Tetsuro Matsuzawa
Curriculum Vitae
Tetsuro Matsuzawa, PhD
Distinguished Professor, Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study,
Professor, Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University,
Coordinator, Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science, Kyoto University,
General Director, Japan Monkey Centre,
President, Academic Alpine Club of Kyoto
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Research Summary
Matsuzawa has been studying chimpanzee both in the laboratory and in the
wild. The laboratory work is known as “Ai-project" in the Primate Research
Institute of Kyoto University since 1977: a female chimpanzee named Ai
learned to use Arabic numerals to represent the number (Matsuzawa, 1985,
NATURE). The field work has been carried out in Bossou-Nimba, Guinea,
since 1986, focusing on the tool use in the wild. Matsuzawa tries to
synthesize the field and the lab work to understand the mind of chimpanzees
to know the evolutionary origins of human mind. He published the books
such as “Primate origins of human cognition and behavior", “Cognitive
development in chimpanzees", “The chimpanzees of Bossou and Nimba". He got
several prizes including Jane Goodall Award in 2001, and The Medal with
Purple Ribbon in 2004, The Person of Cultural Merit in 2013.
Please see the
web site:
http://langint.pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ai/
http://greencorridor.info


Current Position
Distinguished Professor, Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study,
Professor, Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University,
Coordinator, Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science, Kyoto University,
General Director, Japan Monkey Centre,
President, Academic Alpine Club of Kyoto
Editor-in-chief, Primates
Editorial Board, International Journal of Primatology
Editorial Board, Animal Cognition
Associate Editor, Interaction Studies
Board of Trustees, Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies
Educational and Professional History
with Joint Appointment as Professor, Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University
1976: Assistant Professor, 1987: Associate Professor, 1993: Full Professor, 2006-2012: Director
Books
The Chimpanzees of Bossou and Nimba
Springer Japan- May 2011
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The mind of the chimpanzee
Ecological and experimental perspectives
The University of Chicago Press- August 2010
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Cognitive Development in Chimpanzees
Springer- 2006
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Primate Origins of Human Cognition and Behavior
Springer Japan- 2001
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Latest Reviewed Academic Journal Papers
Photos
#alltimefavorites
Taken on April 8, 2015
View of the large and complex climbing structures in the outdoor enclosure, just one area of the PRI chimps' living space.
It is here that the PRI chimpanzees spend much of their day, 3 generations in one group - divided into fission-fusion parties. Their living-space contains trees, ground covered in natural vegetation, a stream, and a 15m high three-dimensional climbing structure. Chimpanzees in the wild spend more than half of their day in the trees, as high as 30m above the ground. So, it is highly recommended to build three-dimensional climbing structures in captive chimpanzees' living environments with the aim of facilitating behaviors consistent with the life-style of wild chimpanzees.
Aerial View of PRI chimps' living space
There are three zones, each with different functions: the green cage (to the left of the photo), a silver cage (towards the rear of the photo), and an outdoor enclosure (to the right of the photo). Because all these zones are inter-connected, our PRI chimps are free to choose their "habitat" (cage/enclosure) and to be with several group members (or stay alone if they prefer), like chimpanzees in the wild. At over ten meters above the base of the green cage, we have set up four arrays of touch-screen stations so that our PRI chimps can drop by and do the cognitive tests and get tiny food rewards (e.g. an 8mm cube of apple, for each correct answer). Using the automated face recognition system, we can automatically run tasks of different levels/type for particular chimpanzees. We maintain and accumulate record-logs of all chimpanzees' tasks automatically; Thus, we can figure out the calories consumed according to the exact amount that each chimpanzee ate during their cognitive tasks.
Provided by Misato Hayashi on March 24, 2015
Taken on December 13, 2006

Can you keep up with Ayumu?
Chimpanzee Ayumu performing the cognitive task of memorizing numerals and their positions. After he touches the first number in the sequence, all the displayed numbers are replaced by squares. Watch this video that Ayumu touching the numerals in ascending order with astonishing speed.
Equinology


To the Moon
Related Websites
- Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study
- Chimpanzee Ai
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University
- Center for International Collaboration and Advanced Studies in Primatology (CICASP)
- Wildlife Research Center (WRC), Kyoto University
- Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science (PWS)
- The CHIMPANZEES of BOSSOU and NIMBA
- Support for African / Asian Great Apes (SAGA)
- Great Ape Information Network (GAIN)
- Japan Monkey Centre (JMC)
- Kyoto University Bhutan Friendship Program (KU-Bhutan)
- AACK - Academic Alpine Club of Kyoto
Contact
Yoshida-Ushinomiya-Cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8203, Japan
Fax: +81-75-753-9790
The Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science, Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University
2-24 Tanaka-Sekiden-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8203, Japan
Section of Language and Intelligence, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University
41-2, Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi, 484-8506, Japan
Fax: +81-568-62-2428
