6.2 Rise of the Polymer Industries
The first paper mill was built by Eiichi Shibusawa in Tokyo in 1872. Some tons of
natural rubber were imported from India and the USA in 1880–1890 and, concurrently, a rubber manufacturing company was built (1886). Celluloid products were
first imported from Germany in 1877, and their domestic production started around
1890. The most interesting example is the Japanese urushi lacquer made from the
poison oak tree. Because of its bright and clear color, the lacquer has been widely
used from commodity to art works in Japan. In 1883, Hikorokuro Yoshida
published a research article on the urushi lacquer, describing an enzyme (later
named laccase) that initiated the polycondensation of urushiol [5]. After 1903,
scientific study on the urushi lacquer was continued by Rikou Majima [6].
6.3 Polymer Activities Around the 1920–1930s
Since the beginning of the twentieth century, extensive efforts have been made to
develop cellulose fiber (cotton and rayon) industries. In academia, two major
research groups were established by Gen-itsu Kita (Kyoto University) and
Katsumoto Atsuki (Tokyo University) in this field. As a result of the tense cooperation between industry and academia, Japan climbed to become the top producer
of semisynthetic fibers (rayon) in the world in 1937. In the same year, Japanese
production of celluloid goods was also said to be the top runner. In the 1930s, all
other polymer industries including rubber and plastics were experiencing a rising
trend. In 1938, the announcement of the invention of Nylon from Du Pont came as a
tremendous shock to the Japanese textile industries. Urgent need for the scientific
study and development of synthetic polymers was emphasized.
6.4 Remarks on the Irreplaceable Role of Sakurada
It might be interesting here to mention the important role of the late Professor
Ichiro Sakurada for the wide spread of the Staudinger concept [7]. He first studied
cellulose chemistry under the guidance of Gen-itsu Kita at Kyoto Imperial University. He spent some years (1928–1931) in Germany to learn chemistry under
Wolfgang Ostwald in Leipzig and Kurt Hess in Berlin (two well-known opponents
of Staudinger), and returned to Kita’s group in 1931. After a certain period of
serious consideration, Sakurada, once a member of the “colloid” school as a student
of Hess, made a “Copernican” revolution in 1935 to accept most of Staudinger’s
views [1, 2, 8]. He then demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility and
commitment to his mission on the sound growth of polymer science and technology
[1, 2, 8]. Sakurada is often regarded as the father of polymer science in Japan.
Staudinger’s Footprints in Japan During His 30-Day Visit in 1957
147
The first paper mill was built by Eiichi Shibusawa in Tokyo in 1872. Some tons of
natural rubber were imported from India and the USA in 1880–1890 and, concurrently, a rubber manufacturing company was built (1886). Celluloid products were
first imported from Germany in 1877, and their domestic production started around
1890. The most interesting example is the Japanese urushi lacquer made from the
poison oak tree. Because of its bright and clear color, the lacquer has been widely
used from commodity to art works in Japan. In 1883, Hikorokuro Yoshida
published a research article on the urushi lacquer, describing an enzyme (later
named laccase) that initiated the polycondensation of urushiol [5]. After 1903,
scientific study on the urushi lacquer was continued by Rikou Majima [6].
6.3 Polymer Activities Around the 1920–1930s
Since the beginning of the twentieth century, extensive efforts have been made to
develop cellulose fiber (cotton and rayon) industries. In academia, two major
research groups were established by Gen-itsu Kita (Kyoto University) and
Katsumoto Atsuki (Tokyo University) in this field. As a result of the tense cooperation between industry and academia, Japan climbed to become the top producer
of semisynthetic fibers (rayon) in the world in 1937. In the same year, Japanese
production of celluloid goods was also said to be the top runner. In the 1930s, all
other polymer industries including rubber and plastics were experiencing a rising
trend. In 1938, the announcement of the invention of Nylon from Du Pont came as a
tremendous shock to the Japanese textile industries. Urgent need for the scientific
study and development of synthetic polymers was emphasized.
6.4 Remarks on the Irreplaceable Role of Sakurada
It might be interesting here to mention the important role of the late Professor
Ichiro Sakurada for the wide spread of the Staudinger concept [7]. He first studied
cellulose chemistry under the guidance of Gen-itsu Kita at Kyoto Imperial University. He spent some years (1928–1931) in Germany to learn chemistry under
Wolfgang Ostwald in Leipzig and Kurt Hess in Berlin (two well-known opponents
of Staudinger), and returned to Kita’s group in 1931. After a certain period of
serious consideration, Sakurada, once a member of the “colloid” school as a student
of Hess, made a “Copernican” revolution in 1935 to accept most of Staudinger’s
views [1, 2, 8]. He then demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility and
commitment to his mission on the sound growth of polymer science and technology
[1, 2, 8]. Sakurada is often regarded as the father of polymer science in Japan.
Staudinger’s Footprints in Japan During His 30-Day Visit in 1957
147