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- 2025/04/25
[Event] Special Seminar Series #66 (Prof. Petros Gikas/Lecture)
Prof. Petros Gikas of the Technical University of Crete, Greece, who is one of the World's Top 2% Scientists, gave a lecture. His specialty is research into wastewater treatment and sludge recycling, and this time he gave a lecture on energy autonomy for wastewater treatment plants in a hybrid format. Seminar details
- 2025/04/24
[Publication] Paper on high-sensitivity detection technology of SARS-CoV-2 in air (Project Prof. Kitajima)
A paper on the application of high-sensitivity detection technology of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater to air has been published in Sci Rep in a joint research project by Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology), Shionogi & CO., LTD., and other.
Tomoyo Yoshinaga, Yoshinori Ando, Yumi Sato, Takeru Kishida & Masaaki Kitajima (2025) Development of COPMAN-Air method for high-sensitivity detection of SARS-CoV-2 in air, Scientific Reports, 15, 14340. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99365-2- 2025/04/23
[Event] Panel discussion at the symposium "Challenge Engineering!" (Project Prof. Kitajima)
Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima will be taking part in a panel discussion at the public symposium "Challenge Engineering! -Towards 2050 with 'IKIGAI'-" to be held at Muroran Institute of Technology in the afternoon of May 2. The symposium is hosted by the Computer Science Center of the university and co-hosted by the Science, Technology and Innovation 2050 Committee (STI2050) of the Engineering Academy of Japan, with Project Prof. Kitajima serving as the secretary of STI2050.
公開シンポジウム「挑め、工学！ ―"IKIGAI"ある2050年に向けて―」, May 2, 室蘭工業大学大学会館 多目的ホール.- 2025/04/21
[Event] Special Seminar Series #65 (Dr. Adam M.-A Simpson/Lecture)
Dr. Adam M.-A Simpson from the University of Southern California, who is promoting research into disinfection byproducts generated in water treatment and food processing/cleaning, gave a lecture including his recent research results. A large audience of faculty members, researchers, and graduate students gathered and there was a lively question and answer session. Seminar details
- 2025/04/20
[Presentation] Poster presentation in collaboration with pediatric researchers (Project Prof. Kitajima)
Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima and researchers from the Department of Pediatrics at Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences conducted a joint research and made a poster presentation below at the 128th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Pediatric Society, held at Port Messe Nagoya from April 18th to 20th.
●太刀川 潤, 羽深理恵, 相澤悠太, 山中崇之, 樋浦誠, 本間丈成, 大久保総一朗, 遠山潤, 塚野真也, 北島正章, 齋藤昭彦 (2025) 新潟市における下水サーベイランスを用いたパレコウイルス-A感染症流行の把握.
●羽深理恵, 太刀川潤, 相澤悠太, 山中崇之, 塚野真也, 大久保総一朗, 樋浦誠, 小林悠, 遠山潤, 本間丈成, 北島正章, 齋藤昭彦 (2025) 新潟市における下水サーベイランスによる小児呼吸器感染症の流行予測.- 2025/04/17
[Event] International Forum IFAWET-5 held in India
Following the online forum in 2021, we will be co-hosting the 5th International Forum on Asian Water Environment Technology (IFAWET-5) with UPES and Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, both located in the upper reaches of the Ganges River. If you are interested, please see the details.
https://www.recwet.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/asian_water2025/- 2025/04/07
[Media] Infectious disease survey & international joint research at the airports during the Expo (Project Prof. Kitajima)
Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology) responded to an interview with Kyodo News. Then, the Sankei Shimbun and many local newspapers reported the issue as follows:
●感染症を空港の排水でいち早く把握 国際研究、万博中実施へ 東大ら専門家グループ, 産経新聞, Apr 6.
●《大阪・関西万博 EXPO2025》新型コロナ サル痘 インフル デング熱 空港排水で感染症検知を 開催期間中に国際研究, 上毛新聞, Apr 7.
●空港排水で感染症把握 東大など万博で実施へ, 福井新聞, Apr 7.
●感染症、空港排水で把握 国際研究、万博中実施へ 東大チーム, 山陰中央新報デジタル, Apr 7.
●EXPO2025＝感染症、空港排水で把握 東大チームなど 国際研究、万博中実施へ, 四国新聞, Apr 7.- 2025/04/02
Members who retired at the end of March 2025 (Takizawa sensei and Kato sensei)
■ Takizawa Satoshi sensei
From April 2025, he will be a Project Professor at the Graduate School of Urban Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University.
The second phase of the "JICA Water Engineering and Utility Management for Future Leaders", which was implemented as a RECWET-related program from 2018 to 2024, will be launched.■ Kato Takashi sensei
From April 2025, he will continue to work energetically at the following 3 locations;
1) Institute for Aqua Regeneration (ARG), Shinshu University
2) Shinshu U/UTokyo Collaboration Branch Office, RECWET (located in the main building of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences on Hongo Campus, UTokyo)
3) Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University
1,2) as a Project Professor at Shinshu University, 3) as a Project Professor at Okayama University- 2025/04/01
RECWET Personnel Information
Following the retirement of Prof. Satoshi Takizawa and Prof. Takashi Kato, who had led RECWET since 2019, Prof. Tsuyoshi Fujita (Dept. Urban Engineering) has been appointed Director, and Prof. Madoka Takai (Dept. Bioengineering/Materials Engineering) has been appointed Deputy Director.
In addition, Prof. Takai has been appointed to the Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Development Division, Prof. Kumiko Oguma (Dept. Urban Engineering) to the International Water Environment Division, Project Assoc. Prof. Ryota Gomi (RECWET, previously affiliated with Kyoto University) has taken up the post in the laboratory of International Wastewater-based Epidemiology, and Dr. Yutaro Uehara has become a Project Researcher at RECWET.
We will continue to forge ahead with our new team. We appreciate your continued support.- 2025/03/31
[Event] Major conferences that members are involved
RECWET members are involved in the organization and preparation of the following upcoming academic conferences.
■ IWA-ASPIRE and Water New Zealand Conference & Expo（Sep 20 - Oct 3 @New Zealand）
1 Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Development, 4 International Wastewater-based Epidemiology
Prof. Hiroyuki Katayama１・Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima４: Programme Committee
■ The 19th Pacific Polymer Conference（PPC19, July 6-10 @Kitakyushu）
Prof. Takashi Kato１: Chair. He brought this international conference on polymer science to Japan.
■ IWA 22nd Health-Related Water Microbiology Conference（Watermicro2025, June 15-20 @Netherland）
Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima４: Scientific Review Committee- 2025/03/30
[Cooperated event] Hydrosphere Science Seminar #25 (Prof. Kei Yoshimura)
#25 of Hydrosphere Science Seminar, which RECWET also collaborate to co-sponsor, will be given by Prof. Kei Yoshimura (IIS) from 15:00, 7th April (Mon). Please register here and join us!
- 2025/03/27
[Lecture] Invited lecture at Khon Kaen University, Thailand (Prof. kurisu)
Prof. Futoshi Kurusu (Water System Management Division) gave an invited lecture on screening analysis of trace contaminants at the Department of Environmental Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Seminar poster(Facebook)
Prioritizing Emerging Contaminants in the Water Environent by Target and Non-Target Screening Analysis, ENKKU Special Seminar, Mar 27, Room EN13204 Khon Kaen University, Thailand- 2025/03/26
[Media] Research results reported in newspaper etc (Project Prof. Kitajima)
The research results by Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology) et al., which claims that it is possible to estimate the number of coronavirus patients in hospitals from urban wastewater surveillance data, were published in the Hokkaido Shimbun and Water and Sewerage Information Plus. These followed a press release issued by the School of Engineering on March 7th.
●「札幌市内の下水で病院内のコロナ患者数分かる」 東大や北大病院が研究成果発表
北海道新聞, Mar 26.
● 下水疫学調査の新たな可能性 ～東大・北島特任教授ら研究Gが明らかに～
上下水道情報plus 公共投資ジャーナル社, March 11.- 2025/03/25
[Media] Report on the final lectures (Director Takizawa, Deputy Director Kato)
Articles and photos about the final lectures, held by affiliated laboratories, were published in industry papers and on social media.
●Director Satoshi Takizawa
Japan Sewerage Newspaper, 19 Mar 2025
十指に余る功績、業界をけん引 東大・滝沢教授が最終講義
Water Industry Newspaper, 20 Mar 2025 Part 2 p.1
滝沢智・東京大学教授が最終講義－変わりゆく世界における都市水システムの未来－●Deputy Director Takashi Kato
Instagram of Menicon x Tohoku University, 23 Mar 2025
The venue, Ito Hall
Image: Ito Interational Resaerch Center HP- 2025/03/20
[Roundtable discussion] Akita City Waterworks Policy Development (Prof. Takizawa)
The contents of a roundtable discussion between Prof. Satosi Takizawa and Akita Prefecture water and sewerage officials were published across 2 pages in a special edition of the March 20 Suido Sangyo Shimbun. The pages also include details about his visit to Niida Water Purification Plant and his keynote speech at the Yokote Water Forum, both in Akita.
[Newspaper] 滝沢智・黒沼靖・工藤喜根男・佐々木良徳 (2025) 秋田県都の水道事業の「持続」を見据えて～基幹施設仁井田浄水場の抜本的更新に全力～(特集：上下水道事業の基盤の強化に向けて), 水道産業新聞, 第２部 pp.4-5, Mar 20.
[Invited speech] 滝沢智 (2025) 管路更新と水道事業の経営課題～人口減少期の水道事業のあり方について～[基調講演],「管路更新耐震化プロジェクト」第３０回水道フォーラム, Feb 13, 横手市.- 2025/03/19
[Presentation] The 59th Annual Conference of JSWE (Dr. Liu, Dr. Burzio)
From RECWET, Project Asst. Prof. LIU Miaomiao (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology) and Project Researcher Cecilia BURZIO gave the following presentations at The 59th Annual Conference of JSWE, 17-19th March at Hokkaido University. (Due to the large number of presentations, presentaations by other RECWET members as co-authors have been omitted.）
●Liu Miaomiao, Imai Masayuki, Angga Sandhyana, Shizuka Matsuyama, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Katayama Hiroyuki, Kitajima Masaaki, "Isolation and characterization of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter spp. from elderly care facility wastewater" (Oral)
●Burzio Cecilia, Kawaguchi Yoshihiko, Komatsu Kazuhiro, Hashimoto Takashi, "Detection of Water Quality Anomalies in River Water Using EEM Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Machine Learning" (Poster)- 2025/03/17
[Report] Japanese Environmental Mutagen and Genome Society's Meeting Report (Project Prof. Kitajima)
A report written by related researchers on Symposium 2 (PDF) at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the JEMS (Dec 2024, Okayama), where Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima gave a lecture, has been published by the English journal G&E.
[Meeting report] Hiroshi Honda, Takayoshi Suzuki, Masaaki Kitajima, Natsuko Ito Kondo, Kaede Miyata, Shunsuke Utsumi & Masami Yamada (2025) "The new era shaped by environmental genome monitoring - symposium of the japanese environmental mutagen and genome society (JEMS), 2024", Genes and Environment, 47:6, Mar 17.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41021-025-00327-x- 2025/03/14
[Event] Final lecture of Prof. Takashi Kato
The final lecture of Prof. Takashi Kato (Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology / RECWET Deputy Director) will be held as follows.
Date and time：16 Mar 2025, Sun, 14:45～18:00
Venue：Ito Interational Resaerch Center
Organizer：Takashi Kato GroupProf. Kato became a member of RECWET Steering Committee in April 2016, and was appointed Deputy Director in October 2019, a position newly established following RECWET's reorganization, and has led RECWET for many years together with the Director.- 2025/03/12
[Event] Final lecture & celebration party for Prof. Satoshi Takizawa
The final lecture and celebration for Prof. Satoshi Takizawa (Department of Urban Engineering) will be held today. He has led RECWET as its Director for many years (FY 2010, 2011, 2019 - 2024) and will retire from the University of Tokyo on March 31, 2025.
Date and time：12 Mar 2025, Wed, 15:00～
Venue：Ito Interational Resaerch Center
Organizer：Prof. Takizawa's Final Lecture and Celebration Party Organizing Committee (Takizawa Laboratory members)- 2025/03/11
[Publication] Paper on liquid crystal nanostructured membranes (Prof. Kato)
With Prof. Takashi Kato (Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Division) as the lead author, a paper on liquid crystal nanostructured membranes for CO2 separation in high humidity conditions has been published in Chem. Commun.
Takashi Kato, Kazushi Imamura, Takeshi Sakamoto and Yu Hoshino (2025) Liquid-crystalline nanostructured membranes for CO2 separation, Chemical Communications, 61(2), 3998-4001.
This article is part of the themed collection: Chemistry for a Sustainable World – Celebrating Our Community Tackling Global Challenges
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CC06751G Online Feb 6/Booklet Mar 11- 2025/03/10
[Media] Water environment and WASH in Asia and Africa (Profs. Takizawa, Syutsubo)
The March issue of the Journal of Japan Society on Water Environment (PDF) featured solutions to water environment and WASH issues in Asia and Africa. Prof. Satoshi Takizawa (International Water Environment Division) discussed inequalities in water and sanitation in his editorial. Prof. Kazuaki Syutsubo (same division) reported on the results of the development and implementation of domestic wastewater treatment technology that he has carried out in Thailand for over 10 years.
●[巻頭言] 滝沢智 (2025) 世界の国々のWASHはどれだけ改善したのか？(特集：アジア・アフリカにおける水環境・WASHの課題解決を目指す), 水環境学会誌, 48(a) No.3, p.73.
●[解説] 珠坪一晃 (2025) 適地型生活排水処理技術の開発と実装(特集：アジア・アフリカにおける水環境・WASHの課題解決を目指す), 水環境学会誌, 48(a) No.3, 93-96.- 2025/03/10
[Publication] Review paper on water reuse (Profs. Katayama, Kitajima)
The following review paper by Prof. Hiroyuki Katayama (Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Development), Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology) and others has been published by Water.
Morteza Abbaszadegan, Absar Alum, Masaaki Kitajima, Takahiro Fujioka, Yasuhiro Matsui, Daisuke Sano and Hiroyuki Katayama (2025) Water Reuse—Retrospective Study on Sustainable Future Prospects, Water, 17(6), 789.
https://doi.org/10.3390/w17060789- 2025/03/10
[Cooperated event] Hydrosphere Science Seminar #24 (Mr. Matthew Matsuyama)
#24 of Hydrosphere Science Seminar, which RECWET also collaborate to co-sponsor, will be given by Mr. Matthew Matsuyama, Statistician of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S.
from 16:3016:00-17:30, 13th March (Thr). He is currently in Japan as part of a Japan-U.S. government-to-government training program. Please register here and join us!- 2025/03/07
[Press Release] Paper on confirmed COVID-19 cases at hospitals and SARS-CoV-2 levels in municipal wastewater (Project Pro. Kitajima)
The School of Engineering has issued a press release (in Japanese) regarding the following paper, co-first authored by Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima and published by Environ. Int. (Online on Feb 21/Booklet version in March)
Kagami, K., Kitajima, M., ... & Ishiguro, N. (2025) Association between confirmed COVID-19 cases at hospitals and SARS-CoV-2 levels in municipal wastewater during the pandemic and endemic phases. Environment International, 197, 109342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109342
- 2025/03/03
Renewed MoU with Wenzhou University, China (Prof. Katayama)
Prof. Hiroyuki Katayama, who has been promoting joint research as a representative of RECWET, visited Wenzhou University in China and renewed the Memorandum of Understanding for research exchange, which was signed in February 2020 with the university's School of Life and Environmental Science. The signing ceremony on Feb 28th was attended by Wenzhou University President Zhao Min, the head of the School of Life and Environmental Science and other representatives.
For details and other photos, please visit the Wenzhou University website using your browser's translation function. RECWET also summarizes past research exchanges with Wenzhou University's School of Life and Environmental Science.
- 2025/03/02
[Activity] Academic exchange with graduate students at Wenzhou University, China (Prof. Katayama)
Prof. Hiroyuki Katayama (Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Development) visited Wenzhou University's Graduate School of Ecology and Environmental Studies on February 27th for international academic exchange. A lively question-and-answer session took place in a dialogue session with more than 10 graduate students led by two faculty members.
Details and images (from Wenzhou University's webpage) Research exchanges with Wenzhou University
- 2025/03/01
[Publication] Joint research paper with Chiang Mai University and others (Prof. Takizawa)
The following paper by Prof. Satoshi Takizawa (International Water Environment Division) and others has been published in TiS. This is the result of joint research with Chiang Mai University and the Intercountry Centre for Oral Health, Thai Ministry of Public Health. Prof. Takizawa and his colleagues visited Chiang Mai University in November 2024 to advance the research.
Somkiattiyot, P., Wongrueng, A., Induvesa, P., Yodsin, N., Phuphisith, S., Sittisom, P., Rakruam, P., Srisom, W., Gavila, P., Chamnanprai, S., & Takizawa, S. (2025) Enhanced Fluoride Removal from Groundwater Using Napier Grass-Derived Adsorbent: Experimental and DFT Study, Trends in Sciences, 22(3), 9217. https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2025.9217- 2025/03/01
[Media] Commentary in "Work And Take Effect Remarkably with WATER" (Prof. Kato)
The March issue of "Polymers", the journal of the Society of Polymer Science Japan, featured a theme "Work And Take Effect Remarkably with WATER". At the beginning of the issue, Prof. Takashi Kato (Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Division) discussed "Aquatic Point of view for Polymer Science". He also proposed that various water-related disciplines be linked together to understand the complexity of water in a unified way.
[素描] 加藤隆史 (2025) 水の立場から見る高分子科学(特集：水と共に"活きる"),公益社団法人高分子学会 会誌「高分子」, 74(3), p.118. https://doi.org/10.1295/kobunshi.74.3_118- 2025/02/28
[Media] Nippon Suido Shimbun's 70th anniversary special issue (Profs. Takizawa, Katayama, Kitajima, Kasuga et al.)
Discussions and contributions articles from RECWET-related members were published in February 19th's Japan Sewerage Newspaper commemorating the company's 70th anniversary.
●Dialogue: Experts talk about the future of water - to protect a stable supply for next generation -
Prof. Satoshi Takizawa (International Water Environment)●Discussion: Future water and sewage systems as seen by academics
Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology)●Contribution: A vision of the future of water in an era of change
Project Assoc. Prof. Ikuro Kasuga (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology)
Prof. Hiroyuki Katayama (Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Development)
Prof. Kumiko Oguma (RECWET collaborative member since early 2000s)- 2025/02/27
[Cooperated event] Hydrosphere Science Seminar #23 (Dr. Nitta)
#23 of Hydrosphere Science Seminar, which RECWET also collaborate to co-sponsor, will be given by Project Lecturer Tomoko NITTA (IIS, UTokyo) from 15:00, 3rd March (Mon). Please register here and join us!
- 2025/02/26
[Publication] Paper on biobanking as the lead author (Project Prof. Kitajima)
A paper on biobanking, written by Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology) as the lead author, has been published online in Biopreservation and Biobanking (Booklet version will be available after April).
Masaaki Kitajima, Hirohisa Abe, Ryo Honda, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Tomohiro Kuroita, Ayuko Nemoto, Ryo Shirakashi, Rodney Scott, and Koh Furuta (2025) Biobanking: Possibilities for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology, Biopreservation and Biobanking, Ahead of Print.
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/bio.2024.0118- 2025/02/21
[Publication] Advancements in global water and sanitation access (Project Pro. Kitajima)
The following paper related to SDG6 has been published in Sci. Rep. as a joint result with Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology), Prof. Taikan Oki (RECWET Adjunct member/Special Advisor to the President), and others.
Hiroki Ando, Masaaki Kitajima, Taikan Oki, Michio Murakami (2025) Advancements in global water and sanitation access (2000–2020), Scientific Reports, 15, 6399. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90980-7- 2025/02/20
Joint research on practical application of wastewater-based epidemiology surveillance in aging facilities (Project Prof. Kitajima)
In order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in private nursing homes, a joint research project has been launched by RECWET, the School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo (Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima), HYUGA PRIMARY CARE Co., Ltd., and AdvanSentinel Inc. (co-funded by Shimadzu Corporation and Shionogi & Co., Ltd.). (TSE PR disclosure)
HYUGA PRIMARY CARE Co., Ltd. Feb 20th IR info.(PDF)- 2025/02/20
[Publication] Papers based on joint research with Beijing Normal University (Prof. Takizawa)
Based on joint research between Prof. Satoshi Takizawa (International Water Environment Division) and Assoc. Prof. Yu Yang of Beijing Normal University, the following 2 papers have been issued by Sep. Purif. Technol. and Appl. Catal., B.
Huijie Xu, Yu Yang, Tian Xia, Yuruo Feng, Xinhui Liu, Nigel J.D. Graham, Kwang-Ho Choo, Satoshi Takizawa, How Yong Ng, Li-an Hou (2025) Overlooked interference of antibiotics on quorum sensing inhibitors for membrane biofouling mitigation by affecting AHLs and PQS pathway, Separation and Purification Technology, 363 Part 2, 132116.
Kexuan Gao, Li-an Hou, Lin Hu, Yiran Chai, Satoshi Takizawa, Nigel J.D. Graham, Zhiqiang Sun, Zhenghua Zhang, Jun Ma, Yu Yang (2025) Co single-atom-embedded MXene nanosheets as catalytic UF membrane instant water purification with fouling resistant performance, Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, 361, 124664.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.132116 Online Feb 19/Booklet Aug 14
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.124664 Online Oct 2/Booklet February- 2025/02/12
[Lecture] Invited lecture at APIC-ADVA Summit (Project Prof. Kitajima)
2nd APIC-ADVA Asia Pacific Summit on Infectious Diseases and Immunization (11-13 Feb, Singapore) is currently being held. This afternoon on the second day, Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology) gave an invited speech at the APIC Educational Symposium on RS Virus management.
Symposium title:
RSV Reboot
Revolutionizing RSV Management: From Wastewater to Immunization- 2025/02/10
[Publication] Paper on odor removal from drinking water (Project Assoc. Prof. Kasuga, Prof. Kurisu)
A paper by Project Assoc. Prof. Ikuro Kasuga (Laboratory of International Wastewater-based Epidemiology), Prof. Futoshi Kurusu (Water System Management Division) and others on the characterization of biological activated carbon for the removal of the odorous substance MIB from drinking water has been published in the JWET.
Chenrun Jiang, Toshiyuki Onuma, Kenichi Yoshizawa, Futoshi Kurisu, Ikuro Kasuga (2025) Characterization of Adsorption and Biodegradation Potential of Biological Activated Carbon Removing 2-Methylisoborneol in Drinking Water, Journal of Water and Environment Technology, 23(1), 36-45. https://doi.org/10.2965/jwet.24-071- 2025/02/03
[Award] World's Top 2% Scientists List (Prof. Kato, Project Prof. Kitajima)
The latest edition (2024/Vol.7) of the "Updated Science-Wide Author Databases of Standardized Citation Indicators", a list* of influential scientists in various fields, created by Stanford University and Elsevier, was released.
Among the current members of RECWET, Prof. Takashi Kato (Duputy Director/Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Development) and Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology) were selected for both the "career-long" and "single recent year" categories.● Prof. Kato (Chemistry - Polymers, General Chemistry field)
Consecutive selection for both Career and Single year since 2019/Vol.1
● Project Prof. Kitajima (Biomedical Research - Environmental Sciences, Microbiology field)
Career: Selected for the first time
Single year: Selected for the fourth consecutive year following 2021, 2022, and 2023.* This list was compiled based on data from Scopus, analyzing researchers worldwide who have published at least five papers across 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields. A composite metric combining several citation indicators was used to evaluate researchers with high citation counts. The top 2% of scientists in each subfield were identified. The analysis was conducted in two categories based on the citation period: "career-long" and "single recent year".
Ioannidis, John P.A. (2024), “August 2024 data-update for "Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators"”, Elsevier Data Repository, V7, doi: 10.17632/btchxktzyw.7- 2025/01/28
[Cooperated event] Hydrosphere Science Seminar #22 (Qian Yao)
#22 of Hydrosphere Science Seminar, which RECWET also collaborate to co-sponsor, will be given by Qian Yao (PhD student, East China Normal University/Utokyo) from 15:00, 17th February (Mon). Please register here and join us!
- 2025/01/26
[Lecture] Keynote at Minamata disease symposium (Prof. Katayama)
Prof. Hiroyuki Katayama (Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Development) gave a keynote lecture at an online symposium on Minamata disease hosted by Nishihara Cultural Foundation.
水俣病における研究者の役割,「#水俣病」は今日、どのように捉えられるのか？～「水俣病」への複合的アプローチの試み～, Jan 26, Online. flyer- 2025/01/25
[Publication] Paper on nontuberculous mycobacteria (Project Assoc. Prof. Kasuga, Prof. Kurisu）
The following paper by Project Assoc. Prof. Ikuro Kasuga (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology) and Prof. Futoshi Kurisu (Water System Management) has been issued by Water Res.
Yalan Gan, Futoshi Kurisu, Dai Simazaki, Mitsunori Yoshida, Hanako Fukano, Takeshi Komine, Hiromi Nagashima, Yoshihiko Hoshino, Ikuro Kasuga (2025) Unveiling significant regrowth and potential risk of nontuberculous mycobacteria in hospital water supply system, Water Research, 275, 123188.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2025.123188- 2025/01/24
[Publication] Paper on public behavior based on wastewater surveillance information (Project Prof. Kitajima)
A paper by Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology) and others on public perceptions and responses to COVIC-19 through the provision of wastewater surveillance information has been published by IJDRR.
Michio Murakami, Shuhei Nomura, Hiroki Ando, Masaaki Kitajima (2025) Perceptions and responses to COVID-19 through wastewater surveillance information and online search behavior: A randomized controlled trial, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 118, 105224.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105224- 2025/01/17
[Publication] Paper on new materials for viral capture and release (Profs. Kato and Katayama)
The following paper by Prof. Takashi Kato and Prof. Hiroyuki Katayama (Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Development) has been published by Carbon.
Pilar Ferré-Pujol, Seiji Obata, Jésus Raya, Alberto Bianco, Hiroyuki Katayama, Takashi Kato, Yuta Nishina (2025) Reversible chemical modifications of graphene oxide for enhanced viral capture and release in water, Carbon, 234, 120015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2025.120015- 2025/01/16
[Award] Best Oral Presentation Award at SEAWE-14 (Prof. Takizawa, Assoc. Prof. Hashimoto)
Ms. Yan Tung LO (D1), whose supervisors are Prof. Satoshi Takizawa (International Water Environment) and Assoc. Prof. Takashi Hashimoto (Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Development), received the Best Oral Presentation Award at the 14th International Symposium on Southeast Asian Water Environment (SEAWE-14, 3-5 December 2024@Kuala Lumpur).
Please see the websites of School of Engineering(details) and Dept. Urban Engineering.- 2025/01/16
[Event] Water Technology Workshop (Project Assoc. Prof. Kasuga)
Water Technology Workshop was held at the University of Tokyo, led by Assoc. Prof. Ikuro Kasuga (RCAST / Dept. Urban Engineering / RECWET International Wastewater-based Epidemiology). In particular, the workshop focused on the practical operation methods and issues of biological filtration called Upward Biological Contact Filtration (U-BCF).
Details (in Japanese)
- 2025/01/08
[Publication] Paper on estimation of COVID-19 cases and the potential infection (Prof. Katayama)
The following paper by Prof. Hiroyuki Katayama (Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Development) has been issued by J. R. Soc. Interface.
Syun-suke Kadoya, Yubing Li, Yilei Wang, Hiroyuki Katayama and Daisuke Sano (2025) State-space modelling using wastewater virus and epidemiological data to estimate reported COVID-19 cases and the potential infection numbers, Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 22(222), 20240456. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2024.0456- 2025/01/06
[Publication] Paper on COVID-19 in wasterwater and cases at Tokyo Orympics (Project Prof. Kitajima & Prof. Katayama)
The following paper by Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology) and Prof. Hiroyuki Katayama (Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Development) has been published by Sci. Total Environ.
Masaaki Kitajima, Michio Murakami, Hiroki Ando, Syun-suke Kadoya, Ryo Iwamoto, Tomohiro Kuroita, Kiyoshi Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Satoshi Okabe, Hiroyuki Katayama, Seiya Imoto (2025) Quantitative association of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and clinically confirmed cases in different areas of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Village, Science of The Total Environment, 960, 178209.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178209- 2025/01/04
[Publication] Paper on disinfection byproducts (Prof. Kurisu)
The results of international joint research by Prof. Futoshi Kurisu (Water System Management) et al. have been published in Sci. Total Environ.
Thirawit Prasert, Futoshi Kurisu, Phanwatt Phungsai (2025) Characterizing the precursors of byproducts formed by chlorine and chlorine dioxide disinfection using unknown screening analysis with Orbitrap mass spectrometry, Science of The Total Environment, 959, 178296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178296- 2025/01/01
[Publication] Editorial in a journal (Project Prof. Kitajima)
An editorial by Project. Prof. Masaaki Kitajima, the Editor-in-Chief, and others have been published in Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol.
Graham Gagnon, Lauren Stadler, Aaron Bivins, Laurent Moulind and Masaaki Kitajima (2025) Wastewater surveillance for public health: Quo Vadis? Environmental Science Water Research & Technology, 11(1), 8-9. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EW90048K- 2025/01/01
[Publication] SARS-CoV-2 detection in wasterwater with commercially available kit (Dr. Angga)
A paper evaluating the effectiveness of the microbial concentration and RNA extraction kit, Carbon Prep for Wastewater RNA extraction (Life Magnetics), for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater (first author: Dr. Made Sandhyana Angga, International Wastewater-based Epidemiology) has been published in Food Environ. Virol.
Made Sandhyana Angga, Sunayana Raya, Soichiro Hirai, Eiji Haramoto (2025) Magnetic carbon bead-based concentration method for SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater, Food and Environmental Virology, 17(1), 8.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12560-024-09623-1- 2024/12/27
[Media] Interview on TV/YouTube about water rate increase (Prof. Takizawa)
On the Fuji TV news program "It!", Prof. Satoshi Takizawa (International Water Environment Division) gave an explanation regarding the water rate increase (audio only). In addition to the broadcast, videos and summaries were available for a month on FNN Prime Online (in Japanese).
Why? Many local governments across the country are planning to raise water rates. Residents of Chichibu city, Saitama, will be in troubled due to the planned price increase of 51% on average.
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