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Following the Practical Science Tradition "A Young Researcher Makes a Remarkable Achievement" TANAKA Koichi, Tohoku University Alumni
TANAKA Koichi restored Japan's confidence in the future by winning the Nobel Prize. TANAKA, a young researcher (43 years old) and ordinary company employee, was congratulated and warmly welcomed by many people because of his "commonness" and humble personality.
TANAKA Koichi was born in 1959 and graduated from the Tohoku University Faculty
of Engineering, Electrical Engineering Department, in 1983. In 1985, he successfully
developed the "Soft Laser Desorption Method" for the spectrometry of
protein and other substances.
In 1987, his achievement was filed as patent and published. This achievement,
of a researcher who at the time was not even 30 years old, was recognized today
as being worthy of receiving the Nobel Prize.
In his most recent visit to Sendai, TANAKA stated," the traditional approaches
of Tohoku University, such as attaching importance to experimentation and the
practical application of research results, enabled [him] to receive the Nobel
Prize." He also jokingly added when looking back at his campus life, that "Sendai
takes good care of its students, even those who are mediocre like me. I flunked
a final exam and stayed back two years in the same grade."
| Tohoku University's major campuses are located on the former
premises of Sendai Castle (constructed during the 17th
century) and the area behind the castle, on Mount Aoba. The
castle's beautiful, traditional ramparts are impressive. |
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| TANAKA Koichi visited Sendai City Hall on October 30, 2002 to announce
his acceptance of the Nobel Prize. He responded to the people's applause
with a humble smile. |
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Support for Pioneering Research
Sendai's Academic and Intellectual Environment
What are Tohoku University's education policies and what
is Sendai, its home city, like? World-renowned researchers, NISHIZAWA
Jun-ichi, MASUMOTO Tsuyoshi and OHMI Tadahiro share some points in common
on this issue.
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They have great pride and respect for Tohoku University and have
been engaged in studies that are widely honored in the international
community. |
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As role models, they continue to set examples for students. |
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They are quite satisfied with life and their studies in Sendai
City. |
Many cities such as Austin, Boston, and Grenoble
are also known as places where academic institutes and universities have
developed revolutionary technology and new industries. These places,
like Sendai, are known as "academic cities." What they all
have in common is a high quality living environment (high standard of
living), and a rich historical and cultural background that allows for
and nurtures ingenuity. People are the sources of pioneering technology;
revolutionary studies are just the realization of ideas using intellectual
power. Therefore, not only is the quality of the campus environment important
to the creation of new, innovative technology but also the richness of
the city's intellectual environment. This belief is common knowledge
among researchers and scholars who have continually published their universally
recognized achievements in Sendai.
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Tohoku University was founded in June 1907, following the imperial universities in Tokyo and Kyoto.
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TANAKA Koichi is Truly a Graduate of
Tohoku University
"To produce a success out of many failures " is reportedly
TANAKA Koichi's attitude toward studies. I am
very pleased by his work ethic because it is truly an attribute
of Tohoku University graduates.
Tohoku University gives priority to research that is
conducted by both instructors and students and to the application
and industrialization of their research results.
TANAKA seems to have learned these methods at the
university and practiced them at his work.
Idealism (perseverance) is essential for research. Tohoku
University students grow by observing their instructors'
attitudes and approaches towards research.
This is the reason why instructors should not lose sight
and keep striving after their ideals. My successful achievements
at work owe a great deal to my encounter with
YAGI Hidetsugu, the famous inventor of the Yagi antenna.
Natural scientists should practically apply their achievements to contribute
to the development of society. This is Tohoku University's philosophy.
Sendai, where the university is located, acknowledges the significance
of research and provides a pleasant, comfortable study environment.
The Tohoku University Katahira Campus is adjacent to the center of the city. Internationally distinguished research institutes, such
as the Telecommunication Research Institute, Metallic Materials Research Institute and Hyper-complex Materials Science Research
Institute, are concentrated here.
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"Tasty coffee, isn't it?" says NISHIZAWA, while relaxing at a
quiet coffee shop near Sendai Station.
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A Sound Life Produces Sound Studies
Many private companies have been organized to industrialize
Tohoku University's research results through
out the university's history, from the past until the present.
Some examples include, Motoyama Engineering Industries,
Toyo Blades, Tohoku Steel, Tohoku Metal Industry
(now NEC Tokin), Tsuken Electrical Industry and
Yagi Antenna (now Hitachi Electrical International).
These companies are still active in their respective markets.
Accordingly, out of the many academic institutions
in the world, Tohoku University has made very unique
developments in its history.
An active university is significant for the development
of Sendai City because it can lead to the creation of new
industries. Concerning 21st century culture in Sendai, it is
my personal belief that human beings should live in harmony
with nature and that this city is the right place to
realize this concept.
In the future, an important issue will be what kinds of
ideals people uphold and believe. People who grow up in
a beautiful natural environment, like Sendai's, are capable
of understanding both humans and nature. This type
of environment cultivates sound lifestyles and sound
thoughts, which encourage liberal studies. This is Sendai
and the Tohoku region's advantage.
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"Together with my students, I used to fabricate measuring instruments
and conduct new experiments," says NISHIZAWA
with a smile.
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Profile:
NISHIZAWA Jun-ichi
President of Iwate Prefectural University
Director of Semiconductor Research Promotion Association's Semiconductor
Research Institute
Professor Emeritus at Tohoku University
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NISHIZAWA Jun-ichi graduated from the Tohoku University Faculty
of Engineering, Electrical Engineering Department in 1948. He
served as a professor and director of Tohoku University's Telecommunication
Research Institute and as the president of Tohoku University.
He has made numerous achievements, such as the invention
and development of the PIN diode, electrostatic induction transistor,
electrostatic induction thyristor, ion injection method, perfect
crystal,
avalanche photodiode, semiconductor laser and optical fiber. He
received the Jack A. Morton Award in 1983, Order of Cultural Merits
in 1989, and the IEEE Edison Medal in 2000, in addition to
many other awards. He was born in Sendai. |
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