6.6 A Fresh Start After World War II
Massive numbers of young soldiers came back from the battlefield to universities to
pursue their career in peace. At this time, in accordance with the strong demand from
industry, research activities on polymeric substances became popular in major
national universities. According to the statistics of the Japan Plastics Industry
Federation, the domestic production of plastics increased rapidly from
5 Â 10
3 tons in 1946 to 551 Â 10
3 tons in 1960. The figure rose to 15 Â 10
6 tons
by 2000. Important results from scientific activities were now encouraged to be
published in English.
• 1951: SPSJ was established [3] and Katsumoto Atsuki was nominated as the first
president of the society. The journal, Kobunshi-Kagaku (High polymer chemistry)
was transferred from the Federation of Polymer Chemistry to SPSJ.
• 1953: A polymer symposium was held in conjunction with the international
conference on theoretical physics in Tokyo and Kyoto: the invited lectures
were delivered by Paul J. Flory, John G. Kirkwood, Akira Ishihara, and
Ei Teramoto [15].
• 1957: Professor Dr. and Frau Dr. Staudinger visited Japan to give lectures in
Tokyo and Osaka and received a warm welcome from big audiences [16].
Acknowledgments I thank Professor Hermann Ringsdorf for telling me about various episodes from
his days with Professor Staudinger. This information greatly helped me to understand the background
of the excitement that welled up at Staudinger’s visit to Japan. Section 6 was included following
his valuable guidance. The author is greatly indebted to Professors T. Tsuruta, Y. Furukawa,
M. Yamamoto, H. Furuya, and Dr. J. Sakamoto for their critical reading and suggestions during the
preparation of this article.
References
1. Furukawa Y (1998) Inventing polymer science. University of Pennsylvania Press, Pennsylvania,
Chap. 6
2. Kitahara F (2006) Kagakushi 33:161–171
3. SPSJ (2000) The Society of Polymer Science, Japan. http://main.spsj.or.jp/english-index.htm.
Accessed 4 Oct 2013
4. Tsuruta T et al (2005) Japanese history in polymer science and technology (in Japanese). SPSJ,
Tokyo
5. Yoshida H (1883) J Chem Soc 43:472–486
6. Majima R (1922) Ber dtsch Chem Ges A/B 55:172–191
7. Staudinger H (1961) Arbeitserinnerungen. Hu ¨thig, Heidelberg
8. Sakurada I (1969) Kobunshi-kagaku-to-tomoni (My polymer chemistry) (in Japanese).
Kinokuniya, Tokyo
9. Mizushima S, Morino Y, Kubo S (1937) Phys Z 38:459–462
10. Furukawa Y (2012) Kagakushi 39:1–40
11. Sakurada Y (2012) Polym J 44:5–10
12. Oka S (1942) Proc Phys Math Soc Jpn 24:657
Staudinger’s Footprints in Japan During His 30-Day Visit in 1957
149
Massive numbers of young soldiers came back from the battlefield to universities to
pursue their career in peace. At this time, in accordance with the strong demand from
industry, research activities on polymeric substances became popular in major
national universities. According to the statistics of the Japan Plastics Industry
Federation, the domestic production of plastics increased rapidly from
5 Â 10
3 tons in 1946 to 551 Â 10
3 tons in 1960. The figure rose to 15 Â 10
6 tons
by 2000. Important results from scientific activities were now encouraged to be
published in English.
• 1951: SPSJ was established [3] and Katsumoto Atsuki was nominated as the first
president of the society. The journal, Kobunshi-Kagaku (High polymer chemistry)
was transferred from the Federation of Polymer Chemistry to SPSJ.
• 1953: A polymer symposium was held in conjunction with the international
conference on theoretical physics in Tokyo and Kyoto: the invited lectures
were delivered by Paul J. Flory, John G. Kirkwood, Akira Ishihara, and
Ei Teramoto [15].
• 1957: Professor Dr. and Frau Dr. Staudinger visited Japan to give lectures in
Tokyo and Osaka and received a warm welcome from big audiences [16].
Acknowledgments I thank Professor Hermann Ringsdorf for telling me about various episodes from
his days with Professor Staudinger. This information greatly helped me to understand the background
of the excitement that welled up at Staudinger’s visit to Japan. Section 6 was included following
his valuable guidance. The author is greatly indebted to Professors T. Tsuruta, Y. Furukawa,
M. Yamamoto, H. Furuya, and Dr. J. Sakamoto for their critical reading and suggestions during the
preparation of this article.
References
1. Furukawa Y (1998) Inventing polymer science. University of Pennsylvania Press, Pennsylvania,
Chap. 6
2. Kitahara F (2006) Kagakushi 33:161–171
3. SPSJ (2000) The Society of Polymer Science, Japan. http://main.spsj.or.jp/english-index.htm.
Accessed 4 Oct 2013
4. Tsuruta T et al (2005) Japanese history in polymer science and technology (in Japanese). SPSJ,
Tokyo
5. Yoshida H (1883) J Chem Soc 43:472–486
6. Majima R (1922) Ber dtsch Chem Ges A/B 55:172–191
7. Staudinger H (1961) Arbeitserinnerungen. Hu ¨thig, Heidelberg
8. Sakurada I (1969) Kobunshi-kagaku-to-tomoni (My polymer chemistry) (in Japanese).
Kinokuniya, Tokyo
9. Mizushima S, Morino Y, Kubo S (1937) Phys Z 38:459–462
10. Furukawa Y (2012) Kagakushi 39:1–40
11. Sakurada Y (2012) Polym J 44:5–10
12. Oka S (1942) Proc Phys Math Soc Jpn 24:657
Staudinger’s Footprints in Japan During His 30-Day Visit in 1957
149