Space Cafe Tokyo, Nov 2025 "How to make sense of the impossible planet"

"How to make sense of the impossible planet"

Thirty years ago, the very first discovery of an “exoplanet” puzzled everyone: when our only expectations for planets came from the solar system, a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting the star in just 4 days caught scientists by surprise. Thirty years later, the origin of these “hot Jupiters” remains one of the greatest puzzles in planetary science; even if they can form, how can they survive so close to the star, or do they? Yugo Kawai (University of Tokyo) will dive into the history of hot Jupiter research and the latest advances in observations and theory to make sense of the impossible planet.

Speaker info:
Yugo Kawai is a Ph.D student and a JSPS research fellow at the University of Tokyo studying the migration of exoplanets, especially hot Jupiters. He has received two Bachelor’s degrees from Waseda University and the National University of Singapore, where he doubled majored in International Liberal Studies as well as Communications and New Media. Stargazing during the COVID lockdowns in his final year of college inspired him to become an astronomer — a decision that surprised many of those around him. Outside of research, he enjoys exploring Japan with his motorcycle, watching baseball games, and playing music.

---

We will be at Good Heavens British Bar in Shimokitazawa for a space-themed talk + drinks.
Doors open at 7:30pm | Speaker starts at 8pm
Tickets can be purchased at the door for ¥1500 (cash only!) and cover your first drink.