Chapter 6
Postwar Development of Astrophysics,
1946–2000 (Part I: Instrumentation)
Abstract In the history of postwar astronomy in Japan, constructions of large
instruments is remarkable. This chapter is devoted to the development of observational facilities in optical, infrared, radio, and space observations. Their capabilities
in observations are also noted, with examples.
6.1 Social and Economic Background
The early Showa period ended in 1945 with the defeat of Japan in World War
II. Japan was occupied by the Allied Forces for several years. Most Japanese were
awakened from an attitude of militarism to democracy. This change could be
regarded as the second turning point in modern Japanese history after the Meiji
Restoration (Bartholomew 1989).
Japan was destroyed, and confusion persisted for several years in social and
economic affairs. Thereafter, the Japanese economy expanded at a stunning pace
from the late 1950s through the early 1970s. At unprecedented speed, Japan emerged
from a state of destruction and poverty and moved to a place of prosperity. Japan’s
gross national product (GNP, the total value of goods and services produced in a
year) expanded by an average annual rate of more than 10%. Such a high growth rate
is often called the Japanese miracle. Nominal GNP of four major nations are
compared in Table 6.1.
In the period 1947–1949, the educational system was greatly transformed: compulsory education was expanded from 6 to 9 years, and the university system was
also changed. Seven Imperial Universities were upgraded to National Universities,
along with the establishment of 60 more National Universities across the country.
These new universities were established in the wake of reform of preparatory schools
(formerly high schools) or normal schools for training teachers. Large numbers of
private universities and technical schools were also established. This new educational system contributed to the popularization of higher education and to the
acceleration of industrial development and business activities.
Remarkable developments occurred in information technology (IT) in business,
industry, and science after around the 1960s. The electric computer was superseded
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
T. Kogure, The History of Modern Astronomy in Japan, Historical & Cultural
Astronomy, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57061-3_6
137
Postwar Development of Astrophysics,
1946–2000 (Part I: Instrumentation)
Abstract In the history of postwar astronomy in Japan, constructions of large
instruments is remarkable. This chapter is devoted to the development of observational facilities in optical, infrared, radio, and space observations. Their capabilities
in observations are also noted, with examples.
6.1 Social and Economic Background
The early Showa period ended in 1945 with the defeat of Japan in World War
II. Japan was occupied by the Allied Forces for several years. Most Japanese were
awakened from an attitude of militarism to democracy. This change could be
regarded as the second turning point in modern Japanese history after the Meiji
Restoration (Bartholomew 1989).
Japan was destroyed, and confusion persisted for several years in social and
economic affairs. Thereafter, the Japanese economy expanded at a stunning pace
from the late 1950s through the early 1970s. At unprecedented speed, Japan emerged
from a state of destruction and poverty and moved to a place of prosperity. Japan’s
gross national product (GNP, the total value of goods and services produced in a
year) expanded by an average annual rate of more than 10%. Such a high growth rate
is often called the Japanese miracle. Nominal GNP of four major nations are
compared in Table 6.1.
In the period 1947–1949, the educational system was greatly transformed: compulsory education was expanded from 6 to 9 years, and the university system was
also changed. Seven Imperial Universities were upgraded to National Universities,
along with the establishment of 60 more National Universities across the country.
These new universities were established in the wake of reform of preparatory schools
(formerly high schools) or normal schools for training teachers. Large numbers of
private universities and technical schools were also established. This new educational system contributed to the popularization of higher education and to the
acceleration of industrial development and business activities.
Remarkable developments occurred in information technology (IT) in business,
industry, and science after around the 1960s. The electric computer was superseded
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
T. Kogure, The History of Modern Astronomy in Japan, Historical & Cultural
Astronomy, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57061-3_6
137