Faculty and Researchers

Department of Mechanical Engineering

An introduction to faculty staff members and laboratories in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Note: Information on the laboratories is current as of the 2024 academic year. There may be changes to this information in the 2025 academic year.

ASANO Kazunori

Position
Professor
Laboratory
Composite Materials Laboratory
Foundry Engineering, Composite Materials Engineering

We are actively involved in research on heat-resistant and wear-resistant composite materials in which metals are reinforced using ceramic particles or fibers. We are also doing R&D on environmentally benign melting and solidification technologies aimed at saving energy, conserving resources, and recycling.

KOSAKA Manabu

Position
Professor
Laboratory
Control Engineering Laboratory
Control Engineering, Data driven control, System Identification

Control engineering enables air conditioners to work automatically to keep room temperature constant. We study to establish controllers that bring out ultimated performances of the control objects.

SAKATA Sei-ichiro

Position
Professor
Laboratory
Computational Processing Laboratory
Development of Computational Methods for Composite Materials, Development of Methodologies for Structural Design Optimization

How do we create better products using advanced materials and new structures? We are working on development of new simulation techniques and methodologies to solve a whole range of problems—from product evaluation and design to processing and production.

SAWAI Toru

Position
Professor
Laboratory
Thermal Energy System Lab.
Thermal engineering、Biomass energy engineering

TAKEMOTO Yasuhiko

Position
Professor
Laboratory
Industrial Management Engineering
Industrial Management Engineering, Quality Management, Operational Research, Applied Statistics

Industrial Management is a activity of achieving efficiency, rationalization, and optimization in production systems. This laboratory researches and develops some methods of Industrial Management based on data science and ICT.

NAKAI Masaaki

Position
Professor
Metallic Materials Science and Engineering, Biomaterials Science and Engineering

Development of new alloys and improvement in mechanical properties of alloys for biomedical applications are studied by controlling microstructures via optimizing chemical compositions and fabrication process conditions.

NISHIYABU Kazuaki

Position
Professor
Laboratory
Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory
Machining, Composites Manufacturing, Micro/Nano Power Fabrication Process

How do we effectively utilize advanced materials to boost the capabilities, performance, and environmental adaptability of components used in products such as aircraft and automobiles? We research processing methods that form the essential foundations of manufacturing. In particular, we are developing methods and equipment for manufacturing composite materials that combine metal, polymer, and ceramic. We make materials and machines myself, and explore the importance of "Connecting with different things".

HARADA Takashi

Position
Professor
Laboratory
Precision Mechanical Engineering Laboratory
Parallel Mechanisms, Precision Machinery, Machine Kinematics, Mechanics

Ichiro Suzuki, the Major League player who continues to smash hits even though his circumstances have changed, is the precision machinery of the baseball world. We conduct research, aiming to achieve machinery like Ichiro—machines that do the job reliably even when operating environments and circumstances change.

MICHIOKA Takenobu

Position
Professor
Laboratory
Fluid Engineering Laboratory
Fluid Engineering, Turbulent Flows, Material and Thermal Diffusion

We are working to elucidate and model the detailed behavior of flows, heat, and materials, such as inside mechanical equipment like chemical reactors and in flow fields in the environment. We also do research to develop practical numerical models helpful to industry.

WADA Yoshitaka

Position
Professor
Laboratory
Fracture Mechanics Laboratory
Machine Learning for CAE surrogate modeling, Computational Mechanics (Automatic Model Generation, Finite Element Simulation), Fracture Mechanics, Crack Propagation Analysis, Non-Contact Strain Measurement

We assume that a cell phone will be dropped. Defects exist in structures. But…neither break immediately. To measure and simulate structural strength and damage caused by crack growth, and to develop and do research on evaluation techniques—these are our themes.

OHTSUBO Yoshikazu

Position
Associate Professor
Laboratory
Mechatronics Laboratory
Mechatronics, Robotics, Rescue Engineering

We have developed rescue robots to search for victims in underground shopping centers in the event of a disaster. We integrate a number of conventional robots having various features in order to develop a group robot system that can be remotely manipulated.

KAJIWARA Shinji

Position
Associate Professor
Laboratory
Mechanical Functional Design Laboratory
Automotive Engineering, Mechanical Design

We conduct research into improving the safety, comfort, and driving environment of cars by using a driving simulator and computer analysis to measure a number of factors of the car driver.

SHISHIDO Nobuyuki

Position
Associate Professor

SEO Takehiko

Position
Associate Professor

TAURA Hiroo

Position
Associate Professor
Laboratory
Machine Dynamics
Machanical Dynamics, Rotordynamics, Tribology

We study friction and vibration, which are inevitably generated when machines are operated. In particular, we focus on sliding bearings and non-contact seals, which are the mechanical elements that make up rotating machines. The dynamic characteristics of these mechanical elements are elucidated through experiments and numerical analysis, and are used to solve problems that arise in actual machines.

TANIDA Koji

Position
Associate Professor
Laboratory
Human Machine Interface Lab.
Human Machine Interface, Ergonomics/Human Factor, Cognitive Psychology, Automotive Engineering

FUJITA Takashi

Position
Associate Professor
Laboratory
Advanced machining system Lab.
Micro-machining technology, Precision measurement engineering, Semiconductor fabrication process

We are conducting research on ultra-fine grooving, cutting and chemical mechanical polishing technologies for a wide range of materials used in medical and chemical devices and semiconductors and electronic components. We aim to establish practical microfabrication and measurement technology using the principles of nature.

UEKI Kosuke

Position
Lecturer
Metallurgy 、Biomedical materials

HASHIMOTO Tomohisa

Position
Lecturer
Laboratory
CAE Analysis and Design Laboratory
Computational Fluid Dynamics, Fluid Engineering, Computer-Aided Engineering

We study on the computer simulations of the flow, which is called Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and especially develop the software for analyzing the flow and heat conduction related to the filling, packing and cooling stages in the plastic injection molding..

HIRANO Shigeki

Position
Lecturer
Laboratory
Applied Energy Science Lab.
Thermal Engineering, Heat transfer engineering, Powder technology

Magnetic Refrigeration Thermal storage and Heat transfer enhancement Thermal energy utilization on porous media

ARAI Yuki

Position
Assistant Professor

YASE Hayato

Position
Assistant Professor