RTRI Researchers Receive FY2025 Industrial Standardization Business Awards

PDF Download Print

October 22, 2025
Railway Technical Research Institute

Two researchers from the Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI), Mr. Kunihiro Kawasaki and Mr. Kazumasa Kumazawa, were recognized at the FY2025 Industrial Standardization Business Awards, sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Mr. Kawasaki received the METI Minister’s Award, and Mr. Kumazawa received the Innovation and Environment Bureau Director-General's Award. The awards ceremony was held in Tokyo on October 21, 2025.

METI Minister’s Award (FY2025)

This award honors individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions, serving as a model for others, to the development of Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and international standards, and in conformity assessment activities related to these standards (including activities related to human resource development, education, research, public relations, dissemination and awareness-raising, international cooperation, etc.; the same applies hereinafter), or in the creation of cross-sectoral, specific-industry, or corporate markets, as well as in the resolution of social issues, through the use of standardization.
(Based on METI’s “Industrial Standardization Business Awards”)

Recipient:
Mr. Kunihiro Kawasaki, Principal Researcher, Research and Development Promotion Division

Notable Achievements:
Mr. Kawasaki has played a pivotal role in the development and standardization of methods for the assessment of railway radio environment measurements. Through active participation in IEC/CISPR (International Special Committee on Radio Interference) and IEC/TC 9 (Electrical equipment and systems for railways), he contributed significantly to establishing and maintaining international EMC standards for railway applications. He also prepared documentation for frequency coordination at the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), supporting secure and stable railway radio communications. Mr. Kawasaki further contributed to formulating legal frameworks for wireless power transfer under Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and took part in ISO/TC 269/SC 3 (Operations and services) standardization. Collectively, his work has enhanced protections for railway radio environments domestically and internationally and increased the global competitiveness of Japanese railway communication technologies.

Innovation and Environment Bureau Director-General’s Award (FY2025)

This award honors individuals and organizations for contributions to the advancement of Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and international standards, including conformity assessment and activities such as creating markets across industries as well as within specific sectors or enterprises, and promoting solutions to social challenges through standardization efforts. It is presented to individuals, typically aged below 40 or with less than ten years of experience, who are expected to assume even greater responsibilities in the future, and to organizations recognized for model contributions through standardization activities.
(Based on METI’s “Industrial Standardization Business Awards”)

Recipient:
Mr. Kazumasa Kumazawa, Senior Researcher, Transport Operation Systems Laboratory, Signalling and Operation Systems Technology Division

Notable Achievements:
Since the outset of ISO/TC 269/SC 3 (Operations and services)/WG 3 (Railway timetabling), Mr. Kumazawa has been a core member of WG 3. He actively engaged in discussions and exchanges with Japanese railway operators and other stakeholders regarding the timetabling technologies that support Japan’s renowned high punctuality and high-density train operation and contributed to the systematic organization of these technologies as well as clarifying the direction for their international standard development. Since July 2018, he has served as an expert driving consensus-building among global stakeholders, fostering relationships of trust and establishing Japan’s leadership in these initiatives. Mr. Kumazawa contributed to the publication of ISO 24675-1, “Railway applications—running time calculation for timetabling—Part 1: Requirements,” and continued to advance development of Part 2.

* You can see all the photos and figures in the PDF file above.