
Frederic Sinniger Harii

Dr. Frederic Sinniger Harii is a Swiss marine biologist and National Geographic Explorer working at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa. At the Hanami reunion 2024, he introduced his work to our alumni network. Together with Dr. Saki Harii, they presented their research and immersed the audience into the deep blue waters of Okinawa, showing magnificent photos of corals and other fascinating creatures found during their expeditions.
Let's get to know more about Frederic!
Frederic completed his PhD in Biology at the University of Geneva, focusing on the evolution of colonial sea anemones. His early academic path was shaped by a love for the ocean and childhood memories of Cousteau movies, making him torn between tropical botany and marine biology before eventually choosing the latter. After earning his PhD, Frederic embarked on a series of postdoctoral positions, first in Okinawa, Japan, followed by stints at Florida State University in the US and Bangor University in the UK. Over time, his research focus shifted from deep-sea anemones to environmental DNA and coral reef biodiversity.
Initially, Frederic had planned to transition into high school teaching after completing his PhD. However, a chance opportunity presented itself when a colleague secured a position in Japan, inspiring him to apply for a postdoc funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). This opportunity led to his first postdoc in Japan, where he discovered not only the country’s vibrant marine environments but also its rich cultural heritage. He later earned a Marie Curie incoming fellowship to work at Bangor University in the UK, where, interestingly, he was considered a Japanese researcher because he applied while based in Japan. During his first postdoc, he began collaborating with a Japanese researcher who would eventually become his wife, further solidifying his long-term ties to Japan, where he has now lived for nearly 15 years.
Throughout his time in Japan, Frederic has primarily lived in Okinawa, an experience he finds distinct from living in mainland Japan. His first residence was in the urbanized southern part of Okinawa Island, near the University of the Ryukyus, but he now lives in a more rural northern area, closer to nature, while working at the university’s marine research station.
When Frederic first arrived in Japan, his research was centered on taxonomy and evolution, focusing on species identification and their evolutionary relationships. However, since working on coral reefs together with Saki Harii, his expertise has expanded into ecology, particularly in understanding coral adaptation and reproduction under various environmental conditions. Their research includes more experimental methods, such as coral transplantation, and while he continues to explore fundamental biodiversity topics, his approach has become broader and more interdisciplinary.
Although Japan didn’t initially seem like an obvious destination for diving and coral reef research, Frederic was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of Okinawa's coral reefs, which he considers among the best in the world. While the fish populations are smaller compared to places like the Great Barrier Reef or New Caledonia, the corals are exceptional. He hopes that climate change will not severely affect these reefs. On the opposite end of Japan, Frederic is also fond of Hokkaido, particularly the Shiretoko Peninsula, where the breathtaking nature and amazing seafood remind him of home—especially the potatoes and cheese, which evoke memories of Switzerland.
One of the biggest challenges Frederic faced in Japan was the language barrier, which remains a significant difficulty even after many years. He believes that future generations in Japan will speak increasingly better English, but arriving with no background in Japanese was tough. His research and fieldwork commitments left little time for formal language classes, so he learned Japanese through immersion. While his language skills have improved, teaching high school students about corals in Japanese remains a daunting task.
After more than a decade in Japan, Frederic has observed key cultural differences between Switzerland and his adopted country. One of the main contrasts is Switzerland’s multiculturalism compared to the more uniform culture of Japan, though he notes that Okinawa's culture differs somewhat from that of mainland Japan. Another significant difference is the Japanese societal structure of "sempai/kohai" (senior/junior), where juniors tend to follow the established ways of their seniors. While this can be frustrating in some instances, Frederic acknowledges how this structure helps Japanese society function smoothly. In contrast, he jokingly imagines that if the population of Geneva, his hometown, were transplanted to Tokyo, the city would probably cease to function very quickly. After living for quite some time in Japan, he feels he has now developed both perspectives.
Despite these differences, Frederic sees cultural similarities between Switzerland and Japan, particularly in their disciplined, hardworking, and respectful attitudes. He often finds himself thinking, "We do this in Switzerland too!" Additionally, he discovered that Japanese people share a love for good chocolate, even producing some excellent varieties locally.
To continue on the culinary front, Frederic has become a big fan of sushi, appreciating the varying qualities available in Japan, though he still enjoys cheap supermarket sushi. He’s also discovered that Japanese cuisine extends far beyond sushi, with each region offering its own seasonal specialties. Among Okinawan dishes, he highly recommends "agedashijimamidofu," a peanut-based tofu dish served in a delicious broth. Though it’s tricky to eat with chopsticks, Frederic assures it’s worth the effort (and suggests asking for a spoon if needed).
Okinawa's local culture has also left an impression on Frederic, especially in terms of formal attire. Unlike mainland Japan, where suits are the norm, Okinawan formal wear—called "kariyushi"—is colorful and often features floral patterns, similar to Hawaiian Aloha shirts. Frederic enjoys wearing these shirts daily, and the local staff’s compliments on his "formal attire" have amused him, as it’s a cultural adaptation he’s happily embraced.
Looking ahead, Frederic envisions himself continuing his work in Okinawa for at least the next five years, ideally securing a tenured position and expanding collaborations with researchers in Europe, particularly Switzerland.
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2024 FUKAI SANGO
A short film by Nadia Rosenberg / Brain Juice Production


Thank you for sharing your story, dear Frederic!