Researchers

Center Director

Vice Director of Center

Executive Advisor

Assistant to Center Director

General Manager of Research-and-Development (R&D) Department

General Manager of Regional Talent Development Department

General Manager of Management-and-Planning Department & Prototype-Testing Department

System Efficiency Evaluations

Energy Recovery & Aircraft Energy Innovation

Redundant Actuator

Fuel Pump Logic Testing

Hybrid Laminar Flow Control

Large Output Motor Development

Electric Power Leveling & Redundancy

Fuel Pump Durability and Environmental Resistance Testing

Development of Ultra Fast Motors, New Structure Rotors, Blowers, and Fuel Pump Motors

Gear Shaft Machining & Machining of Soft Magnetic Materials

Electric Power Grid

Regional Talent Development

Aster Joint Research & Satellite Laboratory

General Activities

Security Implementation

Junichi Sakaki

Position & Affiliation	Center Director, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture Advisor, formerly of IHI Corporation Special Assistant to the Dean, Akita University Special Assistant to the Dean and Visiting Professor, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	Aircraft engine performance and system design
Responsibilities	Overseeing all operations of the Center

Mitsutoshi Jikei

Position & Affiliation	Vice Director of Center, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture Professor, Graduate School Director, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://akitauinfo.akita-u.ac.jp/html/224_en.html
Responsibilities	General activities (cooperative major)
Role	Overall running of the Cooperative Major in Sustainable Engineering at Akita University Graduate School and Akita Prefectural University Graduate School
Other Related Links	http://www.gipc.akita-u.ac.jp/~mjikei/index.html (Laboratory of Organic Materials Chemistry website)

Yoshitaka Kawabata

Position & Affiliation	Vice Director of Center, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture Specially-Appointed Professor, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture, Akita University Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://research-db.ritsumei.ac.jp/rithp/k03/resid/S002221
Responsibilities	Electric power grid Security Implementation
Role	Research on aircraft power grids and aircraft systems security
Other Related Links	http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/se/re/kawabatalab/index-j.html (laboratory’s website)

Hitoshi Oyori

Position & Affiliation	Executive Advisor, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture Program Director, Strategic Technology Project Department, Strategic Technology Headquarters, IHI Corporation Visiting Professor, Akita University Visiting Professor, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	Aircraft systems engineering, aviation electronics
Responsibilities	Advice and guidance on business strategy and business promotion

Takenobu Hongo

Position & Affiliation	Assistant to Center Director, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture President & CEO of Aster Co., Ltd.
Expertise & Research Achievements	Manufacturing and selling motors and coils
Responsibilities	Joint Research & Satellite Laboratory
Other Related Links	https://www.ast-aster.biz/ (Aster Co., Ltd. website)

Katsubumi Tajima

Position & Affiliation	General Manager of R&D Department, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture Professor, Head of Major, Cooperative Major in Sustainable Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://akitauinfo.akita-u.ac.jp/html/424_en.html
Responsibilities	Developing large output motors Electric power grid General activities and tasks related to the Tanehira laboratory Aster Joint Research & Aster Satellite Laboratory
Role	Producing stators, assembling motors, installing prototype motors on the motor bench, and evaluating motor characteristics Electric power grid testing of aircraft, etc. using Copper Pheasant Setting up and running the Cooperative Major in Sustainable Engineering at Akita University Graduate School and Akita Prefectural University Graduate School Maintaining and operating the Evaluation Laboratory for Next Generation Motors Making prototypes of small high-torque motors that use an Aster coil
Other Related Links	http://www.ee.akita-u.ac.jp/~kiki/ (laboratory’s website)

Mamoru Mizuno

Position & Affiliation	General Manager of Regional Talent Development Department, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture Head of the Graduate School of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://researchmap.jp/read0012683
Responsibilities	Developing regional talent General Activities
Role	As part of the Regional Talent Development Department, planning and implementing various initiatives aimed at helping elementary school, junior high school, and high school students enroll in local universities, undergraduate students advance on to the Akita University and Akita Prefectural University joint graduate school, graduates finding employment at local companies, and improving the management and product development capabilities of local companies. Also formulating plans for said initiatives and providing assistance.
Other Related Links	https://www.akita-pu.ac.jp/system/me/mizuno/ (laboratory’s website)

Keiichi Kutsuzawa

Formulating and implementing business plans, etc.
Implementing and assisting prototype testing and contracted tests at the Evaluation Laboratory for Next Generation Motors

Position & Affiliation	General Manager of Management-and-Planning Department & Prototype-Testing Department, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture Specially-Appointed Professor, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture, Akita University
Expertise & Research Achievements	Casting/metal materials https://akitauinfo.akita-u.ac.jp/html/100001214_en.html
Responsibilities	Formulating and implementing business plans, etc. Implementing and assisting prototype testing and contracted tests at the Evaluation Laboratory for Next Generation Motors
Role	Responsible for business strategy planning and efforts to acquire external funds. Also in charge of prototypes in association with research and development at the Center, as well as acting as a point of contact for commissioned testing and research contracted from outside parties.

Yotsugi Shibuya

Image of System Efficiency Assessment

Position & Affiliation	Research Professor, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture, Akita University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://akitauinfo.akita-u.ac.jp/html/535_en.html
Responsibilities	System efficiency evaluations
Role	Evaluating the efficiency of electric aircraft systems through computer simulation using a dynamic model that integrates aircraft body aerodynamics, engine characteristics, and flight control systems.

Takahiro Adachi

Position & Affiliation	Professor, Cooperative Major in Sustainable Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://akitauinfo.akita-u.ac.jp/html/348_en.html
Responsibilities	Energy recovery & aircraft energy innovation
Role	Researching aircraft air conditioning systems. In existing systems, coolant passing through the cabin absorbs heat from the passengers and is released to the outside. Our group is researching energy management to use this emitted thermal energy.
Other Related Links	http://www.mech.akita-u.ac.jp/~lab-adachi/ (laboratory’s website)

Mikio Muraoka

Position & Affiliation	Professor, Department of Systems Design Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://akitauinfo.akita-u.ac.jp/html/349_en.html
Responsibilities	Redundant actuators Fuel pump logic testing
Role	With the aim of replacing hydraulic actuators, I am working on designing and creating prototypes of highly reliable redundant electric actuators with easy controllability and maintenance (assumed for the A320 ailerons). I am also considering the application of redundant control logic and lightweight materials.
Other Related Links	http://anc-a.or.jp (Akita New Composite Production Technology Research and Development Partnership; Director: Mikio Muraoka)

Yasuhiko Yamamoto

Position & Affiliation	Acting Director of Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture Chief Researcher, Advanced Functional Device Development Department, Akita Industrial Technology Center
Expertise & Research Achievements	Systems engineering
Responsibilities	Redundant actuators Fuel pump logic testing
Role	I am conducting research on the control system of redundant configuration systems using electric motors, including redundant electric fuel systems, and research on the reliability and safety of redundant configuration systems.

Katsuyuki Takahashi

Position & Affiliation	Specially-Appointed Associate Professor, Science and Technology Integration Center, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	Control systems technology
Responsibilities	Fuel pump durability and environmental resistance testing Developing large output motors Fuel pump logic testing
Role	Building test facilities and carrying out evaluation tests to check the durability and environmental resistance of electric fuel pumps Designing and manufacturing rotors for high-output motors

Takeshi Akinaga

Position & Affiliation	Associate Professor, Cooperative Major in Sustainable Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://akitauinfo.akita-u.ac.jp/html/100000761_en.html
Responsibilities	Hybrid laminar flow control
Role	As a technology related to the electrification of aircraft, I am conducting research on the optimal conditions for hybrid laminar flow control (HLFC) of the wing boundary layer flow using suction.

Yusuke Abe

Position & Affiliation	Specially-Appointed Assistant Professor, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture, Akita University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://akitauinfo.akita-u.ac.jp/html/100001216_en.html
Responsibilities	Developing large output motors Development of ultra-fast motors, new structure rotors, blowers, and fuel pump motors General activities and tasks related to the Tanehira laboratory Aster Joint Research & Aster Satellite Laboratory
Role	Researching power grids using full-scale aircraft grids and preliminary examinations and surveys related to them. Motor Bench operation assistance and management
Competitive funds, etc.	KAKENHI（Research Activity Start-up，2021-2022） Science-Technology Research Promotion in SUZUKI FOUNDATION（2023） JKA Promotion Funds from KEIRIN RACE（2023）

Naoto Handa

Position & Affiliation	Specially-Appointed Assistant Professor, Joint Research Center for Electric Architecture, Akita University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://akitauinfo.akita-u.ac.jp/html/100001215_en.html
Responsibilities	Developing large output motors Development of ultra-fast motors, new structure rotors, blowers, and fuel pump motors General activities and tasks related to the Tanehira laboratory
Role	Building and evaluating control logic and test environments for research on characteristic evaluation tests of electric blowers equipped with ultra-high-speed motors and ultra-high-speed motors that use magnetic bearings.

Koji Kotani

Position & Affiliation	Professor, Department of Intelligent Mechatronics, Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://researchmap.jp/k_kotani
Responsibilities	Developing large output motors
Role	Designing and manufacturing rotors for high-output motors

Hiroshi Hirayama

Position & Affiliation	Lecturer, Cooperative Major in Sustainable Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://akitauinfo.akita-u.ac.jp/html/100000700_en.html
Responsibilities	Electric Power Leveling & Redundancy
Role	For the electrification of aircraft flight control systems, I am conducting research on the electrification and redundancy of actuators that control the control surface, and on leveling power demand using flywheel batteries.
Other Related Links	https://sites.google.com/view/hirayama-lab/ (laboratory’s website)

Takahiro Tomioka

Fuel pump test facility

Position & Affiliation	Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://researchmap.jp/RM_tt
Responsibilities	Fuel pump durability and environmental resistance testing
Role	To electrify the fuel supply system, I am responsible for building test facilities and carrying out evaluation tests to check the durability and environmental resistance of electric fuel pumps. In particular, I am working on the development of technology to detect signs of failure.
Other Related Links	https://www.akita-pu.ac.jp/system/me/tomioka/index.html (laboratory’s website)

Yasuhiro Ogami

Position & Affiliation	Associate Professor, Science and Technology Integration Center, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://researchmap.jp/read0116588
Responsibilities	Fuel pump durability and environmental resistance testing
Role	To electrify the fuel supply system, I am responsible for building test facilities and carrying out evaluation tests to check the durability and environmental resistance of electric fuel pumps. In particular, I am working on the development of technology to detect signs of failure.

Yukihiro Yoshida

Position & Affiliation	Lecturer, Cooperative Major in Sustainable Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://akitauinfo.akita-u.ac.jp/html/100000321_en.html
Responsibilities	Development of ultra-fast motors, new structure rotors, blowers, and fuel pump motors
Role	In charge of research on characteristic evaluation tests of electric blowers equipped with ultra-high-speed motors and ultra-high-speed motors that use magnetic bearings. In addition to motor evaluations, I also conduct simulations such as the orientation and magnetization analysis of plastic magnet rotors, which are the elemental technologies of ultra-high-speed motors, as well as the thermal analysis of electric blowers.
Other Related Links	http://www.ee.akita-u.ac.jp/~kiki/ (laboratory’s website)

Tsunehisa Suzuki

Position & Affiliation	Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://researchmap.jp/suzukitsun
Responsibilities	Gear shaft machining & machining of soft magnetic materials
Role	Developing technology related to machining and evaluating soft magnetic materials (amorphous alloys, etc.) used in motor cores, etc. Developing technology for the machining of complex shapes and surface treatment of difficult-to-cut materials used in aircraft parts
Other Related Links	http://www.akita-pu.ac.jp/system/mise/material_structure/amt-lab/index.html (laboratory’s website) https://www.facebook.com/Advanced.Materials.Processing (laboratory’s Facebook page)

Masahito Shimazaki

Position & Affiliation	Professor, Department of Management Science and Engineering, Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	Regional revitalization, quality control, management information systems https://researchmap.jp/read0053536
Responsibilities	Member of the Regional Talent Development Department (in charge of planning and operation)
Role	Oversaw the open lecture “Practical Management Engineering” Arrangement of external lecturers for Akita Prefectural University classes High school and university collaboration initiative “Urban Development by Women” (In charge of Marketing) Oversaw the high school and university collaboration initiative “Make and Fly a Drone,” etc.

Koei Saga

Position & Affiliation	Visiting Professor, Akita Prefectural University Visiting Professor, Akita University President & Representative Director, GG Project Support Corporation
Expertise & Research Achievements	Hydrogen engine research (Master of Engineering, Musashi Institute of Technology, Internal Combustion Engine Laboratory) Former board member and senior managing director at Toyota Motor Powertrain Company President, Gazoo Racing Chairman (in charge of developing engines, hybrid systems, transmissions, race engines, and race vehicles)
Responsibilities	Developing regional talent
Role	Lectured as part of the open lecture “Practical Management Engineering” Introductory course on system engineering Lectures on venture business theory Lectures on engineering failures

Kaoru Kubo

Position & Affiliation	Visiting Professor, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	Graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University in March 1978 Joined what is today Toyota Motor Corporation in 1978. Engaged in equipment design, etc. at Machinery Department No.1. Engaged in the development of units and systems for electrified vehicles (mainly hybrids), with a focus on drive motors for electrified vehicles spanning different departments: EV Development Department (1992), HV Unit Development Department (2004), HV Advanced Development Department (2008), and Powertrain Development Department (2017). EHV Power Conversion Unit Design Department CPE (Powertrain Design Section CPE, Powertrain Company), Electronic Components Business Domain, Powertrain Company (2019) *CPE: Chief Professional Engineer
Responsibilities	Developing regional talent
Role	Lectured as part of the open lecture “Practical Management Engineering” Lecturer for Community-Oriented Project Advanced lectures on renewable energy Lectures on EV systems engineering Lectures at a high school (Noshiro Kagakugijitsu, Akita Kita, Yuri) Talks (lessons) at junior high school: Yokote City Jumonji Junior High School

Eiichi Sakai

Position & Affiliation	Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://researchmap.jp/akita_pu-e_sakai
Responsibilities	Developing regional talent
Role	Running and managing websites and social media accounts Instructor for the second lecture of the high school and university collaboration initiative “Make and Fly a Drone” Operation and public relations of the Innovation and Creative Learning Tour Independent study and graduation theses presentation workshop 3D & 3D Contest (organized by Akita Prefectural University’s Mechanical Engineering Department) and other related events Vice lead for the open lecture “Practical Management Engineering,” and more
Other Related Links	https://koubunshiakita.wixsite.com/website (laboratory’s website)

Keisuke Inakawa

Position & Affiliation	Assistant Professor, Department of Management Science and Engineering, Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://researchmap.jp/inakawa
Responsibilities	Developing regional talent
Role	Assistant for the open lecture “Practical Management Engineering” Public relations of the Regional Talent Development Department

Yuki Terata

Position & Affiliation	Associate Professor, Department of Information and Computer Science, Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://researchmap.jp/read0064215
Responsibilities	Developing regional talent
Role	Instructor for the high school and university collaboration initiative “Make and Fly a Drone” Lecturer for the Innovation and Creative Learning Tour Vice lead for the open lecture “Practical Management Engineering”

Jinya Takeuchi

Position & Affiliation	Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture and Environment Systems, Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://researchmap.jp/jtakeuchi/education/15171709
Responsibilities	Developing regional talent
Role	High school and university collaboration initiative “Make and Fly a Drone” (Instructor) High school and university collaboration initiative “Urban Development by Women” (Lecturer on Marketing)

Yasunori Chonan

Position & Affiliation	Assistant Professor, Department of Intelligent Mechatronics, Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University
Expertise & Research Achievements	https://researchmap.jp/y_c
Responsibilities	Developing regional talent
Role	In charge of the high school and university collaboration initiative “Make and Fly a Drone” Course Manager for Innovation and Creative Learning Cram School Tour