Soshu Kirihara is a Professor of Joining and Welding Research Institute (JWRI), Osaka University, Japan. In his main investigation “Materials Tectonics”, geometric structures were successfully fabricated to modulate energy and materials flows effectively. Original stereolithography systems were developed, and a start-up company was established through academic–industrial collaboration.
Kazuhiro Nakata is a Professor Emeritus of Joining and Welding Research Institute (JWRI), Osaka University, Japan. He has innovated practical welding using arc and laser hybrid processes to realize dissimilar materials joining through interface modulations between base steel and light alloys or plastic composites. Effective surface modifications of stainless steels have been developed successfully by applying friction stirring, thermal spray, and reaction diffusion technologies.
