Keio University

List of Yagami Prize Recipients (FY2011–FY2015)

The Faculty of Science and Technology has established the "Alumni Association Research and Education Incentive Fund" and presents awards every year to recognize alumni who, with science and technology as their starting point, have made significant social contributions through outstanding achievements in society or research and education activities.

FY2015

Mr. Ryuichi Tanimoto

Member of the AI-based bookmark app planning team

 2014 Graduate, Department of Biosciences and Informatics

Yagami Award (Entrepreneurship Support)  


 Mr. Takuma Inagawa

WAKAZE Inc.

2013 Completed Master's Program, School of Science for Open and Environmental Systems

Yagami Award (Entrepreneurship Support)


 Mr. Yasuhiro Take

 Dricos, Inc.

2010 Graduate, Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering

Yagami Award (Entrepreneurship Support)


Mr. Yuki Watanabe

Colorful Board Inc. and SENSY AI Research Institute

2005 Graduate, Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics

Yagami Award (Entrepreneurship Support)


Mr. Jun Sasaki

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation

1983 Graduate, Department of Electrical Engineering

Elected to the ASTM International Board of Directors in 2015 for achievements in establishing and revising standards at ASTM International, one of the world's largest standards development organizations based in the United States.


Mr. Atsushi Torii

ExaScaler Inc.

1990 Graduate, Department of Electrical Engineering

Contributed to the development of the "Suiren" supercomputer using domestic accelerators, which achieved 2nd place in the Green500 world rankings.


Mr. Kenichi Uchida

Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University

2008 Graduate, Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics

Discovery of the spin Seebeck effect and leading developments in thermoelectric conversion devices.

FY2014

 Mr. Yoshio Nishi

 Sony Corporation

1966 Graduate, Department of Applied Chemistry

Achievements in leading the commercialization of lithium-ion secondary batteries.


Mr. Koji Demachi

Yokogawa Electric Corporation

1982 Graduate, Department of Electrical Engineering

Realized international standardization as a pioneer of Japanese proposals for international standards in industrial automation, and contributed to the optimization of international standard deliberations and the reflection of Japanese opinions.


Mr. Takashi Yamada

Nippon Steel & Sumikin Micrometal Co., Ltd.

Class of '86, Department of Applied Chemistry

Development of new high-performance copper bonding wires for LSIs

FY2013

Mr. Munehiko Takada

Suntory Business Expert Limited

Class of '83, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Realizing mechanical recycling of PET bottles and contributing to Japan's environmental technology


Mr. Yoshitaka Tanimura

Major in Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University

Class of '84, Department of Instrumentation Engineering

Proposing laser spectroscopic research methods for chemical reactions using theoretical physics, and leading subsequent verification experiments and development


Mr. Yasunori Kijima

Sony Corporation

Class of '89, Department of Instrumentation Engineering

Contribution to the field and industry through basic research and commercialization-related R&D of OLEDs, as well as academic society activities


 Mr. Yuichiro Takahashi

 Yuichiro Takahashi Law Office

Class of '91, Department of Electrical Engineering

Contribution to the protection of intellectual property rights for cutting-edge science and technology based on advanced expertise in science and technology and legal affairs


Mr. Ken Endo

Sony Computer Science Research Centers and Institutes

Class of '01, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Significant contribution to robotic prosthetic leg technology

FY2012

Mr. Michio Saito

Meisei Gakuen

Class of '69, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Active as a science journalist utilizing literacy in science and technology, and greatly contributing to deaf education support through the establishment and operation of Meisei Gakuen [Distinguished Service Award]


Mr. Masao Fukuma

General Incorporated Association Semiconductor Keio Economic Observatory (KEO)

Class of '72, Department of Instrumentation Engineering

Demonstrated international leadership and led the development of the semiconductor industry [Distinguished Service Award]


Ms. Mutsuko Hatano

Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology

Class of '83, Department of Electrical Engineering

Achieved a wide range of research results in the field of physical electronics and contributed to social activities for gender equality and academic society activities


Mr. Akiyoshi Asai

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka

Class of '87, Department of Applied Chemistry

Achieved significant results in the development of functional small molecules that control biopolymers and contributed to graduate education for training pharmaceutical researchers


Mr. Norishige Morimoto

IBM Japan, Ltd.

Class of '87, Department of Electrical Engineering

Leveraging his experience and knowledge in leading global projects and R&D transformations, he contributed to the innovation of R&D management, educational activities, and human resource development in many manufacturing industries.


Mr. Hiroyuki Seki

NHK Science & Technology Research Centers and Institutes

Class of '94, Department of Physics

He realized the NHK Radio 2 program "Stock Market Conditions" with high-quality synthesized speech indistinguishable from a human voice and developed a speech synthesis system that fits perfectly within the program's time slot.

FY2011

Mr. Nobuyuki Kambe

Phoenix Venture Partners (USA)

Class of '74, Department of Instrumentation Engineering

Based on the results of his own basic research, he established a venture company in the United States and led it to great success.


Mr. Junji Yumoto

NEL America, Inc.

Class of '79, Department of Electrical Engineering

He is engaged in R&D management and contributes to society through the international commercialization of cutting-edge optical devices.


Mr. Takahiro Numai

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Ritsumeikan University

Class of '83, Department of Electrical Engineering

He achieved significant results in the development of optical functional devices for optical communications and information processing and contributed to the development of education in the field of electronic engineering.


Mr. Juntaro Ishii

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Research Centers and Institutes

Class of '91, Department of Physics

He developed a national standard for calibrating infrared thermometers and contributed to the establishment of an international high-precision standard supply system.


Mr. Kiichiro Totani

Department of Materials and Life Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Seikei University

Class of '97, Department of Applied Chemistry

He was the first to elucidate the molecular basis of the glycoprotein quality control mechanism using synthetic chemical methods, and his achievements are highly regarded both in Japan and abroad.


Mr. Osamu Takahara

Advanced Technology Research Centers and Institutes, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Class of '98, Department of Mechanical Engineering

He made significant contributions to the development of observation accuracy prediction and evaluation technology for high-precision observation satellites, and further technological improvements are expected.