Digital equipment was synonymous with high-technology until recently, and many "Made in Japan" products dominated the world’s market. However, the market entry of emerging countries, as well as an intensive focus on capital investments and technological development have led to commoditization of high-technology, and the relative decline of Japan's industrial competitiveness has been of public concern. Even in such a situation, though, industrial optics has traditionally been a strength in Japan’s competitiveness, as seen in its consistently strong market share in the digital camera market worldwide. It is thought that mass production technology of lenses as an analog module is one of the barriers to entry into the optics industry.

The study of optics taught in the department of science in universities was once directly linked to the optics industry. However, optical study/education offered at universities has shifted to more leading-edge themes like quantum optics and non-linear optics. As a result, optical studies directly linked to industrial application, such as "geometric optics" and "lens design", gradually faded away. The current state is that these studies are supported primarily by company-level education.

With this situation in mind, "Nikon Chair of Optical Engineering" was founded at Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo in November 2006 by an endowment from Nikon Corporation. It provided unique education on optical engineering directly linked to the industry, where a professional lens designer provided hands-on training and taught how to design lenses using professional design software tools. The Nikon Chair of Optical Engineering finished its course at the end of March, 2012.

The newly-established "Nikon Chair of Imaging Science" succeeds and even expands on the Nikon Chair of Optical Engineering. The Nikon Chair of Imaging Science continues to provide its distinctive lectures. Additionally, as a new initiative, they aim to create opportunities to deepen interchange between researchers and technicians, who are the future leaders of Japan's optics industry, and also fortify global competitiveness by means of industry-academia ties.

• Tsutomu Shimura

  Professor

  [Message]

  ※未対応※

  

• Ayako Sugaya

  Project Professor

  [Message]

  「ひかり」が様々な形で生活に繋がっていることをお伝えしたい

  

• Yumiko Ouchi

  Research Fellow

  [Message]

  娘等の プレゼント植えて 目指そうかな 　光と花が 揺れる庭先

  

• Yuji Kokumai

  Research Fellow

  [Message]

  未来に向けた技術開発を担当しており、皆様にもそれを伝えたい

  

• Shuji Takenaka

  Research Fellow

  [Message]

  レンズ設計の面白さを伝えたいです

  

• Masahiro Mizuta

  Research Fellow

  [Message]

  設計中、レンズが夢に出てきたらゴールは近いと思います

  

• Jun-ichiro Tottori

  Associate Research Fellow

  [Message]

  レンズ設計を体験する機会はあまりないと思うので、ぜひチャレンジしてみてください

  

The Nikon Chair of Optical Engineering is located in the Institute of Industrial Science of the University of Tokyo, on the Komaba Research Campus. The room is on the 5th floor of the An building. The interior of the room is arranged to have a company-like atmosphere.。

We hold lens designing laboratory exercise classes in a "Zengaku seminar" for all students and the "Advanced Optical Engineering" for postgraduate students each year. Please read the report for 2007.

Consortium on Education and Research on Advanced Laser Science was established in the Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo. Eleven companies participate in this program and offer classes centering on laboratory exercises. In 2007, pilot classes were held. Please read the report for 2007.

Nikon Chair of Imaging Science　　Hiroshi Ohki

An-504, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan

E-mail：opteng[at]iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp