We are deeply saddened to announce that Professor Emeritus Fumihiko Takasaki of KEK passed away on January 21, 2026, due to interstitial pneumonia. He was 82 years old.
Professor Emeritus Takasaki completed his doctoral studies at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Science in 1971. After serving as an assistant professor at the University of Tokyo, he joined the National Laboratory for High Energy Physics (KEK’s predecessor) as an assistant professor in 1979. He led the construction of the VENUS measurement system for Japan’s first electron-positron collider, the TRISTAN project, and contributed greatly to the success of the experiment.
He subsequently led the B-Factory project using the KEKB accelerator from its initial design stage, and led the Belle International Experiment Group, spearheading precision measurements of the B meson decay process. This achievement led to the experimental verification of the “Kobayashi-Maskawa theory,” a remarkable feat that played a crucial role in the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to Drs. Makoto Kobayashi and Toshihide Maskawa. He also made a significant contribution to the development of particle physics, such as being the first to experimentally identify a new state formed by four quarks. He also worked on using cosmic ray muons to visualize pyramids and nuclear reactors.
In addition to his research achievements, he served as Director of the Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies and a member of the KEK Board of Directors from 2006, where he devoted himself to the management and development of the organization. He also devoted himself to supporting young researchers, and in 2007 he launched the “Summer Challenge” educational program for undergraduate students nationwide, making significant contributions to nurturing the next generation of researchers.
For these long-standing achievements, he has received the Nishina Memorial Prize, the Orito Shuji Prize, the Panofsky Prize of the American Physical Society, and the Japan Academy Prize, and in 2019 he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
The funeral and memorial service were held among close relatives.
We offer our heartfelt condolences in memory of Professor Emeritus Takasaki’s achievements during his lifetime.