TSUTOMU SAWAI

Last Updated :2026/07/06

Affiliations, Positions
Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor
Web Site
https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/cbme/people_uri/tsutomu-sawai/
https://ashbi.kyoto-u.ac.jp/members/tsutomu-sawai/
E-mail
tstmswhiroshima-u.ac.jp
Self-introduction
His research specializes in bioethics and applied ethics, with a particular focus on the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of emerging science and technology, including regenerative medicine, stem cell and embryo research, brain organoids, genome editing, artificial intelligence (AI), and haptic technologies. He conducts interdisciplinary and international research at the intersection of philosophy, ethics, the biomedical sciences, engineering, and public policy. His recent work focuses on promoting Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), which seeks to integrate ethical reflection, public engagement, and governance into the early stages of research and innovation rather than addressing ethical issues only after scientific advances have occurred. He is also actively engaged in developing the methodology of empirical bioethics, integrating empirical research with normative ethical analysis to produce practical recommendations for research and policy. Through his research, he aims to contribute to international policy development and to foster more responsible relationships between science, technology, and society.

Basic Information

Major Professional Backgrounds

  • 2024/04/01, 2026/03/31, Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor (Special Recognition)
  • 2024/04, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE), Visiting Professor
  • 2023/09, 2024/03, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE), Visiting Associate Professor
  • 2023/04, Doctoral Program for World-leading Innovative & Smart Education, Hiroshima University, The Frontier Development Program for Genome Editing, Program Faculty
  • 2023/04, Center for Collaborative Science, ELSI Unit, Unit Leader
  • 2022/04, 2025/03, Kyoto University, KUIAS Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Associate Inestigator
  • 2019/07, 2022/03, Kyoto University, KUIAS Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Assistant Professor
  • 2018/04, 2019/06, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Uehiro Research Division for iPS Cell Ethics, Assistant Professor
  • 2014/10, 2018/03, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Uehiro Research Division for iPS Cell Ethics, Research Fellow

Educational Backgrounds

  • Kyoto University, Japan, 2010/04, 2016/09
  • Kyoto University, Japan, 2008/04, 2010/03

Academic Degrees

  • MA (Human and Environmental Studies), Kyoto University
  • PhD (Human and Environmental Studies), Kyoto University

Educational Activity

  • [Bachelor Degree Program] School of Integrated Arts and Sciences : Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences : Integrated Arts and Sciences
  • [Master's Program] Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences : Division of Humanities and Social Sciences : Integrated Arts and Human Sciences Program
  • [Doctoral Program] Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences : Division of Humanities and Social Sciences : Integrated Arts and Human Sciences Program

Research Fields

  • Humanities;Philosophy;Philosophy / Ethics
  • Humanities;Philosophy;Religious studies

Research Keywords

  • Ethics / Applied Ethics (Bioethics) / Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) of Advanced Science, Engineering, and Medicine / Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) / Modern and Contemporary Japanese Philosophy and Ethics

Affiliated Academic Societies

  • The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine
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  • The Japanese Association for Philosophical and Ethical Researches in Medicine
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  • Japanese Association for Religious Studies
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  • The Japanese Society for Ethics
  • Japan Association for Bioethics
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Educational Activity

Course in Charge

  1. 2026, Liberal Arts Education Program1, 4Term, Ethics
  2. 2026, Liberal Arts Education Program1, 1Term, Ethics
  3. 2026, Undergraduate Education, 1Term, Bioethics
  4. 2026, Undergraduate Education, 1Term, Seminar in Applied Ethics
  5. 2026, Undergraduate Education, 4Term, Ethics, Killing and Violence I
  6. 2026, Undergraduate Education, 4Term, Ethics, Killing and Violence II
  7. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 1Term, Science and Technology in Society
  8. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 1Term, Research Method and Ethics for Humanities and Social Sciences
  9. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 1Term, Research Method and Ethics for Humanities and Social Sciences
  10. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 4Term, Practical Ethics
  11. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Intensive, Special Study

Award of Education

  1. 2025/04/25, International Neuroethics Society Poster Award, Ethical considerations in the research, development, and application of speech neuroprostheses

Research Activities

Academic Papers

  1. Japanese attitudes toward human brain organoid research: broad support amid ethical concerns, Frontiers in Genetics, 17, 20260611
  2. Transparency Is Not Enough: structural Risks in the Normalization of Growth Attenuation Therapy, The American Journal of Bioethics, 20260518
  3. Eugenics reconsidered: why non-Western histories matter for bioethical governance, JME Practical Bioethics, 20260514
  4. Ethics and Regulation of Human Brain Organoid Research: Recommendations from the Asia Pacific Neuroethics Working Group, Asian Bioethics Review, 20260429
  5. Funding, Influence, and Ethics: Reflections from the Japanese Experience of the Ethics of Human Brain Organoid Research, AJOB Neuroscience, 20260403
  6. Human brain organoids and stakeholders’ attitudes: evidence, gaps, and governance, Trends in Biotechnology, 20260325
  7. Drawing Lines: How the Public Defines 'Serious' Genetic Conditions for Reproductive Testing, European Journal of Human Genetics, 20260223
  8. Complementing Western Bioethics: Nishida Kitarō’s Relational Ontology and the Future of Brain Organoid Research, AJOB Neuroscience, 1-14, 20251225
  9. Introducing JME Practical Bioethics, JME Practical Bioethics, 1(1), 20251106
  10. ★, Ethics must keep pace with embryo research, Nature, 646(8087), 1060-1060, 20251028
  11. Respect Without Romanticizing: Cultural Values, Parental Reasons, and Unproven Pediatric Treatments in East Asia, The American Journal of Bioethics, 25(11), 52-55, 20251018
  12. Disability, Subject-Dependence, and the Bad-Difference View, BIOETHICS, 39(9), 802-809, 202511
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  13. When ethical principles conflict: The ethics of genetic confidentiality in context, The American Journal of Bioethics, 20250918
  14. Japanese attitudes toward cell donation in human brain organoid research: many oppose broad consent, FRONTIERS IN GENETICS, 16, 20250822
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  15. Disability, Subject-Dependence, and the Bad-Difference View, Bioethics, 20250724
  16. Reevaluating 'seriousness' in genetic conditions: balancing clinical criteria and lived experiences, European Journal of Human Genetics, 33(6), 699-700, 20250315
  17. Regulating stem cell-based embryo model research in Japan: Proposals, debates, and future directions, EMBO reports, 20250314
  18. Human Brain Organoid Research and Applications: Where and How to Meet Legal Challenges?, JOURNAL OF BIOETHICAL INQUIRY, 21(4), 603-610, 202412
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  19. AI-based medical ethics education: examining the potential of large language models as a tool for virtue cultivation, BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION, 25(1), 20250205
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  20. AI-based medical ethics education: Examining the potential of large language models as a tool for virtue cultivation, BMC Medical Education, 25(185), 20250205
  21. Human brain organoid research: An analysis of public attitudes and ethical concerns in Japan, Molecular Psychology: Brain, Behavior, and Society, 20250128
  22. ★, Beyond consciousness: Ethical, legal, and social issues in human brain organoid research and application, EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY, 104(1), 20241219
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  23. Evaluating neuroprivacy concerns in human brain organoid research, Trends in Biotechnology, 20240920
  24. From CRISPR to Conscience: Ethical Dilemmas in Gene Editing and Genetic Selection, The American Journal of Bioethics, 24(8), 67-70, 20240802
  25. The ethical and legal challenges of cell donation for brain organoid research, Open Access Government, 43(1), 162-163, 20240710
  26. Human Brain Organoid Research and Applications: Where and How to Meet Legal Challenges?, Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 20240705
  27. Navigating equity in global access to genome therapy expanding access to potentially transformative therapies and benefiting those in need requires global policy changes, Frontiers in Genetics, 15, 1381172-1381172, 20240404
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  28. The ethical and legal challenges of human foetal brain tissue-derived organoids, EMBO reports, 20240304
  29. Stem cell-derived embryo models: Moral advance or moral obfuscation?, Journal of Medical Ethics, 20240301
  30. ★, The Donation of Human Biological Material for Brain Organoid Research: The Problems of Consciousness and Consent, Science and Engineering Ethics, 30(1), 20240205
  31. Beyond the personhood: An in-depth analysis of moral considerations in human brain organoid research, The American Journal of Bioethics, 24(1), 54-56, 20240118
  32. Is epigenome editing non-inheritable? Implications for ethics and the regulation of human applications, Stem Cell Reports, 23(14), 00405-00408, 20231102
  33. Animus: Human-Embodied Animals, Journal of Medical Ethics, 1-4, 20231006
  34. ★, The Ethics of Human Brain Organoid Transplantation in Animals, Neuroethics, 16(3), 1-15, 20231004
  35. Human genome editing in clinical applications: Japanese lay and expert attitudes, FRONTIERS IN GENETICS, 14, 20230817
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  36. The technology, opportunities and challenges of synthetic biological intelligence, Biotechnology Advances, 68, 108233-108233, 20230807
  37. Human Genome Editing in Clinical Applications: Japanese Lay and Expert Attitudes, Frontiers in Genetics, 14, 1205092-1205092, 20230817
  38. Genome editing of human embryos for research purposes: Japanese lay and expert attitudes, FRONTIERS IN GENETICS, 14, 20230622
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  39. Are human brain organoids cloned human individuals? An ethical analysis, Molecular Psychology: Brain, Behavior, and Society, 2(18), 1-8, 20230718
  40. Should we really eat human-pig chimeras? A reply to Bobier, Food Ethics, 8(18), 1-5, 20230704
  41. Genome editing of human embryos for research purposes: Japanese lay and expert attitudes, Frontiers in Genetics, 14, 1205067-1205067, 20230622
  42. Global governance of human brain organoid research and applications: A role for the World Health Organization?, Molecular Psychology: Brain, Behavior, and Society, 2(11), 20230530
  43. What implications do a consciousness-independent perspective on moral status entail for future brain organoid research?, AJOB Neuroscience, 14(2), 163-165, 20230425
  44. A teleological approach to the ontological status of human cerebral organoids, AJOB Neuroscience, 14(2), 204-205, 20230425
  45. ★, The legal personhood of human brain organoids, Journal of Law and the Biosciences, 10(1), lsad007-lsad007, 20230403
  46. The importance of accurate representation toward the public engagement in human brain organoid research, Trends in Biotechnology, 23, S0167-7799, 20230322
  47. Personal ethical settings for driverless cars and the utility paradox: An ethical analysis of public attitudes in UK and Japan, PLOS ONE, 17(11), e0275812-e0275812, 20221115
  48. ★, The regulation of human blastoid research: A bioethical discussion of the limits of regulation, EMBO reports, e56045, 20220914
  49. Human Brain Organoids and Consciousness, Neuroethics, 15(1), 20220204
  50. Ethical issues associated with human brain organoid research and application, Bioscience and Industry, 79(6), 498-501, 202111
  51. Public attitudes in Japan toward the creation and use of gametes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells, Future Science OA, 7(10), FSO755, 20211023
  52. Public attitudes in Japan toward the reproductive use of gametes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells, Future Science OA, 7(10), FSO754, 20211023
  53. Promises and rules: The implications of rethinking the 14-day rule for research on human embryos, EMBO reports, 22(9), e53726, 20210906
  54. ★, Mapping the Ethical Issues of Brain Organoid Research and Application, AJOB Neuroscience, 13(2), 1-14, 20210326
  55. Philosophical and Ethical Consideration of Consciousness of Human Brain Organoids: In Terms of Precautionary Principle, Journal of Innovative Ethics, 61-83, 202103
  56. The American Public Is Ready to Accept Human-Animal Chimera Research., Stem cell reports, 15(4), 804-810, 20200914
  57. Ethical Framework for Next-Generation Genome and Epigenome Editing, The American Journal of Bioethics, 20(8), 32-36, 20200802
  58. ★, The moral status of human embryo-like structures: potentiality matters?, EMBO reports, 21(8), e50984, 20200727
  59. Do brains generated in vitro have consciousness?: The ethics of human brain organoid research, Sekaishiso, 79-83, 202004
  60. ★, The Ethics of Cerebral Organoid Research: Being Conscious of Consciousness, Stem Cell Reports, 13(3), 440-447, 201909
  61. Japan Significantly Relaxes Its Human-Animal Chimeric Embryo Research Regulations., Cell stem cell, 24(4), 513-514, 20190404
  62. Life science and religion/ethics: With reference to stem cell research [in Japanese], Gendai Shukyo 2019 [Modern Religions 2019], 179-205, 201901
  63. Ethics of organoid research [in Japanese], Igaku no Ayumi [Progress in Medicine], 264(8), 679-684, 201802
  64. The Japanese Generally Accept Human-Animal Chimeric Embryo Research but Are Concerned About Human Cells Contributing to Brain and Gametes., Stem cells translational medicine, 6(8), 1749-1750, 201708
  65. Public attitudes in Japan towards human-animal chimeric embryo research using human induced pluripotent stem cells., Regenerative medicine, 12(3), 233-248, 201704
  66. The Problem of Dual Use in Relation to Decoded Neurofeedback, AJOB Neuroscience, 7(4), W4-W5, 201612
  67. Risk of Tumorigenesis and Patient Hope, AJOB Neuroscience, 6(1), 69-70, 201502
  68. The moral value of induced pluripotent stem cells: a Japanese bioethics perspective on human embryo research., Journal of medical ethics, 40(11), 766-9, 201411
  69. Ishida Baigan's Views of Life and Death : His Experiences of Apprehension and His Self-Consciousness as a Confucian, Journal of religious studies, 87(3), 549-571, 2013
  70. "Habits of the heart" in Sekimon-Shingaku: with special focus on Ishida Baigan's experience of "self-awakening" and his thought, Forum on history of education, 25-41, 201103

Publications such as books

  1. Revolutionizing Reproduction: The Ethical Landscape of In Vitro Gametogenesis, Reproduction without Constraints: How IVG Will Reshape Reproduction, Oxford University Press, 2026, 04, Scholarly Book, Cocompilation, eng, Christopher Gyngell, Julian Savulescu, Tsutomu Sawai, 9780197810415, Introduction, Chapter 2, Chapter 12
  2. 2025/10/04, Methods in Molecular Biology, Human Stem Cell-Based Embryo Model Research: Ethics and Regulations, Springer, New York, NY, 2025, 10, Scholarly Book, Joint work, eng, Chie Kobayashi, Shu Ishida, Tsutomu Sawai, Human Stem Cell-Based Embryo Model Research: Ethics and Regulations
  3. 2024/03/05, Developments in Neuroethics and Bioethics, Moral dimensions of synthetic biological intelligence: Unravelling the ethics of neural integration, Academic Press, 2024, 3, Scholarly Book, Joint work, eng, Masanori Kataoka, Christopher Gyngell, Julian Savulescu, Tsutomu Sawai, 276, 205-219
  4. 2021/09, To What Extent Can We Manipulate Life: Lecture on Applied Ethics, Keio University Press, 2021, 202109, Scholarly Book, Single work, 日本語, Tsutomu Sawai, 978-4766427684
  5. 2017/10, Intersection of the Wisdom of Science and Humanities: Thinking about Ethical Issues of iPS Cell Research, Intersection of the Wisdom of Science and Humanities: Thinking about Ethical Issues of iPS Cell Research, Kobundo, 2017, 201710, Scholarly Book, Joint work, jpn, Sawai Tsutomu, 9784335750175, 368, 119-146
  6. 2017/03, Ethics of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research, Ethics of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research, Kyoto University Press, 2017, 3, Scholarly Book, Single work, jpn, Sawai Tsutomu, 4814000774, 245

Invited Lecture, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation

  1. Ethics and Regulations of Human Brain Organoid Research, Tsutomu Sawai, 2026/06/03, With Invitation, English
  2. The Ethics of Donation under Double Uncertainty, Tsutomu Sawai, Oxford Ethox Seminar, 2026/06/23, Without Invitation, English
  3. Informed consent under double uncertainty: From individual autonomy to institutional accountabilit, Tsutomu Sawai, 2026/03/18, With Invitation, English, Kobe University, Japan
  4. Ethical considerations in the research, development, and application of speech neuroprostheses, Shu Ishida, Tsutomu Sawai, Hiroshima & Yonsei University MOU Celebration Workshop, 2026/01/06, Without Invitation, English, Hiroshima University, Japan, Hiroshima
  5. Ethics of Human Brain Organoid Research and Application Summer Symposium, Tsutomu Sawai, Asian institute for Bioethics and Health Law (AIBHL) Seminar, 2025/07/21, Without Invitation, Japanese, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
  6. Ethical and legal framework of human brain organoid research, Tsutomu Sawai, 2024/08/06, Without Invitation, English, Fondation Brocher
  7. The moral relevance of the well-being of non-human entities, Korea–Japan Neuroethics Summer Symposium, 2025/07, Without Invitation, English, Seoul, South Korea
  8. Ethics of Human Brain Organoid Research and Application Summer, Shu Ishida, Masanori Kataoka, Tsutomu Sawai, Asian institute for Bioethics and Health Law (AIBHL) Seminar, 2025/07/17, Without Invitation, English, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
  9. Understanding Stakeholder Perspectives on Brain Organoid Research: A Meta-Analytic Overview, Tsutomu Sawai, Neuroethics Workshop: Theoretical and Applied Neuroethics in Asia and Beyond, 2025/09/03, With Invitation, English, National University of Singapore, Centre or Biomedical Ethics, Singapore
  10. Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Human Brain Organoid Research and Application, Tsutomu Sawai, 2025 Spring Seminar in Philosophy, 2025/02/21, With Invitation, English, Institute of Philosophy of Mind and Cognition, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei
  11. Implementing Organoid Intelligence: Ethical challenges in real-world applications, Tsutomu Sawai, Neuroethics 2025: 10th annual meeting of the International Neuroethics Society, 2025/04/24, Without Invitation, English, International Neuroethics Society, Munich, Germany
  12. The moral relevance of the well-being of non-human entities, Shu Ishida, Masanori Kataoka, Tsutomu Sawai, International Bioethics Symposium 2024: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues of Human Brain Organoid Research and Application, 2024/11/11, Without Invitation, English, National University of Singapore, Hiroshima University, Singapore
  13. Mapping ethical issues in the research, development, and use of speech neuroprostheses, Shu Ishida, Tsutomu Sawai, 10th CiNet Conference: Frontiers of Responsible Research and Innovation in Neuroscience, 2024/12/10, Without Invitation, English, CiNet, Osaka
  14. Towards a governance framework for the ethical research use of non-human primate embryos, Shu Ishida, Manami Nakahara, Tomonori Nakamura, Tsutomu Sawai, 2025 Taiwan–Japan International Symposium "Emerging Technologies and Society: Bridging Ethics, Law, Security and Resilience", 2025/03/08, With Invitation, English, Taipei Medical University, Hiroshima University, Taipei Medical University
  15. Ethical considerations in the research, development, and application of speech neuroprostheses, Shu Ishida, Tsutomu Sawai, Neuroethics 2025: 10th annual meeting of the International Neuroethics Society, 2025/04/23, Without Invitation, English, International Neuroethics Society, Munich, Germany
  16. The Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Artificial Intelligence: Insights from Japan, Tsutomu Sawai, 2025 Taiwan-Japan International Symposium, "International Symposium on Emerging Technologies and Society: Bridging Ethics, Law, Security and Resilience", 2025/03/08, Without Invitation, English, Taipei Medical University; Center for Collaborative Sciences, Hiroshima University; Uehiro Division for Applied Ethics, Hiroshima University, Taiwan
  17. The Ethics of Brain Organoids, Tsutomu Sawai, MSt in Practical Ethics (Neuroethics), University of Oxford, 2024/06/13, With Invitation, English, University of Oxford
  18. Neurorights beyond the legistlative necessity, Shu Ishida; Masanori Kataoka; Chie Kobayashi; Tsung-Ling Lee; Tsutomu Sawai, Hybrid Mind Conference, 2024/10/17, Without Invitation, English
  19. Ethics of Cell Donation for Human Brain Organoid Research Perspectives from the Japanese Public, Masanori Kataoka; Mayu Koike; Tsutomu Sawai, 17th World Congress of Bioethics, 2024/06/04, Without Invitation, English, World Congress of Bioethics
  20. A bioethical framework for intractable diseases through human evolutionary reflection, Mitsuru Sasaki-Honda;Shu Ishida;Tsutomu Sawai, 17th World Congress of Bioethics 2024, 2024/06/04, Without Invitation, English, World Congress of Bioethics, Catar
  21. Ethics of New and Emering Technologies, Tsutomu Sawai, Faculty of Humanities Course "Ethics of globalization and human rights", 2024/02/20, With Invitation, English, Universidade da Coruña, Conference Hall (Salón de Actos), School of Humanities, Universidade da Coruña
  22. Kitaro Nishida's Philosophy and Bioethics, Tsutomu Sawai, XVII International Congress of Philosophy on the Way of Santiago, 2023/11/17, Without Invitation, English, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  23. Unraveling the Ethical Complexities of Human Brain Organoid Transplantation in Animals, Tsutomu Sawai, The Uehiro-Oxford-Melbourne-Japan Conference, 2023/10/14, With Invitation, English, Dr Christopher Gyngell, Tokyo
  24. Human Brain Organoid Research: An Ethical Analysis of Public Attitudes in Japan, Tsutomu Sawai, Mayu Koike, Masanori Kataoka, SPT 2023: The 23rd Biennial Conference in Tokyo, 2023/06/07, Without Invitation, English, Japanese Society for Science and Technology Studies
  25. Human Brain Organoid Transplantation in Animals: An Ethical Analysis of Public Attitudes in Japan, Masanori Kataoka, Mayu Koike, Tsutomu Sawai, SPT 2023: The 23rd Biennial Conference in Tokyo, 2023/06/07, Without Invitation, English, Japanese Society for Science and Technology Studies
  26. The Ethics of Heritable Genome Editing: Overview, Tsutomu Sawai, International Workshop (Ethics and Regulations of Heritable Genome Editing), 2022/12/05, Without Invitation, English
  27. ELSI overview, Tsutomu Sawai, International Bioethics Symposium (Ethical, Legal, and Social issues of Human Brain Organoid Research and Application), 2022/12/02, Without Invitation, English
  28. Public Attitudes Toward Human Brain Organoid Research: Current Status and Prospects for Empirical Studies, Masanori Kataoka, Tsutomu Sawai, 2022 Annual Meeting of Japan Association for Bioethics, 2022/11/20, Without Invitation, Japanese
  29. Mapping the Social Issues of Human Brain Organoid Research and Application, Tsutomu Sawai, Masanori Kataoka, CiRA 2022 International Symposium, 2022/02/17, Without Invitation, English
  30. The Ethics of Human Brain Organoid Research, Tsutomu Sawai, IMS Seminar, 2023/07/18, With Invitation, English, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences
  31. The Ethics of Human Epigenome Editing, Tsutomu Sawai, 2023 Uehiro-Carnegie-Oxford Ethics Conference (Ethics of Cell and Gene Therapy), 2023/06/30, With Invitation, English, Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education, Carnegie Foundation, University of Oxford, Singapore
  32. The Moral Significance of Consciousness in Human Brain Organoid Research, Tsutomu Sawai, ICC Workshop on the Moral Significance of Consciousness in Japan: Religious, Cultural, and Clinical Contexts, 2023/05/20, With Invitation, English, Organized and chaired by Edward Drott (FLA/ICC) and Laura Specker-Sullivan (Fordham University/ICC Visiting Fellow), Sohpia University
  33. The Ethics of Human Brain Organoid Research, Tsutomu Sawai, PMC Fall 2022 Colloquia, 2023/01/13, With Invitation, English, The Institute of Philosophy of Mind and Cognition, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
  34. Bioethics in the Advancement of Science and Technology: Present and Future, SAWAI Tsutomu, Online Seminar, The Legal Training and Research Institute of Japan, 2022/12/26, With Invitation, Japanese, The Legal Training and Research Institute of Japan
  35. Bioethics in Mathematics, SAWAI Tsutomu, The 2nd ASHBi workshop for Mathematical Human Biology, 2022/11/18, With Invitation, English, Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Kyoto University
    Related URL
  36. Ethical issues in brain organoid research, SAWAI Tsutomu, Public Symposium "Ethical Issues in Neuroscience", 2022/08/27, With Invitation, Japanese, Science Council of Japan
  37. Ethical Issues raised by Genome Editing Technologies, SAWAI Tsutomu, The 7th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Genome Editing, 2022/06/07, With Invitation, Japanese
  38. Ethics of ectogenesis, SAWAI Tsutomu, RIKEN Innovation Design Office Forum, 2019/07/22, With Invitation, Japanese, RIKEN Innovation Design Office, Japan
  39. Japanese perspectives on human germline genome editing, SAWAI Tsutomu, International Dialogue on Bioethics and Ethics in Science and Technologies (IDBEST), 2019/10/16, With Invitation, English, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium
  40. Ethics and regulations of human-animal chimera research, SAWAI Tsutomu, Open Round Table on Gene Editing, 2019/10/26, With Invitation, English, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium
  41. Public survey in Japan on human genome editing for clinical purposes, SAWAI Tsutomu; AKATSUKA Kyoko; HATTA Taichi; FUJITA Misao, ISSCR 2019 Conference, 2019/06/27, Without Invitation, English, ISSCR (International Society for Stem Cell Research), USA
  42. Public attitudes in the United States towards human-animal chimeric embryo research using human induced pluripotent stem cells to generate human organs for transplantation, Low, W.; Shen, F.; Brown, J.; Ruiz-Estevez, M.; Voth, J.; Sawai, T.; Hatta, T.; Fujita, M.; and Crane, A., ISSCR 2019 Conference, 2019/06/28, Without Invitation, English, ISSCR (International Society for Stem Cell Research), USA
  43. Public survey in Japan on human genome editing for research purposes, AKATSUKA Kyoko; SAWAI Tsutomu; HATTA Taichi; FUJITA Misao, ISSCR 2019 Conference, 2019/06/27, Without Invitation, English, ISSCR (International Society for Stem Cell Research), USA
  44. Attitudes toward the creation and use of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived gametes: A survey of the general population in Japan, HATTA Taichi; SAWAI Tsutomu; FUJITA Misao, ISSCR 2017 Conference, 2017/06/15, Without Invitation, English, ISSCR (International Society for Stem Cell Research), USA
  45. Expectations and concerns regarding the creation and use of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived gametes: A survey of the general population in Japan, SAWAI Tsutomu; HATTA Taichi; FUJITA Misao, ISSCR 2017 Conference, 2017/06/14, Without Invitation, English, ISSCR (International Society for Stem Cell Research), USA
  46. The ethics of human-animal chimera embryo research: A Japanese bioethical perspective, SAWAI Tsutomu, ASBH (American Society for Bioethics and Humanities) meeting 2016, 2016/10/06, Without Invitation, English, ASBH (American Society for Bioethics and Humanities), USA
  47. Acceptability of human-animal chimeric embryo research using human induced pluripotent stem cells: A survey among the public and researchers, HATTA Taichi; SAWAI Tsutomu; FUJITA Misao, ISSCR 2016 Conference, 2016/06/24, Without Invitation, English, ISSCR (International Society for Stem Cell Research), USA
  48. Humanized animals harboring human brain neurons and Germ Cells: A survey among the public and researchers, SAWAI Tsutomu; HATTA Taichi; FUJITA Misao, ISSCR 2016 Conference, 2016/06/22, Without Invitation, English, ISSCR (International Society for Stem Cell Research), USA
  49. Public and researcher attitudes towards human-animal chimeric embryo research using human induced pluripotent stem cells, SAWAI Tsutomu; HATTA Taichi; FUJITA Misao, IAB (International Association of Bioethics) 2016 Conference, 2016/06/16, Without Invitation, English, IAB (International Association of Bioethics), Edinburgh, UK
  50. The ethics of research on stem cell-derived gametes: A Japanese bioethical perspective, SAWAI Tsutomu; Akatsuka Kyoko; SULLIVAN SPECKER Laura, ASBH (American Society for Bioethics and Humanities) meeting 2015, 2015/10/22, Without Invitation, English, ASBH (American Society for Bioethics and Humanities), USA
  51. Confucian views of genetic enhancement, SAWAI Tsutomu, Kyoto-Bristol Workshop (The Ethics of Human Enhancement: Comparing the British and Japanese Debate), 2014/05/01, With Invitation, English, Kyoto University, Japan
  52. Ecological ethics for a sustainable world: A comparison of 'Civil Religions' in America and Japan, SAWAI Tsutomu, The Tenth East-West Philosophers' Conference, 2011/05/19, Without Invitation, English, University of Hawaii, Manoa, USA
  53. 'Habits of the Heart' in Sekimon-Shingaku: Ishida Baigan's religious experience, SAWAI Tsutomu, The 20th World Congress of International Association for the Study of History of Religion, 2010/08/19, Without Invitation, English, University of Toronto, Canada
  54. Difference of values and value of differences: A reconsideration of Bellah's 'Civil Religion', SAWAI Tsutomu, 2010 Uehiro Cross-Currents Philosophy Conference, 2010/03/19, Without Invitation, English, University of Hawaii, Manoa, USA

Awards

  1. 2020/01, The Second CiRA Encouragement Award, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University
  2. 2016/07, Outstanding Poster Award, CiRA Retreat 2016, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University

External Funds

Acceptance Results of Competitive Funds

  1. 2026/04/01, 2030/03/31
  2. 2026/04, 2035/03
  3. 2025/04, 2027/03
  4. 2024/10, 2028/03
  5. 2024/06/28, 2027/03/31
  6. Research Grant, Research on ethical issues related to human development research, 2023/04/01, 2024/03/31
  7. The 54th Kurata Grants (Promotion of Academic Research, Science and Technology), Reconsideration of the concept of intractable diseases in modern societies with developing science and technology, 2023/03/01, 2024/02/29
  8. JST RISTEX, Responsible Innovation with Conscience and Agility, Experimental ELSI Research Toward the Future of Brain Modifications, 2022/10/01, 2026/03/31
  9. KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists, 2021/04/01, 2024/03/31
  10. AMED Brain Mechanisms and Integrated Technologies for Mental Health and Disease Studies (Brain/MINDS Health and Diseases), National Research Program for Neurological Disorders and Mental Health, Research for Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Human Brain Organoid Research, 2021/07, 2024/03
  11. The Mitsubishi Foundation, Research Grants in the Humanities, Research on ethical issues associated with human brain organoid research, 2022/04, 2023/03
  12. KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B), 2017/04/01, 2020/03/31
  13. KAKENHI Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A), A study on ethical, legal and social issues of stem cell medicine, 2014/04/01, 2017/03/31
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Social Activities

History as Committee Members

  1. Member, 2023/11, Asian Bioethics Network (ABN), Bioethics Advisory Committee (BAC) Singapore
  2. Council Member, 2023/10, 2026/10, The Japanese Association for Philosophical and Ethical Researches in Medicine

Organizing Academic Conferences, etc.

  1. Hiroshima workshop on Experimental Philosophy and Empirical Ethics
  2. Hiroshima & Yonsei University MOU Preparation Workshop
  3. 2025/11
  4. Emerging Technologies and Society: Bridging Ethics, Law, Security and Resilience, 2025/03
  5. Exploring UNESCO’s Governance Potential in Neurotechnology: Balancing Human Rights and Legal Authority, 2025/01
  6. International ELSI Workshop　'Ethics of Neurotechnology', 2025/01
  7. 2024/12
  8. The International Bioethics Symposium 2024 in Singapore: Ethical, Legal, and Social issues of Human Brain Organoid Research and Application, 2024/11, 2024/11
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  9. International Workshop: Ethics and Regulations of Heritable Genome Editing, 2022/12, 2022/12
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  10. International Bioethics Symposium "Ethical, Legal, and Social issues of Human Brain Organoid Research and Application", 2022/12, 2022/12
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  11. ASHBi Bioethics-Biology Fusion Workshop (Ethics of Early Developmental Research), 2021/11, 2021/11
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History as Peer Reviews of Academic Papers

  1. 2025, JME Practical Bioethics, Others, Deputy Editor, 3
  2. 2025, Nature, Others, Reviewer, 1
  3. 2025, BMC Medical Ethics, Others, Reviewer, 1
  4. 2025, npj Digital Medicine, Others, Reviewer, 1
  5. 2025, The Aisa-Pacific Scholar, Others, Reviewer, 1
  6. 2024, AJOB Neuroscience, Others, Reviewer, 1
  7. 2024, Neuroethics, Others, Reviewer, 1
  8. 2024, AJOB Neuroscience, Others, Reviewer, 1
  9. 2024, Journal of Community Genetics, Others, Peer Reviewer, 2
  10. 2023, Journal of Medical Ethics, Others, Reviewer, 2
  11. 2023, Oxford Open Neuroscience, Others, Reviewer, 2
  12. 2023, Molecular Psychology: Brain, Behavior, and Society, Others, Reviewer, 3
  13. 2022, Science and Engineering Ethics, Others, Reviewer, 1
  14. 2022, Journal of Applied Ethics and Philosophy, Others, Reviewer, 1
  15. 2022, NeuroSci, Others, Reviewer, 1
  16. 2022, Gene and Genome Editing, Others, Reviewer, 1
  17. 2021, Journal of Medical Ethics, Others, Reviewer, 1
  18. 2021, Cell Regeneration, Others, Reviewer, 1
  19. 2021, Neuroethics, Others, Reviewer, 1
  20. 2020, BMC Medical Ethics, Others, Reviewer, 1
  21. 2020, Journal of molecular medicine, Others, Reviewer, 1