The Kyoto University Tachibana Award for Outstanding Women Researchers was established in 2008 to recognize exceptional achievements by the institution's early-career women researchers.
The University is pleased to announce that it has selected the winners of the 18th Tachibana Award and Honorable Mention Award and will hold a ceremony to celebrate their achievements on Thursday 5 March 2026, as detailed below.
1. About the Award
The Tachibana Award for Outstanding Women Researchers was established in 2008 to acknowledge outstanding research achievements by early-career female researchers at Kyoto University.
By publicly acknowledging women who have made outstanding achievements in academic research regardless of the research field, the Tachibana Award aims to motivate not only the awardees themselves, but also others following in their footsteps. In this way, the award seeks to help foster the development of accomplished female scholars who will lead the future of academic research, both at Kyoto University and nationwide.
2. 18th Award selection process
There were a total of 16 applicants, 7 in the student category and 9 in the researcher category.
The winners were selected through a two-stage process by a committee comprised of eight members and chaired by Dr Kyoko Inagaki, Kyoto University's executive vice-president for gender equality, international affairs, and external affairs.
3. 18th Award winners
Tachibana Award (for Outstanding Women Researchers)
Student category
Kasumi KIMURA, 4th-year doctoral student, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies (ASAFAS)
"Publication Bias in Colonial Kenya and its Implications for AI Training Data"
Researcher category
Masae OHNO, Program-Specific Associate Professor, Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study (KUIAS)
"Elucidating gene regulatory mechanisms through the development of novel genome structure analysis technologies"
Honorable Mention Award
Student category
Hikari OGOSHI, 3rd-year doctoral student, Graduate School of Engineering
"Investigation of Unique Electronic Structure of Tropolone and Applications for Photofunctional Materials"
Alisa TOBE, 3rd-year doctoral student, Graduate School of Science
"Ecological genetics of the Crested Serpent-eagle on small island"
4. Award ceremony
The ceremony and research presentations by the Tachibana Award winners can be viewed live online or in person by registering via the form below.
Date and time
Thursday 5 March 2026, 14:00–15:00
Venue
- Online (Zoom webinar)
- University Head Office, fifth floor, Conference Room 1, Kyoto University
Language
Japanese
Registration
Use the following form:
Registration to watch the online live-stream of the award ceremony for the 18th Kyoto University Tachibana Award for Outstanding Women Researchers
Registration deadline
17:00 on Monday 2 March 2026
Program
| 14:00–14:05 | Opening speech Dr Kyoko INAGAKI Executive Vice-President for Gender Equality, International Affairs, and External Affairs Kyoto University |
| 14:05–14:15 | Presentation of award certificates and Wacoal Prizes |
| 14:15–14:25 | Presidential address Dr Nagahiro MINATO, Kyoto University President |
| 14:25–14:35 | Congratulatory speech by the distinguished guest Atsuko SHINODUKA Corporate Officer in charge of the Group DX Marketing Strategy, Wacoal Holdings Corporation Director and Corporate Officer, Head of the Marketing Division, Wacoal Corporation |
| 14:35–14:55 | Research presentations by the Tachibana Award winners
|
| 14:55–15:00 | Speeches by the Honorable Mention Award winners Student category: Hikari OGOSHI and Alisa TOBE |
Related link
Kyoto University Tachibana Award for Outstanding Women Researchers
