Akira Isogai

Akira Isogai
磯貝 明
Born (1954-10-19) October 19, 1954 (age 72)
EducationUniversity of Tokyo
Known forDevelopment of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) technologies
AwardsHonda Prize
Marcus Wallenberg Prize
Anselme Payen Award
Scientific career
FieldsWood science, Biomaterials science, Cellulose chemistry

Akira Isogai (磯貝 明, Isogai Akira; born October 19, 1954) is a Japanese academician, wood scientist and senior biomaterials researcher, who is an elected fellow (FIAWS) of the International Academy of Wood Science and also an elected fellow of the Japan Academy. He has been a chaired professor at the University of Tokyo, making several contributions to sustainable material science through his research work on plant cellulose and bio-nanofibers.

Early life and education

Isogai was born in 1954 in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, where he grew up. He graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Tokyo in 1980 and received his PhD in 1985 from the same institution with a dissertation on the preparation and characterization of substituted cellulose ethers.

After completing his doctorate studies, he served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, Wisconsin, USA.

Research career

Isogai joined the University of Tokyo as an assistant professor in 1986, was promoted to associate professor in 1994, and became a full professor in the Department of Biomaterial Sciences in 2003. He has held leadership roles in scientific societies, including the presidency of the Cellulose Society of Japan and positions in the Japan Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry.

His research focuses on the structural characterisation and applications of cellulose and cellulose nanofibers, including the development of TEMPO-mediated oxidation methods to improve CNF production efficiency and expand industrial uses. His work has contributed to the understanding of plant cellulose structures and supported sustainable material innovation.

In 2016, Isogai received the Honda Prize for his research on the high-efficiency cellulose nanofiber production methods and their applications. He has also received international awards, such as the Marcus Wallenberg Prize, and the Anselme Payen Award.

His main research contributions include works on cellulose characterization, and also, on biomaterials and nanofibers.

Until September 2026, Isogai has published more than 500 research papers, which have gathered more than 39,000 citations at Scopus.

References

  1. ↑ "Fellows". The International Academy of Wood Science. November 14, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Dr. Akira Isogai - Academy Lecture of The IAWS". IAWS 60th Anniversary Conference. December 19, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "ISOGAI Akira".
  4. ↑ "磯貝 明".
  5. 1 2 3 Isogai, Akira (2018). "Development of completely dispersed cellulose nanofibers". Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B. 94 (4): 161–179. Bibcode:2018PJAB...94..161I. doi:10.2183/pjab.94.012. PMC 5968196. PMID 29643272.
  6. 1 2 3 https://www.hondafoundation.jp/data_files/view/1365
  7. ↑ (APRC), Pacific Research Center. "Bringing about a decarbonized society with new technologies ― Interview with Akira Isogai and Akira Oda 【Feature】 2021 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation". ScienceJapan. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Dr. Akira Isogai, Professor of the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Tokyo, and Dr. Hiroyuki Yano, Professor of the Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere at Kyoto University, Receive the Honda Prize 2016; Honda Global Corporate Website".
  9. ↑ Isogai, Akira. "Scopus". Scopus. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  10. ↑ Akira, Isogai. "Scopus preview". Scopus. Retrieved September 19, 2026.