Photo/Illutration Naomi Harada stands in front of the observation ship Shirase before her departure as deputy chief of the 60th Japanese Antarctic research expedition in November 2018. (Yumi Nakayama)

University of Tokyo professor Naomi Harada was chosen on Oct. 30 to lead the 66th Japanese research expedition to Antarctica, which will set out next fall.

Harada, 56, is the first woman appointed to lead the team since the first Japanese Antarctic expedition departed in November 1956.

“I want to work hard to ensure that no task is left undone, whether it’s observation, transporting supplies to Syowa Station or building facilities at the base, while keeping an eye on the overall situation,” she said.

Harada, who belongs to the Center for International and Local Research Cooperation at the University of Tokyo’s Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, first visited Antarctica as a member of the 33rd summer team from 1991 to 1992.

At that time, she was only the second woman ever to join a Japanese Antarctic research expedition.  

She later served as the first female deputy chief and summer team leader for the 60th expedition, which departed in November 2018.

This time, she will be the expedition chief and summer team leader for the 66th expedition, which will depart in autumn next year.

Tatsuru Fujita, 53, has been chosen as the deputy chief and winter team leader for the 66th expedition.

Fujita is the chief technical specialist at the environment and marine division of the atmosphere and ocean department in the Japan Meteorological Agency.

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