Polymers are extremely large molecules composed of thousands or even tens of thousands of atoms connected in long chains. Many of the materials that surround us in everyday life—such as food containers, plastic bags, bottle caps, and automotive interior components—are made of polymers. Although we are often unaware of their presence, polymers play a crucial role in supporting modern society. 

　 Our laboratory focuses on understanding and controlling the self-organized structures formed by polymers. Self-organization refers to the spontaneous arrangement of atoms and molecules into ordered structures, and these internal structures strongly influence material properties such as stiffness, strength, and transparency. Even when the chemical composition is identical, polymer performance can vary greatly depending on how these structures are formed, which makes polymer materials a particularly fascinating research field. We study a wide range of polymer materials, including those used in tires, organic glass, and electronic devices, as well as recycled polymers and bio-based polymers. While their applications differ, their performance is fundamentally governed by hierarchical structures formed through self-organization. In recent years, our research has placed special emphasis on clarifying the structural origins of performance degradation in recycled and bio-based polymers, with the aim of improving their reliability and functionality. Polymer materials exhibit hierarchical structures spanning length scales from nanometers to micrometers. To comprehensively understand these complex structures, visualization and multi-scale structural analysis are essential. Our laboratory employs advanced experimental techniques such as X-ray scattering experiments using large-scale synchrotron radiation facilities, including SPring-8, electron microscopy, and X-ray computed tomography. By integrating these complementary methods, we aim to visualize polymer structures from multiple perspectives and establish structure–property relationships that guide the design of high-performance and sustainable polymer materials.