The University of Tokyo and Purdue University

Abstract

I was born on 28 October 1932 in the house of my mother Miyoshi’s parents in Gunma Prefecture, as was common practice in those days. My father, Tomozou, graduated from Gunma Technical University and had worked for Shimazu Co. The company president, Genzou Shimazu, Jr., wanted to produce Japanese-made lead batteries because German batteries could not be imported during the First World War. The most serious problem was how to make lead powder for batteries and – so my mother told me – my father was of great assistance in producing this powder (Figs. 3.1 and 3.2).