Juichi Yamagiwa is the former President of Kyoto University and the former President of the Science Council of Japan (both until September 2020). He is a world-renowned researcher and expert in the study of primatology and human evolution.
He was awarded Doctor of Science from Kyoto University in 1987. After holding positions at the Karisoke Research Center, Japan Monkey Center, and Primate Research Institute Kyoto University, Dr. Yamagiwa became a Professor at the Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University in 2002. From there, he went on to become the Dean of Graduate School and Faculty of Science from 2011 to 2013, and a member of the Administrative Council of the University from 2012 to 2013.
Dr. Yamagiwa also served as President of the International Primatological Society from 2008 to 2012, and as Editor in Chief of Primates, a quarterly peer-reviewed scientific journal of primatology published by Springer Science+Business Media, from 2010 to 2014. He then served as President of the Japan Association of National Universities (2016-2018), and now is a current member of Environmental Policy Committee of Ministry of Environment.
Dr. Yamagiwa’s passion for field research frequently took him to African countries such as Rwanda, Republic of the Congo, and Gabonese Republic, where he discovered an abundance of new findings related to gorillas, through his unique viewpoint of evolution.