Science in Our Daily Lives,
Illuminated by Neutrons

Dr. KOBAYASHI Takashi

Director of the J-PARC Center

Overview of J-PARC

Born in Okayama Prefecture.
Ph.D. from Hiroshima University in 1996.
He has been engaged in research using an accelerator to produce neutrinos artificially and send them 295 km away to Super-Kamiokande, with which the neutrino properties are studied.
The experiment group he led discovered that muon neutrinos can transform into electron neutrinos, for which he received the Nishina Memorial Prize in 2014.
He has been serving as Director of the J-PARC Center since April 2021.

Prof. MORI Kazuhiro

Professor, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK)
Professor, Division of Quantum Beam Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ibaraki University (cross-appointment)

Exploring the Microscopic World of Batteries with Neutrons

Ph.D. in Materials Structure Science from the Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI) in 2001.
From 2001 to 2002, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), conducting research on materials using neutrons.
In 2002, he joined the Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University (now the Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science), as an assistant professor.
He subsequently served as an associate professor at the institute and has held his current positions since 2021.
His field of expertise is neutron materials science.
His recent research interests include battery materials research and materials exploration using neutrons.

Dr. KUME Takuji

Principal Researcher, Analytical Science Research Laboratories, Kao Corporation

Exploring the World of Cosmetics with Neutrons: What Lies Behind Their Performance?

Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from the Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University. He has been engaged in cosmetics research and development at Kao Corporation and transferred to the company's Analytical Science Research Laboratories in 2010. He has held his current position since 2026. His areas of expertise include polymer and soft matter properties, interfacial chemistry, and cosmetic formulation development. He is engaged in analysis and characterization using scattering techniques, rheology, and other methods. He also serves as an advisor to the MLF Upgrading Promotion Office (JAEA Visiting Researcher), Chair of the Research and Development Committee of the Neutron Industry Utilization Promotion Council, a member of the Steering Committee of the SPring-8 Users Association, and a member of the Quantum Beam Facility Utilization Promotion Committee of the Research Infrastructure Division, Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

Dr. KAWAMURA Seiko

Research Associate Director, Materials and Life Science Division

Born in Tokyo. Graduated from the Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science. She completed her master's and doctoral studies in physics at the University of Tokyo and received her degrees. After working as a researcher at RIKEN and Ochanomizu University, she joined the J-PARC Center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) in December 2008.

Closing Remarks: Dr. OTOMO Toshiya

Director, Materials and Life Science Division