Kanazawa University Program for Forming Japan’s Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS)

Overview of Initiatives

Kanazawa University is committed to realizing its ten‑year vision of establishing a world‑class hub that leads societal transformation in an unpredictable era through discontinuous innovation enabled by the integration of the humanities, sciences, and medicine. To achieve this vision, the University is mobilizing institution‑wide efforts in two priority areas: the enhancement of fundamental and interdisciplinary research, and the acceleration of social implementation.

Program Concept

Looking ahead to the next decade, Kanazawa University backcasts from its long‑term vision to define a clear strategic pathway. Through two strategic directions functioning as dual pillars and the integration of four interlinked actions, the University aspires to build a world‑leading hub for discontinuous innovation enabled by the convergence of the humanities, sciences, and medicine.

Two Strategic Directions

A. Advancement of Basic and Interdisciplinary Research : Creation of intellectual value through the promotion of diverse research activities and the accelerated development of new academic fields.
B. Accelerated Social Implementation : Acceleration of social implementation through industry–academia–government collaboration, both domestic and international, and a wide diversity of research seeds

Four Interlinked Actions

[Diversification] : We develop diverse initiatives by creating a shared “Under One Roof” environment, where people and knowledge from different fields gather and interact.
[Acceleration] : Through the Under One Roof concept, we establish mechanisms and spaces to generate future-oriented intelligence.
[Global Standard] : We build a globally competitive education and research environment, along with business models that enable effective social implementation.
[Sustainability] : We develop systems and environments that ensure the sustainable advancement of research and social implementation.

implementation system

President Under the leadership of Kanazawa University J-PEAKS Promotion Division, the entire university is working on various measures.

On campus, it is mainly Frontier Science and Social Co-creation Initiative, the MIRAICHI Research Center and Noto Resilience and Revitalization Center In addition to collaborating with the University of Tokyo, the University of Tokyo Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) and the University of Tokyo.

Seminar Series "kirameki

What is kirameki?

Kanazawa University A series of seminars to publicize researchers at J-PEAKS, consisting of a J-PEAKS research center seminar and presentations of research results by young researchers, is held approximately once a month to promote research exchange among researchers and to widely publicize the university's research capabilities.

Past Video

第1回：「“生きる”とは何かを融合科学する」　

Mitsutoshi Nakada (Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine Professor)

第2回：「宇宙における元素の起源と生命存在可能性に挑む～ダイヤモンドで拓く未来～」

(1) "The History of Heavy Elements Beginning with the First Stars in the Universe"

Daisuke Yonetoku (Institute of Science and Engineering Faculty of Mathematics and Physics / Advanced Research Center for Space Science and Technology Professor)

(2) "Diamond Semiconductors for Space Applications

Norio Tokuda (Advanced Research Center for Diamond Science and Technology Professor)

(iii) "Application Development of Diamond Quantum Sensors"

Kan Hayashi (Kanazawa University Advanced Research Center for Diamond Science and Technology Assistant Professor)

4) "Exploring the Water Environment of the Universe"

Keisuke Fukushi (Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology Professor)

第3回：「誰でもできる！古代生物資料を対象とした分子生物学」

Takashi Gakubari (Institute for the Study of Ancient Civilizations and Cultural Resources / Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences Sapiens Life sciences, Evolution and Medicine Research Center Associate Professor)

第4回：「謎多き、しかし確かに存在する天体ブラックホール:最新の宇宙物理学で解き明かす超巨大ブラックホールの進化」

Shutaro Ueda (Institute of Science and Engineering Advanced Research Center for Space Science and Technology Associate Professor)

第5回：「極限宇宙探査への架け橋となる『究極の結晶』を育てる～ダイヤモンド半導体・結晶成長への挑戦～」

Kimiyoshi Ichikawa (Advanced Research Center for Diamond Science and Technology Associate Professor)

第6回：「融合研究で迫る“生きる”の科学」

(1) "Life Science Research Center for Imagining and Creating the Future at Transdisciplinary Science of "Living""

　　　　　Mitsutoshi Nakada (Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine Professor)

(2) "Formation of a center for analysis of brain networks in children and adults to elucidate the neural dynamics of development.

　　　　　Yuko Yoshimura (Institute of Human and Social Sciences Faculty of Education Professor)

(iii) "Identification and Regulation of Key Senescent Cells in Aging-Related Diseases Based on Understanding Senescent Cell Diversity."

　　　　　Yoshikazu Jomura (Cancer Research Institute Professor)

(4) "Challenges of Combined Research of Archaeology and Life Science"