DATE2025.03.24 #Awards & Prizes

Associate Professor Shigeyuki Sako has been awarded the Shoichiro Yoshida Memorial Nikon Astronomy Achievement Award

Shigeyuki Sako Associate Professor

Associate Professor Shigeyuki Sako of the Institute of Astronomy has been awarded the 2024 Shoichiro Yoshida Memorial Nikon Astronomy Achievement Award. This prestigious award, presented annually by the Japan Astronomical Foundation, honors researchers who have made remarkable contributions to the advancement of astronomical observation methods, particularly those involved in the development of cutting-edge astronomical instruments.

Traditionally, CCD sensors have been the backbone of visible-light astronomy. However, with the rapid proliferation of digital devices in recent years, CMOS sensors — known for their faster readout speeds and ability to capture video — have garnered significant attention for their potential in astronomical applications. Dr. Sako, leveraging his extensive expertise in astronomical detector circuit technology, successfully developed the world’s first wide-field camera equipped with 84 CMOS sensors arranged in a mosaic configuration. Furthermore, Dr. Sako developed a real-time data analysis system designed to handle large-scale datasets. He also established a data transfer system that utilizes SINET, a high-speed academic network, to transmit the acquired data to the mdx data platform at the University of Tokyo’s Kashiwa campus. This system enables astronomers, educators, and industry professionals around the world to access nightly observation data. The system, named "Tomo-e Gozen" — after the legendary warrior associated with Kiso — continues to operate at Kiso Observatory, capturing an impressive average of 8 terabytes of data per night. This unprecedented data stream has significantly contributed to the advancement of time-domain astronomy in Japan.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Sako and eagerly anticipate his continued success and future contributions to the field of astronomy.

The 2024 Shoichiro Yoshida Memorial Nikon Astronomy Achievement Award

(Responsibility: Naoto Kobayashi, Director (Associate Professor), Kiso Observatory, Institute of Astronomy)