Profile of Commissioners
Chairman YAMANAKA Shinsuke
[画像:Chairman Shinsuke Yamanaka photo]
Curriculum Vitae
- Date of Birth
- December 1955
- November 1989
- Doctor of Engineering, Osaka University
- December 1994
- Associate Professor, Department of Engineering, Osaka University
- May 1998
- Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University
- April 2010
- Director, Frontier Research Center,
Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University - April 2016
- Director, Open Innovation Education Research Center,
Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University - August 2016
- Vice-President /Trustee, Osaka University
- August-September 2017
- Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University
- September 2017
- Commissioner, the Nuclear Regulation Authority, Japan
- September 2022
- Chairman, the Nuclear Regulation Authority, Japan
Activities
As a leading researcher, Dr. YAMANAKA dedicated himself to research in the field of nuclear engineering and radioactive fuel engineering and materials, such as fuel safety research related to severe nuclear reactor accidents.
Dr. YAMANAKA has contributed to promoting nuclear regulations and nuclear research as a member of NRA’s Nuclear Fuel Safety Examination Committee and NRA’s Technical Committee on Backend, and a program officer of MEXT’s Nuclear Safety System R&D Project.
Message
The Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan was established as an independent regulatory authority based on lessons learned from the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. Since that time, we have made tireless efforts to ensure transparency and implement regulatory measures reflecting the latest domestic and international information and lessons.
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident is still fresh in our memory. The NRA has maintained a keen sense of mission and responsibility at the highest levels, but it is also true that, as human beings, we tend to forget things over time. Thus, it is essential to engrave the lessons learned from Fukushima in the NRA’s institutional memory rather than just personal reflections.
We must avoid lapsing into a mind-set of self-satisfaction and recognize that the pursuit of the highest safety standards is our highest, ongoing priority. I am determined to do my best to instill widespread confidence in our nuclear safety regulations based on independence and transparency.
Commissioner BAN Nobuhiko
[画像:Commissioner Nobuhiko BAN photo]
Curriculum Vitae
- Date of Birth
- July 1963
- March 1988
- Completed a master’s degree at Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo (Master of Health Science)
- April 1988
- Entered Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation
- April 1993
- Research Associate, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Tokyo
- April 1998
- Ph.D. in Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
- April 1998
- Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences
- April 2004
- Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences
- April 2011
- Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Tokyo Healthcare University
- September 2015
- Commissioner, the Nuclear Regulation Authority, Japan
Activities
As a member of Committees 1 and 4 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and Japanese delegation to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), Dr. BAN has been involved in international reviews and discussions on radiation effects and protection.
As a leading expert in radiation effects and radiological protection, he worked with governmental and institutional committees to address issues of radiation exposure and its health effects.
Dr. BAN chaired Steering Committee on "Q&A about Radiation in Daily Life" of Japan Health Physics Society and coordinated its activities. He has worked to disseminate scientific knowledge about the effects and risks of radiation.
Message
The ultimate purpose of safety regulation is to protect humans. As for radiation safety, it means to protect people from harm of radiation exposure. The experience of Fukushima Daiichi Accident indicates that the issue should not be confined to biological effects to humans, but should be taken from the perspective of people living in the society. I will do my best at every single task, giving due consideration of radiation risks on a scientific basis and keeping human dimension in mind.
Commissioner SUGIYAMA Tomoyuki
[画像:Commissioner Tomoyuki Sugiyama photo]
Curriculum Vitae
- Date of Birth
- May 1968
- March 1996
- Ph. D., Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology
- April 1996
- Joined Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI)
- July 2010
- Principal Researcher, Fuel Safety Research Group, Nuclear Safety Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
- April 2014
- Specialist, Regulatory Standard and Research Division, Nuclear Regulation Authority(NRA)
- April 2016
- Senior Principal Researcher, Nuclear Safety Research Center / Leader, Severe Accident Evaluation Research Group, JAEA
- April 2018
- Head, Risk Analysis and Applications Research Division, Nuclear Safety Research Center, JAEA
- April 2020
- Head, Reactor Safety Research Division, Nuclear Safety Research Center, JAEA
- April 2022
- Deputy Director General, Nuclear Safety Research Center, JAEA
- September 2022
- Commissioner, Nuclear Regulation Authority, Japan
Activities
Dr. SUGIYAMA worked on research for nuclear reactor safety and risk assessment at JAERI and JAEA.
As a leading expert in the field of nuclear reactor and fuel, Dr. SUGIYAMA contributed to international activities such as the Halden Reactor Project, the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI), and the Working Group on the Analysis and Management of Accidents (WGAMA) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA).
As a seconded staff to NRA, Dr. SUGIYAMA engaged in conformity review of commercial power reactors to the new regulatory requirements concerning severe accident.
Message
Without forgetting the regret and sense of powerlessness in face of the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, I would like to make use of the knowledge and experience I have gained so far and fulfill my responsibilities sincerely as a commissioner of the NRA. In addition, I will engage in the NRA's activities, always being aware of a series of role; taking over the NRA's 10-year achievements, addressing the remaining challenges and new challenges that will emerge in the future, and delivering better things to the future.
Commissioner NAGASAKI Shinya
Curriculum Vitae
- Date of Birth
- December 1962
- March 1989
- Master of Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
- April 1989
- Shikoku Electric Power Company, Incorporated
- January 1991
- Research Associate, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
- November 1993
- Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
- November 1993
- Doctor of Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
- April 1995
- Associate Professor, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
- April 1999
- Associate Professor, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
- April 2005
- Professor, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
- April 2012
- Professor, Department of Engineering Physics, Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University
- September 2024
- Commissioner, the Nuclear Regulation Authority, Japan
Activities
- Dr. Nagasaki is a leading nuclear researcher on radioactive waste disposal at The University of Tokyo and McMaster University in Canada.
- Dr. Nagasaki has been elected as Canada Research Chair and involved in nuclear education programs that produces high-quality human resources. He has been engaged in research and education from international perspective on radioactive waste disposal and nuclear fuel cycle.
- Dr. Nagasaki has contributed to the international development of nuclear engineering education and research in Japan and Canada as Fellow of Forschungszentrum Rossendorf in Germany (now The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf) and the School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo.
Message
Based on the law and the latest objective scientific and technological facts and information, I will fulfill my responsibilities as Commissioner of the Nuclear Regulation Authority in to protect the lives, health and property of the public, preserve the environment and contribute to national security.
At the same time, I will fulfill my responsibility as a member of Regulatory Authority that can continue to motivate operators with primary responsibility for the safety of their operations to improve their voluntary safety to even higher levels.
Commissioner YAMAOKA Koshun
略歴
- Date of Birth
- September 1958
- March 1986
- Ph.D., Doctor of Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University
- April 1986
- Research Associate, Izu-Oshima Volcano Observatory, Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo
- January 1991
- Associate Professor, Research Center for Seismology and Volcanology, School of Science, Nagoya University
- April 2003
- Professor, Research Center for Seismology, Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation, , Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University
- March 2004
- Professor, Earthquake Prediction Research Center, Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo
- April 2007
- Professor, Research Center for Seismology, Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University
- April 2008
- Director, Research Center for Seismology, Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation,, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University
- January 2012
- Director, Earthquake and Volcano Research Center, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University
- April 2017
- Vice Dean, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University
- April 2021
- Dean, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University
- September 2024
- Commissioner, the Nuclear Regulation Authority, Japan
Activities
- Dr. Yamaoka has been engaged in earthquake and volcano observation research at Nagoya University and the Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, and is leading earthquake and volcano research. He has also contributed to the measures of Nankai Trough Earthquake and the prevention of volcanic disaster at Mt. Ontake, for which he received FY2021 Prime Minister’s Commendations to Contributors for Disaster Prevention.
- Dr. Yamaoka served as the president of the Seismological Society of Japan and the chair of Coordinating Committee for Earthquake Prediction. He has worked to disseminate the latest knowledge about earthquakes as well as promote seismological research.
- Dr. Yamaoka has contributed to the activities of NRA, as a Review Commissioner of the Reactor Safety Examination Committee and Nuclear Fuel Safety Expert Examination Committee, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards, and an external expert of the Working Group on Earthquake Ground Motions Without Specifying the Hypocenter.
Message
Japan is exposed to the threat of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and landslides. The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011 was an earthquake of an unexpected scale, far beyond the expectations of seismologists, including myself, and demonstrated the devastating damage that can be caused by a mega-earthquake. Keeping in mind that natural phenomena can sometimes exceed predictions, I will constantly collect, evaluate, and organize new knowledge, and in my role as Commissioner, I will utilize my experience as a researcher for seismology and volcanology to ensure that a serious accident like the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident is never repeated.