Title: NSF/Tokyo Report: A Survey of Laboratories Involved in Basic Biological Research in Japan Date: November 12, 1997 The National Science Foundation's offices in Tokyo and in Paris periodically report on developments abroad that are related to the Foundation's mission. These documents present facts for the use of NSF program managers and policy makers; they are not statements of NSF policy. Special Scientific Report #97-36 (November 4, 1997) Survey of laboratories involved in basic biological research in Japan The following report was prepared by Dr. DeLill S. Nasser, Program Director for Genetics and Nucleic Acids Program at the National Science Foundation. Dr. Nasser visited Japan from March 28 - April 29, 1997 as a Visiting Research Fellow (short-term) under the sponsorship of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). Professor Mitsuyasu Hasebe of the National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan served as host scientist for Dr. Nasser. Dr. Nasser may be reached via email at: dnasser@nsf.gov. My trip to Japan, sponsored by JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science), was for the purpose of visiting laboratories in National Universities and Institutes engaged in basic biological research. The goal was to learn about basic research ongoing in Japan and to meet the scientists who are directing such research. The ultimate aim, of providing information and encouragement to U.S. scientists at all levels, who are or might be thinking of working, studying or initiating collaborations with Japanese scientists, will be partially implemented by this report. Because it clearly is impossible to discuss the work of each scientist visited, I have chosen to provide background information which I hope will be useful to any scientist at any level who is unfamiliar with Japan as a country but is familiar with the biological data emanating from some of the excellent work being done in that country, and who wishes to further explore the possibility of learning and working with Japanese scientists for an extended period of time. I arrived at Osaka Kansai International Airport on March 28, 1997 where I was met by my host, Dr. Mitsuyasu Hasebe of the Institute for Basic Biology at Okazaki. An itinerary of the universities, institutes and the names of most of the scientists visited during my 33 day stay in Japan is attached. For the most part, the scientists visited were determined by the host scientist at each institution after making them aware of my purpose in visiting. Clearly this report is based upon a limited sample of scientists since the first selection criterion was that the Japanese scientist had to be fluent in English. It goes without saying, that the selected scientists were (and are) of the first rank, doing excellent and, in some cases, innovative world-class research. The second most limiting factor was, of course, the time available to me combined with my desire to visit a number of institutions throughout Japan. With those caveats, and with the understanding that any scientist who is i! nterested in more information is encouraged to call or email either the Japan Program Directors in the International Division or myself at the National Science Foundation, I will first describe my generalized conclusions. It is not difficult to urge American scientists at all levels to visit and work with Japanese biologists. Japan is a beautiful country with a long history as well as an intellectually engaging scientific establishment. I found the people to be both concerned and helpful, personally and professionally. All of that is, of course, secondary to concerns that impact upon professional training and collaboration, and it is those issues which I will discuss in more detail. Background Information There are differences between the Japanese and American scientific research environments that should be known and incorporated into any decision to work in Japan for any length of time. At the time of the Meiji restoration (1900), the decision was made that Japan should investigate institutional structures in the European countries that were perceived to be the most successful in a given area. At that time, Germany was considered to be the preeminent country in academic scientific research and so Japan modeled its scientific structure on that of Germany. Although changes are gradually occurring, that structure still prevails in modern day Japan. Generally, a unit consists of a Professor, one Associate Professor and two research associates or Assistant Professors. In the original scheme of things, the Professor was all-powerful, determining the area of research and the ultimate arbiter of the research questions to be investigated by the lower ranked scientists. That structure i! s still possible if the Professor wishes to retain it, but in some of the laboratories visited the freedom given to the lower ranked scientists to pursue their own research interests ranged from slight to complete. At this time, several institutions are discussing the issues involved with converting to the U.S. model for academic ranks. The Institute of Genetics at Mishima which will have a new Director soon (Professor Y. Hotta from the University of Tokyo) is seriously considering the possibility of formally changing the structure of the institute to conform to the American model. The Professors in an institution also are, in essence, the governing body of the institution. Major decisions are usually made after deliberations by committees composed of all individuals of professorial rank. Lower ranked individuals may be invited to attend the meetings but usually do not vote on any issue. Deans and Presidents of Universities are elected by ballot for fixed terms of office and ! there is a maximum number of years that a single individual can hold the office, two four-year terms. I was told that neither the Deans nor the President controlled any funds and that those offices are, therefore, without financial clout. Students very often stay at the same university for undergraduate and graduate work. Except in unusual situations, once a student is awarded a Ph.D., he (and in Japan it is most often a male) will continue as either a Research Associate or Assistant Professor at the same institution. An extension of research training in the mode of postdoctoral fellowships has been rare in Japan, although as noted later, that may be changing. In the main, Japanese scientists who have come to this country and whom we consider "post-docs" have permanent positions from which they have taken a leave of absence with the permission of their Professor. The Japanese have a tradition of stability in working positions. Whether in academia, industry or government, hiring an individual into a position carries the implicit guarantee of a lifetime job. There is no tenure system in Japanese universities because there is no need for such a system. However, that tradition has several consequences, some of whic! h are not immediately apparent. Until recently and even now, except in specific positions such as post-doctoral fellowships, personnel cannot be paid from federal grants. That includes graduate students, technicians and, except for the specified situations, postdoctoral fellows. Although we consider postdoctorates a period of extended training, the Japanese have considered postdoctorates as "temporary employment." This is obviously less desirable than a life-long permanent job and, so, even when such support is available (and, until recently, it has been rare that it was) the young scientists usually chose not to become a "temporary employee." Another, not immediately realized consequence is the ban on hiring personnel on federal grants. Anyone, whether a student, postdoctoral fellow or technician, when hired into a position is immediately considered to have been hired for life. Thus the only students in graduate schools are those affluent (and motivated) enough to pursue co! ntinued education by paying for it. Technicians and lab helpers are hired for three months (the maximum allowable time for temporary employees), and after a suitable hiatus rehired for a further three months. Other games are played, but it is obvious that such a restriction mandates a system different from that found in the United States. Students who plan to find industrial positions will usually terminate their education with a Master's degree as industrial research groups prefer to hire scientists with those degrees rather than Ph.D's. At this time, the universities are organized in such a way that optimizes such a decision. An M.S. degree (usually a two year program) must be obtained before a student can enter into a Ph.D. program (usually three years) which makes it relatively easy to decide not to continue into that program if one wishes to seek an industrial job. The facilities for the conduct of basic research in universities and institutes vary widely. The laboratories, facilities and equipment at Nara Institute were new and impressive. Not many laboratories anywhere have a walk-in autoclave! However, many other laboratories that I visited, both in universities and institutes were badly in need of renovation and equipment replacement, although often next door to new and beautifully equipped buildings. The laboratories visited in the medical school at the University of Kyoto were new and well equipped as were the plant laboratories visited. However, in some of the other buildings the halls were lined with large, old equipment that was still in use and many of the older buildings lacked elevators. The laboratories at Nagoya University that I visited seemed relatively new and well equipped. The buildings housing the visited laboratories at Hokkaido University were old and crowded but there are plans for a new building. The Universit! y of Tokyo has two campuses; an undergraduate and a graduate campus. A third campus is in the planning stage although many of the buildings on the existing graduate campus are badly in need of complete overhauls. There are no plans to hire new faculty and thus some of the graduate faculty now on the existing campus will move to the new campus. Overall, the situation is not too different than one would find in U.S.: some old buildings and some new, some crowded and some spacious, some well equipped and some not. In some isolated cases, there are available pieces of equipment that are unique. One such is the large linear array spectroscope at The Institute for Basic Biology at Okazaki and the various photon recording devices designed and built by Dr. M. Furuya at Hitachi. Dr. Takao Kondo at Nagoya University has designed an instrument that visualizes circadian rhythms in cyanobacterium colonies by recording Lux gene expression over extended time periods. The Tokyo Botanical Gardens in Tokyo and also in Nikko have plant species that are not available elsewhere. One of the special activities of the garden staff is the recovery and propagation of endangered species. Although the library of the Botanical Garden is neither air-conditioned or humidity controlled, there are both oriental and western treasures to be found there. One such is an original volume of the work by Robert Hooke written in 1665 brought back to Japan by one of the Meiji envoys. The oriental works include treatises that ! have both handwritten text and beautifully colored drawings of plants. It should, perhaps, be emphasized that in all of the laboratories that I visited and whatever the state of the equipment and facilities, the dedication and focused energy of the scientists themselves was not only immediately apparent but also extremely impressive. The integration of females into the scientific community is not complete yet in Japan, much less so than in the United States. There are very few female Professors, a few more female Associate and Assistant Professors, but the largest numbers are at the graduate school level, particularly at the entry level for the MS degree. Again, the reasons are so intertwined with societal issues that it is difficult to list simple reasons for the skewed female representation. It is true that there is little encouragement for women to either enter into graduate school or scientific faculties by the senior officials in universities or institutes (clearly a generalization), almost all of whom are male, but it is also true that the combined traditions of only parental child care and strong social pressure to marry and have children leaves women with difficult choices to make. Nagoya University had two female Professors, Professor Go and Professor Okazaki (who retired shortly before my arrival! ). The female Associate Professor that I met at Nara receives both emotional and professional support from both her Professor and her husband. However the female Associate Professor with whom I spoke at the University of Tokyo had a more difficult path to follow to that position. An American female scientist will spend the spring term as a Visiting Professor at the University of Tokyo in the Department of Global Agricultural Resources. Changes are happening...but slowly. It should be said that as an American female guest and as a U.S. government official, I met only with the greatest courtesy and consideration. My schedule was graciously arranged by my hosts, I was taken to lunch and dinners almost every day and sight-seeing tours hosted by graduate students and the assistant and associate professors filled almost all of what could be considered as free time. Conversations with other female scientists who collaborate with Japanese scientists (male) or who have spent sabbatica! ls in Japan have surfaced only one minor complaint that the long-term visitor was left to find her own social life. However, in no instance have I heard of any female scientist who was met with anything less than professional courtesy. Female scientists, particularly more senior scientists, could serve as very useful role models for the Japanese. The cost of living in Japan is very high, although as the dollar gains against the yen there is some relief. However, the Japanese recognize the problem and in several ways attempt to compensate. Fellowships given by the Japanese usually at least partially compensate for the difference in cost of living. In some cases, subsidized housing is made available. In any case, there should be an open discussion of the financial issues before a decision is made. There are other issues to be explored if families are to be involved in a long-term visit. The school year is different in Japan. It starts in April and continues throughout the year with several holidays interspersed. The schools are public although private ones are available. As noted earlier, baby sitters are not easily found in Japan and although language will not be a problem in the professional setting, the homemaker will have to learn some basic words in order to navigate in the world of shops and neighbors. It would be ! wise for that person to learn a few basic sentences before going to Japan to live. Again, the larger cities will be much less stressful in that respect than smaller cities or villages. The Tokyo subway system is easy to master and makes exploration of that city not only easy but also enjoyable. Cars should be avoided not only because the Japanese drive on the left side of the road but because of the high density of traffic. You should carefully examine the options for health insurance to cover your specific needs before you make a decision for a long-term visit to Japan. Concerns of interest to post-doctoral fellows: The most important concerns for families are, as mentioned above, health insurance and schools for children. Many of the post-doctoral fellowships that are now available from the Japanese government will include health insurance for the fellow but not the family. It is of obvious importance to discuss options with both your potential mentor and your insurance company. The solution to the problem will undoubtedly vary in each individual case. The issue of schools should also be discussed with your potential mentor. As noted above, the school year varies from that found in the U.S. which could determine the time for entrance and exit of the tenure for the post-doctoral fellowship. Although I have no in-depth knowledge of the primary and secondary school system in Japan, my impression is that, although the teaching style is different, the content at any level is more consistently as good or better than that found in the U.S. public schools are, as would be expected, taught in Jap! anese but private schools which teach in English can be found. The major professional concerns for the post-doctoral fellow are in some, but not all cases, obvious. Thought should be given to the necessity of an eventual trip home for job interviews. While it will become increasingly easy to find advertisements for positions on the web as well as in journals, and while initial contacts can be made through email, the need for an interview and seminar presentation will still mandate a trip out of Japan before the final trip home. That issue could and should be discussed prior to any commitment. The choice of a post-doctoral mentor should be based upon the scientific interests of the fellow, but thought should be given to the expectations for the expected enhancement of skills and knowledge. In many biologically oriented laboratories in Japan there is a somewhat lower level of molecular sophistication than is found in many U.S. laboratories but a greater depth of biological expertise and understanding. For students who are already molecularl! y sophisticated but interested in applying that expertise to more global biological questions (such as evolutionary ones), it could be most useful to seek out mentors with that type of biological focus. Such a mix would serve two purposes: that of enhancing the biological expertise and in-depth understanding of the fellow and, at the same time, allow importation of sophisticated molecular technology to the laboratory. The fellow should remain aware of the different scientific traditions embodied in him- or herself and the director of the laboratory. Unless the director has had intimate involvement with U.S. or U.K. scientists, it should be remembered that the director expects the research interests of the laboratory personal to reflect his interests and to have a proprietary interest in the work done in the laboratory. The use of a post-doctorate to develop a scientific focus for a future independent research program is a concept that cannot be assumed is understood by the post-doctorate mentor. The issues should be discussed, if only in a theoretical manner, before committing to a position as well as throughout the tenure of the fellowship. And, even more than in the U.S., a clear understanding of the research direction to be taken by the two scientists when the fellowship has ended should be delineated before leaving. There are several potential sources of support for post-doctoral fellows. Recent issues of scientific journals, including Nature, have carried notices about the availability of fellowship support from JSPS for individuals. Recently, extremely large awards which include support for 3-5 postdoctoral fellows have been made to senior investigators in various institutions in Japan. The NSF nominates postdoctoral researchers to Japanese counterpart agencies such as JSPS and STA for fellowship funding. In addition to living and travel allowances, these fellowships also offer opportunities for language study. Concerns of interest to more established investigators: Many of the same concerns as noted above are also relevant for more established investigators. In most cases, the scientist has already started to collaborate with his or her counterpart in Japan and the concern is usually about sources for support. At this time, support for long term (6-12 months) is not difficult to find. JSPS is one such avenue. The best advice that can be given is to talk with the Program Directors for the Japan Program at the NSF as a first step. If you are interested in a sabbatical for 6-12 months and have not established an on-going collaboration, do not hesitate to contact a Japanese scientist working in your area of interest by email. As noted several times, Japanese scientists are not only professionally courteous but also usually eager to have visiting foreign scientists working in their laboratories. Make contact; it could turn out to be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. APPENDIX Travel Itinerary for Dr. DeLill Nasser March 28, 1997 Arrive at Kansai International Airport, Osaka and met by Dr. Mitsuyasu Hasebe. To Kyoto by JR. March 29 Host: Professor Kiyotaka Okada Visit with Professor Shoichiro Tsukita of the Department of Cell Biology, University of Kyoto. Attended sessions of the meeting of the Plant Physiology Society March 30, Sightseeing with graduate students: Tokitaka Oyama and Shin-Ichiro Sawa April 1-April 3 Visits with: Professor Noriyuki Satoh, Dept. of Zoology Professor Masaki Iwabuchi, Dept. of Botany Professor Tasuku Honjo, Dean, Dept. of Medical Chemistry Professor Eisuke Nishida, Dept. of Biophysics Professor Shin Yonehara, Institute for Virus Research Professor Shin-ichi Nishikawa, Dept. Molecular Genetics Professor Kazuhiro Nagata, Dept. of Cell Biology Professor Shigetada Nakanishi, Dept. of Neuroscience Professor Kiyotaka Okada, Dept. of Botany Associate Professor Tanaka, Dept of Botony Professor Shinji Takada, Center for Molecular and Developmental Biology Professor Yoshinori Fujiyoshi, Dept. of Biophysics Professor Atsuhiro Oka Institute for Chemical Research Dr. Koji Goto, Institute for Chemical Research Professor Minoru Kanehisa, Institute for Chemical Research April 3-7 Nara Institute of Science and Technology Host: Professor Ko Shimamoto Visits with: Professor Hirotada Mori, Director, NARA Institute of Science and Technology Professor Ko Shimamoto, Lab of Plant Molecular Genetics Dr. Junko Kyozuka, Lab of Plant Molecular Genetics Dr. Takeshi Izawa, Lab of Plant Molecular Genetics Dr. Tsutomu Kawasaki, Lab of Plant Molecular Genetics Professor Hiroshi Yoshikawa, Graduate School of Biosciences Professor Yasuo Hotta, Dean , Graduate School of Biosciences Dr. Masato Nakafuku, Division of Signal Transduction Graduate Students: Kuzuko Morino, Kanae Ohsaki, Shinichi Ogata April 7-9 Nagoya University Host: Professor Yasunori Machjida Visits with: Professor Takao Kondo, Dept. of Biology Professor Yasuyoshi Nishida, Dept. of Biology Professor Kunihiro Matsumoto Professor Masahiro Sugiura, Director, Center for Gene Research Professor Hiroshi Hori, Dept. of Biology Professor Hiroji Aiba, Dept. of Molecular Biolgy Professor Mitiko Go, Division of Biological Science Professor Kenzo Nakamura, Department of Agriculture Biology April 10-13 National Institute for Basic Biology Host: Dr. Mitsuyasu Hasebe Visits with: Professor Hideo Mohre, Director-General Professor Shigeru Iida, Division of Gene Expression and Regulation Associate Professor Masakatsu Watanabe Okazaki Large Spectrograph Professor Tetsuo Yamamori, Dept. of Neurobiology Professor Norio Murata, Chairman, Dept. of Regulation Biology Professor Mikio Nishimura, Dept. of Cell Biology Associate Professor, Mitsuyasu Hasebe, Laboratory of Plant Molecular Evolutionary Morphology Professor Ken-ichirou Morohashi, Laboratory of Speciation Mechanisms April 14-16 National Institute for Genetics Host: Dr. Shigeo Hayashi Visits with: Professor Jun-ichi Tomizawa, Director Professor Akira Ishihama, Head, Dept. Molecular Genetics Professor Nobuo Shimamoto, Structural Biology Center Profesor Norio Nakatsuji, Mammalian Development Laboratory Professor Yuji Kohara, Gene Network Laboratory Associate Professor Shigeo Hayashi, Invertebrate Genetics Laboratory April 16-18 University of Tokyo April 21-23 Host: Professor Toshyuki Nagata Visits with: Professor Yoshiko Kikachi Professor Akira Nagatani, Molecular Genetics Research Laboratory Professor Yoshiki Hotta, Biophysics and Developmental Genetics Associate Professor Ikuo Nishida, Dept. Biological Sciences Associate Professor Seijchiro Hasezawa, Dept. Biological Sciences Professor Hiroo Fukuda, Dept. of Botany Professor Yasushi Hiromi, Dept. Biological Sciences Professor Akihiro Shima, Radiation Biology Associate Professor Yoshikazu Ohya, Dept. of Biology Professor Masanori Taira, Dept. Biological Sciences Professor Masayuki Yamamoto, Dept. Biophysics & Biochemistry Professor Hirofumi Uchimiya, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Assistant Professor Toru Fujiwara. Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer Assistant Professor Hirokazu Tsukaya, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences April 19 Hitachi Advanced Research Laboratory Host: Professor Masaki Furuya Visits with: Professor Masaki Furuya Dr. John Jelsko, Visiting Post-Doctoral Fellow Dr. Norihito Kuno, Research Scientist Dr. Takamichi Muramatsu, Research Scientist April 20-21 Nikko Host: Professor Masaki Furuya Dr. Mitsuyasu Hasebe Dr. John Jelesko, Postdoctoral Researcher at Hitachi Advanced Research Laboratory April 24-28 Hokkaido University Host: Professor Yoshibumi Komeda Visits with: Professor Ichiro Uyeda, Department of Botany Professor Yoshiya Shimamoto, Department of Agrobiology and Bioresources Professor Toshihiko Iizuka, Laboratory of Applied Molecular Entomology Professor Satoshi Naito. Dept. of Applied Bioscience Professor Takayuki Takahashi, Division of Biological Sciences Professor Takashi Kohyama, Environmental Earth Science Professor Masahito T. Kimura, Environmental Earth Science Professor Nobo Takagi, Environmental Earth Science Professor Yoshibumi Komeda, Laboratory of Cell Structure and Function Professor Michihiro C. Yoshida, Director, Chromosome Research Unit Professor Noriyuki Fukumaga, Chromosome Research Unit Professor Haruo Katakura, Division of Biological Science Professor Seiichi Tokura, Dean, Environmental Earth Science Professor Norihito Tambo, President, Hokkaido University April 29 Leave Hokkaido for the United States/Washington, D.C.