Scientific exploration of olfactory communication among living organisms
In many organisms, chemical signals such as odors and pheromones are detected through the sense of smell, regulating essential behaviors and habits for survival, including food recognition, individual identification, reproductive activity, and social interactions.
In our laboratory, focusing primarily on mice and humans, we promote interdisciplinary research that integrates chemistry and biology. By employing state-of-the-art techniques in natural product chemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, and brain imaging, we investigate every level of the signal flow from odor/pheromone → receptor → neural circuits in the brain → behavior, physiology, emotion, and psychology.
In mice, our research targets behaviors and physiological responses such as feeding, attraction, avoidance, aggression, exploration, sexual activity, and nurturing.
In humans, we focus on emotional and psychological states such as deliciousness, preferences, comfort, attachment, pleasantness, and stress.
Understanding olfactory communication through odors and pheromones among living organisms contributes both to the conservation of ecological environments that support coexistence and to the enhancement of human health, quality of life (QOL), and well-being.
Educational approach
Becoming capable professionals
Through the research experience, we aim for students to acquire research execution skills (experimental techniques), presentation and writing skills (logical thinking), collaborative abilities (social skills), and an international outlook (global perspective).
We believe that the key elements for conducting research are the following four: “Question” – identifying essential points of focus, “Approach” – choosing the best methods, “Logic” – logical reasoning, and “Color” – one’s individual character.
Science has historically transformed the impossible into the possible. Thus, we emphasize the importance of determination, resisting fleeting trends, and having the persistence to thoroughly pursue one’s ideas.
At the same time, discoveries sometimes emerge from playful experiments.
What is crucial in such moments is to abandon human biases and interpret results with an honest, unbiased “eye.”
By communicating this philosophy, our educational approach seeks not only to foster capable researchers but also to cultivate professionals who can thrive in broader society.
Furthermore, since our research focuses on smell and aroma, when students publish their findings or obtain their degrees, we organize gatherings to celebrate—providing opportunities to experience and appreciate “deliciousness” firsthand through the senses of smell and taste.
Vision for industry-academia collaboration
Toward the humane use of fragrances
For many animals, odors and pheromones provide vital information directly linked to survival, and thus it is no exaggeration to say that ecological environments are constructed through these chemical signals.
In this respect, understanding olfaction can contribute to environmental conservation, while the practical application of odors and pheromones holds potential for controlling animal behavior in natural environments.
In human society, fragrances influence psychological, physiological, and emotional states, shaping quality of life across many aspects of daily living.
Fragrances can also enrich emotional well-being—enhancing comfort, reassurance, excitement, and attachment—across diverse age groups, from young children to elderly individuals requiring care.
Yet, the practical use of fragrances remains underdeveloped.
There are approximately 400 types of olfactory receptors, each potentially interacting with hundreds of thousands of odor molecules, and genetic polymorphisms further create individual differences in perception.
Moreover, the way people perceive and prefer fragrances is influenced by experience, culture, and physical condition, adding to the complexity and plasticity of the olfactory system. This inability to objectively evaluate fragrance—an experience difficult to capture in words—remains a bottleneck for its industrial application.
To address this, we harness olfactory receptor big data and advanced brain function measurement technologies to develop brain models of human olfactory perception. Through this work, we aim to establish a scientific foundation for applying fragrances in food and living spaces.
Looking forward, including research on cross-modal interactions among the five senses, we believe that greater recognition of the importance of olfaction in human communication will open the door to more effective uses of odors and fragrances, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of human well-being.
