研究紹介
Research on Wild Chimanzees
Long-term research on the society, behavior and ecology of wild chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains National Park (Taznania), Ugalla Area (Tanzania), Bossou and Nimba (Guinea) and other study sites.

Research on Wild Yakushima Monkeys
Study of the society, behavior and ecology of Yakushima macaques living on the World Heritage island of Yakushima.

Research on Koshima Monkeys
Study of wild Japanese monkeys of Koshima famous for potatoe washing.

From Field to Lab
Genetic analysis of noninvasive fecal and urine samples for understanding wildlife.

Research at Kumamoto Sanctuary
Studies of comparative cognition, animal welfare, behavior of captive chimpanzees.

Research on Health and Longevity
We aim to investigate the welfare and longevity of captive chimpanzees and humans from a comparative perspective. In collaboration with the Kumamoto Sanctuary, we adopt applied approaches, especially focusing on environmental enrichment, cognitive abilities, and ageing.

Behavior of cetaceans (dolphins and whales)
We study resting and sleeping behaviors (how they sleep?), social behaviors (what is the meaning of their contact behaviors and pair swims?) and acoustic behaviors (how they communicate acoustically?) of wild and captive cetaceans such as bottlenose dolphins, belugas, killer whales.

Ecology and behavior of Borneo orangutans
We started a field research on wild Borneo orangutans at Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia in 2004 and have continued censuses on their nest density and fallen fruit, and observation of their foraging behavior and social behavior.

Visual and olfactory communication of mammals
We study visual and olfactory communication of primates, black and white rhinoceros and wolves by analyzing their coloration, morphology and behaviors related to these communications such as urination, defecation and sniffing.

Studies on glacier ecosystems
We study the glacier ecosystems in various parts of the world, such as Himalaya, Patagonia, Alaska, Greenland, China and Russia, to clarify the characteristics of glacier ecosystems, to establish biological ice core analysis and to understand the effects of glacier microorganisms to accelerate glacier melting by darkening the glacier surface.