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Hello! I’m Hajime, and I am a postdoctoral research fellow at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, OIST, Japan.

My research focuses on the behavior, ecology, and evolution of coral reef fishes. My main research topics are mimicry, cooperative behavior, survival strategies of pelagic juvenile fishes, and the functional ecology of corallivorous fishes (e.g., Sato & Sakai, 2025; Sato et al. 2023, 2022). One of my favorite studies is group hunting by the false cleanerfish Aspidontus taeniatus. The false cleanerfish has long been known as an aggressive mimic of the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus, biting the fins of other fishes. However, underwater observations in Okinawa have shown that they sometimes team up to raid damselfish spawning nests and steal the eggs (Sato et al., 2022; Sato et al. 2024).

Okinawa is an exceptional place for coral reef research. Highly biodiverse coral reefs extend along the coasts of the islands. Taking advantage of this direct access to the field, I have conducted observational studies on coral reef fishes. Japan has a strong tradition of field-based observational studies on fish reproductive biology (e.g., Kuwamura, 2021). Long-term observations of individually identified fishes can reveal their home ranges, the spatial organization of males and females, and mating relationships. These observations are key to understanding the social structure and sex-change strategies of reef fishes. Building on this field-based observational approach, I incorporate modern technologies to explore the behavioral ecology of coral reef fishes.

I also welcome collaborative research. I am especially interested in studies that broaden our perspective, such as comparisons of behavior and ecology between Okinawan populations and those in other coral reef regions. I have just begun collaborative fieldwork on Moorea Island, French Polynesia.

Please feel free to contact me.

Hajime Sato
E-mail: hsato98[at]outlook.jp (Please replace [at] with @)