Saeko S. Hayashi (born 1958, Japanese: 林 左絵子) is a Japanese astronomer based in Hawaii whose research interests include star formation, protoplanetary disks, the atmosphere of exoplanets, and the construction and optics of large telescopes.[1] She is an associate professor of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and The Graduate University for Advanced Studies and a founding astronomer of Japan's based Subaru Telescope.[2] She is also known for her work popularizing astronomy, both in Japan and in Hawaii.[3]