On April 23, Professor Takao Namba, who received the 2008 (Heisei 20) Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for Science and Technology for his groundbreaking contributions to infrared and terahertz spectroscopy through the development of novel spectroscopic techniques—achieved by promoting the construction and utilization of an ultra-high-brilliance infrared beamline at SPring-8, one of the world’s most advanced synchrotron radiation facilities—visited NanoTerasu. Guided by Dr. Kimura, a technical staff member of the NanoTerasu Center who had worked with Professor Namba in the past on the construction of the infrared beamline at SPring-8, Professor Namba toured the experimental hall in a wheelchair.

On April 18, Executive Vice President Watanabe of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and his delegation visited NanoTerasu. They were welcomed and guided by President Koyasu of the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), Director General Takahashi of NanoTerasu, Director Kawakami of the NanoTerasu Secretariat, and President Takata of the Photon Science Innovation Center (PhoSIC).

On April 18, Koyasu, president of QST, Takahashi, director general at NanoTerasu Center, Kawakami, secretary general at NanoTerasu Secretariat, and Takata, president of PhoSIC led a party from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, a tour of NanoTerasu.

On April 17, Takahashi, manager of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu Secretariat led a party of Koriyama District Committee on Livelihoods and Children a tour of NanoTerasu.

Sendai City is inviting proposals for the FY2025 NanoTerasu Trial Use Program, in conjunction with the launch of operations at the 3 GeV Advanced Synchrotron Radiation Facility “NanoTerasu” in FY2024. The city aims to establish a research complex where companies, universities, and other R&D institutions can gather and generate new value through open innovation.
Through this program, Sendai City seeks to generate a wide variety of case examples utilizing NanoTerasu. By using these examples for outreach and awareness activities, the program aims to help more companies recognize the industrial potential of NanoTerasu and encourage its active use.

Application Period: April 14 – May 16, 2025
More information available here (Japanese only)

NanoTerasu is the first synchrotron radiation facility in Japan to make the experimental hall — the area where users conduct experiments — accessible without being designated as a controlled radiation area.
As a result, people who are not licensed radiation workers, such as high school students, can also use the facility.
In fact, while previous synchrotron facilities in Japan did not allow high school students to use synchrotron radiation, NanoTerasu has already welcomed students from three different high schools to conduct experiments using its powerful light.

October 17, 2023 — Miyagi Prefectural Agricultural High School
First-ever use of NanoTerasu by high school students
Students analyzed “Sendai Beef” using NanoTerasu, which is often called a “giant microscope.” Their goal was to explore whether the deliciousness of Sendai Beef could be visualized using synchrotron radiation.
・Miyagi TV News (Japanese)
・KHB East Japan Broadcasting (Japanese)

February 21, 2024 — Fukushima Prefectural Asaka High School
Students from Asaka High School conducted experiments at NanoTerasu.
・Instagram post (Japanese)

February 27, 2024 — Miyagi Prefectural Furukawa Reimei High School
Third high school in Japan, second in Miyagi Prefecture, to use NanoTerasu
Students from Furukawa Reimei High School participated in a hands-on synchrotron radiation experiment at NanoTerasu.
・School blog (Japanese)

On April 5, the Sendai Science Museum held a ceremony to celebrate its grand reopening. Following opening remarks by Mayor Kazuko Kōri of Sendai, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place with the participation of children from the museum’s Friends Association. Director Kawakami of the NanoTerasu Secretariat also took part in the event.

After the ceremony, the renewed third-floor exhibition hall was opened to the public. The NanoTerasu introduction booth, located in one corner of the hall, attracted many visitors and was bustling with activity.

In the “Mirameku Highlights” section—a feature that introduces high-profile topics from MEXT—the Spring 2025 issue of Mirameku, the ministry’s public relations magazine, includes a special feature titled “Exploring the Invisible: The World of Synchrotron Radiation.” The article explains the basics of synchrotron radiation and highlights examples of its use in familiar products. As part of the feature, NanoTerasu is also introduced.

https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/kouhou/index.htm

https://x.com/mextjapan/status/1907357343236436111?t=aW4uvUUnwqEhh8lMh-3OgQ&s=19

On March 28, Kado, leader of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu Secretariat led a party of 26 high school students of  Wasedajuku a tour of  NanoTerasu.

On March 25, Kado, leader of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu Secretariat led a party of 17 members of Young Astronauts Club-Japan Sendai Tanabata Branch a tour of  NanoTerasu.

On March 21, Tomimatsu, manager of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu Secretariat led a party of Japan Wood Research Society a tour of NanoTerasu.

On March 21, Dr. Asaka and Dr. Aoki in Accelerator Group, Tomimatsu, manager of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu Secretariat led a party of Future Energy Research Association a tour of NanoTerasu.

On March 18, Kado, leader of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu Secretariat led a party of NTT DATA, Inc. a tour of  NanoTerasu.

On March 14, Kawakami, secretary general and Kado, leader of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu Secretariat, Takata, president of PhoSIC led a party of Cabinet Office a tour of NanoTerasu.

On March 14, Takahashi, manager of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu Secretariat led a party of The Iron and Steel Institude of Japan (Practical Structural Steel Subcommittee) a tour of NanoTerasu.

On March 11, Kawakami, secretary general and Kado, leader of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu Secretariat, Watanabe, Specially Appointed Professor of Tohoku University led a party from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, a tour of NanoTerasu.

At the press conference held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Toshiko Abe, made a statement regarding the commencement of public use of NanoTerasu.

At the 3 GeV high-brightness synchrotron radiation facility NanoTerasu, which began operation last year, user operation of the public beamlines commenced on March 3. To mark the start of public use, a press conference was held, during which the first users of the NanoTerasu public beamlines were interviewed about their enthusiasm and the anticipated outcomes of their research and analysis utilizing the beamlines for studies on superconductors, semiconductors, and other materials.

The three world-class beamlines made available for public use include the Soft X-ray Ultra-High-Resolution Inelastic Scattering Beamline, which achieved the world’s highest resolution on September 19, 2024 (Reiwa 6). With these three state-of-the-art beamlines now accessible, NanoTerasu will operate under two user programs: Public Use and Coalition Use. In particular, the Public Use program will facilitate high-level research projects selected from numerous proposals submitted by researchers worldwide. These projects are expected to yield scientific discoveries of global significance and strong societal impact.

Press Conference on the Start of Public Use

Dr. Hakuto Suzuki from Tohoku University answering questions from reporters

Dr. Ryu Yukawa from Tohoku University preparing samples for the start of user operation

On February 28, Takahashi, manager of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu Secretariat led a party of Technical Committee of Taiheiyo Cement Association a tour of NanoTerasu.

On February 27, Kado, leader of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu Secretariat led a party of RIEC International Symposium on Brain Functions and Brain Computer (BFBC2025) a tour of  NanoTerasu.

On February 20, Kawakami, secretary general, Kado, leader of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu, and Takata, president of PhoSIC led a party from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, a tour of  NanoTerasu.

On February 14, Kawakami, secretary general, Kado, leader of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu, and Watanabe, special assistant to the president of PhoSIC led 52 students of Miyagi Prefecture Sendai Daiichi High School a tour of NanoTerasu.

On February 14, Takahashi, manager of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu General Secretariat led a party of Maesawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry a tour of NanoTerasu.

On December 17, filming for the NHK program The Backyard took place at NanoTerasu, guided by Dr. Takahashi, Director of the QST NanoTerasu Center, and Professor Harada from the Graduate School of Agricultural Science at Tohoku University. Reiko Shiota, known for her success in badminton as part of the “Ogushio” duo, served as the reporter. She covered topics such as the features of the beamline that has achieved world-class performance at NanoTerasu and the measurement results of familiar foods like ice cream. The program is scheduled to air on February 12.

On February 4, the 8th RIKEN-RAP and QST-KPSI/NanoTerasu Joint Seminar was held at the NanoTerasu observation hall. The seminar featured nine presentations from RIKEN and QST on topics such as the generation of attosecond pulses and the oscillation of sub-cycle lasers. Prior to the seminar, on February 3, a facility tour of NanoTerasu was also conducted. The seminar had 34 participants, while the facility tour was attended by 22 participants.

On January 31, Kawakami, secretary general, Kado, leader of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu led a party of Cabinet Office and Japan Science and Technology Agency a tour of NanoTerasu.

On January 30, Kado,leader of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu General Secretariat led 42 students from Miyagi Prefecture Furukawa Reimei High School・Princess Chulabhorn Science High School Satun, Thailand a tour of NanoTerasu.

On January 30, Takahashi, manager of the Promotion and Public Relations Group at NanoTerasu General Secretariat led a party of Japan Packaging Institute a tour of NanoTerasu.

On January 30, Kado, leader of the Promotion and Public Relation Group at NanoTerasu General Secretariat led a party of JEITA Design Committee a tour of NanoTerasu.