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On January 7, Professor Susumu Kitagawa, Distinguished Professor at Kyoto University and recipient of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, delivered a commemorative lecture at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Synchrotron Radiation Research and Synchrotron Radiation Science Joint Symposium, held in Sendai.
Under the title “The Path of Discovery: From the First MOF to the Birth of Flexibility,” Professor Kitagawa reflected on his scientific journey and key breakthroughs.
Following the lecture, he also spoke to members of the press, highlighting the importance of NanoTerasu and encouraging its active use.

 

Related News Articles

“The time will come when air will be as valuable as gold,” says Nobel Laureate Susumu Kitagawa in a lecture in Sendai, discussing the potential of the new material MOF (Sendai Television Incorporated)
https://nc.ox-tv.co.jp/news/detail/2026010700009

Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Kyoto University Distinguished Professor Kitagawa gives lecture in Sendai City: “The world of creativity is wonderful” (KHB)
https://www.khb-tv.co.jp/news/16270770

According to The Nikkei, Professor Kitagawa emphasized in his remarks that NanoTerasu is a “giant microscope” and expressed his hope that it will be widely utilized by researchers.
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOCC073LD0X00C26A1000000/

“Challenge yourself in a variety of environments” – Nobel Laureate in chemistry, Susumu Kitagawa, lectures (Tokyo Shimbun)
https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/460513

“The 21st century is the age of gases” – Nobel Laureate in chemistry, Susumu Kitagawa, lectures in Sendai (Mainichi Shimbun)
https://www.msn.com/ja-jp/news/national/

On January 6, members of the Tohoku Power Engineering Workers’ Union visited NanoTerasu.
The visit was guided by Mr. Takahashi, Manager of the Promotion and Public Relation Group, NanoTerasu Secretariat, who provided an overview of the facility and its activities.

On December 25, a delegation of stakeholders involved in the SIP Phase 3 inter-project collaboration visited NanoTerasu.
The visit was guided by Masataka Kado, Leader of the Promotion and Public Relation Group, NanoTerasu Secretariat.

On December 25, the NanoTerasu Secretariat’s Promotion and Public Relation Group Leader, Dr. Kado, guided a visit by members of Professor Okino’s research group from Institute of Science Tokyo to NanoTerasu.

　

On December 23, Dr. Kado, Leader of the Promotion and Public Relation Group at the NanoTerasu Secretariat, guided visitors from Tohoku University Exchange Student Group on a tour of NanoTerasu.

　

On December 23, 2025, Tohoku University and Fujitsu Limited announced their successful application of AI to derive new insights into the superconductivity mechanism of a new superconducting material. Their findings demonstrate an important use case for AI technology in new materials development and suggests that the technology has the potential to accelerate research and development. This could drive innovation in various industries such as environment and energy, drug discovery and healthcare, and electronic devices.

The AI technology was utilized to automatically clarify causal relationships from measurement data obtained at NanoTerasu Synchrotron Light Source. This achievement was published in the Nature Portfolio scientific journal Scientific Reports on December 22, 2025.

[Tohoku University Press Release (Website): Tohoku University and Fujitsu Use AI to Discover Promising New Superconducting Material]

 

On December 19, a NanoTerasu facility tour was held for approximately 60 participants of the 18th FC-Cubic Open Symposium. Following an overview of NanoTerasu presented by Ito, Director of the Photon Science Innovation Center (PhoSIC), the participants toured the linear accelerator, storage ring, and beamlines under the guidance of Nishimori, Director of the Research and Development Department, Asaka, Senior Principal Engineer, and Horiba, Beamline Group Leader from QST.

On December 19, Mr. Takahashi, Manager of the Promotion and Public Relation Group at the NanoTerasu Secretariat, guided visitors from  Japan Embedded Systems Technology Association Tohoku Branch on a tour of NanoTerasu.

On December 19, Dr. Kado, Leader of the Promotion and Public Relation Group at the NanoTerasu Secretariat, guided visitors from Global Learning Center, Tohoku University (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay) on a tour of NanoTerasu.

On December 18, the Sendai Meiji Youth College delegation visited NanoTerasu and was guided by Dr. Kado, Leader of the Promotion and Public Relation Group of the NanoTerasu Secretariat.

On December 18, the Sendai Hōrei Gakuen delegation visited NanoTerasu and was guided by Dr. Kado, Leader of the Promotion and Public Relation Group of the NanoTerasu Secretariat.

On December 17, Dr. Tomimatsu, Manager of the Promotion and Public Relation Group at the NanoTerasu Secretariat, guided visitors from  Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. on a tour of NanoTerasu.

　

On December 16, members of NSBT University visited NanoTerasu and were guided by Dr. Kado, Leader of the Promotion and Public Relation Group of the NanoTerasu Secretariat.

On December16, Mr. Takahashi, Manager of the Promotion and Public Relation Group at the NanoTerasu Secretariat, guided visitors from Total Media Development Institute CO.LTD and Leave a Nest on a tour of NanoTerasu.

On December 16, Mr. Takahashi, Manager of the Promotion and Public Relation Group at the NanoTerasu Secretariat, guided visitors from  Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance on a tour of NanoTerasu.

On December 15, members of the Solidification and Microstructure Formation Forum of the High-Temperature Process Division, The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan, visited NanoTerasu. The visit was guided by Masataka Kado, Leader of the Promotion and Public Relation Group of the NanoTerasu Secretariat.

　

On December 15, members of the Accounting Department of Yourtec Corporation visited NanoTerasu.
The visit was guided by Masataka Kado, Leader of the Promotion and Public Relation Group of the NanoTerasu Secretariat.

　

On December 12, members of the Silver Seminar Senpō-kai visited NanoTerasu. After receiving an engaging and easy-to-understand introduction to NanoTerasu from Takano and Abe of the NanoTerasu Secretariat Promotion and Public Relation Group, the group toured the experimental hall under the guidance of Masataka Kado, Leader of the Promotion and Public Relation Group.

　

On December 10, Mr. Takahashi, Manager of the Promotion and Public Relations Group, NanoTerasu Secretariat, guided members of Yamagata City Small and Medium Enterprise Federation on a tour of NanoTerasu.

On December 10, Mr. Takahashi, Manager of the Promotion and Public Relations Group, NanoTerasu Secretariat, guided members of TODA CORPORATION on a tour of NanoTerasu.

On December 8, Mr. Takahashi, Manager of the Promotion and Public Relation Group at the NanoTerasu Secretariat, guided visitors from Takahashi Michiko English Class on a tour of NanoTerasu.

　　

On December 7, marking the second anniversary of the first beam of the 3 GeV Advanced Synchrotron Radiation Facility NanoTerasu, a commemorative “NanoTerasu Day” event was held to inspire young people, spark their interest in science, and offer opportunities to learn about cutting-edge light technologies.
On this day, the NanoTerasu Secretariat and the Sendai Science Museum signed a partnership agreement with the aim of “promoting understanding of science and technology among young people, thereby contributing to the advancement of science and technology in Japan.” At the museum, researchers delivered short talks on the theme of “light,” and a hands-on program was offered in which children created their own spectroscopes and observed light phenomena.
More than 60 children and parents participated in the event.

(Reference: NHK Sendai report — “Event for children and parents to learn about the science of light, including synchrotron radiation,” Sendai Science Museum)
https://news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/nb-6000034292

　

On December 5, President Kosaka of the University of Hyogo and his delegation visited NanoTerasu.
Following a welcome address by Director General Takahashi of the NanoTerasu Center, the delegation toured the facility under the guidance of Director Kawakami of the NanoTerasu Secretariat and Masataka Kado, Leader of the Promotion and Public Relation Group, and engaged in an exchange of views.

　

On December 2,  Dr. Kado, Leader of the Promotion and Public Relation Group at the NanoTerasu Secretariat and Dr. Watanabe, Specially Appointed Professor of Tohoku University, guided 35 students from Fukui Prefectural School : Usui High School on a tour of NanoTerasu.

　　

On December 1, Mr. Takahashi,Manager of the Promotion and Public Relation Group at the NanoTerasu Secretariat,guided staff of ”Tonttu Village” on a tour of NanoTerasu.

　

On December 1, Mr. Takahashi,Manager of the Promotion and Public Relation Group at the NanoTerasu Secretariat, guided visitors from Agano City Chamber of Commerce a tour of NanoTerasu.

　　

On November 28, Mr. Takahashi, Manager of the Promotion and Public Relation Group, NanoTerasu Secretariat, guided the delegation from the National Council for District Plan Promotion during their study tour of NanoTerasu.

　　　

On November 27, Executive Director Takeda of QST, Secretary General Kawakami of the NanoTerasu Secretariat, President Takata of the Photon Science Innovation Center (PhoSIC), Vice President Niibori, Vice President Aono, Executive Director Oikawa, Executive Vice President Yugami of Tohoku University, Duputy Manager Yamaguchi of JASRI, and Branch Manager Honma guided Mr. Shimizu, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and his delegation on their visit to NanoTerasu.

　

On November 27, Mr. Takahashi, Manager of the Promotion and Public Relation Group at the NanoTerasu Secretariat, guided visitors from Kurokawa Chamber of Commerce a tour of NanoTerasu.

　

On November 24, the day before the start of full-scale operations, NanoTerasu opened to the media the process of increasing the storage ring current from 200 mA to 400 mA. During the demonstration at the public beamline BL06U, participants observed the moment of current ramp-up while an actual synchrotron radiation experiment was underway.
In July 2025, NanoTerasu achieved a major technological breakthrough, succeeding in stable 400 mA operation (Press Release, September 5, 2025: “Successful Early Achievement of Stable 400 mA Storage Ring Operation at NanoTerasu”). After confirming that no issues occurred during long-duration operation, the facility advanced the schedule by four months and is beginning user operations at 400 mA from November 25, 2025.
With this full-scale launch, synchrotron radiation with brightness 100 times higher than existing facilities in Japan—and among the highest in the world—will become fully accessible. This is expected to significantly accelerate cutting-edge research and development in next-generation devices, materials science, and life sciences, while further promoting innovation creation.

Related Media Coverage (English Renderings)

Asahi Shimbun
What are the Results of the Microscope That is “1 Billion Times Brighter Than Sunlight”? NanoTerasu, One And a Half Years on
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c459e5ea77fa32f3c2eefc91a300b2cc0ce90739

Yomiuri Shimbun
NanoTerasu Doubles Light Intensity (Paper only)

OX TV Sendai (Sendai Broadcasting)
“Ten Billion Times Brighter Than Sunlight! NanoTerasu Begins Full Operations — Expectations Rise for Accelerated Advanced Research”
(original article in Japanese)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f2a98bc6f9f4ac7c239f75d10394de30b09f162d

Miyagi TV
“Synchrotron Facility NanoTerasu Now Producing ‘Twice-Brighter Light’ — Analysis Time Cut in Half (Tohoku University Aobayama Campus)”
(original article in Japanese)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/d07b797abb1153efef5547f29acdbc530ee471c0

Tohoku Broadcasting (TBC)
“Double Synchrotron-Light Intensity Cuts Analysis Time in Half — ‘NanoTerasu’ Achieves Radiation Approaching World-Class Levels (Sendai)”
(original article in Japanese)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/08c4dfed16d0fe9ba40d075133464b548d5ed7b1