Greetings from the Director General
I am Hiroshi Yamada, and I have assumed the position of Director General of the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), succeeding Professor Zensho Yoshida. Having worked at NIFS for many years since its establishment, I spent the past five years at the University of Tokyo, making this appointment a homecoming for me. In this new era, where social recognition of "fusion energy" is expanding dramatically, I am committed to advancing NIFS—one of Japan's leading academic research institutions—as a trustworthy and progressive center of excellence in fusion science. As Director General, I will devote my utmost efforts to this mission.
Of course, in my role as Director General, I am inherently limited, as only one person, in what I can achieve. NIFS's progress is only made possible by its staff members—both researchers and collaborators—who contribute their expertise, achieve research breakthroughs, and build upon one another’s work. It is crucial to cultivate these results via relationships between people, which helps foster a structured body of knowledge rather than just assembling isolated pieces. The knowledge gained by NIFS as a unified whole will contribute not only to the realization of fusion energy but also to a deeper understanding of nature. This embodies the true essence of fusion science research within an inter-university research institute under the auspices of the National Institutes of Natural Sciences.
NIFS has now successfully completed its primary initiative, the LHD project, and has reorganized itself into a Unit System to address the future of fusion science. As an essential direction of travel, NIFS has set its focus on the "interdisciplinarity" of fusion science. The principles and strategies initiated by former Director General Yoshida have also been defined as the three "Proposals on the Institute’s Future Direction," which I was involved in drafting as chief of the working group. I shall carry these forward. Stepping beyond one's own domain and collaborating with other fields in a spirit of mutual respect is essential for building a more reliable scientific foundation. It also serves as the bedrock for advancing the future of fusion energy research and development in an increasingly globalized world. To break through traditional boundaries, we must not only have the courage to take the first step but also strengthen our own foundation—refining methodologies that earn respect from other disciplines and accumulating deep knowledge. "Internationalization" aligns closely with "interdisciplinarity" in that both promote evolution through broader exchange and a constructive critique across boundaries. In this context, effective communication in English as the international language is essential. At the same time, it is equally important to demonstrate competencies that earn international respect. When we consider what is required to achieve interdisciplinarity by analogy, the answer naturally becomes clear.
The term "interdisciplinarity" is said to date back about a hundred years to an initiative at Yale University in the United States. In the memoirs of some pioneers there, not only successes but also key points of caution are discussed. One particularly striking insight is their candid recognition that "interdisciplinary collaboration comes with frustrations." To prevent this from becoming a pitfall, it is essential to accept criticism openly and integrate it constructively into our work. This is easier said than done, and I constantly remind myself to abandon any illusion of infallibility and avoid rigidity in my thinking.
The fact that realization of fusion energy has been embraced as a national strategy, with various policy frameworks being developed and numerous startup companies joining the field, is truly encouraging for those of us engaged in this field. At the same time, as an expert, I am fully aware that the path to practical implementation remains long, with numerous challenges still lying ahead. Some may see fundamental academic research as too indirect when it comes to real-world applications, but in reality, it plays an indispensable role in solving these challenges and accelerating development. Moreover, while breakthroughs cannot be planned, fundamental research serves as the driving force that allows us to recognize and seize unexpected, valuable discoveries. This, in turn, leads to scientific progress and technological innovation.
As an inter-university research institute, NIFS will not only continue to promote academic collaborative research but also strive to meet the expectations of the industrial sector, which is beginning to engage with fusion energy development, as well as students, including those pursuing recurrent education. To achieve this, we will maximize and expand the knowledge base and research infrastructure we have cultivated over the years. Our goal is to establish ourselves as a unique global platform, not only through the new post-LHD project but also by enhancing our engineering facilities—such as the fusion-nano platform and superconducting/cryogenic technology, and the plasma simulator —that are unparalleled in the field of fusion science worldwide. I aspire for us to be a research institute full of researchers and engineers interacting and fostering an environment where not only NIFS staff but also all those involved can experience intellectual fulfillment and a sense of purpose through their exchanges.
Finally, we deeply value our relationship with the local community and are committed to contributing to the enrichment of culture in this region of Tono. We warmly invite those outside the institute to take an interest in our work, actively engage with us, and continue to offer their invaluable support.
April 2025