Koichi Wakata is a Japanese astronaut and engineer known for his contributions to space exploration. Born on August 1, 1963, he became the first Japanese commander of the International Space Station (ISS) in 2014. Wakata has participated in multiple space missions, including flights on the Space Shuttle and the Soyuz spacecraft. Wakata earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from Kyushu University and later obtained a doctorate in aerospace engineering. He joined the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 1992 and has played a significant role in various scientific experiments and technology demonstrations aboard the ISS.