Yutaka Takahasi


Yutaka Takahasi is a Japanese engineer notable for his work on river basin management and reduction of water-related disasters.
He received the 2015 Japan Prize for the contribution to development of innovative concept on river basin management and reduction of water-related disasters.
His work showed that many previous 'river improvements' resulted in increase in flood discharges, with his recommendations changing Japanese river management policies from the 1980s onward.

Early life and Education

Takahasi is the son of Goro Takahashi, an expert in citrus cultivation. He received his B.E. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1950, where he also graduated with a Ph.D. in Engineering in 1964 while working as an Associate Professor.

Career and research

He was appointed Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo in 1955, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1961, and full professor in 1968. He became professor emeritus in 1988. He was also Professor in the Faculty of Engineering at Shibaura Institute of Technology from 1987 to 1998.

Awards