Japan’s First Center for Space Resource Development
Humanity is entering an era of seeking resources beyond Earth. CSRI was established at the University of Tokyo to build Space Resource Studies; a new interdisciplinary field that integrates the natural sciences, engineering, and the social sciences to advance the responsible utilization of extraterrestrial resources and the design of the institutions that will govern it.
A founding member of CACE
CSRI is a founding member of CACE, a lightweight academic alliance with the Center for Space Resources (Colorado School of Mines), the Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources (Adelaide University), and ESRIC (Luxembourg). The four centers coordinate research, education, and early-career mobility across Asia, North America, Australia, and Europe, with one flagship event hosted in each region every year. CACE was introduced to the international community at Space Resources Week 2026 (Luxembourg, May 2026).
SRI-III is CSRI’s flagship international conference and the first SRI jointly coordinated under CACE. Building on SRI-II (November 2025, 150+ participants), the meeting will feature international instrument collaboration, an early-career session, and policy & regulatory dialogue.
About CSRI
CSRI is jointly operated by the Graduate School of Engineering, the Graduate School of Science, the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the Institute for Future Initiatives, and the University Museum, The University of Tokyo. Bringing together expertise across the natural sciences, engineering, and policy studies, CSRI pursues integrated research and technology development spanning resource prospecting to in-situ utilization, contributing to a sustainable balance between extraterrestrial activities and Earth’s future society.
We accelerate demonstration experiments, technology-package implementation, and commercialization, strengthening systems of co-creation between academia and industry. We also develop the next generation of leaders systematically: regardless of background — sciences or humanities — young researchers participate directly in international demonstrations, social implementation, and the formation of international agreements, gaining hands-on experience in real-world arenas.
Research
Education
Social Contribution and International Collaboration
OUR GOAL
To pioneer Space Resource Studies as a new interdisciplinary field that unites science, engineering, law, economics, and policy. By building on Japan’s leadership in asteroid exploration, we aim to develop technologies and institutions for the use of extraterrestrial resources, foster next-generation global leaders, and contribute to solving Earth’s grand challenges.
Space Strategic Fund Program
This initiative is closely aligned with the Space Strategic Fund Program’s SX Research & Development Site, launched in May 2025, ensuring strong synergy between advanced technology development and international academic activities.
MEET US
Our Team
Hideaki “Hirdy” Miyamoto
Director, Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of Systems Innovation( Planetary Science, Space Resources）
Yasuhiro Kato
Dean of Sch. Engineering, Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of Systems Innovation(Resource Geology）
Kentaro Nakamura Prof.
Frontier Research Center for Energy and Resources (Geochemistry)
Kazutaka Yasukawa
Assoc. Prof.
Frontier Research Center for Energy and Resources (Earth Resource system engineering)
Kimihiro Hashiba
Assoc. Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of Systems Innovation(Resource System Engineering)
Yutaro Takaya
Assoc. Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of Systems Innovation( Resource circulation, CCS/CCU, Resource geology)
Hajime Kobayashi
Assoc. Prof.
Frontier Research Center for Energy and Resources (Microbial Engineering)
Kazunori Fukui
Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of Systems Innovation(Resource System Engineering)
Takeshi Tsuji
Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of Systems Innovation(Resource Exploration Engineering, CCS, Geophysics)
Takashi Goda
Assoc. Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of Systems Innovation(Numerical simulation)
Shinsuke Murakami
Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of Technology Management for Innovation(Design and Evaluation of Social Systems, Resource economics)
Eiji Saito
Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of Applied Physics (Quantum Physics, Condensed Matter Physics)
Tetsuya Ishida
Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering (Concrete Engineering)
Takehiro Himeno
Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Aerospace Propulsion)
Ryu Funase
Assoc. Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Aerospace Engineering)
Naohiko Sugita
Prof.
School of Engineering, Research into Artifacts, Center for Engineering (Production Engineering, Biomedical Processing and Measurement)
Zhao Moju
Lecturer
School of Engineering, Research into Artifacts, Center for Engineering
Toru Kizaki
Lecturer
School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Yusuke Ito
Lecturer
School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Seiji Sugita
Prof.
School of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary Science (Planetary Science)
Yoshio Takahashi
Prof.
School of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary Science (Cosmochemistry)
Shogo Tachibana
Prof.
School of Science, U Tokyo Organization of Planetary Science (Astrochemistry, Astromineralogy)
Hiroyuki Kagi
Prof.
School of Science, Geochemical Research Center (Geochemistry, Physics of the Earth’s Interior)
Masakazu Sugiyama
Prof.
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (Renewable Energy)
Hiroyuki Koizumi
Assoc. Prof.
School of Frontier Sciences, Department of Advanced Energy (Space Propulsion Engineering)
Ichiro Yoshikawa
Prof.
School of Frontier Sciences, Department of Complexity Science and Engineering (Planetary Exploration)
Kanako Seki
Prof.
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (Space Environment and Planetary Science)
Tomohiro Tokunaga
Prof.
School of Frontier Sciences, Department of Environment Systems (Earth and Resource Systems Engineering)
Jun Matsushima
Prof.
School of Frontier Sciences, Department of Environment Systems (Geophysical Exploration)
Takeshi Mikouchi
Prof.
University Museum, University of Tokyo
（Mineralogy, Planetary material science)
Hideki Endo
Prof.
University Museum, University of Tokyo
（Comparative Anatomy）
Hideaki Shiroyama
Prof.
Institute for Future Initiatives (Public Administration)
Sotaro Shibayama
Prof
Institute for Future Initiatives
Tetsuo Yoshimitsu
Prof.
School of Engineering, Department of
Electrical Engineering and Information Systems