Tatsuko Hatakeyama Graduated from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. Doctorate: Tokyo Institute of Technology. Former senior scientist at National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research, Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Former professor at Otsuma Women’s University. Former president, Lignocel Research Co. Ltd. Publication: Scientific Papers, books, and reports: 367. Activities of Scientific Society: Chief Editor of J. Fibre Science and Technology, Japan, editorial member of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Japan, and others. Japanese committee member of International Standardization Organization (ISO), TC-61. Award: the Society of Fiber Science and Technology, Japan and the Society of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Japan.  Hyoe Hatakeyama Graduated from the University of Tokyo. Doctorate: The University of Tokyo. Former Chief Senior Scientist, the National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research, the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology. Former Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Fukui University of Technology. Foreign Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Sweden. Lifetime-Fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science. Awards: from the Society of Fiber Science and Technology, Japan; from the Agency of Science and Technology, Japan. Emperor’s medal: The Order of the Sacred Treasure. Publications (book and scientific papers): 415. Research interest: chemical and physical properties of lignin