Takashi Hattori of Subaru Telescope, operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), has received the FY 2026 NAOJ Director General’s Prize in the Technical and Development category. The award recognizes his "Diverse Contributions to the Operation and Maintenance of Subaru Telescope’s Instruments Over More Than 20 Years."
The NAOJ Director General’s Prize is presented to individuals and small groups, both inside and outside NAOJ, who have made outstanding contributions to the Observatory in areas such as research and education; technical and development; or administration.
Figure 1: Takashi Hattori receives his award certificate at the Subaru Telescope’s base facility in Hilo, Hawai`i. (Credit: NAOJ)
At Subaru Telescope, observing schedules are prepared twice a year for the following six-month period. Instrument changes, preparations, and observations are then conducted according to this schedule. Hattori currently serves as Deputy Head of the Instrument Engineering Division and Head of the Facility Instrument Group at Subaru Telescope. In these roles, he is responsible for preparing the instruments to ensure that observations proceed as scheduled.
Subaru Telescope operates more instruments than other observatories on Maunakea, and they have a wide range of capabilities. Some of these instruments have been in operation for more than 25 years, since the telescope first began scientific operations. As instruments age, they become more prone to failure, and fixing them can become increasingly difficult. Maintaining their performance over such long periods therefore requires carefully devised maintenance strategies. Unexpected problems are also an inevitable part of operations. Working with a small but highly skilled team, Hattori has repeatedly dealt with these challenges and minimized the risk of disruptions to the observing schedule.
At an award ceremony held on November 2 at Subaru Telescope’s base facility in Hilo, Hawai`i Island, NAOJ Director General Mamoru Doi praised Hattori, saying, "The stable operation of Subaru Telescope’s instruments is made possible by Hattori’s extensive knowledge and experience, his leadership, and his ability to quickly and accurately assess situations and make sound decisions." Doi also highlighted Hattori’s important role in introducing new instruments and carrying out upgrades as the instruments have grown in scale and complexity.
Subaru Telescope Director Satoshi Miyazaki recalled how he had recommended Hattori for a position at the observatory more than 20 years ago. Looking back on Hattori’s contributions since he joined the team, Miyazaki remarked that Hattori’s achievements had "far exceeded what I could have imagined at the time." He also praised Hattori’s exceptional efficiency in managing complex instrument operations with limited resources.
Figure 2: Subaru Telescope staff gathered for a commemorative photo at the award ceremony on November 2, 2026. (Credit: NAOJ)
In response to receiving the award, Hattori said, "Everything we have accomplished has been built through the collective efforts of the entire Subaru Telescope team, so I feel this award belongs to everyone who has been involved. As I saw those around me share in my joy and received their warm congratulations, I began to feel proud and confident that I was accepting this award on behalf of the entire team."
Following the ceremony, commemorative photos were taken with all the staff in attendance, as well as with the Director General and the Subaru Telescope Director. Members of Hattori’s own team also asked to take photos with him, and he happily obliged. His warm response to their requests was particularly memorable.
Figure 3: Hattori with members of his team. From left: Ahnnika Gee, Tyler Ogawa, Michael Lemmen, Takashi Hattori, Wilfred Gee, and Kumiko Morihana. (Credit: NAOJ)
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