People

Members

Our laboratory brings together staff and students working across fundamental flame physics and kinetics, burner combustion, and engine spray combustion for carbon-neutral energy systems.

Staff

Current academic and technical staff of the Reactive Gas Dynamics Laboratory.

Ekenechukwu C. OKAFOR
Associate Professor

Ekenechukwu C. OKAFOR

092-802-3147
ekene.okafor*mech.kyushu-u.ac.jp
(replace * with @)
Researcher information
Dai MATSUDA
Assistant Professor

Dai MATSUDA

092-802-3150
dmatsuda*mech.kyushu-u.ac.jp
(replace * with @)
Researcher information
Yasuhiro FUJISAKI
Technical Staff

Yasuhiro FUJISAKI

Prof. Toshiaki Kitagawa
Announcement

Retirement of Prof. Toshiaki KITAGAWA

We would like to announce the retirement of Prof. Toshiaki KITAGAWA and express our sincere gratitude for his outstanding contributions to combustion research, education, and the development of this laboratory.

His leadership and mentorship have shaped generations of students and researchers. A short profile is included below in the past members section.

View profile in past members section

Students by research group

Group 1

Fundamental Flame Physics and Kinetics Group

Focus areas include laminar and turbulent flame propagation, combustion near limiting conditions, ammonia/hydrogen flame physics, and combustion kinetics.

Solomon Selasi DJRE

Solomon Selasi DJRE

Doctor 1st Yr. (D1)

Jumpei OBATA

Jumpei OBATA

Master 2nd Yr. (M2)

Kei KIKUCHI

Kei KIKUCHI

Master 1st Yr. (M1)

Kosuke HISANO

Kosuke HISANO

Master 1st Yr. (M1)

Naoki NIITSUMA

Naoki NIITSUMA

Bachelor 4th Yr. (B4)

Aahil Ashraf UROTHIYIL

Aahil Ashraf UROTHIYIL

Bachelor 3th Yr. (B3)

Group 2

Burner Combustion Group

This group covers flame stabilization, emissions formation and control, swirl burners, and ammonia/hydrogen burner combustion.

Charles Uzondu NWANKWO

Charles Uzondu NWANKWO

Doctor 1st Yr. (D1)

Tomohiro HASEBE

Tomohiro HASEBE

Master 2nd Yr. (M2)

Chenyan TAO

Chenyan TAO

Master 1st Yr. (M1)

Yuta HORINOKUCHI

Yuta HORINOKUCHI

Master 1st Yr. (M1)

Shuma NAGATOMO

Shuma NAGATOMO

Bachelor 4th Yr. (B4)

Gen SHOJIMA

Gen SHOJIMA

Bachelor 4th Yr. (B4)

Haruto OZEKI

Haruto OZEKI

Bachelor 4th Yr. (B4)

Group 3

Engine Spray Combustion Group

This group focuses on liquid ammonia spray characterization, optical measurements, combustion behavior, and engine-oriented applications.

Hitoshi JONO

Hitoshi JONO

Master 2nd Yr. (M2)

Kanta TASHIMA

Kanta TASHIMA

Master 1st Yr. (M1)

Ibuki YAMASHITA

Ibuki YAMASHITA

Bachelor 4th Yr. (B4)

Masahiro SADAMATSU

Masahiro SADAMATSU

Bachelor 4th Yr. (B4)

Past members

Former staff and recent graduates of the Reactive Gas Dynamics Laboratory.

Prof. Toshiaki Kitagawa

Prof. Toshiaki KITAGAWA

Professor Emeritus


Faculty Member, Reactive Gas Dynamics Laboratory (April 1989 – March 2026)

Email: kitagawa.toshiaki.706*m.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Please replace * with @.

March 2026 graduates

M2
  • Taiki KURODA
  • Hiroshi MAEYAMA
  • Shunnosuke ABE
  • Masahiko TAGASHIRA
B4
  • Ryotaro TAKAO
  • Kota UMEBAYASHI
  • Kei KIKUCHI
  • Kosuke HISANO

List of Graduates and Alumni Prior to March 2026