We study evolution of human behavior from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. One of the biggest questions in science is how humans have acquired the "humanness," or the set of traits that make us feel that we are qualitatively different from the rest of all animals. Although our understandings of phylogenetic and historical details of human beings have been continuously improved, it is still largely unknown why our behavior is so different from that of other animals. To answer this question, we need to specify the mechanisms by which natural selection has shaped the designs in human behavior. We hope to make some contribution to this ambitious enterprise using mathematical and computational methods. Current research interests include evolution of social behavior and cultural evolution.

Yasuo Ihara
PhD, Associate professor
iharay(at)bs.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Application of methods in mathematical biology to evolutionary and biosocial anthropology

Kyosuke Kubo
MSc, Graduate student
k.kyosuke.aca(at)gmail.com
Phylogenetic Estimation and Diffusion Modeling of Folktales.

Yukiko Kawanishi
MSc, Graduate student

Akito Miyoshi
BSc, Graduate student
miyoshi-akito36(at)g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Cultural evolution of gender

Nanaka Ida
BSc, Graduate student

Riki Takara
BSc, Graduate student

Akiko Matsumoto-Oda
PhD, Visiting researcher
Professor at University of the Ryukyus

Masahito Morita
PhD, Visiting researcher
Assistant professor at University of Human Arts and Sciences
masmorita(at)bs.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Evolution of human reproductive strategy and communication

Takahiro Tsukahara
PhD, Visiting researcher
Professor at Nayoro City University

For more information about physical anthropology at UTokyo, see here.