DATE2026.04.17 #Awards & Prizes
Project Researcher Hideto Yoshida received The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Hideto Yoshida Project Researcher
Mr. Hideto Yoshida (formerly Technical Specialist in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science, and currently Project Researcher at the Institute of Astronomy) has been awarded the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Outstanding Support for Research Award, Advanced Technical Support Category) for his “Technical Contributions to Earth and Planetary Sciences through Surface Analytical Instrumentation and Educational Material Development.”
Natural sciences aim to understand phenomena beyond human temporal and spatial scales, such as the origin of the Solar System, planetary evolution, Earth’s internal structure and dynamics, and the evolution of Earth’s environment from the distant past to the present. The key lies in extracting detailed and accurate information recorded in natural materials. To achieve this, surface analytical instruments enabling both micro-scale and bulk analyses are essential, particularly for complex, multi-component natural samples. Maximizing the performance of these instruments requires not only advanced analytical techniques but also expertise in operation, maintenance, and performance optimization.
Mr. Yoshida has made long-standing contributions to the maintenance and management of surface analytical instrumentation, analytical support, and method development in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science. Through the preparation of standard samples, optimization of sample preparation techniques, and identification of optimal analytical conditions for diverse materials, he has established a research environment that enables consistently high-quality analyses. In addition, he has played a significant role in training students by providing hands-on guidance and support in analytical techniques. More than 100 researchers now active in academia, industry, and government have benefited from the expertise they acquired under his instruction. He also served for many years as Head of the Technical Division in the School of Science, contributing significantly to the establishment of Division of Engineers Network Promotion at the University of Tokyo.
Beyond these achievements, Mr. Yoshida has drawn on his expertise in astronomical observations to develop a unique radio observation method capable of determining the direction of meteors regardless of time of day or weather conditions. This method has been widely utilized in undergraduate and graduate research projects at multiple universities, as well as in outreach activities, thereby contributing to the broadening of participation in the natural sciences.
I have personally benefited greatly from Yoshida-san’s expertise since my graduate student days at another university, and more recently through our work on the analysis of samples returned from asteroid Ryugu. I am certain that many former students and colleagues share in the joy of this well-deserved recognition. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for his long-standing contributions to the field of Earth and planetary sciences, and I wish him continued success in his future work, including observations with the Tomo-e Gozen camera at the Kiso Observatory.
(Comment by Prof. Shogo Tachibana, Department of Earth and Planetary Science / Organization for Planetary and Space Science, The University of Tokyo)