On September 29, 2023, a party was held in the foyer on the second floor of the An Building of the Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), the University of Tokyo, to honor Prof. Toru H.Okabe, Project Professor, of the University of Tokyo on receiving the Medal with Purple Ribbon. The party was organized by Associate Prof. Osamu Takeda, Tohoku University; Associate Prof.Shunsuke Yagi, the University of Tokyo; and this unit’s own Prof.Takanari Ouchi, Project Lecturer of this unit and doubled as a research and technical exchange meeting.

More than 80 people attended the celebration, including Prof. Okabe’s former students, as well as colleagues, peers, and friends from industry, academia, and government. At the celebration, congratulatory speeches were given by Prof. Yoshio Waseda, Prof. Yoshiaki Umetsu, Prof. Takashi Nakamura, all Emeritus Professors from Tohoku University, as well as by Dr. Norio Yuki, Director and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Toho Titanium Co., Ltd. Looking back on Prof. Okabe’s achievements, the participants renewed old friendships and engaged in discussions about the future of the non-ferrous metal smelting field.