Management and Governance
RIKEN's management provides the leadership, direction and oversight necessary to maximize the potential of a fast-moving organization with thousands of scientists working in a wide array of research fields. Following the selection of RIKEN as one of three Designated National Research and Development Institutes in 2016, the institute's management has adopted an initiative to maximize research outcomes, based on five pillars: pioneer a research management model for maximizing research and development results, lead the world in achieving new research and development results through scientific excellence, become a hub for science and technology innovation, serve as a focal point for global brain circulation, and foster the development of world-class leaders in scientific research. For details on RIKEN's organizational structure, please see this page with detailed PDFs.
Charting a Vision for Research
In today’s world, where advances in science and technology are so rapid, scientists are required to draw and put into reality a vision of the future. RIKEN has established an Innovation Design Office, where officers designated as innovation designers formulate a vision of a future society and scenarios to realize it.
Board of Executive Directors
RIKEN's highest policy-making body is the Board of Executive Directors, composed of the president and executive directors. RIKEN also has two auditors which oversee the activities of RIKEN as a whole.
Executive Directors

President Makoto Gonokami
Appointed
April 1, 2022
Previous appointments
2015 | President, The University of Tokyo |
2012 | Executive Director and Vice President, The University of Tokyo |
2005 | Special Advisor to the President, The University of Tokyo |
1998 | Professor, the Graduate School of Science and Faculty of Science, The University of Tokyo |
1990 | Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science, The University of Tokyo |
1983 | Research Assistant, The University of Tokyo |

Executive Director Shigeo Koyasu
Appointed
April 1, 2015
Previous appointments
2014 | Director, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science (IMS) |
2013 | Acting Director, RIKEN IMS |
1995 | Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine |
1990 | Assistant Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School |
1988 | Instructor in Pathology, Harvard Medical School |
1981 | Research Fellow, Department of Cell Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science |

Executive Director Kohei Miyazono
Appointed
April 1, 2022
Previous appointments
2021 | Distinguished University Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo |
2019 | Executive Vice President, The University of Tokyo |
2011 | Dean, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo |
2000 | Professor, Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo |
1990 | Assistant Member, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Sweden |
1988 | Assistant Professor, Third Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Tokyo |
1981 | Joined The University of Tokyo |

Executive Director Satoru Kagaya
Appointed
April 1, 2022
Previous appointments
2018 | Deputy Executive Director/Director, Human Resources Division |
2015 | Director, General Affairs Division |
2010 | Director, Public Relations Office |
2009 | Deputy Director, General Affairs Division |
2005 | Manager, Kobe General Affairs Section, Kobe Research Promotion Division, RIKEN Kobe Institute |
2002 | Manager, Research Ethics Section, Safety Management Division |
1983 | Joined RIKEN |

Executive Director Makiko Naka
Appointed
April 1, 2022
Previous appointments
2021 | Professor, Research Organization of Open innovation and Collaboration, Ritsumeikan University |
2017 | Professor, College of Comprehensive Psychology, Ritsumeikan University Emeritus Professor, Hokkaido University |
2003 | Professor, Hokkaido University |
1990 | Visiting Professor, Duke University |
1989 | Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, Chiba University |
1984 | Research Assistant, Ochanomizu University |

Executive Director Hiromichi Matsuo
Appointed
April 1, 2022
Previous appointments
2019 | Deputy Director, RIKEN Center for Computational Science |
2018 | Deputy Director General for Science, Technology and Innovation of the Cabinet Office |
2014 | Director, Policy Division, Research Promotion Bureau, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology |
2012 | Specially Appointed Professor, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology |
2009 | Counselor, Research and Development Bureau, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology |
1998 | Attaché for science, the Embassy of Japan in Germany |
1988 | Joined Science and Technology Agency (STA) |

Auditor Yasuhiro Matsuo
Appointed
October 1, 2015
Previous appointments
2013 | Advisor, Komatsu Ltd. |
2011 | Executive Officer, President, Quality Assurance Division, Komatsu. Ltd. |
2008 | President, Quality Assurance Division, Komatsu. Ltd. |
2005 | General Manager, Quality Assurance Division, Komatsu. Ltd. |

Auditor Yasuhiko Ishii
Appointed
September 1, 2018
Previous appointments
2017 | Director, Center for Research and Development Strategy, Japan Science and Technology (JST) |
2015 | Director for Scientific Affairs II, Secretariat of the Science Council of Japan |
2014 | Director, Division of Licensing for Research Reactors, Use of Nuclear Material and Specified Nuclear Facilities, The Secretariat of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, Nuclear Regulation Authority |
2012 | Deputy Director, Strategic Planning and Management Department, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) |
2009 | Director, Life Sciences Division, Research Promotion Bureau, MEXT |
2006 | Director, Nuclear Fuel Cycle Regulation Division, Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency |
1987 | Entered Science and Technology Agency (STA) |
Governance
Individual research centers at each campus are managed by a director who exercises strong leadership in the strategic management of the center. In making decisions on the direction of research and administration, RIKEN strives to strike a balance between top-down and bottom-up approaches by seeking the advice and cooperation of committees and councils established with the aim of achieving optimal scientific governance.
Advisory Councils
Interim RIKEN Advisory Council in 2021
RIKEN regularly evaluates its own research themes and the performance of its scientists based on governmental guidelines. In carrying out this important work, RIKEN is guided by the RIKEN Advisory Council (RAC) and the individual centers' Advisory Councils.
The RIKEN Advisory Council is composed of world-famous scientists, both Japanese and international, as well as individuals with experience in managing research institutes. The RAC meeting, held every two or three years, provides recommendations on both general research activities and the overall management of RIKEN, and provides guidance on future research strategies and improvement to management structures.
- Read the reports from previous RAC meetings.
- Read more about RIKEN's governance in its reports.
The individual Advisory Councils for centers are bodies set up in each research center and institute to receive recommendations from eminent Japanese and international scientists in their respective fields of research. The council recommendations form an integral part of the ongoing appraisal of RIKEN's performance as a scientific research organization.