Fellow, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan;
Managing Director, Magnetic Materials Center and Group
Leader, Magnetic Materials Group, NIMS;
Principal Investigator, International Center for Materials
Nanoarchitechtonics, NIMS (WPI Center);
Professor, Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences,
University of Tsukuba

Citation: “For seminal contributions to the understanding of structure-property relations in metals and alloys and functional materials.”

Hono is probably best known for his pioneering use of atom probe field ion microscopy/tomography and high resolution electron microscopy to push advancement in the use of microstructure manipulation to enhance the performance of magnetic and nanocrystalline materials. He has also made key contributions to the understanding of precipitation hardening alloys for structural applications. “He is one of the rare individuals whose work is so much more than just to contribute new information to a field,” wrote his nominator.

“Instead, Kazuhiro Hono’s world-class materials research and scholarship have provided key insight in seeking new directions of inquiry.” Hono earned his B.E. and M.E. degrees in materials science at Tohoku University, Japan, and received his Ph.D. in metals science and engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. He joined NIMS in 1995 as a senior researcher, and was quickly promoted to laboratory head and research group director.  He was named a NIMS Fellow in 2004 and managing director in 2006. A prolific author, he is the principal editor for Scripta Materialia and an editor of Acta Materialia. He joined TMS as a graduate student in 1984. “I consider the reception of the TMS Fellows Award as the highlight of my professional career,” said Hono. “Through TMS, I have met many distinguished scientists in the metallurgical and materials science community, and I am fortunate that some of them have provided me the opportunity to be considered for this award. I want to share this honor with my colleagues and graduate students at NIMS and the University of Tsukuba.”