We regret to announce that Kenzo Nakamura passed away on December 30, 2025, at the age of 80.
Professor Nakamura played a leading role, together with Professor Yoji Totsuka, in the establishment of the Super-Kamiokande experiment. He also made essential contributions to the launch of the K2K and T2K accelerator-based neutrino experiments, and his work had a profound impact on the development of neutrino physics.
It is deeply regrettable that he was not able to witness the completion of Hyper-Kamiokande.
In addition, Professor Nakamura served as the head of the administrative division during the founding period of Kavli IPMU, playing a vital role in the establishment of the institute. He was also one of the principal authors of the Review of Particle Physics (Particle Data Group) and contributed for many years to international scientific activities.
We would like to express our deepest respect for his outstanding achievements and extend our heartfelt condolences.
Masato Shiozawa
Director, Kamioka Observatory
Below, we present a message of condolence from Professor Hank Sobel (University of California, Irvine), a member of the Executive Committee of the Super-Kamiokande Collaboration.
I was terribly sorry to hear of the passing of Kenzo.
He was a deeply respected member of the international particle and neutrino physics community and was instrumental in helping bring together the ICRR group in Japan and the former IMB collaboration to establish what became the Super-Kamiokande experiment. His diplomacy was essential in building the trust and common purpose that allowed this international collaboration to take shape. The success and enduring impact of Super-Kamiokande stand as a testament to those early efforts. I’ve attached a photo of our first meeting in 1992. Kenzo is seated at the table on the right.
