IEEE Connect Café - Learn from Three Milestones
The IEEE Connect Café, themed "Learn from Three Milestones," was held on October 11, 2024, at the Tohoku Institute of Technology (TOHTECH) Yagiyama Campus. The event was co-organized by the IEEE Sendai Section, TOHTECH SB, the TOHTECH IoT Technology Research Institute, and the TOHTECH ICT Research Institute.
The event focused on three major IEEE Milestones originating from Sendai: the Yagi-Uda Antenna (1995), Self-Complementary Antennas (2017), and Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (2023).
The program included special lectures by distinguished speakers. Professor Emeritus Kunio Sawaya from Tohoku University delivered a talk titled "About the IEEE Milestones for Shortwave Directional Antennas and Self-Complementary Antennas." Professor Ikuya Tagawa from Tohoku Institute of Technology presented on the "Introduction to the Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Milestone."
A panel discussion followed, featuring Prof. Sawaya, Prof. Tagawa, Prof. Kudo, and Prof. Yuan. The panelists and audience, which included members from the Tohoku University SB, engaged in a lively opinion exchange on topics ranging from historical breakthroughs to future innovation and career development. The event concluded with a networking session, providing a valuable learning and exchange opportunity for all attendees.
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- Sendai, Miyagi
- Japan
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- Co-sponsored by Qiaowei YUAN
- Starts 31 August 2025 03:00 PM UTC
- Ends 01 October 2025 02:12 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
About the IEEE Milestones for Shortwave Directional Antennas and Self-Complementary Antennas
This lecture covered two IEEE Milestones originating from Sendai: the Yagi-Uda Antenna (a revolutionary shortwave directional antenna) and the Self-Complementary Antenna (which established the foundation for wideband antenna design). Prof. Emeritus Sawaya, a distinguished researcher in antennas and electromagnetic wave analysis, detailed the history, technical breakthroughs, and lasting global impact of these fundamental antenna technologies.
Biography:
Dr. Kunio Sawaya received his B.E. (1971) and Ph.D. (1976) degrees in engineering from Tohoku University. He joined the university in 1976, where he served as a Research Associate, Associate Professor (1987), and Professor (1993). After retiring in 2019, he was appointed Professor Emeritus. His research focuses on antennas in plasma, theory and numerical analysis of electromagnetic wave scattering and diffraction, and antennas for mobile communications. Dr. Sawaya has held prominent leadership positions, including President of the IEICE Communications Society (2009-2010), IEEE Sendai Section Chair (2012-2013), and IEEE Life Member Affinity Group Chair (2023-2024). He is an IEEE Life Fellow and an IEICE Fellow, recognized for his significant contributions to the field.
Introduction to the Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Milestone
This presentation introduced the IEEE Milestone for Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (PMR), a breakthrough data storage technology widely used in HDDs worldwide. Prof. Tagawa, an expert in magnetic recording engineering, discussed the significance, development, and impact of PMR, which originated from foundational research conducted in Sendai.
Biography:
Dr. Ikuya Tagawa received his Ph.D. in Engineering from Tohoku University in 1991. He began his career as a Research Associate at the Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University. In 1996, he joined Fujitsu Ltd., followed by positions at Hitachi, Ltd. (Central Research Laboratory) in 2003, and HGST, Inc. in 2006, where he served as Director of Read/Write Development. In 2014, he became Senior Director of Recording Technology at Western Digital. Since April 2017, he has been a Professor at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Tohoku Institute of Technology (TOHTECH). His research focuses on magnetic recording engineering, particularly Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (PMR) and Microwave-Assisted Magnetic Recording (MAMR).