KEK Theory Workshop is an annual workshop on string theory and quantum field theory. Since KEK Theory Workshop 2014, it has been held as an international workshop. This year we aim to provide a valuable opportunity to have extensive discussions on new developments in string theory, matrix models, the gauge-gravity duality, black-hole microstates, lattice construction of chiral gauge theories, and open quantum systems. The invited speakers are selected from various research fields, and we have asked them to give a pedagogical exposition of the big picture in their own research field with the right amount of technical details, which are useful in building up a comprehensive understanding of the notions and their mutual relationship.
The workshop will be ON-SITE at KEK Tsukuba Campus on November 25 (Wed.) – 27 (Fri.), 2026, without online attendance. Please visit K03 Building.
This workshop is jointly organized by the KEK Theory Center and RIKEN iTHEMS.
List of invited speakers and tentative titles:
- Hirotaka Hayashi (Tokai University)
"6d/5d gauge theories from web diagrams"
- Hikaru Kawai (Osaka Metropolitan University)
"Emergence of space-time and matter from matrix model"
- Takato Mori (Rikkyo University)
"Information theoretic approaches to closed universe"
- Masaya Nakagawa (The University of Tokyo)
"Open quantum systems: From many-body physics to feedback control"
- Masaki Shigemori (Nagoya University)
"Microstates of black holes and of whatnot"
- Tadashi Takayanagi (YITP, Kyoto University)
"Extending holography to non-Hermitian systems"
- Norihiro Tanahashi (Kyoto University)
"Optimal transport, holography and chaos"
- Tatsuya Yamaoka (The University of Osaka)
"Advances in Hamiltonian lattice theory for realizing chiral gauge theories"
Short Talks:
We will arrange short talk sessions on more diverse topics, for which participants can apply.
If there are too many applicants, we will have to make a selection.
Registration Deadline: October 16 (Friday), 2026
- During registration, please indicate whether you would like to request financial support, require VISA assistance, attend the banquet, or give a short talk.
- There is no registration fee.
However, we will collect 500 JPY per participant for coffee and snacks.
- The banquet will be held on the evening of the first day (November 25) at KEK, in the lounge in front of Kobayashi Hall. The banquet fee is 3,000 JPY for students and 5,000 JPY for faculty, staff, and postdocs.
Notice:
- Accommodation: KEK dormitory slots are limited.
- We have a limited budget to support domestic travel expenses within Japan, primarily for young participants. Unlike in previous years, however, due to changes in KEK policy, travel support is available only to participants who will give a talk at the workshop.
If we receive more applications than we can support, we may need to make a selection.
Scam Email Warning:
Please be aware of potential scams claiming to make housing reservations on your behalf.
We were made aware of some participants receiving such messages from "Conferences@reservationsmanagement.org" or similar addresses. Please ignore such emails and do not reply, do not click shared links, and do not provide your credit card information.
Organizers:
Chien-Yu Chou (RIKEN iTHEMS)
Yuta Hamada (KEK/RIKEN iTHEMS)
Kohtaroh Miura (University of Tsukuba/KEK)
Jun Nishimura (KEK)
Hiroki Ohata (KEK)
Wei-Hsiang Shao (RIKEN iTHEMS)
Daichi Takeda (RIKEN iTHEMS)
Secretary:
Yuko Ohno (Ms.) yukoohno[at]post.kek.jp
(Please replace [at] with @.)
