonic materials exhibiting vivid structural colors formed from biomineral liquid crystals in an Early View in the German international scientific journal "Advanced Materials" on June 26, 2024. The research released in the University of Tokyo (websites of the Head Office and the Dept. of Engineering) on July 12, 2024.
  Advanced Materials, Website of the Head Office, Website of the Dept of Engineering

• July 10, 2024

  Research on "polysaccharide interface division," which has been studied for many years by Associate Prof. Kosuke Okeyoshi (A03 Principal Investigator of Publicly Offered Research, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), was introduced in the section of "Challenging - From the Science Field." of the electronic edition of YOMIURI News Paper. Click Here

• March 31, 2024

  The research period for the scientific research grant for aquatic functional materials has ended as of today. Thank you very much for your cooperation and support. We will continue to do our best to further develop this field, so we look forward to your continued support.

• 26 Feb. 2024

  The 18th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. The 7th Area Meeting is reported. Click Here

• 22 Jan. 2024

  The 17th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. The meeting of the evaluation committee of the International Advisory Board is reported. Click Here

• 8 Nov. 2023

  The 16th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. This Newsletter report the 2nd and 3rd Industry Internships, the public project held within the 13th CSJ Festa. Click Here

• 23 Oct. 2023

  The 13th CSJ Chemistry Festa2023 (organized by The Chemical Society of Japan) was held from October 17th (Tue) to 19th (Thurs), 2023 at Tower Hall Funabori (Tokyo). We presented a following public seminars of KAKENHI project on “Aquatic Functional Materials: Creation of New Materials Science for Environment-Friendly and Active Functions”. Click Here

• 22 May 2023

  AIST issued a press release regarding a study by Masahiko Imashimizu (Principal Investigator of Publicly Offered Research A02, AIST) and Mafumi Hishida (Co-Investigator of Research group A02-1, Tokyo University of Science) on nonthermal acceleration of protein hydration by sub-THz irradiation. Combining the highly sensitive microwave dielectric relaxation measurement with THz spectroscopic measurement, they captured changes in the hydration structure during and after sub-THz irradiation. The research was published in Nature Communications (featured in Editors’ Highlights).

• 21 May 2023

  On May 21, 2023, a humidity-responsive silicone developed by Mitsuo Hara (A01 Publicly Offered Research Group, Nagoya University) was featured on Nippon Television Network Corporation “Tokoro-san no Me ga Ten!” under the theme “A Mysterious Material Close to Us! What is Silicone?” The broadcast content can be viewed for one week on the streaming service TVer, and for one year on Hulu.

• 12 Apr. 2023

  The 15th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. The 6th Area Meeting, the 3rd Industry-Academia Collaboration Forum, the 2nd Academia Internship, and the 3rd Young Scientists School are reported. Click Here

2022

• 5 Oct. 2022

  The 14th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here

• 8 Aug. 2022

  The 13th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here

• 1 Aug. 2022

  The 12th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here

• 11 Jul. 2022

  The 11st Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here

• 9 May 2022

  The 5th Research Area Meeting of Aquatic Functional Materials (not open to the public) was held online from May 9th (Mon) to 10th (Tus), 2022. From Apr 2022, the second half of the 4th and 5th fiscal year has started. Researchers of Publicly Offered Research have joined the research area. The 5th Research Area Meeting confirmed collaborative activities within the area to further develop and deepen the research in the area.

• 6 May 2022

  The 10th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here
  The Newsletter introduces the 4th Research Area Meeting of Aquatic Functional Materials and the 2nd Industry-Academia Collaboration Forum.

• 20 Apr. 2022

  On April 20, 2022, Go Watanabe (Co-Investigator of Research Group A02, Kitasato University) and Takashi Nakamura (Investigator of Research Group A01/Publicly Offered Research, Tsukuba University) received The Young Scientists’ Award, the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (commendation organization: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan). The Young Scientists’ Award is awarded to researchers under the age of 40 who have made outstanding achievements in research, originality, and outstanding research & development (R&D) capabilities. The official press release from the MEXT is readable here.

• 1 Apr. 2022

  With new Publicly Offered Researchers on this “Aquatic Functional Materials” project, we are going to kick off a fresh start on the research activities to further deepen the science about “Aquatic Functional Materials”. They were selected based on the proposals for Publicly Offered Research (FY2022-FY2023) in the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research.

2021

• 4 Feb. 2022

  The 2nd Industry-Academia Collaboration Forum (open to the public) was held online.
  More than 500 participants, mainly from industry, joined the forum, the researchers from Planned Research and Publicly Offered Research gave lectures, and we had active discussions. The participants from industry showed the expectations for new perspectives on water in this project toward sustainable society where materials are in harmony with environment.

• 25 Jan. 2022

  The 4th Research Area Meeting of Aquatic Functional Materials (not open to the public) was held online.
  Researchers from Publicly Offered Research gave lectures about the results of their researches obtained over the past two years, as well as their joint research and collaboration activities within the research area. Active discussions on the new science about water were held, and collaborative activities within the area were also discussed.

• 17 Jan. 2022

  Kyushu University issued a press release concerning "Functionalization mechanism of blood-compatible polymer" examined by Masaru Tanaka (Principal Investigator of Research group A03-2, Kyushu University) and Yoshihisa Harada (Principal Investigator of Research group A02-1, The University of Tokyo). The article is here. Synthesis and interfacial analyses by Tanaka group were combined with soft x-ray emission spectroscopy by Harada group to reveal the hydration mechanism of the blood-compatible polymer. The research was published in the international journal Langmuir, and selected as a Supplementary Cover of the issue.

• 29 Dec. 2021

  The 9th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here

• 18 November 2021 The article entitled "Bioinspired design of functional liquid crystals working with water" to promote the research content has been published in Chemistry Today (December issue) from Tokyo Kagaku Dojin publishing. (page 20-21)
• 18 Nov. 2021

  On October 27, 2021, a research paper entitled “Uniaxially Oriented Electrically Conductive Metal–Organic Framework Nanosheets Assembled at Air/Liquid Interfaces” reported by Rie Makiura (Co-Investigator of Research group A01, Osaka Prefecture University) was published online and selected as a Supplementary Cover.
  The research achievement was press-released by Osaka Prefecture University, The University of Tokyo, and SPring-8/JASRI and highlighted by EurekAlert!, AsiaResearchNews and AZONANO.

• 28 October 2021 The academic and research activities which have been carried out for many years by Takashi Kato (Project Leader, Principal Investigator of Research group A01, The University of Tokyo) were introduced in a national edition of Asahi Shimbun (28 October 2021, morning edition, education section), under the title of " Lesson to tomorrow -The interesting of liquid cystals, Talked at school visiting lecture-". The article can be read online (newspaper site).
• 27 October 2021 Maki Kawai (Evaluation Committee, Director General, Institute for Molecular Science, National Institute of Natural Sciences) was awarded as Person of Cultural Merit of Year 2021.
  Person of Cultural Merit is awarded by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to selected people who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement and developement of Japanese culture. Congratulations.
• 18 October 2021 The article entitled "Synthesis of novel high performance organic materials interact with environment in the existance of water" to promote the research content has been published in Chemistry Today (November issue) from Tokyo Kagaku Dojin publishing. (page 32-33)
• 1 October 2021 The article entitled "Development of new functions of supramolecular materials by controlling interfacial water molecules" to promote the research content has been published in Chemistry Today (September issue) from Tokyo Kagaku Dojin publishing. (page 26-27)
• 3 Sep. 2021

  The research paper on silicone material whose elastic modulus changes 100 million times with humidity by Mitsuo Hara (Principal Investigator of Research Group A01, Nagoya University) was published in an international academic journal, Scientific Reports on September 3, 2021. Nagoya University issued a press release（See this page）for the paper.

• 1 September 2021 The article entitled "Functionalization of aquatic functional materials comparable to biotic materials" to promote the research content has been published in Chemistry Today (September issue) from Tokyo Kagaku Dojin publishing. (page 34-35)
• 28 Aug. 2021

  The 8th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here

• 23 Aug, 2021

  The 11 th CSJ Chemistry Festa2021 (organized by The Chemical Society of Japan) will be held online from October 19 th (Tue) to 21th (Thurs), 2021. Symposium of KAKENHI project on “Aquatic Functional Materials : Creation of New Materials Science for Environment-Friendly and Active Functions” supported by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Japan (MEXT) Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas. The following public seminars of our project will be held as follows:
  Program
  October 20 th (Wed, am) --- Special Program (1) “Utilization and Observation of Harmonized Water with Materials” (For details, click here)
  October 21 th (Thurs, am) --- Special Program (2) “Materials Function Created by Harmonization with Water” (For details, click here) Registration is required to attend the online seminars. For details, please check the website of the 11 th CSJ Chemistry Festa2021 (Click here).

• 20 Aug. 2021

  Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas, Open call for Publicly Offered Research (FY2022-FY2023).
  Publicly Offered Research in our area has been released by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The research period is from 2022.4 to 2024.3 (FY2022-FY2023).
  Detail information about the application procedures and form are posted on the following web site. If interested, please apply it.
  Application Procedures for Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research-KAKENHI- (Grant-in-Aid for TransformativeResearch Areas(A/B), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas and Grant-in-Aid for SpecialPurposes)
  (Detail information)

• 10 Aug. 2021

  The 7th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here

• 4 Aug. 2021

  The joint research paper on molecular simulation of water treatment membranes by Go Watanabe (Co-investigator of Research Group A02, Kitasato University), Takashi Kato (Project Leader and Principal Investigator of Research Group A01, the University of Tokyo), and Hitoshi Washizu (Principal Investigator of Research Group A02, University of Hyogo) was published in an international academic journal, Science Advances with the，cover image of volume 7, issue 31 (2021).
  On July 28, 2021, the University of Tokyo issued an international press release（See this page）for the paper.

• 20 Jul. 2021

  Masaru Tanaka ( Principal Investigator of Research Group A03-2, Kyushu University) received the Award of Japanese Society for Biomaterials (in Science) from the Japanese Society for Biomaterials.

• 15 Jul. 2021

  The article entitled "Creating novel aquatic functional materials by molecular simulation" to promote the research content has been published in Chemistry Today (August issue) from Tokyo Kagaku Dojin publishing. (page 48-49)

• 8 Jul. 2021

  The 6th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here

• 15 Jun. 2021

  The article entitled “Design of biocompatible materials aimed at water molecules” to promote the research content has been published in Chemistry Today (July issue) from Tokyo Kagaku Dojin publishing. (page 34-35)

• 15 May 2021

  The article entitled “Observation of the shape and movement of water on material surfaces with various [eyes]” to promote the reseach content has been published in Chemistry Today (June issue) from Tokyo Kagaku Dojin pulbishing. (Page 52-53)

• 29 Apr. 2021

  On April 29, 2021, Takashi Kato, (Project Leader, Principal Investigator of Research group A01, The University of Tokyo) was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon (Medals of Honour at 2021 Spring) from the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, The Medal with Purple Ribbon is awarded to individuals who have contributed to academic and artistic developments, improvements and accomplishments.

• 26 Apr. 2021

  On April 6, 2021, Kosuke Okeyoshi (Research Group A03/Publicly Offered Research, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) received The Young Scientists’ Award, the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (commendation organization: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan). The Young Scientists’ Award is award to researchers under the age of 40 who have made outstanding achievements in research, originality, and outstanding research & development (R&D) capabilities. The official press release from the MEXT is readable here.

• 19 Apr. 2021

  The research by Takashi Miyata (Principal Investigator of Research group A03, Kansai University) was published in an international academic journal, NPG Asia Materials, on April 9th, 2021. The research image was displayed as top-page graphic on the journal website. Kansai University issued a press release, which was followed by the Kansai University’s website.

• 15 Apr. 2021

  The article entitled "Let's create a new discipline by combination of a basic science of water and materials science" to promote the reseach content has been published in Chemistry Today (May issue) from Tokyo Kagaku Dojin pulbishing. (Page 46-47)

• 10 Apr. 2021

  The 5th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here

• 1 Apr. 2021

  On April 1, 2021, Mafumi Hishida (Co-investigator of Research group A02, University of Tsukuba) received the 20th Oleo Science Award from The Japan Oil Chemists' Society.

• 1 Apr. 2021

  2nd Young Researchers School of Aquatic Functional Materials was held on 28th November 2020, using the online conference room. There were over 70 participants from various research fields in this area. They learned about different fields and actively interacted with other students. (Detail)

2020

• 25 Jan. 2021

  It has been decided that Hayato Tsuji (Principal Investigator of Research group A01, Kanagawa University) receives The 38th CSJ Award for Creative Work, and Takashi Nakamura (Principal Investigator of Publicly Offered Research A01, University of Tsukuba) receives The 70th CSJ Award for Young Chemists.

• 18 Jan. 2021

  The 1st Industry-Academia Collaboration Forum will be held online on February 5, 2021 (Friday). Registration is required for online attendance. For program details and registration, please see (click here for details).

• 14 Nov. 2020

  On October 20, 2020, the University of Tokyo issued an international press release for joint research on synchrotron radiation spectroscopy of water treatment membranes by Takashi Kato (Project Leader and Principal Investigator of Research group A01, the University of Tokyo) and Yoshihisa Harada (Principal Investigator of Research group A02, the University of Tokyo). The study was published in an international academic journal, Angewandte Chemie International Edition and selected as VIP (Very Important Paper). On November 10, 2020, the paper was also introduced as Research Highlight in Nature Reviews Chemistry.

• 29 Oct. 2020

  The international joint research by Motomu Tanaka (Principal Investigator of Research group A03, Kyoto University and Heidelberg University), Yoshinori Takashima (Principal Investigator of Research group A03, Osaka University), Masaki Nakahata (Co-Invesitigator of Research group A03, Osaka University), and the research groups from Karlsruhe Institute for Technology (Germany) was published in an international academic journal Science Advances on September 23, 2020. Karlsruhe Institute for Technology issued an international press release, which was followed by the Kyoto University's website.

• 19 Oct. 2020

  The 4th Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here

• 24 August 2020

  The 10th CSJ Chemistry Festa2020 (organized by The Chemical Society of Japan) will be held online from October 20th (Tue) to 22nd (Thurs), 2020. The following public seminars of our project will be held as follows:
  Program
  October 21st (am) and 22nd (am)
  Symposium of KAKENHI project on “Aquatic Functional Materials : Creation of New Materials Science for Environment-Friendly and Active Functions” supported by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Japan (MEXT) Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas. --- Special Program “Creation of materials that function in harmony with water"
  October 21 th (pm)
  Symposium of Kao & New Academic Area Research project on “Aquatic Functional Materials" Special Project: Chemistry in Society Facing Infectious Diseases --- Special Program "Chemistry in the society facing for infectious diseases”

• 13 Aug. 2020

  The third Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here

• 6 Jun. 2020

  The second Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online. Click Here

• 7 May 2020

  In response of the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus, the public meeting for 1st symposium of Aquatic Functional Materials scheduled for June 15th, 2020 has been canceled.

• 1 May 2020

  Open call for Publicly Offered Research in the period of FY2020 to FY2021 has been released (37 grants).

• 1 May 2020

  The first Newsletter (Aquatic Functional Materials News) is now available online! Click Here

• 8 Apr. 2020

  On April 7, 2020, Youhei Takeda (Co-investigator of Research group A01, Osaka University) recieved The Young Scientists’ Award, the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (commendation organization: the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan). The Young Scientists’ Award is award to researchers under the age of 40 who have made outstanding achievements in research, originality, and outstanding research & development (R&D) capabilities. The official press release from the MEXT is readable here.

• 1 Apr. 2020

  On April 1, 2020, Yoshimitsu Sagara (Principal Investigator of Research group A03, Tokyo Institute of Technology) was promoted to Associate Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology.

• 1 Apr. 2020

  Go Watanabe (Co-investigator of Research Group A02, Kitasato University) was promoted to Junior Associate Professor at Kitasato University.

2019

• 17 Feb. 2020

  The public meeting for 1st symposium of Aquatic Functional Materials will be held on June 15th, 2020 (Monday) at the Auditorium of Osaka University Hall.
  (Modulator: Yoshinori Takashima, Principal Investigator of Research group A03)
  (Organizer: Administration group of “Aquatic Functional Materials”(Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas by JSPS))

• 6 Jan. 2020

  On October 25, 2019, the article entitled “The University of Tokyo utilizes a liquid crystal polymer to fabricate a highly precise water treatment membrane with uniform porous for various applications” introducing a research work on a water treatment membrane from nano-crystals developed by Takashi Kato et al. (Project Leader and Principal Investigator of Research group A01, The University of Tokyo) was published in the electronic version of the Japanese Economic Newspaper (Nikkei newspaper).
  The article (in Japanese) is readable from the link here.

• 2 Jan. 2020

  On January 7, 2020, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Professor Teiji Tsuruta, a study group discussing the role of water molecules at biointerface and a creation of guidelines for material design will be held at Inamori Hall in Ito Campus, Kyushu University. (caretaker: Masaru Tanaka, Principal Investigator of Research group A03)
  (Sponsored by Administration group of “Aquatic Functional Materials”(Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas by JSPS). Click here for details.

• 14 Dec. 2019

  1st Young Researchers School of Aquatic Functional Materials was held between 12th-13th November, 2019 at Hyogo University, Kobe Campus for Information Science, and SPring-8. 45 attendants (30 students and 15 researchers) from various research fields in this project were actively interacted. (Scene)

• 17 Sep. 2019

  The kickoff meeting and a briefing for publicly invited researches of "Aquatic Functional Materials" (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas by JSPS) was held on 14 Sep. 2019. We had more than one hundred participants. (Scene)
  Summary for Publicly Offered Research is here.

• 13 Aug. 2019

  The kickoff meeting and a briefing for publicly invited researches of "Aquatic Functional Materials" (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas by JSPS) will be held on 14 Sep. 2019. Details are here

• 13 Aug. 2019

  Web site of "Aquatic Functional Materials" (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas by JSPS) was open.

• 28 Jun. 2019

  "Aquatic Functional Materials: Creation of New Materials Science for Environment-Friendly and Active Functions" (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) started.
  (Abbreviation: Aquatic Functional Materials, Project Leader: Kato Takashi, Project/Area Number: 6104, Project Period: 2019-2023)