About Us

H.E. Professor. Kiyoshi Kurokawa

H.E. Professor. Kiyoshi Kurokawa

Dr. Kurokawa is a Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies and Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo. He is a Senior Scientist of the Earth Institute, Columbia University. Dr. Kurokawa served as Special Advisor to the Cabinet (2006-08); a Commissioner on the WHO Commission for Social Determinants of Health (2005-08).

Dr. Kurokawa received a MD degree in 1962 from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine. Following clinical training in internal medicine and then in nephrology at the Department of Medicine of the University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine (1962-1969), he was research associate, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (1969-1971), senior research fellow at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and UCLA School of Medicine (1971-1973), assistant professor of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine (1973-1974), associate professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California (1974-1977), and UCLA School of Medicine (1977-1979), then professor of medicine, Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine (1979-1984).

He was then appointed as associate professor, Department of Medicine (Ⅳ) of the University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine (1983-1989) and professor and chairman, Department of Medicine (I) of the University of Tokyo (1989-1996). He assumed Dean and Professor of Medicine of Tokai University School of Medicine (1996-2002) and Director of the Institute of Medicine Sciences, Tokai University (1996-2004). He was Professor, Research Institute of Science and Technology, Tokai University(2004-2006) as well as Adjunct Professor, the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo(2004-2007).

Dr. Kurokawa has served and serves as executive officer to many prestigious professional societies including the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine (chairman of the Board, 1990-1993, and President, 1995-1996), the International Society of Nephrology (councilor, 1991-1995, President-Elect, 1995-1997, and President 1997-1999), the Japanese Society of Nephrology (councilor and board member, 1990-present, president, 1993-1994, Chairman of the Board of Directors, 1997-2001). He was President of the International Congress of Internal Medicine in May, Kyoto (2000-02) and President-elect of the International Society of Internal Medicine (2003-05). Dr. Kurokawa is board certified in internal medicine and its subspecialty of nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and Master of the American College of Physicians, and Governor of the Japan Chapter of American College of Physicians (2004- ).

He is an elected member of many prestigious professional societies including Science Council of Japan (Vice President, 2000-2003, and President, 2003-2006), Member of InterAcademy Panel (2001-), and InterAcademy Council (2001- ), American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians, and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of the USA. He is also Board Member to the Agency for Science, Technology and Research(A*STAR), Singapore(2007-), Member of the President's Council, New York Academy of Sciences(2006-) and Member of UNU(United Nations University)Honorary Advisory Committee(HAC) in Japan(2007-).

Dr. Kurokawa has served and serves in many committees of the Ministries of Japan and as Science Advisor for the Ministry of Education, Sciences and Culture. Dr. Kurokawa is a leader and well known in his professional community both nationally and internationally. Because of his highly unique and unusual professional careers which span over 15 years each in both Japan and USA, he has been a leader in and an advocate for many academic and professional activities in Japan. He is a recipient of Order of Purple from the Government of Japan for Excellence in Academic Achievements in 1999.

Education:

1956-1958 University of Tokyo College of Sciences, Tokyo.
1958-1962 University of Tokyo School of Medicine, Tokyo, MD.

Professional Experience

* 1962-1969 Internship, residency, fellowship, and junior staff in medicine and nephrology, First Department of Medicine, University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine
* 1969-1971 Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.
* 1971-1974 Senior fellow, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA.
* 1973-1974 Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine.
* 1974-1977 Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA.
* 1977-1979 Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine.
* 1979-1985 Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine.
* 1980-1985 Chief, Nephrology Division, Wadsworth Veterans Administration Medical Center.
* 1983-1989 Associate Professor of Medicine, Fourth Department of Medicine, University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo.
* 1989-1996 Professor and Chairman, First Department of Medicine, University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo.
* 1996-2002 Dean and Professor of Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine.
* 1997-present Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo.
* 2002-2004 Director and professor, The Institute of Medical Science, Tokai University.
* 2003-2006 President of the Science Council of Japan.
* 2004-2006 Professor, Research Institute of Science and Technology, Tokai University.
* 2006-present Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.

Major Professional Societies (selected and elected only)

* American College of Physicians, Fellow (1978), Master (1996), Governor for Japan Chapter (2003).
* American Society for Clinical Investigation (elected 1980).
* Association of American Physicians (elected 1994).
* Institute of Medicine of National Academies, USA (elected 1997).
* International Society of Nephrology, President (1997-99), President-Elect (1995-97), Councilor (1991-95).
* Japanese Society of Internal Medicine, Chairman of the Board of Regents (1990-96), President (1995-96).
* Japanese Society of Nephrology, Councilor and Board member (1990-02), President (1993-94), Chairman of the Board of Directors (1997-02).
* President of Science Council of Japan (2003-), Vice President (2000-03).
* President of the International Congress of Internal Medicine (2002).
* Member, InterAcademy Council (2001-06).
* Member, Committee for Science Policy and Review of the International Council of Science (ICSU:2002-05).
* President of Pacific Science Association (2003-07).
* Member for Section 3 (Life Sciences) of the International Academy of Astronautics (2003-05).
* Member of the President's Council, New York Academy of Sciences(2006-).
* Board Member to　the Agency for Science, Technology and Research(A*STAR), Singapore(2007.2-2009).
* Member of UNU(United Nations University) Honorary Advisory Committee(HAC) in Japan(2007-).

Licences and Qualifications

* Licenced to practice medicine in Japan (#183320) and in California (#A029338).
* Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine.
* Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine, Subspecialty of Nephrology.

Professional Activities and Appointments (selected)

* Science Advisor for the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan (1992-97).
* Chair, Special Drug Evaluation Committee, Ministry of Health and Welfare (1998-02).
* Executive Council of Drug Evaluation Committee, Ministry of Health and Welfare (1997-02).
* Executive Council for Health Care Policy, Ministry of Health and Welfare (1997-02).
* Executive Committee for Life Sciences Research, National Space and Development Agency (1996-).
* Executive Committee, National Aerospace Development Agency (1997-03).
* The member of the Editorial Board, The American Journal of the Medical Sciences (1998-06).
* Committee for Research Grants Policy, Cabinet Office (1999-02).
* Committee for Academia-Industry Technology Transfer, Cabinet Office (2000-03).
* Chair, Committee for Academia-Industry Technology Transfer, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2000-03).
* Member of Science and Technology Policy Committee, Cabinet Office (2003-06).
* Commissioner of the Commission for Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization (2005-).

Honor

* Order of Purple from the Government of Japan for Excellence in Academic Achievements (1999)