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)

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

NanoTerasu was featured in a two-page spread in the January 22, 2025 issue of SUUMO Magazine Sendai (published on January 24, 2025) by Recruit Co.

https://www.fujisan.co.jp/product/1281693279/

The snow that has fallen since last night has turned all of NanoTerasu completely white.

Winter is just beginning to show its true colors.

In response to the increase in tour acceptance slots from September, we have increased our tour guide. The photo shows Takano-san and Abe-san from the NanoTerasu Promotion and Public Relations Group, who were in charge of explaining to visitors for the first time on September 3rd. They made the explanations enjoyable and easy to understand by incorporating quizzes.

On Thursday, July 11, at the “64^th Sendai City Schools, Principals and PTA presidents Education Workshop” held at the Koyo Grand Hotel,

Dr. Horiba, leader of the NanoTerasu Center Beamline Group, gave a lecture.

Under the title of 「What is “NanoTerasu” that is finally starting to operate?」, he explained what synchrotron radiation, soft X-rays are available at NanoTerasu and how they are useful to society.

I retire as Director General, NanoTerasu Secretariat on the end of June, 2024. I have worked on construction of governance and management system of NanoTerasu in addition to management of events such as a site visit on the G7 Science and Technology minister’s meetings, the first beam ceremony and public site tours since I joined NanoTerasu about two years ago. I have contributed to the initial operation phase formulating common rules and coordinating among institutions as the first Director General, NanoTerasu Secretariat since this April.

I hope that NanoTeasu takes advantage of its strength as a world-leading research facility and becomes a place to form communities that connect people and people, research and research, and technology and technology and more. I expect you will have opportunities to engage with NanoTerasu in various situation.

I really appreciate your courteous support.

June, 2024
Masashi Hattori

The Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), which is in charge of promoting the use of NanoTerasu, introduced NanoTerasu together with SPring-8 at the 21st IUPAB Congress 2024/IUPAB2024 held at Kyoto International Conference Center from June 24 (Mon.) to 28 (Fri.), 2024.

After completing the facility inspection in March 2024, NanoTerasu started facility operations under a new organizational structure, involving QST, Phosic and JASRI, starting from April 1st, 2024.
We hope that more users will utilize NanoTerasu in the times ahead. We are committed to supporting users in order to expedite the attainment of outstanding results as soon as possible.