Department of Agricultural Science and Technology

Culture, produce.

We study the relationship between crop production and the environment to ensure a stable production of agricultural products.
We also take on the challenge of developing new technologies with the aim of efficiently producing safer and tastier food.

Key Points of Study

01Creating a production environment that provides a stable supply of food

Students learn in depth about sustainable food production, stable food supply, and food production environments, while developing the ability to create new agricultural products.

02Learn the theory and practice of cultivation through a wide range of practical exercises

Through experiments and on-farm training, students learn the theory and practical skills of cultivation in food production, and are educated to develop the ability to solve problems coming along with it.

03Fostering human resources with a sound understanding of agriculture and the ability to contribute to a sustainable production

We educate students to learn deeply about the realities of agriculture in Japan and abroad, as well as advanced agricultural technologies, and to develop human resources who can contribute to advanced agriculture with profound knowledge, skills, and passion.

Curriculum

Students learn solutions to various problems in crop production, including advanced agriculture that enables labor-saving, high-yield, high-quality production.

●Compulsory Courses

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			Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4
Specialty Subjects	Common Courses		●Introduction to Agriculture ●Basic Seminar in Agriculture	Seminar in Global Agriculture	Seminar in Smart Agriculture Agricultural Meteorology	Forest Ecology Agricultural Intellectual Property
	Specialty Core Courses	Fundamental Courses	●Fundamentals of Chemistry ●Exercises in Basic Chemistry ●Fundamentals of Biology ●Exercises in Basic Biology ●Introduction to Agricultural Science and Technology ●Bioethics Fundamentals of Physics	Biostatistics
		Agricultural Plants and Cultivation Courses	Plant Genetics Crop Functional Morphology Plant Physiology	●Plant Breeding ●Crop Science ●Olericulture and Floriculture Plant Breeding Methodology General Crop Science Pomology	Arable Ecology Protected Horticulture
		Agricultural Biology and Environment Courses		●Plant Pathology ●Applied Entomology ●Soil Science Plant Pathogens and Disease Development Insect Physiology and Ecology Plant Mineral Nutrition	Biodiversity Soil Microbiology Plant Disease Management Insect Pest Management Weed Management
		Advanced courses			Ecology Livestock and Companion Animals Marine Biology Molecular Biology of the Genome I Biotechnology Biochemistry I Farm Business Food Industry Distribution of Agricultural and Livestock Products Farm Business Management Sextiary Industry Management Urban Agriculture
		Experiments and practical training	●Experiments in Chemistry ●Experiments in Biology	●Basic Experiments in Agricultural Science and Technology I ●Basic Experiments in Agricultural Science and Technology II ●Field Practice in Agricultural Science and Technology I ●Field Practice in Agricultural Science and Technology II Field Practice in Agriculture	●Experiments in Agricultural Science and Technology Experiments in Physics
	Specialty Comprehensive Courses	Applied Biology Courses		Biology of Plants Microbiology Biology of Animals
		Food and Nutrition Courses		Food Safety Nutrition and Sports Health and Society
		Food and Agriculture Business Courses		Food and Agricultural Economics Food System Agricultural Diversity
	Seminars and graduation research		●Freshman Seminar		●Introductory Study for Graduation Research	●Graduation Research
General Education Subjects	Language Courses		Japanese Reading and Writing Basic English Ia Basic English Ib Basic English IIa Basic English IIb	Practical English I Practical English II Chinese I Chinese II	Basic English Conversation a Basic English Conversation b
	Language Courses		Overseas Language Training
	IT Courses		●Information Literacy I Information Literacy II
	Physical Education		Sports Science I Sports Science II
	Cultural Studies		Psychology Ethics Philosophy Regional Geography Human Geography Literature	Cultural Anthropology Women’s Studies
	Social Studies		Study of Volunteer Activity Introduction to Economics Japanese Politics Introduction to Jurisprudence Introduction to Management Tourism Studies	Japanese Constitution
	Natural Sciences		Mathematics	Life and Environment	Earth and Space Science Experiments in Earth Science
	Career		●Career Design I	Career Design II Development of Mathematical Ability	Basic Internship Practical Internship
	For International Students		Japanese Culture and Society FI Japanese Culture and Society FII Japanese Reading F Japanese Grammar F Japanese Reading and Writing F Comprehensive Japanese F Japanese for Specific Purposes F Japanese Conversation F
	For Returning Students		Japanese Culture and Society RI Japanese Culture and Society RII Japanese Reading R Japanese Grammar R Japanese Reading and Writing R Comprehensive Japanese R Japanese for Specific Purposes R Japanese Conversation R

Laboratories

Encountering today’s challenges of agriculture

The Department of Agricultural Science and Technology has six laboratories mainly addressing two fields: “Agricultural plants and cultivation” and “Agriculture Biology and Environment”. For the development of agriculture, which is a key industry in Japan, the Department of Agricultural Production will focus on the further development and efficient utilization of facilities, equipment, and agricultural materials; the development of breeding and cultivation techniques that are resistant to diseases and environmental stress such as high and low temperatures; the development of production techniques for highly resistant and high-quality crops; the development of disease control and fertilizer application techniques with low environmental impact; the development of labor-saving, light labor methods, etc. We will conduct research with the aim of solving various agricultural problems, such as establishing a stable year-round supply system, developing and practicing sustainable farming methods, and developing environment control technologies.

Department of Agricultural Science and Technology
Department Head Masahiko TAMAKI

Agricultural Plants & Cultivation

Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding Science
Kazuhiro SATO
[Professor]
Tomokazu USHIJIMA[Associate Professor]
Laboratory of Crop Science
Masahiko TAMAKI[Professor/Department Head]
Michio KAWASAKI[Professor]
Laboratory of Horticultural Science
Toshiki ASAO[Professor]
Yuto KITAMURA[Lecturer]

Agricultural Biology & Environment

Laboratory of Plant Pathology
Yasuyuki KUBO[Professor]
Yuichiro IIDA[Associate Professor]
Laboratory of Applied Entomology
Naoya OSAWA[Professor]
Takeshi Fujii[Associate Professor]
Laboratory of Production Ecology
Shuji SANO[Professor]
Daisuke TAKAGI[Lecturer]

laboratories and faculty members

Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding Science

Around 400 million years ago, green plants appeared on terrestrial land for the first time. Since then, plants have evolved while being exposed to various environmental stresses. Plants might have been accumulating many genetic factors which can sense the fluctuating environments and can optimize their development and growth under environmental stresses. To catch up with climate change, we need to develop crop varieties which can realize the stable high productivity under the advancing global warming. To breed a promising crop variety, we aim to elucidate how plant can respond to environmental stresses.

Kazuhiro SATO[Professor]

Utilization of plant genome diversity for breeding

Tomokazu USHIJIMA[Associate Professor]

Breeding plants that are resistant to environmental changes

Plants are exposed to a variety of environmental changes on a daily basis.
Plants have been able to overcome the changes in their environment by using
various genes. Our goal is to study the functions of the genes that plants have
used to adapt to their environment, and to use these mechanisms to develop
new varieties that can withstand environmental changes.

Breeding using environmental response mechanisms in plants

Laboratory of Crop Science

Food crops, such as cereals, legumes, and root and tuber crops, play an important role in our diet and daily life. We aim to contribute to the food and livelihood of mankind by conducting education and research on the physiological, ecological, and morphological characteristics of these crops, their response mechanisms to the cultivation environment, and the development of production methods and technologies that improve crop productivity and are environmentally friendly.

Masahiko TAMAKI[Professor/Department Head]

Let's challenge to cultivate crops incorporated new technologies

We aim to establish crop cultivating methods incorporated new technologies that can improve the productivity and quality of crops, be environmentally friendly, and interesting to the younger generation. We will work to use new ways in the field of crop science, aiming to contribute to the food and lifestyle of mankind.

Productive and environmentally friendly crop cultivation

Michio KAWASAKI[Professor]

Scientific studies of food crops on morphology, environmental response, growth, and cultivation

My research activity is focused on analysis of the morphology and the relationships between morphology and functions in food crops, such as yam, eddo, rice, soybean. In addition, I have been studying the effects of environmental factors such as elevated CO2, high and low temperatures, salts, and calcium on the growth, morphology, and physiology in the food crops for contributing to the development of agriculture and society.

Scientific Studies of Food Crops on Functional Morphology, Environmental Response, Growth and Cultivation

Laboratory of Horticultural Science

We educate and research on the production of potassium-controlled vegetables for dialysis patients and athletes, as well as develop environmentally friendly hydroponic cultivation technology through nutrient solution recycling. In addition, breeding new cultivars for local branding and sustainable cultivation in fruit tree crops are also targeted based on the knowledge of genetics and molecular biology.

Toshiki ASAO[Professor]

Potassium control in vegetables and Recovery of autotoxicity

Yuto KITAMURA[Lecturer]

Science of fruit season & promotion of local industries

Our tables are colorfully decorated by various fruit crops, which are born in the specified season. My research themes are the regulation of annual lifecycle, environmental effects, and artificial control on the “seasonal fruits”. Furthermore, the creation of noble fruit resources which can be local specialties by taking advantage of new genetic/molecular breeding techniques is also aimed.

Environmental Responses and Breeding in Fruit Trees

Laboratory of Plant Pathology

The damage caused by pathogens results in the loss of food for 800 million people a year. In our laboratory, we are trying to elucidate how fungal pathogens infect plants and how useful microorganisms prevent fungal pathogens, and to contribute to the development of new technologies of crop protection.

Yasuyuki KUBO[Professor]

Plant Pathology Saves the World

Plants, like people, get sick by microbial infection. Viruses, bacteria, and fungi are the main pathogens. Among these, filamentous fungi (molds) account for about 80% of plant diseases and cause significant damage to agricultural production. Elucidating the infection mechanism of filamentous fungi will lead to the development of pest control chemicals and disease-resistant plants with less impact on the plant environment. Molecular dissection of the infection mechanism of pathogens can be applied to the development of new plant protection technologies.
We have shown that rice blast, the most important disease of rice, can be controlled by inhibiting the synthesis of melanin pigments. We have also revealed the mechanism by which anthracnose fungi recognize plant surfaces and establish infection by evading plant immune response. In addition, the genome structure of anthracnose fungus, Colletotrichum orbiculare has been clarified, providing the basis for the molecular analysis of pathogenicity.
The interaction between plants and pathogens is explained in an easy-to-understand manner in "Plants at War" (Chapter 2) in Kodansha Bluebacks, edited by the Phytopathological Society of Japan.

Research on infection mechanisms of plant pathogens

Yuichiro IIDA[Associate Professor]

Microorganisms that fight pathogens and protect plants from disease

Just as humans get sick, plants also get diseased from attacks by various phytopathogens. Our research activity is focused on the analysis of molecular mechanisms for both "friends" and "foes" microorganisms: how pathogens infect plants and how effective microbes control pathogen. The ultimate aim is to develop new pathogen control techniques and microbial fungicides to protect crops.

Molecular mechanism of biocontrol microbes

Laboratory of Applied Entomology

Control of insect pests is indispensable for stable production of agricultural products. However, pest control has been overly dependent on insecticides, which often caused concerns about the toxicity of residual chemicals on food as well as the appearance of insecticide-resistant populations. In our laboratory, we study physiological, biochemical, and molecular biological bases of insects’ outstanding ability to adapt to diverse environments. We believe our studies will lead to development of novel insect control measures, because disruption of mechanisms that underlie their adaptability will be fatal to their lives.

Naoya OSAWA[Professor]

Takeshi Fujii[Associate Professor]

Insect science of chemical communication

One of the reasons “Insects” has succeeded in adapting to multi-environments on Earth is that insects were able to increase the fitness by the inter- and intra-communication via chemical information from the outside. One of my interests is understanding at the molecular level how the chemicals, such as "odorant" or “tastes”, determine the insect behavior, and exploring the possibility of protecting crops by controlling the behavior of insects by human beings using these chemicals.

Exploration of Lipid metabolism in Insects

Laboratory of Production Ecology

Soil is the basis of agricultural production. Depending on the unsuitable field management such as application of chemical fertilizers and compost for the cultivation of crops and water irrigation, and terrible environment due to the extreme weather, soil productivity will be poor. Indeed, the change is hard to see visually. Therefore, in order to properly manage the soil, it is important to establish a simple method for evaluating the physical and chemical properties of the soil and the flora of rhizosphere microorganisms. In our laboratory, after knowing various properties of soil, we will conduct cultivation tests of crops under various managements and proceed with research on the characteristics and management methods of fertile soils.

Shuji SANO[Professor]

Improvement of soil evaluation methods to bring out the best in soil for promotion of agricultural productively and environmental conservation

Soil is the basis of agricultural production; supplies the sufficient water and nutrient for crops as well as keeps the crop bodies and buffers the undesirable condition such as high temperature. Soil is also related to some global environmental problems such as greenhouse gasses emission. Therefore, field management based on suitable evaluation of soil condition can contribute to promotion of agricultural productively and environmental conservation. My research mainly focuses on the labile organic matters since they affect the various soil properties. The research field is not only agricultural land but also other ecosystems.

Development of soil evaluation procedure for sustainable agricultural production and environmental conservation

Daisuke TAKAGI[Lecturer]

The physiology of photosynthesis in land plants

Assistant Professor/Research Assistant

Sayo KODAMA[Assistant Professor]

Research on plant sensing for infection-related morphogenesis of phytopathogenic fungi

Plants get sick by fungi, viruses and bacteria. Fungi recognize various environmental cues and start invasion in response to plant surface signals. My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms how fungal pathogen senses and responses to plant signals.

Plant surface signal responses for infection-related morphogenesis of phytopathogenic fungus

Shin YABUTA[Assistant Professor]

Tropical crops that support our lives

What comes to mind when you think of foods cultivated in tropic region? Tropical fruits as durian and mango, long grain rice and coffee attracts us by its flavor and bitter taste… But also a large portion of indispensable items such as palm oil, sugar, cassava starch are imported. Improvement and stabilization of agriculture in import source regions has two meanings, international cooperation and stable food supply for Japan heavily depending on foreign countries. In addition, research on tropical regions and their agriculture will help prepare for environmental changes caused by global warming. Thus, I have a great interest in utilization and cultivation of crops including tropic origins.

Cultivation and Utilization of Tropical Crops

Kenta WATANABE[Assistant Professor]

Smart farming: solving problems at production sites by advanced technologies

Have you ever heard of “smart farming”? Currently, there is a serious labor shortage in the agricultural industry due to the aging of farmers and the decreasing number of growers. Furthermore, considering issues such as global warming and increasing fertilizer prices, sustainable agriculture that makes more effective use of limited land and resources than ever before is necessary. Smart farming enables to solve these problems using advanced technologies such as robots and drones. I have been involved in research to promote smart farming for sugarcane, which is an important crop in Okinawa Prefecture. From now on, however, I would like to apply the technologies to other crops as well.

Studies on improvement in crop productivity and smart farming

Career Paths and Certification

Contribute to the future development of agriculture

The program aims to educate specialists with the ability to scientifically elucidate the relationship between food and the biological and non-biological environment surrounding them, and to disseminate and provide guidance on agricultural production technology in the “field” of agricultural production, including crop improvement, development of optimal cultivation methods and new production technology.

Certification (optional)

Junior High School Teacher’s License (Science)
High school first-class teacher’s license (Science)
High School Teacher’s License (Agriculture)

Career paths after graduation

As a professional with broad knowledge of agricultural science, amongst others the following career paths are possible.

Agriculture-related companies and organizations
Technical and sales positions in companies engaged in seeds and seedlings, agricultural materials, food and beverages, chemicals, etc.
Technical and sales positions in biotechnology-related companies
Technical and sales professionals in the construction and landscaping industry
Sales representative for food and other distribution and sales companies
Technical and sales staff of agricultural cooperatives and agricultural production corporations
National and public agricultural institutions and administrations
Agricultural technicians at agricultural experiment stations, agricultural technicians and agricultural policy makers at national and local governments
Professions in Education
Teachers of agricultural high schools and high schools with agricultural departments, middle and high school science teachers
Graduate School Entrance