PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Akira Furusawa

Also known as 古澤 明

Akira Furusawa is a quantum optics researcher who develops optical quantum computers, including a system his team explores for neural-network computing. He earned a master's degree at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering in 1986, joined Nikon as research staff, and completed his doctorate there in 1991. His work spans quantum teleportation in 1998, optical cluster states in 2019, and fault-tolerant logical states in 2024; he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2016. As of October 2026, he is a professor at the University of Tokyo and directs RIKEN's Optical Quantum Computing Research Team while leading Moonshot research on a fault-tolerant optical quantum computer.

Works
431
Citations
18,076
h-index
60

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1986–1991

    Education and a first research post

    He earns a master's degree from the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering in 1986, joins Nikon as research staff, and completes his doctorate at Tokyo in 1991.

  2. 1998–2004

    Quantum teleportation research

    In 1998, he and collaborators achieve quantum teleportation, which Science selects among its top ten scientific results for 1998. In 2004, he coauthors a Nature paper demonstrating a quantum teleportation network for continuous variables.

  3. Since 2007

    A Tokyo professorship

    He takes a professorship at the University of Tokyo in 2007 and continues research on quantum teleportation and its applications.

  4. 2016

    A Medal with Purple Ribbon

    He receives the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2016.

  5. 2019

    Optical cluster states

    In 2019, he coauthors a Science paper on generating a time-domain-multiplexed two-dimensional cluster state.

  6. 2024

    Logical states for neural networks

    In 2024, he coauthors a Science paper on logical states for fault-tolerant quantum computing with propagating light. He also describes his team's work on an optical quantum computer for neural networks in 2024.

  7. By 2025

    A cloud-connected prototype

    By 2025, his Moonshot project builds a 101-input-mode optical quantum computer and makes it available to collaborators through a cloud system.

  8. As of October 2026

    A cloud-connected optical computer

    As of October 2026, he is a professor at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering and directs RIKEN's Optical Quantum Computing Research Team. He serves as project manager for JST's Moonshot Goal 6, which develops a fault-tolerant universal optical quantum computer.

Sources and credits

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  1. Solving Schrodinger’s Cat Paradox and Taking On the Challenge of the Photonic Quantum Computer | UTOKYO VOICES 040 u-tokyo.ac.jp. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Optical Quantum Computing Research Team | RIKEN riken.jp. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. FURUSAWA Akira | The University of Tokyo u-tokyo.ac.jp. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Professor Akira Furusawa awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon t.u-tokyo.ac.jp. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Quantum computers move into the light | Nature Research Custom nature.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Goal 6 FURUSAWA Akira PM Progress Report: Research and development on social implementation of optical quantum computer | Moonshot R&D jst.go.jp. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. Goal 6: FURUSAWA Akira Project | Moonshot R&D jst.go.jp. Checked 15 October 2026.