Named in honor of Takehiko Kuroda (b. 1946), since 1990 the first director of the Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory (NHAO) and one of the leading astronomers in Japanese public observatories. He played an important role in determining activities for public education, along with astronomical research, at public observatories. His main interests include interstellar dust distribution and surveys of our galaxy in infrared light. Kuroda is currently heavily engaged in the implementation of Japan's soon-to-be largest telescope, a 2.0-m at NHAO. Name proposed by the discoverers following a suggestion by Y. Yamada.